If you have ever planned a Disney vacation you know one of the most common questions that comes up is what dining reservations to book. It can be overwhelming when trying to pick out what restaurants will be the best picks for your vacation. You want to have the Disney experiences that everyone raves about.
We have dined at a lot of Disney restaurants and every year there are a few that we just can’t skip or that we keep coming back. While there are many Disney dining experiences that you can do without a reservation, these are some of our favorite Disney dining reservations.
Make sure to make reservations 180 days out and use the My Disney Experience.
6 Must Do Disney Dining Reservations
Chef Mickey
Chef Mickey is a classic, I’ve been going here since I was a kid. It’s a great opportunity to meet the classic Disney characters, the breakfast usually features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. The food is a giant buffet featuring classics like Mickey waffles.
If you can’t get Chef Mickey but want to see these characters I recommend Tusker House at Animal Kingdom.
California Grill
At the top of the Contemporary the California Grill offers the most amazing view of Walt Disney World. This is worth the trip up the private elevator just to sit at the bar, enjoy a cocktail and take in the view. The most sought after reservation is the ones near when the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom go off, because the California Grill pipes in the music and offers a once in a lifetime view.
Le Cellier
I don’t know how many times I passed by Canada writing it off as a quick stop for a Molson that was until I had dinner at Le Cellier. The exterior of the Canada pavilion is beautiful, with waterfalls and landscaping, inside Le Cellier it is dark and welcoming. The menu is one of the best in Disney and the Filet Mignon is excellent. This place is pricey but if you are on the Disney Dining plan this place is worth using 2 table service credits.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
One of the hardest reservations to get in the park, since the restaurant is on the smaller side, Cinderella’s is a must do for any princesses or princes who want to meet Disney Princesses and see what it’s like inside Cinderella Castle. It’s especially a great reservation to get if your kids have an appointment at the Bippity Boppety Boutique. I haven’t been here since I was a kid so I’m saving it for when Grace is old enough.
Nothing compares to Cinderella’s Castle but you can also dine with Princesses at Akershus in Norway at Epcot.
Be Our Guest
For a Beauty and the Beast fan like me, nothing compares to Be Our Guest. It is easily to feel fully immersed in the story while dining here, not to mention that the food is excellent. It’s also a great chance to get your picture taken with The Beast, usually without much of a line. Regardless of what room you are dining in make sure to wonder through the restaurant and check out the other rooms, take in all the details like how the portrait of the Beast changes and the snow falling outside.
Coral Reef
I find that many people have overlooked Coral Reef Restaurant but it has been one of my families favorite restaurants for year. Coral Reef Restaurant gives you the feeling of dining under the sea with blue decor and the main wall of the restaurant is the aquarium of the Living Seas Pavilion in Epcot. This reservation is not as hard to get as some of the other restaurants. We usually try to arrive early for our reservation and ask the hostess for a seat in front of the aquarium, while those are the best seats in the house any seat will give you a view of the aquarium.
These are my families personal favorites, I know every family has their favorites that they go back to year after year. I would love to hear what your favorites are.
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