Walk-in availability during Free Dining?

[Mrs~Incredible]

We are going Sept 10-15 and a have a few ADRs booked. From looking around on MDE it looks like quite a few places still have availability at decent dinner times (albeit the more popular places are totally booked)

Does anyone have a sense of how the flow of ressies go the closer to the date it gets? By that, I mean, should I expect for things to continue to get booked up at a steady rate or is it reasonable to think some places might still be walk-in?

DH is hoping for more of a spontaneous trip this time, less tied to ADRs- he is perfectly happy with quick service but I wouldn't mind a few extra TS in our week when we are hot and tired from being in the parks...

Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Even if it's same day, try to make the ADR. They can (and do) turn away walk-ups even if there is availability on MDE.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Even if it's same day, try to make the ADR. They can (and do) turn away walk-ups even if there is availability on MDE.

Good tip. Thanks!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Even if it's same day, try to make the ADR. They can (and do) turn away walk-ups even if there is availability on MDE.

Follow up question. Do you know how soon before dining time can you book via MDE? For example, if it's 2:00, can I look for a same day ressie on my phone or would I need to call dining?
Thanks!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Wifey and I have gotten walk ups, but it's rare simply because most goodies are completely booked.

MG

 

[mrzrich]

Follow up question. Do you know how soon before dining time can you book via MDE? For example, if it's 2:00, can I look for a same day ressie on my phone or would I need to call dining?
Thanks!

I just checked for tonight it is 6:30 PM. The earliest it will let me book tonight is 7pm. There is availability.

Another thing to consider is that Non Disney owned restaurants, like those in Disney Springs, come out of the Disney system the night before. But you can still book them on Open Table.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks!! Now why didn't I think of that LOL!

Thanks also for the open table tip!

 

[Derby4me]

Is there a free dining offer during that time frame? Maybe I misunderstood the question. I'm looking to book similar dates and want to be sure I didn't miss something!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We used to always go in September. Boy, were we surprised when free dining came into play and we were shut out of most restaurants. I guess now I am obsessive about ADRs as a result. That said, during free dining (other times as well, but especially free dining) a lot of people make multiple reservations on multiple days; then they begin to finalize their plans and begin to drop the extras. I often pretend I'm at Disney and look to see what is available for the next day or so, especially later in the evening. People have until midnight to cancel, and often they change plans at the last minute, decide they don't want to eat at this particular restaurant, etc. Twice now we have dropped BOG dinner reservations (around 5:30, 6:00) because we decided to do something else the next day. Also on our last visit, I got a lunch reservation for Tusker House about an hour before . Always check. It is amazing to see what's out there for the next day.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Is there a free dining offer during that time frame? Maybe I misunderstood the question. I'm looking to book similar dates and want to be sure I didn't miss something!

Free dining for September, some dates in October, November and December were announced. Not sure if there are any packages left though. They went pretty quickly and from what I read, there were less offered this year.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Is there a free dining offer during that time frame? Maybe I misunderstood the question. I'm looking to book similar dates and want to be sure I didn't miss something!

There is but the offer expired a few weeks ago.

 

[Pumbaa_]

it seems many places no longer take ANY walkups, even if there is availability. I have seen reports of being turned away, going on the app, getting an adr and turning around and getting a table

interesting isn't it?

 

[tobikaye]

Follow up question. Do you know how soon before dining time can you book via MDE? For example, if it's 2:00, can I look for a same day ressie on my phone or would I need to call dining?
Thanks!

I have been able to get reservations for within 10-20 minutes of looking online (website, not sure about MDE). It has to do with what might be available.

Example: I was at DTD and planned to do EoS for lunch, but they were packed. It was about 2:15 pm, so I just checked online to see what ADRS might be available at DTD or some resorts. I found places starting at 2:30 and actually picked the 2:40 at Beaches & Cream. Only made it since we drove to BC and parked valet, although we still had to wait about 10 minutes for the table to open up.

 

[Regan117]

it seems many places no longer take ANY walkups, even if there is availability. I have seen reports of being turned away, going on the app, getting an adr and turning around and getting a table

interesting isn't it?

We were at Chef Mickey's a few weeks ago and someone tried to do a walk up. I heard the CM tell him they were reservation only and didn't take walk-ups.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

it seems many places no longer take ANY walkups, even if there is availability. I have seen reports of being turned away, going on the app, getting an adr and turning around and getting a table

interesting isn't it?

I have a theory on that, actually.

Basically, if there are ADRs available (tables unbooked), it's a risk to give those tables to a walk-up because someone can still book them. Unless you have a lot of capacity unbooked, this becomes a risk.

So it's safest to only give walk-ups away in the wake of no-shows, as those are booked ADRs that cannot be re-booked by others.

 

[shortnsassy730]

I'm local we decide at the last minute all the time to eat on property. There are lots of same day spots available to grab a ressie. In fact some of my fave meals have been places I never considered going. The Wave, Olivia's, Sanaa, Splittsville, Boma, Trail's End, The Grand Floridian Cafe, Restaurant Marrakesh, Spice Road almost always have availability. The plaza only takes walk ups now except for 11-12. No to mention folks cancel lots of ressies the night before to avoid the no show fee. I think you will be fine.

 

[DopeyDame]

As long as you don't have your heart set on a specific restaurant, I think you'll be fine. Like others have said, it's probably worth making an ADR an hour or so ahead of time, if for no other reason that to prevent yourself from having to traipse all over a park just to be turned away

 

[HopperFan]

it seems many places no longer take ANY walkups, even if there is availability. I have seen reports of being turned away, going on the app, getting an adr and turning around and getting a table

interesting isn't it?

I have been turned away, opened MDE, and able to book in the next couple hours. I see more folks turned away then I've seen allowed to wait.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just go places that aren't as popular.

1. Swan/Dolphin Not on DDP..
2. Resort restaurants. Generally much easier unless it's a popular signature or buffet. (I have never had to wait at Oliva's for example!)
3. There are some tricks...
At Epcot some of the restaurants that have outdoor seating do not take ADR for ALL the outdoor options due to the rain risk. I
Bar seating. I have eaten at the bar at a lot of "booked" restaurants. (Flying Fish, Brown Derby and Boathouse come immediately to mind)

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I always leave a few spots open in our schedule for whatever we happen to be in the mood for that day. I can almost always get a reservation somewhere an hour or two before we are ready to eat. The only issue I have had with this approach was one time in MK when there were no reservations available anywhere, so we had counter service that meal, though I'm sure we could have found a place on the monorail loop if we had wanted to leave the park.