So you have booked a trip to Disney World! That trip isn't for a gazillion months from now, and you have lots of time!
Except for a small thing called Advance Dining Reservations (which aren't reservations at all, really. They are sort of reservations to be on the list).
What Disney World would really like for you to do is to look at the time period for which you are going to travel. Now look at their schedule and figure out what park you want to be in, on what day. What? You aren't going for 8 months? That's crazy! Except. Do a little research (and trust me, it will all work out) and figure out what park you want to be in, on what day (Touringplans.com and EasyWDW.com both have crowd level predictions based on prior history of attendance which should really help in this planning). Just get an idea of what park on what day and file it away. Also, read over the list of restaurants and what they serve and what appeals to you or might appeal to your family. Character dining is available as well as something called signature restaurants which cost more, but (ahem) should be worth it.
At 180 days prior to your trip, the ability to make advance dining reservations opens up (literally, 180 days) at 6am online, Eastern time, and 7am on the phone.
Now that you sort of have a plan on which park on which day, take that information and make some reservations for dining! It does require a credit card to hold the reservation and if you change your mind, do so before 24 hours prior to the reservation or your card will be charged in full.
Hot tickets right now? Be Our Guest restaurant (BOG), Tomorrowland Dessert party, Cinderella's castle, Chef Mickey's, early morning Crystal Palace and prime time Hoop de Doo Review. Newly revamped California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort is great in the evening if you can time it with the Wishes fireworks. The view is lovely.
A personal note, in Epcot, I love Via Napoli (wonderful pizza crust) and in Hollywood Studios, I find the Sci Fi Diner fun (food is ok, sometimes even good but atmosphere is awesome with old thriller movie trailers). When you talk with your friends and with strangers and with anyone, you will find folks who love and who hate the same restaurants. All good. Read the menu, make the BOG reservation (you can cancel later) and relax.
Yes, you will change these plans. You will and it is ok. But a general starting point is good and if you could make some of these reservations early on, it will take the stress away when you try later and they are all booked. It is pretty nice, once in a while, when you are exhausted and tired and maybe hot, to find a lovely restaurant (that you have made ADR's for) and just walk in and have some peace and quiet (use that term loosely in a theme park).
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