The NO ADR Trip - tips - add your suggestions

My husband and I have never had a problem getting walk-ins even in the busy season.
If we want to eat at 8pm, we would get to the restaurant an hour earlier and check availability/put our name on the list and then enjoy a relaxing pre-dinner drink in the bar. The stress with walk-ins is if you are hungry and tired and then the seater says it is a 45 minute wait. If you already factor in a wait time then it is still a relaxing experience. Also, if the restaurant couldn't accommodate you, you still have time to wander round, read some menus and try for a walk-in somewhere else.

As you are staying in the Epcot area, I would recommend checking out the amazing restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin. Il Mulino is our favourite.

If your willing to eat around 5-6pm you are also more likely to be able to get into the busy restaurants. We have done that multiple times.

Then there's plenty of time for dessert cocktails later in the evening...

Being prepared to wing it and not being too selective with your dining options.Also as others have said if you eat outside the normal rush hours then it's easier.
We have never done the ADR thing ( other than CRT) and never had a problem getting seated where we want to eat.

We've made same-day ADRs and had no problem finding someplace good to eat, and once we walked into Restaurant Marrakesh without any ADR. Some of the less-well-known resort restaurants would be great choices. We walked into Olivia's at Old Key West three times with no ADR and no wait at all, and it's a GOOD restaurant. Just out of the way and not well known.

The Crews Cup Lounge in the Yacht Club has excellent food, a good craft beer selection and you can almost always score a table.

You can get same day ADR's if you are going off season. Two years ago we did not make any ADR's for lunch and decided the day before or the day of where we wanted to eat. We went in September so it was pretty slow and had no problems getting in places for lunch. Not sure how that would work for dinner.

Agreed! Il Mulino and Bluezoo are our favorite restaurants on property. They are not on the dining plan, but do accept TIW. Both have nice bars, and we have enjoyed appetizers at both. If the weather cooperates, consider dining outside at the Dolphin Cabana Bar and Beach Club.

I've been able to get walk-ups at Tony's for dinner right when they open at 4:30. If you travel in off season it's not quite as critical to make ADRs and it can add a bit to the fun if you let it. Plus recently the Quick Service restaurants have been offering a much larger range of foods than they used to so you're never stuck eating the same thing every day, even at the Quick Serve.

I totally agree Kristen! I had a 99 percent no ADR trip in November - just The Plaza (and I got free ice cream for being the 100th guest!). I ate like a champ - Flame Tree chicken, Cobb Salads from The Mara and Pucks Express, and African Stew from The Mara, just to name a few wonderful meals. I had a blast and tried QS places and dishes I had bypassed for ADRs.

Do a bigger meal at lunch as it's typically easier to get a lunch reservation at the more well known places then it is to get a dinner reservation.

Pick some more "off the radar" restaurants that still get good reviews. Turf Club, Olivias, Tutto Gusto, Tokyo Dining, Restaurant Marrakesh, Sanaa, The Wave, etc.

Eat at the bar or at the lounges. Cali Grill's bar is awesome first come, first serve. Brown Derby Lounge is fantastic and has it's own menu or you can order off the regular restaurant menu.