Recommendations to eat without reservation?

[latrischler]

We are going to Disney 9/5-10. Not staying on Disney property so no dining plan - but at this point the couple of restaurants we tried to call don't have anything available because of ADRs already made.

Any recommendations on where to eat (for a nice sit down dinner) without an ADR? We will be going into all 4 parks at some point, so could be in any of the parks. Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

With free dining going on, it will be tough. You will do best to go to places that don't take the Dining Plan (those are mostly at Downtown Disney, Swan/Dolphin) or reservations (ESPN Club, for example - but that's not really a nice sitdown). Or try some of the further out resort restaurants - like Turf Club at Saratoga Springs.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We just returned last night and I can tell you it was virtually impossible to walk into any place without an ADR. We tried to change a few but had 0 luck. The one place we did walk into was ESPN club. You can always call when you arrive because things do open up each day. We called a few days and could have gotten into Marrakesh, Biergarten or Boma. I would also recommend to check the online system regularly. We were able to book several ADR's the week before we left.

 

[worm761]

I find plenty of places still available. Just go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ plug in the date and time you want plus your the number in your party and it will tell you what is available at that time. It is free dining so I suggest you at least try to make reservations somewhere. I doubt they will be accepting walk ups while you are there.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

You might have better luck if you try to dine at a restaurant that service both lunch and dinner, and trying to eat between the two meal rushes. My family had a wonderful, relaxed late-lunch / early dinner on the patio of The Brown Derby (DHS). We put our name on the standby list at 3:30 and were seated before 4:00 pm (value season - early December 2008). Tusker House (AK) is another possibility. (I haven't tried it yet.)

If you want to dine during 'normal' meal times, you may have to go a bit out of your way, likely leaving the parks. I've heard good things about the Turf Club (Saratoga Springs -- take a boat or walk from Downtown Disney).

 

[bellefromboston]

My advice would be to go to the restaurant as soon as it opens and ask about availability. This has worked for us.

I would try Marrakesh, Kona, Cape May, and GF Cafe. These have always seemed less busy to me.

I would still highly recommend getting a reservation before you leave! Why chance it?

Have a great vacation!

 

[TDC Nala]

Go to www.disneyworld.com/restaurants and see what is available for reservations if you want to eat at TS inside the parks. If you try a booking for any restaurant, it will give you alternatives that have reservations open.

 

[mom2rtk]

I really agree that you should be scouring the online reservation system. With free dining going on, it is entirely possible that when you enter a given park for the day, you will be greeted with a sign telling you there are no openings at any table service restaurant that day.

It doesn't hurt to ask about a walk-up, but just be prepared with alternate plans if it doesn't pan out.

It MIGHT help to tell them you are NOT on the dining plan and paying out of pocket.

If you end up eating counter service, still go at off hours. Folks on free dining will also be using their CS credits there.

If you haven't done so, sign up for the September ADR cancellation thread so you'll know when someone cancels something.

Be sure to check restaurants that require a CC hold (CRT, Akershus) because people DO cancel those when plans change.

Good luck!

 

[Kay1]

You might want to consider leaving the park, using Disney transportation, and eating at a resort restaurant. They seem to have lots of tables, especially at lunch. For example, you could take the monorail to Kona, or the Epcot boat to Captain's Grille.

Enjoy.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

We will be ther around the same time and I have been able to switch a couple of our Adrs without any problem. Just curious, where were you looking to eat?

 

[TiaMaria]

Not making ADR's during one of the busiest times of the year (free dining) can doom you to wandering around for a couple of hours, looking for a place that will seat you.

Even counter service restaurants may have lines out the door, and no free tables to be found.

Do yourself a favor, make some kind of ADR's. You can always stop at Guest Services when you get to the parks to have them check to see what, if anything, may have opened up for that day.

But you need a backup plan just in case. Also, if you do find something different, or your park plans change, do take the time to call or have Guest Services or the concierge cancel your existing reservation to open it up for someone else in the same situation.

 

[ChicagoFitnessClub]

Beaches & Cream - Doesn't accept ADRs
Captain's Galley at Yacht Club - Not very busy
GF Cafe
Marrakesh at Epcot
Via Napoli at Epcot
Biergarten at Epcot
Rainforest Cafe at DHS

And like another previous poster said, you can try some places at downtown disney that don't accept the dining plan but try the ones that do too.

Wolfgang Pucks
Fultons

 

[TillyMarigold]

Each park will have a list near the entrance of which places still have openings. Last year at the same time, most of the Epcot places had lunch availability (except Akershus and Le Cellier) and a few (like Nine Dragons) had dinner availability. OTOH, nowhere at the MK did.

Eating at off times, you'd probably have decent luck at less popular places.

 

[latrischler]

My husband would like to go to Coral Reef if possible - when we called we could get in about bed time. LOL

I think we'll just pass this time and cook ourselves at the house we're renting. Maybe one night out somewhere outside the disney parks!

 

[splashmountainjaxson]

As others mentioned -- look at restaurants not on the dining plan, that will be very helpful. If you are opting for a nice dinner, you could look at Bistro de Paris, that is in Epcot, and not on the dining plan... just a thought.

 

[latrischler]

We need a res. for 6, which may be part of the problem!

We did get an ADR at Cape May Cafe, we ate there 3 years ago, not exactly Coral Reef but my husband loved it - so that will work! Thanks for all the help. Just love this board!