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4. Keep calling

Let's say for a moment that you've woken up early, fought the good fight online, called exactly at 7AM EST, and still aren't able to get that perfect reservation. Should you give up? Absolutely not! Disney can add capacity to restaurants at will (especially if their operating hours change), plus guests can cancel or change their reservations at any time. Though it may be time to give it a rest on the first day of your reservation window (and perhaps pour yourself a well-deserved cup of coffee), try calling back once in the afternoon, and then again before the phone line closes at 9PM EST. If you are still unsuccessful, try calling again every day in the morning so that you can take advantage of any openings from guest cancellations the night before. 

5. Intensify your search close to your travel date

 While calling every morning is a great habit to get into, if you get within a week of your travel date and you still haven't been able to secure your most-wanted dining reservation, it's time to ramp up your efforts. Because Disney requires a credit card to secure reservations and a fee is charged for failing to cancel in time, guests can often get reservation from those who find they have last-minute conflicts and want to to avoid paying the $10-per-guest penalty. Keep your phone, laptop, and every other electronic device you have locked on the Disney dining reservations site and refresh as much as possible, especially between the hours of 10-11PM every night, as this is the window when guests are most likely to cancel. If you are still calling every morning, add an evening call to your rotation as well. 

6. Try walking up at strategic times 

Image: Disney

Let's say the worst case scenario happens, and you are unable to secure a reservation for your most-wanted dining location. Though the situation isn't ideal, there is still some hope left. Many full-service restaurants take walk-ins between 2:30 and 4:30 PM and during the last hour of serving. Though you may miss the nighttime spectacular at whatever park you are visiting, if getting a specific dining experience is your first priority, you still may be able to squeeze in if you time it just right. 

Getting a dining reservation can be a stressful experience, but by using a combination of techniques, you can secure almost any reservation at Walt Disney World you want. Do you have any dining reservation secrets you'd like to share? 

 
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Comments

We stay on property in the value resorts. Our ADR window opens 180 days before arrival date. Is the 190 day window for the more expensive resorts? I've never heard that before.

In reply to by Karen (not verified)

No matter what WDW resort you stay at you get the extra 10 day grace period for making reservations. A great perk if you ask me! My family and I have stayed at the higher end and at the value resorts. Besides the difference in decorations and prices we couldn't tell the difference. Love them all!

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