One of the most important things about planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation is knowing where to eat and what dining locations you want or need to make an Advanced Dining Reservation for.
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Dinsey has hundreds of dining locations for Guests to choose from, from table service dining experiences like Cinderella’s Royal at Magic Kingdom Table and Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort — where Guests can enjoy character dining — or quick-service dining, which is more affordable and requires far less planning. If you choose to dine at Disney, you need to ensure that wherever you plan to eat will be able to accommodate you. Because Disney requires dining reservations for many of their restaurants, it is important that Guests planning their visit understand what that means.
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Today, we are going to dive into the idea of making those coveted ADR’s (Advanced Dining Reservations) before you get to your Disney Resort so that you can enjoy all the food you want when you visit. We will learn which Disney dining experiences require reservations, find other dining locations at Disney that accept reservations, and figure out how to make dining reservations at Disney theme Parks and Resorts.
Disney dining experiences that require reservations
Which Disney restaurants require reservations?
Except for Be Our Guest restaurant in Magic Kingdom, which turns into a quick service location for lunch, all table-service locations at Disney World require a reservation to guarantee your spot at a table. That being said, this does not mean that if you walk up to Via Napoli in EPCOT (or any other dining location), that you will be turned away.
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If there is availability or the dining reservations for a restaurant are not full, Guests can walk in or potentially get a wait time to eat there. Considering cancelations happen all of the time on the My Disney Experience app, sometimes Guests can get lucky and get in withou0t a reservation.
Personally, I find this more difficult to do when at the parks, but at Disney Springs I have walked into many restaurants! In my experience, I have gone to House of Blues, Paradiso 37, Boathouse, Chef Artsmith’s Homecomin’, Raglan Road, City Works, Frontera Cocina, and Planet Hollywood without a reservation. That being said, I have had to wait around one hour at certain locations, and these were oftentimes during a slower period of the day, and also, lucky finds.
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Many table service restaurants at Disney fill up fast when it comes to reservations, so playing it by ear may cause your to spend a lot of time hopping from restaurant to restaurant to see who has available if you do not have a reservation. One way to possibly get around not having a reservation but still dining at a packed restaurant is to sit in their bar or lounge. If a restaurant has a bar or lounge, that seating is first-come, first-serve!
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I had done this as a way to get into California Grill at the last minute before and had a great experience chatting with the bartenders all evening!
Which Disney restaurants do not require reservations?
Do not fret if you did not make a dining reservation ahead of your visit to Disney World! There are still plenty of quick-service options available for you to indulge at. Whether you are dining at a Disney Resort or one of the Parks, there are always quick-service options that will have you drooling.
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Quick-service means that you are doing more of a take-out or fast-food style of dining because you order your food and bring it to your table. At the moment, a lot of ordering is being done on the My Disney Experience app through Mobile Ordering, but this is something Guests can do at the moment.
Related: Available Now: NEW Disney Dining Plan Plus Option Pricing And Details Revealed
As we previously mentioned, lounges and bars at dining locations are first-come, first, serve! So if you want that lavish table service meal and don’t want a reservation, they are not required at a bar or lounge! However, you may end up having to wait for other Guests to leave to get a seat.
Other dining locations at Disney that accept reservations
What are your dining options at Disney theme parks and resorts?
Below, we will break down dining locations all over Disney World. Get ready because this list will have you ready to eat and also stuck with some tough choices. Please be advised that some of the below locations may be closed due to the pandemic, depending on when you are reading this. Be sure to check on the Walt Disney World website for hours of operation.
