Hi Mary!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Dining at Disney is quickly becoming it's own staring attraction. I like to say that Disney Parks are now Eat Parks, too!
Reservations for Table-Service Dining Locations open 180 days in advance, and I do see that you are now able to make your reservations. Some locations are very popular, and do completely fill up almost as soon as a reservation date opens at 7:00 A.M. EST. However, don't let that get you down because there are still plenty of options.
Definitely keep trying. My Disney vacations are usually planned in under two months notice, but I've still dined at some of the most sought after locations like 'Ohana, The Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's by being persistent in checking for reservations. Pro Tip: Download the
My Disney Experience App and use moments of downtime to check for dining reservations, like when you're in line at the bank or waiting to pick up a child from an activity.
Most Table-Service Dining Locations will try to work in guests who don't have a reservation. I've successfully "Walked Up" to The Hollywood Brown Derby, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and even Cinderella's Royal Table. It's best to go to these locations as soon as the park opens to ask if you can be added to that day's list as some will pencil you in for a specific time slot. Others, however, operate on a traditional first-come, first-served system, and in that case, they'll estimate when it's best to come back.
Pro Tip: I love later reservation times as they aren't as popular, especially for Character Dining. We get to sleep in a bit, and because the restaurant isn't packed we tend to get more interaction time with our Disney friends!
I hope this helped, Mary, and We'll See You in 2019!
~Kristen