Digital Menus Offer Easy, Reduced-Contact Ordering at Walt Disney World Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

As you return to the magic, Walt Disney World is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of their Guests and Cast Members. Check out the quick video and details below as shared by DisneyParksBlog about their digital menus for reduced-contact ordering at Walt Disney World Resort.

During visits to Walt Disney World Resort, the delicious “Grey Stuff”  and many, many other mouthwatering dishes are just a few easy taps away with mobile ordering off our digital menus.  It’s menu magic technology that limits contact and is simple to use – scan a QR code, select and enjoy! Check out the quick video on DisneyParksBlog Instagram below.

Currently, most quick-service park restaurant menus are available in the Mobile Order section of the My Disney Experience app and/or displayed on signage at the restaurant. And at select table-service locations, you can easily access a digital menu by scanning a QR code for a magical dining experience.

New Dining “Now” Walk-Up List for Table-Service Restaurants Added to My Disney Experience App

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

A new dining “Now” option is available on the My Disney Experience app with a “Walk-up List” service at select table service restaurants.

So, let’s say you’re walking through EPCOT and decide you’re getting hungry but prefer instead of Mobile Ordering, you’d like to sit down at a table-service restaurant. No reservations? No worries! Visit the My Disney Experience App and you’ll be able to see what table-service restaurants have availability around you right now. You’ll then be able to simply add yourself to the “walk-up list” and get ready for indulge your appetite!

Let’s walk through it. First, from the My Disney Experience App home screen click the “+” at the bottom to see these options below:

Click “Check Dining Availability”. Select your party size and date. Obviously, since this is a right now option, you’d select today’s date. You’ll see the new “Now” option as circled in the image below:

You’ll then be prompted to select an available Walk-Up List. Since we are putting this article together in the morning, you’ll see there is nothing currently available for breakfast. Restaurants are noted with “Walk-up list is currently unavailable to join due to high demand”.

When clicking into Kona Cafe, this message comes up noting “Walk-up List is at capacity”:

Hopefully, this new feature will be especially helpful for lunch and dinner in the parks as sometimes it’s nice to take a breather from Mobile Ordering and quick-service venues.

Overall, we’d still recommend making dining reservations for table-service restaurants 60-days in advance. We feel this “Walk-up List” is really for spontaneous meals. Don’t count on it to ensure there will be availability at your favorite restaurant.

Select Walt Disney World Restaurants May Remain Open After Park Hours Are Reduced

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney+, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

While Disney has yet to make an official announcement, when looking at restaurant reservation availability on the Walt Disney World website after the park hours are reduced, guests can make reservations at select restaurants that are scheduled to remain open after the park closes.

Magic Kingdom’s park hours will be 9am to 6pm beginning September 8. Two restaurants including Be Our Guest Restaurant and Liberty Tree Tavern are open for dinner until 7pm, an hour after park closing. Reservations are available for the 6pm – 7pm hour. Table service restaurants showing closure at 6pm with the park include Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, The Plaza Restaurant, and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ park hours will be 10am to 7pm beginning September 8. Three restaurants including 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Oga’s Cantina, and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant are open for dinner until 8pm, an hour after park closing. Reservations are available for the 7pm – 8pm hour. Table service restaurants showing closure at 7pm with the park include The Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.

All table-service restaurants at EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are currently showing they are scheduled to close at park closure which is 7pm for EPCOT and 5pm for Disney’s Animal Kingdom beginning September 8.

WDW Expands Temperature Screenings to Table-Service Restaurant Guests

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Another update from Walt Disney World today shows temperature screenings have been expanded to restaurants. Now, if you are dining at a Disney Resort table-service restaurant, you can plan for a temperature screening prior to entering the restaurant.

Found on Walt Disney World’s website under “Dining Experiences“:

“Temperature Screenings: Guests dining in table-service restaurants at Disney Resort hotels will undergo a temperature screening prior to entering the location. As with other locations at Walt Disney World Resort that require temperature screenings before entry, anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 F or above will be directed to an additional rescreening. Those with temperatures 100.4 F or above will not be allowed entry; those in their party will not be allowed entry either.”

The update can also be found under “Temperature Screenings“:

“You will be required to undergo a temperature screening with no-touch thermometers before entry to some locations at Walt Disney World Resort, including the Walt Disney World theme parks, the Disney Springs area and table-service restaurants at Disney Resort hotels.”

“Based on guidance from health authorities, anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 F or above will be directed to an additional location for rescreening and assistance. Those with temperatures 100.4 F or above will not be allowed entry; those in their party will not be allowed entry either. Before you leave home, be sure to check the temperatures of everyone in your party—including yourself—as an extra layer of precaution.”

Ample Hills Creamery Will No Longer Be Operating Any Walt Disney World Locations

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

If you were eagerly awaiting the return of Ample Hills Creamery at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, plus the debut of the upcoming new Disney Springs location, I’m afraid we have some sad news for you. An Ample Hills spokesperson has stated that the ice cream shop will not be operating any Walt Disney World locations in the near future.

The Boardwalk location has been fairly popular since it opened in 2016, and with the announcement of a second location on the West Side of Disney Springs, with construction already underway, this news is definitely disheartening for fans.

Although the landing page for the Disney Springs location still says “Coming Soon” and the Boardwalk location landing page says, “Temporarily Unavailable”, there was still hope that these locations would eventually reopen at a later date. Sadly, there is no later date, as the Boardwalk location is set to close permanently, with plans on the Disney Springs location now reportedly cancelled.

Ample Hills Creamery filed for bankruptcy on March 16, right before the Boardwalk location closed on March 20 due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Disney’s agreement with Ample Hills ended back in January, according to a company spokesperson.