I used these tips for hard to get dining reservations at Disney World and it paid off!
Ariel, Cinderella, Elsa — it can be a challenge to pick a favorite Disney princess. But for my oldest, it has always been Belle. Ever since she was teeny tiny, she identified the most with the princess she most nearly resembles.
Tips for Hard to Get Dining Reservations at Disney World
As we researched for our first trip to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I knew one of the things on our “Must Do” list was dine at Be Our Guest, a Beauty & the Beast themed-dining experience. But since it’s one of the hard to get dining reservations at Disney World, I wasn’t positive I’d be able to land one.
If you’ve never had the pleasure, the Be Our Guest restaurant takes guests into an amazing recreation of Beast’s castle from the classic Disney movie, Beauty & the Beast. A beautifully recreated Grand Ballroom serves as the main dining room, and it is spot-on. The painted cherubs on the high, domed ceilings and the snow-topped arches transport you to the French enchanted castle.
Be Our Guest is an unbelievable experience, and therefore, one of the hard to get dining reservations at Disney World. Being a priority of ours, we knew we had to make it happen.
Tips for Hard to get Dining Reservations at Disney World.:
- Book Early. For many restaurants at Walt Disney World, you can make reservations up to 180 days in advance. It is strongly recommended you make reservations, especially for dinner. You can book through the Disney World website or by using the My Disney Experience app (which I highly recommend).
- Get Help. {Sorry, y’all – this option is no longer available} I signed up for a program called Disney Dining Buddy. After entering my dining preferences, I was alerted by my choice of text, email, or both when a reservation became available. I wasn’t sure it would work, but for $8 I took the risk…and it paid off!
- Keep Trying. I purposefully didn’t cancel my notifications from Disney Dining Buddy once I had booked our reservation. I was shocked by how frequently I was alerted the week of our trip. The cancellation policy at Walt Disney World restaurants varies but some (Be Our Guest included) charge a fee for cancellations or no shows, so quite a few spots opened up the day before our trip. Perseverance pays off! I have heard tales of some who walked up the morning of, and heck it can’t hurt to ask!
Although making hard to get dining reservations at Disney World can take some work, I assure you the food, the experience, and the smiles on your children’s faces make the perseverance worth it. “And now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents…your dinner.”
Have you scored any hard to get reservations?
Looking for fun ways to tell your family you’re going to Disney World? Here is a FREE “We’re Going to Disney World” Printable Puzzle.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
Great tips. I feel like we have had issues with Chef Mickey’s a few times, but I keep calling every day until there is a cancellation. Persistence pays off 🙂
Tracey says
These are great tips. I know getting reservations can be really hard but it is so worth the work!
Christy Maurer says
I have heard that you have to book the Be Our Guest months out! It also helps to ask your hotel concierge if you stay onsite. That is how we got ours 10 years ago at the hard to get Grand Floridian with Cinderella…before the Cinderella’s castle opened for eating.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Thanks for these great tips. Disney World is a great place, but you really have to know the ins and outs to make the most of your visit.
Kecia says
My family and I are going to Disneyworld next Christmas. I’m going to use these tips to hopefully book a few dining experiences for us! Thank you so much for sharing!!
nicóle @nicky_olea says
Oh Belle is my favorite too, not because I look like her, but because well… the books, and Beauty and the Beast was always my favorite fairy tale as a child.
I’m so glad you’re little Belle had the opportunity to experience Be Our Guest!
Jeanette says
I didn’t even know that you had to make a reservations to get in restaurants. WOW! Good to know! At some point we are going to go there with our kiddo.
Allison says
I had no idea that you had to make reservations for stuff like this in Disney! Great tips – and this looks like such a memorable experience!
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
helpful tips! Would love to do this with my kids, how fun!!
Catherine S says
These are great tips. I try to check back often and see if they end up with openings.
fancygrlnancy (Nancy Partin) says
Great tips.. I would love to take my boys to somethign like these events.
Jeanine says
This is great to know! We’ve never been to Disney but I plan to take my kids in the next few months
Jeannette says
I’m so glad that our travel agent handled all of this for us because it really did make the process so easy! And I agree, this is one of the restaurants you can’t miss!
ARod says
Some great tips, thanks so much for sharing. I have a couple of years before its time to take the grandson there, but i’m already excited for it. It’s such a magical place.
