Hi Melanie,
Welcome to planDisney! I'm glad you dropped by with your question about Walt Disney World dining and drinks.
The answer to your question is, "Maybe." I'm not sure if you had a specific restaurant in mind, but generally, if you want to occupy a table or booth inside one of the Disney
table service restaurants -- even if you just want a drink or an appetizer -- you will need a reservation.
However, a number of the
signature dining locations, such as
Topolino's Terrace at the Riviera Resort,
Jiku at Animal Kingdom Lodge,
Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian and
Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary, have bars inside or adjacent to the dining rooms which are seated on a first-come, first served basis.
The same goes for some of our favorite
restaurants at Disney Springs, including Jaleo, Morimoto Asia and The Boathouse.
My husband and I often turn to one of the
lounges in the resorts if we want a libation and some small bites. Among our favorites: Abracadabar at BoardWalk, Barcelona Lounge and Dahlia Lounge, both at Coronado Springs, Crew's Cup at the Yacht Club, and Victoria Falls at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
None of the lounges require a reservation, and a number of them have table seating in addition to stools at the bar.
I hope that answers your question, Melanie. If you need more information or have other questions about dining at Walt Disney World, please don't hesitate to check back with us any time.
Enjoy,
Wilma