A Walt Disney World Foodie Guide
If there’s one thing Walt Disney World specializes in, it’s recreating your most vivid childhood memories in a practical and realistic way. Whether you’ve grown up wanting to try the mysterious “grey stuff” from Beauty and the Beast or slurping down blue milk like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Disney World allows each of us to live out our greatest culinary fantasies, many of which we’ve spent our whole lives dreaming about.
Of course, given the sheer size of Walt Disney World and its adjoining four parks, two dozen hotels, and neighboring shopping complex, it can be a tad daunting knowing where to eat and what to order while venturing through Disney World’s property. Here are some of the best places to grab a bite to eat at the Most Magical Place on Earth, as well as what we recommend ordering at each location.
Magic Kingdom
If you’re headed to Walt Disney World, there’s a decent chance you’re bound to step foot in Magic Kingdom at some point or another. The flagship park of Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom also happens to tote some of the finest restaurants in Florida, ranging from walk-up food stands to creative sit-down dining options.
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace’s main appeal lies in the presence of its numerous Disney characters, each of which make a table-side appearance to delight guests young and old. Not only that, but the restaurant also features a sprawling buffet for lunch and dinner, making it a great bang for your buck.
Be Our Guest Restaurant
If atmospheric dining is a must for you, then we highly suggest booking a reservation at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in Belle’s Castle. Though reservations are notoriously hard to get, Be Our Guest’s gorgeous dining rooms and French-inspired menu makes all the trouble worthwhile. (Just be sure to try the Grey Stuff – it’s delicious!)
Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen
In many ways, one can almost describe the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen as the ideal continuation of the Jungle Cruise. With a menu featuring an eclectic mix of Asian, African, and South American-inspired dishes, adventurous diners can find plenty to love about this relatively little-known Adventureland gem.
Sleepy Hollow
Another underrated eatery in Magic Kingdom, Sleepy Hollow is the perfect option for anyone looking for a quick meal in-between rides rather than donating upwards of an hour at a sit-down restaurant. Conveniently located in the center of Magic Kingdom, Sleepy Hollow offers fruit-infused waffles, hand-dipped corn dogs, and powder sugar-topped funnel cakes.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
It’s safe to say that most visitors have added “a chance to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table” to the very top of their Disney bucket list. Set amidst the eloquent interior of Cinderella’s Castle, Cinderella’s Royal Table might be pricey and extraordinarily hard to book a table at, but between its gorgeous scenery, versatile menu, and the parade of princesses who wander past your table, it’s a must for anyone looking for the full Disney dining experience.
Liberty Tree Tavern
Liberty Tree Tavern might not capture most guests’ imagination in the same way as Be Our Guest or Cinderella’s Royal Table, but there’s something to be said about this underrated eatery’s home-style cooking. Themed after Revolutionary-era America and featuring numerous dishes you’d expect to find on a Thanksgiving table, Liberty Tree Tavern will leave guests packed to the brim with its mountains of mashed potatoes, fresh turkey, and vanilla toffee cake.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
In the past few years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has gone from the most lackluster Disney park into one of Walt Disney World’s most unforgettable theme park attractions. Having expanded to include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, Hollywood Studios has taken full advantage of its new expansions, ensuring plenty of creative dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Ronto Roasters
If you’re looking for a quick meal, we highly recommend grabbing something to eat at Ronto Roasters. A Star Wars-themed walk-up restaurant, Ronto Roasters has no shortage of delicious meals perfect for Star Wars viewers and non-fans alike, none more so than the fan-favorite Ronto Wrap (roast pork, grilled sausage, peppercorn sauce, and coleslaw slathered on a slice of pita).
Woody’s Lunch Box
The sight of the absurdly delicious homemade pop-tart, Woody’s Lunch Box is another notably great quick-service restaurant that offers fast meals, delicious food, and mostly fair prices (even if its lack of seating might leave you snacking on your pop-tart while standing).
