Walk Up Christmas Week ???

[simonmunro]

If you show up as a walk up with no PS at an off time for meals will you be able to get a table? We don't know what our budget will be and have no desire to book things up ahead on a REAL IFFY "maybe". Never been Christmas week before and know that planning is everything for success, I just want to wing it with the meals according to how the budget is going.

 

[CamColt]

While of course I cant say for sure, I would guess it would be tough.
Last year on Christams Eve we were waiting for our table at Le Cellier. Someone tried walking up and was told "Sorry, we are booked through January 1st". Hopefully all restaurants wouldnt be that impossible for you, but its tough to say. I would book a few PS that you would be really interested in. You could always cancel.
Worst case you wont go hungry as there are plenty of counter service places and a few sit downs that dont take PSs.

 

[jjskribs]

simonmunro........ I know exactly what you mean. We will be there between Christmas and New Year's. I don't want to lock myself into having to be in a certain park at a certain time especially since there is no guarantee that you will be able to enter a park if it reaches capacity.

Yesterday I made a PS for Le Cellier for the second day of our trip and tomorrow I will make one more PS. Otherwise we will "wing it" the rest of the trip. If we wind up having hot dogs at Casey's for NYE that will be fine......

 

[CheshireVal]

I think it depends on what restaurants you're interested in. Some of the more popular ones (Le Cellier and Ohana come to mind) will probably be completely booked during that very busy time of year. Others (like Marakesh and Akershus in Epcot and maybe some resort restaurants) might be okay if you showed up really early or really late.

If you're okay with the idea of eating fast food for the whole trip then don't sweat it. However, I've heard lines at counter service places are tremendously long during that time of year!

 

[mareed]

CheshireVal's comment about lines at counter service is exactly why I've got a PS for a late breakfast or lunch every day for our XMAS trip with my group of 12. The hassle of trying to get food for all of us and find tables together at a counter service restaurant did not sound pleasant to me. This way we have one leisurely meal each day that will also serve as a sort of a break. We'll be eating dinner from counter-service places - often eating while we're waiting for a show like Fantasmic or Illuminations.

Back to your question, I don't think you'll be able to get into many park restaurants without a PS XMAS week. Depending on the size of your group, it may even be a little difficult to get a PS for that week at this time.

 

[jwfla422]

When we were in EPCOT last February over Valentine's/President's Day weekend none of the WS restaurants were taking any walk ups at anytime that day and night. So, we ended up eating at the Electric Umbrella and I wasn't particularly thrilled.

As one who usually has PS, I will NEVER go to WDW again without having some type of dinner PS, whether it's off season or not. Xmas weekend well, I guess you can figure on that being real tough to get in anywhere that whole week, any meal, especially since you can't even get through to WDW dining today...everyone's probably making their PSs for their Xmas trip.

If you want to wing it be prepared to wait LONG...IF they are taking walk ups, remember the time you wait is time you can be doing "other" things. Better to have PS and cancel if you can't make it