So you’ve decided to visit Walt Disney World Resort – you’ve booked your resort reservation, park tickets, and are starting to research flights… now the fun (and dreaming!) begins! Let’s venture into the world of ADRs!
ADRs, or Advance Dining Reservations, are available to all guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort, regardless of whether you’re staying on- or off-site. Reservations are available 60 days in advance. For on-site guests, ADRs can be booked for your entire length of stay. Off-site guests will need to book them a day at a time, 60 days in advance. Book using MyDisneyExperience.com or through the My Disney Experience app. When booking, be sure to include your entire party (including infants!), as restaurants must follow maximum occupancy rules. ADRs also require a credit card at booking. No shows or cancellations less than 2 hours prior to your reservation will be charged $10 per person. Some restaurants, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, require full payment at time of booking.
Magic Kingdom ADRs
There are two big ticket dining locations at Magic Kingdom that can be difficult to get: Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table, both in Fantasyland. At Be Our Guest, you’ll dine in Beast’s Castle, while at Cinderella’s Royal Table, you’ll dine in Cinderella Castle!
Other popular restaurants include Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, and Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen.
Epcot ADRs
Boy oh boy, where do I begin at Epcot?! There are SO MANY awesome restaurants to choose from, especially in World Showcase where there is food from all over the world!
Currently the most popular restaurant is Space 220, which offers both lounge seating and regular restaurant seating. It is a very difficult reservation to get, but if you don’t get it, keep checking back as cancellations do happen! I’ve had the best luck getting a reservation the night before I wanted to go.
We almost always go to Rose & Crown in the UK pavilion in World Showcase. The atmosphere is reminiscent of British pubs, and views of the World Showcase Lagoon are spectacular. This is a table service restaurant for both lunch and dinner, and reservations are recommended, although we have also scored a table as a walk-in.
Another of our favorites is Tokyo Dining! We have a couple sushi eaters in the family, and there are other non-sushi dishes on the menu that pleases the rest of the family, too! We always make reservations here, but we have found that it’s pretty easy to do a walk-in if it’s not a busy time of year. This is located in the Japan pavilion in World Showcase, on the second floor above Mitsukoshi.
For pizza lovers, I can’t recommend Via Napoli enough! Traditional Italian pizza, big enough for families to share. My husband is a huge pizza lover so we have to go here every time. Reservations recommended.
Other popular restaurants include Akershus, Garden Grill, Monsieur Paul’s, Le Cellier, and San Angel Inn.
Animal Kingdom ADRs
Animal Kingdom has some good options, and it’s not too difficult to get ADRs here. Our go-to spot is Tiffins – if you’re a fan of Imagineer Joe Rohde you’ll absolutely love this restaurant. If you’re looking for character dining, Tusker House is the way to go! Yak & Yeti offers a large menu and will please even the pickiest of eaters. Another popular restaurant is Rainforest Cafe, located right outside the park’s main entrance.
Hollywood Studios ADRs
Right now the hot ticket item at Hollywood Studios is Oga’s Cantina! If your family is into Star Wars and/or uniquely themed bars, Oga’s is the place to be. Just be warned, Oga’s is primarily drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), with very limited food options. Do not consider this a meal! It is also a very loud, bar-like atmosphere. Go earlier in the day for a quieter experience (although still not quiet by any means).
Other great options at Hollywood Studios include 50s Prime Time, Sci-Fi Dine In, Mama Melrose’s, and Hollywood and Vine. Reservations recommended for each of these locations!
Disney Springs ADRs
Disney Springs has become one of our favorite dining spots as there are so many fantastic places to try there. Here are some of our favorites:
- Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
- Splitsville
- Boathouse
- CityWorks
Homecomin’ tops the list for us, absolutely! But there are so many great options there – check the menus, and pick a place that sounds good for your family!
Other Resort Locations ADRs
Chef Mickey’s and Topolino’s Terrace, both character dining locations, are incredibly popular. Here, you’ll dine with Mickey & friends! Topolino’s Terrace operates as a romantic restaurant during the evening, with no characters. Another popular spot is ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort, for breakfast or dinner. Reservations are strongly recommended at these two locations!
For the most upscale dining experience on Walt Disney World Resort property, Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has won numerous awards over the years. This is a high class dining experience that is extremely hard to book. It’s perfect for a special occasion!
Another upscale dining experience is California Grill at the Contemporary Resort. Located on the top floor, this restaurant offers stunning views of the Magic Kingdom and even has an outdoor viewing deck for fireworks. If you can’t get a reservation, the lounge is available for seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
ADR Tips
- Book at 60 days out for your length of stay if staying on-site, if off-site, one day at a time.
- Use MyDisneyExperience.com or the My Disney Experience app to book.
- Make sure to include your entire party when booking, even infants (names can be added later).
- Be prepared to put down a credit card deposit when booking.
- If you have a Landry’s Card, you get priority seating at Yak & Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, and T-Rex! No need to make ADRs for these locations.
- Prioritize your ADRs, and book the high priority ADRs first! They will go quickly!
- If you don’t get what you want, keep checking – things change constantly! Also, be sure to check at that 24 hour mark. Remember, Disney charges a late cancellation fee if you cancel within 24 hours. A lot of guests cancel before then to avoid the fee.
Need to cancel your dining reservation? No problem!
You must cancel at least 2 hours before your reservation time, otherwise you will be charged a $10/person no-show or late cancellation fee.
Great summary! When we’re heading to Florida, we set our alarms so we’re up and ready to click on the search button right at 5am Pacific time. Otherwise some of those most popular ones are gone! Honestly, it’s one of my least favorite things about how WDW has become. I’ve been going there since 1999 and it is just so different and inflexible now regarding dining.
Yes! We are PST too, setting that alarm is super important. I agree, the inflexibility is a pain to deal with. That’s definitely one of the advantages of DLR!