Restaurant availability if you don't make an ADR one day

[kadesha]

I am considering not making an ADR for our last day because we don't get hopper passes and I want to leave that day open to go to whichever park we want. How crazy is it to not make an ADR? Will I be able to call that morning and get something at whatever park we want to go to?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am considering not making an ADR for our last day because we don't get hopper passes and I want to leave that day open to go to whichever park we want. How crazy is it to not make an ADR? Will I be able to call that morning and get something at whatever park we want to go to?

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on when you are going, which park you will be in. At Epcot, you can usually get Marrakesh (but not even that all the time). But if you want a favorite place that everyone eats at, probably not.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Hmmm..

Try the night before at the concierge desk at your resort....

I had booked MANY ADR's for our May 2010 visit....

I went to the concierge desk the day before our DHS visit... and tried to get Sci Fi or 50's Prime Time for 11am the next day...

I was able to land 11a for 50's Prime Time....and we LOVED it !

So glad because I actually enjoyed the food better than my 4:15p ADR's at HBD F! Dining pkg later that day.....

But anyway... it's probably hit or miss and also depending on how many TS are available in the park and the time of year... (Epcot probably having the most choices?)

Have a magical visit !

Mary

 

[mrzrich]

You may have a hard time getting a meal at MK last minute, but you May be able to get a table at a nearby resort on the Monorail line. If you don't have luck getting a meal at DHS, consider checking the dining options at the BWI, or BC/YC. They are just a boat ride away. (Same goes if you don't like whats available at Epcot that day.)

Places that don't take ADRs

Beaches and Cream
ESPN
Big River Brewing Co.

You can probably get a last minute table at Captain's Grille and maybe even Kouzzina

 

[Bribrittmom]

At Epcot I think you can get last minute ADR's at Nine Dragons.If going to Magic Kingdom you can take the monorail and probably get last minute ADR at Grand Floridian Cafe.I agree w/ the idea of Captain's Grill at Yacht Club if going to DHS. At AKL you could probably get a last minute ADR at Rain Forest Cafe just outside the park.The Wave at the Contemporary has always been available last minute too when we've checked.

 

[GAN]

If I were you I'd just plan on eating early that day. Our experience is that we usually can get in if we arrive around 4:45 and put our name in. As long as you're not thinking Cindy's, etc..

 

[Hopefully]

You're going at a busier time of year. May 28th is the Memorial Day Holiday.
I would say your chances are slim. It will depend on the park you choose that last day. Obviously there are more choices at Epcot. PP have mentioned some of the less popular restaurants that may still have availability.
I would say your chances are even less at the MK and DHS.
You always have CS to fall back on.
Good Luck

 

[eliza61]

How last minute. I've never gone during a holiday so I can't say but I generally go the last week in august-first week in september. We rarely ever make a lot of adr's and we have never ever NOT been able to get a TS meal. I think that is a myth disney loves to perpetuate to keep their restaurants full. LOL.

I get up every morning and call disney dining. The CM's there are great and always find me some thing.

Now let me state that:
1) My family and I love to be flexibile. We don't have to eat at 6pm every day, so that makes it easy.
2) We really don't think any of the worlds restaurants are so spectacular that if we miss it we'd be upset.

Last year we did the Segway tour at Epcot, it was over around 11:30 and we walked over to Via Napoli and the joint was empty. We were seated immediately. that was the only walk up I've ever done.

I wouldn't stress about it. If you pick epcot don't forget you can walk out the back of Epcot and you've got tons of restaurants to choose from at the Broadwalk resorts area. In fact walk over to the Swan and Dove, they have good restaurants that you will be able to get into.

Have fun.

 

[krb2g]

Are you opposed to eating counter service? Do you mind eating early or late? Are you flexible about where you eat? If you're not picky, willing to eat at an off time, and will be happy enough with counter service, don't stress the ADR. You may be able to get an ADR the night before (if you've decided on the park you want to visit) or the morning of. Otherwise, I'd consider making an ADR at a restaurant that suits for a time that suits in DtD or a hotel: yes, travel time will take away from park time, but you will know you have somewhere satisfactory to eat and you won't lock yourself down to a given park.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I am considering not making an ADR for our last day because we don't get hopper passes and I want to leave that day open to go to whichever park we want. How crazy is it to not make an ADR? Will I be able to call that morning and get something at whatever park we want to go to?

