Restaurants that DO NOT need ADR's

[crazyash83]

I have an unusual request... I am looking for some great Disney restaurants that DO NOT need 180 day ADR's, where you could possibly get same-day reservations or walk-ups. I ask this because my fiance doesn't want to ruin our trip by having an agenda. He doesn't mind the Fast Pass system as it gives you an hour window however with restaurant reso's, if you're late, you could forfeit your table. THIS gives him anxiety and understandably he wants to reduce his anxiety during a vacation. If there is another thread like this, please point me in that general direction. Thanks in advance

 

[SaintsManiac]

Many of them will be available night before or same day. Go in MDE now and take a look at what is available for today.

As for walk ups I have only seen that at SciFi in recent trips.

 

[goodeats]

If you aren't on the dining plan the lounges are nice for this. I especially like Crew Cup Lounge in the Yacht Club since they have a pretty substantial menu.

 

[Farro]

I just posted about this, we are doing same kind of trip so I experimented yesterday! Quoting myself:

I was checking to see what would be available tonight to compare a relatively crowded day vs when we go in early May. See what my chances would be for same day reservations.

First I checked for 2 people between 8 and 9 for dinner. Almost everything was available except for restaurants you can't make same day ADRs (some Disney Springs and Via Napoli). And of course BOG and a few others.

So then for fun I checked for 4 people for 7:30 - even more available! Storybook dining, Chef Mickey, Cinderella's Castle and tons of others. I was actually kind of shocked.

You can certainly get by w/out making ADRs 180 days in advance.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I can think of a few places where I've been able to get same day reservations or just walk up:
Skipper Canteen
San Angel Inn
Restaurant Marrakesh
Yak and Yeti
Trail's End
Kona Cafe
The Plaza
Spice Road Table

Others that frequently seem dead and might be a good bet for same day ADRs (I've been in these restaurants surrounded by empty tables):
Diamond Horseshoe
The Wave
Biergarten
Garden Grove
Hollywood & Vine
Mama Melrose's
Tony's Town Square
Trattoria al Forno
Tusker House

 

[gharter]

It depends on a lot of factors.
Are you traveling at a very busy time or a less crowded time? Obviously there may be more options at less busy times.
Are you trying to eat at popular times or off hours? If you plan to eat at off times, ADRs are much easier to get.
Many restaurants have ADRs available the day before or day of as people cancel.
There are more reports of many restaurants not taking walk ups and I've had this happen even if they have open tables. In this case, often going to MDE, you can get an ADR in the next few minutes and then get seated after just being turned away as a walk up.

 

[gorkt]

Just for giggles I checked what was open for dinner reservations this evening, and I would say nearly 2/3 of the restaurants had reservations open, and even some hard to get reservations, like Ohanas (although the times weren't optimal). Honestly, I think you could do really well just winging it.

 

[Disneylover99]

We’ve always had luck walking up to Biergarten and Via Napoli, even when there were no ADR’s available.

 

[mckennarose]

I think it's hard to predict restaurants that will always have walk ups or same day reservations. If there's one that you absolutely want to eat at that is notorious for booking at 180, go ahead and make it because you can always cancel if it doesn't fit your plans as you get closer. I'm definitely not encouraging hoarding ADR's, but I know plans change and it is hard to know what you'll be doing 6 months from now.

We've gotten more and more relaxed about our ADR's over the past few years and as a result, we've been able to get some of the harder ADR's like Ohana and BOG as a same day or day before ADRs. The only exception has been California Grill; I've not been able to get that one last minute.

On our trip a few weeks ago, I got Wine Bar George twice as a day of, and also needed to change our ADR time once and it was no issue. That restaurant is not super busy but definitely NOT an indication of quality as I feel it's one of the best restaurants in WDW. We've also walked up to Biergarten and gotten in, Raglan Road as a same day or day before, Olivia's, Kona and a few others that I'm not remembering.

I'm looking ahead to our May trip and I will book Ohana at 180 days. It's one of my youngest dd's favorites and we will be celebrating her college graduation so I want to make sure we get that as something special for her. We will probably wing everything else, unless she wants BOG lunch too.

 

[lovin'fl]

Another tip is to do TS lunches and then CS or lounge for dinners.
We just did, in Oct, a last minute breakfast at Ale and Compass for 4. Last minute lunch at Wine Bar George for 4 and last minute dinner at Spice Road for 7. Also got last minute dinner at ESPN for 4.

But we do a lot of last minute lunch TS meals. Just look on MDE app to see what's available.

I also agree that some of the lounges are good for meals.

