Can you believe it’s almost 2020?!

We know there are a few Disney World restaurants that ALWAYS seem to be difficult to grab a reservation at (we see you, Be Our Guest!), but what NEW dining spots coming in 2020 should you be ready to pounce on? We’re giving you our look at what we think will be the toughest spots to get that Advance Dining Reservation you’re looking for so you can plan ahead!

So here’s the Advance Dining Reservation drill if you’re unsure or need a refresher:

• If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort: 180 Days out from the FIRST day of your Disney World hotel reservation, you can make dining reservations for the length of your stay or 10 days out.
• If you’re NOT staying at a Disney World Resort: You can book 180 days from the day you intend to eat at a particular location.
• Booking opens up online at 6AM EST. If you want those hard to get spots, you best be at your computer ready to click at that time! Many popular locations fill up FAST or may already be booked solid by the time you try.

So which NEW restaurants are already on our “set an alarm and get up early to make Dining Reservations” list?

Space 220 – Epcot

When people think of eating in Epcot, World Showcase is the golden child for good reason — there is SO MUCH to choose from! Future World isn’t winning many awards in the fine dining catagory. Coral Reef and Garden Grill are the only table service spots and, while both good in their own ways, they’re not showstoppers in the world of Disney dining.

But as of this Winter, the front half of the park will have its first new table service restaurant in a YEARS!  Space 220 is perhaps the most highly anticipated restaurant to open in Disney World in the next year or so, and rightfully so! This looks like it will be an OUT OF THIS WORLD dining experience the likes of which we have yet to ever see in Disney World. 

Just GETTING to the actual restaurant will be an adventure! Guests will board an elevator that will rocket you a whopping 220 miles above Epcot – thus the name Space 220 – offering panoramic views of space.  Once you enter the restaurant itself, the sweeping views of our galaxy continue.

All we know so far is that the menu will feature more than 1,000 bottles of wine and a huge selection of craft beers.  We can only speculate beyond that, but hopefully we see some exquisite food offerings as well! If you are looking for the newest offering when it comes to fine dining, Space 220 is the reservation you will want to book first. 

Between the cool “launch” into the restaurant, the awesome space views promised, and what we’re hoping will be a top-notch menu, we think this is going to be on the top of many guests’ dining wish list.

Learn more about Epcot’s newest restaurant by clicking here!

Alternatives

We’ll be honest, we were hard-pressed to come up with alternative dining experiences if you run into trouble finding a reservation for Space 220. It is truly unique and will be unlike any other restaurant Disney World has ever created. Plus — NEW Future World restaurant! Yaaaaayyy!

That said, other options that truly excel in both theming and taste are Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  World Showcase in Epcot also has endless opportunities for unique dining experiences, be sure to consider immersive locations like Biergarten, Restaurant Marrakesh, and San Angel Inn.

Oga’s Cantina – Hollywood Studios

This watering hole is a unique location you’ll want to carve out time for if you’re in Hollywood Studios.  With SO much to look at, some boppin tunes, and tasty beverages on tap, Oga’s Cantina is an experience unlike any other in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 

Star Wars fans will love the atmosphere and the attention to detail, and there’s something on the menu for everyone, including those above and below 21 years of age! We think the most unique drink on the menu is the Fuzzy Tauntaun, which (spoiler alert!) makes your mouth GO NUMB!  You can definitely tell Disney spent a lot of time focusing on not just the flavors of these drinks, but the full experience of enjoying these beverages as well.

Speaking of overall experience, between the music and overall liveliness, Oga’s Cantina is just a really fun spot to take in the sights and sounds.  Watching DJ R3X spin some beats (and work his way through some glitches along the way) is one of the coolest aspects of Oga’s Cantina and we could watch him for hours…err…maybe more like 45 minutes. Guests are asked to enjoy Oga’s for a limited time of 45 minutes per reservation. 

While Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios came in like a lamb and less like a lion in terms of insane crowds that were expected, it’s fair to assume that many guests are holding out on visiting until the flagship attraction, Rise of the Resistance, opens in December 2019.  Once that happens, it’s possible that crowds will rise considerably in Hollywood Studios in 2020. Oga’s Cantina is ALREADY tricky to get reservations for, but the further out you book dining, the more likely you are to snag a reservation!

NOTE that while reservations might be easier to grab as time goes on, you are still required to have a reservation to even enter Oga’s Cantina, so if you want to look around and take in all the scenery, you DO need to book a reservation time to go inside. Occasionally when crowds are light, they’ll allow guests to wait on stand-by for a turn to enter, so be sure to check. 

Also note that this is not a full-service restaurant – it is a bar/lounge that primarily serves alcoholic beverages, in addition to non-alcoholic drinks and a couple of bar snacks to munch on.  While there are some interesting options and even a secret menu charcuterie, this might not be the droid you are looking for when it comes to good eats.  

