As Walt Disney World Resort reopens, there have been a wide variety of changes. In this post, we’ll focus on changes to dining at Walt Disney World.
Related Posts
Other Disney World reopening content can be found on the following posts:
Disney World Reopening — Dining Details (you are here)
The official Disney page on dining changes is here. This post most summarizes those changes at this time.
“INITIAL REOPENING PERIOD”
All of these changes are for the “initial reopening period.” This is a period of unknown length. It could mean a few weeks, it could mean several months (or more).
The length is also sort of irrelevant. It’s not as if all these small changes are going to be removed at once. Some will last weeks, some will last months, and some things will never go back to how they were before.
Major Changes
Some character dining has returned, but it is modified. Not all the restaurants that previously had character dining have reopening. ‘Ohana, for example, remains closed. For those that have returned, the characters no longer conduct individual greetings. They instead roam the restaurant, and you’ll want to try and grab a socially distanced selfie as they pass your table.
Modified character dining is currently available at: Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, Epcot’s Garden Grill, Chef Mickey’s, and Hollywood Studios’ Hollywood & Vine. These offerings are always subject to change.
A final option is not at a Disney property, but rather the Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals at the Four Seasons Orlando. Disney Tourist Blog also has a review of this new experience.
Restaurant availability modified. Because these details are going to be in flux, I’ll direct you right to the source. The section “Available Dining Experiences” on the official reopening page for dining is the place to get the list of which restaurants are operating at the hotels and in the parks.
Table Service Virtual Queue. Guests without table service reservations can now join a virtual queue to wait for a table at the restaurant, instead of walking up to the host stand to check for openings.
Dining plans are being suspended. Guests who previously booked dining plans should contact Disney or their travel agent about refund or rebooking options.
The Advance Dining Reservation window is 60 days (reduced from 180) plus the length of your stay, up to ten days. After a temporary suspension and piecemeal roll out, dining reservations are now available for all guests.
Reservations are required at hotel table service restaurants for guests who aren’t staying at those hotels, and reservations are recommended for hotel table service restaurants for guests of those hotels. Read more about Advance Dining Reservations here.
Face coverings can be removed while dining, but will be required (guests age 2 and up) when entering and exiting restaurants. As of a February policy update, masks are now required whenever not actively eating or drinking.
Other Changes
Mobile Check-In. Guests will use the My Disney Experience app to check in for reservations when they arrive at restaurants, rather than going first to the host stand. You can read about this process here.
Reduced contact menus. Quick service menus will be on overhead boards. Table service menus will require you to use a QR code via your mobile device.
Mobile order will be available (and encouraged). We’re big fans of mobile order. The system has changed a little bit since our How To Mobile Order at Disney World post (you’re now required to pick an available time slot), but we’ve always loved the service and look forward to using it to stay out of lines.