6 Mistakes Rookies Make at Disney World Restaurants

When it comes to dining at Walt Disney World, there’s a lot that rookie visitors need to keep in mind. From making dining reservations beforehand, all the way through dessert, these common mistakes can have a big impact on a Disney meal.

Fear not, however, we’re here to help. These are the mistakes any rookie Disney diners need to AVOID in order to have a magical Disney meal.

Not Booking a Dining Reservation

Look, we know this is common knowledge for Disney veterans, but — believe it or not — it’s not necessarily common knowledge for first-time visitors that they should be reserving dining for their trip. If that’s you, be aware that the only way to guarantee the restaurant you want and the time you want is to book an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) 60 days beforehand. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay) beginning 60 days in advance of your arrival date. However, if you’ve already missed your chance, there is an alternative you can try…

Not Taking Advantage of Walk-Wp Waitlists

While an ADR is preferable, there is a way to try to get into a Disney World restaurant without one. Specifically, you can add your party to the walk-up list for select table-service restaurants on the Walt Disney World app. Simply:

• Check availability at participating restaurants via the app—or by scanning a QR code located in the restaurant’s lobby. There’s no need to visit the host stand to check availability.
• Use the app to add your party to the walk-up list of an available restaurant. At this time, you can also confirm your party details, including special dietary requests.
• Once your table is ready, you’ll be notified to proceed to a specified location.

Giving in to “Peer Pressure”

Whether it’s the buffet in the middle of the Contemporary’s Grand Canyon Concourse ambiance of Chef Mickey’s, the island vibes of Ohana, or the “right off the screen” grandeur of Be Our Guest, there are many Disney restaurants that first-time visitors will be told they “have” to go to. However, not every restaurant is right for every guest. Instead of giving in to peer pressure, do your own research — and read our reviews — to see which restaurant works best for you and your party. Speaking of research…

Not Checking the Menu Beforehand

We’d definitely advise checking out the menu of your planned restaurant before your arrival. Obviously, you don’t need to make a firm decision until you’re seated, but it’s a good idea to have some options in mind and a general idea of the menu beforehand. Especially since some Disney menus can be overwhelming at first glance.

Not Timing Their Dining Reservations Around Showtimes

While getting a perfectly timed dining reservation can be tricky — and if you REALLY want a certain restaurant, you may have to take what you can get — you should keep other experiences you’d like to have. For example, if you want to see EPCOT’s 9:00 PM nighttime spectacular, making an 8:00 reservation isn’t a good idea.

Overeating

So overeating can go two ways. First off, there’s before your meal. As tempting as it may be, you don’t want to load up on popcorn, Mickey Pretzels, and DOLE Whip to the point where you’re not hungry during your meal.

Then, there’s during your meal. Now, you may want to make the most of your table service meal and indulge in appetizers, desserts, etc. However, just keep in mind that if you’re planning to, say, eat some ice creamwhile  watching the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks from Main Street, you may want to leave some room.

If you’re heading to a Disney restaurant for the first time — or the first time in a while — make sure to avoid making these mistakes. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips.

I Can’t Be the Only Disney Adult Who Thinks About This Abandoned Restaurant in the Middle of the Night

Did you make any of these rookie mistakes on your first visit to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below.

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