One of the most important parts of your Disney World vacation (in our opinion, at least) is what you’ll EAT while you’re there! You can find some fantastic food at restaurants around the parks and hotels, at quick service and table service spots alike.
‘Ohana
At all table service restaurants, it’s recommended that you make advance dining reservations in order to secure your spot. Although some restaurants have walk-up waitlists, a table is not guaranteed with that option. The best way to make sure you get to dine where you want is to make those reservations ASAP! So when should you start reserving tables, and how do you even do it? We’ve got all the answers right here.
When Can You Make Disney World Dining Reservations?
You are able to make a dining reservation at most Disney World restaurants up to 60 days before you plan to eat there.
Dining Room at Cinderella’s Royal Table
If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, you can make reservations for your entire stay (up to 10 days) 60 days before the FIRST day of your trip. So 60 days before the first day of your stay, you can make reservations for the whole trip, even for days that are more than 60 days out.
Dining room at Topolino’s Terrace
That rule does not apply if you’re staying off-property. In that case, you can make reservations 60 days in advance of each meal.
50’s Prime Time Cafe
We recommend making those reservations ASAP, as availability for the most popular Disney World restaurants can fill up within minutes. If you want to dine at places like Cinderella’s Royal Table, ‘Ohana, Be Our Guest, and California Grill, you’ll need to be ready right when reservations become available.
Find out which reservations are the HARDEST to get in Disney World.
How Do You Make Disney World Dining Reservations?
To reserve by phone, call 407-WDW-DINE (3463), answer a few voice-activated questions, and you’ll be transferred to a dining agent who will book your meals for you. The phone line opens at 7AM EST each day.
Tiffins
However, we’d recommend booking online, since reservations open earlier there! Reservations open online at 6AM EST, but you should start trying to book at 5:45AM, as some open a little bit early. You’ll use the Disney World Website to get those reservations. Just enter your search specifics in the Disney search box, or use the Check Availability tool on any individual Table Service restaurant’s page.
From here, you will enter your party size for the date and mealtime you are interested in.
©Disney
Then you can select the time you prefer or search for others. Note that you may search by general Mealtime (Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner) or by blocks of hours for more specificity.
Additionally, dining reservations can be made by replicating the steps above on the My Disney Experience app on your smart device.
My Disney Experience Screenshot ©Disney
Be advised that Disney World currently requires that guests have a Park Pass Reservation in order to enter any of the theme parks. So, to dine at a Table Service restaurant inside one of the four Disney World theme parks you will need: (1) valid park admission (a ticket or an Annual Pass), (2) a required Park Pass reservation, AND (3) a dining reservation. Disney states that “Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.”
Coral Reef Restaurant
We have information and reviews for every single restaurant in Disney World, and we’re visiting the parks and hotels all the time to try updated menus and classic eats. For even more details, you should check out our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World.
You can take our DFB Guide with you!
In that guide, you’ll find reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! For more planning tips check out:
- A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel!
- How to Do Disney World on a Budget
- When to AVOID Planning a Trip to Disney World
- Everything You Need to Know About Parking in Disney World
Keep following DFB for more tips as you plan your upcoming Disney World trip!
The Mistakes Everyone Makes when Booking Dining in Disney World
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What about making dining for split stays? We’re staying on property but have 3 days at the Yacht and Beach Club and 4 at the Boardwalk. I’ve heard we will have to address those as two separate stays and get up early twice. Is there anyway around that?
Hi Mel! You may be able to schedule everything if you call them rather than making those reservations online.
What about if you are staying at an official Disney Partner hotel?
What about for dinner experiences like Hoop de doo revue? I’m 60 days out today and it is not letting me book.
Hi Jess! Hoop Dee Doo also has a 60 days out rule. Due to limited show times and seating, however, it books fast. Keep in mind that you can book for the entirety of your stay at 60 days out so guests arriving earlier than you could book before your window opened and that may be why there’s no availability. Keep checking back daily in case of cancellations and hopefully you can still snag a reservation.