Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel Richard ~
There are so many incredible places to eat the Walt Disney World Resort and I'm on a quest to try them all!
Advanced dining reservations are highly recommended especially at super popular locations like Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. If there is some place you really want to eat, I would recommend trying to get a reservation.
However, we have had success a lot of times by walking up without a reservation. There are times that dining locations may be able to squeeze you in or some Guests may cancel a dining reservation at the last minute for a number of reasons. If you try walking up, I'd suggest going just as they start to serve (breakfast, lunch or dinner) so it gives you the widest window of time.
If you have little ones in your party that may be disappointed if a dining location is not able to accommodate you, you may want to send a "scout" ahead to check for availability while someone distracts their attention. There are some locations that have counters that Guests can walk up on a first-come, first-served basis like the Tune-In Lounge at the 50's Prime Time Café in Disney's Hollywood Studios.
It is sometimes hard to get all of the advanced dining reservations you want when you first start trying. I'd recommend that you keep checking online and on the
My Disney Experience mobile app every few days. If you haven't had success prior to leaving for your visit, keep checking even once you arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests will sometimes make advanced dining reservations early and once their trips get closer and they start firming up their plans, they may cancel some of their reservations which will free up times for other Guests.
Wishing you minnie magical memories :-) Allison V.