Question about walking up to a restaurant with no reservation?

[shmoogrrrl]

We are traveling the first week of May and have one day where our lunch is VERY close to our dinner time. Our lunch is at the Sci Fi Dine in at 1:35pm, and our Dinner is at the Whispering Canyon at 5:00. We have never tried the Sci Fi, preferring to eat at the Prime Time Cafe at DS, but my husband really wants to try it. Obviously we can just split a meal or something at the Sci Fi if we have to, but I've been calling every so often to see if something opened up at the Sci Fi for an earlier time. They could accommodate us if they split us up, but as we are a party of two adults and two small kiddos, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

So my question is, if nothing opens up before we get there, do the restaurants take walk ups at all? For instance, I think I read that the Sci Fi opened at 11:30am. If we were there right as they opened, are they likely to seat us, or do they ONLY take reservations?

 

[LadyZolt]

I've been seated at Sci-Fi as a walk-up, but we were a party of two adults. The bigger the party, the less likely it is to be seated. Also, they have some tables that aren't "cars" and walk-ups are more likely to be seated in those areas than someone with a ressie. Since we walked-up and didn't care, we agreed to sit at those tables, but they actually found us a car, so that was nice. You don't say how old your kids are, but I know when mine were elementary school age, they would have been unhappy to sit at a table when they could see so many cars around with people sitting in them. At sci-fi, cars are "the norm." So, take that into consideration, too, since you know your kids best. And if you have two grown-ups and two kids, be open to splitting into two parties of two -- you and one kid, your spouse with the other. You'd get a unique experience alone with one child (and so would your spouse) and then when you get back together, you can share your experiences. It can be fun for the kids to do that, and they get a "special time" with a parent. Whatever happens, have a great time!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I'd go by there right at opening, and say, "Look, we have reservations at 1:35 but it's going to make our afternoon a challenge. Is there any possible way we could be seated earlier?"

You might just get lucky, but, at any rate, you still have your reservations.

Ye have not because ye ask not, y'know?

 

[SPOERLX3]

SCI-FI IS A MUST FOR OUR FAMILY EVERY TIME WE GO TO DISNEY. WE MANAGE ABOUT EVERY OTHER YEAR BUT WE ONLY GO FOR LUNCH. IT THE ATMOSPHERE THAT TAKES US BACK, BUT THE BURGERS, ONION RINGS AND SHAKES ARE AMAZING AND BIG ENOUGH TO SHARE AND BE FULL. WE ALWAYS GO ABOUT THE 11:30 TIME FRAME.

3 YEARS AGO, WE GOT THERE ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF FAMILIES WITH NO RESSIES ONE GOT SEATED IN A CAR, THE OTHER TOOK A TABLE.

LAST YEAR, NO WAY! EVERYONE THAT WAS A WALK UP WAS IMMEDIATELY TOLD THEY WERE TOTALLY BOOKED AND THIS WAS EARLY DECEMBER AND THE PARKS WERE DEAD.

FOR THE BEST LUCK, I WOULD BE THERE WHEN THEY OPEN @ 11AM. THAT WILL BE YOUR BEST CHANCE. BUT IF YOU GO AT 1:30. GO FOR THE ATMOSPHERE, SPLIT A BURGER, ONION RINGS AND A SHAKE AND ENJOY!!

I DID LOVE THE IDEA FROM THE OTHER POST TO SPEND ONE ON ONE TIME WITH THE KIDS. I ALWAYS LOVED SPECIAL TIME WITH MY KIDS BUT........ PARTIES OF 2 NORMALLY ARE REFERED AS HITCH HIKERS AND END UP IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR WITH A FAMILY OF 4 WHICH FOR A LITTLE ONE CAN BE DISAPPOINTING AND STOP THEM FROM SEEING TOO WELL OVER THE OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEATS. JUST A THOUGHT.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This past December my friends and I went to Libery Tree Tavern for lunch without an ADR's and got seated within 5 minutes. Later that same day we went to Prime Time Cafe for dinner again without an ADR's and we were seated within 5 minutes. Also in both situations we had went well after they opened so anything is possible.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I would go whenever they open and explain that you'd like to come early and see what they can do for you.

 

[Schminston-Mo]

In early June 2007, DH and DS walked in first thing (11:00 I think?) and they got seated. I was surprised that it worked out for them...if you count DS spilling an entire milkshake down the front of his shorts as working out for them!

So keep calling, but you could try for a first seating.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

We (party of 4) got seated as walk-ups at Sci Fi last [early] August, around 1:00 pm. We had to wait about 10 minutes.

 

[Crystal_27]

If I already have an existing ADR, I've always had good luck in getting an earlier seating (even at LeCellier - LOL). It definitely can't hurt to ask!!

 

[miranda_stella]

We have reservations for May 11 at 11:00am, so I would go earlier than 11:30am if your really want to get in.