 

[Moliphino]

We walked in at Spice Road Table last trip with no issues.

I would also suggest considering eating at lounges (Brown Derby Lounge, Nomad Lounge, etc), unless you're on the dining plan. None of them take ADRs and they have some nice food options.

 

[leebee]

ALSO: Lately a lot of people are reporting that they have been turned away as walk-ups, but they can make an ADR and be seated fairly quickly. It's almost like walk-ups are being discouraged, even if there's availability. Something to remember...

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We rarely make ADRs and we've never starved at WDW. As PPs have mentioned, simply check the MDE app day-of and see what's available. As long as you are flexible, you will typically find something and there is always QS if none of the TS available appeal to you. I would also suggest looking on opentable for day-of reservations (you will find some WDW on there as well as Swan/Dolphin and DS restaurants) and even consider getting a Landry's Select Card if you have any interest in eating at Yak & Yeti in AK or Rainforest in AK and DS (or TRex in DS). With the Landry's Card, you can get priority seating at any of those restaurants without an ADR. I find it to be very helpful in AK, in particular, as we just show up at Y&Y when we are ready to eat lunch and have always been seated very quickly.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Wine Bar George always seems to have availability. I don’t know why, as the food is delicious.

 

[Beer Me]

We don’t make a reservation ahead of time for every day. I’ve made some pretty good same day reservations - usually I’ll look around lunch time for what is available that evening and there is always something available.

My priority is usually location, so we will be close to whatever else we are doing that night. But the more flexible you are the more choices you have.

If you can be flexible especially with time - like after 8pm - much more opens up.

Also don’t forget about Disney springs - dining options there have exploded.

There is no need to plan 180 days out unless you really want specific restaurants at specific times.

 

[Harambe]

QS is so much better now. Of course, you may want more indoor QS places if it is bad weather (AC is needed for a break on super hot days), with many of those opening up in Disney Springs. Not a QS per se, but we liked Splitsville quite a bit!

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Best bet, when you get hungry, just hit your MDE and see what is available in your location. Plenty of decent restaurants that are available. A new hidden gem at the resorts is Sebastian's at CBR and it almost always has openings. It's a short ride on the Skyliner away from Epcot or HS.

There are also Lounges at some of the restaurants that don't accept ADR's, but have really nice menus. Such as the Brown Derby Lounge and 50's Prime Time Lounge in HS. There is Nomad Lounge at Tiffins in AK. You can even hit Cali Grill's lounge area at the Contemporary without a reservation. You can also eat at the bar or outside at many of the locations in DS without an ADR. Boathouse is one we highly recommend.

Some not so frequented spots we've had really good meals at: Skipper Canteen at MK, The Wave at the Contemporary. Sebastian's at CBR, Trails End at Fort Wilderness. We had a good meal at Mamma Melrose in HS recently and at AK Satuli is the best CS meal on property IOO. We even enjoyed the taco trio at Pecos Bill at MK. Tangerine Cafe is very good at Epcot for CS and their are lots of CS meals to be had at Disney Springs like Wolfgang Puck Express and even Splitsville has some nice dishes.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I wouldn’t plan on walk ups, save for lounges, like someone mentioned people have reported some restaurants being funny with them lately. Doesn’t hurt to try though.

You can get day of ADRs for nearly everything, especially if you’re willing to be flexible and eat at funny times. If you have your heart set on anything book it when you can, but otherwise you should have no issue finding something decent nearby, and when all else fails QS is a good option. I can’t speak for all the resorts but if you’re in a park you can almost always find something that’s a step above typical theme park food at a QS. Maaaaybe not at DHS lol.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Most any restaurant in Disney Springs as long as it isn't a holiday meal. Also gets busy in that area on the weekends.
Of course you have almost every QS/counter service with the exception of BOG for lunch and dinner.

 

[loves to dive]

We always make our ADRs day of, usually walking around in the afternoon. We do always have park hoppers so the park doesn't matter and we are two adults so time doesn't matter, I don't eat at buffets and we don't do character meals. So having said that, we have gotten same day ADRs at just about every restaurant at WDW, sometimes they are for late at night around 9 pm but we have always been able to get them. Some examples: California Grill at 9 pm (which turned out perfect since we were there a little early and saw the FWs), Flying Fish, Chef Paul's, the other place in France (can't remember the name), Le Cellier, HBD, both restaurants in Mexico, the restaurant in GB (again can't remember the name). We walk up to Spice Road Tables all the time. We also eat at a lot of lounges, mostly sharing a couple of appetizers but sometimes getting a full meal.