Even when surrounded by amazing attractions and magical experiences, we froggies still need to eat. (Eating is our favorite!) At Walt Disney World, there are so many frogtastic restaurant choices, making it almost impossible to know which ones to try first. A meal at Walt Disney World could range from a casual grab-and-go lunch to an entirely immersive dinner in outer space or among royalty in a castle. So, let the Frog Fam be your guide as we unveil our top picks for the crème de la crème of the best restaurants at Disney World!
We’ve tried a ton of restaurants throughout our years of visiting Disney World. Naturally, some of those have made it onto our favorites list. These are the restaurants that consistently deliver. And as soon as Tad and Lily were old enough for solid food, they were noshing Disney eats too. They certainly have their tadpole-friendly favorites, so we’ll be listing these here as well.
Our list covers the top picks for quick-service, table-service and character meals across the four theme parks, resort hotels and Disney Springs. So, no matter where you are, you’ll know where to go! In addition, we've listed the approximate price details, tips, tricks and helpful deets to help you make the most of your WDW dining experience. As our tween likes to say, "Letz goooooooooo!"
Types of Dining at Walt Disney World
At Disney World, there are several types of restaurant options, or categories, if you will. Quick-service restaurants are casual, offer fast service and serve cafeteria-style food over the counter. Food selections are ordered either by Mobile Order or at the counter. Once you pick up your order, you’ll seat yourself. But don’t let the term “cafeteria-style” fool you. There are insanely delicious options in this category!
Table-service restaurants provide a seated dining experience where a dedicated server attends to your order and delivers your meal directly to your table. Spanning from casual eateries to exquisite fine dining, there are almost endless options. Table-service restaurants accept reservations, whereas quick-service do not. We highly recommend you make your dining reservations 60 days in advance. Table-service reservations fill up quickly, especially at popular restaurants such as Cinderella's Royal Table or Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre.
Character dining is a special experience and one of our frog-favorite ways to enjoy a meal at Disney. There are currently twelve different character meals. With locations in both the theme parks and the resort hotels, character meals are unique because they bring the beloved Disney characters directly to your table. You can meet, hug and take photos with your favorite Disney pals, making your dining experience truly magical. Whether it's breakfast with Mickey, lunch with Cinderella or dinner with Donald Duck, there's no doubt that these encounters create lasting memories.
Character meals are available at:
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall - EPCOT (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Cape May Cafe - Disney's Beach Club (breakfast)
- Chef Mickey’s - Disney's Contemporary Resort (Breakfast and dinner)
- Cinderella's Royal Table - Magic Kingdom (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- The Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Garden Grill - EPCOT (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Hollywood & Vine - Disney's Hollywood Studios (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- 'Ohana - Disney's Polynesian Village Resort (Breakfast & dinner)
- Tusker House Restaurant - Disney's Animal Kingdom (Tad’s favorite! Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Topolino’s Terrace - Disney's Riviera Resort (Lily’s Favorite! Brunch)
- Story Book Dining with Snow White (dinner) - Disney's Wilderness Lodge
- 1900 Park Fare - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Opening April 10 for breakfast and dinner)
Things to Keep in Mind
The restaurants highlighted in this post represent our top choices for the current year. As with everything at Walt Disney World, dining experiences and establishments are subject to change over time. We're basing our recommendations on past experiences, but it's important to note that your own experience may vary depending on any updates or alterations made since our last visit.
Best Restaurants at Magic Kingdom
Columbia Harbour House
You can find this restaurant in Liberty Square. Menu items include delicious seafood and healthful options beyond your typical burgers and fries. Famous for its Lobster Roll and fries (we won’t argue there), we also love the Harbour House Salad with Chicken. The kids' menu includes grilled salmon, shrimp skewers or chicken strips. Columbia Harbour House offers ample indoor seating (hello, air conditioning!) with nautical decor. This area of the park can be pretty busy during the lunch hour. We recommend placing a Mobile Order in advance, so you won’t get caught waiting in long lines.
Quick-service: $
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
Tucked away in the corner of Adventureland, this restaurant is just as fun as the Jungle Cruise attraction. The servers are campy and tell jokes like the Jungle Cruise skippers. You’ll love the theming and decor! The food dishes are African-, Asian- and South American-inspired, offering a variety of international flavors. There are also items for picky eaters such as chicken tenders, steak and mac and cheese. While you won't find them on the menu, they do have french fries if you hoppen to have picky eaters in your crew — just ask your server. We highly recommend the Skipper Dan's Dan Dan Noodles. And pssst …request to be seated in the S.E.A. room. It’s the once-secret meeting place for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers!
