10 Best Free Disney Dining Alert Services [Compared]
An example of a Disney dining alert
What are Disney dining alerts?
Disney dining alerts are notifications that you can sign up for to be informed when dining reservations become available at your favorite Disney restaurants. This is a great way to increase your chances of getting a reservation, especially for popular restaurants that book up quickly.
How do Disney dining alerts work?
Disney dining alerts work by monitoring the Disney reservation system for openings at the restaurants you are interested in. When an opening becomes available that matches your criteria, you will receive an alert via email or push notification.
Benefits of using dining alert services
Increased chances of getting a reservation at popular restaurants: dining alert services can help you get a reservation at even the most popular restaurants, even if they are booked up months in advance. This is because these services monitor the Disney reservation system for openings and notify you immediately when one becomes available.
Saved time and effort: dining alert services can save you a lot of time and effort by eliminating the need to constantly check the Disney reservation system for openings. This is especially helpful if you are planning a complex trip with multiple dining reservations.
Best Disney dining alert services
Here are the top 10 Disney dining alert websites and apps, researched and compared just for you. We've compiled a list of the best options, including the types of alerts offered, free and paid plans, and compatible devices.
SpotSnatch
🥇SpotSnatch
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $9 for 50 alerts
MouseDining
🥈MouseDining
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $9 for 50 alerts
Stakeout
🥉Stakeout
Device: Mobile/App
Types of alerts: Push notifications
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $10 for 12 alerts
Dining Alerts
Dining Alerts
Device: Mobile/App
Types of alerts: Push notifications
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $10 for 40 alerts
MouseWatcher
MouseWatcher
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: No
Pricing: $5 per alert
TouringPlans
TouringPlans [NO LONGER AVAILABLE]
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: no paid plans for more alerts
WDWPassport
WDWPassport
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $5 for unlimited alerts
MouseSeats
MouseSeats
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $6 for unlimited alerts
WDWDiningFinder
WDWDiningFinder
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: No
Pricing: $5 for 1 alert
ThemeParkIQ
ThemeParkIQ
Device: Web/Browser
Types of alerts: Email & SMS
Free plan: Yes
Pricing: $5 for 10 alerts
Which dining alert app is best?
The best Disney dining alert app for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, some of the most popular and highly-rated apps include:
SpotSnatch: SpotSnatch is a popular app that offers a variety of features, including real-time monitoring of dining reservations and customizable alerts. SpotSnatch also offers a free plan with limited features, as well as a premium plan with full features.
MouseDining: MouseDining is another popular app that offers similar features to SpotSnatch. Mouse Dining also offers a free plan with limited features, as well as a premium plan with full features.
TouringPlans: TouringPlans is a more comprehensive app that offers a variety of features in addition to Disney dining alerts, such as personalized touring plans, wait time estimates, and crowd calendars.
What makes an alert service good?
There are a few key factors that can make one Disney dining alert service better than another:
Speed and accuracy: The best dining alert services will check for reservation availability frequently and accurately. This means that you're more likely to be notified when a reservation opens up, and you're less likely to get false alerts.
Customizability: The best dining alert services will allow you to customize your notifications so that you only receive alerts for the restaurants and times that you're interested in. This can help you save time and avoid getting bombarded with notifications.
Ease of use: The best dining alert services should be easy to use and navigate. You should be able to quickly and easily create alerts, manage your preferences, and receive notifications.
Additional features: Some dining alert services also offer additional features, such as the ability to add notes to alerts.
How to choose the right alert service
When choosing a dining alert app, it is important to consider the following factors:
Features: What features are important to you? Do you want the ability to automatically book reservations? Do you want additional features, such as restaurant menus or reviews?
Pricing: How much are you willing to pay for a dining alert app? Some apps offer free plans with limited features, while others charge a monthly or annual fee.
Compatibility: Is the app compatible with your devices? Most apps offer both web-based and mobile apps, but some services may only be available on certain devices.
How to use dining alerts
First create an account with a third-party alert service. These services offer a variety of features, including real-time monitoring of dining reservations and customizable alerts.
Once you have created an account, you will need to select the restaurant(s) you are interested in, the date and time of your reservation, and the size of your party.
Once you have set up your alerts, you can simply sit back and relax. The third-party service will do the rest. When an opening becomes available that matches your criteria, you will receive an alert. You can then follow the link to quickly and easily book your reservation on the Disney website.
Do you need dining alerts?
Whether or not you need Disney dining alerts depends on a few factors, including:
How popular are the restaurants you want to eat at?
How flexible are you with your dining times?
How far in advance are you booking your trip?
If you are interested in eating at the best restaurants in Disney World, such as Cinderella's Royal Table or Be Our Guest Restaurant, then dining alerts can be very helpful. These restaurants book up quickly, so it can be difficult to get a reservation without alerts.
Even if you are not interested in eating at the most popular restaurants, Disney dining alerts can still be helpful. If you have specific dining times in mind, or if you are booking a trip last-minute, then alerts can help you get the reservations you want.
Overall, dining alerts are a way to increase your chances of getting the reservations you want. They are also a great way to save time and effort.
Pros:
Increase your chances of getting a reservation at popular restaurants
Save time and effort by not having to check the Disney reservation system constantly
Receive alerts even when you are not at your computer or phone
Be notified of cancellations so you can book a reservation that you missed out on the first time
Cons:
Some third-party services charge a fee
You may receive a lot of alerts, especially if you are interested in multiple restaurants and dates/times
There is no guarantee that you will get a reservation, even if you use alerts
Final words
Disney dining alerts can be a lifesaver when planning your Disney vacation. They can help you get reservations at your favorite restaurants, even if they are booked up months in advance.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use dining alerts is up to you. However, we believe that the benefits outweigh the cons. Dining alerts are a great way to ensure that you have a delicious and memorable meal at your favorite restaurants.