Who Has Had Success With Walkup Priority Seating?

[mcr5298]

We just decided a couple of weeks ago that we are going to Disney World from 12/4 through 12/11! Of course there is little available when I have called for some priority seatings. We are not going to stress about it. Our plan is to go late for breakfast and early for dinner. We have been to Disney so many times that we won't be too upset if we don't get some of the hot ticket meals (Chef Mickey's, CRT, Cinderella's Galla Feast, Princess Storybook Breakfast). But my 5 year old niece will be going, and she hasn't done a lot of those meals.

I'm sure that they must save a certain amount of seats for walkups, right? Has anyone had any success with walking up and not waiting too long for a table? I'm not sure that we will be that lucky, since there are 8 of us in the party. I don't mind if we even have to split up the party as 4 and 4, and meet up later.

 

[Kallison]

We've always had luck with walk-ups, just be flexible and eat at off times. We usually decide that AM when we are in the park and then stop by the restaurant on our way by. Unless we are at MGM, then we stop at the stand where you make your PS's.

 

[Kae]

If you are staying on site they can check for you at the front desk.

Kae

 

[travellady]

We made PSs each day from the resort, sometimes in the morning and once during the late afternoon. It's hard for me to make PSs months in advance because I don't know what I want to eat or what kind of restaurant I'll feel like eating in until that day. Even though we were there this past Easter for a week, we got to eat where we wanted. We had a couple of choices in mind and were flexible with times. Only our youngest son was with us, he's 11, so we didn't have real little ones to worry about. And, the night we ate in the Concourse Steakhouse he decided he'd rather hang out in the Contemporary game room and eat at the Food and Fun center. Worked for all of us.

I must say we did make a PS for Hoop De Doo as that's something you do need to reserve in advance. And we made one for Ohanas several weeks before we arrived. And we cancelled it the morning of the night we were supposed to eat there because we didn't feel like eating a heavy meat meal that night and decided to do other things that day.

 

[westcliffemom]

Ditto the last poster- we call from the room every morning or as we decide call to WDW-DINE. As long as we're a little flexible with times, we've never had a problem.

 

[cdntourguide]

going to dinner without a PS is taking a real chance. Last trip. Oct 25 to Nov 8, there were three of us, we were not able to make any last minute PS for the whole lenght of our stay of 14 days. Good thing that we had made some dinner and breakfast PS before we got to the resort.
Good luck with your choices: it never hurts to try,try and try again.
My favourites are Character Breakfasts: 1900 park Fare is the best IMHO.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

We were there Nov 4-16 and had no problem whatsoever. We would decide to make a PS the day of if we didn't have one or if the one we had was not appealing to us. We did this several times and had no problem getting into Le Cellerie, Boma, the Yachtmans Steakhouse and Spoodles (though we ended up not using that one). There was two in our party.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

While cold walk-ups to eat "now" won't generally work on even moderately busy days, stop at Guest Services on your way into the park and ask about availablity. I can't remember exactly where, but there is even a kiosk in MGM near Sunset that does this as well.

I'll also echo what everyone else has said - just be flexible! If you walk up and want a lunch seating at 12:30, or Dinner at 6PM, chances are you won't get it. I usually start the conversation with, "Do you have anything available for a late/early seating at X restaurant?" and I am usually not disapointed. I know some people "have" to eat at a certain time, but I'm much more flexible with my eating habits which makes it loads easier to get in where I want.

The only time I'd say you HAVE to make PS's months in advance is if your party is 4 or more - those can be much harder to come by.

N.E.D.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If you're already seeing that there is little available, I don't think I'd take a chance on walk-ups. You could find yourself wasting alot of time going from one restaurant to another. I think I'd keep calling until time, trying to get the ones I wanted. If you've had no luck, try calling the night before or morning of, and take whatever you get. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[lark]

We're about 50/50 with walkups. Best times seem to be right as as a restaurant is opening or an hour or so before closing.

Day-of PS availability is, however, usually pretty good, even in busy times, but you need to be flexible on time. Just go to guest services with a list the morning you want to go, and usually they can find stuff for you. You can also just call the dine number on a cel phone while walking around or something, which is pretty easy.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by mcr5298
We just decided a couple of weeks ago that we are going to Disney World from 12/4 through 12/11! Of course there is little available when I have called for some priority seatings. We are not going to stress about it. Our plan is to go late for breakfast and early for dinner. We have been to Disney so many times that we won't be too upset if we don't get some of the hot ticket meals (Chef Mickey's, CRT, Cinderella's Galla Feast, Princess Storybook Breakfast). But my 5 year old niece will be going, and she hasn't done a lot of those meals.

