Hi, Elizabeth! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
There’s no need to be anxious about
making dining reservations for your upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation! If you have your heart absolutely set on a restaurant, though, let me offer a few suggestions.
One recommendation is to be online and logged into your
My Disney Experience account by 5:45 a.m. Eastern time on the morning of the 180th day from your check-in. Since you’re staying at an
official Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll be able to make your dining reservations for the length of your stay--but not before 6 a.m. that day. (The 5:45 a.m. suggestion is just there to make sure you’re logged in and ready to go when 6 a.m. rolls around.) One strategy I’ve had success with is booking those hard-to-get reservations for later in our trip. For example, if we’re checking in on a Saturday and checking out the following Sunday, I would try to reserve
Cinderella’s Royal Table or
Be Our Guest Restaurant for Friday or the Saturday night before we leave.
Another suggestion is to be flexible with your times. If there are no dinner reservations available at a popular restaurant, consider a breakfast option instead. Take the time before your 180-day mark to explore restaurant menus online and make a prioritized list of what you and your family want to experience the most. Keep in mind that menus, options and prices are always subject to change, but the current postings should give you a general idea of what to expect.
And if you don’t get exactly what you want, don’t fret! Many Guests will cancel their hard-to-get dining reservations as their vacation date approaches and their plans change. I’ve had luck securing reservations for everything from
California Grill at
Disney’s Contemporary Resort to
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at
Epcot with less than a week to go before our trips! Keep checking online or your
My Disney Experience mobile app to see if something comes available closer to your check-in date.
With
more than 420 dining options at Walt Disney World Resort, you’re sure to find plenty to satisfy you and your family, Elizabeth! If you have any other questions about your options or would like suggestions about particular dining experiences, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’d love to help you plan!
Amy