Restaurants NOT on DDP

[tmm09]

We will be heading to the World during free dining time and we are NOT on the DDP.

Is there a list anywhere of which restaurants are not included in the DDP? We are not big planners (eek!), so we don't make the reservations far in advance...leaving almost nothing available this time. It's fine, we're not there for the food, but we do like to sit down and enjoy a meal occassionally. So, I thought I may have better luck at restaurants that don't take the DDP.

Help me, please...

 

[amw]

In an effort to avoid throngs of Free DDPers, can anyone point me towards a list of restaurants that do NOT particpate in the DDP. I want to try the unbeaten path!

Thanks!

 

[amw]

Just posted the same question on the restaurant board! Great minds ...

 

[catne]

None of the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin are on the dining plan, so much easier to get in. Also pricey. (the Swan & Dolphin are over by the Boardwalk area, so you can walk there through the Epcot International gateway when you're in Epcot.)

In Epcot, the Bistro is not on the dining plan (upstairs of Les Chefs de France) Also pricey.

In Downtown Disney, a lot of places NOT on the dining plans...House of Blues, T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, Fultons Crab House, Portobello, Bongos, upstairs at Wolfgang Puck (called "The Dining Room") & Paradiso.

Outside Animal Kingdom park, there's another Rainforest Cafe.

At the Grand Floridian, there's Victoria & Albert's...but that's seriously PRICEY! And requires suit coat & tie for the guys, very dressy for the gals (and no children under 10 allowed.) Expect the bill there to run several hundred dollars for a couple.

 

[fall08CP]

Many of the TS at DTD- Fulton's Crab House, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Paradiso 37, Portobello, Bongos, House of Blues

Parks- Rainforest Cafe at AK. Bistro de Paris and Tokyo Dining @ Epcot.

Resorts- All the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin and Shades of Green. Victoria and Albert's (for obvious reasons). Probably the Sand Trap @ Osprey Ridge... but not sure.

Could be missing a few but I think that's a good list.

 

[Petraman]

Many of the TS at DTD- Fulton's Crab House, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Paradiso 37, Portobello, Bongos, House of Blues

Parks- Rainforest Cafe at AK. Bistro de Paris and Tokyo Dining @ Epcot.

Resorts- All the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin and Shades of Green. Victoria and Albert's (for obvious reasons). Probably the Sand Trap @ Osprey Ridge... but not sure.

Could be missing a few but I think that's a good list.

This was a great list. Only correction would be Tokyo Dining. It is a TS offering on DDP.

There are a few good ones in the DTD offsite hotels, but that might not be what you are looking for.

 

[disney777]

Yes, I did Tokyo Dining last year. I assume it's still on the list.

 

[tmm09]

Thank you! My DH keeps wanting to try Bongos and this may be his lucky year!

 

[TDC Nala]

All restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin

All restaurants at Shades of Green

Animal Kingdom:
Rainforest Cafe

Epcot:
Bistro de Paris

Grand Floridian Resort:
Victoria & Albert's
Garden View Tea Room

Downtown Disney:
Fulton's Crab House
Portobello
Rainforest Cafe
T-Rex Cafe
Wolfgang Puck's Upstairs Dining Room
Paradiso 37
Ghirardelli's Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Bongos
House of Blues

 

[amw]

Thank you!

 

[Anthony1971]

We Rarely make ADRs also and go in September most years -- if we do make ADRs it will be the same day and trust me you will be suprised what you can get....The CM's are very helpful-- also if you read these boards closely you will find a lot of people who book at multiple places for the same day and some will have a heart and cancel the 3 or 4 they do not want day of.
We do however only go to the parks every other day otherwise we eat at DTD or the resort--mostly DTD at non DP which we have always eaten at anyway...

 

[tmm09]

Thanks! We usually book one or two character meals and then leave the rest to chance, but I'm worried that "chance" will be harder with FD happening now.

I have breakfast at Ohana scheduled and that's a new one for us this year.

