If you booked a last-minute trip to Disney (or forgot to book Advanced Dining Reservations at 60 days out) you might think that you will have to eat all your meals at Quick Service locations for your trip. Although that is certainly an option (and Disney has some amazing Quick Service restaurants that may very well become your favorite dining destinations), what if you were really hoping for a leisurely sit-down dining experience to relax during the day (or evening or morning)? Great news! Guests can now cancel an ADR up to just 2 hours out without penalty… and this happens a lot. So, if you’re willing to be flexible, you’ve got a few options to snag a great sit-down meal during your trip!
Check your My Disney Experience periodically prior to your trip. As plans change, other guests will cancel their reservations. Better yet – try something new! Many full-service restaurants are hidden gems that have plenty of availability. Some of our favorites are:
Magic Kingdom: Skipper Canteen or The Diamond Horseshoe
Hollywood Studios: 50s Prime Time Café or Hollywood & Vine
Animal Kingdom: Tiffins or Tusker House
Epcot: there are so many options here that you can always find a last minute reservation and enjoy some amazing cuisine from around the world
Consider odd times. You can find some of your favorite restaurants with availability for a 3-4pm lunch (or early dinner) or a late dinner after 8:30pm
Head over to a resort! There are some amazing transportation options that will take you to more great restaurants located in the Disney resorts, the BoardWalk, or at Disney Springs.
From Magic Kingdom, you can take the monorail over to the Contemporary, Polynesian, or the Grand Floridian. You can also take a boat and add Wilderness Lodge to these options.
From Epcot or Hollywood Studios – you are just a sky liner ride away from Caribbean Beach or Riviera resort. From these parks you could also walk to several restaurants on the BoardWalk and the BoardWalk resorts – Yacht & Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, and Swan & Dolphin.
If it is the day of travel and you are enjoying the parks and decide you would like a nice meal – you’re still in luck! Go to your My Disney Experience app. At the very bottom, click the "+" in the middle. Your top option should be “Check Dining Availability”. Click on your party size. You will then have the option of choosing a date or clicking “Hungry Now? Join a Walk-up List”. This will locate nearby restaurants that have availability.
Now that I’ve got you hungry and thinking of food – remember – helping take the stress out of your vacation is one of the many things we do! We are glad to get up at 6am when your 60 day dining reservation window opens. Let us help plan your next Disney vacation. We’re here and happy to help!
Comments