Tips for Making Advanced Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World

If you plan to enjoy a meal with your favorite Disney characters or want to book a table at one of the popular restaurants at Walt Disney World, you will need to make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) at least 90 days before your arrival date. Advanced Dining Reservations will guarantee your table at your restaurant of choice and ensure your dining experience is a smooth and enjoyable one. Here are some important things you should know and tips for making Advanced Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World:

1. Get up early! You are permitted to make Advanced Dining Reservations as early as 6 a.m. EST 90 days from the day you are scheduled to check in at your hotel. You can either book online by visiting http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/listing/ or call the Disney dining reservations center at (407) WDW-DINE. Booking online makes it easier to see other dates that are available for your restaurant of choice when your first choice is already booked.

2. Book your Advanced Dining Reservations at the quarter of the hour. Most ADRs booked on the hour are already taken, but you can find many open reservations at the quarter hour instead. Consider several times for any restaurant and be flexible with your dates to secure tables at the restaurants you really want to eat at.

3. Consider making lunch reservations at a resort instead. Many of the resort hotel restaurants participate in the Advanced Dining Reservations program and will have more availability over lunch hour. This is because most guests are already at the parks. Consider having lunch at one of the resort restaurants instead of the theme parks so that you can still enjoy the Disney dining experience. After lunch, you can easily get to one of the parks with the monorail service or by renting a car.

4. Find your ideal reservation easily during off season. Holiday season and some weeks around the major festivals and events at Walt Disney World are peak times when the popular restaurants are booked solid for several weeks. If you really want to get a table at Cinderella's Royal Table, Chef Mickey's or one of the other popular Disney restaurants, consider traveling in the off season and making dining reservations accordingly to secure your spot.

5. Make use of your ten-day privilege as a Disney Resort guest. If you're staying at one of the Walt Disney World properties, you are allowed to make Advanced Dining Reservations up to 100 days in advance, instead of the regular 90 days. These extra ten days may make it easier for you to book your preferred time and table.

Advanced Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World are required for many of the popular restaurants at Disney World, and it's fairly easy to book your preferred time and restaurant with the online reservations system. Use these tips to make your Advanced Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World so that you can enjoy a meal with your favorite characters and look forward to a Disney dining experience!