Do you really need to plan ahead and make Advance Dining Reservations for the Disney restaurants? It used to be that if you were flexible in where you wanted to dine you could leave things up until the last minute. But times seem to be changing. With the increasing popularity of the Disney Dining Plan (where Disney hotel guests can pre pay for a dining package) and particularly with Disney offering lots of Free Dining Package deals - you really do need to think about making your restaurant reservations ahead of time.

Disney World offers some excellent dining options. Ranging from fine dining to breakfast with Mickey Mouse. Whether your prefer to enjoy a Disney character meal or enjoy some of the best dining in the world there is something for everyone. All it takes is a little planning.....

You can make Advance Dining Reservations either online at Disney World Dining or by calling 407 WDW DINE up to 90 days ahead. Disney resort guests have an advantage - they can call 90 days ahead and make bookings for the first 10 days of their stay. 

Some Disney restaurants really do book up that far ahead. Which one is the most popular Disney restaurant? Cinderella's Royal Table. If you do not get a table as soon as the lines open at 7am on the day you can first call then it is highly unlikely you will get a place. It is both one of the most popular and one of the smallest of the Disney restaurants - so be prepared to get in quickly. Another restaurant which is very difficult to get reservations for is Le Cellier the very popular restaurant in the Canada Pavillion in Disney's Epcot.

For a limited number of restaurants you will have to give a credit card guarantee. Always make a note of which these are and make sure that if you need to cancel that you do so in time - otherwise your credit card will be charged. This doesn't apply to most restaurants though, but you just need to be careful that you don't get caught out!

The new online system seems to be working very well. An advantage of this is that you can browse restaurants and get an idea of most of the menus before choosing. The Disney dining reservation line has very helpful Cast Members who will also help you with your choices.

Always remember to have more than one choice just in case your chosen restaurant is not available. 

There are some excellent restaurants to be found in the Disney World Resort hotels - so don't forget about these when you are choosing where to make your dining reservations.

There is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Here are some of my favorites:

Fine Dining

The California Grill is located right at the top of the Contemporary Resort. The view of the Magic Kingdom from the 15th floor is amazing. The award winning food,the extensive wine list and that amazing view mean that this is an excellent choice. Even for younger members of the family - yes it is fine to take the kids there.

If you are looking for something a little different then why not try Jiko - The Cooking Place at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  This used to be one of Disney's best kept secrets but recently it seems to be gaining in popularity. As you would expect at Disney's Animal Kingdom,this fine dining restaurant is African themed and has an exclusively South African wine list. But don't let the 'unusual' theme deter you from a visit. This is very distinctly main stream cuisine with an African twist. So you will find oak grilled fillet mignon,salmon and lamb shank with a subtle blend of distinctive flavors. The decor is stunning and the children will feel very welcome here.

Narcoossee's is one of the lesser known fine dining restaurants at The Grand Floridian Hotel. Very well worth a visit this restaurant is housed in it's own building on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The specialty here is seafood. Always well prepared and never disappoints.

If you want excellent cuisine in a stunning setting then you should try Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. You will feel as though you are sitting in one of those grand national park lodges when you visit this beautifully themed restaurant. One of the most popular dishes is the cedar plank salmon. This is also the place to enjoy a huge choice of Pacific Northwest only wines. 

One of the unique things about Disney World dining is that you can dine with the characters. Whether your favorite is Mickey Mouse, a Disney Princes or even Winnie the Pooh and Friends you will find something for everyone. Most of the meals are buffet style.

A Disney World character meal really is for all the family. Whilst Dad may be reluctant at first usually everyone will enter into the spirit of things! The characters are very good with the children. Many guests say that a character meal is one of the highlights of their Disney vacation.

I have a couple of favorites. 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. This has excellent buffet food and for dinner you will be joined by Cinderella and Prince Charming. Another favorite is The Crystal Palace in Disney's Magic Kingdom. The food is good and you with get to meet Winnie The Pooh and Friends.