I think you should be fine as long as your not fussy. ive done this in August MANY MANY times and always got what i wanted. We walked up (and were seated) at places such as Raglan Road, Rose & Crown, Teppan Edo, Sci Fi, etc. There are so many options, plus with this new ADR guarantee policy there seems to be more availability than before. So i honestly think you will be fine. To be on the safe side, why not book an ADR at a restaurant that doesnt require a cc#? that way if you cancel on the same day of your ADR, you wont get charged.

 

[kadesha]

I just don't have any idea which park we will be at. I will have one TS left to use since it will be our last day and I definitely don't want to waste it. The meal wouldn't even have to be at the park we choose, I'm also open to dining at DTD. And time of the day isn't really important either. I just wanted to make sure that we would be able to find something to use the credit on. Not expecting to get Cindy's or any other very popular place.

 

[catne]

that is not really a very busy time of the year, as far as Disney goes...even Memorial weekend itself is do-able (and actually one of the lower-attendance holidays, ...there's a fair number of locals in the parks, yes, but mostly they're in line for rides, not in the table-service restaurants.) Majority of east-coast schools are not out for summer vacation until June, so it's just not that bad.

We have gone the week before Memorial Day and the week of Memorial Day including the holiday weekend many times on the dining plan...most restaurants were taking walk-ups (with the exception of the ever-popular character meals and a couple of the signature places.) So if you're not picky, you'll be able to find something...especially if you're willing to eat early or late in the meal time-slot (like 11:30 or 2:00 for lunch...or 4:30 or 5:00 for dinner.)

 

[ppony]

As others have said, it depends on what time of year, what park, your flexibility, how many in your party and so on. That said, it was just my hubby and I 2 weeks ago and we made 2 ADRs on the fly within a few hours of dinner time at the places we wanted and had no problem. BUT, We were flexible on time as well as didn't pick place we KNEW would be jammed and impossible or at least at an impossible time We got late ressies for 2 at CA Grill within a few hours of our time, so it's possible. I'll never do a walk up, I'll always call in advance, but as long as you're flexible, and it's not too busy, you should have a shot.

 

[kaligal]

I am considering not making an ADR for our last day because we don't get hopper passes and I want to leave that day open to go to whichever park we want. How crazy is it to not make an ADR? Will I be able to call that morning and get something at whatever park we want to go to?

I don't think it is crazy.

There are even those who will argue that planning all your meals out 6 months in advance is crazy, lol.

These are my calls for last minute ADRs:

MK: LTT
Epcot: Restaurant Marrakesh
DS: 50s Prime Time (or Sci-Fi, I guess)
AK: Rainforest Cafe

You can always eat counter service...unless you have some kind of dining plan restriction I know nothing about.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think it makes much more sense than the people who make ADRs just in case they go to a particular park. You should be able to find something in the park or nearby hotels. MK restaurants are usually the hardest to get into last minute. If that happens, you'll get a better meal at one of the resorts anyway.

 

[kadesha]

that is not really a very busy time of the year, as far as Disney goes...even Memorial weekend itself is do-able (and actually one of the lower-attendance holidays, ...there's a fair number of locals in the parks, yes, but mostly they're in line for rides, not in the table-service restaurants.) Majority of east-coast schools are not out for summer vacation until June, so it's just not that bad.

We have gone the week before Memorial Day and the week of Memorial Day including the holiday weekend many times on the dining plan...most restaurants were taking walk-ups (with the exception of the ever-popular character meals and a couple of the signature places.) So if you're not picky, you'll be able to find something...especially if you're willing to eat early or late in the meal time-slot (like 11:30 or 2:00 for lunch...or 4:30 or 5:00 for dinner.)

Thank you for letting me know about Memorial Day. I have been concerned as I have read conflicting reports about the crowd levels.

I think I am going to wing it and hope for the best.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!