Wing It

[Bellhop97]

As long as you're comfortable with counter service, sure. But don't expect to get any table service meals. This doesnt mean you won't, but just don't be disappointed if you don't.

Counter service works fine for us..

 

[Bellhop97]

Last year, I winged it for some part on our trip in June. I'd check for nearby ADR's if we felt like a TS meal & go with what was available. Two that I can remember that we did last minute were Rose & Crown & Chefs de France. We've walked-in for dinner at Tokyo Dining also on another trip (party of 6). If there was someplace we REALLY wanted to experience, we had an ADR, but it was fun just going with the flow too. Enjoy your trip!!

Thanks..

 

[maltdizzy]

D'oh! Double post.

 

[maltdizzy]

As long as you're comfortable with counter service, sure. But don't expect to get any table service meals. This doesnt mean you won't, but just don't be disappointed if you don't.

Most ADR's will be available same day that time of year (mid September). Yes, FD will impact availability, and the biggies may not be available, but it's still one of the least crowded times of year (and the peak of hurricane season, which may help!)

 

[joannamet]

But don't expect to get any table service meals.

Just checked at 4:45 on Weds June 1st for openings for dinner tonight for a party of 4. There are 51 restaurants in the parks and resorts with openings for dinner tonight. Most are available between 7 and 8 although a few are 9ish.

Availabilities include:
Yachtsman 7:55
Whispering Canyon 7:55
Via Napoli 8:15
Tusker House 7:20
Tiffins 6:55
Narcoosee's 7:55
Monsieur Paul 7:30
Le Cellier 8:45
Hollywood Brown Derby 7:00
Hollywood and Vine 7:10
Diamond Horseshoe 9:10
Citricos 7:45
Chef Mickey's 9:15
Boma 7:45
Artist Point 7:35
50s Prime Time 8:55

I don't think you need to worry about going hungry with no ADRs.

 

[GPC0321]

Most ADR's will be available same day that time of year (mid September). Yes, FD will impact availability, and the biggies may not be available, but it's still one of the least crowded times of year (and the peak of hurricane season, which may help!)

Yep. I wouldn't worry. Getting a TS in HS same day can be tough, but in MK you could possibly nab The Plaza, and Skipper Canteen only same-day, right? Not sure about AK, but Yak & Yeti is supposed to be great, and I don't think it's one that's in terribly high demand. You should be able to find multiple TS openings around the World Showcase same day. And then there are the resort TS places. I've heard great things about The Wave at the Contemporary.
I look and see what's available same day on MDE sometimes here at home just because it's fun. There are usually at least 40 restaurants with availability.
You'll be fine. More than fine! You'll have the benefit of a relaxed, go-with-the-flow vacation, and plenty of good food.

 

[loves to dive]

Just checked at 4:45 on Weds June 1st for openings for dinner tonight for a party of 4. There are 51 restaurants in the parks and resorts with openings for dinner tonight. Most are available between 7 and 8 although a few are 9ish.

Availabilities include:
Yachtsman 7:55
Whispering Canyon 7:55
Via Napoli 8:15
Tusker House 7:20
Tiffins 6:55
Narcoosee's 7:55
Monsieur Paul 7:30
Le Cellier 8:45
Hollywood Brown Derby 7:00
Hollywood and Vine 7:10
Diamond Horseshoe 9:10
Citricos 7:45
Chef Mickey's 9:15
Boma 7:45
Artist Point 7:35
50s Prime Time 8:55

I don't think you need to worry about going hungry with no ADRs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been saying for years that all the booking so far in advance is not necessary and no one believes me when I say we never do it and have never had any problems.

 

[Hikergirl]

On our last trip (the week before and including Labor Day I made 2 ADR's in total. We had no problem finding restaurants to eat at.

 

[North of Mouse]

We nearly always 'mostly' wing it. We refuse to have to be on a schedule on vacation. I make 3 ADR's for 10 nights, then we decide where/when we eat other than that - have never had any problems getting relatively last min. ressies for TS or just deciding on CS. As for FP's, the same thing - a few we don't want to miss - otherwise, take our chances. There are 'always' cancellations.
So much more relaxing - we always PH also.

