Many Walt Disney World eating places are hotly in demand, with reservations being extremely troublesome to ebook should you aren’t up early 60+ days prematurely. This submit covers the ADRs which might be the hardest to attain, why that’s the case and the way it would possibly change, plus alternate options should you can’t rating the hardest spots. (Up to date April 14, 2024.)
Earlier than we get to our record, we must always in all probability provide some fundamentals on Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World past simply “make them.” Standard knowledge is that it’s best to ebook ADRs as early as attainable, both by way of the My Disney Expertise app or DisneyWorld.com.
Though it’s gotten barely simpler to ebook in latest months, there are some powerful ones–particularly for bigger events. You’ll nonetheless must make reservations early or luck-out final minute. See our Information to Advance Eating Reservations (ADRs) at Walt Disney World for ideas & tips to attain elusive ADRs, information concerning the 60+10 rule, and extra.
Talking of which, that 60+10 rule is fairly vital right here. Anybody could make ADRs 60 days prematurely. If you happen to’re staying at a Walt Disney World on-site resort lodge, this implies you possibly can ebook 60 days previous to your arrival date and make ADRs for as much as the primary 10 days of your journey. For a few of the eating places on this record, that +10 is important, as ADRs are sometimes totally booked by the 60 day mark, which means off-site friends don’t actually have a probability at them except there are cancellations.
Most individuals don’t know the place they need to eat 60 days prematurely, and this drawback is compounded by the truth that Walt Disney World nearly by no means releases last park hours 60 days prematurely. If you end up confronted with this drawback, the excellent news is that you simply’re not alone–cancellations, extra ADR stock being launched, and Stroll-Up Waitlist all are nice choices for snagging comparatively last-minute tables. Suggestions for all of which might be specified by the above-mentioned ADR Information for WDW.
Regardless of the existence of this submit, we hardly ever make greater than a few Advance Eating Reservations earlier than every Walt Disney World journey. Partly it is because we are inclined to journey extra on the final minute now, and partly it is because reserving same-day ADRs or scoring walk-up availability is less complicated than ever.
Then there’s the ultimate half–that we now have a child. She’s going to set lots of the schedule and tempo, so we don’t need to arrive with a inflexible plan that we’ve to throw out the window. We’ve seen unrealistic expectations ruining journeys for lots of households when issues inevitably don’t go based on the plan. So we’ve determined to set tremendous low expectations and naked minimal planning.
For us, it’s a extra nice expertise to roll with the punches and be versatile in the place we’re prepared to dine than decide our total schedule months prematurely and have our day be beholden to these plans–or “fail” at following by means of on these plans. There are lots of eating places we actually take pleasure in in every park, and often a couple of of them have same-day choices.
Your mileage could fluctuate on that, although. If you happen to’re a first-timer to Walt Disney World and are doing a once-in-a-lifetime journey, your circumstances are definitely totally different than ours. We share this just because there are a number of views on planning your eating at Walt Disney World.
The overwhelming majority of different websites on the market sure a way of urgency about scoring essentially the most coveted ADRs and stress the significance of planning prematurely. As a Walt Disney World planning useful resource, it behooves web sites like this one to encourage folks to plan. Us telling you to generally ‘wing it’ is likely to be a bit self-defeating, however it’s trustworthy. We really feel planning is important in some circumstances, however mixing planning with spontaneity makes for a wholesome and balanced method.
As one last be aware earlier than we get going, each the Disney Eating Plan and Free Eating affect Advance Eating Reservations. We already know the affect of the Disney Eating Plan, because it’s now accessible and has already brought about some adjustments in demand since its return in 2024 as in comparison with final yr.
Free Eating continues to be a wildcard, however we’re anticipating it to be much more impactful, as (statistically talking) the next proportion of friends will probably be utilizing the Disney Eating Plan as soon as Free Eating ‘season’ begins. Again within the good ‘ole days (2019 and earlier), Free Eating had an enormous affect on each ADR availability and what acquired booked.
