How To Survive Disney World Without Reservations
We’ve all got to eat, right?!
Skipper Canteen
And if you’re at Disney World, the options abound! You’ll find quick service spots, table service restaurants, and snack carts all over the parks. You’ve probably heard that reservations for many Disney World restaurants book up FAST.
And it’s true — dining reservations open 60 days in advance, and some restaurants’ reservations can be snatched up in just a few minutes. (We’ve got lots more on the process for booking those dining reservations here.) But what if you decide on the spur of the moment that you want a sit-down meal in Disney World? Well, don’t give up! There are still ways to have a fabulous, table service meal in Disney World on the same day you decide you want one.
Keep checking that app
Our first suggestion is to check dining availability in the Disney World app! While we often think all the reservations must already be gone for the day, we’re often so, so wrong. Plans change, and people cancel their reservations — often at the last minute!
©Disney
We searched for same-day lunch reservations for 4 people on a weekday in July, at about 6:50AM, and honestly, even we were shocked — there were reservations available at 56 Disney World restaurants! Everything from signature dining at Le Cellier or the Hollywood Brown Derby to character dining at Garden Grill or Akershus Royal Banquet Hall to newer restaurants like Roundup Rodeo BBQ and Space 220 still had times available.
©Disney
And if you’re thinking that is just because we were looking for lunch reservations — that maybe dinner is more popular? — we repeated our search for a table for 4 on the same July weekday for dinner — and got 74 different restaurants that had times available. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, ‘Ohana, Tiffins, and Sci-Fi Dine In were among those that still had tables.
So, definitely do not count yourself out — just keep checking that app!
Try to walk up
Now, once you’ve made a reservation through the app, your table is guaranteed. This next tip is a little riskier, but maybe you like to live on the edge? It’s to try to walk up to a Disney World restaurant for seating. Now, we can’t promise you this will work — no guarantees here. But we are in Disney World every day, and we’ve made a list of the places that we pretty regularly know have tables when you walk up.
Magic Kingdom
- Skipper Canteen
- Crystal Palace
Even the Crystal Palace has advertised open availability!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Sci-Fi Dine In
Sci-Fi Dine In
EPCOT
- La Creperie de Paris
La Crêperie de Paris
Dinsey’s Animal Kingdom
- Yak & Yeti
Yak and Yeti at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Resorts
- Grand Floridian Cafe
- Boatwritghts at Port Orleans
- Ale & Compass at Yacht Club
- Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
- Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Wilderness Lodge
Geyser Point
- Turf Club at Saratoga Springs
- Rix Sports Bar & Grill at Coronado
- Maya Grill at Coronado
- Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West
- The Fountain at Swan & Dolphin (GREAT alternative if you can’t get into Beaches & Cream)
- Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach
- Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Also, don’t sleep on the lounges you come across in the parks.
Lounges
- Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
- Nomad Lounge
Nomad Lounge
Many of the resort restaurants also have lounges that serve a portion of the neighboring restaurant’s menu. or even the full menu! If you can’t get into the resort restaurant you are wanting, check out the lounge.
Put Yourself on the Waitlist
Another way to snag a last-minute table through the My Disney Experience app is by putting yourself on the walk-up waitlist. When you are in the parks and you check dining availability on the app, the restaurants that have a walk-up waitlist will tell you if there is availability, and allow you to add yourself.
My Disney Experience Screenshot — Walk-up Waitlist Example ©Disney
When you click to join the waitlist, the app will give you an approximate time that your table will be ready. This could be anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of hours — you will be notified when it’s time to eat! One big tip we have here: The app allows you to add your phone number for text notifications or stick with app notifications. We have had app notifications fail us a couple of times, and been told by Cast Members that adding a phone number seems to work better.
One more thing…
There have been plenty of times when we’ve found reservations for Disney Springs restaurants on the OpenTable app. So, when you’re not having luck finding a table, be sure to check there, too.
©OpenTable
Those are just a couple of tips and tricks for you. Hopefully, they’ll help you when you’re in need of some sustenance while at Disney World. In the meantime, keep it right here for the latest Disney news!
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