Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
one table for four from overall capacity for 45 minutes. The template on the reserva-
tionist's computer indicates that the table will not be available for reassignment until
7 p.m. (45 minutes later). And so it goes for all the tables in the restaurant, each being
subtracted from overall capacity for 45 minutes, then listed as available again, then
assigned to other guests and subtracted again, and so on, throughout the meal peri-
od. DRD tries to fill every time slot for every seat in the restaurant, or come as close
to filling every slot as possible. No seats—repeat, none—are
reserved
for walk-ins,
though all restaurants accommodate such customers on a space-available basis.
Templates are filled differently depending on the season. During slower times of
year, when dining reservations are easier to get, DRD will overbook a restaurant for
each time slot, assuming that there will be a lot of no-shows. During busy times of
year, when reservations are harder to come by, there are very few no-shows, so the
restaurant is booked according to its actual capacity.
With dining reservations, your waiting time will almost always be less than 20
minutes during peak hours, and often less than 10 minutes. If you just walk in, espe-
cially during busier seasons, expect to wait 40-75 minutes.
GETTING YOUR ACT TOGETHER
IF YOU WANT TO PATRONIZE
any of the Disneyland Resort full-service restaurants, es-
pecially buffets or character-dining eateries, you should consider dining reservations
(call 714-781-3463, option 4, up to 60 days in advance). DRD handles reserva-
tions for both Disney-owned and independent restaurants at the theme parks, Disney
hotels, and Downtown Disney. The sole exception is the
Rainforest Cafe
at Down-
town Disney, which makes its own reservations at 714-772-0413.
If you fail to make dining reservations before you leave home, or if you want to
make your dining decisions spontaneously, your chances of getting a table at the res-
taurant of your choice are good. Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park, Napa Rose at the
Grand Californian Hotel, and the various character-meal venues are the most likely to
sell out. If, however, you visit Disneyland during a very busy time of year, it's to your
advantage to make dining reservations.
In 2013 Disneyland announced a new policy (adopted from Walt Disney World)
of collecting a credit card number with every dining reservation. If you poop out in
the theme park and are a no-show for your meal, you will be charged $10 per per-
son. Your reservation will be voided 15 minutes after the scheduled time, and the pen-
alty will apply unless you call DRD at least 24 hours before your seating. This same
cancellation policy also applies to makeover appointments at Studio Disney 365 and
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, as well as cabanas at the hotel pools. At press time, im-
plementation of this policy had been indefinitely suspended; if it is reinstated, you
will be informed at the time that you make your reservations. If you've lined up many
