Hi there, Tamara - welcome to
planDisney!
I'm so glad that you found us and have asked your first question to our team of panelists! We love to help Guests just like you plan your magical
Walt Disney World Resort vacations.
With
over 300 dining locations, there is quite a bit to choose from when you need to refuel during your vacation. Guests are able to make Advance Dining Reservations 60 days in advance, and for some of the more popular dining locations, these reservations go quickly. The great news is that in my experience, plans change often, and when other Guests' plans change and they cancel or modify their existing dining reservations, those reservations become immediately available for others to grab! So, my best advice is to check often leading up to your vacation. In fact, I tend to see a lot of new availability starting about 48 hours before the time I'm looking to make a reservation.
I find it easiest to use the
My Disney Experience Mobile App to check for reservations, but you can also do so
online. In the app, simply tap the "+" in the middle bottom of the screen and tap
Check Dining Availability. If you are looking for one specific restaurant, it's a bit faster to instead tap the search icon, search for the restaurant, and then tap
Reserve Dining.
While there is not a formal cancellation list that you can join, many Table Service dining locations do periodically offer a Walk-Up List for Guests without reservations. You can ask a Cast Member at the host stand, or keep an eye out for signage, usually with a scannable QR Code, to join the Walk-Up List. You can also tap the
Join Walk-Up List button on the restaurant's page within the app. I've had pretty good luck, so I think this is a good backup option for you to consider!
I hope this information is helpful as you plan your dining experiences for your upcoming trip.
Please let me know if any other questions come up!
Ryan J.