Hello Sarah, and thank you for asking me your question here at the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
I am so excited to hear that you are putting the finishing touches on your magical vacation. There are so many options for dining at Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Resort Hotels, and Disney Springs. Character dining experiences and the newest establishments seem to get booked first.
Advance dining reservations are highly recommended at all table service dining locations. But don’t worry, I have a few tips to help you with your plans for dining.
Something that has worked for me in the past is to eat dinner an hour or so earlier or later than the popular dining hour. There have even been times where I have planned to have our larger meal as a late lunch in order to get a reservation for a dining experience that I really want. Usually, this will prompt us to have a smaller dinner from a quick service dining establishment where reservations are not needed. Keep in mind that plans may change for other guests which may cause them to cancel their reservation and free up a table at a restaurant that you may want to visit. I would recommend keeping a check online or in the My Disney Experience App if there is an experience that you have your heart set on. You can always call and speak to a Cast Member to assist with checking on any last minute openings for dining at (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. As a last resort, you can always check with the Cast Member, at the restaurant, to see if there are any openings for walk-in guests. If there is something open, they can advise you when to return or how long your wait will be. As a guest of the Grand Floridian, you can check with the host or hostess to see if they have any nightly openings for you as well. Good luck with your planning. If you need any more help before you arrive, please come back and visit us again.
See ya real soon,
Andrea