Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Nov 25, 2009
    April from OH 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.

    I don't know which park we will be in on any given day so making reservations is tricky. For Christmas week, is it possible to get reservations the day of a visit? How common are no shows for a reservation so that drop in people can get their table?

    Hi, April!  On a typical day, you might find that you can walk up to a restaurant and be lucky to find a table available without a reservation.  For some restaurants, even on a typical day, this is highly unlikely.  Restaurants such as Cinderella's Royal Table and Chef Mickey's often book solid within a couple of days of the 180 day booking window.

    During Christmas week, I would tell you that finding a table available becomes even more difficult at the last minute.  The parks are packed, which means more people than normal have been booking dining reservations.  You will still have people who have to cancel at the last minute for whatever reason, so you might luck into an open table, but your competition for that open table is going to be greater as well.

    My best advice would be to book something as soon as you can, knowing that you can always cancel at the last minute if you need to, but it is really difficult to secure table service dining during Christmas week.  If you want to take your chances, you can increase the possibility by going either very early or very late for a meal, and going to restaurants that may not be as well know by larger numbers of people, like Restaurant Marrakesh at EPCOT.

    Good luck, and happy dining!
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Meet the Panelist: Anna, New Jersey

My name is Anna and I am a retired teacher with a J.D., a proud Navy wife with 30+ years of experience, mom to three daughters and a son-in-law, and grandmom to three tiny Disney fans. I have planned vacations for all sorts of special occasions and celebrations, but I really enjoy DVC vacations, helping military families, and assisting those with special dietary needs.    Learn More About Anna

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