How to get the reservations you want With Dining Alerts
After using dining alerts consistently for the past four years, I’m excited to refresh this blog with all the tips you need to snag those hard-to-get reservations. The best part? It’s not just limited to Disney anymore! Now, you can use these alerts to score not only dining reservations but also exclusive experiences that tend to sell out in a flash. If you’ve ever felt like you did something wrong while trying to book those elusive spots, trust me, you’re not alone!
I’m so happy you’re here, and I’m thrilled to share that, thanks to this system, I’ve never missed out on an experience I really wanted—even those moments where I thought, “This is it, there’s no way I’m getting this reservation.” Just three days out, I’ve thought it was too late, but sure enough, the day before, the perfect spot opens up. It’s happened every time!
In this post, I’m going to share all my tips and tricks for scoring those tough reservations, the best companies to use for alerts, and everything you need to know when setting them up to grab the experiences you’ve been dreaming of.
You were ready. You got up early. You refreshed your screen a million times, logged on right at 6:59:59 AM Eastern, and as soon as the clock hit 7:00, you plugged in Cinderella's Royal Table—only to get the dreaded “No times available.”
How? Why? You did everything right!
Well, here’s the thing: Walt Disney World allows anyone staying on property to reserve dining for their entire trip (up to 10 nights) once they hit their 60-day window. That means thousands of people are already eyeing the same reservations and have booked theirs before you even get a chance. And don’t forget, everyone with the same 60-day date as you is also after those popular spots.
But don’t worry, I’ve got your back—I’m going to help you score those elusive reservations!
Let’s break down the rules:
Dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance of your arrival (yes, it used to be 180 days, but that’s a post-COVID change). So, know your exact date!
If you’re staying on property, you can book your reservations for your entire trip starting at your 60-day window for your resort stay up to 10 days.
Things get a bit trickier with a split stay. In that case, you’ll have TWO 60-day windows—one for each resort reservation.
If you’re staying off property, you’ll need to log in each day of your park reservations to secure dining for that day. Be flexible with your park days; if you score a hard-to-get dining reservation, you may want to adjust your park plans to match it. The exception? If you’re visiting during peak times (like the holidays), park reservations can sell out, so it’s riskier to change your park days.
Every trip since 2022 I have been always able to get the resrvation I wanted using dining alerts - they work but they are all not created equal.
My favorite app is Mouse Dining HANDS DOWN. I have a monthly subscription to it because I use it that often. I have always got the Walt Disney World with every reservation I wanted. The downside of Mouse Dining is that it is computer-based only. To register for Mouse Dining, click here!
If you are looking for an experience like Droid building or Bibbidi Bobbibi Boutique, after a full year of using all the apps, StakeOut is our winner in this category. I do not love StakeOut for dining, but it has been the fastest for Disney experiences. Head to your app store to download this app they do not have a website.
Here are some ProTips to using dining alerts
Most Disney dining reservations are canceled between 72 hours and 2 hours before the reservation time. That’s because Disney charges a $10 per person cancellation fee if you cancel within 2 hours of your reservation. So don’t be surprised if your phone starts blowing up with alerts in the final few days before your trip. (This updated policy started in December 2022—previously, you had until the day before to cancel.)
Prepaid Dining Experiences
Cinderella’s Royal Table (CRT) and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue are prepaid dining experiences. You’ll be charged in full when booking, so make sure you have a valid card on file. We personally made multiple reservations, and they were all refunded promptly, but it's smart to monitor your debit card and call Disney Dining if anything looks off.
No More Hoarding
In the past, it was easier to hoard multiple dining reservations. That’s no longer the case. Now, if you try to book overlapping reservations, Disney will prompt you to cancel the other one. If you're booking for a large group and need multiple reservations, try attaching different names to each reservation. I usually leave the names blank for larger parties when I can—but keep in mind that CRT and Hoop-Dee-Doo require guest names at the time of booking.
Facebook Groups
There’s a helpful Facebook group called Disney Dining Reservation Exchange Drop/Add. Members work together to trade and share hard-to-get dining reservations—highly recommend joining if you're on the hunt.
Turn on Your notifications and sound!
Turn your text notification sound ON. If you’re like me and usually keep your phone on silent, consider assigning a distinct ringtone for dining alerts. That way, when one comes through, you’ll know instantly and can jump on it. If you're using an app that sends texts from the same number every time, you can even assign a custom alert tone for that contact during your 60-day dining window.
One thing to remember: Dining alert notifications don’t work on or before your 60-day mark. They only become active after your 60-day window opens.
Different Types of Dining Alert Apps
Our favorite dining alert tool? Mouse Dining. We’ve had great success with it! It lets you register two phone numbers, and you’ll get both email and text notifications. It's been a game changer for securing tough reservations.
How do you know if you did not get the reservation?
If you are logged onto your computer, you will see the message below. That is an indication that you did not get the reservation that time. But do not worry, remember the 48 hours before the day you need the reservation is when the orders come flooding in.
On your cell phone, you will get to a blue screen, indicating that you did not get the reservation this time! But Keep trying!
If you are desperate to get a reservation, and there are times I have been desperate, I invest in ALL 4 apps. That's right, if you want it bad enough, you may have to do that for one month. On average, it would cost me about $25 for that last month before the trip. But I ALWAYS have gotten EVERY single reservation I wanted. Also, with the new cancellation policy only 2 hours before, many reservations will likely open up at the last minute. But I still see the 24 - 48 hours before as a continuous trend of cancellations.
Remember, the quickest hands win, and a lot of times that last week prior to my vacation, my phone is in my hands non-stop. Make sure your face login is saved. It is the fastest way to get logged into your app. Your reservation is only confirmed once you get through to the congratulations screen. Also remember turn on your RINGER! Good Luck!
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Last update: July 2023
