Reservation for Cafe Orleans?

[theworldneedscolor]

How necessary is a reservation for Cafe Orleans? The times we've gone we've been seated without a reservation, but I wasn't sure if we just got lucky...I'm thinking either lunch on May 6th or dinner on May 7th.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I'm wondering the same thing! I haven't been for 5 years, but we just got a table quickly without a reservation. I want to eat there on our visit next month, but debating if we need one or not. I don't like being tied down to a schedule

 

[l4dyj8]

I don't see a problem on a weekday. On the weekends without a reservation I have waited the most for 30 minutes. It you pick on a time like before 12 or after 2-5, I think chances are better. I agree on being forced into a schedule around reservations. It's weekends and Friday-Sunday nights that are busiest.

 

[rms123]

Last week it was spring break and the wait without reservations was huge even at 11:30.

 

[nikkislaght]

Last April, no ressies ,and if we waited it would have been an hour or so, I guess it depends on the day and time of year.

 

[figment_jii]

There is no way to know for sure if you need a reservation or not. To be safe, I would always recommend getting one because you never know how things will be until you get there. I've been there when they were taking walk-ups with minimal wait and I've also been there when they were turning away walk-ups. I remember stopping one Tuesday in October around 1:00 pm and being told that they were not accepting walk-ups. It wasn't a major holiday or anything else,so no idea what was happening. So, if you know you want to eat at Cafe Orleans, I would make a reservation.

 

[SMD]

I'll usually put my name in, take the buzzer and if I get too hungry while waiting will turn it back in and go the French Market. I'm typically willing to wait 20 minutes, maybe up to 40 if I'm with a group who really wants to go and they're good company while waiting.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I really don't like the idea of being tied to a reservation, but I'm guess I'm going to go ahead and make one anyways. It's one of my favorite resturants, and I'd hate to be turned away.

Now, I'm trying to decide what time to make it for. It's so tricky to plan it around park-hopping, and trying to anticipate the time frames for fast passes!

 

[tarheelalum]

If it's not too busy you can usually get in without waiting more than 20 minutes or less most of the time. During a busy time the waits can be 45 or more.

 

[Butterfly123]

I really don't like the idea of being tied to a reservation, but I'm guess I'm going to go ahead and make one anyways. It's one of my favorite resturants, and I'd hate to be turned away.

Now, I'm trying to decide what time to make it for. It's so tricky to plan it around park-hopping, and trying to anticipate the time frames for fast passes!

I agree! I don't like to be tied down to a specific time when I'm in the parks. I make as few reservations as possible. Maybe you could make a reservation for a later day on your trip and try to drop in on an earlier day, then cancel the later reservation? That way you could try the drop in at your convenience. I'd just pick a more off schedule time to eat. We've done both the reservation and the drop in, and our drop in wait was about 20 minutes in June.