New Walt Disney World Dining Reservation Policy

Character dining at Walt Disney WorldIf you’ve ever planned a relatively short notice (think 3 months or less notice) vacation to Walt Disney World, you know it can be a real challenge to book some of Disney’s most popular restaurants. Disney’s current reservation policy allows guests to begin making dining reservations 180 days in advance of their arrival…and there are some restaurants that are full very shortly after that date. I have a family of 5 and it’s hard enough for us to decide where we want to go for dinner TONIGHT, much less 6 months from now but a few of their favorite restaurants require that much advance planning.

Since many people aren’t sure what their plans are 6 months in advance so they book multiple reservations until their plans are more definite. Those extra reservations aren’t always canceled which makes it even tougher for other guests to find availability. Disney has recently started to implement policies to prevent this from happening.

Beginning on October 26, 2011, a new cancellation policy will go in to effect for all character dining. signature dining locations and other popular locations. Disney will now require a credit card guarantee for reservations at the following restaurants:

  • 1900 Park Fare
  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
  • Artist Point
  • California Grill
  • Cape May Café
  • Chef Mickey’s
  • Cítricos
  • Crystal Palace
  • Flying Fish Café
  • Garden Grill
  • Hollywood & Vine
  • Jiko – The Cooking Place
  • Le Cellier Steakhouse
  • Narcoossee’s
  • ‘Ohana
  • Tusker House Restaurant
  • Hollywood Brown Derby
  • Victoria & Albert’s (cancellation policy is $25/per person)
  • Yachtsman Steakhouse

A credit card will be required for guarantee at the time you make a reservation for these locations. Guests who fail to cancel at least 1 day in advance will be charged a $10 per person penalty if they do not show for their scheduled reservation.

The following restaurants will continue to require full pre-payment at the time of booking:

  • Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
  • Mickey’s Backyard BBQ
Disney will also be emailing dining reservation reminders with a link to allow for online cancellation or a dedicated phone number for dining cancellations (407-WDW-CNCL). Guests may also cancel dining reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
So what do you think? Good change or bad change?
See ya real soon!
Lori Hardegree
lori@magicalmemoriestravel.com

3 thoughts on “New Walt Disney World Dining Reservation Policy

  1. While I agree that it should be considered a common courtesy to cancel a dining reservation if you change your plans, I seriously doubt that no-shows have a negative impact on WDW restaurants. If you have ever tried to dine at the most popular restaurants without a reservation, you know it is almost impossible. Even with reservations you often have to wait a long time to be seated, leading me to believe that they overbook. Our trip last December coincided with record-breaking cold weather and by the end of the week my husband and I were both sick. We ended up cancelling our last two reservations several hours before, after it started raining. Had we incurred the fees they are now implementing, I would have been one very unhappy, sick guest.
    I really can’t see that it will make reservations easier to obtain. And if that is not the end result, it’s just another money-maker for Disney.

  2. Pingback: New Walt Disney World Dining Reservation Policy | Visit Mickey | Credit

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