How Do I Know When to Make a Dining Reservation?
- cattinthekingdom
- Jan 30, 2023
- 6 min read
This is a question I wish more people asked. There are A LOT of opinions when it comes to Disney dining. There are options that are highly coveted, and hard to get making them appear more desirable. There are the easy-to-get options that people tend to load up on. There are option that have been thrown around because they went once and had a great time - which now means you must go there!
Let's look at the FACTS, first.
There are more than 60 options for table-service restaurants on Walt Disney World property. That is just the list of options that typically need a reservation in order to dine there.
Prices range wildly from the casual $15.99 per entrée options to the incredulous $295 per person price tags.
Reservations for any restaurant on property can be made 60 days in advance of your check-in date (if you are staying on property) and you will be able to select dining throughout your stay (up to 10 days). If you are staying off-property, you will be allowed to reserve your dining 60 days in advance of each day you need.
Disney dining in broken into multiple categories such as: Character Dining, Themed Dining, Fine/Signature Dining, and Casual Dining.
Knowing that Table Service is different than Quick Service can save you from becoming overwhelmed when looking at your options. Quick Service means you do not need an advanced reservation in order to eat there, these tend to be walk-up locations with first come-first served tables to sit at. Table Service means you will be seated at a table and be brought your meals.
The current cancellation policy is: you must cancel your reservation up to 2 hours in advance with no penalty. Reservations cancelled within 2 hours will be subject to a $10 per person charge on your credit card. (NOTE: some experiences have a higher cancellation policy due to the experience they offer - always check My Disney Experience for that particular restaurant's policy before booking).
Some dining options require you to pay for it up front, such as Cinderella's Royal Table.
All Dining Reservations made within a theme park will require you to have a valid park admission and a theme park reservation to that park.
"So how do I know WHAT to get and WHEN?"
I really wish this was a straightforward answer! I wish there was a magical formula that you could plug in how many days you are staying with how many park days you need and BAM. This is 100% a preference for you and your family. There are some families that want to do it all and have the biggest list of wishes! Some families are perfectly happy with Quick Service being their only option. No matter what you choose try to keep these tips in mind:
Know what kind of food everyone in your party likes! That can help you narrow down the options easily. If no one likes seafood, eliminate all the restaurants where seafood would be typical. You don't need to spend all that money to go to a restaurant and not eat what they specialize in!
Keep in mind how much you want to spend. All dining is not created equal! We'll say the average dining experience costs about $50 per adult, and just around $25 per child. (Please know this is a very rough average, dining prices vary between experiences and what is ordered or added on to the experience). If you are not wanting a 9-course culinary experience, then maybe stay away from places like Victoria & Alberts, Monsieur Paul, or Takumi-Tei.
Read. The. Menus!!! This is something I say (with no shame) is a hobby of mine. If I'm not checking wait times for no reason, I am combing WDW menus. My screen time for the MDE app alone is....shocking. Reading the menus gives you insight into what the cost is for the restaurant and what you get. They will tell you on the front page what category of dining, the typical price range per person, whether they offer breakfast-dinner or dinner only. Everything YOU need to make a decision is on there!
Point #3 is especially important for the kiddos. Not every restaurant caters to kid-only favorites. I have seen salmon and curry on a kids menu before! The absolute worst thing you can do is bring your kids to a restaurant without preparing yourself mentally for what is available, and what is realistic for them to eat. This is especially true for restaurants that bring you food via a set menu (like 'Ohana) you don't get to choose what you want/don't want so know what is coming and manage your expectations of what your children will eat. You will pay the full price per child, even if your child does not eat.
Just because it is popular....doesn't mean it is "good." This point will offend a lot of people. All I have to say about that is, I'm glad you were happy with your experience! There are bucket list restaurants that many guests have that us among the Disney-expert chatter know you are not getting the quality you think you're getting for the price tag they are charging. To remain fair and impartial, I won't name names. My only advice to you, and to my clients is to do your research beforehand and don't get swept up in the craze!
You do not need a dining reservation every day of your trip! This is so important. You are paying a lot of money to go to the parks, and to enjoy yourself! Dining reservations on average can be a 45-90 minute experience. Even longer if you are attending something like Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (a full dinner show). Take that into consideration then weigh that against your park day. The more dining reservations you stack, the less park time you have. Try to plan the bulk of your dining during: your arrival/departure day, your resort day, after you have finished for the day at the park (not planning on staying until close), or during peak meal times (peak lunch or peak dinner).
My final point is to watch restaurant reviews! You can go with the professionals, or Google some amateur reviews. This has been a lifesaver for someone like me that doesn't want to spend the money until I know for sure what I'm going to get, what the experience is like, and I want to actually see the quality of the food. I usually watch multiple to make sure I am getting similar information in order to make my decision.
BONUS point: everyone is different! Some people are completely in love with a restaurant, that others find dreadful. Take all dining recommendations with a grain of salt until you have taken the time to do your own research. No two restaurants are the same - your agent will assist you the best they can. I am constantly stepping outside my comfort zone in order to provide honest feedback on an experience for my clients, but at the end of the day I separate my opinions from the facts and let families make their own choice!
Disney dining is a process, it requires thoughtful planning - early wake-up calls, and a deep wallet. I truly believe that you can't really go wrong when you choose to make a dining reservation and should allow yourself the chance to take a risk! When in doubt, choose the more adventurous option. We have done that several times, and those risks ended up being some of our new favorite places to eat versus the standard comfort food options.
If you have found other reasons not to use a travel planner for your Disney vacation, let this be the reason to reach out to me ASAP! Dining reservations need to be made at 6am, which means a 5:30am wake-up call! I am happy to do that for you and snag your most sought after reservations! If I am unable to secure the dining of your choice, I take on the task to spend the next 60 days hunting it down for you (again, I'm on the MDE app anyway - might as well use it to your benefit). You want another reason? My services are free no matter what I do for you! I can assist as little, or as much as you'd like.
To get a no-obligation quote for your next vacation you can click this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRB4aBO42MYl6KX4n5R926hh_cbVZRAbL8pRrri6iHFkxThg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Have more questions? I am happy to assist, please email catt.inthekingdom@gmail.com
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