Guests who wish to dine at table-service restaurants in the theme parks and resorts should make Walt Disney World (WDW) dining reservations before their trips. Indeed, for guests participating in the Disney Dining Plan, WDW’s dining package, reservations are necessary for all table-service meals.
When to Make Disney Dining Reservations
Reservations, called Advance Dining Reservations or ADRs, may be made up to 180 days in advance for all park guests. Guests staying at a WDW resort – excluding the non-Disney owned Swan and Dolphin, Shades of Green, and Downtown Disney hotels – can make reservations for their entire trip, up to 10 days, once that 180-day window begins.
Because of the popularity of many Disney table-service restaurants, ADRs should be made as early as possible in the trip-planning process. For those who can make reservations 180 days out, it’s useful to consult an ADR calculator. There are two ways to make ADRs: using phone reservations system or using the Disney World Dining and Reservations online system.
Disney World Dining Reservations by Phone
The phone number for Disney Dining Reservations is 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463), and its operating hours are 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST on most days; the call center closes at 8:00 p.m. EST on holidays. Groups of eight or more who wish to sit together should call Disney Group Dining at (407) 939-5665.
The advantage of phone reservations is simplicity. The reservations cast member checks a guest’s dining requests for a particular venue, date, and time against availability.If that request is not available, the cast member can search of alternative times and locations, and make suggestions. When booking meals, the cast member processes guest information and can enter any notes or special requests. With phone reservations, however, the guest largely relies on a cast member’s knowledge and expertise in offering alternatives.
It is worth noting that the phone reservation system must be used for special-event dining reservations, which currently includes the following: Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, Chef’s Table at Victoria and Albert's, Dine With an Imagineer, Fantasmic Dinner Package, Jiko Dinner Series, My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party, and Wanyama Safari Resort Tour.
Disney World Dining Reservations Online
The advantage of the Disney World Dining and Reservations online system is that it provides guests with more extensive knowledge of dining options and reservation availability. As an informational tool, the online reservations site provide details on a restaurant’s theme, cuisine, and schedule. It is thus useful for doing research on Disney’s many dining options.
Guests may also use the site to develop a comprehensive dining schedule based on current availability, without relying on phone calls to Disney Dining. Guests search for their preferred reservations – the system can check either a specific date or a range of dates, up to five days – for each location.
If a reservation request is unavailable, the online system suggests alternate times or restaurants; guests can also perform another search. If available, a dining reservation may be placed in a user’s shopping cart. With the exception of some special dining packages, reservations are free. Guests receive an email with reservation confirmation numbers after check-out.
The online reservations system is available daily at 6:00 a.m. EST, which provides a one-hour advantage over the phone lines for popular restaurants. Another benefit to online reservations is that guests aren’t put on hold. There are drawbacks, though. The website requires navigating multiple pages, completing ADRs within two hours, and staying active on the site every 20 minutes.
Last-Minute Disney World Dining Reservations
Guests who wait until arriving at Walt Disney World to make reservations are not guaranteed seating at restaurants, particularly during peak seasons, common dining hours, or for walk-up requests. For last-minute ADRs, it's best to call the reservations number or use the online dining reservations site. Guests staying on Walt Disney World property may also try to make reservations at the resort’s Lobby Concierge or use the “Dining” button on in-room phones.
As a last resort, ask in person at the restaurant’s check-in area, but don’t be surprised if there is a long wait or no availability.
Because Disney’s popular restaurants can be booked weeks and months in advance, regardless of the time of year, guests should make reservations as early as possible using the phone system or Disney World Dining online. Although it may be possible to score a walk-up dining reservation at a Disney table-service restaurant, these venues are very popular and their availability cannot be guaranteed.
Related Article: Disney World Tips – Character Dining and Introduction to the Disney Dining Plan
Debra Peterson - A freelance writer and scholar, Debra Peterson specializes in Disney Studies, with particular interests in Walt Disney World and ...
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