Restaurant help!

[donna93]

Its my families first time at disney! We are leaving in about 2 and a couple of days weeks (for the 4th of July) ! I neeed to start making reservations for restaurants! Is there restaurants that you don't have to make reservations? Can some people tell me their favorite character dining, dinner shows, and sitdown restaurants! Thank you so much for your help! Im trying to get everything ready but I dont know where to eat!

 

[BlindTyldak]

Its my families first time at disney! We are leaving in about 2 and a couple of days weeks (for the 4th of July) ! I neeed to start making reservations for restaurants! Is there restaurants that you don't have to make reservations? Can some people tell me their favorite character dining, dinner shows, and sitdown restaurants! Thank you so much for your help! Im trying to get everything ready but I dont know where to eat!

You're cutting it very close for ADR's, especially for such a busy time of the year. I would suggest being prepared with a very long list of options because many of them might be full when you call. Good luck!

 

[lynninpa]

Its my families first time at disney! We are leaving in about 2 and a couple of days weeks (for the 4th of July) ! I neeed to start making reservations for restaurants! Is there restaurants that you don't have to make reservations? Can some people tell me their favorite character dining, dinner shows, and sitdown restaurants! Thank you so much for your help! Im trying to get everything ready but I dont know where to eat!

Ohhh, you are going in only a little over two weeks? As the above poster said, that is "cutting it veryclose!" How many are in your party? I ask because I found it more difficult to make ressies for a larger group. I would move as quickly as possible. Read menus on allears.net and, like the above poster said, be prepared with a list of backups! And call ASAP! Good luck and let us know how you make out!
I think the "classic" character meal is Chef Mickeys. Dinner Show? We have only done one and so I am not an "expert!" For a "sit down" (TS in Disney "talk") well...that all depends on you and your family and your likes and dislikes. Maybe you can tell us more about yourself and your family? Yet all in all, do some quick research, call ASAP and keep your fingers crossed! Again, good luck and let us know how you make out!!

 

[The Sweetness]

This is certainly urgent. I suggest you go to the menu's site immed. and call wdw dining while you are looking at the site for restaurants/ menus while trying to figure something out. I almost hope you arent on the DDP, you may end up with more counter service meals than table service. Which isnt *bad* just not as relaxing IMO http://www.allearsnet.com/

 

[heatherlynn444]

do you have kids and what are their ages? that would help ppl give you dinner suggestions. and you are cutting it really close! but a lot of ppl cancel so you may just luck out. my fav. character meals are chef mickey's and 1900 park fare at teh grand floridian. more "adult" TS meals I love are Le Cellier, GF cafe, san angel Inn, and coral reef. good luck!

 

[kcashner]

Yes, you are cutting it close, but don't panic. There are frequently cancellations, even on the "day of." Make what ressies you can get, but realize that if they aren't exactly what you want, you might be able to change after you arrive.

Planet Hollywood no ressies for same day. They say 20 minute wait if you arrive before 6:30, but we only waited 5 minutes. Cap'n Jacks--no ressies, long waits are typical.

Favorite character buffet--1900 Park Fare. 2nd choice, Chef Mickey's. (dinner at both)
Favorite character breakfast--Cape May Cafe

Favorite fancy dinners--LeCellier, LesCHefs de France, Coral Reef

Favorite "fun" atmosphere--50s Prime Time

 

[disneyfan6301]

You might try Sci-Fi. We have walked up there before and only had a 15 min wait.

We like LeCellier, Tony's, Mama Melrose's, Chef Mickey's (might be hard to get), Donald's Breakfastasaurus, and Crystal Palace for sit downs.

Good luck and Pixie Dust

 

[donna93]

I have 2 daughters 15 and 12! And than its me and my husband.

 

[Lynne M]

If we haven't scared you into running for the phone yet, there's one important thing you need to know - many WDW restaurants do not take walkups if they're fully booked. If you don't have an ADR, it's not a matter of waiting....they will simply turn you away. This happened to my Mom and I at a very non-busy time last year; I didn't realize the impact the dining plan had on restaurant bookings. We ate a LOT of counter service that trip.

