A Former Disney World Cast Member Is Spilling the Secret to Getting Dining Reservations Before 60 Days

Disney has some pretty strict rules about how far in advance dining reservations can be booked; however, there is an app you can use to book certain hard-to-get restaurants earlier!

For most Disney World restaurants, the Advanced Dining Reservation rules are pretty clear: The reservation window opens 60 days in advance (guests staying at Disney World hotels can make reservations for the entire length of their stay, for up to a 10-night stay, 60 days before their arrival date). However, there are some restaurants on property  — specifically those not owned by Disney — that can be booked earlier!

Many restaurants at Disney Springs, as well as a few scattered across a few hotels, are available to book on OpenTable.

OpenTable is a popular reservation service for metropolitan areas around the country, and some outside-owned restaurants in Disney World are available to book through the service. We’ve found that occasionally, when these restaurants are out of availability in Disney’s system, they still have time slots open for that very same day on OpenTable.

Some of the restaurants at Disney World available on OpenTable at Disney Springs include:

Summer House on the Lake

Pros:

• The views of the lake are stunning
• Delicious food, variety of options

Cons:

• It can get loud in here
• Portions are smaller than other restaurants

Favorite Eats:

For entrees, we have loved the Our Famous Herbed Chicken Breast Paillard.  One of our favorite surprises on the menu is the Ahi Tuna Watermelon Tostadas. These tiny tostadas come topped with ahi tuna, watermelon, Hass avocado, and Thai chili. They’re light, fresh, watery (in a good way!), and have a great mix of creamy, crunchy, and chewy textures. Do not forget to visit the Cookie Bar for some incredible cookies.

Jaleo

Pros:

• Delicious food
• Huge portions

Cons:

• Not great for picky eaters
• On the pricer end

Favorite Eats:

The Chorizo Iberico de Bellota is board is made of cured pork chorizo from the legendary free-range, acorn-fed, black-footed Ibérico pigs of Spain. We also love the Patatas Bravas. This is a Jaleo favorite made of fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and aioli.

City Works

Pros:

• Good American food
• Reliable quality
• Brunch here is great

Cons:

• Basic bar food
• Loud environment

Favorite Eats:

The Shared Trio, which is Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese, Queso Dip with Chorizo and Fresno Chilies, and Southern-Fried Popcorn Chicken with Ranch, is delicious. The Crispy Smoked Wings are some of the best we’ve ever had.

Wolfgang Puck

Pros:

• Chef Wolfgang Puck’s delicious dishes
• Heavy portions

Cons:

• Large dining room, so it can get loud
• It takes a while, so you won’t be able to get in and out.

Favorite Eats:

The Bruschetta is made with Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes, Stracciatella Cheese, and Pesto. The Bruschetta was incredible to say the least. The tomatoes in these pieces of bread are very fresh. The Traditional Fettuccine Alfredo is made with Roasted Chicken and Parmesan.

The Edison

Pros:

• Unique dining experience
• Variety of items

Cons:

• The meal takes a while
• Picky eater

Favorite Eats:

The Pulled Pork Hand Pies are so tasty! It is made with a flaky pie dough, slow-roasted pork, cheddar cheese, and cilantro garlic aioli. This dough was beautifully flaky and buttery, and the aioli added a lot of great herby and creamy flavor to the dish that went really well with the hand pies. The PB, B&B Electric Co. is butter-griddled sourdough, peanut butter, smoked bacon, banana, and l.burbank fries. It’s filled with gooey peanut butter, soft bananas, crispy bacon, and then sandwiched between two beautifully done pieces of bread.

Maria & Enzo’s

Pros:

• Great traditional Italian dishes
• Varieties of pasta and different sauces to try

Cons:

• Focused on Italian, so if you don’t like that, this isn’t for you.

Favorite Eats:

The Burrata Caprese is made with tomatoes, basil pesto, sea salt, and ciabatta crostini. The tomatoes were gorgeous, ripe, and juicy, and the basil pesto added brightness that paired well with the tomatoes’ acidity. Also, the Pollo alla Parmigiana is a familiar Italian dish.

Frontera Cocina

Pros:

• Authentic Mexican cuisine
• Great for a special occasion or date night

Cons:

• Can be pricey
• Not great for picky eaters

Favorite Eats:

The Carne Asada might be pricey, but it’s tasty. The steak was well seasoned and a large portion.

