Hey there, Theresa. Welcome to
planDisney!
It's got to be so magical being a local resident of
Walt Disney World. Having Mickey Mouse as a neighbor has surely provided you with memories that will last a lifetime.
I'm sorry to know that you've struggled to make dining reservations as of late. I know many of us have experienced the same issues. I think Walt Disney World is such a popular vacation destination right now that dining reservations are getting swooped up right when they become available.
You can now make
advanced dining reservations 60 days in advance. The reservation system opens up online starting at 6:00 a.m. and phone lines open up right around 7:00 a.m. I think you can find the most available online right at the 6:00 a.m. mark, however, I personally like to call and speak with a Cast Member if I am making a reservation closer to the date I'd like to dine. To speak with a Cast Member about dining reservations you can call 407-WDW-DINE.
Recently, when I haven't been able to snag a dining reservation that I've wanted, I've also had good luck with just walking up and waiting for a table. We stayed at Disney's Yacht Club just last week and my family and I were hoping to dine at Cape May Cafe. There weren't any reservations online, however, we arrived when the restaurant opened and they were able to fit us right in. So that might be a great option for you to try as well since you are local.
There are also many great dining locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort that don't require advanced dining reservations. All of the lounges are on a first-come, first-serve basis. My favorite lounges are the Tambu Lounge at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, The bar/lounge area at Disney's California Grill, Crew's Cup Lounge at Disney's Yacht Club and I also really enjoy Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney's Wilderness Resort.
I hope this helps, Theresa. If you have any other questions, please feel free to stop back by and
ask me.
Enjoy!
Jackie H.