Hi Tracy,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for asking us a question, my fellow Canadian!
One of the toughest parts of planning any visit to Walt Disney World for me is undoubtedly trying to pick which Disney dining experiences to enjoy during my vacation. I love all of the
dining options at Epcot, and I typically do wind up at that Park for dinner on most nights.
You don’t need to have purchased the
Park Hopper Option in order to be able to make a Disney dining reservation at one or more Theme Parks for your Disney Day. BUT, if you plan to visit
Magic Kingdom Park that morning and then visit
Epcot later in the evening, you will have to purchase the Park Hopper Option in order to be able to actually enter Epcot for your meal. A dining reservation doesn’t allow people to enter a different Theme Park than the one that they previously visited that day, even if it’s only to eat, unless they have a Theme Park Ticket that includes the Park Hopper Option.
If you need to stay at Magic Kingdom Park because you don’t plan to purchase the ability to “park hop”, I’d highly recommend making plans to eat dinner at the
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen if you’re looking for a more adventurous option, like the ones you can find at some restaurants in Epcot.
I hope my answer helps you plan a delicious Disney Day during your upcoming vacation. Please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions.
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne