Disney Advanced Dining Reservations 2026 Blueprint
All guests can make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at Disney starting 60 days in advance of their visit. The booking window opens online daily between 10.45am and 11.00am UK time (5.45am to 6.00am EST). Guests staying at an official Disney Resort hotel can book for their entire stay (up to 10 days) at that 60-day mark, giving them a massive booking advantage over off-site visitors.
Part of the unique, magical experience of visiting Walt Disney World in Florida is enjoying the enormous variety of food on offer, but you’ll need to plan ahead to get the most out of it and avoid disappointment. In this post, we share how to make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at Walt Disney World! The only way to guarantee a booking at your preferred restaurant(s)!
The system varies depending on whether you are staying inside or outside a Disney resort hotel and it’s worth knowing that some reservations are more popular (and therefore, more difficult) to secure than others.
Why it’s important to book Advanced Dining Reservations at Disney
Disney restaurants and Character dining experiences book up fast, so making an Advanced Dining Reservation is the best way to avoid potential disappointment* (*read ‘tears and tantrums’!).
One of the best tips we can give is to match your dining reservations with your Park days! You don’t want to be rushing to leave one Park because you’ve booked a restaurant in a different one! Check out our guide to the top 10 mistakes that first-timers make when visiting Walt Disney World, so you know what else to avoid!
If there’s a must-do restaurant in a particular Park you couldn’t book for the day you’re scheduled to visit, maybe aim to go back there to eat on a rest day instead.
Top tip
Have a list of your must-do restaurants before you begin the booking process.
What you need to do before you can make Advanced Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World
Before you can make any reservations, you need to ensure you have created your Disney Account.
- Go to the official Walt Disney World Website or download the My Disney Experience app. Log in or Create Account. Use an existing Disney login (such as Disney+) or enter your personal details to create a new profile.
- Go to you Profile and open the Family & Friends section. Add the people travelling with you. Invite them by email or scan a QR code if they have their own account, or create managed profiles for children under 13.
- Go to My Plans section on the site or app. Select the option to Link Your Reservations and Purchases.
- Enter your resort confirmation number (if staying in Disney), or park tickets (use the e-ticket reference number located under the barcode of your ticket confirmation). Assign the correct guests from your Family and Friends list as needed. If you haven’t locked in your park admission yet, see our comprehensive guide on how to buy tickets to Disney from the UK & Ireland to ensure your tickets are linked to your profile before your dining window opens.
- Add Payment details. Save a credit or debit card (if you are an international guest, make sure you won’t be charged for using this card in the US) and a phone number in your Profile.
N.B. If your travel agent booked on your behalf, check whether they set up your My Disney Account and can make ADR reservations. If not, ask them to provide your booking information so you can set up your account. You will need to use your 8-digit booking confirmation number and surname to link your Disney Resort hotel reservation in My Disney Experience.
For more information check out the FAQ section on the Walt Disney World website.
When can you book Advanced Dining Reservations at Disney?
Book your Advance Dining Reservations as soon as your booking window opens, which is 60 days before your arrival, for ALL guests; however:
Guests staying inside Disney have the equivalent of a golden ticket when it comes to ADR, but will still need to plan ahead and act quickly. You can book from 60 days before your hotel arrival and for the first 10 days of your stay (you’ll need to revisit the booking platform for any dates beyond day 10).
Top tip
Book the most popular restaurants (see below) first, which may be where you want to dine on Day 10; don’t book in trip date order!
Guests staying outside Disney may find it more difficult to secure the reservation(s) they want, but don’t worry, we’ll give you some tips on how to be in with a chance even if all your favourites are booked up (see below). You can book from 60 days before your Park tickets commence, but only for one day at a time (meaning you’ll need to revisit the booking process for each day of your stay).
Booking opens online daily at 6.00am EST / 11.00am UK and Irish time (make sure to double-check the time difference if daylight savings has just shifted!).
