When planning a trip to Walt Disney World® Resort, you’ll quickly discover that there’s a whole world of Disney-specific lingo and unique dining terms that might be unfamiliar. From specialized dining options to convenient mobile tools, the resort offers a wide array of culinary experiences designed to make your vacation more magical.

Understanding these terms can enhance your dining experience, whether you’re booking a reservation at a fine dining restaurant, grabbing a quick bite between attractions, or exploring exclusive seasonal offerings.

This glossary is here to help you navigate the different dining concepts you’ll encounter, so you can focus on enjoying every magical moment (and meal) during your stay.

Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR)

Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel can book dining reservations for their entire trip—up to 10 nights—starting 60 days before their arrival. This feature allows for convenient planning, enabling guests to secure dining for their entire stay in one go, rather than checking back each day. For all other visitors, reservations are available 60 days before the dining date.

Each morning around 6:00 AM, new reservation slots open up for select Disney restaurants. Reservations can be made online, by calling, or through the My Disney Experience app. It’s best to secure reservations as soon as the 60-day window opens, as spots at popular eateries like Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest tend to fill quickly. Waiting too long can make it difficult to snag a reservation at your preferred dining locations or special experiences.

In a sentence: “I’m so glad I let my Travel Advisor book my Advance Dining Reservations for my upcoming trip to Walt Disney World Resort, so I didn’t have to get up for 6 am myself!”

Be Our Guest (BOG)

Nestled beneath the grand silhouette of Beast’s Castle in Fantasyland® at Magic Kingdom® Park, Be Our Guest Restaurant offers a refined and immersive dining experience.

Guests can savor French-inspired cuisine in one of three unique settings: the opulent Grand Ballroom, the mysterious West Wing, or the enchanting Rose Gallery. If you visit for dinner, you might even catch a glimpse of the Beast himself.

A highlight of the menu is the famous Grey Stuff—a treat you won’t want to miss!

Advanced reservations are strongly recommended for all guests, no matter their age, to secure a table at this sought-after in-park dining spot, and park admission for each guest is required.

In a sentence: “My favorite meal so far has been lunch at Be Our Guest, the French Onion Soup was delicious!”

Cast Member (CM)

Cast Members are the dedicated Disney employees you’ll encounter throughout the parks, including your server at a sit-down meal, the cashier at a quick-service spot, or the person offering you a popcorn refill.

They play a key role in creating a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring guest safety, and adding to the magic of your visit.

If you have any questions about a restaurant’s location, menu options, or anything else dining-related, a Cast Member is always ready to assist.

In a sentence: “The cast member who took our order at lunch was so knowledgeable about food allergies and so friendly, I had to write a Cast Compliment to make sure they got recognized.”

Character Dining

Character meals are special dining experiences where Disney characters visit guests at their tables. These beloved Disney friends move around the restaurant, taking time to interact with each party for photos, autographs, hugs, and sometimes even a quick chat.

It’s a great way to enjoy quality time with the characters in a relaxed, air-conditioned setting, all while enjoying a meal—no long lines required.

Due to their popularity, these experiences typically require advance reservations to secure a spot.

In a sentence: “Deciding between breakfast with Mickey and friends at Topolino’s Terrace or Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT was nearly impossible, but we chose the family style meal in Norway because we knew the kids would love character dining to meet the princesses.”

My Disney Experience (MDE)

My Disney Experience is a digital platform, available both as an app and a website, that helps guests plan and manage nearly every aspect of their Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

This tool allows you to handle various tasks, such as mobile ordering food and snacks, making and managing dining reservations, joining walk-up waitlists for Table Service restaurants, and checking wait times for dining locations and attractions. It’s also used for park entry and accessing your hotel room.

Essentially, My Disney Experience is your go-to resource for a seamless vacation experience.

In a sentence: “The My Disney Experience App was key to our whole trip, we used it as often as we could to mobile order for meals and to check wait times for attractions. It was a lifesaver!”

Mobile Order

Mobile Orders allow guests to order, pay for, and pick up freshly prepared meals, snacks, and desserts throughout Walt Disney World Resort—all through the My Disney Experience app on your phone.

