Hi there, Gary, and welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you're here with this great question about your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit. It sounds like you're planning a vacation that will be full of fun times at the Disney Theme Parks and amazing meals at a variety of dining locations!
Gary, you're correct about EPCOT closing at 5:00pm on October 22, 2024. Typically, when a Disney Theme Park closes, Guests have about an hour to make their way toward the exit, and Guests already in line for an attraction will be able to remain in the queue. On a typical day, some Disney Theme Parks will offer
Advance Dining Reservations up to, or just after, the posted time of closing. However, you'll need to check to see what reservations are available since this closure is earlier than normal. The easiest way to do this is by heading to the
My Disney Experience Mobile App and pressing the "+" button in the center of the bottom menu. The first option that pops up is "Check Dining Availability." You can enter the date and see which locations have later dining reservations.
If you find that you're unable to dine at
EPCOT that evening, I'd love to recommend a couple of options in that area, each accessible via the
Disney Skyliner. The first is
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera at
Disney's Riviera Resort. Situated at the top of the hotel, you'll find incredible views and even more incredible dishes here. The second option is
Sebastian's Bistro at
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. I love this restaurant because the flavors are unique, the aesthetic is beautiful, and I love the family-style dining format.
Greg, I hope this is helpful as you plan your visit. Please stop back by planDisney with any other questions you have as you count down to your vacation!
Bon appetit!
Jennifer