No ADR - No Problem?

[MOJoe]

I know that many of us are obsessed with having just the right dining reservations. But for those who just wing it, do you have a few TS places that you count on to take walk ups? Park or Resort, what are the best places to try without a dinner reservation?

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

We tried this once years ago and got into Crystal Palace and Italy at Epcot but that was in January...I've had friends tell me they were able to get into Marakesh and Teppon Edo as walkups

[retiredfigment]

I think it sometimes depends on how many are in your party and the time. We have gotten into Sci Fi and Crystal Palace as walk-ups, but we are a family of 2 and it was sort of between lunch and dinner.

[faline]

I've managed walkups just as a spot is opening up for lunch or dinner.

At other times, I've checked in with guest relations at the park to see what's available. If you call dining, you can check that way as well but you need to be a couple of hours from when you want to eat as they can't check closer time frames.

[ILoveLegos]

I do walk ups a lot, because I often pop into WDW for day visits only. I'm usually only a party of 1 or 2. It is always during value season (Jan & Feb) and "in between" the lunch dinner rush times around 3:00pm. I have never gotten Le Cellier like this only Italy (then Alfredos), Marrakesh, Sci Fi - places like that. I have to wait about 15 minutes for seating and I've always paid OOP (day visitor w/o dining plan - not that this matters, but it was just my experience). I always have a back-up plan in place (counter service or off-property dining location). I have also had to use the back-up plan a lot too! No worries, I like eating there too!

[SBETigg]

We've walked in without a problem at Via Napoli (but it was new), Rose & Crown (lunch), Chefs de France (lunch), Grand Floridian Cafe, and Yak and Yeti (lunch).

I've seen people turned away at San Angel Inn at both lunch and dinner, so I think that one may be more popular than suspected. Similarly, Sci Fi Dine In.

I've heard Marrakesh is always a good bet without an ADR.

[Melanie]

Most recently, we've gotten walk-ups at Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Kona Cafe and even Le Cellier.
My new favorite friend is the Dining reservations through the Disney mobile site. We've gotten many a same-day/day prior reservations through this system. It ROCKS, and it's still somewhat spontaneous!

[kakn7294]

Two years ago we did Tusker House as a walk-up for lunch in March. We also did Maya Grill as a walk-up for breakfast in August several years ago. We've also gone to The Plaza Restaurant for a late lunch in July by calling the dining line about 1.5 hrs in advance of when we wanted to eat. It can be done, even at some of the most popular places to eat, especially if you are a smaller party and willing to eat at "off" times.

[PETE FROM NYC]

Last September, we were able to get same day ADRs at 50s Prime Time, and Garden Grill.
We were turned away at Chef Mickeys, and a couple of others I forgot.

[awaggett]

We've had good luck several times at Kona Cafe, The Wave, Boma (a few years ago, before it became popular), and Rose and Crown (lunch on Christmas eve). Most of those were anywhere from 3 to 6 people. I eat at the bar by myself when traveling for work (no wait!) at Cali Grill, Artist Point, and Flying Fish.

[poohbearlover15]

Walk-ups are the only way we dine! We are not the type of people who like to plan every single thing, we like to eat wherever and whenever we feel like it. We have never encountered a problem with just walking in, so I guess we've just been lucky throughout the years!

[Sylvia]

I've had great luck at The Plaza Restaurant and 50s Prime Time. I waited approx 20 minutes for a table at the Plaza, with a great view of the Castle. But, my greatest success, was one Saturday night in May a couple of years ago. I was headed to a CS location at the Studios for dinner at 7 PM, walked past 50s Prime Time, and, on a whim, decided to check on availability. Pixie dust was working overtime, because I was seated by 7:15 PM and had a great meal.

I'm another of those spontaneous guests who prefers not to over-plan, so I usually don't make ADRs. I have many favorite CS locations throughout WDW so if I can't get a table at a TS location, I just pick one from my "favorite CS" list.

[Georgesgirl1]

We have gotten walk-ups at Biergarten, Chefs de France, Tusker House, Yak and Yeti, and even OHana and CRT. I think the big thing about getting a walk-up is to make sure you go during an off peak time. Trying to get a seating at noon or 6:30 will be near impossible, but 4:30 or 8:30 you will most likely be successful.

[forever a child]

We have done walk ups at Tutto Italia Ristorante, San Angel Inn in Epcot, Tony's in MK, H&V, and Sci Fi at DHS and Rain Forest Cafe both at AK and DTD as well as Cap'n Jacks Restaurant in DTD. We have never had more than 2 or 3 people at the most in our dining party though. Most of the time we are doing a late lunch or early dinner as that is when we normally eat at home anyways.

[Jared]

I was in the Orlando area for business this past weekend and walked right into Kona Cafe during prime dinner hours. The parks were pretty busy because of Spring Break, but it seemed like the resort table service restaurants had openings!

Unless you're traveling during the most crowded times of the year, it's usually possible to eat at most restaurants as a walk-up, as long as you're willing to wait. In my experience, reservations are only necessary if you enjoy planning, have certain restaurants you absolutely want to try or are visiting during free dining or Christmas.

Hope this helps!

[artyboy]

We usually plan our "must do" restaurants, but often walk up for lunches and dinners. We also tend to do our fancy meal at lunchtime in the parks, but head to the resort restaurants for dinner.

Have fun!

[tinksmom02]

I rely on my ADRs and have very little experience with walk-ups (we were able to get same day ADRs at Marakesh in 2008, at Epcot guest relations).

I will add, however, that on our last trip in December walkups were being turned away at 50s PTC (lunch), Via Napoli (dinner), and Chefs de France (dinner).

[greengeen]

Every place that is mentioned in this thread as someplace you can "walk up" to, I have seen people turned away from. And I never go during peak times. The walk up strategy is only good if you're willing to be disappointed and spend extra time trying to find an alternative place.

[MOJoe]

Every place that is mentioned in this thread as someplace you can "walk up" to, I have seen people turned away from. And I never go during peak times. The walk up strategy is only good if you're willing to be disappointed and spend extra time trying to find an alternative place.

This is absolutely correct. But, you know, that's why i asked the question. My first experience, years ago, having a hungry family in DHS with no ADR's made me a believer in dining reservations. The park was packed, the restaurants full, and we were exhausted. I stood in a 45 minute line only to get Pizza Planet grub. As i tried to enjoy it, i vowed never to be caught in that situation again.

However...my sons really don't like the structure having ADR's puts on our trip. And i hate paying for an uneaten meal, only to be told a couple of hours later, "i'm hungry now". So, i may try to wing it this time. (I have a 2nd vacation booked, without ADR's in case a potential conflict occurs with my original plans.) I have had some success with changing dining plans at the last minute. But i wanted to "ask the audience" just in case i was missing something. Thanks, everyone for your responses.

[megustamex]

Instead of walk ups, we call reservations right before we leave. Then we beat any walkups that might be coming in and we know we're in. We've gotten into Sanaa and Artist Point this way. We walked up to Sci Fi last week around 2pm, but had to make a reservation for 3pm. We grabbed lunch elsewhere and just did ice cream at 3pm at Sci Fi instead. You can walk up to Sci Fi and get the non-car tables in the back anytime - they are first come first serve. They were full when we went though.