Dining at Walt Disney World
When can I make my Dining reservations? Where should my family eat? Are these options in the parks and at the resorts? – We got you covered!
When planning a visit to Walt Disney World, you’ve probably started to think about your daily plans and with kiddos that includes eating. The good news is, there is no shortage of food or dining locations located throughout the property. Each resort will have at least a quick service dining location available with the moderate and deluxe resorts also having table service dining options. Each of the theme parks also offer multiple dining locations including quick service and table service locations with a wide variety of food options. There is sure to be something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! If you’re just looking for a quick bite like popcorn, chips, churros, pretzels, or Mickey Ice Cream bars you’ll find snack carts located all around the park as well.
TABLE SERVICE vs. QUICK SERVICE DINING
Table service dining is seated dining with waiter service that is either served a la cart, family style, buffet, or prix fixed menu. All table service dining locations require advanced dining reservations to be guaranteed seating, for more information on when you can make these dining reservations for your upcoming trip, keep reading below. Table service locations can be found throughout WDW including at all of the four theme parks, Disney’s moderate and deluxe resorts, and Disney Springs. Currently, all character meals are table service dining locations so if those are on your radar you will need to book advanced dining reservations. This style dining is perfect for the family that wants a break to enjoy some down time.
Quick Service dining you can enjoy on the go without being tied down to any specific time. These dining locations are available at all WDW resorts, the theme parks, and Disney Springs. You can order your food ahead of time via mobile ordering, grab your own seats, and enjoy. These dining locations also offer a wide variety of foods so explore the menus via the WDW website in advance. This style dining is perfect for a quick meal and for families looking for a more flexible vacation experience.
RESORT GUESTS
As a Walt Disney World Resort guest dining can be booked 60 days prior to your check in date for the length of your stay. This is an advantage to being a resort guest as you’ll have the ability to access into more inventory than an offsite guest who can only book by the day, 60 days out. The longer your stay, the better chance you’ll have at snagging some of the more desired locations. Dining can be booked starting at 6am eastern time via your MDE account on the desktop site or the app.
OFFSITE GUESTS
As on offsite guest you do have a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to securing dining, dining reservations can be booked 60 days out day by day. Where resort guests can book 60 days prior to their check in date for the length of their stay. Dining can be booked starting at 6am eastern time via your MDE account on the desktop site or the app.
CHILDREN UNDER THREE
Kiddos under three do not need park admission to enjoy all Walt Disney World has to offer, they do however, need to be accounted for on your dining reservations per Disney policy. Regardless of age be sure to include all guests that will be physically entering the dining location. Disney has this rule in place for fire code and capacity limits.
Children under three eat free! This is true as long as you are okay with them eating off of your plate. If you order them their own meal, you will be charged. At buffet style and family style locations they are free to eat from the selection at no additional cost. All character meals are served family, buffet, or prix fixe menu so these are awesome to take advantage of with little ones! PRO TIP: When ordering a la cart or from a prix fixed menu ask about adding an additional side to your meal, like a bowl of pasts or mac & cheese.
TAKING TOTS TO DISNEY FAVORITE TABLE SERVICE DINING LOCATIONS
Magic Kingdom: Be Our Guest, Skippers Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern, Cinderella’s Royal Table
Epcot: Teppan Edo, Via Napoli, Coral Reef
Hollywood Studios: Sci-Fi, 50’s Primetime, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose
Animal Kingdom: Yak and Yeti, Tusker House
Disney Springs: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Boathouse, Raglan Road, TREX
Resorts: Topolinos Character Breakfast (Riviera Resort), Ohana (Polynesian Resort), Beaches & Cream (Beach Club), Ale & Compass (Yacht Club), Trattoria Al Forno (Boardwalk), Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Kona Cafe (Polynesian Resort), Toledo (Coronado Springs)
Resorts – Signature Dining: Yachtsman Steak House (Yacht Club), Narcoossee’s (Grand Floridian), California Grill (Contemporary), Topolinos Dinner (Riviera)
TAKING TOTS TO DISNEY FAVORITE QUICK SERVICE DINING LOCATIONS
Magic Kingdom: Peco’s Bills, Casey’s Corner, Columbia Harbor House
Epcot: Anything around the World Showcase during the seasonal festivals, Fish & Chips in United Kingdom, La Cantina in Mexico, Pizza Taglio- pizza window in Italy, PRO TIP: Hot Dogs can be found at the Refreshment Outpost in Africa.
Hollywood Studios: Woody’s Lunch Box, PizzeRizzo, Docking Bay 7
Animal Kingdom: Yak and Yeti, Flame Tree BBQ
Disney Springs: Polite Pig
TIPS FOR BOOKING DINING-
- Park Pass Reservations are required for dining at in-park dining locations.
- When booking your advanced dining reservations Disney requires you include all members of your party regardless of age, yes even those infants! This is simply done for fire code purposes and capacity limits in the restaurant.
- For larger parties- try breaking up into multiple groups and book for a similar time frame (keeping it within 15 minutes is ideal) When you check in to your reservation let them know you are all together and request to be seated at the same table or tables next to each other.
- When looking to book some of the more desired dining locations or character meals, plan those towards the end of your trip for the best availability. Remember, resort guests can start booking 60 days prior to check in so guests with a reservation checking in prior to you with overlapping travel dates will have already had access into the system.
- Have your credit card information saved in your MDE account prior to your dining window opening for booking, this will help make the booking process efficient.
- Staying flexible with your park pass reservations will allow for you to be more flexible with your dining reservations- if you can’t find one of your top choices on your preferred date, try searching across other dates and then modify your park pass reservations as needed.
- Looking for something else to satisfy your picky eater that isn’t listed on the kids menu? Ask your server! Often times simple requests for kids food can be accommodated.