I'm sure that they must save a certain amount of seats for walkups, right? Has anyone had any success with walking up and not waiting too long for a table? I'm not sure that we will be that lucky, since there are 8 of us in the party. I don't mind if we even have to split up the party as 4 and 4, and meet up later.

According to a few CMs who post here, they do NOT hold seats for walkups. You are betting that a party of eight doesn't show for their seating (or two parties of four), at a similar time. With deposits in place for CRT (breakfast) and PSB, I don't think its too likely that people won't show.

You can try calling 48 hours before, which is when you have to cancel by to get your deposit back. You might get lucky. You are more likely to get lucky if your niece goes with one other adult, and the other people in the party do something different.

We have had very poor luck, even at slow times, with far less popular choices. In fact, the only restaurants we've ever been able to "walk into" are Marrakesh and an early dinner for two at Artist's Point.

 

[n2mm]

That's going to the tough for a party of 8. We had success walking into Chef Mickey's at 4:30PM in the middle of the week for a party of 4 this spring. Then in late July while waiting to check in (had a PS then) for Chef Mickey, the CM announced to the crowd of people that they would not be accepting any walkins that night. That also happened at Hollywood and Vine and it was only 4:00PM--announced that there was no opennings for the entire evening....wow. I would try for a PS in the AM by calling dining or visiting your guest service desk at your resort, but would never try for a walkin with that size party, especially if there are children that would get upset if they are turned away. We had a party of 8 with us in October, but had PS for every meal and glad we did. Made that Chef Mickey one exactly 90 days earlier, and still could barely get a seating at 5:00PM. Good Luck!!

 

[Micca]

I don't think they save any space at all for walk-ups. I have seen people turned away at LeCellier many times--people were in shock when they said "couldn't we get seated late or early?" and the CM replied with a firm "no". May I suggest booking some PS even if the places aren't your first choices, or your preferred times? If something else pops up, you can always cancel

 

[tjmw2727]

While I have had success with walk up seating in the past our October trip was a different story. Compared to our October 03 trip we needed PS's for our October 04 trip.

We tried to get a late lunch at Epcot and even at 9:30 am they only had a few of the many WD restaurants available for an off time. After ending up with counter service we then made as many ps's for the remainder of the trip as we could.

For our December trip I have made just one PS per day, either late lunch, late breakfast or dinner. This way I know we will have one nice meal and a chance to relax each day.

It seems that with the increase in crowds and more people making PS's the walk up's are becoming less available.

TJ

eta - with a party of 8 I would definately make some PS even if the times are not ideal. Check out the menus at allears and pick a few alternatives if your first choice isn't available. Maybe you will find a new favorite!!

 

[danny1649]

Doing this at MK and MGM in early Decemeber but not so lucky at World Showcase in Epcot.

 

[sorchamac]

I was just going to ask this same question. I'm arriving on Sat 11/27 (sat after thanksgiving) and I have a PS for Whispering Canyon but just decided that Chef Mickey's might be nice. I'm kicking myself for not making the back-up PS 90 days ago, but here I am. They have no availability now - do you think I'll have any luck with day of or day before availability, or a walk-up? There's 4 of us.

Thanks-

Sorcha

 

[lorileer]

We've had great success with walk-up seating ... even for CRT breakfast. And once, we called about PS for LeCellier, and they said no. We immediately walked over there, and they took us.

Sometimes, you might have to wait a little longer (although we've not had that experience). And I'm sure it's probably easier with a small group and depends on the time of year you are there. But I'm sure there is always "cushion" built in for walk-ups.

 

[mcr5298]

Thanks everyone. Of course I expect to wait for some amount of time if we can be seated. We still have to wait with PS's anyway. I'm going to make a couple of PS, and see how it goes.

 

[ilovedale3]

DH and I were at WDW last year during the same time frame that you are going (and will be there this year too!). We were able to get several walk-ups including Liberty Tree Tavern at MK and Boma.

 

[lillygator]

Mary !!
We are going 12/11-12/17, we'll just miss you!!

Have a great time!

Vanessa - aka lillygator from UB!!