Hi there Lara, and welcome back to planDisney!
Wow! Your big birthday comes at the perfect time! You'll be celebrating
50 magical years along with Walt Disney World. You're going to love the
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. My family and I have stayed here several times. As teachers, my husband and I love to take advantage of special rates sometimes available to educators, and you can't beat the location, just steps away from
EPCOT and
Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Currently, all Guests can make advance dining reservations starting around 7 AM EST 60 days before their desired dining date. Guests staying at a hotel in the
Disney Resorts Collection may make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay (up to 10 days). Because the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel is not included in this, you'll need to make dining reservations one day at a time, 60 days in advance of each day. For March 18, you can
go online the morning of January 17 to make reservations. With a little flexibility on time and restaurant choices, you shouldn't have a problem finding somewhere delicious to enjoy every day of your vacation.
Since you're celebrating such a momentous occasion, I'll share a few of my favorite places to sit down for a special meal. On your birthday, consider taking the monorail over to Disney's Contemporary Resort for dinner with a view at
California Grill. This restaurant is offering a limited-time menu just for the 50th-anniversary celebration! In the Magic Kingdom Park, I also like
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen and
Be Our Guest Restaurant.
If you're a fan of sushi, don't miss
Kimonos at your hotel. My family and I always make our way over here when we're in the EPCOT resort area for the fantastic food and entertaining karaoke. Also located in the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel,
Il Mulino New York Trattoria serves upscale Italian food in a sleek setting. Nearby,
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera features some of the best panoramic views in Walt Disney World. Take the
Disney Skyliner here for an unforgettable meal atop this gorgeous resort. I still think about the duck confit gnocchi appetizer and rigatoni entree I enjoyed here recently. They were SO delicious!
I hope this is helpful, Lara. Best wishes for an incredible birthday celebration, and if there's anything else we can do before your adventure begins, don't hesitate to reach out again.
Have a magical day!
Betsy