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Magic Kingdom
Aloha Isle Aunt Polly’s Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Be Our Guest Restaurant Casey’s Corner Cheshire Cafe Cinderella’s Royal Table Character Dining Columbia Harbour House Cool Ship Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe Gaston’s Tavern Golden Oak Outpost Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Liberty Square Market Liberty Tree Tavern Main Street Bakery Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe Pinocchio Village Haus Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Prince Eric’s Village Market Sleepy Hollow Storybook Treats Sunshine Tree Terrace The Crystal Palace Character Dining The Diamond Horseshoe The Friar’s Nook The Lunching Pad The Plaza Restaurant Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Tortuga Tavern Westward Ho
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Disney’s Hollywood Studios
50’s Prime Time Cafe ABC Commissary Anaheim Produce Backlot Express BaseLine Tap House Catalina Eddie’s Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo Dockside Diner Epic Eats Fairfax Fare Hollywood and Vine Hollywood Scoops Kat Saka’s Kettle KRNR The Rock Station Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Market Milk Stand Neighborhood Bakery Oga’s Cantina PizzeRizzo Ronto Roasters Rosie’s All American Roundup Rodeo BBQ Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant The Hollywood Brown Derby The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge The Trolley Car Cafe Tune-In Lounge Woody’s Lunch Box
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EPCOT (excluding festival booths)
Future World
Coral Reef Restaurant Garden Grill Space 220 Sunshine Seasons Test Track Cool Wash The Land Cart
World Showcase
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Biergarten Block and Hans Chefs de France Choza de Margarita Crepes des Chefs de France Fife and Drum Tavern Funnel Cake Gelateria Toscana Gelati Joy of Tea Kabuki Cafe Katsura Grill Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe L’Artisan des Glaces La Cantina de San Angel La Cava del Tequila La Creperie de Paris La Hacienda de San Angel Le Cellier Steakhouse Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie Les Vins des Chefs de France Lotus Blossom Cafe Monsieur Paul Nine Dragons Restaurant Popcorn in Canada Promenade Refreshments Refreshment Outpost Refreshment Port Regal Eagle Smokehouse Restaurant Marrakesh Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room San Angel Inn Sommerfest Spice Road Table Takumi-Tei Tangierine Cafe Teppan Edo Tokyo Dining Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Tutto Italia Ristorante UK Beer Cart Via Napoli Yorkshire County Fish ShopCoral Reef Restaurant Garden Grill Space 220 Sunshine Seasons Test Track Cool Wash The Land Cart
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Anandapur Ice Cream Truck Caravan Road Creature Comforts Dawa Bar Dino Diner Dino-Bite Snacks Drinkwallah Eight Spoon Cafe Flame Tree Barbecue Harambe Fruit Market Harambe Market Isle of Java Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery Mahindi Nomad Lounge Pizzafari Pizzafari Family-Style Dining Pongu Pongu Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom Restaurantosaurus Restaurantosaurus Burgers and Sundaes Satu’li Canteen Tamu Tamu Refreshments Terra Treats The Smiling Crocodile Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks Tiffins Trilo-Bites Tusker House Restaurant Warung Outpost Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes Yak and Yeti Quality Beverages Yak and Yeti Restaurant
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Disney Springs
4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck AMC Dine-In Theatre / MacGUFFINS Amorette’s Patisserie AristoCrepes BB Wolf’s Sausage Co Beatrix Blaze Fast-Fired Pizza Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Chicken Guy! City Works Eatery and Pour House Cookes of Dublin D-Luxe Burger Disney Food Trucks Dockside Margaritas Earl of Sandwich Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew Florida Snow Company Cart Food Truck – Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet Frontera Cocina Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Gideon’s Bakehouse House of Blues Restaurant and Bar Häagen-Dazs at Disney Springs West Side Jaleo Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Lava Lounge Maria and Enzo’s Ristorante Morimoto Asia Morimoto Street Food Paddlefish Paradiso 37 Pepe Pizza Ponte Planet Hollywood Observatory Raglan Road Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs Marketplace Splitsville Luxury Lanes Sprinkles Stargazers Bar STK Orlando T-REX Terralina Crafted Italian The Basket at Wine Bar George The BOATHOUSE The Daily Poutine The Edison The Polite Pig The Smokehouse Wetzel’s Pretzels Wetzel’s Pretzels at Disney Springs West Side Wine Bar George Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill Wolfgang Puck Express at Disney Springs Marketplace YeSake
