Hey there, Jennifer, and welcome back to planDisney! Thanks for stopping back by the panel with your question.
One of my favorite things about visiting Walt Disney World is that it is truly an immersive vacation experience! From the Theme Parks to the incredible resorts, and the amazing restaurants and shows — there is always a fun experience just within your reach! And the best part is that all of the incredible dining experiences offered across The Walt Disney World Resort restaurants are open to Guests whether or not they are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel.
The easiest way to dine at a Disney Resort table service restaurant is by making a reservation through the
My Disney Experience app before you go.
Dining availability fills up quite quickly, and popular table service restaurants often aren’t able to accommodate Guests who would like to dine, but don’t have a reservation. Having a reservation already booked is the easiest way to guarantee that you get to enjoy the restaurants that you have on your wishlist. I will say that I have been able to walk up to a table-service restaurant during a non-peak time (i.e. around 4:30 pm for dinner) and get a table, but I’ve also tried this method and had no luck. Hands down, the best-case scenario is to already have a reservation.
Quick-service restaurants across the resort don’t require reservations and are available to Guests who want to walk up and order food to eat. We have small kids, and this is definitely our preferred method of dining across the resort. However, during busy seasons the Cast Members at the entrances to the resort may have to limit the number of guests allowed to park in the resort parking due to capacity. If that happens, the only way to gain entrance to the resort is by entering via
Disney transportation. This is something you will want to take into consideration if you will be traveling from off-site accommodations to enjoy a meal.
I hope this helps, Jennifer! If you have more questions while planning your Disney Vacation,
stop back by and let me know!
You’ve got a friend in me,
PG