Reservations @ CityWalk restaurants necessary?

[disneyfam31]

We are going to Universal for the first time for (2) days as part of a combined Disney/Universal trip in May. We plan to eat dinner at CityWalk after each day at the park (myself, DH, DD10, DS7). It doesn't appear that making reservations for these restaurants is as "critical" as it would be at the Disney parks / resorts. Is that true? I don't see a reservation option for some of the restaurants either (ex: Cowfish).

I will be calling them to inquire, but wondering what your experience has been with making reservations for various restaurants at CityWalk and whether it's really needed.

Thank you!

 

[TommyJK]

I would recommend it. Especially if you are planning on going around when the parks are nearing close.

When we were there recently we went to Citiwalk for dinner on a non park day. We went to Bubba Gump for around 6:00 (we had a reservation) when the park was closing at 7:00. At 6:00 without a reservation we probably would have had to wait 10-15 min for a table. By the time we finished our dinner (around 7:00ish) the lineup was well out the door with people wanting a table.

 

[disneyfam31]

I would recommend it. Especially if you are planning on going around when the parks are nearing close.

When we were there recently we went to Citiwalk for dinner on a non park day. We went to Bubba Gump for around 6:00 (we had a reservation) when the park was closing at 7:00. At 6:00 without a reservation we probably would have had to wait 10-15 min for a table. By the time we finished our dinner (around 7:00ish) the lineup was well out the door with people wanting a table.

Thanks for the info. Did you just call the restaurant directly to make the reservation? I don't see online booking availability for most of the restaurants at CityWalk. I did all my Disney ADR's online!

 

[TommyJK]

Ya. For Bubba Gump I just called their number.

 

[schumigirl]

Ya. For Bubba Gump I just called their number.

Do Bubba Gump accept reservations now?

 

[TommyJK]

They did for me when we went in mid Feb.

 

[policycobb]

We were there March 3 - 6. There was over an hour wait at most of the restaurants around 7:00. The host at NBC Sports Grill & Brew told us a tour/group had bought out tables at all the sit down restaurants. Didn't question him but did check at The Cowfish and there was a long wait there too.

Went back to The Cowfish the next night and there was a 45 minute wait. They do not take reservations but will text you when your table is ready. It is delicious.

 

[macraven]

if i plan to eat at city walk on a friday or saturday night, i make reservations in advance.

if you don't have a ressie and the place (Margaritaville) is full, you can have your name put on a wait list.
they will give you an approximate time your table might be ready.

You do have to check as if they call your name a few times and you don't respond, you get scratched off the list.

 

[disneyfam31]

Thanks everyone! I am going to call tomorrow and try to make reservations. We are going in May on a Wed and Thurs night, so I hope the crowds won't be too bad, but better to try and reserve ahead if possible. We would really like to try The Cowfish, but I would rather have a back up reservation in case the wait is too long.

 

[keishashadow]

does flashing onsite room key give any edge to standby wait times? used to for Margarittaville weekdays.

We tend to eat earlier, thus never have had a problem eating anywhere...worst case, have a cocktail first and chill until called

 

[chmurf]

does flashing onsite room key give any edge to standby wait times?

it does at most venues (except bubba gump, on top of my head)

but onsite priority seating still gets you seated after those with reservations (but before walk-ups)

 

[schumigirl]

does flashing onsite room key give any edge to standby wait times? used to for Margarittaville weekdays.

We tend to eat earlier, thus never have had a problem eating anywhere...worst case, have a cocktail first and chill until called

We were told 50 minutes wait last year on a Friday night........showed our room key and we were seated in just over 10 minutes..........lots of annoyed people around us.........we heard some asking why we had been seated before them.........

Yes, cocktail while waiting wouldn't have been an issue for us either........

 

[AustinTink]

Totally forgot to show our room key at Cowfish last night! Argh! That would have saved us the 30 minute wait possibly. Not a biggie, though. We did some window shopping.

 

[nkereina]

We are always at Universal at the end of our trip, so get there on a Thursday and leave Saturday or Sunday. We've not made reservations for any of the City Walk places we've eaten at BUT we are conscious about what time the park closes and try to get in for dinner before that. Usually between 5-6pm. Haven't had a problem yet, but if you have little flexibility, definitely safer to make reservations. You can find some of the restaurants on OpenTable.com too.

 

[Princess Jes]

Any ideas what they do for international guests who don't have a phone to receive a text on?
I'm assuming we'd just have to hang around the restaurant and wait to hear our name?

 

[macraven]

they will give you an approximate time that your table will be ready.

(so, you don't have to stand around the restaurant, you have an idea of when to return)

 

[Princess Jes]

they will give you an approximate time that your table will be ready.

(so, you don't have to stand around the restaurant, you have an idea of when to return)

Thanks!
We hung around Bubba Gumps the first time and the second time (we are there twice.... Don't judge me) we sat at the bar which is definitely my preference!!

 

[schumigirl]

Any ideas what they do for international guests who don't have a phone to receive a text on?
I'm assuming we'd just have to hang around the restaurant and wait to hear our name?

Yes, we never have a phone with us either........and listen for our name being called........as macraven says they'll tell you an approx time.........

Places like Margaritaville give you a buzzer.

 

[schumigirl]

Bubba Gump do now accept a limited amount of reservations if you call the restaurant direct.

A Universal Orlando rep called me back yesterday to confirm they had spoken to to the manager at the restaurant and he explained they will take some reservations.

 

[soniam]

I didn't see this mentioned, but Cowfish has an app that allows you to get on the wait list from about a half mile from the restaurant. We put our names down while in our room at the Hardrock on 3/13 about 5 or 5:30pm. The app notified us before we got out of the hotel that our table was ready. We just walked up to the second floor hostess stand and got seated. I would get the app, because I think you should be able to checkin while in the park and the table should still be available once you walk over, assuming you head to Cowfish once you get the notification.