How to book ADR’s at Walt Disney World
You can make reservations:
- Through the website. Check Availability | Walt Disney World Resort
- On the My Disney Experience (MDE) app (we found this worked better than the website at times). Use the + button at the bottom of the Home Screen to Check Dining Availability.
- If you prefer booking over the phone, you can call Disney directly. (International visitors calling from the UK can use 0800 028 0778, and from Ireland use 1800 812 0675).
- Monday to Friday: 9.00am – 8.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am – 7.00pm
- Sunday: 10.00am – 6.00pm
Have your booking reference and ticket information to hand when calling.
Over the past year, Disney has updated the ADR booking tool, making it waaay easier to find and secure the reservations you want.
Firstly, you can now filter by:
- Reservations Accepted
- Dining Type (Table service, character etc.)
- Cuisine Type (American, Indian, Chinese etc.)
- Dining Areas (Parks, Resorts etc.)
- Price Range ($,$$ etc.)
- Dining Plan type (Year and Table-Service/Quick-Service)
Once those are selected, you then enter your:
- Party size (up to 20)
- Date
- Time (All Day, Before 12.00pm etc.)
In addition, you can view a specific restaurant’s available time slots over 10 days by accessing its Availability Calendar.
Top tip
Before your booking window, practice using the website and the MDE app to get familiar with the screen layout.
See our helpful tips below to help maximise your chances of getting the bookings you want.
🚨 Hardest Disney Dining Reservations to Secure
The most popular restaurants book up very quickly; here are some of the most difficult bookings to secure, so you know which ones to prioritise when your booking window opens:
- Elite Character Dining: Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s, Story Book Dining at Artist Point, and Topolino’s Terrace. ANY Signature dining experience and most Character meal exoeriences.
- Immersive Themed Dinners: Be Our Guest, Space 220 (and Space 220 Lounge), and Roundup Rodeo BBQ.
- High-Demand Casual & Resorts: ‘Ohana (Polynesian Resort) and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Disney Springs).
Top tip
Remember, if you are staying at a Disney Resort (you can book for the first 10 days of your stay), you don’t need to make your reservations in chronological order; prioritise booking popular places first, even if they are for later dates in your holiday!
Other ways to get reservations for Walt Disney World Restaurants
You may be able to use some of the following tips to help you nab a table even if everywhere was fully booked when your booking window first opened:
- Keep refreshing and switching between a specific meal time (e.g.12pm-4pm) and All Day – this can be particularly helpful if you are trying to score a competitive reservation on an ADR drop day for big seasonal events such as the EPCOT Candlelight Processional dining packages, when more tables are actively being loaded into the system and released by other guests.
- Keep checking, as new times often open up 30, 14 or 7 days in advance, as more availability is loaded and people change their plans.
- Always check for last-minute cancellations, as they often happen 48 – 24 hours in advance or even on the same day, when people take advantage of Disney’s 2-hour cancellation policy!
- You can also join the Walk-Up Waitlist of participating restaurants either in person or via the MDE app; you need to be nearby as you will only be given a short window to get there.
- Look for spaces on Open Table (this is particularly useful in Disney Springs).
- Use MouseDining, an online reservations tool that puts you on a ‘waiting list’ and alerts you by phone if space opens up (it works with international numbers so you can use a UK/Irish number).
Best tips for booking Advanced Dining Reservations at Disney World
Have a valid payment method on hand, as all bookings need a card guarantee.
If booking online, open a tab for each restaurant in order of difficulty.
Have multiple people working alongside you, each one focusing on a different eatery.
Keep refreshing the page(s) for the latest availability.
Check both the website and the MDE app (the app can sometimes update more quickly).
It can sometimes be easier to secure bookings for smaller parties than for larger groups, so if you are struggling with a large group, try searching with a smaller group size and look at the available options; you may be able to reserve 2 smaller tables that can be placed together (not guaranteed, but worth a shot!).
Avoid booking for peak times; for example,12.30pm-1.30pm tends to be the busiest time for lunch, so work around it if you can. A late lunch might be easier to book than a premium-time dinner spot.
