Hi Chelsea!
It is with the deepest pride and greatest pleasure that I welcome you to planDisney! Your vacation to Walt Disney World Resort will be here soon, so let's not waste any time. I proudly present…your answer.
It is my experience that your entire party must be present in order to be seated at your
advance dining reservation time. Last October, my husband and I split up because we didn't want to miss our character breakfast reservation at
the Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom Park. Little did we know, my toddler and I made it on time; however, we were still asked to wait for my Prince Charming to arrive before being seated inside the table service restaurant.
Also, depending on which restaurant you choose to visit, it may have an option for you to wait in a nice, relaxing spot or to sit at its bar (if available). For instance, my son and I really enjoyed listening to the sounds of the nearby end of Main Street, U.S.A. and taking in the views of
Cinderella Castle while we waited for our dining experience to begin.
AN EXTRA GEM: If you feel like you need to push back your dining reservation, I strongly recommend using the
My Disney Experience app to modify your reservation time. Many other Guests may take advantage of most restaurants' 2-hour free cancellation policy; therefore, there's a chance that you'll find a later dining reservation that better fits your party's needs. Find your reservation in the app, select "Modify" to quickly search for another time, and refresh in hopes that another time appears.
If you have any further questions about your most magical vacation, Chelsea,
I am at your service here at planDisney. And a final tip before we part: Visiting
Be Our Guest Restaurant? Try the Grey Stuff, it’s delicious!
Magic always,
LeAndra