10 of the Hardest to get Disney World Dining Reservations

Getting Advanced Dining Reservations at one of Walt Disney World Resort’s many table service locations can be a tricky business these days.   For planning a visit to the Mouse, dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance and with the popularity of many on-site locations, securing your reservations as early as possible is not only strongly encouraged, it’s often essential.   Many of Disney’s much-loved restaurants will sell out months in advance leaving many last-minute planners scurrying for a backup plan.  To help you determine which restaurants you’ll want to prioritize, here’s our list of the 7 most in-demand dining reservations at Walt Disney World.

California Grill  (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)- A very popular choice with adults looking for a romantic evening and a one-of-a-kind view of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks display, the California Grill is the place to go for a bit of evening ambiance.  The restaurant located at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort has its own private viewing deck from which to watch the fireworks and even pipes in the music allowing diners to follow along.  As one of Disney World’s Signature Dining locations, the food is also designed to impress with a focus on the flavors of the Pacific Coast.  Here you’ll find a mighty impressive wine list, mouthwatering sushi and seasonal specialities.

Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada Pavilion, Epcot) –  Definitely one of the most sought-after reservations at Epcot, this Canadian-inspired steakhouse is a perfect place for couples who want to treat themselves to a special evening out.  Another of Disney’s Signature Dining locations, guests can dine on tasty steaks, delicious seafood and other delightful dishes inspired by the Canadian provinces.  The restaurant also boasts an extensive Canadian wine selection. The atmosphere is also quiet and elegant.

Related: 10 Summer Must-Dos at the Disneyland Resort

Yak & Yeti Restaurant (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)- The atmosphere of Yak & Yeti offers is half of the fun, with knickknacks and artwork filling much of the dining space. The food options are quite delicious, and the portions are large enough to satisfy those wanting to get their money’s worth. Part of the reason why Dining Reservations are hard to come by here is that the restaurant is operated by Landry’s, Inc. Members of the Landry’s Select Club don’t need a reservation, so you might want to look into joining it if you plan on going here several times.

Sci-Fi Dine Dine-In Theater Restaurant (Hollywood Studios)- This is a hard-to-get dining reservation that may surprise a lot of folks.  This Hollywood Studio’s restaurant books up well in advance due to its quirky concept. Guests will be whisked back to the heyday of drive-in movies.  Enter a soundstage/restaurant complete with the starry night sky and cheesy sci-fi flicks,  where instead of a table you are seated in your very own convertible cars.  Guests enjoy American diner favorites like BLTs, burgers and milkshakes. Its the perfect retreat from the jam-packed park and the scorching sun making it a lunchtime and dinner favorite for many Disney guests. 

Be Our Guest Restaurant (Magic Kingdom)  – One of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic eateries, reservations at the restaurant modelled after The Beast’s castle aren’t nearly as hard to come by as they used to be but still require a bit of planning if its on your must-do list.  For breakfast and lunch, the restaurant is considered Quick Service but Advanced Bookings can still be made and are essential.  Availability for these two meals is a bit easier to come by unless you’re looking for an early (8am) breakfast slot.  Dinner here remains the hot commodity with many guests liking the more formal table service offered at night. 

Oga’s Cantina (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)-Oga’s Cantina is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and it is a place that “Star Wars” fans have dreamed of visiting since 1977. There are a couple of snacks, but the drinks are the “star”. Alcoholic beverages have names such as Fuzzy Tauntaun and Jedi Mind Trick. The non-alcoholic choices include Jabba Juice and Cliff Dweller. Oga’s Cantina is small, so you might not sit at a table. The music is provided by R-3X, also known as DJ Rex. If he looks familiar, Rex was the pilot in the original version of Star Tours. He’s much better at spinning the tunes than he was flying through space.

T-REX (Disney Springs) – I’ll be honest, it may take you a heaping portion of pixie dust to nab a spot at this Disney Springs eatery.  Popular with little children visiting Walt Disney World, it’s the perfect spot for those preferring dinosaurs. Owned by the same people that own the Rainforest Cafe, diners here can venture back to prehistoric times where giant animatronic dinosaurs move about while you dine on trusted American favorites.  There’s even a meteor shower that erupts ever 20 minutes! Because dining options for are so limited at Walt Disney World,  T-Rex fills up fast making it one of the hardest reservations to get. 

Chef Mickey’s (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)– Part of the reason why Chef Mickey’s is so popular is because of the characters that will make the rounds. You will see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald! Breakfast and dinner are served, and it is all-you-care-to-enjoy. Not only is Chef Mickey’s fun, but it is also convenient. You can walk there from the Magic Kingdom, making it a great option if you want to get away from the crowds for a meal.

Space 220 Restaurant and Lounge (EPCOT)- Now this is truly a unique dining experience! Space 220 is one of the newest restaurants at Walt Disney World. Space 220 is not just a restaurant, it is an attraction. You will board an elevator and “travel 220 miles” above Florida! The elevator ride is half the fun. In the restaurant, you never know who or what might fly by the windows. You could see some astronauts with lightsabers, a space station, or even The Milano from “Guardians of the Galaxy”. If your reservation is for the restaurant, you’ll enjoy a prix fixe meal. The lounge features alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialties, as well as light bites. Every inch of Space 220 is themed, including the restrooms. Even when your meal is over, your experience isn’t. You will still have the elevator ride back to Earth. It’s truly an out-of-this-(Disney)-World experience.

Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)  – Who doesn’t want to dine in the iconic Cinderella’s Castle? That’s why this Table Service option remains consistently the hardest-to-get dining reservation on Disney property.  Guests will be given the VIP Disney treatment in this regal dining room complete with mouth-watering dishes and a chance to rub shoulders with Disney royalty.  If this is on your Disney must-do list then it’s important to keep your Magic Kingdom dates flexible and strike early 60 days out.

Related: Can I Bring Outside Food & Drinks With Me Into The Disney Parks?

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