Is it possible to Dine at Disney without a reservation?

September 14, 2015

Back in the day you would go to one of the theme parks in Disney World, get hungry, go to whichever restaurant you chose and sit down and eat. Well, boy have things changed! Now not only are dining reservations a requirement, most of the restaurants in Disney World must be book 180 days before you even leave for vacation! So can you get a seat in one of the many table service restaurants in Disney World without a reservations? Here is what I have learned.

It really depends on the time of year you go, during the less busy time of the year you may be able to just go to the restaurant and sit right down, by that is highly unlike most of the year. I went in May one year and waited a hour and a half at O’hana just to be told they had no seating. I also got stuck eating quick service meals with my table service vouchers because I couldn’t get into any of the sit down restaurants around Christmas time.

If you want to eat any full service restaurants at Walt Disney World 95% of the year I would highly suggest making reservations as early as you possibly can. Even making reservations once you enter the park sometimes will not work as the restaurants may have been book 180 days before.

This may seem like something that will ruin the spontaneity of the vacation but it really doesn’t have to; make your choices for fast passes, decide if there are any shows you would like to see and get those times and any time in between is when you can make lunch reservations. If you are using the reservations for sit down restaurant for dinner you can easily make them for as late as possible, go to the park, enjoy your day, eat dinner then head back to the hotel.

It is easy to work around reservations if you plan your day out carefully enough (something that is strongly suggested at Walt Disney World anyway). In my opinion the only way to eat at the many amazing restaurants Disney has to offer is by planning and making reservations.

Is it possible to Dine at Disney without a reservation? 1

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