h. Where to Eat at Walt Disney World
By Dave Shute
WHERE TO EAT AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Some of the best family experiences at Walt Disney World are the meals.
But with more than a hundred very different alternatives, the most fun of which sell out months in advance, dining is more complicated at Disney World than you would think.
Moreover, because of the popularity of the Disney Dining Plan, reservations for your table service choices are absolutely a must.
If you are following one of my itineraries, this site takes care of dining for you.
The itineraries indicate all your Walt Disney World a dining sites and times, and their To-Do Lists includes all of the dining reservations you need to make, and by when you need to make them; these dining destinations are also listed in your itinerary.
The dining venues in the itineraries have been selected based on how well-loved they are by families, kid-pleasing menus, how effectively they achieve their show intent, value for money, and convenience.
If you can’t follow the dining instructions in the itineraries, see the discussion lower on this page.
SPECIFIC DISNEY WORLD DINING DESTINATIONS INCLUDE:
Most of my itineraries include the following (shorter ones don’t have them all)
The dinner show Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, hokey but loved for generations- “Character Meals” (where Disney characters join you for greeting, autograph, and photo sessions) at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Chef Mickey’s, the Crystal Palace, and Tusker House
- Other meals in especially interesting and kid-friendly settings, such as the San Angel Inn
Over the years, other venues have also been in this list, including 1900 Park Fare, Whispering Canyon, 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Liberty Tree Tavern, House of Blues Gospel Brunch, and the Rainforest Café. These are also worth considering.
For what it’s worth, the following are the hardest-to-get reservations:
- Be Our Guest Restaurant [Magic Kingdom]
- Trattoria al Forno breakfast [Boardwalk]
- Cinderella’s Royal Table [Magic Kingdom]
- Chef Mickey’s [Contemporary Resort]
- ’Ohana [Polynesian Resort]
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall [Epcot]
- 1900 Park Fare Dinner [Grand Floridian Resort]
- California Grill [Contemporary Resort]
- Crystal Palace [Magic Kingdom
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170 comments
Dave-
We are headed there in December with 4 adults and 3 kids (2 yr old girl, 2 yr old boy, 6 yr old girl). We will be there for a short trip that we do not foresee as being our last visit. We will have 4 nights with 3 days actually in the parks (AK and MK only w/no hopper option). We’re planning on doing the MVMCP one of the evenings we are there and I’m looking into the Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party.
Our party is pretty adventurous when it comes to eating but we do have a peanut allergy (toddler). We are okay with buffets since those are the character meals, but would like one or two other experiences to round out this short trip.
First here is our MUST for this trip:
1900 Park Fare (Cinderella Dinner)
The rest of the 3 table service meals are pretty open, though they have to be at MK, AK or a resort close to either of the two since these are the only parks we are visiting.
Here are some of the restaurants I’m looking at:
Tusker House (lunch w/characters)
Crystal Palace (breakfast w/characters)
Tony’s
Ohana (breakfast w/characters or dinner)
Be Our Guest (can’t decide if a QS or TS is better for this one)
Yak & Yeti
Chef Mickey’s (breakfast or dinner w/ characters)
Would love to take advantage of as many character options as possible, but would also like to have meals that are much more than standard buffet offerings and at least one adult option without characters.
Not sure about breakfasts…Are they really worth it? I hate the thought of “wasting” a better dining option to go with a breakfast when we could easily eat in the room or grab a small snack when we arrive at the park each day. Also do not want to miss opening because those are some of the BEST moments!
Any suggestions or thoughts are welcome…
Hi KE! I’m assuming you are using the dining plan from some of your comments. I’m not keen on breakfasts as a use of dining plan credits–value for money–and they also get in the way of being at the parks when they open, whihc is the best time to best the crowds.
All the choices you’ve listed are great except Tonys, which is unexceptional, and Tusker House, which is good but not great. I’d add ot your list of possibilities Hoop Dee Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness (see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/04/24/review-the-hoop-dee-doo-musical-revue/ ) and Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. Each is just a short boat ride from MK.
For help in sorting thru all these options, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/
Hope this helps!!
