These Will Be the Hardest Disney World Restaurant Reservations to Get in 2026

Let’s talk about a time when I tried and failed miserably to get a dining reservation for Topolino’s Terrace. This was when it had first opened, and EVERYONE was hoping to get in, and for good reason.

New restaurants are some of the hardest to get into anyway, but add on top of it being new the fact that you can dine with Mickey and friends, and, boy, did I miss out by not looking for an opening right at the 60 days in advance mark. I want to keep that from happening to you next year!

If you’re headed to Disney World in 2026 and you’re hoping to get dining reservations, you should know that this can be a tricky task for any table-service restaurant, but especially a select few. I’ve compiled a list of what we believe will be the hardest reservations to get in 2026 at Disney World — and I’m sharing them with you now, so you can prepare!

How To Make Dining Reservations

When you’re planning a vacation to Disney World and you want to book dining reservations, it’s important to know that you can do so 60 days in advance of your trip. Oftentimes, this is a crucial date that you don’t want to miss. If you are staying at a Disney World hotel, you can book dining for every day of your trip (up to 10 days) 60 days from your check-in date. So be sure to jot this IMPORTANT date in your planner in ink, especially if you’re looking for a reservation for the following popular restaurants in 2026.

You can make reservations via the Disney World website or My Disney Experience App — where they typically open about 6 AM ET. Or you may call Disney World at 407-WDW-DINE (3463). Phone lines open at 7AM ET. Be sure to have a credit card handy — many restaurants require a card to secure the reservation.

And if you’re planning to book at one of these eight restaurants, be prepared to move fast! We predict they will be among the hardest to get in 2026.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

This forever-popular restaurant is once again expected to fill up its dining reservations VERY quickly all of 2026. Cinderella’s Royal Table is located inside of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, making it a very sought-after experience. The food is yummy, but the experience is truly about meeting the princesses and being IN the castle.

This is a fan-favorite for a reason, and we’ve enjoyed it every time we’ve been. Looking at the calendar, it’s already filling up for January, so you’ll definitely want to be on top of these reservations 60 days out to guarantee your meal.

Wailulu Bar & Grill

Wailulu Bar & Grill is the brand-new restaurant located at the new Disney Vacation Club villas and bungalows, Polynesian Resort, Island Tower. Up until recently, this restaurant has been open for walk-ins only. But after December 3rd, 2025, reservations are available.

While Wailulu has only been open a short time, it has quickly become a very popular location. The food is fantastic, the views are amazing, and there is gorgeous artwork throughout the restaurant. It’s obvious why these reservations will disappear quickly in the coming year.

Victoria & Albert’s

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, Victoria & Albert’s is it. This Michelin Star restaurant is known for its sophistication, class, and amazing fare. You’ll enjoy a multi-course, formal dining experience.

The Grand Floridian restaurant only takes a few dining reservations each night and has a very strict dress code. Kids must be at least 10 years old to dine here, and the prix fixe menu begins at $295 per guest. If this is something you’re interested in experiencing, make sure you’re grabbing those reservations ASAP.

Garden View Lounge

Disney announced that the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian Resort will once again reopen after a FIVE-year closure! It’s expected that this special spot will be available again early in 2026 with a new tea experience.

This is something we have dearly missed, and we’re so happy to know that it is finally returning. However, this means that you’ll have to be on top of things if you’re hoping to get reservations for the tea experience in 2026.

Beak and Barrel

The Beak and Barrel is the new Pirates of the Caribbean lounge that opened in Magic Kingdom during the summer of 2025. Since its opening, it has had WILD success. Disney has even placed a time limit on how long you can stay in the lounge to ensure more people get to experience this very cool spot.

Reservations have been tough to come by in 2025, and we don’t see that stopping in 2026.

The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant

Another restaurant that is still very new is The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers. This restaurant may be known for its cakes and baked goods, but everything here is fantastic. We have not had a bad item, and we LOVE the atmosphere.

You’ll find this restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and similar to Cinderella’s Royal Table, its 2026 reservations are already filling up! Hot tip for this one: Reservations are also available on the Open Table app, so check there if you can’t get one through Disney World.

Geo-82

The brand-new Spaceship Earth-themed lounge, Geo-82, is quickly becoming a fan favorite. Since it is so new, reservations are HIGHLY encouraged if you want to guarantee yourself a seat.

Unlike Beak and Barrel at Magic Kingdom, this EPCOT lounge is only available to guests over 21 years old. So if you’re hoping for an adults-only experience, grab these reservations right away.

Harryhausen’s in Monsters, Inc. Land

Now a caveat for this one — it is highly unlikely that we will see this restaurant in 2026. BUT, Harryhausen’s is the Japanese-style, formal dining restaurant where Mike Wazowski takes Cecilia on a date in Monsters, Inc. Based on concept art for the new Monsters, Inc. Land coming to Hollywood Studios, we are guessing this will be a new dining location, though Disney has yet to officially confirm that.

If the new land opens in 2026 (and as we said, this is highly unlikely, but just in case Disney shocks us), that could mean this new restaurant would open as well. And if that IS the case, we know these reservations will be VERY hard to come by.

Everyone will have to fight the Millennial Disney Adults for a spot at Harryhausen’s whether it opens in 2026, 2027, 2028 or beyond.

There’s a reason these eight dining locations will be difficult to get reservations for in 2026. They are all great places to eat and drink! So if you want to check them out for yourself, make sure you’re online or on the My Disney Experience app precisely 60 days in advance of your trip to make those reservations. And if what you’re looking for still isn’t there, continue refreshing your screen in case something pops up!

If you’re looking for help planning your perfect Disney World vacation, including dining reservations, be sure to check out our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. In the meantime, keep following AllEars for all your Disney news!

Disney World Dining Reservations: Smart Moves and Common Mistakes

Which Disney World restaurant do you hope to try in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

Post a Comment