See below for lots of additional information and advice about Advance Dining Reservations, including lists of the hard-to-get and easier-to-get locations.

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When to Reserve Your Table

As of 12/23/08, you can book your reservations 90 days in advance for Disney World restaurants.

If you will be staying at a Disney owned-and-operated resort ONLY (includes DVC stays; does NOT include Swan/Dolphin, Shades of Green, Downtown Disney or offsite hotels), you have extra privileges when booking Advance Reservations for dining. Disney resort guests can call 90 days in advance of their day of arrival and make up to 10 days of Advance Dining Reservations, either online or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463). If booking online, you will need your resort reservation number. If calling, you will be asked for your phone number or reservation number. The agent will verify in the system that you have a reservation at a Disney resort. Once that is established, you can make all your Advance Dining Reservations at once, for up to ten days of vacation!

Swan/Dolphin, Shades of Green, Downtown Disney and offsite hotel guests who want to make Advance Dining Reservations as early as possible will have to call back each day at the 90-day mark. To make your Advance Dining Reservations, go online or call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).

The link below goes to an outside site that is not affiliated with MouseSavers.com: Priority Seating Calculator This site allows you to figure out when to call for those hard-to-get reservations for Hoop-Dee-Doo, Cinderella's Royal Table, etc.

Thanks to Small World Vacations for this information and updates.

Information and Advice About Advance Dining Reservations

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Getting Through Quickly

The fastest way to make your dining reservations is almost certainly to use Disney's new online booking system.

Hold times can be long when calling Disney's Dining Reservations department at (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463), particularly first thing in the morning (because of people trying to book super time-critical reservations like Cinderella's Royal Table) and 90 days before any major holiday. You'll usually get through more quickly on weekday evenings after about 8:00 pm ET. The reservations department is open until 10:00 ET.

One of the more aggravating aspects of the Dining Reservations phone system is that it tries to force you to respond to a large number of questions before you even reach a person. Those questions are providing demographic and marketing information for Disney. Since you're making a toll call, my position is that it's ridiculous for Disney to expect you to pay for its research!

Here's how to get to a person more quickly. When the system asks if you are already in Orlando and/or need a reservation for the next 7 days, say yes (or press 1). This shaves at least a minute or two off by bypassing the demographic questions. It makes no difference otherwise.

Note that the system is now voice-activated but you can still press "1" or "2" in answer to the questions.

Restaurants You Really Must Book in Advance

If you want to attend the Cinderella's Royal Table Character Breakfast, it is critical to call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) at 7:00 am ET, 90 days in advance. It sells out within minutes each day when reservations open. (Lunch and dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table sell out quickly, too.) Full prepayment in advance is required for Cinderella's Royal Table.

The Chef's Table at Victoria and Albert's in the Grand Floridian Resort also sells out every morning, exactly 90 days in advance. There is only one Chef's Table seating each night and it is not available Wednesdays and Fridays. Reservations at (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) open at 7:00 am ET. A credit card guarantee is required.

Reservations are required for these locations -- you will never get a walk-up table:

• California Grill in the Contemporary Resort
• Victoria and Albert's in the Grand Floridian Resort
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Mickey's Backyard BBQ dinner shows at Ft. Wilderness (both require full prepayment in advance)
• Spirit of Aloha Luau dinner show at the Polynesian Resort (requires full prepayment in advance)

Reservations are virtually required for these very popular locations -- chances of getting a walk-up are almost nil:

• Le Cellier in Epcot's Canada
• Coral Reef in Epcot Future World/The Seas
• Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom

Other locations that are sold out in advance more often than not:

• Princess Storybook meals at Epcot's Norway
• Garden Grill in Epcot
• Tusker House character breakfast in Animal Kingdom
• 50s Prime Time Cafe in Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Liberty Tree Tavern dinner in Magic Kingdom
• Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Cape May Cafe in Beach Club Resort
• Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort
• 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort
• 'Ohana in the Polynesian Resort
• Whispering Canyon dinner in Wilderness Lodge

Can't get a reservation at the restaurant you want?

• Keep trying. People change and cancel dining reservations all the time, so something may open up. If you are staying on Disney property, call every day once you arrive, too.

• You may be able to make same-day reservations by calling Dining Reservations from your hotel room (if you are staying at a Disney resort), asking the lobby concierge (again, only at a Disney resort) or by walking up to the podium of the restaurant right after it opens. Don't expect to get into anyplace that is really popular, however. We tried to get walk-up reservations for the Princess Storybook Lunch in Epcot's Norway one morning on a very low-season day in January and were told they were fully booked for the whole day!

• Try a new restaurant. See below for restaurants that are more likely to have openings.

Don't want to make reservations?

Then be prepared for very limited or even zero choices, particularly if you are visiting during a weekend, holiday, summer or Spring Break period (mid-February through mid-April). Don't count on being able to walk up at ANY of the table-service restaurants in Magic Kingdom or Disney's Hollywood Studios at any time of year. If you must do walk-up seating, your best bets are:

• Tusker House lunch & dinner in Animal Kingdom
• Yak & Yeti dinner in Animal Kingdom
• Rainforest Cafe dinner in Animal Kingdom
• Restaurant Marrakesh lunch & dinner in Epcot's Morocco
• Nine Dragons lunch & dinner in Epcot's China
• Tokyo Dining lunch & dinner in Epcot's Japan
• Bistro de Paris dinner in Epcot's France
• Teppan Edo lunch in Epcot's Japan
• San Angel Inn lunch in Epcot's Germany
• Tutto Italia lunch in Epcot's Italy
• Chefs de France lunch in Epcot's France

In addition, certain Disney resort table-service restaurants are open at lunch: Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge, Kona Cafe at Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Cafe at Grand Floridian Resort, Captain's Grille (formerly Yacht Club Galley) at Yacht Club Resort, Olivia's at Old Key West and The Wave at Contemporary Resort. They are usually not all that busy in the middle of the day, when most people are in the theme parks. Not only are these usually easy tables to get, they provide a relaxing break from the crowds.

Beaches and Cream is a table-service restaurant at Beach Club Resort that does not take reservations. Be aware that it is very popular, however, so waits can be long.

Some of the table-service restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin are very good and may not be fully booked.

Restaurants in Downtown Disney are usually not busy at lunch, because most people are in the theme parks. You will usually need reservations for dinner in Downtown Disney, however.

Other than prepaid reservations and reservations that are guaranteed by a credit card, you don't technically HAVE to cancel reservations you won't be using. However, it is the right thing to do, since reservations can be so hard to come by. When you cancel, you may be making it possible for another family to enjoy that restaurant.

If your plans change, you are responsible for canceling any Advance Dining Reservations that require a credit card guarantee or prepayment. If you do not cancel such reservations, the normal penalty will be charged.

Cancelling a Disney resort reservation does not automatically cancel your Advance Dining Reservations!

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