Hello, Andrew! Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
I also love to arrive a day earlier when I visit with my family. We love to settle down and rest before hitting the Theme Parks! Dining is a big part of how we like to settle down at the Walt Disney World Resort, so I totally understand why you want to plan for the perfect arrival!
You will be more than welcome to visit any Disney Resort Hotel for your dining reservation, regardless of where you're staying. You will not need Theme Park tickets to dine at fantastic places like the
Grand Floridian Cafe at
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or
Jiko - The Cooking Place at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, for example.
Some of my favorite restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort are located at hotels, and you don't have to pay for parking when you visit them for a meal.
'Ohana, at
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, offers a great dining atmosphere for a family-style dinner.
If you would like to start your vacation with a steak, the
Yachtsman Steakhouse at
Disney's Yacht Club Resort is the perfect destination. If you would rather enjoy the company of a few magical characters, the
Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is your place - the food is as enchanted as the location, the gorgeous
Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
Dining experiences inside the Theme Parks, on the other hand, must be combined with Theme Park tickets. You will be required to enter the Theme Parks to visit restaurants like
Monsieur Paul at Epcot or
Be Our Guest Restaurant at
Magic Kingdom Park, for example.
Regardless of where you choose to dine, I'm sure that you'll find the perfect place to start your vacation on the highest of notes, Andrew! If you want to see more recommendations before
making your reservation, please, don't hesitate to come back to us. We love to help families plan!
May the magic be with you,
Julie