Hi Susan,
Welcome to planDisney!
Looking at your arrival date, I am impressed with your planning ahead! Like you, my family loves to make advanced dining reservations. With those reservations, there are cancellation and no-show policies. It's best to check your reservation confirmation email to make note of cancellation or no-show penalties. There are some
general guidelines about cancelling dining reservations. Typically, we can modify or cancel dining reservations as long as we do so more than two hours in advance of the reservation.
When I have booked a restaurant that required pre-payment, I have gotten a refund as long as I cancelled within the allowed cancellation window. Remember that some dining locations are operated by third-party vendors, so their cancellation and modification processes may differ. Know also that special experiences, like the
Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Pre-Party may have different cancellation and/or modification guidelines. This experience, for example, currently requires 24 hour cancellation notice.
As you continue to do research for your trip, be sure to note your
advanced dining reservation booking window date on a calendar! In my household we call this our Disney Dining reservation day and it is a big day! Remember to consider which dining locations might be most popular and then prioritize those on your list. For us, that means I try to book Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera, Space 220 Lounge, and Cinderella's Royal Table first. Prior to making dining reservations, also be sure to know which parks you plan to visit on which days and have a back-up plan if one of your dining locations has limited availability!
Susan, keep in mind that dining availability does change. I have been able to snag reservations during our trip if something opens up. So, just keep checking! Sending you a little extra pixie dust trusting that the rest of your planning will be
practically perfect!
Magic and memories,
Donyell