Disney Dining Reservations: FAQs

The key to a smooth, successful Disney Vacation is careful planning. Sure, it’s possible to “wing it” and still have a wonderful vacation; however, if you are going on a once in a lifetime trip or if you have your heart set on certain experiences, I highly recommend putting in the time to plan your trip or leaning on an Authorized Disney Travel Agent to ensure a seamless, magical experience. A large part of the planning process revolves around your family’s dining plans. Walt Disney World offers countless exceptional table service dining options around the parks and resorts. These restaurants are so outstanding that they are of course in high demand. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions when it comes to the dining reservation process at Walt Disney World:

• How can I make dining reservations?
  • You can make reservations online directly through the Walt Disney World website, on your smartphone in the My Disney Experience App or by calling the dining reservations line: 407-WDW-DINE.
• When can I make dining reservations?
  • Dining reservations can be made 180 days prior to your vacation– so the earlier you plan, the better!
• What information will I need to have handy when making my dining reservations?
  • Obviously keep your itinerary and any plans you’ve made for your trip in mind when making reservations. If you are making the reservations in the My Disney Experience App be sure to link all of your family members’ My Disney Experience accounts so the dining reservations will appear in each person’s “plans” on the app. Finally, you will need a credit card to secure the reservation. This is a fairly recent requirement when booking dining reservations. In the past only a select few dining locations required a credit card to book a reservation because they were so highly in demand. Over the years reservations at many of the dining locations became more and more scarce because people were booking an outrageous number of reservations at once so they would have countless dining options and meal time slots at their disposal. To cut down on “mass reservation bookings” Disney implemented the credit card requirement to secure a reservation. Disney will not charge your card or place any kind of hold on it unless you do not show up for your reservation or neglect to cancel your reservation before 11:59pm the day before your reservation. You can store a credit card on your My Disney Experience profile to make the reservation process quicker and easier in the future.
• How does the reservation process work? Is the restaurant holding my table for me?
  • The restaurant is not actually holding a table for you prior to your arrival. The reservation essentially secures your place in line. Don’t let this worry you! I can assure you the wait with a reservation is very minimal compared to walking in without a reservation. Disney has this process down and it is their goal to seat you promptly.
• Are dining reservations necessary at all table service restaurants?
  • The short answer is no, they’re not required but definitely recommended. This is heavily dependent on the time of year and also the time of day. It is possible to walk up to some table service restaurants without a reservation during non peak times; however, you will still more than likely be looking at a bit of a wait for a table. There are some restaurants that are so heavily in demand that you can essentially never (or very rarely) walk up without a reservation. Some of these coveted restaurants include: Be Our Guest, Le Cellier, ‘Ohana and Cinderella’s Royal Table. I would definitely recommend making those reservations 180 days in advance if at all possible.
• If something comes up can I cancel my reservation? 
  • Yes, you can cancel your dining reservations the same way you made them: online, in the My Disney Experience smartphone App or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. There is no penalty if you’re cancelling before 11:59pm the day before your reservation.
• Will I be charged a cancellation fee if I do not cancel ahead of time and I do not show up for my reservation?
  • Yes, there is a $10/person cancellation fee if you do not cancel your reservation before 11:59pm Eastern Time the day before your reservation. The fee will be charged to the credit card you put on file when you booked the reservation in the event that you miss your reservation. If you’re just a few minutes late, don’t worry– Disney is very understanding and accommodating and you won’t be charged a fee at that point.
• How can I secure a reservation at one of the “high demand” table service restaurants?
  • The best way to secure a reservation is to plan well in advance–ideally at the 180 day mark. I know that seems like a lot to ask considering most of us probably haven’t decided what we’re going to be eating for dinner tomorrow. My advice would be to make the reservation as soon as you begin planning– you can always cancel it later if plans change. If you try to make a reservation and you’re unable to secure one (even 180 days out– it happens!) keep trying! Availability changes daily so you never know when something may pop up. Keep trying up to the day of your desired reservation. As I mentioned earlier, guests must cancel their reservation by 11:59pm the day before if they do not plan to attend to avoid a charge on their credit card. That means several reservations could become available the day before your dining experience, so don’t give up! I would also recommend being flexible with your meal time if possible. Dinner reservations at 4:45pm are much easier to come by than 7:00pm reservations if you’re looking for a last minute reservation or trying to dine at a high demand restaurant.

If you’re unable to secure a reservation for your favorite restaurants, don’t fret. There are so many delicious dining options across the parks and resorts. Many of the table service restaurants in the Disney Resorts tend to have more availability because most guests don’t think about venturing outside of the theme parks. You may also be able to dine without a reservation if you’re flexible with your meal time and arrive at non peak times. There are also plentiful quick service dining options that are sure to please everyone in your party if you decide to forego the table service option. The important thing to remember is that you are on vacation to enjoy yourself and spend time with your loved ones. So please don’t let dining reservations or any part of the planning process hinder your magical memories!