Planet Hollywood

Pros:

• Guy Fieri! Burgers
• Fun atmosphere

Cons:

• There are tons of these across America
• It’s not the highest-quality table service restaurant

Favorite Eats:

The High Roller Sampler is a great way to enjoy four of the appetizers available on the menu. The World Famous Chicken Crunch and the Guacamole were standouts on this!

Raglan Road

Pros:

• Unbeatable entertainment
• Fun atmosphere
• Great food

Cons:

• Might not be good for picky eaters
• Loud

Favorite Eats:

Ger’s Bread Pudding is incredible here, and we’d make the trip just for this. This was a buttery, soft bread pudding stuffed with plump raisins and topped with a smooth, velvety custard. The bread is well coated in the custard, and as it sets, it gets just crunchy enough to add a little texture. The raisins add little bursts of sweetness to the bread. This was sweet, but not a sugar high.

Terralina Crafted Italian

Pros:

• Great views
• Solid burger option

Cons:

• There are better Italian restaurants at Disney World
• It’s not an elevated dining experience

Favorite Eats:

The Crafted Burger is made of ground chuck and brisket cooked to your preferred temperature, arugula, tomato, pickled red onion, melted cheddar, and chili-sage aioli all on a toasted bun served with housemade truffle potato chips and garlic pickles. The cheddar cheese seemed to melt and meld with the perfectly cooked beef and smoky brisket flavors while the fresh veggies lent a helping hand in crafting an artisanal burger experience.

Paddlefish

Pros:

• Great for a special occasion
• Great small plate options

Cons:

• It’s seafood-heavy, so some might not enjoy
• Pricey

Favorite Eats:

The  Burrata Panzanella is one of our favorite things here! The burrata is creamy, light, smooth, and fresh all at once. The tomatoes add some amazing texture and brightness to the dish. The cucumber, while a bit watery, adds a crunch and freshness as well.

Wine Bar George

Pros:

• The Brunch here is amazing
• Great for adults
• Unique and delicious food

Cons:

• Can be pricey
• Not great for kids

Favorite Eats:

The Burrata here stands out for us. The Burrata was so fresh and tasty, truly the perfect appetizer to share. But we LOVE the Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites and will always order them!

Morimoto Asia

Pros:

• Great Food
• Elevated Dining Experience

Cons:

• Pricey

Favorite Eats:

The Berkshire Pork Lettuce Wraps are incredibly tender and are packed with flavor. The Morimoto “Buri-Bop” is another favorite. This is a unique dish that is prepared tableside in a hot clay pot that comes out at 450 degrees. It is a Korean-style yellowtail rice bowl with egg yolk. The dish has sweet and citrusy notes and a nice ginger flavor.

Rainforest Cafe

Pros:

• Fun atmosphere
• Great for kids

Cons:

• It’s a chain, so you can visit it in other places
• The food is just okay

The Cake Bake Shop at The Boardwalk

Pros:

• Beautiful atmosphere
• Great food

Cons:

• Pricey

Favorite Eats:

We will keep talking about our love for their Chicken Tenders. We know, it sounds basic, but they were the best tenders we’ve had at Disney World! The desserts really stand out to us here, like the Millionaire Sundae.

The Rainforest Cafe is located at the entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

There are also several restaurants at Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, including:

• Kimonos

Pros:

• Feels elevated, yet approachable
• Great sushi

Cons:

• Can feel out of the way since it’s at Swan and Dolphin
• Can be pricey

Favorite Eats:

The Wagyu beef skewers were easily one of the standout dishes for us. We’re not exaggerating when we say we could eat these until kingdom come. They have great sushi here as well, like the Dragon Roll.

• Il Mulino

Pros:

• Great Italian food
• Great portions

Cons:

• Not overly themed

Favorite Eats:

The Carpaccio Di Carne is spectacular. For entrees, the Rigatoni Con Funghi is a favorite item. It was very savory and aromatic, and the pasta was perfectly cooked, but what really took it to the next level for us was the spicy cherry peppers. It gave the dish a kick that we didn’t expect but totally loved!

• Bourbon Steak

Pros:

• Upscale dining
• Great steak
• Perfect for a special occasion

Cons:

• Pricey

Favorite Eats:

The complimentary Fry Trio. All three of these were awesome. Our favorite was the truffle aioli. The 10-oz Center Cut Filet Mignon was an INCREDIBLE steak.

These restaurants offer reservations that can be booked much further out than the 60-day window on OpenTable. Next time you’re planning a trip to Disney World, keep OpenTable in mind when thinking about dining reservations. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney secrets!

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Have you ever used OpenTable to book a restaurant at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below.

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