Surprisingly dumb question(s) from Disney vet

[Fargoman2]

We leave in 10.9 days for our 7th WDW vacation. So the questions I'm about to ask will seem incredibly naive/elementary for someone who has been to the world so many times.

Here's the deal--In the past, we really didn't utilize full service restaurants much at all because we had CL privileges at Dolphin with Starpoints. We would take advantage and get the equivalent of 2/3 meals "paid for." So other than an occasional Chef Mickey or Crystal Palace or LTT, we really just had counter service.

We don't have the CL option any more at the Dolphin, which means more meals at the parks. Trouble is, I've been too busy/lazy to plan ADRs for this trip and as I noted we leave very soon. So here are my dumb questions:

1. Is it essentially too late to get ADR at any of the "good" restaurants?

2. If we have a prayer anywhere, can you make a recommendation for a good sit down meal...not looking for SUPER fancy, because it has to be appealing to an 18 DD, 15 DD and 8 DS. But it is our daughter's last trip before she starts college and now I'm thinking, gee bonehead, you should have made reservations somewhere nice, like LeCellier (sp?).

Any counsel would be great. Feel free to rub it in that "I should have known better" than to wait this long. What could have I been thinking?

Is there anything I can salvage at this point?

Thanks for listening.

 

[JennyMominRI]

We leave in 10.9 days for our 7th WDW vacation. So the questions I'm about to ask will seem incredibly naive/elementary for someone who has been to the world so many times.

Here's the deal--In the past, we really didn't utilize full service restaurants much at all because we had CL privileges at Dolphin with Starpoints. We would take advantage and get the equivalent of 2/3 meals "paid for." So other than an occasional Chef Mickey or Crystal Palace or LTT, we really just had counter service.

We don't have the CL option any more at the Dolphin, which means more meals at the parks. Trouble is, I've been too busy/lazy to plan ADRs for this trip and as I noted we leave very soon. So here are my dumb questions:

1. Is it essentially too late to get ADR at any of the "good" restaurants?

2. If we have a prayer anywhere, can you make a recommendation for a good sit down meal...not looking for SUPER fancy, because it has to be appealing to an 18 DD, 15 DD and 8 DS. But it is our daughter's last trip before she starts college and now I'm thinking, gee bonehead, you should have made reservations somewhere nice, like LeCellier (sp?).

Any counsel would be great. Feel free to rub it in that "I should have known better" than to wait this long. What could have I been thinking?

Is there anything I can salvage at this point?

Thanks for listening.

If you are willing to be flexable with your meal times you may find something decent..If you are willing to have your bi meal at lunch you may do even better, and you can get out of the heat for a while

Try
Kona Cafe
Chef's De France
Grand Floridian Cafe
Boma
Biergarten
Restaurant Marrakesh

You may have decent luck at DTD too ..If you want a really great meal try Portobello Yacht Club

 

[mickeystoontown]

It might be pretty hard to get table service at the park restaurants. I would go ahead and choose several options and then call and see what is available.

You may be able to eat at the resort restaurants instead of park restaurants.

We went to the 9:30 p.m. Hoop Dee Doo Review show the first week of June and the theater was only about 1/3 full. Lots and lots of open tables.

 

[chrismom3]

It's never too late to try for ADR's!!!! If you can't get what you want for dinner, you can always try for a late lunch at that particular restaurant.

My favorite upscale restaurants are:

Jiko (AK Lodge)
California Grill (at Contemporary) - nice to try to get a late seating around 8:00 and stay to watch Wishes at MK from the restaurant
Yachtsman Steakhouse (at Yacht Club)
Cinderella's Royal Table (at the castle for dinner). I was able to get an ADR for this 2 days ahead around 9:00

More casual favorites:

Boma (AK Lodge)
Crystal Palace
Biergarten
Le Cellier (Couldn't get this ADR even 2 months ahead - but you can keep trying or try for lunch)
The Brown Derby (MGM)
Mama Melrose (MGM)
O'Hanas or Kona Cafe (at Poly)

Good luck!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Another thing is have the number in your cell I have been turned down for walk-ups only to call and get in at last minute.

 

[KatiebugsMom]

Put this number in your cell 1-407-WDW-DINE. I have changed reservations while in line for rides so anything can happen it is the Year of Dreams.

Le Cellier is very hard but you never know there could be cancellations so try. However a suggestion for an alternative is Chefs de France. Very nice both in food and staff. A type of place that would make a teenager feel grown up but still great for an 8 year old. Also for adventure Marakesh in Morocco is wonderful, great food, staff and entertainment with the dancer and band. This one can be a bit easier to get into, since it's not so much on everyone's radar.

