How to Use Disney's Dining Reservation Search Feature | Walt Disney World
New dining reservation features for Walt Disney World Resort
There’s a new feature that will help you when making dining reservations for Walt Disney World restaurants. You can now view availability for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at once.
Prior to this change, you would have to start a new search if you wanted to check a different meal time.
How is this helpful? Let’s say you want to have dinner at Chef Mickey’s Character Restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but you’re not seeing availability.
At this point, you’re open to going to breakfast.
On the old system, you would have to start your search over if you wanted to check breakfast availability.
Now, you can see all available meal times on one screen, without having to restart your search.
Here’s how to use the dining reservation feature:
First, it’s important to know that this feature only unlocks when you search for the restaurant by name. If you use the general “Check Dining Availability” link in the app, this will not work.
In the Disney World mobile app or website, you will need to search for the restaurant using the magnifying glass.
Click on the restaurant in the search results.
Enter the number of diners in your party
Select your date
You’ll now see all available reservations for that restaurant.
Dining reservations become available 60 days in advance, at 6 a.m. ET online.
Disney World has also announced that guests will soon be able to see restaurant availability for up to 10 days, all on a single search.
This will help guests who booked a Disney World vacation package because they have the added benefit of booking dining reservations for the length of their stay, up to 10 days.
Want to see more about dining at Disney World? Check out my Guide to Disney Dining Plans here.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Update on the NEW DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
See photos and video of the new DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Work continues on the Disney Vacation Club Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This week crews began installing an overhang on the highest point on the roof.
A coat of primer is being added to both side of the resort. It’s expected that the final coat of paint will match the other buildings at the Polynesian - dark brown.
Disney has not released details yet on the DVC Tower including points charts and the official name. Stay tuned for more updates.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Insiders Look at the Disney World 4-Park Magic Ticket
Is the Disney World 4-Day Magic Ticket right for you?
There’s no better way to spend quality time with family and friends than a summer vacation at Walt Disney World Resort!
The 4-Park Magic Discount Ticket at Disney World
You can purchase the 4-Park Magic Ticket which includes one day of admission to each of the four theme parks for a total of 4 admissions, on 4 separate days for $99 per day (plus tax).
No theme park reservations are needed. In this article, I’ll show you how you can combine this ticket with a Disney World hotel stay and how to save on the nightly room rate.
How the 4-Park Magic Ticket Compares to a Standard Disney World Ticket
$99 Per Day
Purchase the 4-Park Magic Ticket for $99 per day plus tax ($396 total plus tax). Tickets expire seven days from first use, or Sept. 29, 2023, whichever comes first.
This special promo ticket costs slightly more than a 3-Day Standard Disney World Ticket, but less than a Standard 4-Day ticket.
Flexible Disney World Touring
Standard Disney World Ticket
With a Standard Disney World Ticket, you can choose the parks you would like to visit in any combination.
For example, you may decide to visit Magic Kingdom on two separate days.
Theme Park reservations are required and ticket prices vary by day.
Standard tickets can be included in Disney World Resort Packages and are refundable according to the package terms. In short: cancel by 30 days prior to arrival for a full refund.
4-Park Magic Ticket
The 4-Day Magic Ticket gives you one admission to each of the 4 Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom) but you cannot repeat a park visit.
Of course, you will be able to leave and return to the same park on the same day.
Theme Park reservations are not required with a 4-Park Magic Ticket and ticket prices do not vary by day.
Disney World Packages: 4-Park Magic cannot be included in a Disney World Resort Package and it is non-refundable once purchased. However, it can be combined with a resort stay so that it resembles a package, but with different terms and conditions.
Plan a Summer Vacation at Walt Disney World
I can help you plan a Walt Disney World Resort stay with the Four Park Magic Ticket with an easy-to-understand price quote and booking process.
When you combine the 4-Day Magic Ticket discount with one of the summer room offers available on select Walt Disney World hotels, you can save big this summer.
Right now you can save up to 25% off the nightly room rate at most Disney World hotels. Disney Visa offers are also available for card members. View all Disney World offers here.
Let’s get started now - click here.
When you can use the 4-Park Magic Ticket
This discounted Walt Disney World Ticket is valid for admission from June 1, 2023, through September 29, 2023.
It is blocked out from July 1 to July 4 and September 1 to September 4, 2023.
Ticket excludes activities/events separately priced.
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
From experiencing the rush of the new TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park and delighting in the spectacle of Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to setting out on a thrilling whitewater adventure on Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and putting your very own concept car through its paces on Test Track at EPCOT it’s time to take advantage of this Disney World ticket discount.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Disney's Polynesian Village Resort: Where You'll Find the Resort View Rooms
Where you’ll find the Resort View rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Resort View rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are the most economical and can be found throughout the resort. Some offer more privacy while others offer a convenient location. Let’s take a look at where you’ll find the best Resort View rooms based on what’s more important to you.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
If you’re looking to make a room request at this resort, it’s important to make your request within the category you booked. For example, if you booked a Resort View room but request a view of Cinderella Castle, chances are Disney isn’t going to honor that. Rooms that overlook the Castle cost more.
But a request for a room close to the Great Ceremonial House would have a much higher chance of being honored because there are a number of Resort View rooms in that area.
I help my clients make great room requests all the time. If you would like help planning your Disney World vacation, contact me now!
Where you'll find the Resort View Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The following Polynesian Resort longhouses offer Resort View rooms. Ground floor rooms have patios and third floor rooms have balconies. Second-floor rooms in these longhouses do not have balconies.
Map of DIsney's Polynesian Village Resort
Tuvalo
Great choice for privacy but limited on view. These Resort View rooms overlook the Fiji longhouse.
Fiji
Close to the Great Ceremonial House (lobby) and close to boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom. But it's far from the Epcot monorail line at the Ticket and Transportation Center. Resort View rooms in this Fiji have some of the best views at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.
Aotearoa
Ideal if you love to see the monorail pass by your room, not ideal if you want privacy on your balcony. Some Resort View rooms in Aotearoa offer a partial view of the Seven Seas Lagoon: request rooms 3223, 3225 .or similar. If you plan to walk to the Epcot monorail station at the Ticket and Transportation Center, you'll have a 10-15 minute walk.
Raratonga
This is one of the most requested longhouses because it's right in the heart of the resort. It's just steps away from the Great Ceremonial House and Disney transportation. Both pools and the laundry room are nearby too. Walking to the Epcot monorail line is reasonable - about 10 minutes. If your room is on the south side of the longhouse you might be able to see the monorail pass by through the trees.
Niue
Compared to the other longhouses Niue is tiny and has only two floors. Second floor rooms do not have balconies. Niue is right in between both pools and close to the Great Ceremonial house. This is a very popular longhouse and it’s difficult to get a room here, even with a request. When making a room request for this longhouse, have your travel agent make a backup request just in case.
Samoa
Like Niue, it's right in the middle of both pools. Ground floor rooms on the west side of the longhouse have convenient access to the pool - many guests will come and go right from their slider and patio. But it's a busy location so privacy limited here.
I help my clients with room requests all the time so feel free to contact me for your next Disney World vacation. Together we can come up with the perfect room request.
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For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.
A galaxy of adventure awaits Star Wars fans as “Season of the Force” returns at Disneyland Park, March 28 through May 11, 2025