Will We Need Restaurant Reservations If ...

[elsiemoo]

... my family (grandparents, adult son, teen) plan to be in the parks at rope-drop, come back to the hotel for the afternoon by one o'clock, then go back around dinnertime (six-ish) to take advantage of smaller crowds, cooler temps? Fancy dinners aren't a priority ... getting out of the heat in the afternoon is. Will we find plenty of "impromptu" places to eat at the Beach Club, other places around there? This is my first trip to WDW ... so I haven't a clue. I keep reading how you need dining rezzies six months ahead??? Thank you all so much!

 

[kathie859]

OP, if you have a sit down meal in mind, it's best to make an ADR ahead of time; however if you are happy with counter service, you'll be fine. Checkout allears.net for menus and locations of various restaurants and menus. Have fun planning!

 

[Sue M]

Beaches & Cream doesn't take reservations. For the others- it depends on the time of year you go. Cape May you'll def. need reservations. Captains Grille- if it's not a busy time of year you may not need a res. And all the restaurants at Epcot World Showcase are a short walk away. I recommend getting reservations to avoid dissapointment. And a long wait. If there is availibility, you will be seated after the people with reservations.

There are counter service restaurants that don't require reservations. But all the Table service places have a reservation system. And all the popular ones may be full.

I'd make a plan on what park you'll be in each night, and figure out where you want to eat that is in or near that park.

Since it's your first visit, I'd do a lot of research, pick up a guide book or 2- WDW The unofficial Guide is a good one, and Passporter.
Having a plan is a very good thing for WDW.

 

[Missytara]

You may want to jump over to the restaurants boards to get a feel for the restaurants as well.

If you go during free dining, I strongly urge you to have ADR's, especially for the more popular places. People who don't normally do TS restaurants will be in abundance and they will dine at the most expensive places they can, since they want to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Going around any school holiday also is a good idea to get ADR's, especially if you have someplace in mind.

Take advantage of the resorts...I didn't know on my first trip that I could do that. By the fourth night of eating at the restaurant at CBR, I got kinda exasperated. The server looked at me and said, "I don't mean to send you away from here, but you can eat anywhere you want on property." I had to laugh.

You are especially lucky being on the BC/YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin loop - by boat, there are a lot of possibilities out there to enjoy.

 

[elsiemoo]

We'll be there July 21 through 26, and have no idea when we'll be where, park-wise. My husband, son and DGD will be the ones going to the parks, and I expect them to jump around. We'll definitely take advantage of the EMHs, but I have no idea what that schedule will be when we're there so I wouldn't know what restaurants we'd be near. Maybe I'd better plan to just do counter service, and hope to get lucky at some restaurants. We aren't doing the dining plan, as we didn't want to be locked into sit-down dinners when they'd want to be at the parks. Geez, I'm confused ... feel like I'm going into the Twilight Zone!!! Thank you all so much!

 

[Missytara]

We'll be there July 21 through 26, and have no idea when we'll be where, park-wise. My husband, son and DGD will be the ones going to the parks, and I expect them to jump around. We'll definitely take advantage of the EMHs, but I have no idea what that schedule will be when we're there so I wouldn't know what restaurants we'd be near. Maybe I'd better plan to just do counter service, and hope to get lucky at some restaurants. We aren't doing the dining plan, as we didn't want to be locked into sit-down dinners when they'd want to be at the parks. Geez, I'm confused ... feel like I'm going into the Twilight Zone!!! Thank you all so much!

Actually, the park schedules with the EMH's and the ADR's both open up at six months before you check-in.

So you will know the basic schedule at the same time. They do that on purpose, so you can make reservations.

Things do slightly shift from time to time, but they do try to hold the basic schedule.

Also, remember, say for instance, if you go to MK, you can hop on the monorial and go over to CR/GF/Poly. You can take the boat over to WL. We did that on our trip the night MK was open until midnight.

If you go to DHS or Epcot, you can do the BC/YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin. You can either come back to your resort if it is a short DHS day or go back to Epcot afterwards to catch the fireworks.

 

[elsiemoo]

Sorry ... somehow posted twice... Deleted it, ignore!

