When Can You Book Dining at Disney?
Planning Your Disney Vacation: A Guide to Dining Reservations
Planning a Disney vacation can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to dining reservations. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and wonder when you can book your dining reservations. In this article, we’ll break down the process of booking dining at Disney, including the best times to make reservations and what to expect.
Understanding Disney’s Dining Reservations System
Disney’s dining reservations system is designed to ensure that guests have a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. The system allows guests to make reservations up to 60 days in advance for certain restaurants, while others have a shorter reservation window. Here’s a breakdown of the system:
- Character Dining Reservations: Character dining reservations are available for breakfast and lunch at select restaurants, such as Be Our Guest Restaurant and Chef Mickey’s. These reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance.
- Table Service Reservations: Table service reservations are available for dinner at select restaurants, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. These reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance.
- Quick Service Reservations: Quick service reservations are available for breakfast and lunch at select restaurants, such as the Plaza Restaurant and the Park’s Quick Service locations. These reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.
Best Times to Book Dining Reservations
While it’s possible to book dining reservations up to 60 days in advance, it’s generally recommended to book as early as possible to ensure availability. Here are some tips for booking dining reservations:
- Book Early: If you’re planning to visit Disney World during peak seasons (such as holidays and summer vacation), it’s best to book your dining reservations as early as possible to ensure availability.
- Avoid Peak Seasons: If you’re looking to visit Disney World during off-peak seasons, you may be able to get away with booking your dining reservations a few months in advance.
- Consider Off-Peak Days: If you’re looking to visit Disney World during off-peak seasons, consider booking your dining reservations for off-peak days, such as weekdays during the school year.
What to Expect When Booking Dining Reservations
When booking dining reservations, you can expect the following:
- Availability: Disney’s dining reservations system is designed to ensure that guests have a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. However, availability can be limited, especially during peak seasons.
- Reservations Cancellation Policy: Disney’s dining reservations system has a cancellation policy in place to ensure that guests have a fair chance to make changes to their reservations.
- Reservations Cancellation Fees: If you need to cancel your dining reservation, you may be charged a fee, which can range from $25 to $100, depending on the restaurant and the time of cancellation.
Table Service Reservations: A Step-by-Step Guide
Table service reservations are available for dinner at select restaurants, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Here’s a step-by-step guide to booking table service reservations:
- Choose Your Restaurant: Select the restaurant you’d like to dine at and make sure it’s available for your desired date and time.
- Make Your Reservation: Go to the My Disney Experience website or mobile app to make your reservation. You can also call the Disney Dining Reservation line at (407) WDW-DINE.
- Choose Your Dining Time: Select your desired dining time and make sure it’s available.
- Pay Your Reservation Fee: Pay your reservation fee, which can range from $25 to $100, depending on the restaurant and the time of cancellation.
- Print or Download Your Reservation: Print or download your reservation confirmation to show at the restaurant.
Quick Service Reservations: A Quick Guide
Quick service reservations are available for breakfast and lunch at select restaurants, such as the Plaza Restaurant and the Park’s Quick Service locations. Here’s a quick guide to booking quick service reservations:
- Choose Your Restaurant: Select the restaurant you’d like to dine at and make sure it’s available for your desired date and time.
- Make Your Reservation: Go to the My Disney Experience website or mobile app to make your reservation. You can also call the Disney Dining Reservation line at (407) WDW-DINE.
- Choose Your Dining Time: Select your desired dining time and make sure it’s available.
- Pay Your Reservation Fee: Pay your reservation fee, which can range from $10 to $30, depending on the restaurant and the time of cancellation.
- Print or Download Your Reservation: Print or download your reservation confirmation to show at the restaurant.
Tips for Booking Dining Reservations
Here are some additional tips for booking dining reservations:
- Book in Advance: Book your dining reservations as early as possible to ensure availability.
- Be Flexible: Be flexible with your dining reservations, as availability can be limited.
- Consider Off-Peak Days: Consider booking your dining reservations for off-peak days, such as weekdays during the school year.
- Use the My Disney Experience App: Use the My Disney Experience app to make your dining reservations and check availability.
Conclusion
Booking dining reservations at Disney can be a bit overwhelming, but with the right information and planning, you can ensure a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. By understanding Disney’s dining reservations system, choosing the right time to book your reservations, and following the tips outlined in this article, you can make the most of your Disney vacation.