That at all times occurs and, earlier than you ask, it’s not an indication that crowds will probably be excessive. It’s sometimes fairly localized to eating places. (This was the case even in August and September 2019, when the parks had been largely quiet however desk service eating places had been packed.)
Anyway, we’ve digressed from the purpose, so let’s lower to the chase–the powerful ADRs that you simply will need to ebook as far prematurely as attainable, plus alternate options if these are totally booked…
California Grill – This Signature Restaurant loved a resurgence a couple of years in the past because of improved menu high quality plus a handy location close to Magic Kingdom plus a reasonably fly location with nice fireworks views. California Grill nonetheless has these final two issues, however demand has fallen sharply for a lot of causes.
The large one is its transfer to a prix fixe menu, which was in style at first–however the novelty has worn off. It additionally takes California Grill off the desk for individuals who need to order smaller parts or dine in any manner inconsistent with the set menu. Lastly, California Grill isn’t on the Disney Eating Plan in any respect, and only a few eating places can maintain recognition with out that. It’ll be fascinating to see if recognition falls additional and California Grill will get one other menu overhaul or begins accepting the DDP in 2025.
Alternate options to California Grill can be just about some other Signature Restaurant. By way of location, Citricos and Narcoossee’s are logical decisions. By way of delicacies and high quality, Jiko or Flying Fish are one of the best suits. Beneath the identical roof, Steakhouse 71 is a good choice, however it’s within the “basement” of the Modern slightly than the rooftop.
Dinner at Teppan Edo – That is the teppanyaki-style steakhouse within the Japan pavilion of World Showcase at EPCOT. Teppan Edo is situated on the second flooring of the the Mitsukoshi Division Retailer adjoining to Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (previously Tokyo Eating).
Teppan Edo has been among the finest goal values on the Disney Eating Plan for years, and it claims the #1 spot on our Checklist of the ten Greatest Makes use of of Desk Service Disney Eating Plan in 2024. That alone in all probability helps clarify its surge in recognition. Curiously, although, Teppan Edo is a a lot simpler ADR for lunch when it serves the identical menu.
Teppan Edo doesn’t provide a fireworks view, in order that doesn’t clarify the dinner rush. Except individuals are confused concerning the (lack of) view. Provided that I simply overheard a bunch of teenage boys on the monorail debating which of Magic Kingdom’s “most intense” curler coasters to trip first, TRON Lightcycle Run or Barnstormer, I’d say that’s a definite chance.
Regardless, one of the best various to Teppan Edo at dinner is…Teppan Edo at lunch. That’s arguably the higher choice, anyway, so that you might be outside within the night when it’s cooler and World Showcase comes alive. Simply graze from competition kiosks for dinner.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – That is one other one was nearly inconceivable (particularly for the “incorrect” occasion sizes) for a couple of years, however now nearly falls off the record. However, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant might be troublesome to ebook, particularly for bigger events.
We’ve discovered that Sci-Fi Dine-In is best 60+ days prematurely or on the last-minute. Now that the brand new restaurant scent has worn off Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ, that is the hardest ADR within the park. (It’s additionally price noting that Sci-Fi routinely overbooks, so the wait to be seated might be prolonged.) As for alternate options, the aforementioned Roundup Rodeo or 50’s Prime Time Cafe are your greatest choices.
Breakfast at Crystal Palace – As a normal rule, character breakfasts are harder to ebook than their lunch and dinner counterparts. That is fascinating however not completely stunning. Breakfast is often cheaper and has much less ADR stock, however provides worse bang for buck on the Disney Eating Plan.
Crystal Palace isn’t a troublesome ADR for lunch or dinner. In any respect. However breakfast is a unique story, particularly for later seatings that bleed into lunch. Nonetheless, should you ebook early…and even wait till the final minute (Crystal Palace tends to have stable Stroll-Up Waitlist availability)…you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of bother right here.
