Chef Pluto; Mother and daughter; character dining experience
  • On Dec 30, 2023
    Hannah from WI Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We will be visiting Orlando but we won't have time to go to any parks and we won't be staying on Disney property. Can we still eat at Disney Hotel restaurants? If so can we park at the hotel? Can we make dining reservations? TIA!

    Hi Hannah!

    Thanks for stopping by planDisney to ask about one of my favorite Disney topics - food!  With so many great choices, sometimes the hardest decision can be picking which great restaurant to enjoy each day.  Now Hannah, I invite you to pull up a chair and be our guest as we dish on dining at Walt Disney World Resort.

    I'm happy to share with you that even though you won't be staying on property or visiting one of the theme parks, you are still able to enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants located at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel.  There have been a few occasions where I've been passing through Orlando without time to visit the parks and found that dining at one of my favorite restaurants was the perfect way to sprinkle a little pixie dust on my day!

    Through your My Disney Experience account, you have the ability to make dining reservations 60 days ahead of your desired date without needing to have theme park tickets or a hotel stay linked for you and your traveling party.  Complimentary standard self-parking is available at Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you have a dining reservation.  I recommend having the My Disney Experience App handy when arriving to the resort as you may be asked for confirmation of your dining reservation when accessing the parking lot.

    Since it looks like your window for dining reservations is about to open very soon, I can't say goodbye without offering a few suggestions for some of my favorite dining options at Disney Resorts Collection hotels.

    • 'Ohana (located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort) is a family favorite on each trip!  We love the 'Ohana noodles, pork dumplings, and always save room for the bread pudding for dessert.  If you time this reservation just right, you can even catch a great view of the fireworks from Magic Kingdom park - talk about Disney magic!
    • Ale & Compass Restaurant (located at Disney's Yacht Club Resort) has many delicious choices, but my top recommendation is the New England Seafood Pot Pie. Afterwards, you can even stroll Disney's BoardWalk for some shopping and grab dessert at BoardWalk Ice Cream.
    • For a walk on the wild side, Sanaa is a great choice at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village.  While this restaurant offers breakfast too, I prefer lunch or dinner for the Indian-style Bread Service.  You may even get a glimpse of a few animals while dining alongside the Sunset Savanna!
    • You can even enjoy character dining outside of the parks with one of most popular choices being Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort.  Our family loves joining Mickey Mouse and friends for the breakfast buffet here!  I can almost taste the Mickey waffles now!
    Hannah, wherever your Disney dining adventures take you, I'm sure you'll have a delicious visit! 

    See ya real soon,
    Kristi


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Meet the Panelist: Kristi, Maryland

Hi! I'm Kristi and I've been making magical memories at the Walt Disney World Resort since my first visit in 1989. While I cherished my childhood visits, my favorite memories have come sharing all of the excitement and wonder of a Disney Parks vacation with my husband and three boys. Whether you're planning a runDisney racecation, a trip with little ones, a land and sea adventure, or anything in between, I'm ready to help you make some bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful plans for your next Disney Parks vacation! Learn More About Kristi

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