 

[TDC Nala]

If there is a table service restaurant you know you want to visit (like scheduling a character meal) you should make a reservation. Otherwise you'll be OK if you don't mind scouting around for a place to eat. If you're not on the dining plan you do have the option of going to the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin; because they don't accept the dining plan it's often easier to get seated there.

 

[elsiemoo]

Missytara, thank you ... I looked up that schedule for EMHs for July. Wonderful help, and I'm glad to see that there's three extra hours at one park or another each night we're there practically. That will be great for helping to beat the afternoon heat ...

TDC Nala, thanks for that info on eating at the Swan & Dolphin ... very helpful!!! I'm sure we won't starve. I don't know that our teen would be interested in a character breakfast ... she always has loved Disney, though, still has her Cinderella nightie hanging in the closet from when she was younger! She might do it, because she doesn't remember going when she was a toddler.

Thanks to everyone, and any further thoughts are welcome!

 

[Missytara]

There has always been great debate about... do you go with or without a touring plan.

I often go alone and it is pretty easy to get a seat at the bar anytime. I prefer it because you get to meet a lot of different people as they sit and have a drink while waiting for their table; getting a break, etc.

Last year, I was originally just taking my neighbors; husband and wife. We had booked two rooms. Then they asked if it was okay to take along their new roommates (two adults and two children). Of course. We had a general idea of what we wanted to do and made a few dining reservations, to work around their "budget."

Well, lo and behold, I snag free dining for the entire crew. I was online so fast, getting ADR's with some of the most expensive places I could with some really good child menus.

MK days were GF Cafe and the Wave; Epcot day was Kouzzina's.

I wanted to get the best experience I could; neither of them had been on a real vacation since they were living at home and so I wanted to make it extra special.

So every case is different.

 

[a1tinkfans]

... my family (grandparents, adult son, teen) plan to be in the parks at rope-drop, come back to the hotel for the afternoon by one o'clock, then go back around dinnertime (six-ish) to take advantage of smaller crowds, cooler temps? Fancy dinners aren't a priority ... getting out of the heat in the afternoon is. Will we find plenty of "impromptu" places to eat at the Beach Club, other places around there? This is my first trip to WDW ... so I haven't a clue. I keep reading how you need dining rezzies six months ahead??? Thank you all so much!

Get a reservation and avoid a headache IF you even Think you want a sit down meal....now some require cc's so watch your ressies. Have a great time

 

[Lynne M]

The thing that can make dining without reservations a bit complicated is that WDW restaurants generally don't hold tables for walk ups. If they're fully booked (which is not at all unusual), they'll politely turn you away.

This is most likely to happen with restaurants in theme parks, and character meals, even those in resorts. Those are often booked up well in advance.

You'll generally have more luck with the resort restaurants that don't host character meals, and the ones that don't take the dining plan (like the S&D restaurants).

So, to answer your question about the BC area, you'll likely find walk-up availability at Beaches & Cream, the Yacht Club Galley, Big River Grille over on the Boardwalk, and the restaurants of the Swan and Dolphin. Flying Fish and Kouzzina are a bit fancier, as is the Yachtsman Steakhouse, and I'd be inclined to make reservations at any of those. There's limited counter service at Hurricane Hanna's, the Boardwalk Bakery, and the Beach Club Marketplace. There's some good CS places over at S&D, too. And, of course, the BC offers in-room dining (room service).

 

[Tara]

... my family (grandparents, adult son, teen) plan to be in the parks at rope-drop, come back to the hotel for the afternoon by one o'clock, then go back around dinnertime (six-ish) to take advantage of smaller crowds, cooler temps? Fancy dinners aren't a priority ... getting out of the heat in the afternoon is. Will we find plenty of "impromptu" places to eat at the Beach Club, other places around there? This is my first trip to WDW ... so I haven't a clue. I keep reading how you need dining rezzies six months ahead??? Thank you all so much!

Especially when it's hot, I find it is nice to have some arranged meals to create an air-conditioned break time. Plus it's crowded in the parks and everyone is looking to take a break where it's cool, so getting in for meals without a long wait isn't always easy.

At Beach Club, there aren't a lot of "impromptu" dining options. Beaches and Cream is a fun place that serves burgers, shakes, etc but it doesn't take reservations as someone else mentioned. I stay at BC/BCVillas a lot and find that we swim about 12-2, then do a quick change and eat a late lunch at Beaches & Cream with little to no wait.

