Walt Disney World guests booking 2026 vacations faced a holiday nightmare when over 35 popular restaurants suddenly disappeared from the Disney Dining Plan in late December 2025. The mass exodus left families scrambling to revise their carefully planned itineraries, particularly those taking advantage of Disney’s “Kids Eat Free” promotion.
As of early January 2026, there’s finally good news: most of the missing restaurants have officially returned to the Disney Dining Plan. However, several high-profile locations—including the notoriously difficult-to-book Space 220—remain unavailable, and new restrictions on when dining credits can be used have created an additional planning challenge.
Why Did So Many Restaurants Disappear?
The December dining crisis wasn’t a mistake—it was the annual “Contract Dance” between Disney and third-party restaurant operators. Disney doesn’t own many popular locations at EPCOT’s World Showcase and Disney Springs. Instead, they’re operated by companies like Patina Restaurant Group, Landry’s, and José Andrés Group.
Each year, these operators must negotiate reimbursement rates with Disney for accepting Dining Plan credits. The 2026 negotiations were particularly contentious, leading to the largest number of simultaneous dropouts in recent memory.
Major Restaurants That Returned to the 2026 Disney Dining Plan
After weeks of uncertainty, the following popular locations have officially rejoined the Disney Dining Plan for 2026:
EPCOT World Showcase: Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, Tutto Italia Ristorante, San Angel Inn Restaurante, and Rose & Crown Dining Room.
Disney Springs: The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia, Paddlefish, and Terralina Crafted Italian.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti Restaurant.
Disney Resort Hotels: Maya Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
For guests concerned about paying out of pocket for their favorite Italian pizza at Via Napoli or a waterfront steak at The BOATHOUSE, this represents significant relief.
High-Profile Restaurants Still Missing from the 2026 Dining Plan
Despite the wave of returns, several iconic Disney World restaurants remain conspicuously absent:
Space 220 (EPCOT): The immersive space-station dining experience remains off the plan. This restaurant is notoriously expensive (approximately $79 per adult for the prix fixe menu) and has been a frequent late-signer in previous years.
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Disney Springs): This Southern comfort food restaurant, famous for its fried chicken, is a fan favorite that often takes longer to finalize Dining Plan terms.
T-REX Cafe and Rainforest Cafe: These Landry’s-owned family-friendly restaurants, featuring animatronic dinosaurs and jungle-themed decor, are often among the last to update their participation status.
The Polite Pig (Disney Springs): This barbecue-focused quick-service restaurant is one of Disney Springs’ highest-rated counter-service options.
New for 2026: Meal Period Restrictions You Must Know
Perhaps the most surprising development isn’t what’s missing—it’s the new restrictions on when you can use your credits at participating restaurants.
Several locations have implemented meal period limitations, meaning they only accept Dining Plan credits during specific times:
Via Napoli (EPCOT): Currently only accepting Dining Plan credits for dinner service. Lunch reservations require out-of-pocket payment.
Tutto Italia (EPCOT): Currently only accepting Dining Plan credits for lunch service. No dinner credits accepted.
The Edison (Disney Springs): Only accepting Dining Plan credits for dinner service.
What This Means: You must verify the specific meal period acceptance in the My Disney Experience app before booking. Please don’t assume that because a restaurant participates in the Dining Plan, it accepts credits for all meal times.
Why This Matters for the “Kids Eat Free” Promotion
Disney’s 2026 “Kids Eat Free” promotion makes these Dining Plan changes even more significant. The offer allows children ages 3-9 to receive a free Disney Dining Plan when families purchase a non-discounted 4-night/4-day vacation package.
Thousands of families booked this promotion specifically to save money on the notoriously expensive dining at Disney World. If high-cost restaurants like Space 220 (approximately $79 per adult) or The BOATHOUSE are excluded from the plan, the mathematical value of the free Dining Plan drops significantly. Families might find themselves using credits at moderately priced locations while paying out of pocket for the expensive experiences they originally wanted.
Should You Change Your Restaurant Reservations?
If your must-do restaurant is still missing from the 2026 Disney Dining Plan, don’t panic and cancel your reservation immediately. Here’s the smart strategy:
The “Last Minute” Rule: Previous years have shown that restaurants frequently sign contracts as late as mid-to-late January. If a restaurant signs after you’ve made your reservation but before your actual dining date, your Dining Plan credits will be accepted.
Book a Backup Reservation: Make a secondary reservation at a Disney-owned restaurant (like Le Cellier Steakhouse or Garden Grill) as your “Plan B.” Disney’s cancellation policy allows you to cancel dining reservations up to two hours before your meal time without penalty.
Use the Real-Time Filter: The My Disney Experience app has a “Dining Plan Accepted” filter under the dining search function. This filter updates in real-time as contracts are signed. Check this filter weekly as your vacation approaches—you may notice restaurants appear suddenly.
Call Disney Dining: If you’re within 60 days of your trip and a crucial restaurant is still unavailable, call Disney Dining at (407) 939-3463. Cast Members sometimes have insider information about contracts nearing completion.
The Bottom Line: Most Restaurants Are Back, But Stay Vigilant
The “Great Disney Dining Plan Scare of 2026” has largely resolved itself, with approximately 80% of the initially missing restaurants now back on the official roster. Popular locations like Via Napoli, The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia, and Rose & Crown have returned, giving guests access to many of Disney World’s most beloved dining experiences.
However, the continued absence of high-profile restaurants like Space 220 and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, combined with the new meal period restrictions at participating locations, means 2026 travelers must be more diligent than guests in previous years.
Check the My Disney Experience app regularly, book backup reservations, and verify meal period acceptance before each dining experience. Contracts continue to be signed throughout January, allowing the missing restaurant list to shrink further in the coming weeks.
