Hi Steven - welcome to planDisney! Thank you so much for stopping by to ask this great question about dining at the Happiest Place on Earth. I love where your head is at - food at Disneyland is usually where my head is at too.
You're correct, Steven, that calendar dates for dining reservations are released farther out than the
entertainment schedule, however, the dining reservation calendar for packages and dessert parties will usually have dates blocked out if there will not be a show that particular day. (It is good to know though that schedules are always subject to change.)
To search dining locations where reservations are accepted, scroll the options on the
Disneyland website. Select a restaurant individually that interests you to see the times available or click on the blue "Check All Availability" button to log into your account and confirm party size and date, when it's your time to book. I prefer to make dining reservations through the
Disneyland app by selecting "Dining" from the drop down on the park map and exploring around. This way I can easily see where the dining location is within the park and if it makes sense based on my plans for that particular day.
I tend to have a few dining reservations in my pocket and then make my final decisions as the time gets closer. No harm in having options! Just make sure to cancel any reservations you will not be using at least two hours prior to your reservation time or there will be a per person cancellation fee. (Dining locations vary in their cancellation policies, so always a good idea to check ahead of time!)
I'm happy to share that you can also change your park reservation dates at any time, Steven, if there is availability. You can do this in either the
Disneyland app (from the ☰, select "Park Reservations" under Plan My Next Visit) or on the
Disneyland website. Tip: If you're staying off property, Steven, try to make your park reservation for the park that does
not have Early Entry offered that day, to avoid those crowds. The Early Entry hours can be found on the
Daily Events Schedule.
Steven, I hope what I've shared here comforts you, knowing you have lots of flexibility! My family has done one park per day tickets multiple times and it's gone great! Yes, you do have to do a little bit more pre-planning - but when your magical day arrives there will be less decisions to make in the moment because it's all done! I love that about having one park per day tickets.
As you continue to prepare for your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth, Steven, don't hesitate to come back and
ask me another question! I'd love to share more about my favorite dining locations in Disneyland and my best recommendations for a truly magical time.
See you real soon!
Cheers,
McCayla