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  • On Mar 3, 2016
    Alice from NY Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    The character dining event we wanted to attend is already booked, Mickey's Backyard Barbeque. Typically, do reservations open up the week before or closer to the date or do they usually stay booked.

    Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Alice!

    You have picked a great restaurant for your trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Mickey's Backyard BBQ is a great spot to enjoy some awesome BBQ food and meet Mickey and friends! I have travelled to Walt Disney World Resort several times on last-minute trips where I could not book my dining reservations 180 days in advance and I have had excellent luck finding dining reservations for my family by being diligent about checking openings. I have found that reservations often start to open up about a week in advance as Guests finalize their vacation plans. So about a week in advance, I start checking for availability at the restaurant I would like. Dining reservations must be cancelled 24 hours in advance for Guests to avoid a cancellation fee. So I have found that two to three days in advance, many reservations often become available as Guests cancel to avoid the fee. I like to use the My Disney Experience mobile app during my vacation to snag dining reservation during our trip!

    One additional tip: when searching for your dining reservations, if you search for a specific time, you will only see availability around that time. However, if you search for a meal, such as "Dinner", you will see all availability at the restaurant for that meal. The meals served at a restaurant are located at the top of the time selections, above the earliest dining time. I have found that searching this way has been extremely helpful when I am looking for a particularly popular reservation.

    Sending lots of dining pixie dust your way in hopes that your reservation! T-T-F-N, ta ta for now!

    ~Crystal B.
thumbnail image for Crystal

Meet the Panelist: Crystal, Colorado

Hi! I’m Crystal and I’m a wife and mommy to three little Mouseketeers. My husband and I have been enjoying Disney Parks since before we were married, and now we take our children to see Mickey and the gang as often as we can, while  managing my oldest son's food allergies. Planning is key for my family to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun trip to our favorite place and it can be just as exciting as the trip itself. I can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure there, too! Learn More About Crystal

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