TS w/no reservations a possibility?

[mshedger]

We (hubby and me) just booked our trip a few weeks ago w/ free dining and don't want to make reservations if we don't have to. We don't have any preferences as far as where to eat, so do we have any options? Which TS restaurants are the easiest to get into or are there any that reservations aren't a must for?

Also, I read in the FAQ that you normally cannot exchange TS for CS meals. Is this still the norm? If not, what is your best advice for doing so?

TIA!! Neither one of us have been to Disney since we were about 8, so it's like our first time all over again!!!

 

[mshedger]

We (hubby and me) just booked our trip a few weeks ago w/ free dining and don't want to make reservations if we don't have to. We don't have any preferences as far as where to eat, so do we have any options? Which TS restaurants are the easiest to get into or are there any that reservations aren't a must for?

Also, I read in the FAQ that you normally cannot exchange TS for CS meals. Is this still the norm? If not, what is your best advice for doing so?

TIA!! Neither one of us have been to Disney since we were about 8, so it's like our first time all over again!!!

 

[wifey1220]

I went last year during free dining and was able to make ressies for the garden grill the same day we went to the park. We also just walked up to the liberty tavern and got a table. We waited maybe 15minutes. A couple yrs ago we went to chef mickey and were able to get a table but not till 9pm at night. I would make ressies . I book mine months ahead of time. Look at the menus and pictures online. And if you are going for free dining look for the most expensive. Treat yourself to a nice lunch and get out of the heat for awhile. My whole family helps to pick the resturants. Its FUN!

 

[TDC Nala]

Unfortunately you won't have many options. It's extremely unlikely that you will be able to walk into TS restaurants during free dining. The odds that you'll get into any theme park restaurants without ADRs are practically nonexistent.

You could try restaurants at resorts that are removed from the parks, but that's still not terribly likely unless you don't go at peak mealtimes. Some of those will take time to get to, so if you get there and they have no space for you, you're then forced to go roaming around the entire WDW resort looking for another restaurant. If you haven't got a car, you would be spending lots of time riding around on buses looking for food. I'd attempt same day or day before bookings before I did that.

Of course, the credits were free, so if you don't use them it may not be that big a deal to you.

In the past WDW has permitted exchanging TS for CS during free dining (due to overbooking of TS restaurants), but they need to announce it. They haven't for 2008 yet.

Another possibility is to ask a manager at your resort if you can convert your TS credits to CS credits.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Any place you can find to eat will be good. During free dining esp is not an easy task.
If it were me, I would be making what I could NOW.
Good luck...

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you can be flexible, and are willing to eat at off times that helps. We had ADR's in June but were forever changing our plans. We were able to but often we were eating dinner at 9:00 p.m. or later or eating lunch at 3:00. I also have found the restaurants at these resorts to have availabiltiy,often last minute and they are all very good in my opinion:

SSR: Turf Club
OKW: Olivia's
CSR: Maya Grill (although if there's a convention going on this one can be full)
POR: Boatwrights
CBR: Shutters

I have also gotten last minute ADR's at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe (I walked up, and asked if they could take us in about an hour they could). And at Tokyo Dining in Epcot I was able to call in the afternoon and get an ADR for pretty much anytime I wanted that evening. Plaza Inn in the Magic Kindom is another one that often has last minute walk ups. Partly because its so reasonable it isnt' considered a good deal on the DDP. But its very good, we love that place.

If you have a car and can get around with ease that also helps.

Character meals, O'Hana, Le Cellier, Coral Reef are all hard to come by and I would be surprised if you could get a last minute adr during free dining let alone a walk up.

Converting ts credits to cs credits can only be done by your resort. None of the restaurants can do this. And its not a given your resort will do it.

I would advise you to make some plans in advance. Go to www.allearsnet.com and check out the menus of all the restaurants. You can always try to change them once you get there. The bottom line: Free Dining isn't free. You paid full rack rate for your resort at a time when a deep discount (as much as 40% off of rack) could have been had. So your credits are free but your room came at a much higher rate. I wouldn't chance not having some meals in place so that your high priced room doesn't become a high priced lesson!

One way or the other, you'll have to spend time figuring this out. Either now when you have the time or in September when you may have to go up to guest services or mulitple restaurants trying to find places to eat. Which can cut into your day. Walk ups are nearly impossible at many places, esp. during free dining when restaurants are packed.

 

[KatMark]

We've done free dining every year. Last year, there were signs every day at the park we were at that day indicating there was no availability for any table service restaurants. We were at several places where people walked up asking if there was any availability and they were told no (these places included the ever popular LeCellier, Plaza Restaurant, Biergarten, Crystal Palace and Liberty Tree Tavern). I would suggest you book at least a couple prior to your trip if you can. Also, I'd call the morning of each day for whatever park you are being at that day to see what they have available (or stop at Guest Relations).

 

[Aimeedyan]

If you're flexible in time and location, you won't go hungry. Well, you may be hungry because you won't have a guaranteed seat at a restaurant near you but you won't starve =)

Check with your hotel concierge each morning; they can look through their computer to find openings easily and quickly. And don't hesitate to just stop and ask at restaurants.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am merging this thread with the identical one started by the same poster on the Dining Plan board.

