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Do you have a vacation planned during the Walt Disney World holidays? A visit to Walt Disney World during the Christmas season can be especially fun, filled with extra doses of Disney magic, festive decorations and entertainment, and of course, good food. In this article, we will discuss specific things you should know about dining at Disney World during this time of year, as well as the best way to plan a Disney vacation to make the most of your time and meal budget.

First of all, when making your dining plans….and if you are going between Christmas and New Year’s you MUST make dining plans….you need to realize that you will be at Walt Disney World during the busiest time of the year. While this does not mean that you can’t have a wonderful vacation, what it does mean is that you have to plan ahead, because you will be visiting with many, many, many other people.

So make your dining plans in advance, and if they include any table service meals, make those Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) before you get to Disney World, and if you are going during Christmas week, preferably make them now.

It is important to understand that, when it comes to ADRs, Disney policy allows people the chance to make Advanced Dining Reservations months ahead of time, currently’0 days in advance. So this means that folks have been making ADRs for Christmas week for a long time now. The most popular restaurants and times fill quickly, especially for the big days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. So it is not realistic to expect to just walk up and get a table during this week: you might get lucky, but why chance it? If table service dining is something you really want to do, then don’t delay on this.

What do you do if you can’t get ADRs for any of your restaurant choices? All is not lost, because while the most popular ones at the parks may be full, it is likely that the ones at the hotels are still available. The resort hotel restaurants are frequently quite good, and it is a great way to see some of the lovely Holiday decorations at the resorts. Plus, it can be very nice to get away from the crowds at the parks for a few hours.

You can also think about eating meals at “off” times. Try having your main, table service meal for lunch instead of dinner. Eat early: lunch at 11, dinner at 5…or late: lunch at 2, dinner at 8. You may actually be able to get table service seating this way, and if you want counter service meals, the crowds are usually a little thinner this way, especially the earlier times.

Of course, typical advice about eating some meals in, especially if you have access to a kitchen, can be helpful. Many folks with these types of amenities in their accommodations actually do the entire turkey and fixings, which can be very nice and a great way to create some special memories….and save some money in the process.

So if you have wondered about the best way to plan a Disney vacation when it comes to dining during the Walt Disney World holidays, it is simple: plan ahead! You will not regret doing so, and in fact, when you are at Disney and your meals are stress-free, you will be so glad you did! This is the perfect way to make sure your vacation is remembered for special holiday moments…and not waiting in endless lines for food.

Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it frugally) for over ten years, and has had 11 (and counting) family trips to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to receive a free Disney vacation planning guide, visit www.theaffordablemouse.com.