Disney World offers many dining options and a little planning goes a long way. Once you have booked your Disney World vacation, it is time to start thinking about dining options. Avoid these 7 Planning Mistakes Guest Make With Disney Dining.
1. Not knowing when to make reservations
Guests may book advanced dining reservations up to 180 days before your arrival date (for up to a 10 days in advance from then). Be Our Guest and Ohana’ are top choices. If there are restaurants you really want, mark the 180 day on your calendar and be ready at 6am (EST) to book ADRs online or at 7am (EST) when the phone lines open for ADR.
2. Not Checking Menus before your trip
Another common mistake is not checking menus before your trip. There is no sense in spending time and money at a sit-down restaurant not everyone will enjoy. See menus on My Disney Experience App and preview the food selection. Checking prices is another benefit of checking menus, giving you an idea of budget per restaurant.
3. Overbooking
With all the great choices it is easy to want to try every restaurant. However, most guests are too full after a buffet breakfast to enjoy a sit-down lunch. Therefore, be careful with your timing of advanced reservations, to ensure an appetite.
4. Don’t give up trying
You may not get every reservation you want on your first attempt. That is OK. The trick here is, simply to not give up. Even up until the day of, as last minute cancellations are common. Check early in the day when many tend to cancel. Just keep checking (in the voice of Dory, “Just keep swimming”).
5. Thinking character meals are just for kids
Disney World is for kids of all ages and kids at heart. Be prepared with fun questions to ask the characters to start up a conversation. Here are more Tips for Character Dining.
6. Not booking Meals around Plans
Coordinate your Fastpass+ options and dining reservations to be in the same area. If possible the same park, otherwise know what transportation you will need to take to get to your location and plan for enough travel time.
Did you know Disney World know has Minnie Vans? For guests of select resorts, a Minnie Van will take guests anywhere on Disney property at a flat rate of $25.
7. Tipping With the Dining Plan
If you choose to pre-purchase a meal plan than you will be allotted meal and snack credits to use as you please. However, many guests do not realize tips are not included on any of the Dining Plans. Planning to fail for tip money can be a shock on the budget for guests who do a sit-down/character meal or buffet.
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.