Reservations for just dessert?

[jeni1072]

Is it frowned upon to get reservations if all we want is dessert? Some of the restaurants have great desserts and we'd like to just be able to sit for a while and have a drink and some yummy dessert, but don't know if we'll be getting dirty looks everywhere

 

[gharter]

depends where you plan to dine. If the restaurant is one of the prix-fixe, then just dessert is not an option. Any other restaurant should not be an issue. We have just done apps and drinks on occasion.

 

[HopperFan]

Is it frowned upon to get reservations if all we want is dessert? Some of the restaurants have great desserts and we'd like to just be able to sit for a while and have a drink and some yummy dessert, but don't know if we'll be getting dirty looks everywhere

Depends on where and what you mean by "a while". I have witnessed upset staff at people that took up a table for a negligible bill.

 

[Lewisc]

Is it frowned upon to get reservations if all we want is dessert? Some of the restaurants have great desserts and we'd like to just be able to sit for a while and have a drink and some yummy dessert, but don't know if we'll be getting dirty looks everywhere

You want to make a reservation and sit for a while without ordering a meal? Certainly OK at a place like Beaches and Cream. JMO but rude to do it during normal dinner hours at a full service restaurant.

That's the reason an increasingly number of restaurants at WDW have changed to price fixed.

Many restaurants have bars (cocktail lounges). Frequently menus items, including yummy desserts, are available. That's the right thing to do, JMO

 

[CynBeth]

I agree I do not feel it is right to take up a table just for dessert when someone who really wants a meal there might miss out.

 

[focusondisney]

I have seen popular restaurants in my area list how long your table is reserved for. WDW restaurants don’t do that. Restaurants that aren’t prix fixe meals don’t have a minimum spend. So you certainly can order just a drink & dessert. Whether other people are wanting a meal or not is not your responsibility, you’re entitled to order what you want. But I think it depends what you mean by sit for awhile. A drink & dessert should only take about a half hour. If that’s what you mean, no problem at all. The table will turn over quickly, the wait staff will keep making money & others will get their chance to dine. If you’re intending to sit for a few hours lingering over that 1 drink, that would probably be rude.

 

[jeni1072]

So the more I think about it, I'm not going to have a problem doing it. As an example, it we want to go to Tony's and get a tiramasu and a cocktail, we're going to be spending the same as someone getting a dinner plate. There will be no shame in my game lol

 

[Threehearts]

I think if your drink and dessert add up to roughly the same cost as having dinner at the restaurant and you will tip accordingly, then it is fine. Where I live, it would be considered exceedingly rude to have a drink and a dessert, taking up a valuable table, during high business hours. I actually do not think the restaurants in my city would allow it all unless it was slow and the patron sat at the bar. Restaurant money is made on turning over full dining experience tables and for waitstaff, those corresponding tips pay their rent.

So all that said, I am not sure what WDW allows or doesn't in regard to having just a dessert and drink in the main dining room. I'm sure you will get a lot of good information about possible places right here on the DIS.

 

[Lewisc]

So the more I think about it, I'm not going to have a problem doing it. As an example, it we want to go to Tony's and get a tiramasu and a cocktail, we're going to be spending the same as someone getting a dinner plate. There will be no shame in my game lol

Most people going to a restaurant at dinner time will order more then a dinner plate. Something to drink. Probably a starter and/or a dessert. Your analogy is bogus.

Ordering just a dessert is allowed.

You didn't ask if it's allowed. You asked if you might get dirty looks. Probably yes.

Probably not a big deal if an occasional rude guest makes a reservation, but only plans on ordering dessert. Too many guests do it and the restaurant changes to price fixed

JMO but making.a reservation deprives guests who want dinner a chance to reserve a table intended for dinner.

Walking up to a restaurant with availability and asking to be seated for dessert is.Ok, JMO.

Again Disney doesn't have a rule . against what you want to do. You wouldn’t have.started this thread if you thought it was OK.

 

[Robber Baron]

Going to a restaurant for dessert and/or drinks IS a thing. There is nothing unusual about it. A normal party having just dessert would most likely tie up a table for a fraction of the time compared to eating a full meal.

Go, have dessert, (I believe many Disney Signature restaurants do a great job with desserts), maybe have a drink. Tip on the amount of your bill, there's no need to tip on hypothetical entree's that you didn't eat.

Even though going to a restaurant for dessert is a normal behavior, you will never see a restaurant where 50% or 75% of the tables are having dessert only.

I have stopped for drinks and dessert and would bet our tab was higher than some people eating dinner at the same restaurant.

In the course of an evening the difference in a servers income will not even be noticeable if one of their tables was for dessert only.

It is not rude, for heavens sake, don't even give it a second thought.

 

[Jen81NYC]

I think it’s fine if it’s for somewhat off hours but it does seem a little weird if it’s like a prime dinner time like 6:30pm. I’d at least add an appetizer to that if you’re eating during a very obvious meal time. But I’m sure they’ve seen it all and I wouldn’t sweat it much regardless. You’ll be out quicker and it won’t really affect how they turn their tables.

 

[Mle8308]

Going to a restaurant for dessert and/or drinks IS a thing. There is nothing unusual about it. A normal party having just dessert would most likely tie up a table for a fraction of the time compared to eating a full meal.

Go, have dessert, (I believe many Disney Signature restaurants do a great job with desserts), maybe have a drink. Tip on the amount of your bill, there's no need to tip on hypothetical entree's that you didn't eat.