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Walt Disney World Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Landscape of Flavors
Disney’s All-Star Resorts End Zone Food Court Grandstand Spirits Intermission Food Court Silver Screen Spirits Singing Spirits World Premiere Food Court
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Boma Jiko – The Cooking Place Maji Pool Bar Sanaa The Mara Uzima Springs Pool Bar Victoria Falls Lounge
Disney’s Beach Club Beach Club Marketplace Cape May Cafe Martha’s Vineyard Lounge
Disney’s Boardwalk AbracadaBAR Big River Grille and Brewing Works BoardWalk Bakery BoardWalk Ice Cream Boardwalk Pizza Window ESPN Club Flying Fish Leaping Horse Libations Trattoria al Forno
Disney’s Contemporary California Grill Chef Mickey’s Buffet Contempo Cafe Cove Bar Outer Rim Sand Bar The Wave The Wave Lounge
Disney’s Coronado Springs Barcelona Lounge Dahlia Lounge El Mercado de Coronado Maya Grill Rix Cafe Rix Sports Bar and Grill Siestas Cantina The Laguna Bar Three Bridges Bar and Grill Toledo
Dolphin Cabana Bar and Beach Grill Fresh Mediterranean Market Phins Picabu Buffeteria Shula’s Steak House The Dolphin Fountain Todd English’s bluezoo
Swan
Garden Grove Il Mulino Kimonos
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Crockett’s Tavern Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Meadow Snack Bar P and J’s Southern Takeout Trail’s End Restaurant
Disney’s Grand Floridian 1900 Park Fare Beaches Pool Bar Citricos Courtyard Pool Bar Enchanted Rose Garden View Tea Room Gasparilla Grill and Games Grand Floridian Cafe Narcoossee’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party Victoria and Albert’s Victoria and Alberts Chef’s Table Wonderland Tea Party
Disney’s Old Key West Good’s Food To Go Gurgling Suitcase Olivia’s Cafe Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks
Disney’s Polynesian Village ‘Ohana Barefoot Pool Bar Capt. Cook’s Kona Cafe Kona Island Sushi Bar Oasis Bar and Grill Ohana’s Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch Pineapple Lanai Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Luau Cove Tambu Lounge
Disney’s Pop Century Everything Pop Petals Pool Bar
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Mardi Grogs Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Scat Cat’s Club
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Boatwright’s Dining Hall Muddy Rivers River Roost Riverside Mill
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa On The Rocks The Artist’s Palette The Turf Club Bar and Grill The Turf Club Lounge
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Artist Point Geyser Point Bar and Grill Roaring Fork Territory Lounge Trout Pass Pool Bar Whispering Canyon Cafe
Disney’s Yacht Club Ale and Compass Ale and Compass Lounge Beaches and Cream Crew’s Cup Lounge Hurricane Hanna’s Grille Yachtsman Steakhouse
The above lists are a compilation of both table service and quick service dining options and bars that Guests can purchase beverages at. As you can see, there is an extensive list of food options for Guests to enjoy.
What are your dining options, other than restaurants, at Disney theme parks and resorts?
If you are not looking to dine at a restaurant, you can always do a quick service meal and either eat it sitting down or on the go. Disney World is also full of snacks that Guests can purchase and eat on one hand while walking to their next attraction. Classic snacks like the Mickey Premium Bar, Mickey Pretzel, Dole Whip, Churros, Turkey Legs, Popcorn, and more are often available all around the Disney Parks in smaller kiosks or carts.
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Related: Dining Reservations Already VERY Limited For Disney World’s 50th
There are also specialty snacks such as the maple glazed bacon and cheeseburger spring rolls at Magic Kingdom or all of the festival food at EPCOT that can kick your hunger pang with something delicious.
How can you make reservations at other dining locations in Disney theme parks and resorts?
If you want to eat at a Disney World restaurant, you can make a reservation on the My Disney Experience account, and it is very simple to do! Log in to your account and click the plus button on the bottom of your screen. The first thing you will see is an option to check dining availability. Once you click it, you can choose your party size and date.
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The app will give you all available options for whatever time you are looking for, but if you want, you can also filter those options to a specific Park or Resort. Be aware that if you make a reservation and do not show up, you will be charged a cancelation fee of $10.00 for each Guests in your group. This will be the best and easiest way to make a dining reservation when you are visiting Disney.
