Walk into 50's Prime Time without ADR

[Shasta]

Last week, during Spring Break, we were at a jam packed Hollywood Studios at lunch with all the counter service resturants packed! Since I plan all our Disney trips and am the big Disney guy, I knew better but when my wife asked about sitting down to eat lunch, I (with a stone face) said, "yea, that sounds good, walk in and get us a table".

To me, it was like an inside joke. 30 seconds later, she says, "20 minutes". I couldn't believe it! And in less than 2 minutes, they call our name and seated us. The place was full and people were waiting too.

My wife had the last laugh! My lesson learned; don't hesitate to ask. I know Kevin has said this many times but I never knew it could apply when the parks were so busy!

 

[Justin Jett]

Our family has not made an ADR since 1988. We ALWAYS do walk-up.

That is just our preference and experience.

 

[Rosetta89]

Well that is neat! We always do ADR for TS. A few years back i think we may have done hollywood and vine walk up and if i remember correctly it was like a 45 min wait not to bad. that was when chip and dale were still in there.

 

[disneyholic family]

we often do walkups too.

DD and i were there during free dining and despite that we were able to walk up for every table service.

Even when the restaurant looked PACKED, we were always able to get a table. the longest wait was at tokyo dining, but there they give you that light up thingie, so we waited outside, watching the lady who does the candy animals...

at the Brown Derby, when we walked in at lunchtime, not only was the waiting area standing room only, you could barely walk into the area there were so many people. But i walked up to the CM anyway and asked if there was any chance of our getting in. Indeed there was and we only had to wait 10 minutes for a fantastic table (and a fantastic meal and service!).

 

[jpeka65844]

I have a friend that was there last week too and they did a walk-up at Sci Fi. She said it was about a 30 minute wait but that's about what you'd expect in our town at rush hour, too. NEVER hurts to ask!


Hope I don't get flamed for this (I've seen it happen on other boards) but we're guilty of "walking up" even when we have an ADR. The day after the Marathon, we had a celebration dinner for LC at 7-something PM and by 5 PM, the guys were in a world of hurt, wanted to get off their feet, eat, and get back to the room to rest. LC was MORE than accommodating and got us in right away! So I guess that's kind of a walk-up.....

 

[DaParkers]

I make ADR's every time we go to WDW. And every time, I wind up canceling a few and doing walk ups and making last minute ADR's. In December, we walked up to Cape May breakfast(after being told on the phone that they had no reservations available), 1900 park fare, and Chef Mickey's and we made an ADR at 9pm for 9:30pm for Crystal Palace after walking up and being told that they were booked solid and were not taking any more walk ups (It was PACKED outside). I also showed up to my Boma ADR an hour early and was seated within 15 minutes. I always go to WDW with ADR's and I always wind up doing walk ups. I've never waited more than 15 minutes. I am always nice and polite, but I don't take no for an answer either. Someone will always cancel or not show up.

 

[dpuck1998]

With the new system I think they get a lot of no-shows. It is way to easy to make several ressies for the same day/time for trips. This, I think, is making walk ups more feasible.

 

[ADP]

I honestly believe Disney has started the practice of leaving a few slots open for walk-ups. I know there are cancellations, but I also think they've begun to leave slots open for walk-ups at certain points of the day. Just my opinion based on some of the trends I'm hearing.

 

[Racey]

I had a newsletter from another disney fans site today and a family have gone along without a single ADR, and they managed to get into alot of places which you would expect to never get a table in unless you have an ADR - Ohana, Hollywood & Vine, 1900 Park Fare, Teppan Edo, Le Cellier, Chefs De France & Beaches and Cream

 

[dgthree]

We did a walk up for dinner at Boma last October. When we left our names, they told us it would be a 45 minute wait, and gave us one of those light up/vibrate things. We wandered off to see a bit of AKL, and I swear, the thing was going off just as we got up the stairs to the main floor.

It definitely can't hurt to ask or try.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I hope 50's diner is as good as they say. I've got it booked for May 29th, for our starwars weekend visit.

 

[dpuck1998]

I hope 50's diner is as good as they say. I've got it booked for May 29th, for our starwars weekend visit.

The fried chicken is some of the best on the planet. The pot roast is pretty good too!

 

[__disneygirl]

Aw, what a cute pic! We never had a reservation for anything until 2006 and never got turned away anywhere, but now it's just crazy with the dining plan and everything.

We have a 50's ADR for next month. I haven't been there in maybe 10 years and I am excited. This trip was booked short notice and so I can not get a Le Cellier ADR for the life of me... even asked my Dreams Unlimited Travel agent and she hasn't been able to either! We are going to try walk up, we love the Cheddar Cheese Soup so much. Ah, I wish it was F&W time so we didn't have to go to Le Cellier for this but what can ya do.

 

[gr8leg8]

I hope 50's diner is as good as they say. I've got it booked for May 29th, for our starwars weekend visit.

We LOVED it
walk up in late Sept 08

have a fantastic trip

 

[Cherinva]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Disney Dad Canada
I hope 50's diner is as good as they say. I've got it booked for May 29th, for our starwars weekend visit.

The fried chicken is some of the best on the planet. The pot roast is pretty good too!

I, personally love the meat loaf...it's a great place to have lunch or dinner. And the way the CMs interact with you is a blast. Have a great time.

 

[Shasta]

In the picture, you can see that we all had the pot roast. It was great! We also all had chocolate malts and they were fantastic! We don't usualy all get the same thing. Funny, I don't think I realized we all had the same thing until now.

 

[mrcricket]

The fried chicken is some of the best on the planet. The pot roast is pretty good too!

The pot roast rocks. I got a "Cleaned my plate" sticker.

 

[wishspirit]

I am going in June!

So excited

 

[Shasta]

The pot roast rocks. I got a "Cleaned my plate" sticker.

I got two, the first for cleaning mine, the second for cleaning my daughters. Just kidding!

 

[katscradle]

Walk ups are possible, we extended our last trip to WDW and wound up being there over x-mas and new year's.
We got walk ups at Cape May, The Brown Derby, and Chef De France on new year's eve! I couldn't believe we got that one.
I have noticed though it depends who asks.
I would ask about a walk up and be told no they were not taking walk ups, then my hubby would go ask someone different and we would get in.