Should there be sitting restaurants that don't need reservations?

old lady

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Mar 15, 2007
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Just in case, the reservation system is down, or older people like myself don't want to use their computers or don't have one, or forget about making reservations or it was last minute thing?
 
Just in case, the reservation system is down, or older people like myself don't want to use their computers or don't have one, or forget about making reservations or it was last minute thing?
There typically are table service restaurants (the less popular ones), that you can walk-up to without a very long wait. The only times you can't get anything walk-up is when the parks are at peak crowd levels. And of course, you can walk up to counter service restaurants at any time.

Making table service restaurants walk-up-only would make everyone have to endure substantial waits for them, eating into people's park touring time. No thanks. I plan ahead so that my limited vacation time isn't eaten up by such unnecessary waits.

You can call Disney to make reservations for you if you have no computer. You can even call them the day of, to check where you can get a reservation to eat within the hour.
 
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There typically are table service restaurants (the less popular ones), that you can walk-up to without a very long wait. The only times you can't get anything walk-up is when the parks are at peak crowd levels. And of course, you can walk up to counter service restaurants at any time.


Making table service restaurants walk-up-only would make everyone have to endure substantial waits for them, eating into people's park touring time. No thanks. I plan ahead so that my limited vacation time isn't eaten up by such unnecessary waits.

You can call Disney to make reservations for you if you have no computer. You can even call them the day of, to check where you can get a reservation to eat within the hour.


I get it, but it is kind of ridiculous you have to know what you will be in the mood for 6 months in advance- there is the issue of spontaneity. With ADR that far out and FP+ it makes everything so regimented and schedule oriented- I definitely don't like that I have to have ADR for a restaurant and then can't ride a ride if the line is too long due to dinner reservations . Or you have to know what restaurant your eating at so you need to have each day of which park you will be at etc-if the QS offered the exact same meals as the TS then fine but many people don't have time to plan every second of their vacation .

A compromise would be to have like a 3rd of the seats available for walk up service - disney will certainly get their money still and those who don't plan can spend time waiting it would be their choice and they would get a chance to eat at a TS.

Also I think they need to get rid of 180 for reservations - I think 30 or 60 is plenty of time- 6 months to know your entire vacation schedule is crazy and those who book a few months or weeks prior to their vacation instead of 6+ months in advance are up the creek for restaurant selections
 
I get it, but it is kind of ridiculous you have to know what you will be in the mood for 6 months in advance- there is the issue of spontaneity. With ADR that far out and FP+ it makes everything so regimented and schedule oriented- I definitely don't like that I have to have ADR for a restaurant and then can't ride a ride if the line is too long due to dinner reservations . Or you have to know what restaurant your eating at so you need to have each day of which park you will be at etc-if the QS offered the exact same meals as the TS then fine but many people don't have time to plan every second of their vacation .

A compromise would be to have like a 3rd of the seats available for walk up service - disney will certainly get their money still and those who don't plan can spend time waiting it would be their choice and they would get a chance to eat at a TS.

Also I think they need to get rid of 180 for reservations - I think 30 or 60 is plenty of time- 6 months to know your entire vacation schedule is crazy and those who book a few months or weeks prior to their vacation instead of 6+ months in advance are up the creek for restaurant selections
You don't have to book ADRs 6 months in advance. We're going in August on a trip I only planned within the past month, and I booked popular restaurants (BOG, Ohana, Sci Fi) within the past month. We typically don't plan trips that far ahead, & we have gone several times over the past few years at different times of year, always with lots of popular ADRs. Just because some people choose to book 6 months ahead, doesn't mean it's necessary.
 

At 180 I couldn't get Ohana I have a 2:00 pm lunch for BoG- that's a late lunch. I couldn't get Via Napoli. I have seen many many people say they can't get their restaurants 180 out- the response is look back at 60 and 45 as trip balances are due and many cancel- if you don't allow restaurant reservations until the balance is paid in full you stop people from have ADR that they aren't going to use them. Again the 60 or 45 mark to schedule would be more appropriate and stop the booking and cancellation of tables and people will have a better idea of what's available
 
At 180 I couldn't get Ohana I have a 2:00 pm lunch for BoG- that's a late lunch. I couldn't get Via Napoli. I have seen many many people say they can't get their restaurants 180 out- the response is look back at 60 and 45 as trip balances are due and many cancel- if you don't allow restaurant reservations until the balance is paid in full you stop people from have ADR that they aren't going to use them. Again the 60 or 45 mark to schedule would be more appropriate and stop the booking and cancellation of tables and people will have a better idea of what's available
If you're having difficulties (you must be going at a peak crowd season, like fall, and/or during Free Dining), use Touring Plans reservation finder. It's free, and can help you snag those hard-to-find ressies.
 
You can call Disney to make reservations for you if you have no computer. You can even call them the day of, to check where you can get a reservation to eat within the hour.

The concierge desk at the resort can also help you with this.
 
Actually I am going off peak 11/11-11/18 and ADRs are booked solid for Ohana. I am a member of touring plans and so far no hits for my restaurant. Again you place the blame on me when it's the system that's flawed- If you want ADRs you shouldn't get them until your balance is paid therefor a 30 day ADR window would be perfect sense
 
Also free dining shouldn't cause TS to be booked anymore then any other time... if it takes free dining for Disney to get booked reservations they are doing something wrong with the restaurants the rest of the year
 
I get it, but it is kind of ridiculous you have to know what you will be in the mood for 6 months in advance- there is the issue of spontaneity. With ADR that far out and FP+ it makes everything so regimented and schedule oriented- I definitely don't like that I have to have ADR for a restaurant and then can't ride a ride if the line is too long due to dinner reservations . Or you have to know what restaurant your eating at so you need to have each day of which park you will be at etc-if the QS offered the exact same meals as the TS then fine but many people don't have time to plan every second of their vacation .

