Hello Denee! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
As often as I have visited Walt Disney World Resort, I had never sat down for a meal at
Plaza Restaurant until my wife and I made Advanced Dining Reservations during the
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend last January. I heartily recommend the strawberry milkshakes.
When we arrived for our
Advanced Dining Reservations, that I had booked a few months earlier, there were Guests speaking to the Hostess at Plaza Restaurant about the possibility of obtaining a "walk-up" table. They were informed that they could indeed wait for a table but that it would be about a 15-20 minute wait. My wife were admitted in 5 minutes before the "walk-up" Guests were seated.
Plaza Restaurant, like many other dining locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort accepts a certain number of Advanced Dining Reservations for Guests. On the date of those Advanced Dining Reservations, those Guests are given priority to seating as per their Reservations.
If there is capacity for more Guests, last-minute cancelations or available seating, Cast Members will make those tables available to Guests hoping for "walk-up" seating. However, "walk-up" seating is not guaranteed and the waiting time varies daily.
If you definitely would like to eat at Plaza restaurant on a given date, I recommend you do what you can to obtain Advanced Dining Reservations.
Bon Appétit!
~Todd