This convenient feature often helps you bypass long ordering lines, letting your group relax at a table while your food is being prepared. It’s a simple way to streamline your dining experience during your visit.

In a sentence: “Mobile Ordering our lunch was so easy, it was just like using apps at home to order food to pick up from our favorite restaurants. We were still able to customize our choices and it saved time!”

Check In (Mobile Ordering)

This feature allows guests to use the My Disney Experience app to order food and drinks from participating Quick Service locations.

When you reach the restaurant, simply tap the Check In button in the app to notify the kitchen that you’re ready for your order. You’ll receive a notification when your meal is ready for pickup and be directed to the specific pick-up spot.

This process lets you skip waiting in line, making your dining experience quicker and more convenient.

In a sentence: “Let’s go find a table, I already checked in for our mobile order, so we should enjoy the AC and be comfortable while our food is being prepared.”

Check In (Table Service) aka Mobile Dine Check In

This is Disney’s digital system for checking in at Table Service restaurants. It lets guests with Advance Dining Reservations skip the traditional host stand by using the My Disney Experience app to check in virtually.

When your reservation time approaches, you’ll receive a notification through the app (make sure location services and notifications are enabled). From there, you can check in directly on your smartphone, confirm your arrival time, and verify the number of people in your group.

When your table is ready, you’ll get a message directing you where to go for seating.

In a sentence: “Check in for our table service meal at Hollywood & Vine was so simple, we just confirmed our information in the app and then waited for them to let us know the table was ready.”

Disney Dining Plan (DDP)

The Disney Dining Plan is an optional add-on that offers two versions, catering to different budgets and dining preferences. These plans allocate a set number of meal credits for both Quick Service and Table Service restaurants, as well as snacks, to be used throughout your stay.

While choosing a plan depends on your family’s needs and preferences, it can provide added convenience by allowing you to prepay for your meals, making dining more seamless during your vacation.

In a sentence: “I wasn’t sure if the Disney Dining Plan was right for my family, but my Travel Advisor walked me through the pros and cons and helped me make the right decision for us. It added a convenience to our trip that I really enjoyed!”

Dinner Show

A dinner show combines a meal with live entertainment, with the cost of both included in the price of admission.

Currently, the only dinner show available at Walt Disney World Resort is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. This beloved show has been delighting guests for decades, featuring lively performances by the Pioneer Hall Players. The menu includes classic favorites such as fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, and cornbread, making it a fun and hearty dining experience.

In a sentence: “We had an absolute blast at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, between the meal and the variety of entertainment, the dinner show was a truly fun experience!”

Dole Whip

Dole Whip is a refreshing, soft-serve frozen dessert found at Walt Disney World Resort parks. This fan-favorite treat has been delighting guests since it first debuted in the 1980s.

While the classic Pineapple Dole Whip is the most well-known, there are other flavors available, as well as creative variations like blends with soft-serve ice cream or Dole Whip Floats.

In a sentence: “Dole Whip is a classic Walt Disney World Resort snack for a reason, it’s so refreshing while you’re out in the sun!”

Food and Wine Festival

This annual event at EPCOT® runs from late August to mid-November, offering a unique culinary celebration. The festival transforms the park with a variety of limited-time food booths, exclusive merchandise, themed entertainment, cooking demonstrations, seminars, and festive decorations.

While access to the festival is included with EPCOT admission, guests must purchase food and beverage items separately.

Although each of EPCOT’s festivals features special food and drink options, the Food & Wine Festival boasts the largest selection of food booths, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts.

In a sentence: “The Food & Wine Festival is my favorite EPCOT festival. I get so full trying something from all the additional food carts with specialty items, but it’s worth it!”

POG Juice

POG Juice is a refreshing blend of passionfruit, orange, and guava juices, known for its sweet and tropical flavor. It’s often referred to by various names like “Stitch Juice” or “Jungle Juice” around Walt Disney World.

This beloved drink is a favorite among guests and can be found at locations such as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

In a sentence: “There’s nothing more refreshing than POG Juice along with your Mickey waffles to kick off your magical day at Walt Disney World Resort!”

