Swan/Dolphin restaurants - are reservations a must?

[nkereina]

Do the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin require reservations and book up like WDW restaurants do? Or should it be relatively easy to book a reservation the day before or day of? Do they tend to take more walk ups than WDW restaurants? Trying to keep some flexibility in our plans so just want to understand how these work as we've never eaten there. Thanks!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I have had very good success making day-of reservations at the Swan/Dolphin restaurants. You can book through opentable (no cc hold and you can cancel any time) or call directly, again, with no cc hold and no no-show policy. Personally, I wouldn't do a walk-up on the off-chance you'll be turned away unless you are going right at restaurant opening. Just an FYI - only Shula's, Garden Grove dinner, bluezoo and Il Mulino take reservations. If you are considering Kimono's, Garden Grove (breakfast), Fresh or The Fountain, those are walk-up only. Also, the lounge at bluezoo is walk-up only, but you can order the lounge and full dining room menu in that room.

 

[SteveH]

It depends. If there is a large conference or convention going on walking up could be really challenging, though that might be a good reason to skip too. I think like the previous poster said if you know you want to go to Shula's, bluezoo and Il Mulino snag a table to be sure you have a place to go. I have read several guests find it was booked to to conventions, so that way you know before you go.

 

[Linleedo]

I’ve had success doing reservations through open table for many of the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Shula’s has a pretty large bar/lounge that’s walk in only. We sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of food (full menu available) to try and it was excellent. Il Mulino on the other hand did have have walk ups nor any reservations available online. Not sure if they have a lounge. BlueZoo also has a lounge.

 

[kiford]

Given that S&D can have large conventions at any time of the year, I'd definitely plan on ADRs and assume no walk-ups. We've gone to restaurants there at times when you could easily get ADRs the day of a couple of hours before but also other times when I couldn't book at a couple of months out.

 

[DISNEY1975]

It depends. If there is a large conference or convention going on walking up could be really challenging, though that might be a good reason to skip too. I think like the previous poster said if you know you want to go to Shula's, bluezoo and Il Mulino snag a table to be sure you have a place to go. I have read several guests find it was booked to to conventions, so that way you know before you go.

This! I go with a group of 850! We take over the Dolphin! We have the same meeting second week of Sept every year, Mon thru Thur, with most arriving Sunday and some extending their stay over the weekend to get some Disney time in. Although we eat in the restaurants (and boardwalk area restaurants..especially ESPN... we do not go to the parks (unless we pay our stay beyond Thursday and buy our own tix.)

 

[gharter]

When we were at Il Mulino and Blue Zoo, neither was extremely busy.
However, if there is a restaurant where we know we want to dine, we will get an ADR, You never know when a busy night will occur.