My concern is that I don't "like" going to DTD often during our trips since my son really only wants to hang out at the Lego store all week (we have one of those in the mall near us, but that is clearly not good enough!).

Oh well! We'll be in Disney...I'm sure we'll find food somewhere!

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks! We usually book one or two character meals and then leave the rest to chance, but I'm worried that "chance" will be harder with FD happening now.

Just for your info, the Garden Grove at the Dolphin has a character breakfast. I think it is only on Saturdays or on certain days. There are also a few Disney good neighbor hotels that do character meals in the DTD area, but not IN DTD itself. Those are other options for you if you feel you would be missing out.

 

[CathieArms]

We will be heading to the World during free dining time and we are NOT on the DDP.

Is there a list anywhere of which restaurants are not included in the DDP? We are not big planners (eek!), so we don't make the reservations far in advance...leaving almost nothing available this time. It's fine, we're not there for the food, but we do like to sit down and enjoy a meal occassionally. So, I thought I may have better luck at restaurants that don't take the DDP.

Help me, please...

I'm sure that there must be a list, but I really wouldn't stress about it. There will still be plenty of places to make same-day dining reservations if you call from your room or have the concierge do it for you in the morning or early afternoon. They may not be "primo" locations that you'd choose if given a choice of every restaurant at WDW, but there are still plenty that will be available.

For instance, it's 3:10 at WDW right now. In searching for a 4-person table for dinner, there are about 40 openings. The following are some of the more popular places that have openings:

(4:30-6:00 PM Openings)
Biergarten
Coral Reef
'Ohana
Rose and Crown
Tony's Town Square
Tusker House
Nine Dragons
Planet Hollywood
The Plaza
Raglan Road


8:00-8:45
Hollywood Brown Derby
Restaurant Marrakesh
The Wave

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

tmm09, you call from the room at night or first thing in the morning and see if there is any availability. Do not give up if there is not as many folks do not show up for their ADR's and you can stop by and see if there is an opening and if you have a particular place in mind just go by any TS or Guest Service place and they will check and tell you what has openings and for when. Does not always work but it works far more often than you might imagine.

Slightly Goofy

 

[TDC Nala]

Garden Grove at the Swan has a character dinner buffet nightly (characters vary, but Mickey isn't one of them - a couple of nights a week they have Timon and Rafiki, you can't see them at any Disney-owned restaurants) but character breakfast on weekends only.

 

[The Saints]

Does anyone know if the Garden Grill has reopened after its refurb?

Love the meals there!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Does anyone know if the Garden Grill has reopened after its refurb?

Love the meals there!!

There is no mention on their website about being closed and I was able to make a reservation for early October there a couple of weeks ago so it would appear that it's business as usual.

I was a little unclear as to the schedule for character appearances as the website is somewhat cryptic about which meals include characters, but I see TDC Nala has answered that for us.

 

[pwdebbie]

Surely somewhere there is a list of the restaurants that are not on the DDP posted on the DIS but I am not finding it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Editing to add -- thanks to whoever moved this here. I can't believe I couldn't find a thread just a few days old.

 

[dansyr2514]

Just a tip.

I know it has been posted before but since it pertains to this post.....
Restaurant.com has a few disney area restaurants on their site. You can purchase a gift certificate for a certain amount off your bill at super low prices.
For example..House of Blues is on there for a $25 gift certificate. I believe you must spend $35 and they will take $25 off the bill. Restaurant.com offers it for 1/2 price at $12.50 but either by signing up or just searching for a coupon code they will offer anywhere from 50 to 80 percent off the $12.50 . We got a HOB gc for $2.00. If we don't use it ..no biggie but if we do it will save us $25.00.

Some of the restaurants on Disney property that are on there are
House of Blues
Kimonos
Garden Grove
Il Mulino
Bluezoo
Shula's


I think that's it..but there may be more. I just wanted to mention since the OP said they are not on the dining plan.