One of the biggest challenges of a Disney World trip right now is dining. With vastly reduced capacity at sit-down restaurants, it is harder than ever to get all the reservations you may want.
We’ve heard lots of complaints along these lines, so we wanted to share some of our tips from recent experience.
Remember that the window for making dining reservations has changed. It is now just 60 days in advance of your trip. Guests who are staying at a Disney Resort hotel get a bit of an advantage, because they can book dining for their whole stay 60 days before their check-in date.
If you missed your 60-day window and aren’t happy with what’s available, consider these tips:
- Make use of the virtual waitlist. Many sit-down restaurants—including perennial favorites like the California Grill and Le Cellier—offer the ability to join a walk-up waitlist from the My Disney Experience app. We have had some luck with this, but it’s most likely to work if you …
- Eat off-hours. The waitlists for popular restaurants mostly fill up well before 6. So skip lunch, or think of it more like “linner.” It’s actually a great mid-afternoon break on a hot day if you don’t want to leave the parks.
- Try something different. If your favorites aren’t available, go off the beaten path. Jaleo at Disney Springs features Spanish tapas. The Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom is often overlooked and quite fun, if you like the patter from the Jungle Cruise. Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge has an African flare and a legendary bread service. Take the plunge and try something new.
- Check Open Table. The reservations app includes most of the restaurants at Disney Springs. Many of these restaurants reserve a number of spots for Open Table, so they may have availability even if you don’t see them on the Disney app. One of our favorites is the Boathouse, and it most often has availability on Open Table. (It also has a beautiful floating dock on the lake with tables that are available first-come, first-served. It’s one of our favorite places on property.)
- Check for reservations 24 hours in advance. Most signature restaurants charge a cancellation fee if you cancel a reservation less than 24 hours in advance. That policy means lots of people cancel 25 hours or so in advance, so check the My Disney Experience app the night before and see what you can find. We recently found a table for 6 at about 7 p.m. at Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom.
Hidden gems
We have a few favorite go-to options when we’re uninspired by what’s available in the parks:
Bar Riva at the Riviera resort: Take the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios to the Riviera and take a seat at this lovely outdoor-ish bar near the pool. The menu is limited but includes delicious sandwiches, snacks and salads—not to mention some very nice cocktails. It’s a delightful escape from the parks, and if you go for lunch, you won’t encounter a crowd.
Geyser Point at the Wilderness Lodge: Another wonderful escape, this time from the Magic Kingdom. Take a boat to Wilderness Lodge and walk toward the shore of Bay Lake, where you’ll find this lovely open-air lounge. The small menu has a good variety, from small plates to sandwiches and entrees. It’s helpful that you can join the virtual wait list for Geyser Point. (It’s not the right time of year, but it’s also a great place to catch a football game.)
Kona Cafe at the Poynesian: We walked over to the Poly the other night for dinner and got on the virtual wait list for the Kona Cafe. We joined the list at about 7:30 as we walked past the Grand Floridian and the wait was 50 minutes. We waited for a table, but you can also order a meal to go and find a table outside. Trader Sam’s outdoor tiki bar isn’t open right now, so those tables are generally available. Oddly, Kona Cafe is not on Disney’s list of restaurants participating in mobile order, but it is taking orders via the app. (All of this could change this summer when the Poly opens fully again. For now, only the Vacation Club villas are available; most of the resort is nearing the end of a massive renovation.)
Coronado Springs resort: We have two go-to places at Coronado, depending on our mood. The first is Three Bridges Bar & Grill, an open-air lounge that sits in the middle of the lake. Think sangria flights and braised pork tacos. The meals are on the smaller side, which we really appreciate. Three Bridges also has a virtual waitlist. On top of Gran Destino Tower you’ll find the Dahlia Lounge. We love its outdoor seating area with comfy couches and sweeping views of Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The lounge also is situated so it’s in shade in the evening. The menu features sharable tapas, Spanish wines, and cocktails. (Don’t miss the paprika chips.)
