Hi Michael,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I know just how exciting the 180-day mark is – once I’ve made those dining reservations, our Walt Disney World Resort vacation really starts to take shape and feel real. I hope you’ve had fun
resEARching delicious options and are ready to dig in!
You’ve brought us a great question. Currently,
Park Hours begin to populate right around the 6-month mark, which does create a challenge for those of us trying to decide which park we’ll be in on which day so we can determine not only
where we will dine, but also
when. It used to be that Guests with Walt Disney World Resort hotel reservations could log in to My Disney Experience and see 190 days of Park hours, because
a benefit of being an on-site Guest is that you’ll be able to book dining for your length of stay (up to 10 days) from your resort check-in date. Right now, those park hours are populating about 180 days in advance on the official Walt Disney World Resort website.
My advice is to visit Touring Plans, which is a third-party website with Disney planning resources. They have been publishing projected park hours about 190 days out (and sometimes beyond), and while those are not official hours and we can’t guarantee their accuracy, they’re a good starting point. I usually consult their hours, make my plans, and then watch for the official Park Hours on the Walt Disney World Resort website. In fact, I just did this a few days ago – I’m planning a special birthday getaway and really wanted to time a
California Grill dinner reservation with the Happily Ever After fireworks. This method worked for me and I’m now counting down to that dreamy evening!
I hope this helps, and I’m sending some pixie dust that you’re able to get all the
dining reservations you’re wishing for! Be sure to read the
Disney Parks Blog for all the latest news – some great new dining options have opened lately, and I love reading their
Foodie Guides and creating a drool-worthy “to-snack” list. ChEARs to lots of great dining, snacking, and sipping on your Walt Disney World Resort vacation next year!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn