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Disney World Dining Changes
When Disney World began their phased reopening there were some significant changes at the parks, including dining and restaurants. It’s very important that if you’re planning a Disney World trip, that you are well aware of current protocols and guidelines at the park and resort restaurants.
For more tips read about the Disney Parks Reopening.
These are some of the changes that might be different from what is shared in the rest of this article:
- Guests may now book dining up to 60 days in advance of a trip.
- Disney World Advance Dining Reservations are highly recommended.
- Not all dining locations are open at this time. Capacity is limited at all areas.
- Dinner shows may currently be unavailable.
- All Disney Dining Plans are cancelled.
- Mobile check in for reservations, to skip the host desk at the restaurant.
- Certain dining experiences, like character meals may be altered or modified.
- Use smart phone devices to scan QR codes for table service restaurant menus.
- Cashless and contactless forms of payment are recommended.
- Enhanced cleaning protocols are taking place in all areas of the park, including dining locations.
Getting the Best Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations
When planning your first Walt Disney World vacation, you might think it’s strange to decide where you want to eat many months ahead of time! However at Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations are needed for most (if not all) full-service restaurants. Many of these restaurants are experiences in and of themselves.
Guests can dine inside of a castle like at Be Our Guest or Cinderella’s Royal Table for the ultimate in Magic Kingdom dining. Step back in time at 50’s Prime Time Cafe or the Beach Club Resort’s Beaches & Cream Soda Shoppe.
Watch fireworks from a rooftop vantage at the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill or giddy-up at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
Enjoy a seafood meal aquarium-side at Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant or in an exotic locale like Tiffins inside Animal Kingdom. The best Disney World restaurants are coveted and they do fill up early, even in the “off-season”.
Do You Have to Make Reservations for Disney World Restaurants?
Yes and no. If you want to eat in the full-service restaurants, you’ll almost always need Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations. A walk-up booking can be unlikely for the most popular locations.
If you don’t want to commit to reservations, then it’s totally okay to eat at only quick-service dining locations for your entire trip. I did this when I traveled to Disney World alone with my infant. And the meals I had were great!
So, yes if you want to eat in the full-service restaurants, you’ll need ADR. No, you don’t have to make reservations if you’re okay with eating all quick-service. And of course if you want to dine with the popular characters at Topolino’s Terrace, you’re going to need a reservation!
Why Don’t You Need Reservations for Disneyland Restaurants?
Comparing Disney World to Disneyland, you’ll know that Disneyland regulars very rarely book ADR. Most of the full-service restaurants are easy to dine in as a walk-up.
There are some exceptions, like character meals and Blue Bayou restaurant. And you’ll definitely need ADR during busier seasons and the Holidays.
I’m not sure why Disneyland restaurants aren’t as crowded as Disney World! Maybe because the dining at Disneyland is less “experience”. Perhaps because it’s very easy to leave the parks and walk across the street to restaurants on Harbor Blvd? Or maybe because so many locals tend to pack in their own food and snacks?
In any case, full service dining isn’t a big deal at Disneyland like it is at Disney World. For more information, here’s how to eat at Disneyland without an ADR.
How Many Full Service Meals Should We Plan On?
Keep in mind that these “dining experiences” often take up a good amount of time so build eating times in to your trip. In my own experience, I only book one Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations per day, usually for lunch. This allows my family to eat a light breakfast in our hotel room.
We enjoy our fancy ADR meal at lunch time. I like to book an indoor dining location for lunch in an effort to avoid the near-daily rain storms in Orlando! Then we grab a quick service dinner whenever hunger strikes.
Or if I’m being honest, sometimes we just have ice cream cones for dinner!
So how can you get that Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations for the meal you really want? These are basic tips for newbies looking to grab a few ADR for their trip.
1. Plan Out Your Itinerary
Before you start picking out Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations willy-nilly, you’ll need to plot out your basic itinerary. You don’t want to be booking The Crystal Palace for breakfast at Magic Kingdom on a day you’d planned on being at the Typhoon Lagoon water park.
Likewise be sure to check the times of the attractions you wish to watch before booking an ADR.
I almost booked a coveted Be Our Guest dinner reservation but stopped short after checking my itinerary. The time slot for dinner fell right during the fireworks show we’d planned on watching. Unfortunately I had to pass on the meal reservation.
2. Book Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations at 60 Days
Your best bet for getting the reservation you want it is to book the very day that you can, at the very first moment they open the reservations (either by phone or online). That is how you’ll get the most coveted slots like Cinderella’s Royal Table, by being the early bird!
In the days before the park closure, Disney World dining reservations opened up 180 days in advance. But since the reopening, WDW has adopted a new schedule for 60 days out.
You can either book online or call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) by 7:00 am ET. Reservations often fill up within minutes of opening.
