There is an array of cuisines to enjoy when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. Whether you dine inside a Disney Park or visit the Disney Resort hotels instead, you are guaranteed tasty dining experiences. However, advance dining reservations are generally required when dining at Disney restaurants. The return of the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 is also likely to increase the need for an advanced dining reservation.
When making Walt Disney World dining reservations, there are some terms and conditions that you need to be aware of. Here are the ‘rules’ you need to follow to avoid unnecessary cost when it comes to a Disney dining reservation.
Advance Dining Reservations
When planning on eating at a Disney restaurant, it is recommended that you make an advance dining reservation ahead of your visit. Advance dining reservations can be made for any full-service Disney restaurant. Guests are able to make an advance dining reservation up to sixty days before their visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. You can make a dining reservation right up to the time that you intend on eating.
Advance dining reservations can be made from approximately 6 a.m. Eastern Time on the 60th day ahead of your Disney vacation. All Guests can make an advanced reservation at this time. Additionally, Guests of A Disney Resort hotel can table service dining reservations for the entire length of their stay from sixty days before their arrival. This benefit of being a Walt Disney World hotel Guest means that you can make reservations for up to ten days after your arrival date. Therefore, you have a better chance of scoring a reservation at popular Disney restaurants.
Making Advanced Dining Reservations
Making advance dining reservations is easy. Using the My Disney Experience, you can search for a reservation by restaurant, size of your party and date of your visit. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can select your party size and date of your visit. Alternatively, you can select the restaurant that you wish to dine in. Times that are available to suit your party will show after you have selected your party size and date. Once you have found a restaurant that you wish to dine at, you select the time and then follow the instructions on screen.
You are required to enter your credit card details to confirm a Disney advance dining reservation. Your card isn’t charged unless you don’t show to your reservation. Advance dining reservations can be cancelled to avoid being charged.
When You Can’t Find A Reservation
Some Disney restaurants are incredibly popular. As such, you may find that there is no availability upon your first search via My Disney Experience. While it requires a little time and effort, we recommend checking for reservations every day prior to your Disney vacation for specific restaurants. Disney restaurants that you may struggle to find a reservation time for include:
- ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Space 220 in EPCOT theme park
- Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort – Disney character dining at breakfast
- Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Cancelling Reservations
Knowing how to cancel advance dining reservations is important. You probably don’t intend on canceling a Disney reservation at a table service restaurant when you first make it, however, it’s understandable that your plans can change. So, what do you need to know about cancelling advance dining reservations?
- It can be costly if you don’t cancel an advance dining reservation that you won’t be able to attend. The charge you will incur is $10 per person. Charges will be applied to the card detail you entered when booking your reservation.
- A reservation must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Previously, you would have been able to cancel up to two hours before your reservation, however recent changes have been made. As such, you will need to make a final decision on each reservation you have the day before you are due to attend.
- You can modify an advance dining reservation up to 2 hour before a reservation. Modifying an advance dining reservation can help you to avoid the cancellation charge. My Disney Experience can be used to modify a Disney reservation. To allow you to cancel the reservation, you will need to modify the date to at least 24 hours in advance. From there, you then cancel the revised reservation.
Reservations You Cannot Modify
Guests can cancel or modify reservations at most Walt Disney World restaurants. However, there are some advance dining reservations that you are unable to modify once they have been booked. Therefore, you will need to take care when making reservations at select Disney restaurants, to avoid being charged. The Disney restaurants that do not allow modifications are:
- Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park
- Hoop-De-Doo Musical Review at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Magic Kingdom Firework Dessert Parties
- Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
- Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package in EPCOT
- Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package in EPCOT
Furthermore, the certain restaurants also have specific requirements should you need to cancel a reservation. Cancelling beyond the specific time will incur the full cost of the experience for every Guest a reservation was made for. Cancellation period are as follows:
- Cinderella’s Royal Table – you must cancel at least two hours prior to your reservation time.
- Hoop-De-Doo Musical Review and FerryTale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise – you must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation time.
- Monsieur Paul – you must cancel at least three days prior to your reservation time.
- Victoria & Albert’s – you must cancel at least five days prior to your reservation time.
- Takumi-Tei, Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package, and Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package – you must cancel at least two days prior to your reservation time.
- Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties – you must cancel at least seven days before your reservation time.
Keep in mind the advance dining reservation rules when planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. Sticking to the rules will keep your Disney dining experience simple!
