Teresa,
Thanks for asking your question to planDisney!
Dining at EPCOT is a thrill ride unto itself. There are so many choices, it is like having to pick which attraction you want to ride next!
The holiday week will be a busy one, so for any table service restaurant you really will want to have a reservation. Some might still be open, like the Biergarten Restaurant. Others that are in high demand, like Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, might not. That is not to say that without a reservation you are completely blocked out, but you may have a hard time, or an extremely long wait to get into some of your choices. Here are some tips, if you don't have a reservation.
- Step 1: Keep searching! Check for reservation openings right up until hours before you dine. People cancel reservations all the time, and you might get lucky.
- Step 2: Enjoy dining while you stroll. Consider counter-service dining. The stands of the EPCOT World Showcase are wonderful for everything from savory to sweet. Also, you will be there during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which puts even more wonderful cuisine in your path. Plus, when you use the Mobile Online Ordering feature of the My Disney Experience App, you don't have to wait in lines!
- Step 3: Try your last resort. Join the Walk-Up List for your preferred restaurant via the My Disney Experience App. You have to be somewhat close to the restaurant, but you can get on the list for a table.
Now the Walk-Up List does not guarantee you a spot at the restaurant. It just puts you on the list to get in, if space becomes available. I have had friends use this successfully at high-demand restaurants on busy park days, so don't discount the chance you can get in. If you go to the restaurant desk to confirm that you are on the list, a Cast Member might be able to give you a guess as to the likelihood of getting in. But the App will give you an estimate as well.
BONUS TIP #1While you can use the Walk-Up List via a restaurant page on the App, you can also see it as an option when you are searching for a table in general. Toggling that selection will help, as the App will narrow down your options to whatever restaurants have that service available.
BONUS TIP #2I checked for December 23, and I see several restaurants still with reservations available. This includes Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Garden Grill Restaurant, La Creperie de Paris, La Hacienda de San Angel, Monsieur Paul, Nine Dragons, Rose & Crown, San Angel Inn, and Via Napoli.
Please feel free to
write me back directly if you have any follow-up questions. I love chatting about food!
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug