Making Disney World Dining Reservations: The Who, What, Where, when and How

Ah...a Walt Disney World vacation. Days of fun in the Florida sunshine and nights filled with fireworks. Planning the trip is a huge part of the fun and when you tack the Disney Dining Plan on to your vacation package, there is even more planning to be done. Disney World's version of dining reservations is the Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR). The ADR is a way to best use the dining plan to greatest advantage and can really enhance the overall experience of your vacation.

So how do you decide up to 180 days before your vacation where you want to eat? I've compiled a list of the who, what, where, when and how's to booking your ADR's and these tips can be used for your first trip or your twenty first.

Who? The first thing to do is think about your family. What kind of cuisine do you prefer? What experiences do you like? Are you looking for haute cuisine or a rip roaring good time? Do you want to stick with restaurants in your resort and the parks or are you willing to travel to other resorts? Do you like to experiment with exotic new tastes or do you prefer meat and potatoes? Getting a clear picture of the desires and style of the most important "who" in this vacation is a perfect starting point.

What? Here again we have a series of questions to think about.What kind of meals are you interested in booking? Are you looking at breakfasts? Dinners? A combination? Other "whats" to consider are buffet service or table service? Do you prefer the all you care to eat option where you walk up to a long self service line or where the server brings your food to your table and refills it as requested. Or do you prefer to stay away from the all you can eat all together and simply order off a menu? Do you want to enjoy character interaction with your meal or simply enjoy the company of your dinner companions? Understanding these questions will set up the framework for your reservations.

Where? "Where" is a two part step. Where do you find information on the restaurant choices and where do you then want to make reservations?

Where to find the information? You can find places all over that will discuss and review Disney restaurants right down to the last menu item, price and description. A few places to begin are the library or the local bookstore. The Disney Unofficial Guide and the Official guide both have good information about Disney dining and you can read the books at your leisure. Other Disney travel guides cover the subject as well. But for the most detail? Simply hit your favorite internet search engine and type in the subject "Disney World Dining". You will have a plethora of choices to pick from and lists of locations and themes and menus to really get your choices made.

Once you've done your research, it's time to decide where to make the reservations. Here is where the answers to all the Who and What questions come into play. If you love the exotic and are willing to travel to another resort you may decide to head to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Boma or Jiko. If all you care to eat buffets are an interest, Boma is your choice. If you prefer more upscale dining, Jiko would be the pick. You can find the rip roaring good old time with both an all you can eat skillet choice and other menu offerings at Whispering Canyon Café at the Wilderness Lodge. You can dine with Pooh and the gang in the heart of the Magic Kingdom at Crystal Palace. It's all out there for you to choose, and knowing what your family needs are will help you narrow down your list.

When? The first "when" to consider is when to make your reservations. Most restaurants will accept ADR's 180 days out from your trip. There are a few exceptions, so be sure to ask. The next "when" is choosing the time of your meals. If you make your calls early enough and have an average size party, you will be able to have your pick of times. Do you like to eat early and have the rest of the evening to play? Then try to book your meals around 5:00 or so. Would you rather stay in the parks all day and have a meal right before the end of your evening? Then 9:00 may be a good time for you. Reservations are made at ten minute intervals generally starting at 4:30 pm and going all night so you can usually select the best times for your vacation style.

How? You've picked the locations and done your research. Now you're ready to make the call. Keeping a spreadsheet in excel to track your ADR's will help you stay organized. Start with the date in the first column and then in each consecutive column add "restaurant name," "location (resort/park), "time", "confirmation number". Pick up your phone and dial 1-407-WDW-DINE (939-3469). Have your credit card ready in case you need to secure any reservations. Some signature restaurants and packages will require this, but the majority will not. Let the Disney Dining cast member walk you through making your reservations, then verify your times and confirmation numbers on the spreadsheet, hit "save" and you are good to go.

When you make your ADR's, you can put as much or as little time into the process as you like. If you prefer quick and efficient, then by doing a little research and knowing your family needs, you can easily pick a few places, make a quick call and be all set for your trip. For those of you who love the planning process, information is out there in droves in books and on the internet where you can debate your choices down to the very tiniest detail. Having a spreadsheet is a great way to keep your information close, but if you forget it at home the resort concierge can print up a copy for you. Enjoy the ADR experience and happy Disney dining!