Stakeout has a free tier that includes one watch with push notification only. SMS alerts require a paid subscription plus a 3-phone add-on fee. Exact paid tier pricing was not accessible from stakeoutapp.com as of May 2026 — check the App Store listing or stakeoutapp.com for current rates.

How many restaurants can I watch with MouseDining?

MouseDining's current watch limits and plan structure were not accessible from mousedining.com as of May 2026 — the site is JS-rendered and pricing details could not be verified. Check mousedining.com directly for current plan details.

Does any of these apps cover Enchanting Extras like Savi's Workshop or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique?

MouseWatcher's venue list includes Savi's Workshop and other Disney activities alongside dining restaurants. (Source: mousewatcher.com venue dropdown, verified May 2026) Whether those alerts are actively supported with working detection is unverified. Stakeout and MouseDining's Enchanting Extras coverage could not be verified — stakeoutapp.com was unreachable and mousedining.com is JS-rendered as of May 2026.

Which app is fastest at finding a cancellation?

None of the three publish a verified check cadence. Head-to-head comparisons in TouringPlans forums suggest MouseWatcher is faster than MouseDining on some restaurant drops, while MouseDining caught more openings overall in overlapping alert tests. Check cadence could not be verified from primary sources for any of the three as of May 2026.

MouseDining vs MouseWatcher vs Stakeout: An Honest 2026 Comparison

All three apps do the same basic thing: watch Disney dining reservations so you don't have to refresh the page yourself. But the differences in pricing, alert channels, and what they actually cover matter a lot when you're trying to catch a hard-to-get table or a Savi's Workshop slot. Here's what each one actually offers, based on what we could verify directly from their sites.

What Is Stakeout?

Stakeout is the most-downloaded Disney reservation alert app on iOS and Android. It has a polished mobile interface, a free tier, and name recognition that the other two don't have.

The free tier gives you one active watch with push notification only. If you want SMS text alerts, you need a paid subscription plus a separate 3-phone add-on fee. App Store reviews from users who lost reservations mention that high-demand cancellations can move faster than the push notification arrives on the base tier.

Stakeout is primarily a dining reservation tool. Its check frequency is not published.

Best for: Someone who wants a mobile app with a clean interface and is fine with push-only alerts on a free plan.

What Is MouseWatcher?

MouseWatcher is a web-based alert service with no app to download. You set up an alert on their site, pay by the alert or by the month, and they text and email you when something opens.

Pricing is transparent: a single one-day alert costs $5. Subscriptions start at $19 per month for 5 active alerts, stepping up to $49 for 15, $79 for 25, $99 for 35, and $139 per month for 50. (Source: mousewatcher.com/subscriptions, verified May 2026) SMS is included at every tier — you give your phone number at checkout and they text you when a spot opens.

MouseWatcher's venue list is long and includes Disney activities alongside restaurants — Savi's Workshop and other Enchanting Extras-adjacent bookings appear in their venue dropdown. (Source: mousewatcher.com, verified May 2026) Whether their detection actually works for those activity types is unverified. MouseWatcher does not publish a check frequency.

Best for: Someone who needs SMS included from the start, wants no app installation, and prefers paying per alert rather than committing to a monthly plan.

What Is MouseDining?

MouseDining is a web-based dining alert service that has been around longer than most of the others. It focuses on Walt Disney World dining reservations and operates without an app.

Head-to-head forum comparisons on TouringPlans have credited MouseDining with catching more reservation openings than MouseWatcher across overlapping alert windows, while MouseWatcher was noted as faster on some specific drops. MouseDining's check cadence is not publicly stated.

Enchanting Extras coverage for MouseDining is unverified.

Best for: Someone who has used MouseDining before and trusts it, or who prioritizes breadth of alerts caught over response speed.

Side-by-Side: Key Differences

| | Free tier | Starting paid price | SMS on base plan | EE coverage | Check cadence | Watch limit (paid entry) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Stakeout | 1 watch, push only | Not verified (site unreachable May 2026) | No (paid + add-on; pricing unverified) | Not verified | Not published | Not verified | | MouseWatcher | None — pay per alert ($5/day) | $19/mo (5 alerts) | Yes (Source: mousewatcher.com) | In venue list, detection unverified | Not published | 5 | | MouseDining | Not verified (JS-rendered site) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not published | Not verified | | SpotSitter | 1 watch, push only | $49/mo (Founder — 5 watches) | Yes (all paid tiers) | Yes — dining + Enchanting Extras | Every 18 seconds | 5 |

SpotSitter figures are from our own pricing page and founder catch logs. Competitor cells marked {{Source needed}} reflect missing primary-source verification as of May 2026.

Which One Should You Pick?

If you care about SMS alerts without paying for an add-on, MouseWatcher is the most transparent option at $19 per month. The per-alert pricing ($5/day) also works if you only need a single restaurant on a specific date rather than an ongoing subscription.

If you want a mobile app with a free tier and push notification is enough for your trip, Stakeout is worth trying before you spend anything.

If you've used MouseDining before and it caught what you needed, it's a known quantity. The main gaps across all three are the same: Enchanting Extras coverage is inconsistent or unverified, none of them publish how often they check availability, and SMS access varies.

One other option worth knowing about: SpotSitter is newer. It checks every 18 seconds, includes SMS on all paid plans, and monitors Enchanting Extras — Savi's Workshop, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Droid Depot, and La Cava Experience — in addition to dining. There's a free tier with one watch and no credit card required. Get your first watch free.

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Last verified May 15, 2026 · SpotSitter Editorial