11 Easy Advanced Dining Reservations at Disney World
Every visit to Walt Disney World is terrific. It’s why you fantasize about going back as often as you can. Sometimes, you’ll book a spontaneous trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth. On other occasions, you’ll schedule a vacation long in advance but forget to book any meals. In both of these situations, you’ll need a plan on where you can eat well without having to wait. Here are 11 of the easiest Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at Walt Disney World.
1. 50’s Prime Time Café
I’ve structured this list so that you can find a place in a pinch no matter where you are on the Disney campus. You’ll find options at all four theme parks plus Disney Springs, some resorts, and even the BoardWalk. That way, you’re sure to find something that fits your plans and schedule.
Photo Credit: https://blog.dvcrequest.com/dining-spotlight-50s-prime-time-cafe-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one of the best themed restaurants rarely books up. 50’s Prime Time Café is a family affair wherein cast members pretend like they’re an aunt or uncle or cousin. And the food is extremely heavy and filling. You’ll have a wonderful time when you eat here. Plus, you’ll get all the protein you need to fuel your next theme park push.
2. 1900 Park Fare
For some reason, one of the best character meals at Walt Disney World isn’t one of the most popular ones. As I type this, an Advanced Dining Reservation is available for dinner tonight at 1900 Park Fare, which makes me wish that I were in Orlando right now. I’d totally go.
The Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner is one of the most novel dining experiences at Walt Disney World. A beloved Disney Princess hosts the gathering, along with her fella, Prince Charming. But the stars of the show are an Evil Stepmother and her vain, shallow daughters. You’ll laugh uproariously when you play along with the bad girls at this character meal.
3. Biergarten Restaurant
The World Showcase at Epcot offers a veritable cornucopia of exquisite restaurants. For whatever reason, some are more popular than others. It’s not a bad thing, though. You’ll find a handful of well-regarded and thematic eateries with ample availability.
For example, Biergarten serves authentic Bavarian cuisine in huge portions. It’s another place where you’ll need a hearty appetite to get the most of your experience. And you can usually get an Advanced Dining Reservation only days before your arrival.
4. Boma – Flavors of Africa
Sometimes, your best bet for an easy Advanced Dining Reservation is an official Disney resort. The food is outstanding at these places, but most of the guests dining there are staying at the hotel. For that reason, competition isn’t as fierce for reservations.
This list includes four such places, but you should keep the premise in mind for others. Only a few resorts are exceptions, places like ‘Ohana, Chef Mickey’s, and California Grill. Otherwise, when you’re in a pinch, look to the resorts for a delicious meal that’s easy to book!
One of my favorite places to eat is Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The cuisine here is unlike any that you’ve ever had before unless you’ve traveled to Africa or tasted authentic African cuisine previously. The flavors will blow your mind, and you can finish the meal with Zebra Domes, one of the most fabulous desserts at Walt Disney World. For no apparent reason, Boma’s rarely sold out.
5. Cape May Café
Disney’s Beach Club Inn has functioned as my home base during many vacations. Over the years, I’ve grown attached to all of the restaurants here. The easiest one to find is Cape May Café, which hosts a delightful character breakfast starring Minnie Mouse.
In the evening, the place serves fish, and you’ll know this because you’ll smell the food anytime you walk near here. You can always find it just by following the smell! Presuming that intense fishy aromas are pleasing to you, the seafood dinner is divine.
6. Coral Reef Restaurant
Dining at Epcot is always excellent. With so many phenomenal menu options, any lackluster meal is a colossal disappointment. I say this because opinions about Coral Reef are mixed. Some guests love the flavors here, while others believe that the theming is vastly superior to the cuisine.
Here’s what I’ll say on the subject. Coral Reef includes a wall that is connected to the massive aquarium at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. You’ll get to watch the fish frolic while you dine. As far as theming goes, that’s impossible to top. So, any entrée may seem like a letdown.
Still, Coral Reef delivers an unforgettable dining experience that I highly recommend. Foodies can do better at the World Showcase, but this is secretly one of the most family-friendly restaurants at Walt Disney World.
7. Grand Floridian Café
The perception of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is that it’s the embodiment of elegance. For this reason, the hotel is a destination for many vacationers, even those that aren’t staying there. Despite this perception, a couple of the restaurants here have slid beneath the radar, which is regrettable.
I already mentioned 1900 Park Fare, which shares an entrance with Grand Floridian Café. Both places are in the lobby and easy to find. While 1900 Park Fare is showier, the cuisine at Grand Floridian Café is sublime. I’ve previously stated that it delivers the best bang for the buck at the resort.
Despite its value, I could get a reservation for a table in 10 minutes if I were so inclined. That’s maddening to me, but it shows just how easily you can book a great meal here.
8. Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
Other than Boma, the most daring place listed here is at…Magic Kingdom? It’s true! The reason why you can book an ADR here is because of the cuisine. It’s admirably ambitious and globally influenced.
The conceit at Skipper Canteen is that you’re an adventurer and international explorer, one who has developed a taste for exotic flavors. As such, the menu here is designed for the hardy of spirit!
For many theme park guests, dishes that they don’t recognize are a non-starter. This explains why the restaurant’s menu has changed several times after just a few years in operation.
Despite the culinary challenges, you should still eat here because the food’s excellent. Also, the experience is inimitable. Your server will provide a similar spiel to what you’d hear on Jungle Cruise, making it the funniest meal you’ll ever have.
9. Kona Cafe
Cousin, I’m going to suggest that you book a reservation at Kona Café. When you do, you’ll be treated like a member of the family…but not in the 50’s Prime Time Café way.
I mean that you’ll be called Cousin a lot as you sit here and people-watch at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. I view this place as one of the hidden gems of Walt Disney World and eat here a couple of times per trip. I highly recommend it and am mystified as to why it’s rarely booked.
Photo Credit: DeliciousLittleBites.com
10. Paradiso 37
Disney Springs can be an oddly difficult place to schedule a reservation. Despite the high volume of restaurants in the area, the demand is such that places do book up. As I type this, 16 out of 22 Disney Springs establishments are fully booked for tonight. Among the others, choices include chains like House of Blues, Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Café. Let’s aim a bit higher.
Paradiso 37 is a tapas joint with a glowing reputation. TripAdvisor reviewers rank it in the top 10 percent of all Orlando restaurants. Despite its obvious appeal, it’s gotten overtaken by a few newer Disney Springs eateries. For this reason, you can get a table here on most nights. And you’ll never regret it. The South American cuisine is flavorful and robust.
11. Trattoria al Forno
While most Disney visitors stop at the World Showcase, the clever ones sometimes keep going all the way out of the park. Just past the International Gateway is the BoardWalk, a place where several restaurants and shops are much less crowded than the ones at Epcot.
Trattoria al Forno is a place that falls victim to this behavior. People get locked into the idea of dining at the Italy Pavilion and ignore the BoardWalk’s Italian restaurant.
Photo Credit: MealTrip.com
In doing so, Disney fans miss one of the best character meals available, The Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast. It features characters from The Little Mermaid and Tangled. Oh, and the food is fantastic, too. The breakfast entrees are among the most impressive you’ll find at Disney and unquestionably the best of any character meal.
Plus, you can book a great Italian meal for dinner on short notice here. At Walt Disney World, that sort of certainty is a blessing.
Look, whether you prefer spontaneity or you just got shut out of the good stuff, Disney has you covered. They operate enough terrific Table Service restaurants that you can book something close to your arrival day. These 11 eateries possess a wonderful combination of delicious cuisine and frequent last-minute availability.
