The Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist is one of the best features at Disney World that most guests don’t know exists! When you know how to use it, you can dine at some of the best restaurants at Disney World — even if you weren’t able to get a reservation.
While some people complain that a Disney World trip requires so much advanced planning, the Walk-Up Wait List lets you have a bit of spontaneity. You can easily see what restaurants are available in the My Disney Experience app and secure a table for your party — even without walking up to the restaurant. (Yes, the name is a bit misleading. You don’t actually have to walk up.)
So whether you want some flexibility built into your vacation or you procrastinated and didn’t get a dining reservation as early as you possibly can, this helpful tool can be a game-changer on your next WDW trip.
In this post, we’ll cover what the Walk-Up Waitlist is, why it’s so awesome, how you can join it, and what restaurants feature it.
Update August 4, 2023 – We’ve updated this guide with a video version of this article from the Guide2WDW YouTube channel.
What is the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist?
See more Disney World videos on Guide2WDW’s YouTube Channel.
The concept behind the Walk-Up Waitlist at Disney World is simple. It’s a list you can join for last minute tables at Disney World restaurants and lounges.
Back in the good ol’ days, you used to be able to walk up to WDW restaurants, talk to the Cast Member at the host stand, and put yourself on a waitlist for a table. For a long time, this was one of our Disney World dining tips for grabbing a table at in-demand restaurants. However, you had to physically walk to the restaurant, and there was no guarantee that there would be any availability.
And there’s nothing worse than rushing from restaurant to restaurant as your hangriness rises (Trust me, I’ve been there).
Now Disney World has made this much more useful with the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist, as you can join via the My Disney Experience app. Not only that, you can see what the estimated wait time will be in the app.
So using the app, you can easily grab a table at a restaurant while you wait in line for a ride.
Why we love the Walk-Up Waitlist for Disney vacations
I’ve had several last-minute Disney World vacations over the past few years where I haven’t been able to make dining reservations right when they open up. While Disney World has plenty of great counter service options, there were a few places that I really wanted to dine at but couldn’t grab a reservation for. Sometimes you just need to have a Yub Nub at Oga’s Cantina, you know?
Being able to join the Walk-Up Waitlist with the My Disney Experience app has been a game changer for getting last minute tables. It’s great being able to see exactly which restaurants have availability on one screen in the app plus their wait times. It also has given my wife and I more flexibility when going into the parks.
On our last visit to Magic Kingdom, we weren’t sure if we wanted to do a sit-down lunch or just grab a quick bite at the beginning of the day. By the time lunchtime rolled around, we were ready to take a break from walking and enjoy a nice leisurely meal. I opened the app, joined the waitlist for Skipper Canteen as we walked to Haunted Mansion. By the time we were done with the ride, our table was ready.
How to Join the List with Your Phone
Joining the Walk-Up Waitlist on the My Disney Experience App is very straightforward. You just have to know where to look for it.
Method 1: The Map Screen
One option is to look on the map view ( in the “Dining” category (tap the word at the top middle of the screen to select the category).
- Open the My Disney Experience App
- Tap the Map Icon on the bottom menu (looks like a pin, second icon from right)
- Tap the Category button at the top middle of the screen. The default is “Wait Times.” Tap that word and choose “Dining.”
- If a restaurant has a wait time listed above it, that means you can join the wait list.
- Tap the restaurant, then tap “Join Walk-Up List.” Note: If the restaurant is close to another restaurant, it will show multiple options. Just tap the name of the restaurant you want, then tap “Join Walk-Up List” from that screen.
- Enter the number of people in your party, your mobile phone number, and how you’d like to be reached.
Method 2: Check Dining Availability
You can also see a list of all the restaurants that have Walk-Up Waitlist availability from the Dining Reservation page in the My Disney Experience app.
- Open the app
- Tap on the ‘+’ button at the bottom center of your screen.
- Tap Check Dining Availability.
- Choose your party size and today’s date.
- For time, select Now.
- You’ll see a list of all the restaurants with Walk-Up Waitlist availability. The restaurants closest to you will appear at the top by default.
- Tap the restaurant you want to dine at.
- Enter the number of people in your party, your mobile phone number, and how you’d like to be reached.
Voila! Once you’ve joined the list, look out for a text or notification that lets you know that your table is ready.
Please note that you must be within certain proximity of the restaurant, but typically this is very forgiving. Usually you have to be inside the theme park or just outside the resort where the restaurant is located. If you need to move closer, the app will prompt you.
Disney World Restaurants With Walk-Up Lists
The Mobile Dine Walk-Up List is currently available at 56 Disney World restaurants at the theme parks and resorts.
