If you’re planning a trip to Disney World in 2023 and you have a list of must-do restaurants to visit, you need to know which restaurants might give you the hardest time when you’re trying to book your Advance Dining Reservations.
Dining in Disney World isn’t always easy!
Booking a dining reservation isn’t always difficult in Disney World, but a few table service restaurants make it a little trickier than others. We don’t want you to walk away from your trip disappointed, so let’s go over which restaurant reservations will be the HARDEST to get in 2023!
Dining reservations open up 60 days before your visit (around 5:45AM ET), so if you want to reserve any of the restaurants on this list, it’s a good idea to mark your calendar and set an alarm so that you don’t miss your opportunity to book the reservations you want. Let’s get into it!
Restaurants That Are Currently Open
Space 220 – EPCOT
Space 220 is one of EPCOT’s newest restaurants and with a very unique dining experience, this restaurant has proven very difficult for snagging reservations. Diners get to board an elevator designed to look like they’re actually getting transported to the Centauri Space Station, and inside the restaurant, there are panoramic views of space.
Space 220
Menu items are uniquely space-themed, and even the Space 220 Lounge (which also requires reservations) can be difficult to get into. It’s safe to assume that this restaurant will continue its popularity in 2023, so make sure you set your alarm to get a reservation! You might also have an easier time getting a reservation for the lounge. That’s worth a try if you can’t find a standard ressie and you really want to go here!
Read our full lunch review here and our full dinner review here!
Topolino’s Terrace – Disney’s Riviera Resort
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Topolino’s Terrace is one of the most delicious spots in Disney World! Whether you want a tasty character breakfast or a unique and delicious dinner, you get to enjoy the beautiful views from the rooftop of Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Breakfast a la Art Pastries
Topolino’s is also conveniently located on the Disney Skyliner line, making it easy to get to from a variety of places around Disney World. And with a menu featuring incredible French and Italian cuisine, this restaurant continues to be one of the most in-demand dining locations in Disney World.
Here’s our most recent review of Topolino’s Terrace!
Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom
Be Our Guest lets diners inside Belle and the Beast’s castle, with three different dining rooms and a French-inspired menu. You can dine inside the Grand Ballroom (from the dance scene in Beauty and the Beast), the Beast’s moody West Wing, or the Rose Gallery.
Grand Ballroom at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Also, Be Our Guest is one of the only places to meet the Beast himself! He currently walks through the restaurant to greet guests from a distance, but it’s possible that he could resume his post-meal meet-and-greets in 2023. Keep reading DFB for more updates! This restaurant has been open for a while, but due to its atmosphere, it continues to be a location that can be pretty tough in terms of finding a reservation.
Learn more about Be Our Guest here!
Cinderella’s Royal Table – Magic Kingdom
It’s hard to go more classic Disney World dining than Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. Dining inside Cinderella’s Castle? Yes, please!
Inside Cinderella’s Royal Table
This restaurant offers a prix-fixe menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it is also a Character Meal featuring Disney Princesses!
Princess Aurora
For both of those reasons, Cinderella’s Royal Table has historically been and remains one of the most popular and in-demand dining experiences in all of Disney World.
Check out our most recent review of Cinderella’s Royal Table here!
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – EPCOT
Speaking of Disney Princess meals… Akershus Royal Banquet Hall reopened at long last in November 2022! Akershus is a popular character dining spot in EPCOT’s Norway pavilion, featuring a variety of Disney Princesses in a castle setting. Even since it’s reopening, Akershus is currently the ONLY complete Disney Princess Character Meal in Disney World, so the spot is in even bigger demand than usual!
Snow White at Akershus Royal Banquest Hall
Akershus Royal Banquest Hall features all-you-care-to-enjoy family-style platters featuring — among other dishes — Traditional KjØttkaker (Norwegian meatballs) or the Kylling og Melboller (similar to chicken and dumplings) along with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Grilled Salmon, and Macaroni & Cheese.
Norwegian Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes
And, guess what?? Akershus will begin serving BREAKFAST again starting May 14th, 2023!
Check out our FULL REVIEW review of Akershus here!
California Grill – Disney’s Contemporary Resort
California Grill is not only a restaurant recognized by the Michelin Guide, but it also offers sweeping views from the rooftop of the Contemporary Resort. That means an optimal view of Magic Kingdom — including the Happily Ever After fireworks!
