THE BASICS: Dining Reservations

Dining Reservations at Disney, or as Disney refers to it, ADR (Advance Dining Reservations) are some of the hardest to get in the world! Here’s what you need to hear…

-You can make dining reservations 180 days out from your trip. Now, I know, most people don’t plan their trips 180 days out, but if you’re thinking of going at a certain time and want to snag a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s or one of the other hard to get places, you should reserve right away!

-Disney mostly has a 24 hour reservation cancellation policy. Sometimes at peak times or holiday meals this can change so be sure to read the fine print or ask!

-Persistence pays off! People cancel all the time so stay on it! If you don’t see the reservation you want keep trying. The best times to try are early in the morning. Also, if you don’t mind the last minute the most cancellations come within a week of your trip.

-Disney is great with special requests. Kosher meals are always available- you can request them when you make reservations. If you get to the restaurant and they don’t have an option that works for you, the chefs will usually come out and make something that does!

-Hardest reservations to get:

Cinderella’s Royal Table- it’s the castle and the princesses!

Chef Mickey’s- the classic character buffet at the Contemporary Hotel.

California Grill- Again in the Contemporary Hotel, California Grill is one of the more upscale restaurants known for great food (not a given at Disney). With it’s views of the fireworks it gets booked quickly at night.

Rose and Crown- They English Pub in Epcot is great fare and fun. It’s also one of the few restaurants in Epcot with a view of the fireworks, so around that time of night it’s no easy score.

Sci-Fi Dine In- Located in Hollywood Studios, Sci-Fi is one of my favorite recommendations. You sit in fake cars and watch movies like you’re at an old fashioned drive in. Good old fashioned fun!