If you want to avoid this, here is our tip!
To avoid this, the $10.00 fee for making a dining reservation on the My Disney Experience app is always your best bet. The only thing to note is that if you have a reservation that you want to cancel, you must do so 24 hours prior, or else you will incur a fee of $10.00 per person. If you attempt to cancel within 24 hours, you will notice that the app does not let you and provides a number you can call to cancel. It also notes that you may still be charged even if you cancel, as it is within their chargeable period.
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Aside from possibly being charged, the reservation line at Disney World had a two-hour wait the last time I called and often has a high call volume which could take up a lot of your time.
However, there is a way around having to call, and it ensures you will not be charged a fee! When looking at your dining reservation on your My Disney Experience app that you want to cancel, click “Modify.” Then, select any other date and time available in the future. Once you swap to a new date, you can go ahead and cancel, as you are no longer in the 24-hour period.
You can also make the reservation on the phone by calling (407) 939-6690 or (800) 800-9800 for Disney Vacation Club Members.
How to make dining reservations at Disney theme parks and resorts
How far in advance should you make dining reservations at Disney theme parks and resorts?
We recommend booking your dining reservation as soon as you can, especially if you are looking to dine at a popular location or a restaurant with character dining. Guests can book 60 days before their visit. Here is what Disney outlines when it comes to booking a dining reservation.
Guests may make advance reservations for dining, the Enchanting Extras Collection, recreation and other experiences up to 60 days in advance. In addition, Disney Resort hotel Guests can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay (up to 10 days). Book dining reservations online.
Here are some additional details to help you plan:
In-Park Dining Guests will need valid park admission and a reservation for park entry through the Disney Park Pass system—as well as a dining reservation—to dine at in-park, table-service restaurants. Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.
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Disney Resort Hotel Dining Planning to dine at a table-service restaurant in a Disney Resort hotel? A confirmed dining reservation is required for day Guests (those not staying overnight) and is highly recommended for Guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel. Guests will undergo a temperature screening prior to entering the location.
Disney Springs Dining All dining locations at Disney Springs are currently accepting reservations. Check availability and make reservations online now.
Other Important Information In order to foster physical distancing during this time, upon reopening, our offerings, restaurants and other experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours will be limited in capacity, while other experiences may remain closed.
How can you make dining reservations online at Disney theme parks and resorts?
Guests can make their reservations online by using their My Disney Experience app or by clicking here. If you need a computer and do not have one with you, some Resorts will have a business center that you can use. You can also ask the front desk Cast Members to help you make the reservation.
Cheese Curds // Credit: City Works
How long should you expect to wait for a table at Disney dining locations?
Typically, if you have a reservation and you show up to it on time, you will either be escorted in to your table right away, or you may need to wait a few minutes to have the table cleaned for you. The wait will never belong or be time-consuming, which is one of the major benefits of making a reservation. Without one, you may be put on a multi-hour waitlist.
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Which Disney dining experiences cater to walk-ins?
Guests can attempt to walk into any dining location; however, if there is no room, they will be turned away or asked to return at a later time if there is one available. Only quick service dining and bars and lounges will cater to walk-ins, and the latter two are subject to availability as well.
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Best times to make Disney dining reservations
When should you make reservations if you hope to avoid crowds?
If you are looking to eat at a Disney World restaurant and you want to see less crowding around you when you eat, it is important to book your reservation during off times. This means to have either a later lunch in the mid-afternoon or late dinner at 9:00 p.m. or later. By doing this, you avoid busy meal periods.
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What are typically the busiest times at Disney dining locations?
Going to a restaurant in Disney World during typically breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours will always pose a larger crowd. This means that between 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. for breakfast, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. for lunch, and 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for dinner. Times outside these hours may still be busy.
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So, there will always be a lot of options for you to pick from, but now you can decide where you want to eat, and you are equipped to make any reservations your heart (and stomach) desires!
Do you like to make Disney dining reservations when you visit Walt Disney World? What are your tips?
Want to erase the hassle of snagging those ADR’s? We have the people who can do it all for you, free of charge! Click here.