‘Ohana – Because the world’s first Irish-Hawaiian fusion idea, it’s comprehensible that ‘Ohana is so in style (their Boiled Cabbage and Pineapple Upside Down Cake is to die for!). Joking apart, Walt Disney World followers have come to like ‘Ohana because of its good enjoyable, jovial environment, and engaging Polynesian delicacies. That is very true for dinner, however breakfast can also be in style.
Alternate options embody Sebastian’s Bistro (our favourite!), Liberty Tree Tavern, Boma, Backyard Grill, or Cape Could Cafe. Every of those provide a slice of the ‘Ohana expertise, however none is a direct analogue. ‘Ohana is one thing of a lightning in a bottle expertise, and it’s inconceivable for different eating places to copy that fully. If you happen to’re unable to get dinner, you would possibly contemplate “settling” for breakfast at ‘Ohana. We predict dinner has by far one of the best meals, however breakfast has characters and a good slate of meals (by Walt Disney World breakfast requirements).
Breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera – Topolino’s Terrace is principally two totally different eating places, each of that are fairly in style. For dinner, it’s a Signature Restaurant with a high-end meal that makes for an ideal date evening. Though we’ve performed ‘date morning’ meals at Breakfast à la Artwork with Mickey & Buddies, it’s clearly totally different by advantage of being a personality meal.
Breakfast à la Artwork with Mickey & Buddies could be very in style as a result of it’s greater finish than Chef Mickey’s or Cape Could Cafe (alternate options, I suppose) and in contrast to the equally high-end dinner at Artist Level (one other various) it options Mickey & Buddies…and it’s breakfast. There’s additionally the truth that Breakfast à la Artwork with Mickey & Buddies is barely 1-credit on the Disney Eating Plan (for now), at a time when many premium character eating experiences are shifting to 2-credits.
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Desk – This one has been on the record of most troublesome Walt Disney World ADRs for ages. Lengthy earlier than I began overlaying Disney–probably since I used to be in diapers. (Don’t Google “Howie’s Angels” except you need to go down a fascinating-but-weird rabbit gap!)
Whereas lunch and dinner have eased up a bit, breakfast continues to be extremely troublesome. That is in all probability partly as a result of breakfast is ~$15 per particular person cheaper and since there are fewer breakfast spots than lunch and dinner (that are one in the identical). To every their very own, however we’re large followers of dinner right here and assume it’s arguably “price it” (air quotes as a result of you possibly can’t actually put a value on eating with royalty inside their fort, however should you may, ~$100/grownup appears fair-ish).
House 220 Restaurant – This one has managed to defy the percentages, persevering with to orbit above the competitors. The trajectory right here is just like California Grill, besides that it opened with a prix fixe menu a couple of years in the past slightly than being an current venue with a redone menu. House 220 Restaurant additionally doesn’t settle for the Disney Eating Plan and likewise has obtained extra combined opinions not too long ago.
For our half, we’re large House 220 followers. As an entire package deal expertise–theme, delicacies, service, and so on–it’s out of this world. We’re additionally admittedly stunned that at its enduring stratospheric recognition. The brand new restaurant scent hasn’t worn off, and there’s probably not any signal that House 220 will “want” to make adjustments in 2025 or transfer to the Disney Eating Plan. Perhaps this summer time and fall’s Free Eating ‘season’ will do the trick?
As for alternate options, the very apparent one is Coral Reef–like House 220, however underneath (actual) water. That’s a lot simpler to ebook, distinctive in its personal manner, however not fairly nearly as good.
Brunch at Chef Artwork Smith’s Homecomin’ – This has change into my white whale. I’ve been making an attempt to ebook brunch at Homecomin’ ever since we final did it a couple of years in the past, as a result of I “want” to attempt a pair extra issues earlier than publishing my evaluation. (A fantastic excuse for pigging out additional, albeit one I believe Sarah sees by means of.) My effort stage hasn’t been that top…however there was a time after I was trying each single weekend whereas we lived in Florida.
