Walk-in Dining

[beccab]

What are the chances that we (just DH & myself) could walk into a restaurant and eat at the bar. I'm still trying to figure out where we will be at a given time. I love the planning but I find this part of planning very daunting. When we are on vacation, DH is more on "island time" and I'm usually on "let's go, go, go" time.

I do have many ADRs already so just wondering if this alternate plan would work if we missed an ADR.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Several places have bars where you can eat. Some you can only get appies and bar food. And of course, there are no bars in the Magic Kingdom. Prime Time Cafe at DHS you can get anything on the menu IF you can get a seat at the bar. But at Rose & Crown at Epcot, they have a smaller menu and not on any dining plan. Since I love the planning, I generally ignore the food in the bars.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I think you would be OK at several of the resort restaurants. When we went to Captain's Grille, it was nearly empty. We sat down at 5:30pm and even by the time we left (around 6:45), there were many tables available. We got into Kouzzina right away when we couldn't stay at Cape May due to DS5's shellfish allergy (he had a reaction right away to the steaming crab legs at the buffet when we walked in). His reaction was mild but we went to Kouzzina instead and it was no problem. This was of course after the manager at Cape May called Kouzzina to make sure we could go right in, but it was also nearly empty when we arrived and not too crowded when we left. Again, we got there just after 5:30pm.

There may be some other resort restaurants that are easy to get into at the last minute. Other ones we enjoyed were Kona Cafe and Sanaa. Not sure about theme park restaurants, IMO they tend to be more crowded, but there may be some at Epcot's WS that are easier to get into, like San Angel Inn or Marrakesh. There is also Cava del tequila which is a bar that serves some food, but it is limited.

 

[ricktib]

If you're at Epcot, DHS, or the BW area, the lounge in the Yacht Club was very good and was empty at the time we went there. I think their menu was typical bare fare: wings, nachos, etc.

 

[AirGoofy]

Since it is just the two of you, there is a good chance. DW and I (honeymoon) were able to walk in to many restaurants without reservations. We did Bongos and Fulton's in DTD w/o ADRs with a short wait. You will have difficulty at the character dining places and maybe real popular places like Le Cellier.

 

[beccab]

Thank you for you advice and reassuring comments. Some of these places will actually be near where we are staying, the YC. I think we will be trying this for some meals. We are not particularly interested in character meals where it certainly would be fun to see, we have been there and done that with our children. le Cellier (do they have a bar? I don't remember) holds NO interest to us. We went there last time, 10 yr ago, and we were TOTALLY disappointed. The meals were SOOOOOOO tiny. DH needed to stop and get something to eat after. (He's skinny. It's just NOT fair!)

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Thank you for you advice and reassuring comments. Some of these places will actually be near where we are staying, the YC. I think we will be trying this for some meals. We are not particularly interested in character meals where it certainly would be fun to see, we have been there and done that with our children. le Cellier (do they have a bar? I don't remember) holds NO interest to us. We went there last time, 10 yr ago, and we were TOTALLY disappointed. The meals were SOOOOOOO tiny. DH needed to stop and get something to eat after. (He's skinny. It's just NOT fair!)

Le Cel doesn't have a bar, but it has changed hugely in 10 years. Now it's as close to elegant as can be had in a theme park with great steaks and soup ladled straight from heaven. Alas, with only 40 tables, walkins just don't happen there. When we were there in Jan last year, some one asked and was told there was an opening in late March.

 

[beccab]

WOW! Le Cellier was very popular when we went but I didn't know it had changed so much. I am not so naive as to not realize that in 10yrs a lot can change. Ten years ago, the four of us were cramped into a corner and the size of the meals were very small for a LOT of money. It left me with a bad opinion of Le Cellier. Basically, I just want a fair amount & reasonable quality for my dollar. We don't have an ADR for Le Cellier so I probably won't find out the differences first hand BUT I know we will have a good time no matter what!

 

[Bribrittmom]

I think you could get into the Turf Club at SST without an ADR.It's nice and quiet and somewhat romantic.Nice for a couple.

 

[rlovew]

We haven't had too much trouble walking up as a couple and getting seated if we go when dinner starts but I haven't tried at prime dinner time when places are most packed. I have had a lot of luck calling on our way to Disney (we go for the day a bit) and getting a reservation somewhere near the park we are in- sometimes in the park and sometimes at a resort. If you know where you will be by 2 in the afternoon you can probably pick up a reservation somewhere.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

To answer the original post...the chances of walking up are - in general - NOT GOOD

that is all that can be said...you don't have a good chance and you will be less aggrivated/ disappointed if you stick to reservations.

Disney wanted it that way