Does Disney World allow overbooking their restaurants?

Question

I read in "Walt Disney World with kids 2007" that you should over book your meals and then you can cancel reservations when you figure out where you are going to eat. I would like to have a dinner option in each park each day so that we are not tied down to a schedule. Like if we're having a blast in Magic Kingdom we don't want to have to rush to Epcot just to make it to dinner. Can you call in multiple reservations or do you have to be somewhat sneaky about it and make several calls?

Answer 1

I use to work at the Disney Reservation Center so am going to try to tackle your question as best I can.

Disney's dining reservation system does not allow anyone to overbook tables or priority seatings. However you have to keep in mind that there ARE those people who book reservations, change their mind, don't show up and never cancel. I wouldn't recommend making multiple reservations because one of MY jobs was to go in and cancel all the reservations that were made by people who were being "sneaky". It's disappointing when you've spent a long day in the parks, are starving, kids are cranky, you go to dinner at one of the 3, 4, 5 restaurants you made your priority seating for just to find out that your reservation was cancelled due to you making multiple bookings and there is now an hour wait because the restaurant is completely booked.

Answer 2

A lot of people do this. While a few people have arrived and discovered their reservations were cancelled, I would say more people have not had any problems with it. Personally, I would not recommend it because it is taking reservations away from other people, but still a lot of people do this.

As the other answer said, there is a chance that your reservation will be cancelled and you may have a long wait to get into a restaurant, or as they have had quite a bit in the past year or so, all the table service restaurants will be sold out for the day and you can't get into anything else.

Depending on when you will be going, you may be able to get some restaurants without a reservation, but some are busy any time of the year. So, you can book the restaurant you are wanting and then if you don't want to leave the park, you can check what is available before leaving for that reservation.

If you do plan on doing this, be sure that you know all the policies for each restaurant. Some require you to cancel them within 24 hours or they will charge your card, others don't have any policies and will cancel 10 minutes after your scheduled dining time.


Again, a lot of people do make multiple reservations, but you will be running the risk of having your reservation cancelled. If you don't mind taking the risk, than I suppose you could try it.

Answer 3

Disney World has an excellent system for making reservations. However, it makes double or multi-bookings difficult and near impossible. I recommend you guys plan out your days the best you can for your meals instead. For example, if you are going to spend day 1 of your vacation at the Magic Kingdom, make dining reservations for restaurants that are either in the park or just outside at one of the nearby resorts only. So Liberty Tree Tavern or Ohana's at the Polynesian would be a good choice for the Magic Kingdom. The same goes for the other parks. If visiting EPCOT, make dining reservations for any of the fabulous restaurants at the World Showcase or at the Coral Reef. Or feel free to hop on over to the Boardwalk to enjoy a meal at the ESPN Zone. At the Disney Studios, make a dining reservation at 50s Prime Time Cafe or Mama Melroses. And at Animal Kingdom, enjoy Tusker House Grill or Pizzafari inside the park, or make a reservation for Boma or Jiko the Cooking Place at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Always plan meals that fit where you will be each day. I never recommend visiting one park, but dining at another or at another end of Disney property. Correlate you park visits with nearby eating locations and you'll save yourself time and stress. Enjoy your vacation!

Answer 4

I strongly recommend you DO NOT do this. The Disney Priority Seating system is not designed to work like this and you should not try to take advantage of the system. And as mentioned before, overbooking can backfire and lead to cancellations of your reservations and possibly even cancellation fees at high demand restaurants. I recommend you visit the official Walt Disney World website and browse through the restaurants until you find your favorite pick, and book ONE reservation at that ONE restaurant and that is all you need. Have Fun!

Here is a link to the official Walt Disney World website: http://www.disneyworld.com

Answer 5

Be extra careful about over booking at ANY restaurant! Many
of them will charge you a "cancelation fee", especially if you
do that a second or third time. And, those "cancelation fees"
can be as much as what you would've spent for a meal.
It would be a much better plan to organize your day so that you know where you're going to be at dinner time. Then, call
the nearest restaurant and make reservations.

Answer 6

Disney takes great pains to make sure they're not called "reservations." They are "priority seating lists." They're not bookings, they're seating times.

That being said, if you're staying on property, your restaurant seatings are all going to be tied to your room reservation, so it's difficult to do multiple priority seatings for your party for the same meal.

I'd call (407) WDW-DINE and see what your options are, if I were you. You might be able to book multiple "reservations" if you don't tell them you're staying on property. Make one seating under one name, and another under another name.

Good luck.

Answer 7

In Epcot: The eating place in France is with the help of a few distance considered one of my favorites because of the pleasing placing and the relaxing atmosphere. The Beirgarden in Germany is likewise very exciting yet no longer as romantic as France. the single in the Norway pavilion is surprising, besides the fact that if this is totally expensive and alter into very crowded as quickly as I ate there. The Japan pavilion has a stunning eastern steak domicile sort place, yet there are much greater unique places to consume at. In Magic Kingdom: suited in the front suited off of significant highway there is this little place this is all woman and the Tramp themed and this is thoroughly attractive, and exceedingly much less costly. there are distinctive snack bar sort places in this park although, and this one is particularly kinfolk oriented, so I actually do no longer recommend going right here for a romantic/placing dinner. in the Polynesian hotel they have a place observed as O'Hanas and this is thoroughly fantastic. The foodstuff is to die for, and this is exceedingly dark and comfortable interior with lots of tables. in the Animal Kingdom inn inn they have a place observed as Bomas, and thats additionally very sturdy, different than it rather is a baffet sort place. besides the fact which you %. determine you're making a reservation in boost reason Disney eating places have a tendency to get booked rather at as quickly as! wish this replace into effectual, and function exciting!