food IS a theme park
I write about and visit the Disney World parks for my job, and I STILL made some mistakes on my recent family trip. We always share our wrongdoings with you, so YOU don’t make the same mistakes!
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
Disney World is constantly changing, and your “foolproof” strategies might not work depending on when you’re going, who you’re traveling with, and other factors like weather or crowd levels. I followed one of our expert dining tips during my trip, and it kept backfiring on me!
If you’re going to Dollywood soon, you may be wondering how dining works — do you need to book reservations in advance or can you just walk up and dine?
Dollywood tickets
There are dozens of places to eat in the park and hotels, and the food here is shockingly delicious. Of course, there are A LOT of snacks to try, but what about when you want to sit down and enjoy a meal? Well, let’s chat about how table service dining works at Dollywood and if you need advanced reservations.
We’ve got a major heads-up for anyone planning to make their Disney World dining reservations tomorrow!
Tramonto Cocktail at Topolino’s Terrace
Whether it’s a major holiday or a long weekend, most holidays tend to bring some serious CROWDS to Disney World! But don’t forget, it’s not just during the trip itself that the increased traffic can impact you — upcoming holidays can also make it more difficult to book reservations while you’re still in the planning stages of your vacation!
There are a lot of things people will tell you that you “absolutely need” for a Disney World trip. Portable charger. Comfy shoes. A backup poncho because Florida weather has the emotional stability of a soap opera villain. But if we’re talking true essentials, the My Disney Experience app is way up near the top of the list.
My Disney Experience App on our phone
At this point, the app is basically your digital trip sidekick, control center, and occasional chaos manager. It’s where you keep track of your plans, check wait times, place Mobile Orders, join select restaurant waitlists, manage Lightning Lane plans, unlock Disney Resort hotel features, and keep an eye on what the heck is happening around you in real time. In other words, this little app is doing a lot of heavy lifting while you’re busy chasing a snack or speed-walking to your next reservation.
Grabbing a dining reservation for your Disney World vacation can be a struggle, but this one tip can help!
The Cake Bake Shop in Disney World
As a former Cast Member, I know how frustrating it can feel for guests when they can’t find a dining reservation at their favorite restaurant. So I would love to take some stress out of your dining reservations and tell you about this one tip that you can use on your next Disney World vacation.
Our DFB team has eaten at every single Disney World restaurant, so when it comes to booking Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs), we know a few things about booking those really hard-to-get reservations.
Homecomin’
When planning a Disney World vacation, there can be a lot of pressure to book the “right” dining reservations. we’re willing to share our secrets on how we grab those coveted restaurant reservations every time. If you miss your window to book, it’s likely that those really coveted reservations will be gone. But don’t worry, we’re sharing our tips!
Disney Springs is home to some of our favorite restaurants and places to shop, and we love that it’s something you can experience for free on your Disney World vacation.
Disney Springs
Parking at Disney Springs doesn’t cost anything, and you can take a bus or boat from your Disney World hotel any day of the week to experience all the shopping and dining district has to offer at no additional charge (unless you choose to dine at a restaurant or purchase something from a store, that will, of course, cost something!). If we’re being totally honest, though, we’re seeing some trends that might be getting a liiiiittle out of control.
After 30 years of dining at Disney World, I’ve learned that while dining reservations can absolutely enhance your trip, not every reservation is worth grabbing.
Full spread from our meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Here at DisneyFoodBlog, we know that Disney World has some incredible food. Over time, I’ve realized that the best dining plan is one that fits your priorities, your park strategy, and how you actually like to vacation. You are spending a lot of time and money on food at Disney World, so you want to enjoy it, and also you don’t regret it! Here are five types of dining reservations I’ve learned to pause before impulse booking.
If you’re going to Disney World without the My Disney Experience app on your phone, you might be sabotaging your vacation!
Magic Kingdom
The My Disney Experience app is the holy grail of Disney World planning. In the app, you’ll find maps, wait times for attractions, Mobile Ordering for food and beverage, dining reservation availability, character meet times and locations, and SO much more. And before you head to the parks for your next visit, you need to know the details of Disney’s big change to the “My Plans” section!
It’s almost time to book one of Disney World’s most popular offerings of the year!
EPCOT Candlelight Processional
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays returns on November 28th, and along with it, we’re getting the return of the iconic Candlelight Processional. This show is one of the most popular offerings of the festival, and if you want to get reserved seating for a performance, then you should know that dining packages open soon!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
