Summary
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. 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. Disney dining is tricky to navigate, but no need to stress! The Frog Fam is here to share our top picks for the best restaurants at Walt Disney World.
We’ve tried a good majority of restaurants throughout our years of visiting Disney World. Of course, we’ve frequented our favorites MANY times so we’ve got plenty of experience with the restaurants that consistently deliver. You know as soon as Tad and Lily were old enough for solid food, they were noshing Disney eats too. They certainly have their favorites, and we’ll be mentioning those here.
In this post, we’ll be sharing the best restaurants at Walt Disney World, including suggestions on what to order. This list includes quick-service spots, table-service restaurants and character meals. In addition, we’re covering our top picks from the four theme parks, Disney Springs and the Disney World Resort Hotels. So, no matter where you’ll be, you’ll know where to go! We’ve also listed the approximate price details, tips and tricks, and other pertinent information to help you have the best dining experiences possible.
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. Don’t let the term “cafeteria-style” fool you. There are insanely delicious options in this category!
Table-service restaurants offer a sit-down meal where a server takes your order and brings your food to your table. These restaurants range from casual to fine dining. Table-service restaurants take reservations, whereas quick-service locations do not. We highly recommend you make these dining reservations in advance. Because we’re sharing only the best today, most of these table-service reservations fill up quickly.
Things to Keep in Mind
This list includes our top picks for the current year. With all things, Disney restaurants and their experiences continue to evolve. That just means there will always be improvements and new fun things to experience with each trip. Walt Disney World is still in a phased reopening since the extended COVID closure. Some restaurants haven’t reopened, although more seem to be opening almost weekly. Disney meal plans have not made their way back yet, but they've been confirmed to return sometime in the future. For now, you’ll need to pay for your meals as you go instead of pre-purchasing with a meal plan.
There are currently six different character meals available. These experiences are modified for everyone’s health and safety. The characters will make their way around and take socially distant photos with guests. Autograph signing and hugs aren’t allowed quite yet, but hopfully soon!
Character meals are available at:
- Chef Mickey’s (breakfast and dinner) - Disney's Contemporary Resort
- Garden Grill - EPCOT
- Hollywood & Vine - Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Tusker House Restaurant - Disney's Animal Kingdom (Tad’s favorite!)
- Topolino’s Terrace (brunch) - Disney's Riviera Resort (Lily’s Favorite!)
- Story Book Dining with Snow White (dinner) - Disney's Wilderness Lodge
- Ravello - Four Seasons Orlando (Saturday mornings only)
This list is subjective because dining preferences vary from person to person and family to family. However, we’ve listed the restaurants with excellent food quality (they make our frog tummies hoppy), are a good value in terms of price/portion sizes and have excellent restaurant theming and ambiance. We also ensured that these locations have extra Disney magic, such as characters or exceptional experiences.
So, without any more hoppin' around, the best restaurants at Walt Disney World are here.
Best Restaurants at Magic Kingdom Park
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 be 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 Jungle Cruise. 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 the picky eaters such as chicken tenders, steak and mac and cheese. We highly recommend the Perkins Thai noodles. Yum, yum! 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: $$
Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table
While technically, these two dining locations are not character meals, we’ve listed them here because characters DO make an appearance. You may see Beast roaming through the castle at Be Our Guest, or you may spy Cinderella waltzing her way through the dining room at Cinderella's Royal Table. These characters won’t stop at tables; however, you can take photos and videos of them as they make their way through the dining areas. These are highly sought-after Disney World restaurants and making an advance dining reservation is a must. Both restaurants offer fine dining with a prix fixe menu, meaning you’ll pay a fixed price and can choose items from the menu. The cost typically includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. Alcoholic beverages are available for an additional fee. Our favorites include the Filet Mignon and Chocolate Tart (the Grey Stuff) at Be Our Guest and the Magic Carpet Ride (Pork Tenderloin) at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Cinderella’s Royal Table is on the second floor of Cinderella Castle, and Be Our Guest is at the Beast’s Castle in Fantasyland. Can you imagine eating lunch in a Disney castle? We don’t think it gets any more magical than that!
