Planning meals 60 days in advance seems like a difficult task. But rest assured, it works out wonderfully when you are in the park. But of course with all aspects of a Disney World vacation, it requires advance. planning. What I most often do is set up one table service dining option per day. I prefer table service for dinner, but will settle for a lunch reservation if that’s all that is available. We will pack breakfast food for our trip and eat that in the morning. So we will eat usually 2 meals in the park.
So how exactly to I get my reservations? Disney allows guests to book all their reservations 60 days before their check in date. So for longer stays I recommend immediately trying to book any hard to get restaurants towards the end of the vacation. I wake up early around 6am EST and start on the My Disney Experience app. It is usually around that time I can make reservations. I have all my choices written down with each day I want them and my backup plans. The key is to move fast and don’t hesitate. Sometimes the time of a reservation is not perfect, but grab it and hold it. We have eaten at all different times and it always works out. Things always work out for Disney Dads.
The best way to pick your restaurants is by using the My Disney Experience App and checking what menus look appealing. It’s easy to filter dining options. I have all the restaurants listed below.
Magic Kingdom
There are plenty of options in Magic Kingdom. Be Our Guest is a signature experience featuring upscale entrees. The Crystal Palace is a character buffet with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Liberty Tree Tavern is one of my favorites in all of Disney World. It is a family style Thanksgiving feast.
For quick service meals, Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland and Pinocchio Village Haus are the best choices with ample seating. Sleepy Hollow has wonderful breakfast treats served all day.
Main Street USA
- Quick Service
- Casey’s Corner
- Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
- Table Service
- Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
- The Plaza Restaurant
- The Crystal Palace (Dad’s Pick)
Adventureland
- Quick Service
- Tortuga Tavern
- Aloha Isle
- Sunshine Tree Terrace
- Table Service
- Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
Liberty Square
- Quick Service
- Sleepy Hollow (Dad’s Pick)
- Columbia Harbour House
- Liberty Square Market
- Table Service
- The Diamond Horseshoe
- Liberty Tree Tavern (Dad’s Pick)
Fantasyland
- Quick Service
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- The Friar’s Nook
- Storybook Treats
- Prince Eric’s Village Market
- Gaston’s Tavern
- Cheshire Cafe
- Table Service
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Be Our Guest Restaurant
Tomorrowland
- Quick Service
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe (Dad’s Pick)
- Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
- Cool Ship
- The Lunching Pad
- Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
EPCOT
What can I say about EPCOT and food. They are synonymous. There are so many choices here. Garden Grill has Mickey and friends on a slowly rotating platform that is really cool. Akershus in Norway has Disney Princesses. Coral Reef is on the other side of the fish tank in the Sea Pavillion. Other than those tips, there is something for everyone so look through the My Disney Experience app.
World Nature, World Celebration, World Discovery
- Quick Service
- Sunshine Seasons (Dad’s Pick)
- Connections Cafe
- Connections Eatery
- Table Service
- Garden Grill
- Coral Reef
- Space 220
World Showcase
- Canada
- Table Service
- Le Cellier Steakhouse
- Table Service
- United Kingdom
- Quick Service
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop
- Table Service
- Rose & Crown
- Quick Service
- France
- Quick Service
- L’Artisan des Glaces
- Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
- Table Service
- Chefs de France
- Quick Service
- Morocco
- Quick Service
- Oasis Sweets & Sips
- Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina
- Table Service
- Spice Road Table
- Quick Service
- Japan
- Quick Service
- Katsura Grill
- Kabuki Cafe
- Table Sevice
- Tokyo Dining
- Teppan Edo
- Quick Service
- The American Adventure
- Quick Service
- Fife & Drum
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
- Quick Service
- Italy
- Quick Service
- Gelateria Toscana
- Table Service
- Tutto Italia Ristorante
- Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
- Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
- Quick Service
- Germany
- Quick Service
- Sommerfest
- Karamell-Kuche
- Table Service
- Biergarten Restaurant
- Quick Service
- China
- Quick Service
- Lotus Blossom Cafe
- Table Service
- Nine Dragons Restaurant
- Quick Service
- Norway
- Quick Service
- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
- Table Service
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- Quick Service
- Mexico
- Quick Service
- La Cantina de San Angel
- Table Service
- San Angel Inn Restaurante
- La Hacienda de San Angel (Dad’s Pick)
- Quick Service
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom has the least dining options. Rainforest Cafe is fun, but expensive and not worth it. The other table service restaurants a very limited in cuisine and not appealing for people with limited appetites. I usually have a quick service meal for lunch then eat back at the resort for dinner. An Animal Kingdom starts and ends early. These nights end up at the resort pool.
- Quick Service
- Flame Tree Barbecue
- Pizzafari
- Nomad Lounge
- Pongu Pongu
- Satu’li Canteen
- Harambe Market
- Restaurantosauras
- Table Service
- Tiffins Restaurant
- Rainforest Cafe (Located at Park Entrance)
- Tusker House Restaurant
- Yak & Yeti
Hollywood Studios
There aren’t many table service options here, but they are all good. Sci-fi Diner is really fun with cars for tables at the drive in. Rosie’s All American Cafe and Catalina Eddie’s are next to each other by Tower of Terror. Between the two, there are plenty of options and a nearby stand for beer and alcohol.
- Quick Service
- Rosie’s All American Cafe (Dad’s Pick)
- Catalina Eddie’s (Dad’s Pick)
- Fairfax Fare
- Dockside Diner
- ABC Commissary
- Epic Eats
- Backlot Express
- PizzeRizzo
- Woody’s Lunch Box
- Ronto Roasters
- Oga’s Cantina
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Milk Stand
- Table Service
- The Hollywood Brown Derby
- Baseline Tap House
- Hollywood & Vine
- 50’s Prime Time Cafe
- Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- Sci-fi Diner