I'm afraid a lot of the character meals and more popular theme park restaurants were booked up months ago. As others have said, though, there are always cancellations, and it's worth a try to book any restaurant you're interested in.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip!!

 

[The Sweetness]

The good news is that there is more to CS these days than burgers fries and dogs

 

[Lynne M]

The good news is that there is more to CS these days than burgers fries and dogs

Very true! You certainly won't go hungry if you can't get into a TS restaurant.

Visit the Allearsnet menu site. It'll help you choose which TS restaurants you want to try and book, and you'll also see that there's a terrific variety of counter service food at WDW.

Good luck!

 

[shades]

We have 3 girls that were 13, 15, & 17 during our last trip and they LOVED the Garden Grill in Epcot. Chip & Dale, Mickey & Pluto were there. Chip & Dale seem to be really popular with teenage girls for some reason?? I guess 'cause they are giant chipmunks

 

[shades]

Very true! You certainly won't go hungry if you can't get into a TS restaurant.

Visit the Allearsnet menu site. It'll help you choose which TS restaurants you want to try and book, and you'll also see that there's a terrific variety of counter service food at WDW.

Good luck!

Yes!! and Pecos Bill's in the Magic Kingdom is our favorite counter service! Big pulled pork sandwiches, fries, beans and the HUGE fixin's bar with grilled onions and stuff! We always eat here at least twice during every trip! It's also one of the best counter service places to eat and save money because the pulled pork sandwich meal is so big - we share 3 of them for the 5 of us.

 

[donna93]

luckily I was able to get chef mickeys, yacht club geller(wasnt my choice), and Hoop dee doo so far! I want to try to get the Les Chef de France and Boma did anyone ever walk in for these restaurants or made reservations when you get to your hotel?

 

[Lynne M]

You MIGHT be able to walk into Chefs de France at lunch, but there's a very, very slim chance that you'd be able to do that at dinner. It's one of the most popular restaurants in Epcot.

Go ahead and make the ADR....you can always cancel if you change your mind.

 

[renessa]

donna93- I just wanted to give you a heads up about your Hoop reservation. There are two levels of seating...main floor and balcany. The seating chart is based on reservation date. I am would be concerned that you would end up in the upstairs with a reservation so close to your trip. Some on the dis will say that it doesn't matter where you are seated. I disagree. I have been on the floor twice (once front and center) and in the balcany once. The balcany bites. That is just my humble opinion.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Be very flexible.
When you call Disney for ADRs, ask the Cast Member for suggestions; what's available while you're there. Their computers should be able to show them ALL availability.
Plan to eat at "off" times. If a restaurant is open for lunch from say 11 to 3, you have a better chance of getting an ADR for 11 or 2:45 than for noon or 1 PM.
This will be a bit more difficult if you don't have a car, but strongly consider eating at restaurants in the various resorts instead of in the parks. They'll probably be less busy, especially at lunch.

 

[GOOFYsince71]

Just in case you are now in PANIC MODE.............
This is what I do.............................................
Take a Big Sheet of Paper................................
Read the Dis Dining Threads.............................
Set up your paper like a Calendar, with the squares HUGE for the days you will be going..................................................
First, decide which days you will be at which parks
Write it in that day........................................
Look up the Restaurants for that park on DDP thread.........
Choose 2 restaurants, write it below the Park name in the Square
Continue to do this for all the days you are there........
Call for your ADR's ASAP.........................................
This way you have a back up restaurant in case 1st choice is taken.
Write your Confirmation number on the square and circle the restaurant
you reserved.............
Now sit back and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK~

 

[gm]

hi,

we are going the same week. thanks heavens I booked my adrs 3 months in advance and got all of my restaurants but the other day I decided to add chef mickeys for the week of July 4th for a different date and the whole week was full so there is hope of cancellations. I still have chef mickeys that i booked a long time ago but we wanted to eat on I-drive for that day but guess we will not.

Walks ins are going to be very hard that week for popular restaurants like 1900 park fair and crystal palace. we went last year and everyone without adrs were being turned away by the hostess.

but there are cancelletions so keep calling every day.

good luck and please do not wait until the last minute