Magic Kingdom
- Be Our Guest Restaurant
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- The Crystal Palace
- The Diamond Horseshoe
- Liberty Tree Tavern
- Skipper Canteen
- The Plaza Restaurant
- Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
EPCOT
- Biergarten
- Coral Reef
- Garden Grill
- Le Cellier
- La Hacienda de San Angel
- Rose & Crown
- San Angel Inn
- Spice Road Table
Hollywood Studios
- 50’s Prime Time Cafe
- Hollywood & Vine
- Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- Oga’s Cantina
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
- The Hollywood Brown Derby
- The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
Animal Kingdom
- Nomad Lounge
- Rainforest Cafe
- Tiffins
- Tusker House
Disney World Resorts
- Contemporary Resort
- California Grill
- Chef Mickey’s
- Steakhouse 71
- Grand Floridian
- Citricos
- Grand Floridian Cafe
- Narcoossee’s
- Polynesian Village
- Kona Cafe
- Ohana
- Wilderness Lodge
- Geyser Point Bar & Grill
- Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Boardwalk Resort
- Flying Fish
- Trattoria al Forno
- Beach Club
- Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
- Cape May Cafe
- Yacht Club
- Ale & Compass
- Yachtsman Steakhouse
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Sebastian’s Bistro
- Riviera Resort
- Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Boma – Flavors of Africa
- Jiko – The Cooking Place
- Sanaa
- Coronado Springs Resort
- Maya Grill
- Rix Sports Bar & Grill
- Three Bridges Bar & Grill
- Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood
- Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Boatwright’s
- Old Key West Resort
- Olivia’s Cafe
- Saratoga Springs Resort
- The Turf Club
Can You Join the List without the App? Of course!
In my experience, I’ve been able to get on the wait list both by using the app and by talking to a Cast Member at the host stand. Typically, they’ll ask for your mobile number and you’ll get a text when your table is ready.
As I shared on our YouTube Channel, there are some advantages to going up to the host stand and asking to join the wait list. In the video above, I told a story about my epic quest for queso inside EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion.
The TLDR version is that even though the app said the waitlist at San Angel Inn was full, I asked the host if they had any tables. They were able to seat my family immediately!
The Pros and Cons of Using the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist
Pros
- You can get a last minute table without a reservation.
- Sometimes you can get a table in as little as 10 minutes.
- Some great Disney World restaurants are included: Be Our Guest, Nomad Lounge, 50s Prime Time Cafe, Oga’s Cantina, and more!
- Being able to see all restaurants that are available at the moment and their wait times in the app will help you make a decision of where to eat.
- Because all of this can be done in the app, you don’t have to run around the park to find a table.
Cons
- It’s not a surefire way to dine at Disney World restaurants, as restaurants will stop offering waitlist signups if it’s busy.
- The mobile waitlist only works for parties under 8 guests. Anybody with 8 or more guests will have to join the waitlist by talking to the cast member at the host stand.
- Sometimes the waits are lengthy.
- Not available at Space 220.
- No availability at Disney Springs restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that the Walk-Up Waitlist might sound like a dream too good to be true, so here’s a rapid-fire round of FAQs to ease your mind:
Q: “Does it cost anything to join?”
A: No, it’s absolutely free to join!
Q: “Is there a no-show fee?”
A: Unlike Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations, there’s no no-show fee for the walk-up list.
Q: “What if the walk-up list is full?”
A: It doesn’t hurt to ask. You may not get a table, but it’s possible that they system isn’t showing availability while the host can get you a table. Just ask politely and set your expectations accordingly.
Q: “How close to the restaurant do I have to be?”
A: The proximity is surprisingly forgiving. I’ve joined from across the park and outside a resort. But walking a bit closer might be required sometimes.
The Guide 2 Disney World Dining Reservations
While the waitlist is great, it’s best to use it in combination with WDW’s Advanced Dining Reservations system. Be sure to check out other entries in our Guide 2 Disney World Dining Reservations to know all the ins and outs.
- How Early Can You Make Disney World Dining Reservations
- How to Make and Cancel Disney World Dining Reservations – A Step by Step Guide
- What to Do When You Don’t Have a Reservation at Disney World
- The Hardest Dining Reservations to Get at Disney World
- The Easiest Dining Reservations Worth Getting at Disney World
- Disney World Dining Reservation Errors, Problems, and Fixes for Hotel Guests
Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist Summary
So there you have it, my fellow Disney World explorers! The Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist lets you get a last minute table at some of the best restaurants at Disney World straight from your phone. This is why it’s one of our go-to strategies for dining at Disney World without a reservation.
Let us know in the comments: Do you have any questions about the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist at Disney World’s restaurants?
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