Table-service/casual: $$
While technically not character a meal, the Beast DOES make an appearance at Be Our Guest. You may see Beast roaming through the castle — he will stop occasionally to wave and bow to guests. You can take photos and videos of him as he makes his way through the dining areas. There are three separate dining rooms and we love the theming of each one. The West Wing is a MOOD and we're here for it!
Cinderella's Royal Table at Magic Kingdom is a must-do dining experience for many Disney fans. It's situated on the second floor of Cinderella Castle, and as you enter, you'll meet Cinderella for photos. Throughout your meal, you'll meet with four other Disney princesses. The restaurant is stunning, with a medieval-style interior, gorgeous stained glass and fancy chandeliers. While you dine, you'll have a view of Fantasyland. Can you imagine eating lunch in a Disney castle? We don’t think it gets any more magical than that!
Both Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table are two highly sought-after Disney World restaurants. Making an advance dining reservation is highly recommended. Both restaurants offer fine dining with a prix fixe menu, meaning you’ll pay a fixed price and can choose items from the menu. The cost typically includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. Alcoholic beverages are available for an additional fee. Our favorites include the Filet Mignon and Chocolate Tart (the Grey Stuff) at Be Our Guest and the Marinated Grilled Chicken at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Table-service/character meal/fine dining: $$$
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments
At the entrance of Liberty Square, this quick-service location is one of our not-to-miss froggy favorites at Magic Kingdom! We love the hand-dipped corn dog and the waffle sandwiches. There is a sweet waffle sandwich — the Fresh Fruit and Waffle Sandwich made with chocolate-hazelnut spread, and a savory option — the Sweet-and-Spicy Sandwich. Both are delicious! There’s outdoor seating nearby with stunning views of Cinderella Castle.
Quick-service: $
Best Restaurants at EPCOT
EPCOT is hands down the winner for having the best food in all of Walt Disney World. This park is a foodie’s dream! In fact, the entire World Showcase is dedicated to the culinary arts found worldwide. EPCOT has the highest concentration of restaurants compared to the other three Disney World parks. Plus, there’s usually a festival going on most days of the year. These festivals — Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden Festival, Food & Wine Festival and Festival of the Holidays — include food booths and kitchens that offer the most unique and tasty food you’ll ever see or eat.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
Les Halles is a traditional French bakery located in the France Pavilion. This place always knocks it out of the park! The menu offers fresh soups, salads, baguette sandwiches and pastries. For drinks, there's champagne, beer, wine and gourmet coffees. Make sure to grab one of the fruit macaroons and a frosé. We promise you won’t be sorry!
Quick-service: $
For a dining experience that is toadally out of this world, you need to visit the Space 220 Restaurant! This is one of the most immersive dining experiences we’ve had to date. If you’ve got tadpoles who love space, ya just gotta go! Did you know that you’ll ride a space elevator that simulates a launch into space? 220 miles up, to be exact!
Once you arrive, you’ll enter the Centauri Space Station and get unbelievable views of planet Earth and outer space. There is a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. We recommend the Blue Moon Cauliflower (appetizer) and the Galactic Miso Salmon (entree). Try the lounge menu if you want the experience, but not the price. You can order a la carte items here versus the three-course meal. For a unique cocktail, order the Gamma Burst and let us know how you like it!
Table-service/casual: $$
Garden Grill Restaurant will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s one of the first character meals that Tad and Lily got to experience. This restaurant is unique because you’ll meet Chip 'n' Dale as the hosts, along with Farmer Mickey and Pluto. And … the restaurant ROTATES! But not in a make-you-motion-sick-kinda-way. The entire restaurant slowly revolves above Living with the Land, making for exciting views of the rainforest, farmhouse, thunderstorm, sandstorm and prairie.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are currently being offered and served family-style. If you love something, you can request as much extra as you’d like. Guess what else? Most of the produce served is grown downstairs in the Living with the Land greenhouses.
Table-service/character meal/casual: $$
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Our tadpoles LOVE pizza and a family vacation just wouldn’t be the same without it. However, not all pizza is created equal. Via Napoli is a standout when it comes to pizza. Located in the Italy Pavilion, this is a fan favorite, and rightfully so! The menu offerings include pasta, salads and fire-roasted pizzas. We keep it simple here and order the large Margherita Pizza (big enough for the whole frog fam!), the House Salad and a glass of wine for me, Mommy Frog! Everyone leaves full and hoppy.
