Plaza Restaurant? What are the odds...

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

...of getting a walk up?

We're going August 15th - 22nd. I've pretty much made any ADRs I want to make and DON'T want to book the Plaza Restaurant in advance. However, we'll have some free time during the trip and we're staying at CR, just a hop away from MK. I was thinking that if we were in the mood one open evening that a couple of us could stop over to the Plaza Restaurant just for a nice little spur of the moment meal....but I know that spur of the moment can be unrealistic in Disney, especially during the summer.

Honestly, if we went during an off hour to the Plaza Restaurant, is there any chance of us getting in?

 

[Simba22]

Honestly, I would say it's slim to none. We have been a few times and it was packed every time. We checked in and still had to wait about 20 minutes for a table to open up. You might be able to get in for a late lunch, but a lot of people make ressies during parade and fireworks times so truthfully, I wouldn't take the risk. I would rather just make the reservation and have it if I need it. You can always cancel it.

 

[MissionMouse]

...of getting a walk up?...August 15th - 22nd. ...DON'T want to book the Plaza Restaurant in advance. ...free time during the trip l....but I know that spur of the moment can be unrealistic in Disney, especially during the summer.

Honestly, if we went during an off hour to the Plaza Restaurant, is there any chance of us getting in?

Sounds like you already know the odds are against you, but you can never rule it out. There is no way to gauge one day from another. Many people book more than one meal for the same time so there could be no-shows or even a cancellation from a guest who actually calls into to let Disney know. On the other hand, you would not be the only one to try a walk-up too. Disney does not guarantee the ability to dine at table service restaurants and post the need to make ADRs in advance.

While we have obtained a walk-up at the Plaza it was during the non-peak season. Even off times (non-prime eating times) could be a challenge during the Summer months.

If you want to be in control, then getting an ADR is the way to go. Especially in Summer or anytime there is free dining going on.

 

[BriarRosie]

You're going during the start of free dining, so the restaurants will be packed. If you really want to eat somewhere during free dining, you would be much better off with an ADR.

 

[Haley]

Yeah I'd say Free dining = not so many spur of the moment walk ups.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Better to have a ressie, cancel that day cause you decide not to go

than to want to go & not be able to because no room at the inn...

Plaza is such a quaint little place with marvelous ice-cream. Go ahead, book a ressie, you know you want to since you're day dreaming about it

 

[fla4fun]

I say compromise - don't make the ADR now, because you want to be flexible on this issue. But do call the day before or day of to see what's available so you don't go over and find that it's completely booked.

I've had pretty good luck with walk ins at the Plaza, even during free dining, but I go when they first open for the day. Once they get going, it's a lot harder due to the small size of the restaurant. One thing in your favor is that when people are at Disney on the dining plan, they are typically looking to get the most for their money. When they look at the Plaza menu, it looks like it wouldn't be worth as much "value" as most of the other TS restaurants in the area. But it's a great little restaurant, if you haven't been before.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We ate at the Plaza during that timeframe last year, and they were turning away all walk-ups. Our ADR was for 11:05 and the walk-ups were being told they were booked for the day and directed to Town Hall (Guest Services) to make reservations at other locations.

It's a small restaurant and it's during free dining.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Thanks for the input, guys! Yeah, Free Dining definitely complicates things.

I would like to try it out, but I think I'll go with the advice of waiting then calling in later on to see if they have anything available. If not, I've got plenty of ADRs waiting for me!

 

[Mom2Elliot]

Well, we got into the Plaza twice last August during the second week of free dining. Once was around 1 pm and the other around 4pm. I would say it is easier to get in there as free dining people may have ADR's at more expensive places. Over Easter, it was a 30 minute wait for a table.

 

[distherapy]

I would definitely call on the day you want to visit. We were in MK one day and decided we felt like having lunch there. I called WDW-DINE from Tomorrowland! They had an opening abouy 15 minutes away (although the CM on the phone was a little confused about what I was trying to do). We went ahead and checked in and while we were doing so, people were being turned away for walk-ups (or told a wait of 1 hr +, I honestly can't remember, but there were a lot of disappointed people). DH thought I was a genius...