Tag: dinning

10 Walt Disney World Dining tips

jumpthepark

Hey guys, today I will be giving you some great tips for Disney Dining! I hope you enjoy these and let me know in the comments if you guys have tried any.

  1. The Disney Dining plan: The Disney Dining plans are a way to help people save money while dining at Disney World. There are currently three dining plans, but Disney just came out with a new dining plan, check out my Instagram for more information! These plans come in handy if you eat a lot, and like to order the most expensive items on the menu. If this is not you, I would not recommend the Disney Dining plan.
  2. Annual Pass holder and DVC discounts: Most table service restaurants, if not all, either have an annual pass holder or DVC discount. It does vary between restaurants, but it’s usually around 10%-20% off your entire meal! If you are members of both, like me, they only accept one discount per person, not per table. So if you have multiple paying guests in your party, everyone can use their discount as long as you have your card and ID to match!
  3. Advanced Dining reservation: These are a necessity, the bear necessities if I might add. These are going to get you into those popular restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table or Garden Grill. You can make these reservations 180 days in advance, so start planning before hand where you would like to go. Also, make sure you are booking reservations right at the 180 day mark for the best results!
  4. Starbucks: There is a Starbucks located within each of the four parks! Be careful, some are hidden and do not look like a traditional Starbucks. If you like to order Starbucks in the parks and have a Disney Dining Plan that has snack credits, consider using the snack credits for your drinks! Adding extra syrups and espresso shots are all included and can make the drink an $8+ credit, which can save you money in the long run!
  5. Crystal Palace: I wrote on another post about how great this restaurant is for breakfast. Here is another great reason why you should eat at The Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace opens one hour before the park does, so getting that 8am breakfast reservation is a plus. You can get into the park for your reservation, then eat and take pictures with characters while everyone else is still waiting to get into the parks. Once you have finished eating, you can take advantage of some non-crowded picture opportunities. You can also use this as a head start to your day and maybe rope drop Splash Mountain or Peter Pan’s Flight if you weren’t able to get a Fastpass.
  6. Hollywood and Vine: For those of you who have little ones who are wanting to sign up for the Jedi Training Academy, consider making a reservation at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios. Like The Crystal Palace, you can eat at 8am and be on your way to get an early sign up spot for the Jedi Training Academy.
  7. Coral Reef: If you are dining at Coral Reef in EPCOT, consider arriving early for your reservation and ask for a tank side seat. Just let them know you are willing to wait as it might be a while. Dining right next to the tank verses dinning a few rows up, definitely makes a difference.
  8. Be Our Guest Restaurant: If you are planning to eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant for lunch, consider making a dining reservation. While you can wait in line, it’s usually longer at lunch and may take a while.
  9. Fireworks at Cinderella’s Royal Table: For those of you who have already seen the fireworks from Main Street at Magic Kingdom, I recommend trying a new point of view and watching them from Cinderella’s castle. Make a reservation one hour before the fireworks start and request a window seat when you check in. You won’t be able to see the whole show, but it will be a truly magical experience!
  10. Be Flexible: Let’s face it, the best times to eat are the ones that are booked first. Being flexible comes in handy if you are okay with eating dinner at 8:30pm or Breakfast at 11:00am. You will have a lot more eating options if you do it this way. I’d rather eat a little later at an amazing restaurant, than not go because I couldn’t find a reservation at 6pm.

There you have it guys! I hope these help you plan out your dining experiences on your next Disney Trip. As always let me know what other tips you guys have in the comments. Thank you!