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Walt Disney World Dining Overview and Planning
Walt Disney World Resort
With almost 150 restaurants (~ 90 table service) to choose from there is something (and more) for everyone! Whether you are a foodie or just need food to keep you going, Walt Disney World has you covered from authentic cultural cuisine from countries all over the globe to simple comfort foods as well as unique Disney character dining experiences. Whether you are traveling to Walt Disney World for the first or 100th time, having a plan of attack when it comes to dining is important. WDWKingdom.com and WDWKingdomforum.com features pages on almost every eating establishment at Walt Disney World Resort including pictures, menus and reviews and we hope we can assist in your vacation planning.
Looking for Walt Disney World dining menus, locations and descriptions for the theme parks?
• Magic Kingdom • Epcot • Disney’s Hollywood Studios • Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Looking for Walt Disney World dining menus, locations and descriptions for the resorts?
Value Resorts
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Moderate Resorts
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans -French Quarter • Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Deluxe Resorts
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge • Disney’s Beach Club Resort • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
What is the Disney Dining Plan and is it worth it?
The Disney Dining Plan was first introduced in 2005 as a way to pre-pay for your Walt Disney World dining. Only Walt Disney World guests that are vacationing on a Magic Your Way Vacation Package are eligible for any of the dining plans. There are currently five (5) different levels of the Disney Dining Plan including quick service, standard, deluxe, premium and platinum dining plans. Please check out our Disney Dining Plan page for more info.
Are reservations (advanced dining reservations) needed or required at Walt Disney World restaurants?
Short answer is yes! Most table service restaurants book up fast and require you to have an advanced dining reservation in order to dine. You can start to make dining reservations 180 days in advance and although you might not know exactly what you are going to eat that far in advance, we highly suggest taking a solid guess. You will be out of luck at most table service restaurants without making early plans. You can book via the official Walt Disney World website or by calling (407)-WDW-DINE. When you book a reservation you will be asked for a credit card to hold the time. You are not changed at the time of booking but if you do not show or cancel within 24 hours, you will be charged at $10 per person fee. Typically you will not be charged if you show up with less people than originally booked. You can manage your advanced dining reservations directly in your My Disney Experience account.
What is character dining and what restaurants offer this experience at Walt Disney World?
Character dining is offered at select restaurants (please click here for our complete character dining page) and is simply a fun enhancement to a restaurant experience. At each character dining experience a select number of Disney characters walk around and meet and greet with guests at their table. Guests get to enjoy a little interaction including photos, autographs and fun as the characters “join” them for a few minutes at a time. Depending on the experience, expect to interact with about 4-5 different characters during the meal. Whether you are age 1 or 100, if you enjoy character interactions, a Disney character dining experience will bring a smile to your face.
Does Walt Disney World offer discounts on dining?
Historically, Walt Disney World does not discount much but you can find some discounts on dining (only at participating restaurants) if you are an Annual Pass Holder, DVC Member or Tables in Wonderland Member. The Disney Dining Plan may or may not save you money as each situation is different depending on you or your families eating habits. Check out our theme park and resort dining pages to see which restaurants qualify for discounts.
What is Tables in Wonderland at Walt Disney World?
Tables in Wonderland is a dining discount card that can only be purchased by Annual Pass Holders, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members or Florida Residents. Tables in Wonderland gives the holder and up to 10 guests on the same check 20% off including alcohol. Please see our Tables in Wonderland FAQ and information page for more info.
