Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Reservations 2023

Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Reservations 2023

Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Reservations 2023

This article will bring you on a delicious journey through Disney World dining reservations! Not only will we give you all the information you need to know when looking to dine at Walt Disney World. But we are also going to rank them in order from least to most worth your time and money! Whether it’s your first or fifty-first time at Walt Disney World Resort, we offer helpful information to make your Disney Vacation memories last a life time.

Every Disney World dining reservations has a different vibe and will cater to different guests. Finding the right restaurant for you will be based off of the type of vacation you’re looking to experience! That’s what makes the Disney dining some of the best dining in the world! And if you’re anything like us, you go hungry! Disney food really is some of the best!

We hope you find this post helpful! And if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Walt Disney World vacation packages!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World  check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

Walt Disney World Dining Reservations Overview

With more than 200 restaurants on Disney property, each one is guaranteed to satisfy all of your cravings and budget! Before we begin to break down dining reservations at Disney World, it’s important to know the two major types of dining options offered in the parks. Disney World dining runs on Quick Service Dining and Table Service Dining. Both offer an array of cuisine to be enjoyed by the entire family! Quick service options consist of mostly counter-service, cafeteria like dining options with an open seating plan. This type of dining does not require any Disney dining reservations. All Table service dining on the other hand will require reservations and will be the focus for his guide. 

What are Advance Dining Reservations?

• Advance Dining Reservations (ADR) are the dining reservations made in advance for Disney restaurants. This system is in place for securing a table at your favorite restaurant at a designated time.

While this system is helpful, it is for lack of better term, cut throat. When your window to book Disney dining reservations opens, reservations go quickly. Some guests think the ADR system only benefits guests staying on Disney property or those able to be awake and able to book when the time comes. We will go over exactly how to use the advance Disney dining reservations system in the next section. As well as giving our expert tried and true methods to secure a reservation.

Related Post: What are the Best Restaurants in Disney Springs?

How Far Out Can You Book Disney Dining?

Where you decide to lodge on your Disney vacation will determine how far out you can make restaurant reservations at Disney. The key date to remember is 60 days before the first day of your vacation. No matter where you stay, on or off property, you can start making Disney World dining reservations at the 60 day mark. Now let’s break that down even further because it is slightly different for guests on property. How far out can I book Disney dining is a very important question! All guests staying at a Disney World Resort hotel or not can make reservations 60 days before the first night of your vacation. However, if you are staying on property, you can make them for the entire length of your stay. This gives you the advantage of booking ahead of guests not staying at a Disney World Resort hotel. It also means you will have a better chance of securing difficult to find reservations.

What is Disney’s Walk-Up List?

• Disney’s Mobile Dine Walk-Up List is a newer feature throughout the My Disney Experience App. This feature allows guests without reservations to virtually wait in line for a table at a restaurant. The relatively recent introduction of the Walk-Up wait list is Disney’s way of helping their guests access restaurants they may have trouble securing a reservation to. So remember, not all hope is lost if you’re unable to find and book a Disney World Dining reservation!

As you can tell, it’s important to know how far out can you book Disney dining. If you are looking to use the Mobile Walk-Up Wait List, there are some important tips to know. Not all Table Service restaurants participate in the program. In order to know if the restaurant you want to dine at does support this feature, simply look at the restaurant details on the MDE app. Or you can scan the QR Code located in the restaurant’s lobby. You will also have to be in close proximity to the restaurant to join the Walk-Up List if available. So plan ahead if you’re wanting to have dinner at your resort but spending your day in Magic Kingdom! 

Related Post: What are the Top Disney World Hotels for Families?

What Restaurants Can you Book Disney Dining Reservations?

Out of almost 200 restaurants property wide, what restaurants need reservations at Disney world? To tackle this answer more simply, there are about 70 restaurants offer Disney park dining reservations. If you’re not wanting to look for specific restaurants, a quick way to know a location takes reservations is to assume if there is a wait staff, there is a reservation. These restaurants are spread property wide! You can find reservations at locations from Disney Resorts, Disney Springs, to every park! Yes, even Disney restaurants Magic Kingdom can require reservations. This is why planning ahead of time can significantly improve your vacation and theme park experience!

Most Popular Disney Restaurants That Need Reservations

• Victoria & Alberts – Grand Floridian Resort
• Cinderella’s Royal Table – Magic Kingdom
• Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom
• Story Book Dining at Artists Point – Fort Wilderness Resort
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue – Fort Wilderness Resort
• Topolino’s Terrace – Riviera Resort

Now, before you come after us, the restaurants listed above are only SOME of the most popular dining reservations. There are other locations that are equally as difficult to secure. But the ones we have listed are historically challenging. Mostly due to the demand to have dinner reservations at Magic Kingdom or near by for a view of the fire works. Which is possible from almost all of the locations listed above. If you are having trouble securing a reservation, try using our free Disney Dining Reservation Tool by clicking here! This Park Prodigy feature allows our system to constantly run the Disney World website for available dining reservations so you don’t have to!

