Sit down restaurants without reservations... is it possible?

[pookiepie777]

We are taking a very unplanned trip to Disney for a few days since we will be in the area to visit family. I haven't been there in years.
We weren't able to get any reservations anywhere. I know all the character dining and other popular restaurants will be impossible but are there places you can get a sit down meal without a reservation?
If not, what are the best choices for counter service? We are going to MK and AK.
Tips and/or advice would be greatly appreciated .. Thanks

 

[aprincessatlast]

I think it is very hard nowadays to get a "standby" sit down meal. I am sure there are pockets here and there but not much. The best thing might be to try the night before to see if there is any availability seeing as people need to cancel the day before so not to incur the cancellation fee. What about going to resorts right outside like Cont., Poly, or GF? Kona is really good and usually has some availability.

Our favorite counter service is Columbia House in Mk and we love to sit upstairs. AK has several we like -Flametree BBQ is good and we like Yak and yeti CS but the seating there is terrible.

 

[robinb]

Did you check for ADRs (reservations) for your days?

The MK is usually pretty booked up with no walk-ups. You can look at some of the MK resorts for an opening for an ADR. I like Kona over at the Polynesian and the Wave over at the Contemporary. Yak and Yeti and Rainforest Cafe at AK usually have walk-ups, especially for lunch.

I would go here: http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-dining-reservations.180/ and find the cancelation thread for your month. You can't ask for a reservation but you can lurk there and see if someone gives up one for your dates.

 

[minnie mum]

Without knowing your dates, I couldn't say. But if you go to the dining reservations page you can just select FIND A TABLE for your date and party size. It will give a list of restaurants with availability. The locations and times will require flexibility, though.Most in park restaurants might be booked up if your trip is soon, or during a free dining period. Getting a walk up is getting very difficult.

 

[stinkpickle]

It's easier when a free dining offer isn't in effect.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Last week, we found a disconnect between what the system said was booked and what was actually booked. For instance, there were only late breakfast reservations available at Olivia's so we took a chance and showed up at 8am. There were only 3 tables of people in the entire place and the waitstaff were standing around chatting. Anyone walking up was immediately seated. That same day, Fulton's was showing only reservations after 9pm so again, took a chance and were seated immediately - place was half empty. Boma was doing the same, though walk-ups did have a wait. 'Ohana also had lots of empty tables but they may have been running at a lower capacity and not taking any walk-ups, I didn't ask.

I was always a "must have a reservation" person but I found last week that sometimes, that simply isn't true (I was proven wrong by other members of our traveling group, really!). We were also there during free dining.

(found same with Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - they were taking all walk-ups immediately even though we struggled to get the one reservation we got!)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You can search for dining reservations on the Walt Disney World website or by calling Disney Dining 407-WDW-DINE.

MK restaurants tend to fill up quickly. If you can't find anything, I would suggest Columbia Harbour House quick service. If you are willing to leave the park, the monorail resorts have some good restaurants as well. We particularly like the Wave at CR.

For AK, you may want to consider getting a Landry's Select Card which will give you priority seating at Yak and Yeti and Rainforest Cafe without having to make a reservation. The cost of the card is $25, but when you present the card, that $25 will be applied to your bill, so it really doesn't cost anything.

 

[wilkeliza]

I just go and ask. Some places can take you and others will flat out turn you away. We got a walk up at 'Ohana on Friday night but on Sunday we went to the Plaza and were told under no circumstances were they taking walk ups.

 

[tobikaye]

Are you wanting table service in the parks or at a resort? In the parks are usually less options, but I have walked up successful in Epcot and DHS before. I have not tried at MK or AK. Time of day can help if you are looking for non-peak dining times.

At resorts, I have not actually done a walk up, but what I do, is get online about 20-60 minutes before I want the reservation and see what is available. I usually can find a decent table service at a restaurant. You just have to be flexible in where you eat. (You can also call and ask what is available at a certain time. I have done this when I have had trouble with the site.)

I have also walked into Guest Service at a park and asked if they had any reservations for that day and gotten in for an early dinner.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You have to temper your expectations if you try to walk up. The likely answer for most walk up is no. If this is a source of probable heartbreak, it's best not to try.

Early and late in meal periods tend to be better for walk-up. If you want to walk up to a table service at high noon, it's just not likely.

 

[robinb]

Oh, we walked up to Spice Table in Epcot right before IlluniNations and were seated outside.