Brunch at Homecomin’s recognition is basically a math drawback. It’s solely accessible on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am till 1pm. That alone means a much smaller pool of ADRs than simply about some other restaurant on this record. Add to that its cult following amongst locals and (in all probability?) someday WDW diehards, and Brunch at Homecomin’ is exceedingly troublesome to ebook.
All of that’s in all probability a spoiler for our full evaluation, coming at a date TBD, which is that Brunch at Homecomin’ is fairly fairly fairly good. As for alternate options, attempt Olivia’s Cafe at Previous Key West or Grand Floridian Cafe at Grand Floridian–each of which serve wonderful fried rooster that’s on par with Homecomin’.
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare – It is a difficult one since 1900 Park Fare simply reopened after a multi-year closure. As we’ve seen with each character restaurant that has had a delayed return, there’s been a mixture of pent-up demand for that venue and preliminary capability constraints because the areas workers up and hit their stride. There’s undoubtedly some extent of that with 1900 Park Fare, too.
Nevertheless, this restaurant has additionally been reimagined in a manner that hasn’t occurred with different character eating experiences, main us to conclude that it in all probability has extra longevity. At minimal, its “new meal scent” will maintain bookings by means of its first few months at which level Free Eating demand will takeover and carry it by means of the remainder of the yr. However we’re anticipating 1900 Park Fare to be a sizzling ticket effectively into 2025, and maybe past.
For reference, 1900 Park Fare ADRs had been by no means this difficult pre-closure. It was center of the pack, typically having comparatively final minute availability. Our intestine says that the character adjustments, unpopular as they’re with diehards, have given 1900 Park Fare wider enchantment. Nonetheless, it’s not iconic like a number of different Walt Disney World character eating experiences, so we ultimately anticipate 1900 Park Fare to drop off this record.
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare – That is listed individually as a result of breakfast at 1900 Park Fare is markedly harder to ebook than dinner. On the 60 mark, I can discover quite a lot of choices for dinner. In contrast, I can’t discover something for breakfast–not even a single desk–with out having the 60+10 benefit. It’s a giant distinction, however in step with what we’ve seen for different breakfast vs. dinner character eating spreads.
With that stated, we do marvel if Free Eating season will flip the script. Whereas each are good makes use of of Disney Eating Plan credit, dinner is prime tier. If fewer friends are paying out-of-pocket and as a substitute utilizing DDP credit, it stands to motive that extra would go for the pricier meal. However we will see.
Alternate options to 1900 Park Fare embody Story E-book Eating at Artist Level, Cinderella’s Royal Desk, and Akershus Royal Banquet Corridor.
House 220 Lounge – That is listed individually from House 220 Restaurant as a result of it’s, technically, a unique choice. Not solely is it a definite ADR, however it’s additionally way more troublesome to ebook. That is one other white whale for me. We did the House 220 Lounge a few instances when it first opened, however have been shut out ever since. (I may’ve performed it by way of walk-up a couple of instances, however that meant sitting on the precise bar with no view into outer house.)
House 220 Lounge is such a troublesome ADR for 2 causes (above and past common House 220 Restaurant): provide and that it provides an a la carte menu that may be cheaper. With far fewer tables and the prospect to dine in house on a dime, its recognition is sky-high. Additionally, I personally want the view from these seats, however I actually don’t assume others are taking my private preferences into consideration when reserving the lounge versus the restaurant.
Victoria & Albert’s – Chef’s Desk goes in a short time, largely due to restricted provide: it’s an intimate expertise with just one seating per evening. The primary eating room is less complicated since there are extra tables, however it nonetheless could be a large problem due to shortage.
Victoria & Albert’s profitable accolade after accolade in all probability doesn’t damage with demand, both. This is without doubt one of the few Walt Disney World eating places that’s elite by actual world requirements, possible making it interesting to 4 Seasons, Golden Oak, and so on. friends in search of a classy eating expertise.