There's also the Captain's Grille, which we find is terrific for a good breakfast - nice buffet, fast (no characters). It's usually not crowded, but the "secret" is getting out so I expect that it won't be a walk-in at any time like it used to be.

Some quick service foods are available at the pool bar and Beach Club Marketplace has grocery items and some cooked foods (mostly sandwiches, nothing elaborate and not typical quick service burgers/chicken fingers).

There's a pizza window on the Boardwalk, but in general pizza at WDW is terrible, so I don't exactly recommend that. I can't speak much to the casual dining options at Swan/Dolphin, though.

There are more than enough quick service options in the park, though!

 

[MHSweb79]

We were there last week and had no problem walking up at Tony's in MK at 4:30 (we hadn't eaten lunch as it was arrival day) for an early dinner. They told us they take walkups from 4:30-5pm, even though we had just been over to guest services and were told there was no availability.

We also walked up at Rose & Crown at Epcot one day for a deliberately late lunch around 3pm and got seated just about immediately, at a table right along the water. Our first time there and we'll definitely do that again!

We had an ADR for Teppan Edo another day for 1pm, and there were plenty of open tables, although I don't know if they were taking walkups as they need a chef for each of the tables, not just empty spaces.

For three of our nights last week we were at Beach Club. I would have to say that the clambake at Cape May was PACKED every night - I would not expect to be able to get a walkup for that. The other restaurants at the Yacht Club seemed fairly empty. But it is a very easy walk to Epcot from this hotel and that's where all the best counter AND table service restaurants are, so you won't starve. I also recommend Biergarten, and we've always had great luck walking up to a table there as well, although we didn't have time to eat there on this past trip.

If you're planning to go to Downtown Disney any night, I also recommend Raglan Road, which always seems to have lots of availability. We had great meals there last November and it's on our "to do again" list,

And, finally, you can always try asking the concierge at your hotel to look for available restaurants for the same day or upcoming days to get ADR's, if you know which park you'll be in by that time. Guest services in any park can also look for ADR's as well, for any park, not just the one you're in.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

If you want to have sit down meals I would definitely plan on making ADR's. Even if you wait until right before your trip, or even on your trip, ADR's are still wonderful

 

[eeyoresmom]

We were there last week and had no problem walking up at Tony's in MK at 4:30 (we hadn't eaten lunch as it was arrival day) for an early dinner. They told us they take walkups from 4:30-5pm, even though we had just been over to guest services and were told there was no availability.

We also walked up at Rose & Crown at Epcot one day for a deliberately late lunch around 3pm and got seated just about immediately, at a table right along the water. Our first time there and we'll definitely do that again!

We had an ADR for Teppan Edo another day for 1pm, and there were plenty of open tables, although I don't know if they were taking walkups as they need a chef for each of the tables, not just empty spaces.

For three of our nights last week we were at Beach Club. I would have to say that the clambake at Cape May was PACKED every night - I would not expect to be able to get a walkup for that. The other restaurants at the Yacht Club seemed fairly empty. But it is a very easy walk to Epcot from this hotel and that's where all the best counter AND table service restaurants are, so you won't starve. I also recommend Biergarten, and we've always had great luck walking up to a table there as well, although we didn't have time to eat there on this past trip.

If you're planning to go to Downtown Disney any night, I also recommend Raglan Road, which always seems to have lots of availability. We had great meals there last November and it's on our "to do again" list,

And, finally, you can always try asking the concierge at your hotel to look for available restaurants for the same day or upcoming days to get ADR's, if you know which park you'll be in by that time. Guest services in any park can also look for ADR's as well, for any park, not just the one you're in.

OP is going at a very busy time of year though. Early February crowds can not be compared to what she will encounter in late July. The advice to eat at way off times such as 3-4:30 pm is good as well as trying some of the resort hotels that are not character meals. Bottom line is not to get your heart set on anything you do not have an ADR for. Especially during the summer!

 

[pepe of ohio]

But we go value season, low crowd times and never around holidays, summer or peak season....and don't make ADR's....and we eat and do fine...

TS restaurants don't interest us....food is not that good and since we'll never do a dining plan, over priced....CS across the property is just fine and the value and moderate resort food courts offer quite alot of different choices.....same goes for our home resort.....if there's something we have to have, we'll make that one ADR, say Yachtsman Steakhouse or the HDDR...other than that, we free lance and enjoy being schedule free....

