Downtown Restaurant: a melting-pot buffet in New York style

There are four ways to book. The easiest is still the official Disneyland Paris app ("Dining" section), signed in to your Disney account. You can also call the reservation line at +33 1 60 30 40 50, use the official website through the Dining menu, or book in person at City Hall, Studio Services, or your Disney hotel’s concierge desk. Before you decide, I suggest you download my free file by email, which gathers every Disneyland Paris restaurant menu in one place. It makes choosing so much easier.

The booking window depends on where you’re staying. If you’re at a Disney hotel, you can book up to 1 year ahead, as soon as your stay is confirmed. That’s a real advantage for very popular restaurants like Auberge de Cendrillon or the character buffets. If you’re coming for the day without a Disney hotel, you can book up to 2 months (60 days) ahead. You can reserve through the Disneyland Paris app, on the official website, or by phone at +33 1 60 30 40 50. My advice: book the moment the window opens for character dining and for weekend evenings or French school vacation evenings, or the time slots go fast.

Yes, it’s possible but not guaranteed. Some restaurants run a "walk-in line" depending on the seats that open up during the day. Go to the restaurant’s host stand and ask whether they have room. The app also shows time slots as they free up in real time (last-minute cancellations), and I check it often when I’m after a last-minute table. Otherwise, fall back on the quick-service counters and snack stands, which never require a reservation. Tip: eating lunch at off-peak times (before 12:00 or after 14:00) greatly improves your chances of getting a table without a reservation.

Canceling is easy in the official Disneyland Paris app. Go to "Account > My dining reservations", pick the reservation you want, and confirm the cancellation. You can also cancel by phone at +33 1 60 30 40 50. Cancel as soon as you know you won’t make it: it frees up a spot for other guests and it’s a nice thing to do. Important: you can’t change the time or the number of people in your party directly in the app. If you need a change, you have two options: cancel and make a new reservation (if time slots are still open), or call the reservation line at +33 1 60 30 40 50.

Yes. When you book (app, phone, or website), you’ll find a "Special Request" field where you can make several requests. You can ask for a high chair for your baby, a birthday cake (at an extra charge), mention a food intolerance or allergy, or let them know you want to use your half-board meal plan. For the birthday cake, I suggest asking right when you book to be sure one is available. If you didn’t, you can also ask when you arrive at the restaurant, and they’ll try to work something out depending on what they have that day.