Hello Jo-Ann,
I am so glad you stopped by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question. I absolutely love dining at Walt Disney World. In fact, sometimes, I am more excited about our reservations than riding some attractions. So, you've come the right place.
Here are a few of the key tips that I often give friends and family when they are ready to book their advanced dining reservations. First, ask each member of your traveling party if there is one place or style of dining they would like to try. This will give you a starting point. For instance, my oldest always requests Chef Mickey's and our family tradition is to end every trip with the Biergarten in Germany at Epcot. Once you are ready to make your reservations, you can do so online or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) up to 180 days in advance of your arrival date. The earlier you book, the better your chances of getting those extremely popular reservations, such as Be Our Guest Restaurant. Another tip I like to share is to be open to less traditional eating times, such as a later lunch around 2pm or early dinner around 4pm. Lastly, my family tends to only eat one large meal a day. We also switch up which meal that is throughout our vacation. Then, we eat lighter at quick service restaurants or snack the rest of the day. We also like to do at least 1-2
character meals for the kids on our trips, but no more than that, as these meals tend to take a bit longer and cut into our attraction time.
I hope these tips help you on your quest for the ultimate
dining options for your traveling party. Feel free to stop by with more questions or to request more dining recommendations. We would love to help you get the most out of your vacation.
~Allison L