If you are new to Disney World vacation planning it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into! People fight to book the hard to get dining reservations, waking up before 7 am a 180 days before their Disney vacation just to eat at their favorite spots. People booking trips last-minute are always asking how to book those reservations at the hardest dining reservations to get at Disney World. We have a whole separate article with tips for that here but if you want to hear which ones you need to plan for keep reading! Keep in mind that major holidays, such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas make every reservation hard to get so definitely book those 180 days before your vacation.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Of course, we head straight to the heart of it all to talk about the hardest to get a reservation at Disney World, Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Cinderella’s Royal Table is a character dining experience inside Cinderella’s Castle. Here you get stunning views looking out over Fantasyland. This is popular for special occasions, we even have seen marriage proposals here! Of course, this is also a great place to take your own little princess!
California Grill
Oak-fired Choice Angus Filet of Beef with Black Truffle Risotto, Grilled Delta Asparagus, Cabernet Wine Sauce
My husband and I just LOVE eating here. You will find California Grill at the very top of the contemporary hotel. You have stunning views of Magic Kingdom and can catch both Illuminations and Happily Ever After fireworks if you time your meal right! For more, you can read our full California Grill dining review.
Be Our Guest
This spot offers you another chance to dine in a castle (they are very popular!) in the Magic Kingdom. Head to the back of Fantasyland to find the Beast’s castle. This location is a bit unique because for breakfast and lunch it is quick service but for dinner, it becomes a table service restaurant. Personally, I think lunch is their best meal of the day but if you want to be served, dinner is good too. You can read our full Be Our Guest dining review for more information.
Victoria and Albert’s
Ohana
Ohana Appetizer comes out with Chicken Wings, Pork Dumplings, Noodles and Veggies.
All you care to eat is the name of the game at Ohana inside the Polynesian Village Resort. It’s hard to say which course here is the best, coconut bread, noodles, jumbo shrimp, or bread pudding!!! Number one pro tip is to save room for the bread pudding, it often is the favorite dish from the meal. If you want all the details and more pictures that will make you hungry read our full Ohana dining review.
Le Cellier Steakhouse
AAA Canadian Tenderloin, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus-Tomato Relish, Truffle-Butter Sauce
Tucked in the gardens of Canada at Epcot you can find Le Cellier. It hasn’t been the same experience in recent years with the many changes due to the dining plan. This, however, is the smallest restaurant at Epcot with limited seating this place is always packed. Which also makes it hard to get a reservation here. It has a following for its pretzel bread and my favorite is the mashed potatoes. For more read our full Le Cellier dining review.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
This buffet in Norway at Epcot is so popular for its princess overload. If you want to see as many princesses as possible without a wait this is the perfect spot to go! I would say it’s popularity only increased when people started to find out you could eat here for breakfast and still make it to first in line for Frozen Ever After. As far as the menu it serves up Scandinavian food but there are plenty of offerings for the picky eaters in your family.
Chef Mickey’s
The reviews that come out of the dining location are really mixed but yet it stays in high demand. So why is this restaurant that is at the Contemporary, not a theme park so popular? Well it’s simple, you can meet every single one of the fab five character set: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
The Plaza Restaurant
This hidden gem is at the end of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. The food is pretty plain jane American sandwiches but I just love the atmosphere here. You have a view of the castle and can get a pretty decently priced meal here especially if you have a Tables in Wonderland discount. The dining room here is so small however it’s hard to find a reservation here!
What are your dining must dos at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below. For more dining tips read Most Underrated Disney World Restaurants or if you are a first timer check out Best Disney World Restaurants for First Time Visitors.
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
Trina Dungan
Sunday 19th of May 2019
We are DVC members and I always plan my vacations at Disney around the dining reservations ...Lol!
Aryn
Thursday 14th of June 2018
I once planned a trip around the first ADR I could get for Ohana, at exactly 180 days out. I was sitting on the couch just clicking on every Saturday and Sunday because my boyfriend had never eaten there. This was March, and I got a reservation for 4:00 on a Sunday in September. So then I had to work backwards and get a hotel, other meals, etc! (Also, a good tip is to try to get the first time available, because we were the 2nd group to be seated and pretty much had our pick of window seats!)
We laugh and make fun of it now, but it turns out that was just the first time we'd do something like that. (We're local-ish (Clearwater) and pass holders) We wanted to eat at The Boathouse at Disney Springs, so we secured that reservation, then stayed for the first time at Port Orleans FQ because we thought it'd be fun to take the boat over to Disney Springs. Same thing with the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and the Contemporary, and then Boma and Animal Kingdom Lodge. And yes, we do plan most of our trips around food!!
Patty Staricha
Thursday 14th of June 2018
Planning your trip around food isn't a bad thing!!