You may be familiar with OpenTable as an online tool to make restaurant reservations in dining locations across the United States. For some time now, several Disney Springs restaurants have been available for booking via the website, but those have been relegated to non-Disney owned restaurants.
OpenTable Screenshot
But that just changed, as six additional Disney World Resort restaurants are now available for booking on Open Table: Flying Fish at BoardWalk Inn, Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian, Boatwright’s at Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, The Wave at the Contemporary Resort, Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge. These are in addition to Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort, and Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
OpenTable Screenshot
Outside of Disney World, Wind & Waves Grill at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is also available for booking.
OpenTable Screenshot
Booking through OpenTable requires signing up for an account on the site and providing your email address so you may receive information regarding your reservation.
OpenTable Confirmation Message Screenshot
Upon booking a table, guests receive a confirmation message along with any additional information necessary.
OpenTable Confirmation Message Screenshot
Guests also have the ability to modify or cancel their reservation. So in that sense, it’s similar to making an Advance Dining Reservation via DisneyWorld.com or the My Disney Experience app. A major difference, though, is that — at time of publishing — guests are not required to provide a credit card in order to make a reservation via OpenTable, thereby not incurring a cancellation or no show fee, as is the case with an Advance Dining Reservation made through Disney’s official booking engines. (However, be aware that three no-shows will result in OpenTable revoking your account’s booking privileges. Thanks to DFB Reader Sharon for the information!)
Another difference is that you will not find the same 180 day booking window for reservations made through Disney. In attempting to book Boatwright’s via OpenTable on December 21st, for instance, the furthest out we could make a reservation was for February 28, 2018.
OpenTable Screenshot
Again, as brand new offerings on OpenTable.com, there may be changes to these policies in the future, or perhaps additional Disney World Resort restaurants in the system if these options prove successful. So, please share your thoughts: would you consider booking one of these restaurants via OpenTable.com?
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We used OpenTable to book our Boathouse reservation last night. Wonderful experience and great food & service!
We’ve used Open Table for over 10 years now. Three things we’ve learned:
1. Check that you do get a confirming email (that you’ve clicked all the way through the process).
Saves embarrassment at the restaurant check in desk.
2. Verify that the restaurant has you marked at “seated”.
(3 no-shows will get you bounced out of Open Table ! Sometimes you’ll have to provide your receipt information to prove that you showed up and were seated, if the check in person doesn’t do it correctly.)
3. For any reservations for which you get 100 points…after 20 reservations, you can get a $20 dining reward! Check the Open Table website for terms and conditions:
https://help.opentable.com/s/article/What-are-OpenTable-Dining-Rewards-and-Points-1505260326221?language=en_US
Hello.
Is there a list of all the Disney restaurants that can be booked through open table? I tried finding a list on opentable dot com, but could find anything helpful.
Romaine, we have been updating the blog with OpenTable-eligible Disney World restaurants. See this post and this post for the info restaurants available so far.
Do they honor the open table reservations the same as they do Disney ADR? No preference for either?
Stacey, that’s correct; there’s no preferential treatment for ADRs made directly with Disney.
Is Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming at Disney Springs on Open Table’s list?
Gene, it looks like Homecomin’ is not on Open Table currently, but it does say “Coming Soon.” No word on whether that’s actually going to happen or not, though.
Unfortunately it looks like many of the Disney restaurants are no longer available to book on Open Table, The Wave and Grand Floridian Cafe are no longer listed. Kona Cafe is still listed but no reservations can be booked. 🙁 Do you know what happened?