California Grill
California Grill has historically been one of the most hard-to-get reservations in Disney World so there’s no reason to expect 2023 to be any different. The restaurant is currently serving a 3-course selection menu featuring “contemporary, market-inspired cuisine,” and you can find our most recent review here.
Here’s our latest review of California Grill!
‘Ohana – Disney’s Polynesian Resort
‘Ohana remains one of Disney World’s most popular restaurants. Located in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, this restaurant offers a unique menu featuring Hawaiian-style dishes for dinner, and the beloved ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast returned on September 27th, 2022.
‘Ohana
If you want to visit with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and other Disney friends to start your day, you’ll probably want to set that alarm as soon as you can book.
Learn more about the ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast here!
Victoria & Albert’s – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
One of Disney World’s most exclusive (and fanciest!) dining experiences, Victoria & Albert’s, has reopened in Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel & Spa, and this spot is NOT easy to reserve, whether it comes down to the high price, limited reservations, or the fact that the restaurant is a AAA Five Diamond Award Winner.
Queen Victoria’s Room at Victoria & Albert’s
There are three experiences to choose from and each dining room is limited to a small number of guests, meaning it’s not easy to find reservations open. Additionally, the restaurant has since received new designs, new menu items, and more, and if you have room in your budget to spare, you might want to try for a reservation here!
Check out all the changes in Victoria & Albert’s here!
Cape May Cafe – Disney’s Beach Club
Cape May Cafe is a buffet restaurant located in Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and it’s been open for some time now — but once Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast returned on October 4th, 2022, the spot once again became quite popular!
Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast
Minnie’s character breakfast includes Minnie and pals dressed up for a day at the beach. And considering that Cape May Cafe (located in Disney’s Beach Club) is just STEPS away from EPCOT, this is a great spot to start or cap off your day!
Read all about Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast here!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A NEW Table Service restaurant is NOW OPEN in Toy Story Land! Roundup Rodeo BBQ opened its doors on March 23, 2023.
Howdy, partners!
The new table service spot serves barbecue fare, and you can see the FULL MENU for this Family-Style dining experience here.
FOOD!!!
Though this spot is NOT a Toy Story character meal, the theming is pretty incredible nonetheless!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Go Inside Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney World With Us!
You can DIG IN with us by reading our FULL REVIEW!
That is a LOT of meat
We certainly expect this new restaurant to stay in demand throughout 2023.
Disney Food Blog REVIEW: We Ate EVERYTHING at the NEW Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant in Disney World
Summer House on the Lake – Disney Springs
Summer House on the Lake opened on December 14, 2023 in Disney Springs! You’ll find it on the West Side near Jaleo, Splitsville, and Salt & Straw.
Summer House on the Lake
So that means YOU can look forward to California-inspired bites including everything from pizza and pasta to fresh salads and sandwiches during your next visit to Disney Springs! (Oh, and don’t forget the weekend BRUNCH!) You can enjoy any of these meals on one of the three expansive patios. And tucked inside Summer House on the Lake you’ll find The Cookie Jar! The Cookie Jar is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.”
We imagine that Summer House will be a popular spot for some time, but this is especially true of its opening weeks which coincide with the busy holiday season in Disney World!
Dining reservations open up 60 days before your visit (around 5:45AM ET), so make sure you mark your calendar and set your alarm to avoid missing out on these hard-to-get reservations! And keep following DFB for more Disney restaurant news and reviews!
Check out the BEST Disney World restaurants here!
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I think you forgot hoopdy doo!
Cape May’s price will go up once characters return.
Is there any truth to the rumor that the Cake Bake Shop will host the “high tea / afternoon tea” that had been at the Grand Floridian in the pre-COVID era?
Sadly and out of frustration I canceled our Disney October vacation this morning because I was up at 5:30am and tried to book breakfast and dinner reservations at over 10 places in the parks and our hotel and came up empty! Other places that had times – the times were awful. I decided that I wasn’t going to spend over $6,000 on a Disney vacation and end up eating at counter service the entire time because I couldn’t get a reservation. Seems like something is wrong that there were NO places to reserve 60 days out.
Even 5 years ago it was tough to get meal reservations. Not impossible though if you booked at odd times. Eat breakfast at your hotel , eat lunch at a counter service and eat dinner early around 3:30 or 4 or 4:30. Then use your snack allotment in between. Or bring snack stuff with you. This way you only have to book dinner reservations. Take advantage of Disney Springs and make dinners reservations there.
Space 220 is an awesome experience! Highly recommend it although be prepared for the bill! It was the highlight of our last Disney trip!