Overlooked/Less Crowded TS Restaurants?

[angierae]

We are a group of six going to Disney next week. We have ADR's for dinner every night (and a character breakfast one day, as well) but my group does not want to do ADR's for lunch because although we know what park we're going to be in what days, we don't know if the group will split up/be together at lunch time, whether or not everyone will want to eat the same thing, etc.

Crowd levels are supposed to be a 4 or a 5. What are some TS restaurants that we might have luck with getting walk up reservations for 3-4 people in the parks? I really don't want to eat CS for lunch every day, especially since we paid for DXDP, but other people in our party absolutely did not want to do ADR's for lunch and I went with the flow a little too long (since our trip is in five days, now).

Are there TS restaurants that I might be able to get 3-4 people into on a walk-up basis with maybe a 20-30 minute wait? Am I doomed to counter service lunches?

(Any of the parks would be great - even if I got TS for lunch 1-2 days next week, I'd be happier)

 

[ROEDISNEY]

If I were you I go on Disney.com/dinning and see what's if anything is left.

 

[islandtimect]

If you try duiring off-peak hours, you can probably get in several places in Epcot. I've seen folks walk up and wait 20 minutes in Biergarten and Les Chefs de France.

 

[angierae]

If I were you I go on Disney.com/dinning and see what's if anything is left.

I see there are a few things in MK - I don't want to do reservations now, because maybe it'll just be my family of 3, maybe my MIL will join us, etc. Just wondering about walk-up opportunities. But I will use those who still have ressies available as where I check first when we're ready to eat - good idea.

If you try duiring off-peak hours, you can probably get in several places in Epcot. I've seen folks walk up and wait 20 minutes in Biergarten and Les Chefs de France.

Thank you - that's good to know!

 

[ElizabethB]

Marrakesh in Epcot is usually available. Actually, you'll find many of the table service restaurants are easy to get into for lunch because everyone on DDP saves their Table Service credit for dinner.

We've walked into Rose and Crown Pub for lunch. Also, Nine Dragons and Marrakesh as originally mentioned.

At AK, we've been able to walk into Yak and Yeti for lunch. At DHS, you may be able to walk into Brown Derby for lunch since it is a 2TS credit place and no one uses 2TS credits for lunch! I think Mama Melrose may be more difficult as a walk-in.

In MK, I think you have have a more difficult time walking into a park restaurant, although we've been able to walk into the Plaza if we go after lunch hour, around 2:30 pm. Also, you could leave the park by monorail and try Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona Cafe (at the Poly) or The Wave (at the Contemporary).

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Best of luck to you. I am not that chancey. I would never or could never go there with out them only because I hate to walk up there and be told no ever place I try. And I hear this happens to a lot of people. My family included who didn't listen to me. You have to have luck on your side.
This is Just my opinion.

 

[Withacy]

Does anyone else remember the good old days when you could go to Guest Services on your way into the park in the morning, and make your reservation then? And actually get the time & place you wanted?

Or when you asked the soonest you could be seated as a walk-up, it was actually in the same month?

Just me then?

OK, I'll just toddle back over to my rocking chair...

 

[sharadoc]

Does anyone else remember the good old days when you could go to Guest Services on your way into the park in the morning, and make your reservation then? And actually get the time & place you wanted?

Or when you asked the soonest you could be seated as a walk-up, it was actually in the same month?

Just me then?

OK, I'll just toddle back over to my rocking chair...

Yep, that one CM in front of Exposition Hall with the little podium. Or the video screens at Epcot Center (yes, I still call it Epcot Center!). Or just walking into the Contemporary Cafe for any meal and hanging out with some cool, obscure characters.

We can rock on the porch together! Ah, the good old days!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

OP, I would go to Guest Services at whatever park you're in & ask who has openings. They can tell you what restaurants & times are available in the area. You can even make an ADR through them. That way you don't have to keep walking from restaurant to restaurant hoping to find one that will seat you. Alternatively, if you have a cell phone with you, call the dining line & see what's available in the area you're in.


PS: You could always make an ADR for 4, & show up a person short, if you're MIL decides not to join you.

 

[Little Lulu]

Does anyone else remember the good old days when you could go to Guest Services on your way into the park in the morning, and make your reservation then? And actually get the time & place you wanted?

Or when you asked the soonest you could be seated as a walk-up, it was actually in the same month?

Just me then?

OK, I'll just toddle back over to my rocking chair...

Ahhh...the good ol days. [insert smilie in rocking chair]
And we did have the food 'n fun plan back then too.

 

[zulaya]

If you are in the Magic Kingdom area, or perhaps even Epcot Future World where you could take the monorail, I suggest you try:

The Wave at the Contemporary
The Grand Floridian Cafe at the GF
Kona Cafe at the Polynesian

If in World Showcase, most likely to have openings in my opinion:

Nine Dragons
Marrakesh
Biergarten

At DHS...hard to say, we aren't jazzed by the offerings there. If I had to pick, I'd say Sci-Fi Dine-in or the Brown Derby.

At AK, there are very few TS options in that park. Like two or three. Try Rainforest Cafe (though not sure if they are on the Dining Plan) or the Yak and Yeti.

 

[angierae]

Alternatively, if you have a cell phone with you, call the dining line & see what's available in the area you're in.

Ooh, good idea. I will have to program the dining line into my phone. (Can you tell I'm new at this?! )

 

[beautyqueen]

I was also going to say that you could always make the ADR for 4 people and then if your MIL doesn't go with you just tell them when you check in. I have also read in some TR's that people have added 1 person at the time of check in and they had to wait a little longer but it worked out.

 

[LadyGracey]

If you go at the off-peak times as a walkup (11am for lunch, 4 or 5pm for dinner) you are more likely to get in as well, even at more popular restaurants. With the low-ish crowd levels they are predicting your chances are probably pretty good at lunch to get in without ADRs.

 

[miprender]

We had last minute changes last week(which was quite busy) and I was able to make an ADR at 1pm for 5 at Tony's Town Square with less than a 24 hour notice.

 

[webprinter]

Guest services in EPCOT has a board that lists which restaurants have availability and for which meals.