Table-service/character meal/fine dining: $$$
Honorable Mention: 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 just had to mention it here. 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 fresh fruit — as well as 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! The entire World Showcase is dedicated to the culinary arts found worldwide. EPCOT has the most restaurants out of the four theme parks and 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 frogtastic food you’ll ever see or eat.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
Les Halles is a traditional French bakery located in the France Pavilion. In our opinion, this place can do no wrong. Here, you'll find fresh soups, salads, baguette sandwiches and pastries. It also serves champagne, beer, wine and gourmet coffees. Make sure to grab one of the fruit macaroons and a frosé. You won’t be sorry!
Quick-service: $
For a dining experience that is toadally out of this world, you need to dine at Space 220! This restaurant is one of the most immersive dining experiences we’ve had to date. If you’ve got tadpoles who love space, this is a must-do experience. Did you know that you’ll load onto a space elevator that launches you 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. Our top recommendations are the Blue Moon Cauliflower (appetizer) and the Centauri Burger (entree). Seriously, we can’t stop thinking about them. 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 Planetary Punch and let us know how you like it!
Table-service/casual: $$
Garden Grill Restaurant will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s one of the first character meals that Tad and Lily got to experience. This restaurant is super neat because you’ll meet Chip 'n' Dale as the hosts, along with Farmer Mickey and Pluto. And … the restaurant ROTATES! But not in a make-you-motion-sick-kinda-way. The entire restaurant slowly rotates above Living with the Land, making for exciting views of the rainforest, farmhouse, thunderstorm, sandstorm and prairie. Lunch and dinner are currently being offered and served family-style. If you love something, you can request as much extra as you’d like. Guess what else?! Most of the produce served is grown downstairs in the Living with the Land greenhouses. How awesome is that!
Frog Family Tip: This is the best character meal for photos. Because of the circular shape of the restaurant, you’ll be able to snap (albeit distanced) pictures with the characters without a lot of distractions or other guests in the background.
Table-service/character meal/casual: $$
Honorable Mention: 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! Restaurant offerings include pasta, salads and fire-roasted pizzas. We keep it simple here and order the 20-inch Margherita pizza (big enough for the whole frog fam!), a fresh salad and a glass of wine for me, Mommy Frog! Everyone leaves full and hoppy!
Table-service/casual: $$
Best Restaurants at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Woody’s Lunch Box
Playful and fun, this outdoor dining location is for kids of all ages. Themed to look like you’ve shrunken down to the size of a toy, you’ll be feasting on beloved childhood favorites but with a modern twist. Menu items include a Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich, Tomato-basil soup and Lunch Box Tarts. Our favorite item is the Totchos. These are potato barrels (tater tots) covered in chili, shredded cheese, queso, tomatoes, corn chips and sour cream. As Jessie would say, “YEEHAW!”
Quick-service: $
The Hollywood Brown Derby
As an authentic replica of the Hollywood Brown Derby in California, you’ll feel as though you’ve just stepped off the red carpet. This restaurant offers traditional cocktails and classic dishes. The Cobb salad gets all the rave, and when we dine here, you can usually find us munching that or the Char-grilled Filet of Beef. Our favorite way to end our meal is the Grapefruit Cake. So yummy! Not looking for a full meal? Then try a cocktail in the lounge, which offers outdoor seating. This view makes for great people watching and conversing. The lounge is available via first-come, first-serve.
Table-service/fine dining: $$
Hollywood & Vine
Another red carpet dining location is Hollywood & Vine. The Play n’ Dine Breakfast features the 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 family-style with All-American dishes but with an upscale feel. An appetizer, entree and dessert are included with each meal. I enjoyed the Carved Herb-roasted turkey with Garlic Mashed Potatoes the last time we visited. Talk about comfort food to the max!
