f. When Your Plans Need to be Firm

OVERVIEW

Your plans should be firm–that is, you should be able to commit to all required Walt Disney World reservations–more than 180 days in advance of your arrival date.

If it’s already fewer than 180 days from your arrival date, see this.

WHY SO FAR AHEAD?

The specific driver of this timing is the need to make what Walt Disney World calls “Advance Dining Reservations.”

Dining reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance of your arrival date, for your entire stay.

Many of the recommended dining events and shows are signature Disney events, and have their capacity filled very quickly.

Other reservations need narrow time windows during your visit to properly fit them around scheduled events in the parks (such as parades and fireworks), and these windows are popular with others for the same reason.

To guarantee the right meals at the right times, you have to have your plans set in stone more than 180 days before your trip, so that you can be on Disney’s online dining reservation system exactly at 6am EST 180 days before your arrival date. All required steps are on the To-Do List.

Click the thumbnail for a calendar of what is 180 days before an arrival date. When open, click again to enlarge.

LINKS FOR WHEN YOUR PLANS NEED TO BE FIRM

When Your Plans Need to Be Firm

Already Too Late?

180 Day Calendar

ITINERARY LINKS

• For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
• For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
• For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
• To design your own itinerary, see this
• For rides that might be skipped, see this
• For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this