Sadly, there is no such thing as a appropriate various to Victoria & Albert’s. The closest you’ll in all probability get is Monsieur Paul within the France pavilion or Takumi-Tei in Japan. There’s additionally Capa or Ravello at 4 Seasons Orlando or Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Perhaps a couple of different third occasion choices I’m forgetting.
No Longer or Not Presently Tough ADRs
Be Our Visitor Restaurant – Ever since Be Our Visitor Restaurant moved to a Signature prix fixe three-course lunch and dinner menu, which requires 2 credit on the Disney Eating Plan, its recognition has dropped off. ‘Forcing’ friends to make use of 2-credits from the Disney Eating Plan or pay for an costly meal out of pocket has discouraged many friends from doing Be Our Visitor Restaurant. It additionally hasn’t helped that the tides have turned and visitor sentiment is now largely unfavourable in the direction of it.
We’re conserving Be Our Visitor Restaurant right here as a result of we may see that altering. It looks like one thing’s gotta give. Its menu, DDP standing, meal companies–one thing. It’s uncommon for any restaurant to go from that in style to being mid-tier, however that’s kind of what occurred right here.
Dinner alternate options embody Skipper Canteen in order for you a enjoyable themed atmosphere, or Akershus and Cinderella’s Royal Desk in order for you a eating in a royal atmosphere expertise. The latter two eating places are additionally troublesome to ebook and are expensive, in order that might not be a lot assist.
Bon Voyage Journey Breakfast – Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is now not a troublesome ADR as a result of the Bon Voyage Journey Breakfast continues to be (quickly?) suspended. It truly boggles my thoughts that it hasn’t returned, which I beforehand attributed to a princess scarcity. Now…I dunno? Perhaps they’ve found tables flip over a lot sooner with out characters?
In some unspecified time in the future, Bon Voyage Journey Breakfast might be going to return. Or a brand new character eating idea will debut right here. If and when that occurs, it’s certain to be one of many hottest tickets once more, simply because it was earlier than.
Lunch and Dinner at Akershus – This princess meal within the Norway pavilion at EPCOT has misplaced lots of its luster since shifting to 2-credits on the Disney Eating Plan for lunch and dinner. Previous to that, it was the #1 worth on the Disney Eating Plan, and fairly in style consequently. The 1-credit breakfast continues to be moderately in style, however not impossibly so.
Whereas we’re on the subject of character eating that not too long ago turned 2-credits, we must always be aware that Storybook Eating at Artist Level is borderline. It has dropped off quite a bit within the final yr, however it’s nonetheless removed from simple to ebook–particularly for bigger events. And we wouldn’t be stunned to see it make this record throughout Free Eating when households have credit to burn and don’t actually care concerning the one vs. two credit score worth proposition, because it was a “free” (air quotes) Disney Eating Plan, anyway. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless too early to inform whether or not this will probably be a extremely coveted ADR, or if it’s going to settle into extra modest recognition.
Alternate options embody Backyard Grill in order for you an EPCOT character repair (with higher meals, in my estimation) or Cinderella’s Royal Desk in Magic Kingdom. Regardless that the latter is dearer, we expect it’s the higher character meal. Plus, who can exist eating inside Cinderella Fort?!
Eating places that didn’t make the lower however that may be pretty troublesome embody Seashores & Cream, By way of Napoli, Rose & Crown, Minnie’s Seasonal Eating (particularly throughout Free Eating), just about all different character meals throughout Free Eating, and most particular choices just like the Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle or the Fantasmic Eating Bundle.
A couple of others which were traditionally troublesome embody Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, and Chef Mickey’s. Extra not too long ago attributable to value will increase or coverage adjustments, I’d say these eating places have change into a lot simpler to ebook. That doesn’t imply they’re downright simple, however gone are the times of those being must-book eating choices 60 days out.
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Your Ideas
Which Walt Disney World eating places do you assume are essentially the most troublesome to ebook? Do you agree or disagree with our record? Any powerful ADRs we didn’t point out? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!