Welcome back to planDisney, Christine! I'm so excited you'll travel from "Down Under" to visit
Walt Disney World Resort soon. I had a fabulous time in Australia a few years ago and even saw a duck-billed platypus in the wild! It was a core memory, for sure. You can see one if you ride "it's a small world" at
Magic Kingdom Park; let me know if you find it!
It sounds like you're within your 60-day booking window for
dining and other experiences. Unfortunately, our Australian friends typically must make those reservations using an authorized Disney vacation planner. If you're working with a travel agent, I recommend contacting them with your list of must-eats as soon as possible.
And you're correct that guests staying at
Disney Resort hotels can book meals for up to ten days of their stay. My tip is to make sure your resort reservation is linked to your account and that whoever is booking experiences is signed in. I once tried to make reservations, and my ten-day window wasn't open either; it turns out I wasn't logged in on my app! Please don't tell my panelist pals - they'll make me turn in my planDisney card!
One of my favorite restaurants doesn't require advanced reservations and is a bit of a hidden gem. It's Nomad Lounge at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Head there about 30 minutes before they open to join the queue and ask for a table on the wraparound porch. You can enjoy a river view while you dine, and you might even see some fun flotillas.
Christine, I'm wishing on a star - the Southern Cross, to be exact - for a fantastic visit! Thank you so much for allowing
planDisney to help you plan your vacation. G'day!
Magic awaits,
Elaine