Are you "allowed" to go to restaurants for just an appetizer or just a dessert?

We've done it at SciFi. My DD LOVES it, and me not so much, so we went just for appetizers. We tipped REALLY well, and the waitress was excellent about it, we got great service.

So yes, if that is what you want, go for it!

We went late (9:30) to Jiko and told the waiter we were there for dessert only. He actually made us get up and change sections, and was quite rude about it.

You may want to call and note it on the reservation if its a particularly busy restaurant. They plan tables on the typical time it takes to turn a table. Someone only there for dessert will occupy that table a lot less and throw things off for a set of evening reservations.

We've done appetizers and desserts many times over the years, and it's never been an issue. There are times we've eaten a full meal at a restaurant and were disappointed that we didn't have room for an amazing dessert - so we'll go back at some point to make sure we enjoy that dessert!!

When we do this, we also make a conscious effort to tip a bit higher (provided the service is good).
But many people do many different things with their reservations - app/dess is just one more way people enjoy their evening. Some people run up large bills because they drink more wine, some drink water. Some people get in, get their food, and get out, while others might sit around talking for 30 minutes after the bill has come. Just make your reservation and go enjoy dinner the way you want to enjoy it.....

I'm curious what people are tipping in that case? I see a few folks suggest tipping a little more..

So, 20% on say $30 dessert bill is 6 bucks. But at that same restaurant, might spend normally 100 bucks (dinner, appetizer, etc). So your tip should be like $20. If not, you are shorting the staff on what they could be making. Because, no matter what folks say. I've seen folks come in for just a partial like that, and they still sit for almost as long as anyone else eating a full meal. 45 minutes, instead of the hour it takes for a meal.

So, when we go, we get a meal. If I want a dessert only, I'd look at see if you can carry it out.

If I go into a place to eat, I will eat what I find interesting and to my taste at that moment, regardless of how busy the place typically is. If that is an appetizer or an entrée, it is my decision to make, so I can't see the wait staff getting ticked off. If it's on the menu to order, then I have the right to order it. As for tipping, I will tip 20% of the bill total, nothing more just because my bill is less than the norm ... now if the wait staff is over the top wonderful, then we will tip at a higher rate ...

Well, you're paying for your meal, so yes you're allowed.

I've done this before and I've never gotten bad service. Here are a few examples. At sci-fi me and the mrs did appetizers and desserts. (Just wanted a bite and the experience, and the waitress even offered to take our picture and joked around with us for a while)
Tokyo Dining is another good one. Soup, sushi sampler, or tempura sampler and either a drink or dessert. Nice, quiet, and good food.

You can relax and enjoy a small bite without seeming frugal or cheap. Besides you would be an easy low maintenance table with a quick turnaround. I think more people should try this. You can experience more places and rest a bit.

I would treat it like you would any other restaurant outside Disney World. Somehow along the way Disney restaurants gained this aura of superiority, possibly due to the difficulty of getting an ADR after the roll out of the DDP. I would tip the normal amount and not worry about the waitstaff getting annoyed. After all, you are the customer. They aren't doing you a favor by allowing you to eat in the restaurant.

disneynarula;2502886 wrote: I would treat it like you would any other restaurant outside Disney World. Somehow along the way Disney restaurants gained this aura of superiority, possibly due to the difficulty of getting an ADR after the roll out of the DDP. I would tip the normal amount and not worry about the waitstaff getting annoyed. After all, you are the customer. They aren't doing you a favor by allowing you to eat in the restaurant.

I agree. And you make a very subtle, but important point here. Within this thread, there is an underlying concern that the server might be upset by a family eating just apps/desserts, or just desserts. And in our experience of doing that a few times over the years, we've never had any issues with a server not taking really good care of us during the abbreviated meal. I think it's an "assumed" concern that doesn't actually exist throughout most of Disney! Eat your meals the way you want to enjoy them! Eat that cake and ice cream sundae guilt-free (remember - Disney calories aren't nearly as bad for you as regular calories!!)!!

As a general rule, the table service places don't do this. However, they do have containers for taking home leftovers so it is possible that if you showed up, they would make you an order and box it up for you. Unlikely perhaps. I became overwhelmed with nausea when I sat down to dinner at Jiko one night (probably overheated and dehydrated). We had just ordered and they boxed it all up for us, our entire meals. Of course, this was an exception. But exceptions do happen.