Hey There, Hi There, Ho There, Jennifer!
You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney. While there's no question that you'll find plenty of fun in the parks, there's so much to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort outside of the theme parks, too. And nowhere is this more evident than at the Disney Resorts Collection hotels. These incredible Resorts are home to
tons of dining, shopping, and Resort activities –– in fact, there's so much to do that you could even plan an entire vacation without setting foot in one of the parks! Since it sounds like you're planning to enjoy some of these Resort dining options for yourself during your upcoming visit, let me share a few details about making advance dining reservations at Walt Disney World Resort, as well as a few tips for getting to and from a Disney Resorts Collection hotel.
For all Guests, Walt Disney World advance dining reservations can be made up to 60 days before you plan to dine. If you happen to be staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel during your visit, you'll also get a little extra pixie dust in the dining department –– you can start making reservations for your entire length of stay (up to 10 days) beginning 60 days before check-in. And while you do need valid admission and a Disney Park Pass reservation to dine
inside a Walt Disney World theme park, anyone can book a dining reservation at a Disney Resort hotel or Disney Springs, even if you're not a registered hotel Guest. This means that if you'd like to book a reservation for Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort on January 22nd, before you head to the park on January 23rd, you'll be able to begin making those reservations on November 23rd (which just so happens to be tomorrow).
Once you have your reservations in place, it's time to start thinking of how you'll get to and from the Resort to enjoy your meal. Personally, I think the easiest way to do this is by driving yourself (if you'll have access to your own vehicle) or by taking a rideshare service like those adorable
Minnie Vans connected by Lyft. Just keep in mind that you must have a confirmed dining reservation (or be a registered hotel Guest) in order to park at the Resort or have your driver drop you off at the front entrance. This means that if you're planning to enjoy a quick service restaurant, like Cap'n Cook's at the Polynesian, you won't be able to use these transportation methods.
If you're planning to explore one of the Disney Resorts without a confirmed dining reservation, your best bet for getting to the Resort is probably to take advantage of Disney's
complimentary transportation network. Remember, you're always welcome to jump on a bus, a boat, Disney Skyliner, the monorail, or even use one of the Resort walking paths to reach the Resorts. For instance, if you're planning to head to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort or one of the other Resorts on the monorail line, you can park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and either walk directly to the Polynesian (right next door) or step aboard the monorail to reach one of the other Resorts. Another great option for getting to a Resort that isn't on the monorail line is to park at Disney Springs and head to the Resort bus stops. From there, you'll be able to jump on a bus to any Disney Resorts Collection hotel you choose and then take a returning bus to Disney Springs once you're done exploring the Resort.
Thanks for visiting planDisney, Jennifer. I'm wishing you lots of pixie dust during your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit!
See Ya Real Soon,
Amy