There are numerous Walt Disney World vacation planning mistakes people make when organizing a trip.  Here are one of those mistakes that you do not want to make!

When you are ready to begin your Walt Disney World vacation planning, you need to make dining reservations 180 days in advance!  There are numerous fabulous restaurants in Walt Disney World, and the most popular restaurants will book up very quickly.  The restaurants that book up typically 180 days in advance are: Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Akershus in Epcot, Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk for breakfast, Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, and the Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

If you want to dine in one of these fabulous restaurants then make a note on your Walt Disney World vacation planning calendar to make your dining reservations 180 days in advance.  I would recommend making them right at 6am Eastern Time in your mydisneyexperience account.  You can also call Disney dining at 7am Eastern Time, but some restaurants may already be fully booked by then.

Even if a restaurant that you want to dine in is not listed above, I would still make your reservations 180 days in advance to be confident you get a suitable time.  I am sure no one in your family wants to eat dinner at 9:45pm at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, for example.  If that happens, the planning you have done for your Walt Disney World vacation has not worked out very well!

If you do encounter a problem because you waited too long while planning your Walt Disney World vacation, you could attempt to get a dining reservation for lunch.  Lunch is not as busy and may get you out of a jam, especially if you know the family is going to be very upset.

Please do not assume you will be able to walk up to a restaurant without a reservation and get on a waiting list.  The host or hostess will either tell you the wait is 2 hours or they may say the dreaded words that will turn your smile into a frown, “We are completely booked tonight.”

My name is Jeffrey Merola and I have written 9 Walt Disney World guide books.  I am an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and the Founder of Mouse Vacation Planning.  I can book your entire vacation package and do the planning for you, especially book all of your dining.  All my planning services are free to you!  Please fill out a free quote form by clicking here = Walt Disney World free quote form