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Hi Dave…..we are going to Disney this fall. However I have been trying to “practice” making a reservation for dinner at Be Our Guest. There are 3 of us….my husband, son and I. When I put 3 in it will give me an incredibly late dining reservation…..when I put 2 or 4 members in for the party size it gives me times over the dinner hour(i.e. from 4-6pm). I am doing this right at 6 am when you can start making reservations. What’s going on, do they not have many tables for 3?
Hi Katie, I dunno, but am guessing you are right. In your shoes I’d just book for 4…
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Dave, I’m in the process of planning our Disney trip for this October. Our daughter will be 5 when we go. I checked out the Be Our Guest Restaurant online and it looks very nice from an abiance perspective, but she’s 5….I don’t think she’s going to touch any of the food they have on the menu! Is it worth it? Or should we stick to Cinderella’s Royal Table and maybe Akershus? Also, we would like to do Bibbity Bobbity Boutique with her and since she’ll be all dressed up, I thought we could maybe do a fancy dinner or lunch that day. Based on where that is (the Boutique), which restaurant do you recommend we do afterwards? Thanks!
Hi Shana, I agree that BOG doesn’t have much on the menu for a typical 5 year old. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/03/12/review-counter-service-lunch-at-be-our-guest-in-the-magic-kingdom/
There’s two BBB locations, one in Downtown Disney and one in the Magic Kingdom. You should go to the one in the Magic Kingdom, and then do Cinderella’s Royal Table after!
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Hi Dave, This is my first time in Disney staying Polynesian resort on August18-25 With 4 girls ages7-11 Staying 7night 8days with magic your way plus dining, 4 day magic ticket with water park. First Sunday ecopt @6;15 Akershua ,Monday M.K Cinderalla 12:10 noon lunch, Tuesday water park, Wednesday Wednesday water park @6;15 Citico , Thursday A.K , Friday Hoolywood Studio @5pm Hollywood vine show 8:30 ,Saturday water park @6:45 Mickey’s Chef , Sunday getting ready to leave plane leave 2:15 pm. Please need your help because with this i made the reservation with AAA but your site help me Sooooo much . I still can cancel reservation please help . Maria
Hi I’m not sure what help you are looking for–??
Hi I didn’t expected a respone so quickly thanks. I wasn’t sure about the dining part especially Citico . I cancel Citico and added Ohana @8:30pm on Tuesday and Boma on Thursday 4:30pm . I would like your feed back in anything you think that can work better on my vacation.Thanks Maria
Hi Maria–yes, I think you made a good call to replace Citricos with Ohana. Citricos has great food, but is not much fun for the kids. You also strike me as having too many water park days and not enough days in the theme parks. You could easily spend six days in the theme parks–see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/how-long-to-stay/
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Hi Dave this is my first time visiting and there is only two adults. At the resorts when dinning is included what meals or what is all included
Hi Lorrie, none of the Disney resorts have dining included. You can buy something called the “Dining Plan” –there are several different versions–which give you varying amounts of meal credits. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/11/the-disney-dining-plan-at-walt-disney-world/
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Hi Dave,
Well I just booked my Disney Vacation today. Tomorrow will be 180 days out. as of now it won’t give me the option to practice booking for tomorrow. my concern is….when tomorrow hits…will it allow me to book the rest of the week…even though the calender stops at each day?
Hi Sarah! Assuming you are in a WDW hotel–and I know that was your intention–yes, you can book your arrival day and nine days more on your 180 day mark.
PS you can practice booking today, by using the day before your arrival date as the date you are trying to book…
Thanks Dave! And yes we are staying at a WDW resort! I appreciate all your help! Thanks for everything.
Good luck, Sarah!
Well Dave,
Today was supposed to be my 180th day out to reserve all my dining experiences and Disney’s damn server is not working for booking reserverations right now! What are the odds! Woke up early and everything! LOL
Sarah, what a pain! Were the telephone reservationists at 404-WDW-DINE off the system too?
Yes they were for awhile. I tried back around 5pm tonight and I was able to make a few more reservations. I was still not able to make Hollywood and Vine. She said that resturant and Ohana were still having issues! I guess I’ll try again tomorrow! Crazy huh!
Good luck today, Sarah!!!
