Welcome to planDisney, Samantha!
You've found the right place to bring all of your questions about planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Right now I'm imagining we're out for a cup of coffee talking all things Disney. Have you
linked your park tickets to your My Disney Experience account and made
theme park reservations for each park day? Both are currently required for theme park entry, along with a
method of entry (MagicBand, MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile pass, or admission card). But don't worry, you can still make dining reservations without any of those pieces in place. Speaking of dining reservations...
All Guests can make advance reservations for dining
online 60 days in advance. I recommend being logged into your My Disney Experience account by
5:45 a.m. with the webpage of your top three restaurant choices pulled up. Keep refreshing until a new day of reservations appears, which in my experience happens by 6:00 a.m. Because Disney Resorts Collection hotel Guests can make dining reservations for their entire length of stay 60 days before check-in, it's possible for dining reservations to fill up over 60 days in advance. This is particularly true of popular dining experiences like
character dining. It's best to be flexible with your mealtime and if you see something, grab it before it's gone. You can always cancel or try to modify a reservation later.
When making dining reservations for my party of six last month, there was no availability at
The Turf Club Bar and Grille on our Disney dining day. Just last night, my husband and I secured a reservation for four and a reservation for two; we will talk to the hostess about being seated together or near each other when we check in for the reservation. If there is no availability for the restaurant you seek 60 days in advance, just keep checking. Dining reservation availability changes in real time as Guests are constantly reimagining their park days.
It was great chatting with you today, Samantha.
Let's do it again soon!
Choose magic,
Jennifer