Remember, in Walt Disney World (unlike Disneyland) guests can have their drinks served to-go if you wish to sip and stroll on a Jedi Mind Trick or other out of this world drinks.

Get all the deets on our full review of Oga’s Cantina here!

Alternatives

Thankfully, great food can be found elsewhere in Galaxy’s Edge — we heartily recommend picking up a nearby Ronto Wrap from Ronto Roasters to munch on! They also serve a few alcoholic drinks we’re fans of, like the Surly Sarlacc, on the menu there. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is Galaxy’s Edge’s main spot to grab food while “on planet” and it features a number of unique food and drink options.

Read more about our love of Ronto Wraps HERE!

The Milk Stand also serves up alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of that infamous blue or green milk. And really, if you don’t drink the milk in Galaxy’s Edge, did you even REALLY Galaxy’s Edge in the first place??

Ch-ch-ch-check out the boozy milks here!

Looking for an actual sit-down bar or lounge nearby instead? Baseline Tap House is located right outside the entrance to Galaxy’s Edge (AND there are no reservations required! AND they actually have an awesome charcuterie!)

Read more about Baseline Tap House here!

If you want to experience other truly unique bars and lounges, venture outside of Hollywood Studios and check out Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs, Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom, and the classic Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian Village Resort.  All of these spots have really fun environments, awesome drinks, and great food as well!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Toy Story Land – Hollywood Studios

There aren’t a ton of details available about this new dining spot coming soon to Hollywood Studios, but what we DO know is that Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a much-needed addition to Toy Story Land, and frankly, Hollywood Studios in general. 

Currently, your only dining option in that area is Woody’s Lunch Box, which has limited seating and an even more limited menu. Both Hollywood Studios and Toy Story Land have been in need of another table service option for a while now and we’re hoping this fits that bill. While no opening date has been set, we expect to see this new family-friendly restaurant open in 2020.

We expect this restaurant to be a big hit with families, especially those with young kiddos.  From what we’ve read and seen, guests will dine in a ‘cardboard box’ setup (built by Andy, of course), and while the rodeo/Western toy theme will be apparent throughout, you’ll find an assortment of other random toys as well as your favorite Pixar characters in toy form, creating an immersive dining experience.  Needless to say, if you have any Toy Story fans in your household, you will definitely want to book this reservation as soon as you can!

With limited dining options in Hollywood Studios, a new sit down location will likely be a HUGE hit in the park, so we’re bracing for crowds.

Alternatives

Other unique family-friendly options in Hollywood Studios include Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant (you get to eat in a CAR!),  50’s Prime Time Cafe, and character dining at Hollywood & Vine. 

Check out our review of Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant HERE!

If you’re looking specifically for good barbecue, a great option would be to check out Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

The Old Favorites

There’s a number of dining locations at Disney World that just ALWAYS seem to be tough to snag that Dining Reservation for. If you haven’t been to Disney World, or haven’t been in a while, we wanted to share popular restaurants you’ll DEFINITELY want on your 180-day radar if you’re looking to eat there on your trip! We don’t want you to miss out!!!

Inside the Parks

The big locations to keep on your watch list in Magic Kingdom are Cinderella’s Royal Table (because obv eating IN the castle is the COOLEST!) and Be Our Guest. Both are notoriously difficult to get a reservation at, but Be Our Guest, in particular, is many guests’ white whale restaurant.

If you can’t score a dinner reservation, try breakfast or lunch. Prices are much lower (if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, breakfast and lunch count as a quick service meal as opposed to 2 (!!!) table service credits for dinner!) and the meals are served more casually on top of being slightly easier to get a reservation at those times.

In Epcot, the tricky Dining Reservations are all about timing. A few restaurants sit on the water of World Showcase Lagoon and, if you time your reservation right, offer prime viewing of the fireworks on the lagoon each night. These include Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room, Spice Road Table, and La Hacienda de San Angel.

Be sure to log on 180 days out to get your reservation if you’re looking to enjoy dinner at these spots from roughly 7:30PM til close — they book up FAST! If checking out the fireworks is your goal, shoot for an 8-8:30PM reservation to guarantee you have plenty of time to enjoy your meal!

Outside the parks

Disney’s resorts are bursting with great dining options, but most are relatively pain-free to get a reservation at. A few you may have to keep an eye on though? ‘Ohana in the Polynesian Village Resort, Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, as well as (for all you big spenders or if you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate!) Victoria and Albert’s in the Grand Floridian Resort.  So if you want into these hard to nab spots, be ready!

With ALL the great restaurants and so many new options heading to Disney World, we want you to be ready and prepared to pounce and get ALL THEM REZZIES you and your family are dying to eat at. Want even more restaurant tips to stay ahead of the crowds? Check out our video below!

What are your MUST DO restaurants at Disney? Let us know in the comments!