 

[GPC0321]

Yep, I just checked (at 5:07pm). I put 6:00 for the time I was searching and came back with a slew of availability from 6-7:45pm. There were 30+ openings in the 6:00-6:45 time frame, and some of those included Artist Point, Akershus, Beaches and Cream, Biergarten, Captain's Grille, Chefs de France, Citricos, Dining Room at Wolfgang Puck's, Jiko, La Hacienda de San Angel, Monsieur Paul, Narcoossee's, Marrakesh, Spice Road Table, Tiffins, Tokyo Dining, Trail's End, Trattoria al Forno, Tutto Italia, The Wave, Whispering Canyon, Yachtsman Steakhouse.

If you can't find something to eat in that list, there's no hope for you. LOL.

Oh, and if you wait until after 7pm you get: Tusker House, Tony's, Nine Dragons, Skipper Canteen, Grand Floridian Cafe, Garden Grill, Cape May, California Grill, and Boma.

And that doesn't include several less popular ones from Disney Springs like Bongos and the TS from some of the resorts like Boatwright's, Maya Grill, and The Turf Club.

Plenty to eat.

 

[mshanson3121]

Just checked at 4:45 on Weds June 1st for openings for dinner tonight for a party of 4. There are 51 restaurants in the parks and resorts with openings for dinner tonight. Most are available between 7 and 8 although a few are 9ish.

Availabilities include:
Yachtsman 7:55
Whispering Canyon 7:55
Via Napoli 8:15
Tusker House 7:20
Tiffins 6:55
Narcoosee's 7:55
Monsieur Paul 7:30
Le Cellier 8:45
Hollywood Brown Derby 7:00
Hollywood and Vine 7:10
Diamond Horseshoe 9:10
Citricos 7:45
Chef Mickey's 9:15
Boma 7:45
Artist Point 7:35
50s Prime Time 8:55

I don't think you need to worry about going hungry with no ADRs.

Yes, those are great for people who don't mind waiting until 8:00 to eat. But there's a lot that can't/don't want to. It's not just a matter of "Is there anything available", it's a matter of "Is there anything available where I am, when I want to eat". But regardless, I already said that there'll probably be something, just not to be disappointed if there's not something available (where and when you want).

 

[GPC0321]

Yes, those are great for people who don't mind waiting until 8:00 to eat. But there's a lot that can't/don't want to. It's not just a matter of "Is there anything available", it's a matter of "Is there anything available where I am, when I want to eat". But regardless, I already said that there'll probably be something, just not to be disappointed if there's not something available (where and when you want).

Well, no. You can't go into it with the idea that you suddenly want to eat at BOG, Le Cellier, or Sci-Fi in the next thirty minutes, but if an hour out from the ADR you see a couple dozen possibilities are available, one of them is bound to sound enticing. I mean there are more options open at WDW tonight than I have in my entire town, so maybe that's why it seems like less of a gamble to me. I see Italian, Mexican, Chinese, German, Japanese, steak, seafood, Moroccan....practically every kind of food someone could be in the mood for.

 

[disneyseniors]

Go for it, OP. My hubby and I tried this last year and it worked out great! We will never go back to the dining plan; too structured and too much food for us. I was admittedly a little nervous to try without dp, but it was so freeing-we loved it! I only made 3 adr's for our favorite must do ts's in 10 days
This year, I have booked 4 ts's adr's for 10 days. I might cancel one because I don't want to be too structured.
We don't have a smart phone so must go to GS if we want a res, but so far that has not been a problem. It is so freeing to just go and eat when you want to and what you want to. Go for it!

 

[snayak]

Well, no. You can't go into it with the idea that you suddenly want to eat at BOG, Le Cellier, or Sci-Fi in the next thirty minutes, but if an hour out from the ADR you see a couple dozen possibilities are available, one of them is bound to sound enticing. I mean there are more options open at WDW tonight than I have in my entire town, so maybe that's why it seems like less of a gamble to me. I see Italian, Mexican, Chinese, German, Japanese, steak, seafood, Moroccan....practically every kind of food someone could be in the mood for.

Maybe - but are you going to trek from MK to Via Napoli for dinner (requires a park hopper!) and then try and go back for Wishes?

We never book ADRs, except for lucking into a same day BOG dinner; our style is CS for lunch and usually F&W/Epcot kiosks to graze for dinner. We've also grabbed food from the boardwalk without an ADR or CL at the resort for some food/snacks.

If you definitely want to eat table service, and aren't picky on food but want have it at a general time AND park/location then I'd book ADRs.

If you're flexible on location & time, wing it, there are plenty of delicious spots.

