Hi Nicole! Thanks for stopping by with another great question!
Whenever I'm headed off to Walt Disney World Resort for my next vacation, there is always one thing I am most looking forward to - the FOOD! From the delicious pan-Asian cuisine of Yak & Yeti Restaurant to the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake from Liberty Tree Tavern, there is always something calling me and my taste buds back to Walt Disney World. So, Nicole, I understand your desire to snag those coveted Advanced Dining Reservations to ensure you don't miss out on the food you have been craving. Well, rest assured, help is on the way in the form of your trusty planDisney Panelist, ME!
Now, while there currently is not an option to set an alert when dining times become available, I do have a couple of tricks up my sleeve that I would love to share with you.
The first option works best in the days leading up to your visit. Since a credit card is required to secure an Advanced Dining Reservation, Guests will need to cancel any reservations they don't plan to attend at least one day in advance, or they will be charged a late cancellation fee of $10 per Guest (though the fee is subject to change). Because of this policy, reservation cancellations come in quite frequently in the last few days as Guests' plans change. I've secured reservations at some pretty popular spots, including the coveted breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table, just by checking the My Disney Experience app a few times a day in the days leading up to my visit. You'll be amazed at how many reservations become available at the last minute, so if you can be a bit flexible with your planning, I'm sure you'll find some great options to enjoy.
The My Disney Experience app also comes in handy with my second suggestion. Did you know that many dining locations throughout Walt Disney World have the Mobile Dine Walk-Up feature where you'll be able to add your party to a stand-by list and be notified when your table is ready? How great is that? All you need to do to take advantage of this fantastic tool is open the My Disney Experience app and follow these steps:
- Click on "Check Dining Availability."
- Select your party size.
- Select 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 on 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.
As you can see, all is not lost if you're not currently seeing the reservation you were looking for! All you need is faith, trust and a little pixie dust, and you'll be on your way to enjoying a delicious meal that you won't soon forget!
Until next time, Nicole!
Toodeloo!
Diana