Walk In

[JILL34]

I have'nt been able to get but one reservation and that is for a breakfast at animal kingdom. Do any of the restaurants seat walk ins at the parks and resorts or do you have to have reservations. We will be there from 11/19-11/25 me, my husband, are two 13 year old boys and our 4 year old boy. I never dreamed you had so much planning to do until reading the forums. i havent been to disny since i was 6. next time i will know also please let me know if you know of any restaurants that i dont have to have a reservation

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You are there Thanksgiving week. Until Tuesday you may be able to get in without reservations. mFor Wednesday on yoiu may be out of luck completely. Your best bet right now is to try to figure which parks you want to see on which days and then call Disney Dining to try to get reservations.

 

[intrep93]

You may want to try some of the resort resteraunts. Lots of times they won't fill up so fast as the parks. Also, try odd times and less popular resteraunts. Morocco in Epcot, Tony's in MK, etc. are often easier to get than the more popular places. Good luck and let us know how you come out!

 

[jwfla422]

Unfortunately there have been many occasions (especially at the park sit-downs and the MK resort character meals) that CMs will tell you if you don't have an ADR or PS they will not be able to seat you. This has happened in EPCOT and at CP in MK and at CMs and O'Hana.

You should keep trying to see if anyone cancels but if it is Thanksgiving you might want to search elsewhere.

If you're looking for breakfasts with characters try Cape May or 1900 Pk Fare. They're "usually" pretty good and they usually have availability as far as ADR's go.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

It is getting harder to just walk up to restaurants now, especially during busy times. They are not afraid to tell you that it is too busy and they won't be able to seat you.

 

[jwfla422]

We've also experienced the places you can usually "walk-in" having long waits if you don't have an ADR.

One quiet Sunday morning in early May we went to Spoodles for breakfast. It was quiet too, but the CM told me I was lucky I had a PS because it was a 45 minute wait for those not having one.

It seems that they are staffing the restaurants more and more according to the ADR/PS's that are on the schedule for that specific meal. Even though there may be empty tables there may not be enough CM's to cover them all.

And with the free dining, dining plans and DDE being available to all AP holders, more and more guests are realizing they need to make ADRs/PSs for their trips. And with being able to make these reservations so far in advance more popular restaurants are booking up quicker.

 

[WillCAD]

It is getting more and more difficult to get into the good restaurants without ADRs every year. Most of the WDW restaurants accept walk-ins as a rule, but there are times when they get so booked up that they will stop accepting walk-ins, sometimes all night.

If you are indeed talking about Thanksgiving week, you are going to find heavy crowds and packed restaurants.

Keep trying; there are always cancellations, and if you try every few days you can often get into a restaurant you want after someone cancels. Remember to be flexible; if your preferred time is not available, ask the CM to check the whole night and see when they can get you in. They can also check several nights for you at once, so if Wednesday is booked maybe you can go on Saturday.

It's also sometimes possible to get a last-minute ADR the night before due to last-minute cancellations, so even after you arrive at WDW, you should try the Disney Dining line (there is a dedicated button for DD on every WDW resort phone).

Worst-case scenario would be eating counter-service all week, and let me tell you, that's not terrible at all. There is a huge variety of terrific counter-service food available at the WDW parks and resorts, especially at Epcot, from the standard burgers and fries to some exotic noodle dishes to Medditeranian to Mexican to stuff at the Land that's almost gourmet. Check the menus here:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[dznymom1]

The advice of doing table service at resorts instead of in the parks is excellent. And, as a previous poster said, there is a wonderful variety of Counter Service meals in the parks. ESPN doesn't take ADRs, so if you are looking for someplace near EPCOT that is an optionwhich has always been a favorite of my boys. Just don't plan for a time with big games or you will have to wait. Beaches and Cream is another good family spot that doesn't take ADRs and is at the Beach Club also just outside EPCOT. Rainforest Cafe at Downtown is another that doesn't take ADRs as far as I know, and a great family restaurant. Keep trying for some ADRs, and be as flexible as possible, but don't worry about starving if you don't get what you want.

 

[bicker]

Definitely: Flexibility is the key. I've never read of an instance where someone called for a reservation even as little as a day in advance and was told that there wasn't a single reservation to be had for that meal, anywhere at any resort, park or DTD. AFAIK, there is always something available somewhere.

 

[tinylittlepiglet]

I am going from 11/25 to 12/2 and have only made 2 ADRs! I am hoping I can make some while I am in Disney. Two reasons why I havent made more:
1, Can you really tell what you want to be eating in 6 months time from now?? I dont even know what I want for lunch today!! And even if you do decide, Disney will probably go and change the menu! Like Chefs de France! I was looking forward to Sirloin steak and now all there is flank!!!

2, Also, as I Brit, calling the USA isnt the cheapest thing!

Lets hope for pixie dust and the places I eventually decide on will have availability!!! This is of course Disney!!!! Where dreams come true!!!!

 

[Cass]

1, Can you really tell what you want to be eating in 6 months time from now?? I dont even know what I want for lunch today!!

You don't know what specific meal you are going to order - but, you should have a basic itinerary and know what parks you will be doing on what days. (ie) Day 1 is animal kingdom day, Day 2 is MK Day, Day 3 is MGM Day

From that type of broad plan you can pick some ADRs and fine tune your plans a little.

 

[bicker]

I recently visited the Knoxville Zoo. Months in advance I had no trouble deciding where we would have lunch -- there is only once choice! So the "probably" with WDW is that there are too many choices. The way to fix that is to make a selection. Then, you pretty-much can figure that you have only one choice. Everything is simple again.

Seriously, what you do know six months in advance is what kinds of restaurants you want. Pick them, make reservations at them, and be comfortable with your selection.

 

[WillCAD]

I am going from 11/25 to 12/2 and have only made 2 ADRs! I am hoping I can make some while I am in Disney. Two reasons why I havent made more:
1, Can you really tell what you want to be eating in 6 months time from now?? I dont even know what I want for lunch today!! And even if you do decide, Disney will probably go and change the menu! Like Chefs de France! I was looking forward to Sirloin steak and now all there is flank!!!

2, Also, as I Brit, calling the USA isnt the cheapest thing!

Lets hope for pixie dust and the places I eventually decide on will have availability!!! This is of course Disney!!!! Where dreams come true!!!!

I have always lived my vacations by the same philosophy. But you also have to be prepared for dissapointment with that philosophy, especially in the busy tiems of the year. I have waited as long as 70-80 minutes for signature restaurants like 'Ohana and Boma as a walk-up. I didn't mind, because I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, but others might consider that kind of wait rediculous or outrageous. And I have also been turned away from 'Ohana and a few other places on very busy nights.

In busier times of the year I have started to bite the bullet and make ADRs in advance. I hate being tied to a set schedule, but it's better than not being able to eat in my favorite places, or being forced to have dinner at 9:30pm (I normally eat at 6).