The first and last sittings are always the best options at WDW restaurants, especially with Character dining as these sessions tend to be less busy, which means you get more attention!
With dinner being served from 4pm, another bonus of going for the first sitting is that you’re indoors when it’s typically still hot and busy outside, and you can enjoy the cooler weather once you’ve finished eating!
Consider dining at different resorts since Park dining can be expensive and time consuming.
Here are some great alternatives:
💡 Hidden Gem Dining Alternatives
| Recommended Alternative | Location | Dining Style | Why It’s Worth Booking |
| Sanaa | Animal Kingdom Lodge | African/Indian Fusion | Incredible Indian bread service with window views of live savanna animals. |
| Steakhouse 71 Lounge | Contemporary Resort | Classic American Steakhouse | Fantastic food quality, a short walk from Magic Kingdom, and easy to book. |
| Beaches & Cream | Beach Club Resort | 1950s Diner & Ice Cream | Home of the famous “Kitchen Sink” sundae; nostalgic, high-energy atmosphere. |
| Sebastian’s Bistro | Caribbean Beach Resort | Caribbean Family-Style | The best-kept budget secret on property with delicious, plentiful food. |
| Whispering Canyon Café | Wilderness Lodge | Western-Style Skillets | Hilarious, interactive cast member antics (ask for ketchup!) and bottomless skillets. |
| Akershus Royal Banquet Hall | EPCOT (Norway Pavilion) | Princess Character Dining | A magnificent alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table if you want to meet the Princesses without the Magic Kingdom stress. |
Frequently Asked Questions
All guests can book dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. If you are staying at an official Disney Resort hotel, you can book for your entire stay (up to 10 days) at that 60-day mark. If you are staying off-site, you must book each day of your holiday individually, exactly 60 days out.
Reservations open online daily at 6.00am EST in the US / 11.00am in the UK and Ireland. Slots can occasionally load into the system as early as 5.45am / 10.45am UK time, so it is highly recommended to be logged into the My Disney Experience app and ready to refresh a few minutes early.
No, you typically don’t pay for your meal upfront. However, you must provide a valid credit or debit card to hold the reservation. Disney will only charge this card if you fail to show up for your booking or cancel past the allowed modification window. Some high-demand restaurants, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, require payment in full at booking and have stricter cancellation policies.
Disney features a highly flexible 2-hour cancellation policy for most table-service locations. You can cancel or modify your reservation up to two hours before your scheduled time without penalty. Failure to cancel within this window will result in a $10 per-person fee. Note that special dining experiences and dinner shows may have stricter 24-to-48-hour policies.
Yes! Children of all ages, including infants and toddlers under 3, must be included in your total party size when searching for table availability. This ensures the restaurant accounts for fire safety limits and can accommodate highchairs or pushchairs at your table.
Children aged 3 and under eat completely free at all Disney buffet and family-style “all-you-care-to-enjoy” restaurants, provided they share from an adult’s plate. Once a child turns 10, they are officially classed as an adult on Disney dining menus and will be charged adult pricing.
🍽️ Master the Rest of Your Disney Strategy
Planning a seamless Walt Disney World holiday requires aligning your dining windows with your daily park choices. Keep your momentum going with our other helpful guides:
- Line-Skipping Playbook: Learn how to pair your dining slots with your ride selections using our Disney Lightning Lane Passes Strategy Guide.
- Pick Your Park Days: Discover the Best Days to Visit Each WDW Park to naturally avoid the worst of the crowds.
- Travelling with Toddlers: Bringing little ones? Check out our complete guide to Travelling to WDW with Young Children to find out where kids under 3 eat completely free!
About the Author
Hi, I’m Andrea from Fabulous Park Days. I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World with my family since 2011, and over the years I’ve learned that good planning can make a huge difference to how a Disney holiday feels. I created Fabulous Park Days to share the practical tips and experience I’ve picked up along the way, helping families plan a Walt Disney World holiday that works for them, without feeling overwhelmed by all the information out there.
© Fabulous Park Days 2026.