Walk up TS?

[disneyluvrsX5]

Is there anywhere that is easy to walk up and find a TS meal? I have done a few bookings, but would kind of like to eat when we are actually hungry and based on where we are.

 

[Nadjalu]

Depends on what time of year you are going, if any free dining is in place and factors you just can't plan....how crowded that park is on that day.

Here is my thought.
It is fun to just pick a spot to sit down and eat when I get hungry, to go spontaneous! But here is what is likely to happen.

Ok it is 5:00 and you are in MK, the family is starting to get the rumbles in the tummy and you think "hmmm, where should we eat?".

You think ah yes Crystal Palace, it is a buffet, plenty of choices for everyone and characters. A win win situatin. Only to be turned away, they are booked.

Hmmm, now what? Ok, I could run all over the park looking for a TS meal that everyone likes but that is silly, let's head to guest relations to see what is available.

You arrive at guest relations and they look....nothing IN MK available. However there is a adr available for 8pm at The Wave in CR.
Nope, won't work that is 3 hours away.
Oh wait, there is a ressie open at San Angel Inn in Epcot. Won't work, no hoppers and I hate Mexican food.

The story goes on and on. To me that is NOT FUN and not spontaneous and can take a ton of time out of your day.

Now sometimes it doesn't happen like that, but it can.
So here is what I say, make the adrs for where you want and what you like. IF you are there and want to change, try, if you can GREAT!!! If you can't or run into the above situation you have something to fall back on.

Happy eating and enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Quin]

I prefer to have ADRs for every meal, but if you don't I think it will depend on what time of year you are going, how flexible you can be, and how the rest of the party is going to feel about it.

If you are going in particularly busy times of year, or when a lot of guests are there on a "free dining" offer, then you may not find ANY TS available. This summer I understand there were so many days when there was no TS available anywhere that Disney had to start opening 'auxilliary restaurant sites', essentially setting up TS tables in the old Diamond Horseshoe & Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace and running food over from other restaurants.

At lower crowd levels you are most likely to find availability in Epcot just because it has the most TS available and in the non-monorail resorts simply because they are further off the beaten path.

It all comes down to deciding what makes the better vacation for you.