Table-service/character meal/casual: $$
Honorable Mention: Ronto Roasters
You won’t find us visiting Hollywood Studios without stopping at Ronto Roasters. Famous for the Ronto Wrap, this place 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 usually 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 also think the restaurant offerings are pretty incredible! There aren’t as many options as EPCOT, but 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, choose your pick from fresh salads. 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 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, be sure to 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
Yak & Yeti is located in Asia, themed to feel like a quaint-village home at the base of Mt. Everest. This dining location is a Nepalese-style restaurant that offers pan-Asian cuisine. As soon as you step inside, you’ll feel as though you can relax and replenish from all your worldly travels. Food offerings include sweet-and-sour chicken, ahi tuna nachos (a frog favorite!), pork potstickers, and Kobe burgers. There’s also 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: $$
Character Meal: Tusker House Restaurant
Tusker House Restaurant is a vibe, and the character interactions make it a ton of fun! This character meal recently reopened, and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit. Tusker House serves an African-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner. The characters are available during all three meal times. Served family-style, you can ask 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, even from a distance. They wave, dance and offer to take distant 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: $$
Honorable Mention: Nomad Lounge
This little lounge is one of our favorite places in Disney World. It’s not a restaurant, per se, but a place to grab a yummy cocktail and a unique nosh. This lounge is tadpole-friendly, too! What sets this place apart is its eclectic yet cozy decor. Inside, you’ll find hanging banners and scrolling posters with conversation starters. These are for you to talk with your party about past travel experiences, bucket-list activities and future dreams. If the weather is nice, ask to sit outside. There are beautiful decks that overlook the Discovery River. This spot makes for a prime viewing location to watch the character cavalcades float by. Nomad Lounge does not take reservations, and you can’t place a Mobile Order. Simply join the Walk-up list from the My Disney Experience app or see the host out front to be added to the list.
Walk-up/casual: $
Best Restaurants at Disney Springs
Where do we even begin? There are so many tasty options here! It’s hard to narrow it down. From snack stands, bakeries, doughnut shops, quick-service, table-service, lounges and everything in between, you almost can’t go wrong when dining at Disney Springs. It’s almost painful to choose, but in no particular order, here’s our top three!
- Wine Bar George
- Raglan Road
- The Boathouse
Each of the three table-service restaurants has a crazy-good atmosphere and phenomenal food. Wine Bar George is, of course, known for its incredible wine selections. We loved the Skirt Steak and Cheese Board there as well. Raglan Road offers traditional Irish food, and Irish dancers and live musicians perform nightly! Finally, the Boathouse is known for its fresh Seafood, top-notch theming and gorgeous outdoor seating. Perfect for a date night or dinner for the whole family, these three locations do not disappoint.
Table-service/fine dining: $$
Best Restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
If you’re new to Walt Disney World, we think you’ll be pleased to learn that each resort has its unique dining options. For example, Value resorts offer one large cafeteria-style restaurant, while Moderate and Deluxe resorts have several restaurants, including lounges, quick-service and table-service locations. The choices here are vast, and it’s impossible to cover them all in one post. There are, however, frog favorites, and these are worth mentioning here.
If you were wondering, you are welcome to visit any resorts and restaurants, even if you’re not staying at the hotel. If you plan on driving your car, just make sure you have a dining reservation, or you won’t be allowed to park in the hotel parking spaces.
Topolino’s Terrace takes 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 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 is worth the price, even if you won’t see the characters. If you'll be visiting for brunch, the Sour Cream Waffle with Orange-Maple Syrup is divine! And be sure to order the Mickey Waffle Dippers for the tadpoles.
Table-service/character meal/fine dining: $$$
Other resort frog-favorites:
- Cape May (the breakfast buffet has finally returned!)
- 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 about the 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 of 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.
Frog Family Tip: Set a reminder on your phone and mark this date on your calendar so you won’t froget!
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 fret. 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 on in the day and have your meal time already set and ready to go. Don’t worry — 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.
What are your favorite places to eat in Walt Disney World? Did we leave any important ones out? If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World soon, which restaurants are on your list? Still got 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 eating!