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre
What better way to snack on an entire meal than by taking in a vintage black-and-white sci-fi or horror movie? Evoking the wholesome atmosphere of a ‘50s drive-in movie theater, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre seats guests at tables modeled after classic ‘50s muscle cars, enjoying burgers, French fries, and frosty milkshakes while watching a string of ‘50s commercials, movie trailers, and other retro videos.
Hollywood Brown Derby
Among the more upscale dining options in Hollywood Studios, the Hollywood Brown Derby brings the grand opulence of the Golden Age of Hollywood to central Florida. Sipping on premium cocktails while enjoying perfectly-cooked steaks and the restaurant’s famous Cobb salad, few sit-down Disney restaurants surpass the quality of Hollywood Studios’ Brown Derby.
50’s Prime Time Café
Like its fellow Hollywood Studios venue at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre, the 50’s Prime Time Café conjures up an approachable period setting straight out of the 1950s. Modeled after the suburban home of a middle-class American family, the 50’s Prime Time Café offers several memorable dishes, including a peanut butter and jelly milkshake and a meatloaf platter that’s out of this world – or, should we say, out of this decade?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Like its sister park at Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has undergone its own transformation in recent years, as seen through the brand-new expansion in the form of Pandora – The World of Avatar. Yet even before then, Animal Kingdom has featured a stunning range of restaurants and walk-up eateries, each more delicious than the last.
Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Incorporating its clever thematic ties to its Asia setting, Yak & Yeti Restaurant is perhaps the best quick-service restaurant in Animal Kingdom. Whether you’re in the mood for crispy egg rolls, tangy tikka masala, or steaming breakfast bowls, Yaki & Yeti has all of your foremost dining wishes covered.
Tiffins
Perhaps the finest restaurant in Animal Kingdom, Tiffins might be a tad out of budget for most people, but inside its decorative walls lies an eclectic menu filled with international dishes. From butter chicken and Oaxacan pork to curry-drenched fish filets and Szechuan noodles, diners can find almost every nationality represented at Tiffins, making it an ideal option for those with more selective palettes.
Tusker House
Just as Yaki & Yeti embraces its Asian settings, Tusker House specializes in homemade dishes commonly consumed in Africa. Not only that, but Tusker House also offers themed character dining, making it a great option for anyone interested in a photo of Mickey in a decorative pith helmet while gorging on tandoori chicken.
Epcot
Ask any fan where they might find the best food in Disney World, and there’s a decent chance they’ll instantly clap back with Epcot. An endearing exposition of several international cultures, Epcot has every kind of food you can possibly imagine, from tacos and sushi to tall beers and savory pastries.
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Serving the finest pizza in Walt Disney World, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria brings a little taste of Italy to Epcot’s expansive pavilion. Featuring an authentic pizza recipe used by actual pizzerias across Italy, Via Napoli’s wood-fired oven pizzas are guaranteed to leave you in tears (and not because of the scalding hot cheese).
Rose & Crown Dining Room
For a classic British pub experience, we readily suggest booking a table at the Rose & Crown Dining Room in Epcot’s United Kingdom pavilion. While sipping on aged Scotch or pints of stout beer, guests can order various delicacies habitually eaten by our cousins across the pond, including scotch eggs, shepherd’s pie, and – of course – bangers and mash.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
Given their esteemed place in international cuisine, it’s no surprise that France’s entire pavilion earns top marks at Epcot. While we would suggest eating at any one of France’s several restaurants, we would specifically point you in the direction of Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, a Parisian-style bakery that offers premium cheese, fresh baguettes, and a variety of croissant pastries.
San Angel Inn
As with most Disney restaurants, San Angel Inn brings an unparalleled sense of immersion to its restaurant settings. Set beneath a blue sky with a looming Aztec temple and smoking volcano in the background, San Angel Inn has the food to back up its unique decor, from tamales and tacos to a sweet corn ice cream dusted with chili powder and popcorn (trust us, it’s better than it sounds).
