Disney Dining Reservation Tips

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What isn’t an Olympic sport but feels like one? Snagging a Disney dining reservation for a sought-after restaurant. Which honestly is probably the closest I’ll ever get to being an Olympic athlete. It can definitely be tricky, but we’ve put together a few Pixie Tips and Tricks to help you navigate the reservation system!

Here’s what you need to know: Disney dining reservations open 60 days in advance. According to Disney’s FAQ, the window opens at 5:45 am WDW time, which makes for a very early wake-up call. We’ve found that 5:45 am time to be a bit flexible, so we try to be ready to go by 5:30 am WDW time 60 days ahead of our trip. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you will be able to make dining reservations for the entirety of your stay, as opposed to having to wake up multiple mornings in a row. It’s important to have a game plan and be prepared once the window opens, and we have a few tips to help you!

  • Have your Disney login information memorized – in fact, plan to already be logged into your account!

  • Have your priorities listed, starting with most important/hardest to get. Space 220, anyone?

  • Have your credit card information attached to your profile but keep your card nearby in case of a glitch.

  • Know dietary restrictions for your party – no gluten for Meggie!

  • Continue looking until you arrive. One time we booked two tough-to-get reservations on the plane on the way to Orlando!

The site has also been known to be a bit glitchy. There are many a Reddit thread discussing that to be true. Here are a few things to try if you’re running into issues:

  • You can search for all available reservations at a certain time through the general search, but if you’re having issues, try clicking on the restaurant you want and select “Check Availability”

  • Access dining reservations from the “Add More Plans” tab in My Disney Experience

  • Try a new browser and/or the app

  • If experiencing glitches, log out, close the app or your browser and try again.

  • Patience and persistence. Keep refreshing and trying!

  • Disney Guest Relations starts taking calls at 7 am WDW time so if you're still having trouble, plan to get on the phone. You can also use the chat feature in the app, and I was able to start connecting with a Cast Member there around 6:45 am WDW time last I had issues.

And once you’re there, tie your napkin round your neck, and Disney will provide the rest!