Help with Disney Dining

I have never really been to Disney World before in the past 18 years. I went once for 2 days in magic kingdom but we did not do dining plan. I only have about less than a month left to try and figure out my dining plan so I can schedule ADR'S. Here are some of my main questions

1. What did you do in advance to prep?
2. Where do I go - link or whatever to actually book this stuff?
3. Is the start 6 am online?
4. How do I book a Tusker House Rivers of Light Dining Package? Will this be hard to get and how do I make sure I am booking the whole package? I have no idea how it'll look to try and book this stuff.
5. What were your plan B's? Right now I REALLY want:

-chef mickeys
-crystal palace
-cinderellas royal table
-akershus
-bon voyage breakfast
-tusker house SHOW package

and I still have two more places I could go but don't have any preference. But I am booking during the busy summer months and I know I might not get all the reservations that I want. I am not sure what to do if these places I have my heart set on are not available for me.


I feel like I need a travel agent for this. I'm so anxious. Please help!

Re: Help with Disney Dining

All dining reservations can be booked online at DISNEY'S WEBSITE, or on your mobile device with the My Disney Experience app (free). Either way, you need to create an account to do so. (you will use this to book fast passes as well)

In the alternative, you can call Disney dining 407-WDW-DINE and make all your reservations.

As for your choices - there is no real reason to book both Akershus and Cinderella's Royal Table. The main difference between the two (besides the cuisine) is the photo you get before sitting down. At Akershus it's Belle in her yellow ballgown, at CRT it's Cinderella. At either location a selection of the other princesses come around table to table for you to take pictures with. Personally, I prefer breakfast at Akershus. It's the best food of the three meals at that location (IMHO), and it is less expensive than CRT. The ambiance of being in the castle is something special - so if that's what you're looking for - go for it. My suggestion would be to reserve that first.

If you don't get your choices, just keep checking. Spots open all the time.

The Rivers of Light Dining package is it's own option when making reservations.

Re: Help with Disney Dining

I never tried to book 180 days ahead, so I don't know how quick you have to be. I think you should set up your account and try some searches to see how it works, store your credit card, etc. Then you'll know how it works ahead of time. You can use the My Disney Experience app or mydisneyexperience.com. Maybe you will prefer one over the other.

Help with Disney Dining

you can go on my disney experience.com right now and see how it would look to make reservations. its under " Things to Do" tab. you can try and do a search for some for tomorrow or whatever, just to see what it looks like. Now a good tip is that you don't necessarily want to make them in order of DAYS... BUT try to do the hardest to get ones first: so probably try to make the ones for Cinderellas Royal Table, and then Bon Voyage Breakfast first, no matter what day of your trip you want them for. And definitely, definitely keep searching if you don't get the ones your want right off the bat.... people change plans all the time, so just keep stalking the site especially like 60 days before your trip, because thats when people make their fast passes, and start moving things around and firming up plans for meals.
the Rivers of Light Package will be listed sepeartely on the reservations, so just make sure it says "Rivers of Light" package when you book it...

Re: Help with Disney Dining

Extra Question

whats the best time to plan lunch or dinner at magic kingdom (or any of the parks) without missing any of the parades or nighttimes shows??

Re: Help with Disney Dining

Re: Help with Disney Dining

Best to do it 180 days ahead, you will have the most choices then. It depends on what time of year you are going, however.