Quick Service (QS)

Quick Service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort offer a convenient way to enjoy delicious meals without a lengthy wait. These venues are typically counter-service or cafeteria-style, where guests place their orders at a counter or through mobile ordering, receive their meals on a tray, and find a table to dine at their own pace.

Quick Service dining is ideal for those who want a quicker meal experience, are mindful of their budget, or have a Disney Dining Plan that includes Quick Service meal credits.

Also known as: Counter Service Dining

In a sentence: “I was so surprised by the different choices available at some of the Quick Service restaurants during our vacation. Sometimes a cheeseburger and fries hit the spot, but it was nice to have the opportunity for things like salads and fresh rice bowls as well.”

Signature Dining

Signature Dining refers to Disney’s upscale, fine-dining restaurants, known for their exceptional cuisine, top-notch service, extensive wine selections, and premium pricing.

These establishments provide a refined dining experience, with Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa standing out as the most renowned—boasting a AAA Five Diamond Award, a Forbes Travel Guide five-star rating, and a Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence, among other accolades.

Reservations are typically required well in advance for these sought-after dining experiences.

In a sentence: “For our anniversary dinner, we splurged on a Signature Dining experience at California Grill, where the sunset view and exquisite meal made it a night to remember.”

Special Dietary Request Team

Walt Disney World Resort is dedicated to offering options for guests with special dietary needs. At most table-service and select quick-service locations, guests can ask to speak with a chef or a Cast Member trained in handling special diets, often without needing to plan ahead.

However, if someone in your group has four or more allergy-friendly requests, needs pureed meals, or follows a medically restrictive diet (such as very low protein), it’s recommended to contact the Special Dietary Request Team no earlier than 14 days before your visit, who can then guide you through the dining process, including notifying the restaurants you plan to visit.

In a sentence: “We were greeted at each restaurant where we had a reservation by a cast member who already knew about our food allergies, it was such a relief to know we were being taken care of. It must be because I emailed the Special Dietary Request Team!”

Table Service (TS)

At Walt Disney World Resort, a Table Service restaurant provides a sit-down dining experience where a server takes your order and serves your meal directly at your table. These restaurants come in a variety of styles, from upscale and formal to casual and laid-back, catering to different tastes and atmospheres. Some offer global flavors while others focus on comfort food classics or delicious barbecue.

Table Service Restaurants are available at each Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park, Disney Springs®, and many Resorts. While they don’t always require a reservation to be made, it is often recommended.

With such a diverse range, there’s a Table Service option for every preference.

In a sentence: “After a fun-filled morning at Magic Kingdom Park, we enjoyed a relaxing Table Service meal at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, where the cast member recommended the perfect dessert to top off our lunch.”

Walk-Up Wait List

If you’re seeking table-service dining options without a prior reservation, My Disney Experience offers a Walk-Up Waitlist feature at select restaurants.

Simply search for your desired dining location, select “Join Walk-Up List,” and follow the prompts to add your name to the waitlist. Once your turn comes up, you’ll receive a notification to return to the restaurant.

This allows you to wait for a table at a Table Service restaurant without needing a booking, provided you are nearby and there are available spots.

Be aware, however, that posted wait times can sometimes be inaccurate. You may be seated right away, or you may have to wait longer than posted.

In a sentence: “We had wanted to dine at Be Our Guest and missed making an ADR, but our Travel Advisor showed us how to join the Walk-Up Wait List and we were able to enjoy lunch there during our Magic Kingdom Park Day.”

Dining at Walt Disney World Resort is more than just eating—it’s an experience filled with unique concepts, specialized offerings, and plenty of Disney magic.

With so many terms and options to choose from, understanding the ins and outs of Disney’s dining landscape can make your trip planning much smoother. From signature dining to quick service, and everything in between, this glossary is your guide to ensuring you get the most out of the delicious opportunities that await.

With a little knowledge of the Disney dining lingo, you’ll be ready to savor every bite of your vacation, making it an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones.