Hey there, Beth! Welcome to planDisney! I’m practically bursting with excitement to hear about your upcoming trip—the magic of Disneyland Resort awaits you in just a couple of short months! You’re right on track with planning your dining reservations now—you're thinking like a true Mouseketeer!
The first secret to unlocking Disneyland Resort dining is this: availability magically appears 60 days in advance. Since your adventure begins in early May, you've still got a bit of time to dream. But, like Tiana working towards her dream restaurant, my philosophy is that it’s never too early to start dreaming about where you’d like to eat!
When the clock strikes 6 AM PST on your 60-day countdown, it's time to make some magic happen! Head over to the
dining reservations page of the Disneyland website. Here's a pro tip: Be sure you’re signed into your Disney account before 6 AM. That way, you'll be ready to spring into action when the booking window opens! Once 6 AM arrives, you can either select a specific restaurant to see its available openings, or click the “Check All Availability” button. Enter your preferred date and time, and you'll see which restaurants have reservations waiting just for you!
You can also make dining reservations through the Disneyland mobile app. Simply open the app, tap the plus (+) symbol at the bottom, and select “Check Dining Availability”. Enter your party size, date, and time, and like magic, the available options will appear!
Reservations for some of the Disneyland Resort’s most sought-after locations, like the iconic
Blue Bayou and the wonderfully inventive
Lamplight Lounge, disappear faster than the Cheshire Cat!
Character Dining experiences are also incredibly popular with families.
Goofy’s Kitchen,
Storytellers Cafe, and
Plaza Inn all offer fantastic opportunities to dine with beloved Disney pals. If this sounds like a dream come true, be sure to explore the Character Dining page beforehand so you're ready to book the moment your window opens.
Remember, dining reservations open on a rolling 60-day basis. This means if you're visiting for multiple days, the dining availability for each day of your trip will open up 60 days in advance of that specific day. So, reservations for May 9th will appear 60 days before, then May 10th reservations will become available the following day, and so on. It's like a series of magical doorways opening, one after another!
If you don’t snag your dream reservation right away, Beth, don't lose heart! Plans change all the time, and if another Guest cancels their dining reservation, that booking opportunity will likely become available again. My biggest piece of advice? Be persistent! Check early and check often! What's booked today might be available tomorrow, so keep checking back! I’ve even found available dining reservations an hour before at some popular restaurants. Keep searching, and you just may find them, too!
I'm wishing on a star that you secure all the dining reservations your heart desires, Beth! With a little planning and a dash of pixie dust, I'm confident you'll be enjoying some truly unforgettable meals during your Disneyland Resort adventure!
Cody