Question about making dining reservations at DL - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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No, you don't have to be booked through Disney nor staying on Disney property. With WDW, you had to provide a reservation number because staying on property gives you perks with ADRs. Disneyland isn't set up that way. You just call for PS (Priority Seating) at the appropriate time (IIRC, 60 days out). I don't think they offer it "+10", so you may need to call each day, or wait until you are at a point when you can make several. Very few restaurants are such that they would "sell out" of seats within a few hours, as happens at WDW.
Disneyland doesn't do online booking for their PS's (Priority Seatings) and they also don't do the +10 or have the Disney DIning Plan like WDW does. You will need to call each day at 60 days out for each day's reservations you want.
They do have a dining plan of sorts but it is voucher based and, IMO, not worth it due to the fact that you could lose money in a way using it (for example, if you want to buy a $2.50 bottle of water, you'd use a $5 voucher . . . but you do not receive change, so you are losing $2.50.)
We go to DL once a month on average and stay at a local motel (mostly) and eat at least one evening meal 'on property' and always call a month ahead to make a reservation. We've never been turned away. Yes, we have had to change our times but never for more than an hour either way from what we wanted. Even when we stay on property thru the DVC we only call a month in advance with the same results. I would not call less than a month out however.
To make reservations, or "Priority Seatings" as Disney calls them, just call (714) 781-DINE (3463). They have agents there to make reservations at ANY restaurant at either DL or DCA that accepts reservations. The rule is that you can make them UP TO 60 days in advance, but we have successfully done it only 2 days in advance. It is strongly recommended for the more popular places (particularly the ones with character dining). Dining is handled completely separately at DL and DCA from accommodations or any other type of reservations.
All pay phones have a free option where you can make hotel and restaurant reservations. I used that to get several restaurant reservations.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
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