Debra says
Great tips – we’re going to Disney in August and we have some of our meals booked. I’m going to try out the dining service you suggested, for $8 – that’s not much to risk!
Ellen ThatChicMom says
Thank you for the tips, when we eventually make it to Disney we will need these tips. Those restaurants look fabulous.
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) says
I hadn’t ever heard of the Dining Buddy, but that’s a great price for such a useful tool! I am sure I’ll use it next time we go!
Debra says
What a gorgeous place! We usually head to Disneyland not Disneyworld but we definitely make reservations for where we want to eat!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
My kids are such big fans of that movie! I’m sure they’d love that dining experience!
Raijean says
I know first hand how difficult it is to get reservations. Thank you for the tips, I will use them the next time I”m there.
Holly @ Woman Tribune says
The Be Our Guest restaurant sounds like such an incredible experience. I have always been a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast and would so love to see a recreation of that atmosphere in real life. Booking as early as possible is a really good tip.
Deb@SimplePlate says
What great tips. I’m sending this over to my daughter, since they’re thinking of heading to the house of mouse soon! So much has changed since I was there when the kids were small!
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon says
This is GREAT info!!! thank you–very dissappointing when you don’t get into “the” special place–have to tell my sister in law about the app–they are heading down next week!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
Oh I have been there. Since we have a big family it can be super hard to get reservations. The key is to keep trying like you said.
Chrystal | YUM eating says
I am a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast. It came out when I was in high school. Before that, there were not a lot of princesses to pick from. Belle was one I could relate to. Bookworm. I would love experience the Be Our Guest.
Ora Lee Gurr says
Our biggest score was at Blue Bayou in Disneyland. Someone cancelled just as we walked up and we got their immediate seating. Yoho, yoho, a Pirate’s life for me. The Disney Dining Buddy sounds like a great program to try. Great post and hints!
Michele says
I am so happy for your little girls that you managed to get that reservation!! I am sure it took time and effort but was probably worth every second and extra money you spent just to see the looks on their faces.
Amber Edwards says
Great tips! I have never been to Disney so I had no idea there were places that were hard to get reservations for. Good to know before we ever go what to expect and how to get what we want.
Danielle K says
These are all very good tips. We had to book Be Our Guest 180 days in advance and I even stayed up until midnight just to try and snag a booking. It’s such a fun restaurant and totally worth it though 🙂
Amber C. says
Awesome tips! I can’t wait to take my kids to Disney World once baby girl gets a little older! They would LOVE it!
Christie says
Yes, getting some of those character meals can be difficult! Thanks for these tips, never knew about the Disney Dining Buddy!
Shell says
What a great tip! I’ll have to try this for our next Disney trip!
Debbie Denny says
That is fantastic you got in. I will keep this in mind.
Avry says
We’ve been to Disneyland but not Disneyworld. I would love to go at some point and take my kids! I like the idea on how to get in and glad you did!!
Diane says
We’ve found we have to book early, it’s the only way to get great restaurants!
Demetra says
These are great tips for getting those hard to find reservations. I usually like to book early but I wouldn’t think to do it 180 days in advance.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I have never visited a Disney Theme Park (and since I don’t have Kids probably never will) but the dining buddy sounds helpful for those who visit there. I don’t have any tips on getting seats I live in NYC so if one place is too full there is bound to be another with seating a stones throw away! LOL 🙂
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
We’ve been to Disneyland and Disney World a few times and I have not heard of this restaurant! What a fun concept. Great tips on how to score a hard to get reservation. We’ve always booked early when we have gone but that’s not always possible. Love knowing about the Buddy program.
Amanda says
We tried to get reservations here and couldn’t. We were so bummed! Hopefully our next trip we will get a reservation!
Carly Brydon says
Thanks for these great tips on getting dining reservations! We’ll be visiting Disney World for the first time next year, so any tips are appreciated! I’ll definitely be getting the My Disney Experience app!
Shannon Gurnee says
This is a really great post! Sounds like a lot of fun for the kids!
Lana says
Hi! Good tips. I just wanted to say that while I’ve had limited success with Disney Dining Buddy, I found a tool that’s been around even longer called WDW Tools that finds my spots much faster. You should update your article to include them!