Hey, Disney planning friends! Disney vacation planning has become such a refined craft that I am genuinely surprised it has not been added to the Olympic Games. There are strategies, spreadsheets, alarms set for 60 days out, and what can feel like winners and losers when it comes to advanced dining reservations and Lightning Lanes. It can feel a little dog-eat-dog at times, and if you are new to the Disney way of life, it is easy to get swept up in the pressure to lock everything in before you even arrive.
One of the most common questions I hear from first-timers is whether they should book every dining reservation in advance. On the surface, it makes perfect sense. If you can secure those hard-to-get spots, why wouldn’t you? A dining reservation for a place you cannot stand to miss feels like gold in your pocket. You are walking around all day knowing that the table is waiting for you (in theory). That peace of mind can be wonderful.
But here is the other side of it. Even with a reservation, you can still find yourself waiting, sometimes longer than you expect. Over the last few years, I have had several reservations that came with a short to moderate delay, and one that stretched well past 45 minutes after our scheduled time. When you stack multiple table-service meals into your trip, those waits add up. They are also time-consuming and, let’s be honest, expensive. Depending on the length of your stay, I usually suggest booking just a handful of must-do restaurants and leaving the rest of your meals flexible.
There is something so fun about snagging a last-minute reservation you did not expect or piecing together a day of creative, quick-service stops to try a little of everything. It gives you freedom, especially if your park schedule shifts or you decide to linger somewhere magical. I love the security of a confirmed booking as much as anyone, but tying yourself to too many can leave you rushed and stressed. When it comes to Disney food, you truly are never far from something delicious, and sometimes the best bites are the ones you did not plan for at all.