Table-service/casual: $$
Best Restaurants at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Woody’s Lunch Box
Playful and fun, this outdoor dining location is for kids of all ages. Themed to look like you’ve shrunken down to the size of a toy, you’ll feast on beloved childhood favorites but with a modern twist. Menu items include a Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich, Tomato-basil Soup and Lunch Box Tarts. Our favorite item is the "Totchos." These are potato barrels (tater tots) covered in chili, shredded cheese, queso, tomatoes, corn chips and sour cream. As Jessie would say, “YEEHAW!”
Quick-service: $
The Hollywood Brown Derby
As an authentic replica of the Hollywood Brown Derby in California, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped off the red carpet. This restaurant offers traditional cocktails and classic dishes. The Cobb salad gets all the rave. You can usually find us munching that or the Filet Mignon. Our favorite way to end a meal is with the Grapefruit Cake.
Not looking for a full meal? Then try a cocktail in the lounge, which offers outdoor seating. The view makes for great conversation and people-watching. The lounge is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also use the My Disney Experience app to join the Walk-up List.
Table-service/fine dining: $$
Hollywood & Vine
Another red-carpet dining location is Hollywood & Vine. The Play n’ Dine Breakfast features Disney Junior characters such as Vampirina and Doc McStuffins. For lunch and dinner, you’ll get to meet Minnie (she’s the host) as well as Mickey, Goofy and Pluto. The character’s outfits and theming change with the seasons. Halloween and the Holiday Dine are popular times to visit. Meals are served buffet-style with all-American dishes but with an upscale feel. I enjoyed the Oven-roasted Turkey and garlic mashed potatoes the last time we visited. Talk about comfort food to the max!
Table-service/character meal/casual: $$
Ronto Roasters
We can't visit Hollywood Studios without making a stop at Ronto Roasters. Famous for the Ronto Wrap, just the thought has us smackin’ our froggy lips! The Ronto Wrap is a grilled pork sausage, plus a slice of pork in a pita wrap. There’s a yummy slaw and a peppercorn sauce that pulls all the flavors together.
The breakfast version, the Ronto Morning Wrap, is made with eggs, grilled sausage, shredded cheddar and peppercorn sauce in a pita. SO GOOD! We like to wash our Ronto Wraps down with a Surly Sarlacc, which tastes like an adult version of pink lemonade.
Quick-service: $
Best Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
While Animal Kingdom is known for its remarkable Animal Encounters, we think the food offerings are pretty incredible! Many might think Animal Kingdom is a sleeper park when it comes to food, but we proudly disagree! ;) There’s terrific food to be found; you just need to know where to look!
Flame Tree Barbecue and Satu’li Canteen
Both quick-service locations get equal votes from everyone in the Frog Family. Our little frogs love Flame Tree Barbecue. There are delicious smoked meats and chicken meals with baked beans and coleslaw. For something a bit more refreshing, try the Smokehouse Chicken Salad. Leap’s favorite is the Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork. (And topped with onion rings, we might add!) We also like to keep our eye out for fun and unique cupcakes. These are a fun treat to find and eat. Ribbit!
Satu’li Canteen is not only original; I mean, you’re eating on an alien planet, but the menu options are scrumptious. We LOVE, with a capital L, the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods and veggie chips as well as its beef and chicken bowls. If you enjoy a draft beer, try out the Mo’ara High Country Ale. This beer is made exclusively for Pandora - The World of Avatar. There’s plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating.
Quick-service: $
Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Yak & Yeti is located in the Asia section of the park and is themed after a quaint village home at the base of Mt. Everest. This table-service spot is Nepalese-style and offers pan-Asian cuisine. Here, you can relax and recharge from all your worldly travels around Animal Kingdom. The food offerings include Sweet-and-Sour Chicken, Ahi Tuna Nachos (a popular choice!), Pork Pot Stickers and a Kobe Burger. There’s a wide selection of sake, cocktails, Asian beers and hot teas. The decor is eclectic and has the neatest collection of Southeast Asian artifacts.
Table-service/casual: $$
Tusker House Restaurant
The vibe at Tusker House Restaurant is casual and the character interactions make it extra fun! The menu offers an African-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner. The characters are available during all three meal times. Served buffet-style, you can go back for more of anything you’d like. The shrimp curry and rice dish was a hit — we couldn’t get enough!
The characters do an excellent job interacting with your party. They wave, dance and offer to take photos with you. Goofy made sure we took a picture of his “best” side while Mickey, Donald and Daisy showed off their adorable safari outfits and dance moves!