 

[eastendlights]

Last week, we found a disconnect between what the system said was booked and what was actually booked. For instance, there were only late breakfast reservations available at Olivia's so we took a chance and showed up at 8am. There were only 3 tables of people in the entire place and the waitstaff were standing around chatting. Anyone walking up was immediately seated. That same day, Fulton's was showing only reservations after 9pm so again, took a chance and were seated immediately - place was half empty. Boma was doing the same, though walk-ups did have a wait. 'Ohana also had lots of empty tables but they may have been running at a lower capacity and not taking any walk-ups, I didn't ask.

I was always a "must have a reservation" person but I found last week that sometimes, that simply isn't true (I was proven wrong by other members of our traveling group, really!). We were also there during free dining.

(found same with Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - they were taking all walk-ups immediately even though we struggled to get the one reservation we got!)

This is really interesting given the fact that we are seeing lots of complaints about the lack of availability of ADR's. I wonder if they are doing this on purpose to allow people without plans to find dining more easily. Of course, this flies in the face of everything Disney is pushing regarding making ADR's 180 days in advance.

 

[shortnsassy730]

As others have mentioned you should have luck at Kona or the Wave. You could even take the boat to Ft Wilderness and eat at Trails End. Yak and Yeti will probably have availability at AK. You may be surprised and get into Tusker House if you check at an odd hour like 2 or 4.

 

[Aimeedyan]

This is really interesting given the fact that we are seeing lots of complaints about the lack of availability of ADR's. I wonder if they are doing this on purpose to allow people without plans to find dining more easily. Of course, this flies in the face of everything Disney is pushing regarding making ADR's 180 days in advance.

Yes, we go often - and were actually dining with a cast member part of the time - and we all found it surprising and wondered if it was intentional. I do think that some of the restaurant capacity was reduced (ie, staffing reduced) for whatever reason. Esp after we saw empty tables at CRT and 'Ohana!

I found myself eating crow when I told Disney newbies they'd never get in at Fulton's without a reservation and they walked right in at 7pm...

 

[sleepydog25]

As others have opined, the best answer partially depends on the time of year you're going. On our last three trips, we managed a few walk ups: The Wave, The Boathouse, and though we had a reservation, Artist Point is almost always available for walk ups, especially earlier in the evening. Trail's End is an easy get. There are some Disney Springs and Swan/Dolphin restaurants you can book via Open Table, as well: Il Mulino, Portobello, Morimoto's, et. al. As for counter service, I echo Columbia House, especially sitting upstairs and watching the crowds go by outside. Another we love is Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot--no reservations allowed, and it's quite enjoyable. We rather liked Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot, too, and it doesn't appear to be very difficult to reserve. Good luck!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well if you will be there on a saturday or sunday the Garden Grove restaurant at The Swan has the character breakfast and they dont take reservations, its just strictly walk up.

Its priced pretty reasonably and I think the characters are Goofy, Pluto and Chip or Dale. Not many but they spend a lot of time with the kids and good photo op too.

 

[mountdew1]

AK your TS choices are pretty limited to begin with. I think the Rainforest Cafe there is usually pretty easy to get into, the ones in park may be a bit tougher. MK odds are you may need to go to one of the MK resorts, maybe eat at the Wave or Artist Point. Strongly echo the PPs who have suggested simply plugging your dates into the online booking finder and seeing what comes up. Trying in advance definitely helps to set the tone of what to expect if it comes down to trying a walk up and who knows, you might just snag a reservation online beforehand.

 

[level2mommy]

I'm still trying to get ADRs for Akershus when we are there in a few weeks, maybe we'll end up lucky with a walkup? Not counting on it though.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

It's going to depend on when, how many people, where, etc. Christmas week/Spring break in MK? Nope. A random Tuesday in February at Yak and Yeti? You will probably be fine. It's more complicated than just yes or no.

That said, I like Columbia Harbor House in MK and Flame Tree Barbecue in AK as great CS options.

 

[SouthJersey]

We are taking a very unplanned trip to Disney for a few days since we will be in the area to visit family. I haven't been there in years.
We weren't able to get any reservations anywhere. I know all the character dining and other popular restaurants will be impossible but are there places you can get a sit down meal without a reservation?
If not, what are the best choices for counter service? We are going to MK and AK.
Tips and/or advice would be greatly appreciated .. Thanks

Keep checking.
You WILL find everything you want except for the extreme's like Victoria and Albert's or Cinderella's Royal.
Even then, you can find those 'impossible ones' as people come down to the wire and finalize their trips, even the day's before, they cancel held ADR's at the last minute.

We found Be Our Guest, Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Table the week before our trip by checking daily throughout the day.

As for the question itself, walk-ups at the park locations is rare and if they do allow, it's generally a nice 45+ wait at the minimum. We got a walk-up for Sci-Fi and the time was 65 minutes.