 

[mshanson3121]

Well, no. You can't go into it with the idea that you suddenly want to eat at BOG, Le Cellier, or Sci-Fi in the next thirty minutes, but if an hour out from the ADR you see a couple dozen possibilities are available, one of them is bound to sound enticing. I mean there are more options open at WDW tonight than I have in my entire town, so maybe that's why it seems like less of a gamble to me. I see Italian, Mexican, Chinese, German, Japanese, steak, seafood, Moroccan....practically every kind of food someone could be in the mood for.

True, depends on many things. For me, traveling with young kids, a lot of those options, just wouldn't be options. And again, the timing wouldn't work etc... so yeah, it all depends on circumstances. If we were traveling without kids, or they were older, I could definitely see being more flexible. That said, I'm all for flexibility and spur of the moment and just winging it to an extent, but oddly enough, not really meal times. Maybe it's because my husband is one of those people where when we want to eat out it goes like this:

Me: "Where would you like to eat tonight?"
Him: "Oh, I don't care. Whatever you want. You decide."
Me: "What about this place?"
Him: "Well, no, I don't think I'm in the mood for that..."

And on we go down the list.

So the idea of having to search for reservations and choosing spur of the moment on vacation, does not even remotely sound appealing to me, lol. To me, "relaxing", is having reservations made in advance so I know that come dinner time, there won't be any indecisive conversations and time wasted humming and hawing, lol.

 

[joannamet]

Yes, those are great for people who don't mind waiting until 8:00 to eat. But there's a lot that can't/don't want to. It's not just a matter of "Is there anything available", it's a matter of "Is there anything available where I am, when I want to eat". But regardless, I already said that there'll probably be something, just not to be disappointed if there's not something available (where and when you want).

Want more choices? For dinner tomorrow you can choose from 65 available restaurants in every park, Disney Springs, the Boardwalk and most deluxe and mod resorts with times beginning from 5ish on.

So if you want a specific restaurant at a specific time, of course you make an ADR. But how can you be disappointed or not find something great nearby with this many options? I'm so tired of people who insist that if you don't plan 6 months ahead you'll have to eat chicken nuggets. Its just not true.

 

[GPC0321]

True, depends on many things. For me, traveling with young kids, a lot of those options, just wouldn't be options. And again, the timing wouldn't work etc... so yeah, it all depends on circumstances. If we were traveling without kids, or they were older, I could definitely see being more flexible. That said, I'm all for flexibility and spur of the moment and just winging it to an extent, but oddly enough, not really meal times. Maybe it's because my husband is one of those people where when we want to eat out it goes like this:

Me: "Where would you like to eat tonight?"
Him: "Oh, I don't care. Whatever you want. You decide."
Me: "What about this place?"
Him: "Well, no, I don't think I'm in the mood for that..."

And on we go down the list.

So the idea of having to search for reservations and choosing spur of the moment on vacation, does not even remotely sound appealing to me, lol. To me, "relaxing", is having reservations made in advance so I know that come dinner time, there won't be any indecisive conversations and time wasted humming and hawing, lol.

Ha! Yeah, I can understand that frustration. That's when you hand him the phone with the list of available restaurants and say, "Pick one, buddy!" LOL!

 

[mshanson3121]

Want more choices? For dinner tomorrow you can choose from 65 available restaurants in every park, Disney Springs, the Boardwalk and most deluxe and mod resorts with times beginning from 5ish on.

So if you want a specific restaurant at a specific time, of course you make an ADR. But how can you be disappointed or not find something great nearby with this many options? I'm so tired of people who insist that if you don't plan 6 months ahead you'll have to eat chicken nuggets. Its just not true.

No one, myself included, is insisting you have to plan 6 months ahead or eat chicken nuggets.

 

[GPC0321]

Maybe - but are you going to trek from MK to Via Napoli for dinner (requires a park hopper!) and then try and go back for Wishes?

Heck no. If I'm in MK and want to be there for the fireworks, I'll check to see what's available either in MK or on the monorail resorts, and if something comes up at a workable time that's where we're heading.
Of course, I'm content eating at Casey's, so maybe I'm too easy to please.

 

[mshanson3121]

Heck no. If I'm in MK and want to be there for the fireworks, I'll check to see what's available either in MK or on the monorail resorts, and if something comes up at a workable time that's where we're heading.
Of course, I'm content eating at Casey's, so maybe I'm too easy to please.

As long as you don't just say, "Whatever you want", when all your wife wants is for you to make a decision, then there's no such thing as "too easy to please"