Table-service/character meal/casual: $$
Nomad Lounge
This quaint lounge is one of our favorite places in Disney World. It’s not a restaurant, per se, but a secluded spot to grab a yummy cocktail and a unique nosh. This lounge is tadpole-friendly, too! What sets this place apart is its eclectic yet cozy decor. Inside, you’ll find hanging banners and scrolling posters with conversation starters, meant to talk with your party about travel experiences, bucket-list activities and future dreams.
If the weather is nice, ask to sit outside. There are beautiful decks with comfy seating that overlooks the Discovery River — prime viewing to watch the character flotillas. Nomad Lounge does not take reservations, and you can’t place a Mobile Order. Simply join the Walk-up List from the My Disney Experience app or see the host out front to be added to the list.
Walk-up/casual: $
Best Restaurants at Disney Springs
Where do we even begin? There are so many tasty options here! It’s hard to narrow it down. From snack stands, bakeries, doughnut shops, quick-service, table-service, lounges and everything in between, you almost can’t go wrong when dining at Disney Springs. It’s almost painful to choose, but in no particular order, here’s our top four!
- Wine Bar George
- Raglan Road
- The Boathouse
- Summer House on the Lake
Each of the four table-service restaurants has a great atmosphere and phenomenal food. Wine Bar George is, of course, known for its incredible wine selections. We loved the Skirt Steak and Cheese Board there as well. Raglan Road offers traditional Irish food and Irish dancers and live musicians perform nightly! The Boathouse has a menu filled with fresh Seafood options. The theming is top-notch and there's gorgeous lakefront seating. Perfect for a date night or dinner for the whole family, these four locations do not disappoint.
Summer House on the Lake just recently opened in December 2023 and offers summer vibes year-round and California-inspired cuisine. Whether you're dining in or just want a sweet treat, their cookie bar is connected to the main restaurant. The cookie bar does not require reservations and has the most delicious (and giant) homemade cookies. Yum!
Table-service/fine dining: $$
Best Restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
If you’re new to Walt Disney World, you’ll be pleased to know that each resort has own its unique dining venues. The Value resorts offer one large cafeteria-style restaurant, while Moderate and Deluxe resorts have several restaurants, including lounges, quick-service and table-service locations.
You're welcome to visit any WDW resort or restaurant, even if you’re not staying on-site. If you're driving, just make sure you have a dining reservation, or you might not be permitted to park in the hotel parking spaces. You can use complimentary Disney World Resort transportation to get you there too!
Topolino’s Terrace is our top pick for resort restaurants. You can find this light and airy restaurant on the top floor of the Riviera Resort. It offers brunch and dinner, and the roof-top views are breathtaking! Brunch is the only meal with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy. The characters are themed to attend art school along the Riviera, and their artistic outfits are precious.
The food here is the REAL STAR of the show. Everything we’ve tried here is delicious! Dinner is equally yummy and worth the price, even without the characters. For brunch, the Sour Cream Waffle with Orange-Maple Syrup is divine! For the tadpoles — order the Mickey Waffle Dippers!
Table-service/character meal/fine dining: $$$
Other resort favorites:
- Cape May
- California Grill
- Steakhouse 71
- ‘Ohana
- Kona Cafe
- Grand Floridian Cafe
- Narcoosee’s
- Boma - Flavors of Africa
- Yachtsman Steakhouse
- Trattoria al Forno
- Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
How to Plan Your Dining Experiences
By now, you probably have a pretty good idea of which restaurants you’ll want to try on your next trip. We don’t blame you! Planning all the yummy things to eat and drink is half the fun. You’ll want to make your table-service dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. You can do this on the Walt Disney World website, the My Disney Experience app or call (407) 939-3463.
Reservations open at 6 a.m. EST, and some of the more popular dining locations, such as Space 220 Restaurant, can go very quickly. If the restaurant you want isn’t available, don’t worry. Keep checking back. People change their plans all the time, and openings do become available. You can also try to get on a restaurant’s Walk-up List. You can do this on the morning of your visit. Head straight to the restaurant and ask if they have any Walk-up availability. The earlier you do this, the better your chances.
Remember that you do not need reservations for quick-service locations. However, we recommend using Mobile Order to place your food order. You can do this early in the day and have your meal time already set and ready to go. The restaurant won’t start making your food until you hit the "Prepare My Order" button on the My Disney Experience app. This way, you’ll have a mealtime carved out. Some popular locations, such as Woody’s Lunch Box, can fill up, and when that happens, there won’t be any time slots left to order.
So, what are your favorite places to eat in Walt Disney World? Which restaurants are on your list? Still have questions about Disney dining? Drop them in the comments below. We love to help our froggy friends!
Related: The Ins and Outs of Disney World’s Advance Dining Reservation System
Hoppy planning!
