Walk ups at Resort Restaurants during Free Dining?

[MTW]

Looking for experience with walk-ups during free dining. We just scored round trip tickets to Orlando for $70pp so we are headed down for a quick weekend 8/20-8/23. We literally just booked the flights Friday so we are in need of some dining.

I was really hoping for Cape May at the Beach Club for dinner but it is booked all three days we will be there. So my questions is do you think it's possible to just walk up and be able to eat say, around 7:30 or so? We would be prepared to wait but I just don't know if we will be turned away. My DH loves 'Ohana so we would try there too but I don't want to drive to the Poly to be turned down. We're staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and there will be 6 of us.

Thanks!
Megan

 

[vicki_c]

I think any character meal or hot ticket place (like 'Ohana) will be unlikely to succeed as a walk-up. I would keep trying between now and when you leave, and check once you get there, check every day, for cancellations. I would not drive to the Poly on the hopes on getting into 'Ohana at any time, but definitely not during free dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wouldn't try walkups during free dining (especially since you want to eat at a prime dining time) unless it is at far-flung resort restaurants (Shutters, Sanaa, Olivia's, Turf Club, maybe Boatwrights) Ohana? Not likely.

 

[HM]

We've seen too many people turned away from places....

If you do try, go at opening of the restaurant before people start checking in, and be prepared to wait a while.

 

[MTW]

Thanks for the advice. I don't WANT to walk up, I would much rather have a reservation. I have been obsessively trying for three days (since we booked the airfare) but can't get one reservation that I want...Cape May dinner any night, ANY resort character breakfast, WCC before 9:35. I guess I'm wondering (hoping is more like it) that people are booking online and not cancelling. I have seen instances on the dis of people with multiple reservations for the same evening. I will continue to try to get reservations...the walk up would be a worst case scenario. We did book TRex for Sunday night. That should be fun!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

There may be some cancellations or you may be able to get the less popular restaurants in the hotels at off times, but the parks will generally be booked completely during free dining.

 

[Nadjalu]

It is great you get a spontaneous vacation, but do not count on TS meals if you don't have adrs.

We have gone during FD and it is crazy busy. Ohana...you can forget. We watched one night as people tried one after another to get in. The first 2 parties (2 or 3 people) were told a 2-3 hour wait. The rest were sent away.

I would still continue to try, maybe when you get there have the conceire look for any availability. Hopefully he/she can find something for you, may not be what you wanted, but at least you are Disney!!

 

[MTW]

I started checking 4 and 2 or 3 and 3 reservations instead of 6 people and was able to get breakfast at Cape May at 10am on Sunday for 4 and 2...so there's hope yet! And I will ask if they can seat us together and if they can't then DH and I will get to have a nice, quiet breakfast!

 

[MarieA]

Are you staying at a WDW resort? If so when you get there go to the concierge at the hotel and ask them to check availability at the restaurants. During free dining it is difficult to get ADRs this close to your vacation. You might have to take a very early or very late dinner time. Good luck and have a great time!!!

 

[MTW]

We decided to skip a big dinner on Friday since I couldn't get a reservation that I wanted and got a restaurant.com gift certificate to Giordano's BUT I was able to just book Crystal Palace for 6pm on Saturday night! Primo!

It seems as if persistance does pay off!