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
Thanks Tom! I was also wondering about a 6 year old boy? Is there any character meals that maybe the toy story crew or something geared towards a young boy?
Thanks Dave! We are planning on going there. It sounds like a lot of fun. I was looking at T-Rex in Downtown Disney. What is it like there? Would you reccomend it?
T-Rex is a hoot, and very fun. Loud, active and colorful…and loaded with ginormous dinosaurs! One of my weaker photos is of it–it’s here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/01/21/review-the-rainforest-cafe-downtown-disney/#comment-125403
We are staying at the GF in October. We are trying to decide between restaurants with a view of wishes. Do you recommend narcooses or CA grill? Leaning towards narcooses for convenience, but wanted your opinion. Thanks!!!
Hi Katherine! Frankly, I recommend being on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. If you have already seen Wishes from there, then the California Grill is by far the best restaurant choice for watching Wishes again, and since it’s just a monorail ride away from GF, it’s not that inconvenient.
Hi Dave, Thank you, Thank you what can I not say about you and your excellent work. This was our first time to world Disney and we stood @ the Polynesian Resort @ Tahiti building it was fabulous all the transportation was near we follow your instruction I took snacks and small boxes of cereal in the luggage it was the best idea I was up by 5am then girls we was out by 7:30am . We didn’t had to wait on line for any rides I couldn’t believe it we went on every single on none we had to wait I didn’t had to take fast pass it but we did just in case but it wasn’t necessary . the only things I didn’t enjoyed was the food @ akershus food it was terrible . Cinderella’s Royal Table the food was excellent .Ohana it was fabulous . we didn’t go Garden view tea room because my two oldest grandkids 10 and 11 years wasn’t cooperating so I cancel . I really wanted to go. Boma was a nice African buffets is not inside animal kingdom . chef Mickey’s was really nice but I felt pressure by the waitress to leave . Hollywood &Vine it was okay but Fantasmic !!!! was out of this world . Polynesia experience was beautiful I felt that I was on vacation especially the way you have it program. we went back to the resort and da kids had a blast in da pool, sand ,@ night movie @ da sand , @ night fire of Disney it was all beautiful. making plan for next august 2014 . it wasn’t full @ all it was just right. I thought that after Disney I was going to need a mini vacation and I book a four days to Puerto rico I wish I had stayed in da Polynesian instead but I did had a wonderful time in Puerto Rico no regrets. Do you have or do you know any site for Disney curise or to Africa. I want to say to you you are da man. thank you sooo much
Maria, thanks so much for your kind words and I’m so glad the site helped! Thanks for the detailed report too.. This is all I have–nothing on the Cruise Line–but it’s pretty well covered in books like The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014
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Hope your week is going well – I have yet another question…
As of now, I have reservations for a Fantasmic meal at Brown Derby for our group AND I got Fastpass+ for the same show. Will those Fastpass+ seats be as good as the ones for the meal? We love the BD, but it would be nice to save the money if they are close to as good. In addition, do we get to arrive at the same time for both?
Thanks,
Wendy
Wendy, the Fantasmic meal seating, which used to be lousy, is now great–and the FP+ seats are right next to it! So either way these are good seats. My FP+ had a return window that ended 15 minutes before Fantasmic showtime. I went in at the 20 minute mark and still found great seats…
Thanks! At a busy time (Thanksgiving week,) would you suggest more like 45 minutes?
No Wendy, there’s the same amount of dedicated seats and available FP+ either way. It can’t hurt to get there earlier, but I don’t think you don’t have too!
Also, did you see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/10/17/major-changes-in-disney-world-thanksgiving-week-calendar-especially-magic-kingdom-openings/
Good to know about the number of passes – that makes sense. I did see that about the extra hours! I just do not know if I can get the crew there at 7:00 (4:00AM for us) – but I will try. The late hours shock me, too. 1-3AM – I wonder if that might be better than getting up so early?