Related Post: Create a Complimentary Disney Dining Alert!

How to Make Disney Dining Reservations 2023

Thankfully, knowing how to reserve dining at Disney World  is quite simple. There are only 3 ways to make an advanced dining reservations. On the phone by calling the Disney Dining Line at (407) 939-3463, on the WDW Website, and on The My Disney Experience App. If you choose to book Disney dining reservations by phone, know that the phone lines are only open from 7:00AM-11:00PM Monday-Friday and 7:00AM-8:00PM Saturday and Sunday EST. The easiest way by far is to book online or through the MDE App. If this is the route you want to take, make sure you are logged into your My Disney Experience account before you begin. If you don’t have one, it will only take a few minutes to create one!

How to Book Disney Restaurants

Once you are logged into your MDE account, there are two methods to make reservations:

Option 1: Searching for a specific restaurant

1. In the app click “Reserve Dining.” On the website, just go straight to the “Check Availability” box.
2. Indicate your party size, date and time (either preferred time of day or a specific hour).
3. Choose what time works best for your party based on the restaurant’s availability.
4. Review your reservation.
5. Here you will be required to give contact and credit card information.
6. You may also add special requests.
7. Confirm your dining reservation!

Option 2: Browsing by date and time

1. Go to “My plans” and click “Reserve Dining.”
2. Indicate party size.
3. Select the date.
4. Select a time.
5. You will see a list of all the restaurants available for the date and time you’ve selected. Simply choose a restaurant to your liking.
6. Confirm your reservation (providing contact and credit card information).

After completing either option, your reservation will be automatically added to your account plans. You will also receive an email confirmation with your reservation number.

Related Post: All of the Disney Boardwalk Restaurants Ranked

Disney World Dining Reservations 2023 Tips & Tricks

We hope this guide has been helpful in your quest to securing dining reservations at Disney World. Our team has been traveling to Disney & Universal theme parks for the past 20 years. Some of us are even proudly former Cast Members! Over our time traveling to and working at the Disney Parks, we have acquired a long list of tips and tricks for dining at Disney. Below is a list of our most important, tried and true methods of booking reservations at Disney World restaurants. If desserts are more your speed, you’re not alone! Our team member Kurt has proudly worked as a Disneyland Candy Maker and put a list together of his favorite Disneyland Treats just for you! 

Booking Disney Dining Reservations Tips & Tricks

• Reservations for popular restaurants, such as Cinderella’s Castle and Be Our Guest, tend to get booked up quickly (especially during peak seasons), so securing your dining reservations ahead of time is a MUST!

• To find out if you will be travelling during peak season, check out our Disney World Crowd Calendar.
  • You can make Disney dining reservations up to 180 days prior to your arrival date. Guests staying at a WDW Resort receive an extra 10 days to make Disney dining reservations, so 190 days in total.
  • You don’t have to be staying at a certain WDW resort to make a reservation at that resort, however you do have to have a valid theme park ticket if you plan on dining inside of that theme park.  
• Credit Card Guarantee
  • WDW does require a credit card to make any and all dining reservations. Your card will NOT be charged at the time of making your reservations, this policy is to avoid any no shows/last minute cancellations.

• You have a 24 hour window prior to your reservation to cancel. Otherwise, your card will be charged $10 per person included in the reservation.
• To avoid the cancellation fee after the 24 hour window has passed, a minimum of one person from your party must arrive at your scheduled dining time.

• Before making your dining reservations, take a look at the menu, as well as the average price per meal of each restaurant.

• You can do this through the My Disney Experience App or the WDW website by browsing the restaurant of your choice and clicking on “View Menu.”

Related Post: What are the Best Desserts at Disney World?

Disney World Dining Reservations FAQ

Q: How close do you have to be to join walk-up list Disney?

A: If you want to take advantage of this feature of Disney Dining, you have to be within the vicinity of the restaurant. If you’re looking to dine at your hotel but spending the day in Magic Kingdom, you can not join the wait list until you are near the restaurant at your hotel. 

Q: What is the maximum number of Days I Can make Disney Dining Reservations?

A: If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you can make reservations for each day of your stay up to 10 days. If you are not staying on property, you can make reservations one day at a time 60 days in advance. 

Q: Is there a maximum number of guests I can make Disney dining reservations for?

A: Yes! Disney has a limit of 20 guests at one time per reservation. 

Q: What time can I make ADRs at Disney World?

A: Disney Advanced Dining Reservations open up at approximately 6AM daily. It’s important to note this is Eastern Standard Time. So take time change into consideration when planning ahead! 

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets.

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well