Getting into a restaurant without a reservation...

I was wondering how hard it is to get into a restaurant without advanced reservations. I don%26#39;t want to overplan things and have to figure out where I%26#39;ll be and when months in advance. I want to go to Cinderella%26#39;s for dinner one night so I%26#39;ll try to get an advance reservation for that, but otherwise we like to wing it. We are going mid November (7-21st). How long will the wait times likely be if we try to just go in without a reservation?

This trip is the most exhausting to plan! It%26#39;s fun, but it does take over doesn%26#39;t it. Case in point...it%26#39;s almost 4:00 am and I still am not asleep. Too many WDW things going %26#39;round and %26#39;round in my head. Sigh....

Mel

Getting into a restaurant without a reservation...

If you want to eat in a sit down resturant, best to make reservations first thing in the morning. Another option is to wait and have lunch at non peak times, like 2pm. Hope this helps. Have fun

Getting into a restaurant without a reservation...

That depends on what restaurants you%26#39;d like to go to. Obviously, counter service places do not need reservations. The buffet meals (like Crystal Palace in MK) do not need reservations. Some of the sit down places and most popular places do need reservations. I would only reserve the places you really, really want to go to....and then when you get there....if you and your family decide you want to go here or there for dinner....go to one of the guest services outlets and make reservations for that day. And don%26#39;t worry...there are PLENTY of places to eat so if your 1st choice isn%26#39;t available for that day....pick another and reserve the 1st for the following day. And try to remember it is a VACATION. ;-)

We have been to Disney twice now and the only things we have ever made reservations for is when we had a characture meal.

We just wander in and hope for the best, it all depends on what time of year you are going and how busy the parks are.

If you feel the need maybe make a resevation the morning you are ina park for that evening

Important though to relax it is a holiday dont over plan and get stressed by all the advice

Mick

I think it all depends on when your trip is planned for.

Off season, you won%26#39;t have as much competition for table service at the better restaurants, but as stated above, if there%26#39;s one in particular you want to do, you%26#39;d better be safe than sorry.

We were at Ohana%26#39;s at the Polynesian back in March on a Wednesday night. They were so very busy that night, they were turning away all walk-up business who didn%26#39;t have a reservation.

If you will be there during a busy time, I%26#39;d try to get the reservations as much as possible.

The key is to be flexible enough to have a second and third choice of restaurant in mind. I usually don%26#39;t make a lot of reservations ahead of time, because I decide which park I%26#39;m going to based on the weather and other things that I won%26#39;t know until sometimes the day before. So I call the day before to make reservations for the next day, and most times I can get my first or second choice of restaurant, if I%26#39;m flexible about dining times. For some restaurants, you can even wait until the morning of, and still get in. I have even called the Disney dining number from a payphone in the park to reserve a lunch spot at Epcot. So long as you%26#39;re on the reservation list, you know you%26#39;ll get seated ahead of any walkups.

There are a few restaurants that book up ahead of time and you should make reservations well in advance. Character meals, for the most part, fall into this category, as well as dinner shows, signature restaurants (such as the California Grill), the more popular Epcot restaurants (such as Le Cellier). If there is any restaurant that you absolutely don%26#39;t want to miss, make a reservation ahead of time. Don%26#39;t overlook the possibility of having lunch at a nearby resort restaurant either. Unless there are huge conventions in the hotels, they are typically not busy at all for lunch and you can walk up and get right in without any wait at all. You can hop on the monorail from the MK or exit through International Gateway at Epcot for a good selection of lunch options.

If you walk up to a restaurant without a reservation, ask right away how long the wait is. If it%26#39;s over an hour, you might want to either check out another restaurant, or try to book a time a few hours out and go do something else in the meantime. If it%26#39;s less than an hour, they will usually issue you a pager and you can wander through some nearby shops while you%26#39;re waiting.

Mid November should be about mid-size crowds, so you can afford to be more spontaneous than if you were here right now. I don%26#39;t think you have to sacrifice spontaneity to get a good meal.

it%26#39;s also easier if you don%26#39;t go at peak mealtimes, either -- we ride the busier rides during the %26#39;usual%26#39; mealtimes -- while everyone%26#39;s waiting in line at the restaurants!, then catch a meal when it%26#39;s a little less crammed. (lunch is usually 12.00-12.30 til about 1-1.30 here, and dinner%26#39;s roughly 6-7 pm)

Sometimes you can also improvise -- we were at Epcot in March, and the best dinner solution came from getting fish and chips from Harry Ramsden%26#39;s in the UK pavilion (all takeaway) and beers from the bar of the pub there...then we sat at the sidewalk tables and ate ... finishing just before it was time for the fireworks.

Hi Mel,

Your traveling to Disney at a good time so you should be O.K.. However I always say better safe than sorry and you can always change your mind on the day. If your interested in restaurants like 50%26#39;s Prime Time or Sci-Fi Dine In Theater at MGM Studios or the Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom, or Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot I would make advance reservations as these are poplar restaurants any time of the year. Deep breaths Mel, deep breaths:):)

Healin (or anyone else!)

We%26#39;ve made ADRs for the first week in August, when we%26#39;re on site, but wanted to keep the 2nd and 3rd week (when we%26#39;re offsite in a Villa) more flexible. Do you think it will be necessary to make ADRs for Disney restaurant in the 2nd/3rd week in August - bearing in mind the Free Dining in happening then. I%26#39;m thinking particularly of Boma and Le Cellier

Hi,

Thanks so much for all your help. I%26#39;ve made one reservation which is important to me (Cindy%26#39;s for dinner before MVMCP), the rest I will wait until we have a better idea what we are doing. Besides, with the prices being what they are maybe I can%26#39;t afford more than that one nice dinner onsite - $155 for one meal, ouch!!

Mel