A compromise would be to have like a 3rd of the seats available for walk up service - disney will certainly get their money still and those who don't plan can spend time waiting it would be their choice and they would get a chance to eat at a TS.

Also I think they need to get rid of 180 for reservations - I think 30 or 60 is plenty of time- 6 months to know your entire vacation schedule is crazy and those who book a few months or weeks prior to their vacation instead of 6+ months in advance are up the creek for restaurant selections
You don't need to make ADRs 6 months in advance- you just have the option to. When I've planned trips that far in advance I've made reservations early but also make changes and adjust them closer to my dates as needed. I've also booked trips with as little as a couple of weeks notice and been able to get all of my desired restaurants - including some very popular places. You can still walk up to several restaurants or search for immediate openings or day of availability. Holding back tables for walk ins would just make waits for all parties way too long. There's a reason why many restaurants don't have walk in seating available. It's because they're already booked - no need to hold tables.
 
You don't need to make ADRs 6 months in advance- you just have the option to. When I've planned trips that far in advance I've made reservations early but also make changes and adjust them closer to my dates as needed. I've also booked trips with as little as a couple of weeks notice and been able to get all of my desired restaurants - including some very popular places. You can still walk up to several restaurants or search for immediate openings or day of availability. Holding back tables for walk ins would just make waits for all parties way too long. There's a reason why many restaurants don't have walk in seating available. It's because they're already booked - no need to hold tables.

But why should ANYONE have to plan out their vacations months in advance- ADRs cause you to know what parks your going to be at what rides and when ( to a degree)

I get people like to plan unfortunately many don't have the time
 
Actually I am going off peak 11/11-11/18 and ADRs are booked solid for Ohana.
November is part of peak season now. That's why you're having such a hard time. I went over Easter weekend this year with 6 weeks notice, and was able to get BOG, Tusker House ROL package, Wishes Dessert Party, Chef Mickeys, and more. Don't expect low crowds for your trip. What you think is off-season is the exact opposite, now.
 
But why should ANYONE have to plan out their vacations months in advance- ADRs cause you to know what parks your going to be at what rides and when ( to a degree)

I get people like to plan unfortunately many don't have the time

FPs also dictate what Park you'll be in. And you can choose flexibility instead of eating at Ohana's.

Would you rather wait in ride lines or restaurant lobbies for 3 hours? Because that's the obvious alternative and that's why I don't understand your argument.
 
I get it, but it is kind of ridiculous you have to know what you will be in the mood for 6 months in advance- there is the issue of spontaneity. With ADR that far out and FP+ it makes everything so regimented and schedule oriented- I definitely don't like that I have to have ADR for a restaurant and then can't ride a ride if the line is too long due to dinner reservations . Or you have to know what restaurant your eating at so you need to have each day of which park you will be at etc-if the QS offered the exact same meals as the TS then fine but many people don't have time to plan every second of their vacation .

A compromise would be to have like a 3rd of the seats available for walk up service - disney will certainly get their money still and those who don't plan can spend time waiting it would be their choice and they would get a chance to eat at a TS.

Also I think they need to get rid of 180 for reservations - I think 30 or 60 is plenty of time- 6 months to know your entire vacation schedule is crazy and those who book a few months or weeks prior to their vacation instead of 6+ months in advance are up the creek for restaurant selections

I agree in a way because it's hard to know how you will feel and what you want while you are there six months out. That said I love planning them and it gives me something fun to do while waiting for my trip, so I'm ok with it.

I've been several times and other than a few restaurants I've seen availability day before or night of while I'm there. As for the most popular, that's going to be the case Disney or otherwise. Even in central PA there are restaurants you don't get into without a reservation.
 
Again - people don't have to do anything

Ok- that's true they don't HAVE to but if they don't they are stuck with restaurants they don't want or QS meals and are pigeon holed

I am more than reasonable with ADRs being available I just don't think 180 days is necessary- especially when many end up cancelling their plans or they are going with a group and have multiple reservations at the same time and day and cancel the day before when they decide where they want to go. Taking it to 30 or 45 days allows planning still and cuts out the cancellations for those who end up cancelling all together.

The other issue would be the loophole of having multiple reservations and cancelling the rest - I know disney won't let you book two same time but if you are with party B and C and all 3 have reservations booked for different restaurants for the # in all 3 parties and then 2 of them get cancelled in time to avoid cc charge- it holds up viable ADRs and is something that should be cracked down on.
 
November is part of peak season now. That's why you're having such a hard time. I went over Easter weekend this year with 6 weeks notice, and was able to get BOG, Tusker House ROL package, Wishes Dessert Party, Chef Mickeys, and more. Don't expect low crowds for your trip. What you think is off-season is the exact opposite, now.

So all the sites with crowd projections are wrong ? That is rated one of the top weeks to go crowd wise on multiple sites
 
Again - people don't have to do anything

Completely agree. If you want a specific restaurant at a certain time you should plan ahead. Otherwise, there are always dozens of available restaurants. It's best to make a reservation though even if it's only an hour or so away. I checked just now 5:30pm for openings at 6:00pm tonight and there are plenty of options.
 



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