Even though going to a restaurant for dessert is a normal behavior, you will never see a restaurant where 50% or 75% of the tables are having dessert only.

I have stopped for drinks and dessert and would bet our tab was higher than some people eating dinner at the same restaurant.

In the course of an evening the difference in a servers income will not even be noticeable if one of their tables was for dessert only.

It is not rude, for heavens sake, don't even give it a second thought.

"A normal party having just dessert would most likely tie up a table for a fraction of the time compared to eating a full meal." This is correct, however the OP states they "want to sit for awhile". If awhile is much more than 30-35 minutes, then definitely dirty looks. Disney restaurants are not like other normal restaurants, there is a huge demand for tables at most places. A drink (if alcoholic) and a dessert is probably going to be about $23, where an entree at most sit downs start at $28. I wouldn't do it, I would sit at the bar if the restaurant has one.

 

[AliceNDinah]

I did this for Flying Fish in August. I have zero interest in seafood, but was drooling over the Cocoa Breach dessert I had heard about. It was me and my son, and he DID eat a kid's dinner and had his own dessert. We didn't really linger or anything, I had wanted to try the Breach for so long, and was so excited. Such a great dessert, very filling too! Glad we did it. My little boy still raves about his steak he got

 

[HopperFan]

Most people going to a restaurant at dinner time will order more then a dinner plate. Something to drink. Probably a starter and/or a dessert. Your analogy is bogus.

Ordering just a dessert is allowed.

You didn't ask if it's allowed. You asked if you might get dirty looks. Probably yes.

Probably not a big deal if an occasional rude guest makes a reservation, but only plans on ordering dessert. Too many guests do it and the restaurant changes to price fixed

JMO but making.a reservation deprives guests who want dinner a chance to reserve a table intended for dinner.

Walking up to a restaurant with availability and asking to be seated for dessert is.Ok, JMO.

Again Disney doesn't have a rule . against what you want to do. You wouldn’t have.started this thread if you thought it was OK.

And just glancing a dessert and average cocktail is still not equal to even the cheapest entree.

As I said above I've not noticed guests looks and only see servers complain to other servers (I seem to get seated close to their stations often (just DS#1 and I). Now DS#2 and I like to go order 2-4 appetizers (more if DS#1 is there) and drinks and we tell the server up front so they can bring it right out away. We get the bill quickly (tip extra) so as soon as we are done we leave letting them turn table. We are there to eat. If we want to socialize over a drink/dessert or appetizer then we go to a lounge or sit at the bar in a restaurant.

If it's not prix fixe Disney allows since they have no minimums. Do servers like it? probably not if it doesn't come up to the "average" bill (say 2 adults and 2 kids bill for party of 4) since that is their paycheck. But if the table turns fast and they earn fairly, it shouldn't be a big deal. Now if 4 people plan to share a couple desserts and each have one drink and linger ....

I'm predicting over time more prix fixe menus, it makes everything easy from food inventory, to timing a meal, to staffing, to meeting income goals.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions but I think a few folks are off the mark on this. I have been a waitress and so long as someone isn't dining at a table for hours just to spend $10 and not tip, it's fine. Not tipping or being a super cheap tipper when you're a great server are the pet peeves of the hospitality industry. Ultimately, yes it affects your tip but a waiter should not expect a killer tip on a smaller tab. Just don't be a dummy and sit and linger, that's rude and very much frowned upon.

Eat and order what you want, it's no different than people who share meals. Dining establishments are there for your enjoyment and if you want to have drinks and a treat, so long as you pay and tip accordingly, it's 100% acceptable and allowed. In fact, more times than not, my experience is that people who do this, usually tip more since they know they didn't have a full meal in which case it's win for the server. Disney servers have seen it all, don't be afraid to order what you want and don't feel pressured to spend more when you don't have to. You may get dirty looks, or not, I don't know but if you don't want a meal, it's none of their business.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm predicting over time more prix fixe menus, it makes everything easy from food inventory, to timing a meal, to staffing, to meeting income goals.

Disney is already moving in that direction. Disney seems to prefer the price fixed approach over a minimum dollar order or a each guest order an entrée requirement.

The more guests who book restaurants for snacks the quicker Disney will change the restaurant menu to price fixed.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Heading to Vegas this weekend and several of the places we are eating have it on the menu that every patron must order an entree. As Disney continues to raise prices and price out some of their guests more and more people will do the "one cupcake & waters" for the table of four. That's obviously a more egregious example...but it was enough to get BOG moved to Prix fix. I wish Disney would move to a min spend/every patron must order an entree policy. While it would price some people/families out....it would make ressies easier to get for people who actually want to eat a full meal.

 

[HopperFan]

Disney is already moving in that direction. Disney seems to prefer the price fixed approach over a minimum dollar order or a each guest order an entrée requirement.

The more guests who book restaurants for snacks the quicker Disney will change the restaurant menu to price fixed.

Yup, we are seeing it slowly creep in. I am very curious if California Grill will ever return to the full menu. Imagine how much they'll save AND make if they can streamline that menu and just offer prix fixe from now on. Be Our Guest should have always been MANDATORY prix fixe at breakfast and now lunch has changed and breakfast not back.

It makes the most sense and if everyone has the pay the same realistically they can keep prices more stable but .... The question for Disney will be can we keep the restaurants full. I think will proper pricing they can, but can and will are two different things.

 

[stinkpickle]

I would book a table service spot just for dessert and/or drinks and not think twice about it.