Walk-ups during free dining?

[JerseyJanice]

The free dining period begins on Sunday so I guess that's why I can't seem to get an ADR anywhere next week.

Fortunately, I have ADR's we can live with. I did want to move a few things around, but everything seems to be booked solid.

Can anybody who's visited during free dining tell me whether walk-ups are possible? Is it just the ADR system that's all booked up or will we find packed restaurants as well?

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

We have been to WDW during the last two free-dining Septembers. We never do DDP. We walked up at Spoodles and Cape May on both trips. At Spoodles we found no wait one time and 10 minutes the other time. At Cape May the wait was 10 minutes one time and 30 minutes the other time. I am pretty sure we also walked up to Rose & Crown and that was also less than 10 minutes wait.

I did make ADRs for our trip this September -- just for two dinners. Everyone here was complaining about nothing available, but I had no trouble getting what I wanted and when I wanted. I even called back and changed one without an issue. Maybe I was just lucky.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

The free dining period begins on Sunday so I guess that's why I can't seem to get an ADR anywhere next week.

Fortunately, I have ADR's we can live with. I did want to move a few things around, but everything seems to be booked solid.

Can anybody who's visited during free dining tell me whether walk-ups are possible? Is it just the ADR system that's all booked up or will we find packed restaurants as well?

We were there last year Sept. 14 - 21 for free dining and they were turning walk-ups away at every restaurant we ate at. We even saw signs outside of all of the restaurants stating that the restaurant was full and they were not taking walk ups. Of course, we did most of the character meals and other popular places. The restaurants were packed. Even with ADRs we always had to wait for a table - anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

 

[RMulieri]

I agree with the pp.I went last Sept and saw lots and lots of people turned away and many disappointed faces.I also experienced waits for my adr sometimes 20 mins or more past my time.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't count on walkups during free dining, especially in the theme parks.

If you are on the dining plan, call until you get a cancellation. If you already have ADRs you may have to hang onto those to make sure you have table service dining.

If you are not, try some restaurants that aren't on the dining plan (note that all restaurants inside the theme parks except Bistro de Paris at Epcot accept the dining plan)

I will be at WDW the last week of September - there will still be some free diners around, maybe lots of them. I am making a few plans to eat outside of Disney and if I do eat on property it will probably be at bars or lounges that serve food.

 

[ntsammy5]

Two years ago we saw walkups at Biergarden and at Le Cellier, as strange as that may seem. Good luck

 

[septbaby]

We have been to WDW during the last two free-dining Septembers. We never do DDP. We walked up at Spoodles and Cape May on both trips. At Spoodles we found no wait one time and 10 minutes the other time. At Cape May the wait was 10 minutes one time and 30 minutes the other time. I am pretty sure we also walked up to Rose & Crown and that was also less than 10 minutes wait.

Though "past performance is not guarantee of future performance" (don't you just love that financial disclaimer) it might be helpful to let OP know the circumstances of your walk ups: how many in your party, time of day, relative to opening closing...etc.

OP - I hope you keep trying for ADRs before your arrival. Try lunch instead of dinner or later meal times (after 11 for breakfast, 3pm lunches, 8/9pm dinners). Also many report that resort restaurant ADRs are easier to secure than those at the parks. You might also have luck with DTD or some of the Signature places.

One big change this year is many who have Free Dining have upgraded to Deluxe. So last year they would have been looking to make 1 TS ADR per day, now they are likely booking 2-3. So even if the parks have similar crowds the restaurants are likely busier. Good for Disney, not so fun for you.

I did my part though: I canceled my Aug. 28th trip and related ADRs. Sorry you couldn't snag them as I did that weeks ago.

 

[OzFan]

Last year we saw family after family being turned away. We even tried to get in at The Crystal Palace for lunch and was told they were not accepting walk-ins. They were booked!
But as we sat (party of 5) waiting for our ADR at LeCellier, we saw 10 familes turned away. Then a cute girl in a skimpy tank top went to the podium and told the young man there that it was her birthday and she really, really wanted to eat there (pout, pout) he the told her he'd get her in but there would be a small wait. She ran back to her party of 5 and started giggling about how she got them in. I was not amused. The kicker to all of this....her party was seated BEFORE mine. We waited 30 minutes PAST our ADR time.

So if you really, really, want an ADR, wear something skimpy and pout, pout pout!

 

[pigletto]

A strategy that may work best is to call the dining line during the day and see what they have open. I can imagine that on the day of someones ressie any number of issues (from feeling sick or too tired or wanting to just grab counter service) could cause famalies to cancel the day of their ressie. No guarantees for a particular spot of course.. but if you aren't too picky it may be a good way to snag something

 

[JerseyJanice]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

The issue I have is that we are planning to do the Magic Kingdom on a night when Spectromagic was scheduled. I made an ADR back in April for dinner at the Crystal Palace, timed so that we could see Spectro that night. Now the bridge in Liberty Square is closed, so they aren't running Spectro that night.

We hope to be back in the Magic Kingdom later in the trip when Spectro is scheduled to be back on. Thing is, we have a reservation at Ohana's for 8:10 that night, and Disney's website has Spectro listed at 9:00.

So what I'd like to be able to do is switch up ADR nights for CP and Ohana's. Doesn't look good at this point.

It was a long time ago and before free dining, but back in 2002, we ate at Chef Mickey's one evening. My in-laws tried to get a PS (as they were called back then) for earlier the same night and couldn't get one. When we went, it was empty. Makes me wonder if lots of people make lots of ADRs that they can't keep and that's when they take walk-ups.

 

[catne]

Last year we saw family after family being turned away. We even tried to get in at The Crystal Palace for lunch and was told they were not accepting walk-ins. They were booked!
But as we sat (party of 5) waiting for our ADR at LeCellier, we saw 10 familes turned away. Then a cute girl in a skimpy tank top went to the podium and told the young man there that it was her birthday and she really, really wanted to eat there (pout, pout) he the told her he'd get her in but there would be a small wait. She ran back to her party of 5 and started giggling about how she got them in. I was not amused. The kicker to all of this....her party was seated BEFORE mine. We waited 30 minutes PAST our ADR time.

So if you really, really, want an ADR, wear something skimpy and pout, pout pout!

Course, this won't work quite as well if you're a pooh-shaped 50-something...

 

[JerseyJanice]

Oh, and Ozfan, you'll have to trust me on this, but a skimpy outfit on me and some pouting isn't going to help my family's situation.

Pigletto, what a cute username! I love it.

 

[LisaInNc]

I have been to WDW during Free Dining for the last 2 years. Each day the MK would have a sign out in front of town hall that said no Table Service restaurants were available.

I would not count on a walk up in the Theme Parks there might be an exception but generally you will be turned away.

I have found most 1 TS places to be very packed the Signature restaurants tended to be less crowded.