Seriously, people, is the 'walk up' a thing of the past?

[deej696]

We have walked up to Teppan Edo and Rose & Crown recently with little to no wait. It just takes a little flexibility is all. Plus with the mobile versions of online reservations, I've found it a little easier to sort of wing it. We scored same day reservations at Le Cellier last year...

 

[BeckWhy]

When DDP was free for the first time years ago, we did it. And we were told make sure you make reservations and what not. Well we booked Ohana and Le Cellier which we were under the impression were hard to come by. Both places were taking walk-ups. In fact at Ohana they were seeting the walk-ups before us!

 

[thej]

We did plenty of walkups the last week of October, a week of free dining in place and moderate park crowds. We did dinner walk ups easily. We do not use the DDP so we aren't concerned that we have to use credits and we've always had pretty decent success at getting a table service.

We even saw a party of 17 do a walk up for Tusker House breakfast on Sunday 10/23; they were seated right after we were so they had the same 10 minute wait that we did (with an ADR). I noticed this because I had tried to change my ADR time online prior to our vacation (we were a party of 8) and I couldn't get anything so I had expected the restaurant to be packed.

We had a last minute change to this last trip and so were trying to find something for dinner on NYE. I was hoping for Tony's (as that is our traditional arrival night meal) but was happy to snag Mama Melrose's at a time that worked for us. Interestingly enough Tusker House was one of 3 locations at WDW that had ADR times available EVERY time I checked. Shutters and Maya Grill were the other two. Tusker house never seems completely booked.

 

[ppony]

With the cc $10 charge for not cancelling, it will be tougher than ever at signatures and character meals.

Agreed. I noticed that I had to give out a CC number for almost all of my ADRs this time. Rarely had to in the past. I understand why they do it. It sure does make you be VERY conscious of what you have and when. AND be certain to cancel before your 24 hour window. sigh

 

[bjakmom]

Agreed. I noticed that I had to give out a CC number for almost all of my ADRs this time. Rarely had to in the past. I understand why they do it. It sure does make you be VERY conscious of what you have and when. AND be certain to cancel before your 24 hour window. sigh

Just be aware that there seems to be some confusion about disney's new "one day" cancellation policy - not necessarily 24 hours! This was posted today on the Dining Reservations Forum:
"Colleen, just wanted to add that I got a statement in writing from Guest Communications that confirms what you said:

". . the cancellation does mean a full calendar day in advance; not
counting the day of reservation or the day of cancelation (their spelling error, not mine)."
Thus a Wednesday breakfast would need to be cancelled by Monday night.

Normally this might be just another case of conflicting information from CMs, but this one was put in writing - that, in a sense, takes it to another level."


I think the new policy will soon make it easier to get a walk-up for this reason: We visit several times a year and usually make at least one TS ADR per day. Because of this new policy and the ridiculous (IMHO) inflexibility in the cancellation deadlines and that it apparently does not even allow you to switch an ADR to another restaurant if they have availability, we have made only 2 ADRs for our entire 8 day trip in May. In the last few days I have spoken to my sister, my niece and 2 friends who are all planning upcoming trips and approaching their 6 mos. ADR windows. Every one of them has the same plan - only willing to make 2 or 3 CC required ADRs during their trips.
So I am hoping that we can book some TS ADRs on the day of or walk up at opening. If not we are completely prepared to do counter service or do more meals in the villas during our rest times. There is no way I am willing to risk paying disney these fees or to nail ourselves down to this kind of inflexibility while I'm on vacation.

 

[ppony]

Just be aware that there seems to be some confusion about disney's new "one day" cancellation policy - not necessarily 24 hours! This was posted today on the Dining Reservations Forum:
"Colleen, just wanted to add that I got a statement in writing from Guest Communications that confirms what you said:

". . the cancellation does mean a full calendar day in advance; not
counting the day of reservation or the day of cancelation (their spelling error, not mine)."
Thus a Wednesday breakfast would need to be cancelled by Monday night.

Normally this might be just another case of conflicting information from CMs, but this one was put in writing - that, in a sense, takes it to another level."

Now it's really confusing!
The reservation page says also, in writing, that it must be done within 24 hours. If they wanted it farther than that, then they (and we) have some problems. They're stating 2 different things, both in writing.

 

[MicRac]

Last May we were able to get walk ups at Nine Dragons for lunch and Kona Cafe for dinner. We usually go with Deluxe Dining Plan and leave a couple days opened with no ADR's so we are free to revisit whatever park we want.

 

[sotoalf]

It depends on the restaurant, time of year, and luck. My parents got a walk-up at Citricos last Wednesday; they were seated immediately.

 

[Tinkerbellah]

WE got in @ Citricos 2 days before the meal.It took about 1/2hr-45 min on the phone w/ Disney Dining to get it. So I would not want to switch things around last min. again. However I did enjoy Citricos.