First, I want to say even though I’ve been to WDW about 10 times I find your site very helpful in reminding me of things I’ve forgotten. You also update me on the new adventures available. Question – I love the tagliata di manzo @ Tutto Italia, is it still on the menu? Thank you for all your hard work!
All the Best,
Deb Wright
Hi Deb, and thanks!! Here’s a link to the Tutto menu–my scan did not show the tagliato… http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=86#menu
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Hi Dave , This is Maria i follow your advice and cancel the water park and added 6 park tickets and if i decide to buy water ticket for 1 day then i will buy them there. Thanks so much for your hard work. I used your site for my vacation plan. I am so happy i did. Polynesian resort, parks, dining or i added photo plus. Please feel free to jump in and give me advice. Thank you soo much
Hi Maria, that’s great! Get back to me with any more questions you have…Dave
Hi Dave/others,
My 180 days out will be next month, but I am having a blast planning this trip. All I have for a honeymoon restaurant thus far is Califrnia Grill… any other suggestions? I have 5 nights there so 5 tabe meals and 5 counter service.
Also, I heard that it is better to cash in your snacks (from the dining plan) in the theme parks, as the variety is better… does this sound right?
Mike H
Hey Michael, see the stuff on the lower right of the image on this page: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/
And I think it’s true in general that there’s more snack variety at the parks, but it depends a bit on the resort…
I love your site as I really am planning our first visit to disney with our 2 and 4 yr olds. We are going next week and staying at Art of Animation. I did make some dinner reservations for your recommended places. We are doing Crystal Palace one morning, but the other mornings I had planned on eating a quick breakfast at Main st bakery in the park and getting some coffee in the morning. I see now that it is closed! Do you recommend any other places for a quick easy breakfast (like an egg sandwich or something)? We can eat something small in our room, but this will not be enough to get us through lunch. We do have the dining plan. We will probably head straight to Fantasyland when the park opens. Any good breakfast places in that area (with good coffee too)? Thanks very much!
Hi Carrie, and thanks!! Your best bet is the AofA food court, which will open at (if memory serves) 6a–double check in case it’s 7a. Your early time in the park is much better served by going on rides before the lines build than to a breakfast in the parks (at least befroe 10.30)…
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Hi Dave,
Is it possible to make dining reservations without yet having room reservations? As an example, if we plan to go in early December but are not 100% sure of the exact dates other than narrowed down to a 7-10 span could we make reservations on the 180 day of each date of that 7-10 day span? I hope this makes sense and is not too convoluted.
Thanks,
Scott
Scott, anyone can make reservations so long as they are 180 days or less away. You do not need to have room ressies to do so!
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Thanks Dave. I figured that was the case but was looking for confirmation.
Hi Dave,
I have learned so much from your website! We will be going to Disney June 5 thru June 10th. We are first timers and my daughters are 18 and 21. This is for their graduation, one from high school, one from college. I am looking for one restaurant that will be a “wow”! Something 4 adults would like. We are staying at the swan and this is a surprise for my girls. Thank you for your time.
Hi Lora, and thanks!!
If by wow you mean fine dining, see the options in the lower right box of this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/
All are WOW restaurants!
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Hi Dave! I don’t know where the schedule is to find out the evening I should book California Grill to see the fireworks(?) show. And if I have the schedule, what am I looking for on it? Thanks. Mike.
Hi Michael, I’m not sure what you are asking!
I can’t find the fireworks show schedule for viewing from California Grill.
Michael, what dates are you targeting? California Grill is closed for rehab right now. I’ll let you know the Wishes fireworks sked once you tell me your date…
Or you can work with this: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/magic-kingdom/wishes-nighttime-spectacular/ There’s a tiny calendar icon on the right side just below “Friday May 10” You can use that to check a specific date.
And just in case you don’t alreayd know this, Wishes is much better from within the Magic Kingdom, facing the castle from the Main Street side, than from the California Grill. The CG is a great option once you’ve ssen Wishes the right way once, but isn’t a subsitute for that…
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I’m planning a September trip, with two sit down dinners at Magic Kingdom. (Dining plan). Be Our Guest is totally booked, and for one of our dinners, we’ve decided on Liberty Tree. What would you suggest for our second table credit? (We’re not really into buffets!)
Thanks!
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