Disney's super-easy dining hack
How to use the restaurant walk-up list feature on the Disney app
Hello friends!
How’s your luck getting Disney dining reservations? Mine is pretty dismal.
I am not the person to get up at dawn to try to make a reservation exactly 60 days out, and I have some favorite restaurants (OK, bars, but that’s the topic for next time 😁) which seem to have very few tables available, ever.
However, buried in the Disney app is a hack that works for me on almost every trip.
If you can’t get that elusive reservation, and are willing to be flexible, the Disney dining walk-up list can be your best friend.
This works at both Disneyland and Disney World. It’s just what it sounds like, a waiting list to get a table. But you don’t have to stand around all day, and you don’t even have to walk-up! You can sign up for the list remotely using the park app, go about your business, and wait for a notification to dine.
As with a lot of “features” in the Disney park apps, the walk-up list is not exactly intuitive. It’s also a bit elusive, because not every table service restaurant has a walk-up list, and it’s not always available even when they do.
But it’s easy to find out, once you know where to look. Here are step-by-step instructions for the Disney dining walk-up list using the park apps.
How to get on a Disney restaurant Walk-Up List from the My Disney Experience app
Whether you’re at Disneyland or Disney World, you can join a restaurant’s walk-up waiting list directly in the park app.
The waiting list option is slightly buried, so here’s how to find it.
Open the app for your Disney destination. Here’s an example from the Disneyland app:
Tap the location icon at the very bottom of the screen. It’s between the ⌂ house/home icon and the ⨁, and looks like an oblong circle.
Tap “Attractions” at the top of the screen. This should drop down a list of options, including dining.
Now tap “Show list”. It’s on the top right side of the screen. This will bring up a list of dining locations.
Scroll down to find your restaurant. For example, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar.
6. Tap the restaurant you want.
The screen will pull up info about that restaurant. If there is a walk-up list option, you’ll see “Join Walk-Up List”.
Incidentally, on this page you can also see the estimated wait for walk-up guests.
Tap “Join Walk-Up List”
Very important: you must be “nearby” to join the walk-up list, so the app may tell you to get closer. Usually if you’re in the same park, it will work.
Once you’re on the list, just wait for a notification. You’ll have around 15 minutes to get back for your table.
When you check-in for your table, expect to wait a few minutes to be seated. You will be at the top of the queue for the next available table.
What if the walk-up list isn’t available?
Not every restaurant has a walk-up list, and none of them have a walk-up list all the time. If you get the message that the list is unavailable, don’t give up.
You can either keep checking the app for the list to open up again, or physically go to the location and ask a cast member if they can add you to a list.
If you have any challenges, talking to a cast member is always the best way to get something done.
Good luck and enjoy your meal!
What’s a cast member anyway? The last issue of this newsletter was a quick guide to Disney Parks lingo. Learn the language here:
How to speak Disney like a pro
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