3. Check the Website Frequently
Missed the 60 day window? You may still be able to grab the reservation you want by frequently scoping out the ADR website for openings.
I was able to grab a reservation for 50’s Prime Time Café five days before my trip just by checking the site several times a day. Many guests overbook and then cancel unneeded reservations ahead of their vacations.
4. Search by Meals, Not by Exact Times
When checking for availability, search by meals instead of exact times. You’ll have a greater chance at finding a reservation if you use the broader “meal times” filter instead of exact times.
Inside the “Check Availability” box there is a drop-down menu that will say Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. If the restaurant isn’t open for a particular meal, that meal won’t show up in the menu. If there is an available time slot there will be a button with the time available that you can click to reserve your spot.
5. Use a Travel Agent
Many agents will include booking dining as part of your vacation package. So instead of having to get up before sunrise to make those calls to Disney dining, your agent will do the work for you!
The awesome agents at Get Away Today offer this along with other complimentary concierge items when you book your Disney World vacation.
DISCOUNTED DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS!
My travel partners at Get Away Today offer discounted Walt Disney World tickets and Orlando-area hotels to fit any budget!
The cost of a Disney World vacation includes complimentary concierge from Get Away Today to assist with dining reservations and more. This also includes free price monitoring!
Book a Walt Disney World vacation package for just $200 down, with final payment due just 30 days before check-in. Contact Get Away Today for a complimentary vacation quote on a WDW vacation!
6. Use MouseDining
If you don’t have time to be constantly checking for open ADR, there’s a site that will help you with that!
Rather than stalking the Disney World app to book ADR, try MouseDining. There’s a way to upgrade your account for additional features but for most people, their free program is adequate. Here’s how this system works:
- Open the MouseDisney website and search the restaurant you want to dine at.
- Add in your dates to see if a reservation is available.
- If everything is booked, simply set up an alert with more details including meal, preferred time, and party size.
- MouseDining will email you when a reservation comes available!
Naturally you have to be the first person to grab it before it’s taken by someone else, but it definitely saves time not having to stalk the website yourself!
I used it to get a reservation for Beaches & Cream Soda Shoppe. The email came through letting me know there was a reservation available and I was able to immediately go online and scoop up the reservation for the meal time I wanted!
7. Be Open to Different Times
How many of you would be willing to eat at Be Our Guest if the only reservation is for 9:30 pm on a Wednesday night? What if you had your baby and preschooler with you?
I actually have this reservation set for my next visit and for us, it will work out great! Since we come from the West Coast, I keep my little ones on Pacific Time. Therefore a 9:30 pm (6:30 PST) isn’t too late of a dinner for them and we scored a great ADR.
Certainly, some reservation times just aren’t ideal for many families. But if you can be open to dining at a different time you’ll more likely be able to find a reservation.
Consider pushing back lunch so you can have a later dinner. Then stay to play in the parks and sleep in the next day. Or if you find an early dinner reservation, eat a big breakfast and skip lunch. Then have your early dinner and enjoy dessert later in the evening!
8. Last Minute Find
Even while on your vacation, Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations may open up. Many guests overbook and then cancel at the last minute (to avoid any no-show charges). This opens up an ADR for you!
I was able to book a last minute Be Our Guest lunch the day we arrived. Keep checking the website on your mobile phone to see if an ADR opens up for the time you want.
Some locations, especially those that are large and can accommodate many guests, may be easier than others to book last minute ADR. Biergarten Restaurant in Epcot, Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Hollywood Studios and Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom are good bets.
Try a location like Raglan Road Irish Pub that’s outside the parks (in Disney Springs) on a non-park day if you’re flexible.
9. Book Ahead and Cancel If You Need To
Let’s say you can’t get the reservation you really want but there is another restaurant that has availability. Consider booking ahead and getting the reservation you can. You can continue to search for the ADR you want.
If you can’t get another reservation at least you’ll have something booked! If you’re able to book elsewhere, then you can then easily cancel the first reservation.
Reservations may be canceled, with the deposit refunded in full, by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Each restaurant at the Walt Disney World Resort has its own cancellation policy, so be sure to check your reservation. You’ll want to know if the cancellation window is 48 or 24 hours before the reservation to avoid any fees.
Couldn’t get the Character dining ADR you wanted? Consider at the Sunshine BreakfasTime at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. The cost is about half what you’d pay at a Disney World restaurant and the best part, no ADR needed!
What Disney World restaurant is the one you most want to dine at?
This article was originally published on April 11, 2017 and has been updated and republished
Walt Disney World Guide for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom
Monday 17th of April 2017
[…] Dining Reservations for any full-service meals you wish to eat in Magic Kingdom (here’s how to get the reservations for the meals you […]