reservations after getting to Disney

[MouseEarsforUs]

Has anyone ever gotten great reservations after getting to Disney?

What about character meals?

We usually make reservations way in advance but this is a last minute trip. We did get a few good ones reserved. I'll just be happy to be at Disney!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Has anyone ever gotten great reservations after getting to Disney?

What about character meals?

We usually make reservations way in advance but this is a last minute trip. We did get a few good ones reserved. I'll just be happy to be at Disney!

I'm wondering the same! Booked this trip awhile ago but wasnt sure if we were actually going to be able to go, financially...so @ 180 days out I made just a few ADRs...Now, we decided we are going in December and I am having trouble making the rest of the ADRs we want Hoping to get a few good ones last minute...not sure how likely it will be.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We have. When we went last year we decided to bump our 1900PF breakfast to later in the trip and we were able to get an ADR for around 9 a.m. During free dining in 2007 we were able to get a CM lunch on one day's notice -- it was a late seating but that was fine by us because the place was almost empty so lots of character interaction for DD. We've also made several non-character ADRs once on site.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

We have been successful many times. Many people underestimate travel times and never make it to their ADRs. We have gotten Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's just by asking(walk up) a couple of times. You can always try Customer Relations at the enterance of every park when you get there, they are very helpful with reservations. Good luck

 

[DisCopper]

I've been to WDW too many times to count (fortunately). I've had limited luck with getting into restaurants without ADRs.

Places I've tried, but haven't gotten into: Bistro de Paris, California Grill (except eating at the bar), Citricos, Cinderella's Royal Table, Flying Fish, Fulton's Crab House, Le Cellier, Narcooses, Teppen Edo, or Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Places I've gotten into: Artist Point, Brown Derby, Il Mulino, Jiko, Boma, Shulas, Coral Reef, Nine Dragos, Restaurant Marrakesh, San Angel Inn, Tokyo Dining (during Illuminations), Italia Restoranti, and Rain Forest Cafe (with a wait).

There are probably others on either side.

 

[AirGoofy]

I got Le Cellier for dinner in October this year. A few years ago, DW was able to get the Castle for breakfast while we were sitting at the rest area the day before.

 

[Nadjalu]

Both trips in 2009 we were not able to get any TS restaurants that we wanted after we got there.

Thank goodness we had adrs, I was just trying to "tweak" them but it was a no go.

 

[RMulieri]

It is possible, but if free dining is going on it is harder,.We were able to tweek some of ours but the only things available were less popular places like Marrakesh .I would program disney dining into your cell phone and give them a call each day.If you are in or near a restaurant that interests you , you can stop at the podium.If there are small kids in your party , make sure they understand you might not get certain places..I have seen more families show up at podiums and find they can't get in, and kids getting really really upset.

 

[mom2travel]

The weekend before Easter in 2009 I was able to get Tusker House breakfast for Sunday when I called from our room the day before (Saturday).

 

[Dizneydaz]

Sometimes. We have cancelled ADRs while there and also gotten ones. People's plans do change so you may just luck out. Keep calling while there. Put the number in your cell phone and call while out of your room.

Last year we cancelled an ADR at LTT during MNSSHP. When I called to cancel the day of, the CM said "Are you sure?" "Once you cancel it you can't get it back". Yes, I told her, we weren't doing MNSSHP. I told her it would make some lucky guests day to get a last minute ADR at LTT during MNSSHP.

 

[Connears]

We have been able to get same day adr when at wdw for The Wave, Le chefs de France and Kona Cafe. Have also been able to get character breakfast at Beach Club (when we were staying at BCV) by calling the restaurant at 9:00am (on a whim) and asking if they had anything for that morning and we were told to come right down..were seated at 9:15..ahh breakfast with Goofy!!!

Connears

 

[quandrea]

On our trip in Oct we got same day ressies at CM. 1 1/2 hours notice. We also got same day ressies for character breakfast at Cape May. I've also found that calling every day or checking online repeatedly yields good results. Perseverence is key.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Possible. But there are many variables, such as the time of year, day of the week, time of day, size of the party, etc.
You may not be able to get your first, second or even third choice. And you may have to go out of your way to get to the restaurant.
But there are good restaurants that are not generally overflow busy. As a rule of thumb, those generally are the resort restaurants.

 

[neodymm]

We've walked right into CRT for dinner, waited outside for about 10 minutes while they checked in the ADR groups and we went in, pure luck I am sure. We've also gotten same day ressies from the Concierge for CM, Les chefs de France, Sanaa, and 1900 Park Fare. We've done walk-ups to several Epcot restaurants, with the exception of LC & Akershus, of course. Successful walk-ups to LTT and CP in MK, too. I say never give up! When you are on site, you can take a minute to walk-up to the restaurant and try to get in, especially during non-traditional meal times. I usually check with the Concierge every morning if we have somewhere that we want to get in. I am sure size of party makes a difference...larger groups might have a harder time. And, we are usually there on low crowd days which makes a big difference. Good Luck!

 

[SPROUTY1]

WE HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK DOING IT BUT I KEEP TRYING ANYWAY.

 

[suevr]

I've never had much luck. We always book our trips at the last minute so I'm never able to get any ADRs that I want. We were at Disney over Halloween for 10 days and I kept trying to get Chef Mickey's for breakfast and was never able to. I'd check several times a day, even while we were there. We were able to get La Hacienda on our last night an hour out from the reservation. Our reservation time was 7:30 but they were running late so we had to wait. We ended up being there until 9:00 so we got to see Illluminations from our table next to the window. It was awesome!