Bethan Does Magic

By Bethan Russell | 30 Mar | BethanDoesDisney

You’ve got your theme park and hotel reservations made – but what about dining? I’m covering everything you need to know about making dining reservations at Disney World.

There are hundreds of restaurants in Walt Disney World! You can find them in the parks, resorts and at least 10 million in Disney Springs. So you’d think dining would be super easy? WRONG! Reservations are increasingly important, particularly if you want to dine at a popular restaurant. Walt Disney World dining reservations – also known as advance dining reservations, or ADRs – are so essential to get before you head to the most magical place on earth. 

So, how do you make dining reservations at Walt Disney World? Are there any tips and tricks to make the process easier? I’m breaking down all of the ins and outs of advance dining reservations below.

Walt Disney World Dining Reservations: An Overview

Making a dining reservation at a Walt Disney World restaurant is as simple as making a reservation for your favourite restaurant in town – just a bit more planning is required! There are hundreds of restaurants across the resort, but only table-service restaurants accept reservations.

This means you can make an advance dining reservation at any sit-down restaurant in the theme parks, at the resorts, or at Disney Springs. That gives you a pretty wide variety of options, that even the fussiest of eaters can find somewhere to eat.  

However, it’s essential to know that Walt Disney World dining reservations book quickly, so you’ll always want to plan. Whether you’re trying to get a table at a hot new restaurant like Space 220 or Roundup Rodeo BBQ or booking your must-do spot, reservations can disappear quickly. Last-minute dining reservations are pretty limited and can leave you with very few options. 

Which Walt Disney World Restaurants Accept Reservations?

The first step in making advance dining reservation at Disney World is knowing which restaurants accept reservations – and which ones absolutely need them. 

While there are plenty of restaurants you can simply walk up to and place an order (or even place a mobile order via the My Disney Experience app), these are typically quick-service restaurants (think Mcdonald’s), not table service restaurants.

So, while there are more than 400 different restaurants listed on the Walt Disney World website, you’ll find that approximately 100 of those restaurants accept reservations. You’ll find plenty of table service restaurants available for ADRs, though what’s available does change depending on demand (and which restaurants still have reservations you can book!). 

How to Make Dining Reservations for Walt Disney World

Whether you’re popping into the theme parks for a few hours or spending a week or longer at the resort, it’s always a good idea to make advance dining reservations. All Disney World Guests can make dining reservations, so demand is high!

Just remember that if you want to eat inside the parks, you’ll need a park ticket and a theme park reservation! It’s a good idea to have these lined up before you start making any dining reservations so you can coordinate dates and timing.

Make Dining Reservations Starting 60 Days in Advance

You can make advance dining reservations up to 60 days (two months) out from your visit. The longer you wait, and the closer to your visit that you book, the fewer options you’ll have.

But if you’re staying longer than 10 days, you can only book 10 days at a time. So don’t worry if you can’t book a meal on your 11th day, you’ll just have to book that one tomorrow.

Log Into My Disney Experience to Book

The easiest way to book your ADRs is to go online or on the app on your phone. All you need to do is log into your My Disney Experience account. Dining reservations are released at 11 am for us in the UK, so you’ll want to get online early for the best odds!

Online, you can navigate to the Things to Do tab and click Make Reservations under Dining. Choose a date and a time, and narrow your options by resort or theme park if you’d like, and you’ll see all of the available reservations.

In the app, you can click the plus sign at the bottom of the screen and choose Check Dining Availability. Enter the number of people, date, and time to see all of the available reservations. 

Once you officially book a reservation, it’ll appear in your account so you can easily keep track of when and where you’re dining during your visit.

Oh, and if you want to make a same-day or walk-up dining reservation, you’ll use the same process. You can search “now” online or in the app, and you’ll be able to see all same-day dining availability across Walt Disney World.  

Tips for Booking Dining Reservations

While booking Walt Disney World dining reservations is a pretty simple process, there can be kinks along the way. The most common issue? The dining reservations you want aren’t available.

Keep in mind that reservation availability changes often. There may not be reservations right now, but that doesn’t mean you should give up! Here are a few tips you can try to increase your odds of nabbing the ADRs you want.

Check for Openings Regularly

If you can’t get the ADR you were hoping for, don’t just give up! Reservations – and plans – change often, and other Guests may cancel their reservations, freeing up spots for new diners to nab. So, if there’s nothing available when you first check at the 60-day mark, set a reminder to check in every week or every few days. As the date in question approaches, reservations can open up, and you may be able to snag a last-minute cancellation that works in your favour.

Try the Walk-Up List

If you absolutely cannot score an ADR before you arrive at the resort, you can always join the walk-up list on the day of your visit. Participating table service restaurants will allow you to join the Mobile Walk-Up List via the My Disney Experience app; it’s as easy as scanning a QR code in the restaurant’s lobby. 

While there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a dining spot – and there’s definitely going to be a wait – the walk-up list is often the best way to get a same-day “reservation” or chance to dine at popular restaurants. Remember, Walt Disney World restaurants do save some spots each day for walk-ups, which means there is some availability. Earlier in the day is usually your best chance if you need a walk-up spot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dining Reservations

Can you cancel an advance dining reservation?

Yes, you can cancel your ADRs if you no longer need them. However, keep in mind that you do have a cancellation window – if you miss that window, you will be charged a $10 per person fee!

You can cancel most dining reservations up to two hours before the reservation time. There’s no penalty as long as you meet this requirement. Some exclusions do apply for certain restaurants and dining experiences so be sure to double-check the cancellation policy while you’re securing your ADR.

Do you have to have dining reservations at Disney World?

There are plenty of table service options that will welcome same-day or walk-up Guests. So don’t worry if you like to wing things.

If you can’t get a table service time slot, you can also visit any quick-service restaurant and grab food there! These Disney World dining spots don’t require reservations, and they make it incredibly easy to grab food via the app with mobile order options.

Can you make last-minute dining reservations?

It is possible to snag last-minute ADRs, but luck needs to be on your side. Often, dining reservations will open up as other Guests’ plans change and trip dates draw nearer; however, same-day openings are tricky to get. Your best bet is to check in early in the morning of the day in question, and keep an eye on reservation availability throughout the day. Now that Guests can cancel reservations up to two hours before their scheduled arrival time, it’s a little tougher to spot openings in advance. 

Does this all sound a bit crazy?

For help planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, take advantage of the expert knowledge of a travel agent! (that’s me!) Just pop your name and email below and I can help with all my crazy Disney knowledge.