Disney dining reservations aren’t easy to come by. The longer you wait to make yours, the fewer options there will be for available days and times — if there’s any availability during your trip at all.

Whenever Mike and I go to Walt Disney World, we make more restaurant reservations than we’ll realistically keep. We’d rather have a reservation there when we want it than miss the chance of having a meal somewhere because we didn’t book early enough.

Despite all that pre-planning, though, there’s bound to be a restaurant reservation that no longer works as the time creeps closer. There are also times when you want to eat earlier than you booked for.

In this article, we’ll answer questions like:

• How late can you be for a Disney dining reservation?
• How late can you cancel a Disney reservation without being charged?
• What happens if you don’t show up for a Disney reservation?
• How do you make or change a Disney reservation?

Let’s get into it!

Is There a Disney Dining Reservation Grace Period?

There’s an unspoken grace period for Disney dining reservations: 15 minutes past your reservation time. If you plan to arrive within 15 minutes of your booking, you’ll likely get your table without a problem. However, if you’re running even later, it still pays to see if they’ll be able to seat you.

How We Got Into a Fully Booked Disney Springs Restaurant

We’ve done this a few times, most notably at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs. We were super late, and when I called while we were driving, they said they wouldn’t be able to accommodate us. We still went, though, and talked to the host, who ended up finding a great table for us.

Lesson learned: Even if you’re told “no” over the phone, when it comes to Disney dining reservations, try asking in person.

When Should You Cancel a Disney Restaurant Reservation?

If you know you won’t be making a Disney restaurant reservation, cancel ASAP. You’ll need to do this at least 2 hours before your reservation for most restaurants. If you’re after that 2-hour mark, you’ll need to contact the restaurant either by phone or in person to cancel your reservation.

There Are Exceptions

Note that some restaurants have different guidelines. You’ll get a detailed overview of the restaurant’s cancellation policy in the confirmation email when you make the reservation. Here’s the Crystal Palace cancellation policy that was emailed to me when I booked. (Crystal Palace has the regular 2-hour cancellation window, but this is just an example of how an emailed booking confirmation shows that restaurant’s rules.)

---

---

Will I Be Charged a Fee if I Cancel or Miss My Disney Reservation?

Most Disney restaurants say they’ll charge a $10 fee per person if you cancel your reservation less than 2 hours before the booking. However, we’ve canceled last-minute and have never been charged.

That’s not to say you definitely won’t be charged if you cancel or are a no-show, just that we’ve had luck when it comes to that. It’s possible that the penalty fee is used more as a deterrent than anything else to discourage people from canceling too late.

Can I Show Up Early to a WDW Restaurant Reservation?

Sometimes, you’re hungry earlier than you expect. If you want to move your reservation up, first check the app to see if an earlier time slot is available. If it’s not, go to the host stand outside the restaurant. Let them know you have a dining reservation, and ask if they’re able to take you early. We’ve done this a few times and have always had luck.

How Early Should You Make Disney Restaurant Reservations?

It’s smart to make your Disney reservations as early as possible. And if you’re planning a Disney date night ahead of time, you definitely don’t want to chance it. You can always try to change them the closer your vacation gets, but having them booked will ensure you get to the restaurants you’re interested in.

Mark Your Calendar for 60 Days in Advance

Whether or not you’re staying on Disney World property, you can make dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip, between 5:45 and 6 a.m. ET.

How to Make Disney Dining Reservations With the My Disney Experience App

There are a couple of ways to make dining reservations with the My Disney Experience app:

1. Look for availability at several restaurants during a time window.
2. Look for availability at a specific restaurant during a time window.

Let’s go over both options.

Option 1: Searching for availability at various restaurants

Open the My Disney Experience app. Click the Plus Sign in the center of the bottom row of icons.

Select Check Dining Availability.

Enter your Party Size and select the date from the calendar that auto-populates.

To filter by area, click the Funnel icon on the bottom-right.

Select your location, which can be one of the Disney theme parks, resorts, etc.

Select a Search by Time option. You can search by a mealtime (breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner) or half-hour time slots. If you search by a time slot, you’ll be shown reservations for slightly before and after that time window, too (if they’re available).

---

Scroll to see the eateries that have reservations during the time you chose. If you see one you like, click the time you want. Next, you may be asked if you want to add something special to your reservation. You can click Skip if you’re not interested.

---

On the next screen, you’ll confirm your contact information and credit card. You need a credit card to make Disney dining reservations. You won’t be charged anything, and you don’t need to use that card when you actually go to the restaurant.

When you’re finished, click the green Book Now button at the bottom of the page. You’ll be brought to a review page, where you can see the reservation you just booked.

Option 2: Searching for availability at one specific restaurant

Open the My Disney Experience app. Click the Search icon on the bottom-right.

In the Search Bar, type the name of the eatery. Select the correct one when the results populate below.

Scroll the left until you see Reserve Dining. Click it.

Enter your Party Size and select the date from the calendar that auto-populates.

Select a Search by Time option. You can search by a mealtime (breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner) or half-hour time slots. If you search by a time slot, you’ll be shown reservations for slightly before and after that time window, too (if they’re available).

If you see a time you like, click it. Next, you may be asked if you want to add something special to you reservation. You can click Skip if you’re not interested.

On the next screen, you’ll confirm your contact information and credit card. You need a credit card to make Disney dining reservations. You won’t be charged anything, and you don’t need to use that card when you actually go to the restaurant.

When you’re finished, click the green Book Now button at the bottom of the page. You’ll be brought to a review page, where you can see the reservation you just booked.

Can I Make More Than One Disney Restaurant Reservation at a Time?

If you already have a reservation around the same time as one you’re trying to book, the My Disney Experience app will force you to choose between the two so that you can’t double-book.

How to Modify Disney Dining Reservations

To modify an existing Disney reservation via the My Disney Experience app, start by clicking the Three Horizontal Lines on the bottom-right of the app.

Select Future Plans from the column on the left.

Scroll down to find the reservation you want to modify and click it. Select either Cancel or Modify.

If you choose Modify, you can see if there’s availability for another date and/or time.

If you choose Cancel, you’ll be asked to confirm the cancellation.

Note that some reservations at Walt Disney World don’t allow for modifications. You can see a list of those here.

Now that you know all about changing and canceling Disney dining reservations, why not snag a spot at Oga’s Cantina during your Walt Disney World vacation? Here’s how.