Sci-Fi / 50s without ADR?

[seobaina]

Hi

We're going for 10 days and we've booked a few ADRs. However, I don't wanna book a meal and tie us down for every day. What are the chances of a party of 3 getting in to Sci-Fi dine in or 50s Prime Time Cafe for lunch/dinner at the end of April (18-29th) if we haven't booked? Better going to the restaurant that morning to book if we decide to eat there?

Thanks

 

[aussietravellers]

When we were at WDW in late April we walked up to SciFi and got a seat in about 5 minutes. Some people came in after us and I heard them also say they didn't have an ADR and they were seated just after us.

Haven't done a walk up to 50's so not sure about that.

We also did walk ups that trip at Chef Mickey's, Cape Mays, Boma, Yak and Yeti, Jiko, Crystal Palace (even with a CM walking up the line saying, if you don't have an ADR there will be a 2 hr wait as there is nothing available, everybody would walk away and we stayed, she came up to us twice and said, do you have an ADR and I said, NO, she said, well there are not any tables available, I said, Thank you and just kept waiting in the line. When we eventually got to the front of the line and checked in, I said we didn't have an ADR and we were seated in about 5 minutes!!!!! and so was the family of 4 behind us who also didn't have an ADR, despite that CM constantly telling us there was no room!). The only unsuccessful walk up our whole trip was at Coral Reef.

Now I don't recommend no ADR if you like table service, but that trip with lots of walk ups was a last minute trip and I didn't try to get any ADR's until we were there. Walk ups are worth a try at any restaurant if you are prepared to wait as no shows do happen, although I think some now have no walk up signs outside.

 

[wrighter]

So glad to see a thread already exists for this question!

We are headed down the week before Easter, and in order to make our days as flexible as possible, we have decided to do CS lunches at the parks. We have yet to find a CS that we like at HS, though, and we have never been to SciFi - I'm guessing my DS6 would love it.

I'm hoping that if we hit the park at rope drop and get there for an early lunch we'll be in decent shape to get a table. Although I know the crowds that week could blow my plan to bits, but here's hoping for a little pixie dust.

In the meantime, we'll continue to try and find good CS at HS.

 

[traveljunkie2]

We (4 of us) were just at HS over MLK weekend. On Sunday, we stopped by SciFi around 10:45 to see if we could get in for lunch. I was told that all of the car booths were booked until closing, but to come back and try to get walk-in seating at one of the car tables. We returned about 12:00 and were seated within 5 minutes, same for another family of 3 right after us. The park was super crowded that day, since it was MLK weekend and a Fantasmic night. We were really surprised to get seated. We had been there the previous Friday with lunch ADR's for 10, when the park wasn't crowded at all. The place was only about 2/3 full on that day. I think it's definitley worth a try.

 

[sebastian75_99]

Read this tip on here : put Disney Dining number in your cellphone. Call if you decide to eat anywhere you need an ADR. I still believe in planning ahead, but this trick will work for last minute ADRs.

 

[seobaina]

Thanks guys, that's very helpful

 

[wrighter]

Great tip, sebastian75_99!! Thanks so much for sharing it. I love my fellow DISers.

Going to go program that number right now!

 

[sebastian75_99]

Thank you, wrighter, for sharing the love. It is my pleasure since I have learned almost everything I know from these boards!

 

[ilovejsparrow]

A hostess at 50's PTC told us that the best way to get into a restaurant without an ADR is by going there during the lunch/dinner switch, or right when the restaurant opens. We went to 50's around 4 on our last trip and got a table for 5. It's possible, just takes a little bit of luck sometimes!

 

[JDUCKY]

A hostess at 50's PTC told us that the best way to get into a restaurant without an ADR is by going there during the lunch/dinner switch, or right when the restaurant opens. We went to 50's around 4 on our last trip and got a table for 5. It's possible, just takes a little bit of luck sometimes!

Yeah, that's really about the only way.

My DD and I have gotten into Sci-Fi Drive-In twice right at the lunch opening and been seated within 5 min (being a party of 2 probably helped)

We've gotten into Tony's Town Square in the MK right when dinner started, too, but had to wait 15-20 min.

 

[izzie-wizzie]

On what I would class as a quiet day in HS in October - we were waiting to be seated at Sci Fi (we had an ADR) and saw many many people being told they could not get a table.. yet the number of empty tables in there for the entire time we were there was quite shocking!

 

[seobaina]

A hostess at 50's PTC told us that the best way to get into a restaurant without an ADR is by going there during the lunch/dinner switch, or right when the restaurant opens. We went to 50's around 4 on our last trip and got a table for 5. It's possible, just takes a little bit of luck sometimes!

I will keep that useful info in mind, thanks

 

[growinupdisney]

We went a couple of years ago and we were seated with in 5 min w/ no ADR!
But last year when we were there in April we tried and couldn't get in

 

[seobaina]

I guess we'll just try. If it's meant to be we'll get in! x

 

[Wendy5055]

That is smack in the middle of April Vacation week in a lot of schools...that's why and when weare going.

 

[seobaina]

That is smack in the middle of April Vacation week in a lot of schools...that's why and when weare going.

That's vacation week? ARGH! Normally every has gone back by then and it's queiter. I know the UK schools all go back on the 19th. You're going too? Yay, if you see me...wave My pretrip rep is in my sig.

 

[Wendy5055]

Yes...my daughters school is on vaction the week of the 19th. I happen to know at least THREE families going (besides us) to WDW on that week.

Not all schools in CT are on vacation that week, but a lot of them are. I just made a weeks worth of ADRs for our trip.

I will definately check out your PTR and will wave at you!!!

 

[Alexander]

We've tried twice to walk-up to the Sci-Fi and get a table and both times were told no-way, they were full. I honestly can't remember what months they were, but I know for sure it wasn't during free-dining!

 

[seobaina]

Yes...my daughters school is on vaction the week of the 19th. I happen to know at least THREE families going (besides us) to WDW on that week.

Not all schools in CT are on vacation that week, but a lot of them are. I just made a weeks worth of ADRs for our trip.

I will definately check out your PTR and will wave at you!!!

Oh well, think I've been spoilt in the past. Still, it's not the busiest time and the others have nothing to compare it too. We'll still have FUN!

Please do. I should have my LGMH on my bag too. I'll keep an eye out!

We've tried twice to walk-up to the Sci-Fi and get a table and both times were told no-way, they were full. I honestly can't remember what months they were, but I know for sure it wasn't during free-dining!

Argh. Oh well, I've booked the main meals we wanted, if we can't get in we can't. It won't be the end of the world. Thanks for the info.

 

[Missytara]

I go the week after Thanksgiving, which is notoriously a slower week.

I have never been able to walk-up to Prime Time, even for a table for one. I usually end up sitting in the bar.

This year, we wanted to eat at Sci-Fi. It was cold and raining at DHS. We went and they were booked solid until dinnertime - my suspicion is that people wanted to get somewhere dry out of the rain and walked up before us and filled up the ressies.