Wendy
OMG Wendy…4a on your body clock will not be fun. However…with FP+ sharply targeted at the rides that you otherwise should get on first thing, you could try skipping rope drops..at least on the first couple of days, while you adjust to the time change…
That is what I am thinking – but we will see. When I was in college and visiting Rome, my dad sent me 10 pages on legal paper of all the things I need to do in my 3 days stay…and at the end he said, “You know, you do not need to sleep when in Rome.” That is exactly how my dad approaches all glorious thing in life…maybe that will work at WDW, too! Though, I must admit, I did sleep in Rome…just a bit. Of course, when we return, right back to school I go…cannot fall asleep while teaching thesis statements! Maybe sleep on the plane? It is a long flight…
I love your dad’s attitude!! Just take afternoon breaks for naps…I used to teach thesis statements too, as a freshman comp instructor at the University of Virginia! This site would be much better if I rewrote each page so I lead with the question addressed on it and its answer!
My husband taught the same at University of Nebraska…funny.
Your writing is why people come to the site – you give them info in a way they can understand and your writing considers audience and purpose….makes an English teacher (I teach middle school) happy.
Until the next question…
Wendy
OK, Wendy, I admit, that in the core content of the site, you are right 🙂
Dave, I am confused what is the difference between San Angel and La Hacienda and which do you prefer for dinner?
Thanks!
Nickey I get myself mixed up over this…
San Angel Inn is the restaurant I recommend. It is inside the Mexico pavilion, and imitates evening dining in an outdoor cafe in a Mexican city square. See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/san-angel-inn-restaurante/
La Hacienda de San Angel is outside the pavilion, on the water. See this: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/hacienda-de-san-angel/
Hi Dave –
We’re following the A-W-S itinerary for a 5/3/14 trip. I’d like to plan a dinner out for my husband and me on Thursday; while the kids stay with their Uncle. What do you recommend for a restaurant? I’d prefer a resort based restaurant, since we won’t be using a park ticket that day. Here’s the last tricky one….would love to have a Brown Derby Cobb (had one at Floridian Cafe about 11 years ago) but am having trouble finding it on menus! Obviously paying cash.
Meghan I dunno about the Cobb! Might be worth checking in with AJ at http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/
On my general thoughts on adult dining, anything in the right column on this page would work: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/ Locations are ID’s so you cna toss the theme park options…
For a stunning, and stunningly pricey, dining option, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/05/23/review-victoria-and-alberts-at-walt-disney-world/
Hello,
We are headed to MK for one day the first week of January, after visiting family in South Florida. I’ll be toting a one year old and 3.5 yr old girls. I know, I know, I was the one who said I would never change a diaper in Disney:). My 3.5 year old will be delighted, and life is short, so we are booked. Having said that, I want to keep the day flexible considering their ages. Anyway, I decided on a few character events-here it goes. Arrive Sunday, enjoy the hotel and pool. Sunday night take my 3.5 daughter and myself to Chef Mickey’s for dinner at 7pm. I could only get reservations for 2, which is fine, so my husband can hang out either back at the hotel with the wait for us with the baby at the Contemporary. Then I thought we could watch the fireworks from the 4th floor or take the monorail to the beach at they Polynesian. Any preference?
Monday-MK. I have a 7:30 am reservation at O’Hana Polynesian, with the idea that we’d then take the monorail to the park by 8:30ish. My instinct tells me that this may be too tight of a schedule in the morning and that I should head straight to the park to see the characters and head to Fantasyland/Dumbo rides. It’s doable because my children are up before the sun comes up, but what do you think? I could switch Lilo & Stitch to Tuesday morning, which is our travel day at 1pm flight. If so, what time would you recommend for breakfast? First thing to avoid lines?
Or, I can just hold out on Lilo & Stitch (and the princesses meals)until next time. This trip is just a dabble at Disney:) I do plan on Ariel’s grotto and I will try to meet as many of the princesses I can during the day at the Magic Kingdom.
