Hi Dennis! Welcome to planDisney! We’re so excited that you’re here!
I have to tell you, Dennis; the incredible food is one of the things I look forward to most whenever I have an upcoming Walt Disney World Resort vacation on the books. There are so many fabulous restaurants to enjoy, each with its own delicious menu that is sure to please any palate. I’ll admit, I’m quite a picky eater, but I always find something incredible to enjoy at each and every meal. So, you’re wise to want to secure some Advanced Dining Reservations for your upcoming vacation!
Now, I know it can be super disappointing to log in and not see any available reservations for your preferred restaurants, but no need to panic! Unfortunately, a lot of my visits to Walt Disney World are booked at the very last minute, so I rarely get to take advantage of the 60-day reservation window. Still, I'm almost always able to secure Advanced Dining Reservations at some really fabulous restaurants. So, my number one tip would be to keep a close eye on the My Disney Experience app. Reservation cancellations come through all the time, so by checking in on the app periodically, you'll likely see times for some of your favorite restaurants pop up. This is super common in the week or two leading up to your visit, as Guests who change their plans must cancel reservations to avoid the late cancellation fee. I like to check the app about 2-3 times a day to check in and see what's available, and I find that this approach works really well for me!
Alternatively, many dining locations throughout Walt Disney World have the Mobile Dine Walk-Up feature, where you can add your party to a stand-by list and be notified when your table is ready. Now, this depends on availability, so not every restaurant will offer the service on a given day. But it never hurts to check! So, if the restaurant you are looking for is accepting walk-ups, all you need to do to take advantage of this fantastic tool is open the My Disney Experience app and follow these steps:
- First, click on "Check Dining Availability."
- Next, Select your party size and the date.
- Under "Search by Time," click on "Now."
- From there, you can view the current estimated wait times for participating restaurants and join the list.
Once you join the list, you will be notified when your table is ready, so you are free to walk around and explore a bit while you wait. Just be sure you don't go too far, as the restaurant will only hold your table for so long. I do want to note that to access the Mobile Dine Walk-Up feature, you will need to be near the restaurant you are interested in. So you can't, for example, join the Mobile Dine Walk-up list for a restaurant in Magic Kingdom if you are still having some fun over at EPCOT.
Dennis, I do hope this has been helpful to you! I just know the food throughout Walt Disney World will be one of the absolute highlights of your upcoming vacation. If you have any other questions or want to hear some of our restaurant recommendations, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Bye for now!
Diana