Hiya, Mark! Thank you for popping in at
planDisney with your question.
No
Walt Disney World vacation is complete for me without enjoying a meal at one of our many favorite
Disney dining experiences. And yep, it is totally frustrating to not see your must-do restaurant with a ton of availability. But I've got a pocket full of tips and tricks that I use, Mark, so let's see if we can get you sorted out.
First, be flexible. You're going to be visiting during a super busy week, so aim for off-peak meal times. Do a later dinner or an earlier lunch, or even consider a late breakfast in place of lunch. I always find late evening and late morning
dining reservations much easier to get.
Look for restaurants inside of one of the
Disney Resort Collections hotels. It's not too difficult to get away from a theme park for a nice, cooled-down lunch at one of the hotels. If you're at
Magic Kingdom Park especially, you can hop the monorail over to one of the monorail resorts to relax over a leisurely lunch. I highly recommend the new
Steakhouse 71 at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The Bacon and Eggs is my favorite bite anywhere at Disney World. Also, Steakhouse 71, like many of the restaurants, has lounges featuring some popular menu items. Many of them don't need reservations, so you can go check them out.
Lastly, Mark, don't give up! Check availability throughout the day, especially leading up to your trip. Guests cancel even the day of, so you want to make sure you are checking often.
Have a great visit, Mark!
Anna