Restaurants where no ADR is needed

[LuzzBightyear]

I have ADRs booked for our early November trip, but would like to have a day of just winging it. Free of any solid plans to be at a specific place at a specific time. At the same time, I don’t want our vacation to end with a DDP TS credit unused.

Can anyone recommend table service places where a group of 10 would have a good chance walking up and getting in for supper with minimal wait? This needs to be a single credit DDP meal. It would be good to have options all over WDW.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

A group of ten? No, I wouldn't recommend that. What I would do is perhaps change one of your existing reservations to a signature restaurant to assure that you do not waste that table service credit. That will free you to have an "open" day without worrying about leaving a credit unused, though you may have to pay out-of-pocket for your dinner that day.

 

[Nadjalu]

No way for a group of that size. Maybe a party of 2 or 3...and then it is gonna be slim pickins but a large group???? You will have at least a 2 hour wait if they say that can seat you at all.

Sorry, I wouldn't risk that.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Since 10 is a really large group, you should probably get a reservations somewhere. Epecially if it is busy season.

Or, you can call the dining number that day and see where they can fit you in. But you'd have to be flexible about the places based on what is open. Then, you might wast a lot of time traveling to that restaurnat....hmmm...best to get a reservation...

Or, as OP said, schedule a signature dining (some of those are great) and just do all coutner service on your "wing it" day

 

[LuzzBightyear]

We would not be opposed to separating the party of 10 into 2-3 groups if that makes it easier.

 

[EmmaBrault]

Liberty Tree Tavern is pretty easy to get into.

 

[crabbygal902]

I agree. 10 is a large number to seat at one time on the fly, unless your group is willing to split up for dinner or eat really early or really late. Who knows? You might get lucky...or you might end up hungry and cranky.

I wouldn't do it with a group of that size, even during a slow season.

Some of the places that fly under the radar are:

Epcot
Tokyo Dining
Nine Dragons

Carribean Beach
Shutters

Yacht Club
Captain's Grille

Old Key West
Olivia's

Grand Floridian
Grand Floridian Cafe

 

[pinkerbell]

I really don't know if seperating your group will help much. We have never foun a lot of same day availability even for a party of 4.
Sorry but I go with pp suggestion of booking a 2TS dinner option. Also, sometimes hubby and I share a CS meal so you may not have to pay OOP if your group does a few meals where you order a meal or two short and share

 

[Quin]

Agree that 10 may not be able to be seated together anywhere without an ADR. Smaller groups may, although possibly not at the same time/at the same place.

Is free dining going on then? If so, more people are using TS credits so walk-ups are scarcer.

In general, getting off the beaten path helps. That means dinner at a (non-monorail) resort. I'm thinking maybe Turf Club at SSR, or Olivias at OKW, or Maya at CSR. Maybe Trails End buffet at Ft. W.

Shortly before you go, I'd check the ADR system for availability on your final day. Restaurants that still show openings that close to your trip would be good to try on the day. Restaurants that show none available you know not to bother with.

 

[KeroKero]

10 is difficult to work with, even if you don't mind splitting up and sitting at different tables.

I would say worth a try at some of the TS at resorts that always seem to have space on the ADR booking page online (OKW, CB, GF).

I would recommend checking with dining every morning to see if they have anything that opened up, check throughout the day too. Please area always changing their ADR's and canceling due to touring plans not working out as planned, so there is always hope.

Good Luck!

 

[TDC Nala]

With a group of 10 you are going to have problems pretty much anywhere except possibly the outlying resort restaurants (Shutters, Olivia's, Turf Club, Maya Grill, Sanaa. I'd add Boatwrights but that place always seems crowded). Maybe the Wave or Captain's Grill if you want something closer to a park. You may have better luck if you try outside peak mealtimes.

 

[pinkerbell]

Free Dining is offer for so many dates now that it seems like the only time it is not offered is during peak times. So weatehr you are up against large park attendance or free dining, you will be up against something. Even if Free Dining it is not a general public offer people get them in the mail also. We are doing CItrico's, Narcoosee's, Cali Grill and Cinderealla's Royal table ~ each uses 2 TS credits and will split meals the days we don't have a table service, or get a favorite item that is not covered by the plan anyway.
You will have a magical time regardless of how you do it! Enjoy making your memories!
:

 

[megan926]

BOMA-at AKL

Biergarten-EPCOT

They are usually not crowded...but with a group of 10...not sure how that would work.

And I think it would depend on the time you want dinner...an early dinner (late lunch)....say 4pm...I think you would have a MUCH better chance...

 

[goofy4tink]

10 is going to be hard to accomodate together. So, you may very well have to split up into two groups. With that being said, you may be able to get in at Captains Grill at the Yacht Club...just try for a less busy time of day. Maybe over at SSR or OKW at one of their table service spots. Inside the parks is going to be really hard.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We would not be opposed to separating the party of 10 into 2-3 groups if that makes it easier.

This would probably only help if the groups were willing to eat at different places or different times.

 

[AirGoofy]

As others have said, groups of 10 are rare. If your group can go as two tables of 5, you'd have a better chance. ESPN club on the Boardwalk doesn't take reservations (or not through WDW - I think they may have call-ahead seating) but am not sure if they are on the DP.

We have been able to walk up to Coral Reef as a party of four along with a few others. Another suggestion may try to eat a little earlier (5:00 PM?). You may have a better chance then. Good luck.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

For fun I went to the dining online site & put in todays date & 10 people & the time of 1 p.m. For lunch today these were available plus lots at resorts:

Tusker House AK
San Angel Inn Epcot
Rose & Crown Epcot
Marrakesh Epcot
Nine Dragons Epcot
Chef de France Epcot
Biegarten Epcot
Liberty Tree Tavern MK
Hollywood Brown Derby DHS

I put in 6:30 p.m. for supper today party of 10 & these were available plus a few at resorts...most being ones not on the DDP:

Nine Dragons Epcot
Hollywood & Vine DHS
Hollywood Brown Derby DHS
Tusker House AK

By the looks of things if I did try walk-ups I'd hope it was a slow time of year & I'd try lunch more so than supper. And most of those available are the ones my DH would in no way ever eat at...Really I'd at least book that morning before I went to the parks.

Myself, there is no way I'd do walk-up. I'd book something & cancel if it doesn't work or if you try to walk up to somewhere else instead.