 

[hotdogmj71]

In the past, we have had no trouble at these --

Raglan Road (Downtown Disney) - one of my favorites
ESPN (Boardwalk) - seems like it always gets bad reviews, but I have never had a bad experience there
Planet Hollywood (DTD) - I won't be back to this one however.
Rose & Crown and San Angel (Epcot) - both OK
Mama Melroses (Disney Studios) - good service, OK food

Good luck.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Finding a place will just be the luck of the draw.
During FD last year I was at guest services in DTD. A guest next to me was trying to find anywhere sit down to eat in DTD to use his table service. (Wife and hungry kids standing outside waiting on him.)
It was during dinner time and one place would accept them mid evening, and another at 11:00 p.m.
Poor guy. I told him about the RFC Safari Club, and said he could not use his DDP credit there. At that point he did not care and off they went!
So this kind of scenario could very well happen to you. It may work out fine. Maybe not so much.

 

[eeyoregon]

We (hubby and me) just booked our trip a few weeks ago w/ free dining

How did you book free dining 2 weeks ago when the promo ended June 22??

And to answer your question: NO. You will not be able to eat at table services venues without reservations.

 

[catne]

How did you book free dining 2 weeks ago when the promo ended June 22??

And to answer your question: NO. You will not be able to eat at table services venues without reservations.

OP said "few" weeks ago...not two weeks ago. "Few" could mean at the end of the free dining period, which was in June.

Agree with posters about no table service available for walk-ups. Some of the posters are talking about getting table service at various times...only the ones actually talking about free dining count! sure you can get walk-ups in May, June or July...but not during Free Dining. The cancellations/no-shows do not free up tables during Free Dining because tables are over-booked.

 

[irunnoft]

WDW just isn't the place to "wing it" when it comes to TS meals. I saw lots of people being turned away from multiple restaurants whenever we arrived at our reserved time. Made me glad I'd planned ahead. WDW is probably the only place in the world where you'd have to do this, but it pays off rather than being stuck in a park going "Ok, now where?"

 

[planitdad]

I'd call every day up until you get there. You'll get something, just don't be restaurant specific. If it turns out you are unable to use TS credits, Disney will accomodate you as they have others as recently as last year when this happened. Just don't wait to bring it to their attention. Many report leaving w/ unused credits. They will not likely refund any unused portion of your plan, but only help you to use your entitlements while there.

 

[fla4fun]

OP said "few" weeks ago...not two weeks ago. "Few" could mean at the end of the free dining period, which was in June.

Agree with posters about no table service available for walk-ups. Some of the posters are talking about getting table service at various times...only the ones actually talking about free dining count! sure you can get walk-ups in May, June or July...but not during Free Dining. The cancellations/no-shows do not free up tables during Free Dining because tables are over-booked.

I don't necessarily agree. I was there during free dining the past two years (but not on the dining plan, because I got a great AP rate) and I did occasionally do walk ups to TS restaurants, even in the parks. However, I wouldn't recommend trying it every day, especially if you are relying on the dining plan for your main source of food. I don't usually do a lot of TS meals because I'm staying in a villa where I can cook, and because I like being spontaneous.

OP, I would definitely call and get some ADR's lined up. Try to go for lunch instead of dinner for your TS ADR's, as most people go for dinner trying to maximize the value of the plan. Consider resort restaurants that are near the parks, as they may be less crowded. Be flexible about your restaurants and your dining times, and I'm sure you can still get some decent reservations.

 

[RMulieri]

Walk-ups during free dining...not very likely anymore.Yes, in the past during free dining people have been able to do walk-ups.But every year free dining has gotten busier and busier.2 years ago i was able to see people getting walk ups inside the themeparks.Last year...NOPE.I saw more people turned away then not.Most restaurants had signs out front that said they were full( no walkups), and many many people were very upset there was no waiting for a table.I personally would not chance it, unless you really don't care if and when you eat or if and when you use your credits.

 

[mshedger]

I'm definitely going to start calling about res ASAP! Also, I emailed my trav agent to see if she can find out about them swapping TS to CS if needed. I will let you know what I find out. Thanks for all of the info!!! Who knew the magical Disney experience would be so complicated!?!

ETA: we are definitely flexible about times and locations, so maybe that will help. Also, do any of you know is it easier to get res for parties of 2?

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

I called WDW DINE yesterday to confirm some of my ADRs and try and add my In Laws to my Coral Reef REssie. NO WAY he said, "politely", and told me most everything in EPCOT was booked up that whole week. So I thought well, my in laws always wanted to try Raglan road, because they are Irish, and it is in DTD, so I asked about ressies there, CM said he was wide open! So I ditched the in laws with a RR Ressie and kept my coveted Coral Reef! My suggestion is to "try" to make some ADRs but if you can't get anything, always check with you concierge at your resort before you head out each day. You can sometimes score one like that!

 

[ReneeA]

Don't count on your travel agent to get you a solid answer re. swapping TS for CS. It's really just luck of the draw - there are thousands of Cast Members, and some can do it, while others cannot. I had it done one time, but it was only because a manager was standing right at the checkout while I paid, and I was joking with them that it was my last day, and it would be nice if I had CS credits left instead of the TS that I didn't have time to use. They overrode it and allowed me to use them, but made sure to let me know that it was not the norm, and they only allow it on very, very rare occasions. Also, that most cast members do not have the capability to ring it that way.

I would also call and see what you can get. It's unlikely that you will walk up unless it's an odd time for dining, or somewhere off the beaten path. The last 2 years we went during free dining, the signs were up in the park first thing in the morning that TS restaurants were not accepting walk ups.