Do you have a vacation planned during the Walt Disney World holidays? A visit to Walt Disney World during the Christmas season can be especially fun, filled with extra doses of Disney magic, festive decorations and entertainment, and of course, good food. In this article, we will discuss specific things you should know about dining at Disney World during this time of year, as well as the best way to plan a Disney vacation to make the most of your time and meal budget.
To begin with, you need to make dining plans, because if you are visiting between Christmas and New Year’s, you will be at Disney World during the busiest time of the year. This is one time of year when you can’t really be spontaneous about eating…unless you like waiting in line for hours, or not being able to get seated at any table service restaurant at a decent time. You will be sharing the parks with many, many other people, so be prepared to plan a little ahead about your meals.
So the first tip is to make your dining plans in advance, and if you plan to have any table service meals, make your Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) before you leave for Disney World. More importantly, if you are visiting during Christmas week, make them now.
Let’s talk about ADRs. Disney provides folks with the ability to make Advanced Dining Reservations far in advance, currently’0 days in advance. So people have been making ADRs for Christmas week for months. This means that the most popular restaurants and times fill quickly, especially for the big days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. Can you just walk up and get a table during this week? Perhaps…but don’t hold your breath. Don’t take the chance, make your ADRs now if you want table service meals.
So what happens if you can’t get ADRs for any of the restaurants you want? While the popular ones at the parks may be full, chances are the ones at the hotels are not: many are wonderful, and it is a great way to see some of the fantastic Holiday decorations at the resorts. While you may not be in the thick of things, it can be nice sometimes to have a little peace and quiet, away from the crowds at the theme parks.
You can also think about eating meals at “off” times. Try having your main, table service meal for lunch instead of dinner. Eat early: lunch at 11, dinner at 5…or late: lunch at 2, dinner at 8. You may actually be able to get table service seating this way, and if you want counter service meals, the crowds are usually a little thinner this way, especially the earlier times.
Of course, typical advice about eating some meals in, especially if you have access to a kitchen, can be helpful. Many folks with these types of amenities in their accommodations actually do the entire turkey and fixings, which can be very nice and a great way to create some special memories….and save some money in the process.
So what is the best way to plan a Disney vacation during the Walt Disney World holidays when it comes to meals? Plan ahead. You will be rewarded with less stress for dining, and a wonderful trip filled with special holiday memories.
Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it affordably) for over a decade, and has experienced 11 (and counting) family vacations to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to get a free Disney vacation planning bonus, visit www.theaffordablemouse.com.