As an example, we normally stay at the WL, we'll boat to the MK and catch the boat to FOFQ, have a meatball sandwich or beef po boy, maybe catch the entertainment at their lounge and then take their boat to DTD, alittle shopping or a movie, drinks at Raglan Road and bus back to our resort....fullfills an evening fo us, no ADR needed, decent food, reasonable and nice boat trip to DTD, gets DTD out of the way (shopping for the wife) done in the evening (pretty lights and cooler temps) and we're all satisified...

As I say, plenty of places to eat without ADR's, just have to read and do the research but if you want the high end TS....you have to schedule the ADR's....just not how we vacation....

 

[Tara]

But we go value season, low crowd times and never around holidays, summer or peak season....and don't make ADR's....and we eat and do fine...

TS restaurants don't interest us....food is not that good and since we'll never do a dining plan, over priced....CS across the property is just fine and the value and moderate resort food courts offer quite alot of different choices.....same goes for our home resort.....if there's something we have to have, we'll make that one ADR, say Yachtsman Steakhouse or the HDDR...other than that, we free lance and enjoy being schedule free....

As an example, we normally stay at the WL, we'll boat to the MK and catch the boat to FOFQ, have a meatball sandwich or beef po boy, maybe catch the entertainment at their lounge and then take their boat to DTD, alittle shopping or a movie, drinks at Raglan Road and bus back to our resort....fullfills an evening fo us, no ADR needed, decent food, reasonable and nice boat trip to DTD, gets DTD out of the way (shopping for the wife) done in the evening (pretty lights and cooler temps) and we're all satisified...

As I say, plenty of places to eat without ADR's, just have to read and do the research but if you want the high end TS....you have to schedule the ADR's....just not how we vacation....

There's a big difference in going on and off season...crowds in July are terrible and if having a cool place to eat and rest was important to me, I wouldn't leave home without ADRs. (And I totally get approach you describe above...spoken like a true veteran...but I don't think it's an approach that works for the casual visitor who wants to experience the parks and not spend so much time getting from place to place to find available food.)

 

[elsiemoo]

THANK YOU ALL so much for your replies. They are so helpful to me!

pepe of ohio, that sounds a lot like us, what with having a teen with us. Since it's such a hot time of year, we like to have flexibility, and we feel we can have sit-down dinners anytime so don't make it a priority.

The exception might be on my son's birthday. I think I will do an ADR for The Yachtsmen Steakhouse for that, maybe!

Obviously, I will not be able to eat in a restaurant at Epcot, if I don't have park tickets, so that leaves out dining in the parks for me. I wll be staying around the resort due to health problems with the heat and too much walking.

Thanks, everyone, again!

 

[Deb & Bill]

... my family (grandparents, adult son, teen) plan to be in the parks at rope-drop, come back to the hotel for the afternoon by one o'clock, then go back around dinnertime (six-ish) to take advantage of smaller crowds, cooler temps? Fancy dinners aren't a priority ... getting out of the heat in the afternoon is. Will we find plenty of "impromptu" places to eat at the Beach Club, other places around there? This is my first trip to WDW ... so I haven't a clue. I keep reading how you need dining rezzies six months ahead??? Thank you all so much!

I don't think you will find smaller crowds at six. They will be just as big or bigger. You get smaller crowds first thing in the morning or the very last thing of the day IF there is Extra Magic Hours that extend the park day to 2 or 3AM. But from about 11AM until 11PM, crowds can be large.

We always head out first thing in the morning to do our favorites and head back to the resort around noon. It's amazing how many people are streaming into the parks at 11AM or thereabouts. We'll go for a swim or take a nap or watch a little TV until around 5PM and head to a park to eat and hang out until 9 or so. If our son is along, my husband and our son will hang out until the parks close (like 2 or 3AM). But then the next morning, we'll sleep in or head to the pool for a day of leisure.

If you want to find somewhere to eat without an ADR, you need to hit those places when they open for dinner, sometimes 3 or 4PM. If you show up at 6PM without an ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation), you might be turned away or offered a 9 or 10PM dining time.

Beaches and Cream is a small place and if you arrive around six, you might be turned away from there as well since it doesn't take ADRs.