Hope this helps!

 

[pooch]

when, you're at MK, the monorail resorts and WL are short trips away. We love Kona Cafe at the Poly. Whispering Canyon Cafe at WL (relaxing boat ride away) is a HOOT. Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary was also very good, although I understand it's closing soon. Also there is an 800 # for dining 1-800-828-0228 Option #3, in case this is more convenient for you.

Call, ask what's available. Good luck and no "I told you so"'s here!!!

 

[alldiz]

I agree you might have a better time getting a ressie
for lunch...

Don't be picky with the times......and you should get something....

Try...
Whispering Canyon Cafe...
Kona Cafe....
Boma...

Yacht Club Galley.....good food.....probably an easy one to get....
then you can walk around the boardwalk....

Prime time Cafe...
Sci Fi....

For a special meal.....If nothing is available....
The swan or dolphin should have availavbility...
Good luck
Kerri

 

[Christine]

I know you said "nothing fancy" because of your kid's ages; however, I just cannot disagree with you more!

I feel certain that you should be able to get a reservation at any one of Disney's signature restaurants. I go to at least one every trip and I will tell you that my kids love them. They never stop talking about those restaurants. As much as we enjoyed Le Cellier, quite honestly, it was not memorable.

Anyway, my kids really like Citricos. For the desserts, they always bring the girls a dark chocolate princess crown to go with whatever they order. My DD is 16 and she just LOVES eating there.

My son, who can be fairly picky at times, tasted some of my Smoky Portabello Mushroom Soup at Artist Point and he still hasn't stopped talking about how good it was (that was our 2005 trip)!!

I think you should consider at least one meal at one of these places (or Cali Grill or Jikos). I think it will be a special, but good, meal and a nice "sending off" for the one going to college.

The restaurants are fairly relaxed in the dress code so none of them every feel "stuffy" and we've always gone straight from the parks (just didn't wear our tank tops that day!!).

 

[Quinn222]

I agree you should try some of the signature places. Citricos is one our favourites too. Also Brown Derby. If you want something casual but fun you could head over to the Pepper Market at CSR, it's the food court there but it's a big step up from other food courts and have all kinds of things to choose from. Maya Grill can be hit or miss but when it's on it's good. Chefs de France sometimes has openings last minute and it's very good too.

 

[Fargoman2]

You have given me some "great food for thought!"

I'll spend a bit more time doing some homework and see what options might be best to pursue. What a fun problem to have--figuring out where you're going to eat at Disney World!

 

[WDW4ever]

You could try for lunch at Le Cellier instead of dinner.. although I'm not sure if the lunch menu is as good?

BTW, hello "Fargo!" (I'm from there too LOL)

 

[supersuperwendy]

We decided our ADR's weren't going to work once we arrived at WDW. So in the morning once we knew what park we were going to I would call disney dining and ask what was available at any time in that area on that day..LOL

For example...we had an ADR for Raglan Road at 5:45...there was no way we were gonna make it. So I cancelled it and asked what was available in the MK area for dinner. There was a 7:45 at the Grand Floridian Cafe! It was a beautiful restaurant and the meal was nice!

Don't get your hopes down...people cancel ADR's all the time! Just call and ask..its your best bet!

 

[Jubilee]

1. Is it essentially too late to get ADR at any of the "good" restaurants?

2. If we have a prayer anywhere, can you make a recommendation for a good sit down meal...not looking for SUPER fancy, because it has to be appealing to an 18 DD, 15 DD and 8 DS. But it is our daughter's last trip before she starts college and now I'm thinking, gee bonehead, you should have made reservations somewhere nice, like LeCellier (sp?).

I have a couple thoughts... I can't confirm but I have read that when you're actually checked in and in the parks, if you were to go to guest services to make an ADR, you might actually have a chance of getting it even if it's technically "booked" to us folks calling from home prior to the trip. A lot of people claim there are allotments that open up. This would make sense because it's not a complete shutdown for folks who don't call ahead, and it also ensures that the people making the ADRs are already on property. I don't know for sure but I have heard accounts of popular restaurants being available last minute.

ANYWAY, for your DD's nice meal before college, what about Coral Reef? It's got great atmosphere for all ages and you could TRY to call and get a diver sign/personalized menu with pics of your family. It could be a real treat. Note to make the reservation before 7PM as I believe the divers are done at that point.

Have fun and be flexible!!

 

[DISNEYNY]

I just made a reservation for Turf Club at SSR. I have heard the food is very good. It is near DTD so if you are in that area you can take the boat over or I have heard that you can also walk there from DTD. We also changed a ressie last minute last year and went to Capn Jacks at DTD. We enjoyed that too.