Finally, do you think it’s a must to see the fireworks again at the MK Monday night if we already saw them on Sunday? They both will be tired. I did see that you can meet Cinderella at 10pm at MK, but I thought that was when the park closes that night. Confusing!
PS Do you babysit? Thanks!
Lauren, on the important question…no I don’t babysit!
I would move Ohana to Tuesday for sure, and considering your flight times I’d aim for 8a. The restaurant doesn’t really hop til then. Monday, if I were you, I’d get to MK early and head straight for Enchanted Tales with Belle.
Wishes from within the park is profoundly different–and much better–than seeing it from the Contemporary or the Poly beach. And between the two, I’d do the 4th floor Sunday night–not worth the extra logistics of getting to the Poly. So yes, if you can stay awake for it, do see it Monday night!
Can you recommend a couple of choices for table service meal with teenagers? We will be going in August, and we have a 15 year old boy, 14 year old girl, and 7 year old boy. I am not too worried about keeping the 7 year old happy because he is an easygoing kid who will enjoy wherever he is. But my teenage daughter especially will resist any place she perceives as being too “kid-oriented” or uncool.
The whole family are pretty adventerous eaters. We parents would like to have really good food, so we don’t want to sacrifice on the food for the sake of the experience but do want a place that the kids will remember as being special/fun.
What do you suggest?
Also, I’m thinking of reserving @ the T-Rex restaurant for me and the 7yo. Should I take just him, or would the teens be likely to enjoy it, too?
Thanks for all your help! Your site has been a godsend in planning our trip, even though we are ignoring your advice and going in August 😉
Hi again Dave!
Quick Q: We need to decide between Chefs de France or Garden Grill for dinner at Epcot. (We have two days at Epcot and the second day is at Akershus.) Just as an FYI we also have Chef Mickey’s and Grand Floridian Cafe when at MK so kids aren’t missing out on Character dining! So while I know they’re two different experiences your thoughts on CdF vs GG are greatly appreciated!
Kristi, I don’t have a strong feeling on this, as they are so different. Garden Grill has more kid appeal, Chefs better food…
Thanks, Dave… just the validation that Chef’s has better food works for me – the kids have enough character meals and I’d like a good meal/unique dining experience, so the choice is made; Chef’s it is. 🙂
Ok Kristi, let me know what you though of Chefs when you get back!
Hey there,
We are going to Epcot and dining at Coral Reef. This is our second time and we have reservations. Is there a way that you are aware of we can get a seat next to the tank. Is there a method to the madness or just a luck of the draw even with a reservation?
Thanks!!
Hi Lisa, since almost everyone wants those seats, there’s no real certain way to get them–show up early, request them, and note that you are willing to wait…if you are celebrating anything, wear a button…be perky and cute, even if you have to borrow someone else’s kids to do so…
Hmmmm my 8 year old will come in handy for that!! LOL We are celebrating her birthday so maybe that will do the trick! Thanks again!!
Make sure she’s wearing the button, Lisa! And also see the second half of this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/02/01/is-walt-disney-world-free-on-your-birthday/
Hi again Dave! I will be at DW Nov 28 – Dec 7. I purchased the dining plan. According to your calendar, I can book dining reservations June 1st. Will it let me book the entire week’s dining? Will I need to call or will it all be available online?
Dave,
We are checking into SoG on the 29th. I am looking for a good place to watch my Broncos play Sunday Night Football with my wife while the kids stay with their grandma at the resort. I hear that ESPN zone on the boardwalk is overly crowded. What do you suggest? We are looking for good food and adult beverages while being able to enjoy the game on a big screen. Thanks in advance!
Hi there Ed,
ESPN can be very busy, sometimes with a queue you’ll have to wait in just to get in.
Evergreen’s Sports Pub is located at Shades of Green. The food is pretty good but they don’t have “Big” screens, more like medium screens.
Here is a little more info on my site: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Evergreens.html
Thanks Steve–Ed, Steve is this site’s military expert!!
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