Walt Disney World dining is not cheap! This article covers the basics, and also includes links to other websites (both Disney affiliated and third-party sites) for more information. You can find all the information that you need by using the section headings.
Disney Restaurants sorted by service type (sit down, quick serve etc.)
Walt Disney World offers its guests a wide range of options for dining: character dining, sit-down restaurants, quick queue food stands, and buffets. The types of dining are as follows:
- Character dining is a great way to make your mealtimes as memorable as the parks themselves. Our favorites include:
- Dining with the princess at Akershus Banquet Hall at Epcot World Showcase’s “Norway”. The buffet-style service is great for teen boys. It’s also a less crowded place to meet the princesses than Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom.
- Winnie the Pooh, along with his friends, will be joining guests at the Crystal Palace located in the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch buffets and is located in a central location. It provides a quiet respite from the crowds. We enjoyed this great buffet when our children were younger. This buffet is best enjoyed as a main meal at a later time to avoid the heat of midday.
- Our favorite The Garden Grill restaurant is located in the Land Pavilion of Epcot. It offers a friendly meeting and greet with Chip and Dale. As guests dine in the restaurant, views are constantly changing to keep kids entertained. The restaurant offers a family-style service that includes kid-favorites such as macaroni and cheddar, chicken fingers, and pudding.
- Dinner Experiences and Shows such as Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue offer family-friendly entertainment while offering unique dining menus. There are dinner shows that coincides with fireworks displays, giving guests the best view while dining.
- Signature Dining Options like the California Grill provide upscale menus and unique settings for the sophisticated palate. The restaurants offer excellent service for adults. However, children are welcome.
- Casual Dining offers sit-down meals at a lower price. We go to The Plaza Restaurant on Main Street, Magic Kingdom. It is our absolute favorite. Offering turn-of-the-20th-century ambience, the restaurant serves humongous sandwiches and salads and the best ice cream sundaes in the parks. The “Mayor” also loves this restaurant. You never know when the Mayor will show up. Enjoy the Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios, listed on the Disney website as Special and Unique Dining. The servers here will make sure that your kids are polite so that mom can take a break.
- All parks and hotels offer Quick service dining. The menu includes ice cream sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and chicken. Many offer healthy choices like fresh fruit. Aloha Isle, located in Adventureland, Magic Kingdom offers the Dole Whip – a soft serve orange or pineapple ice cream. This sweet treat is the perfect afternoon snack.
Disney Dining Plans for On-Site Resort Guests
Walt Disney World offers four dining options to guests staying on the property .
- This plan includes two quick-serve meals per day and one snack, as well as a refillable beverage mug that can be used at hotel resorts. This plan can save you up to 10% on regular prices. This plan considers the Dole Whip as a snack!
- Deluxe Dining Plan – This plan offers up to 35% off the cost of purchasing meals individually. It includes three meals per day and two snacks, as well as a refillable beverage mug that can be used at hotel resorts. This plan includes signature dining experiences and sit-down meals. The signature dining experiences are counted as two meals, not just one. This plan could offer significant savings for those who are planning on eating many character meals. It’s nearly impossible to consume all of the meals without character dining. So, consider how much dining time you have before purchasing this package.
- Disney Platinum and Premium Dining Plans. Like the Deluxe Dining Plan, these plans include three meals and two snacks as well as refillable beverage cups. The plans also offer backstage tours, rentals of recreation equipment, and other experiences. These plans may be worth it for Disney travelers who want to experience the “unusual”. These plans are not necessary for most families.
Disney’s Brown Bag policy: Bring your lunch
Unlike most theme parks, Walt Disney World allows guests to bring food inside the park! Disney’s policy is:
Food items, such as snacks and foods that don’t require heating, are permitted in any Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Ask the front desk to place a refrigerator in your room if you need to refrigerate food. A refrigerator may be charged extra. Guests may bring in food, such as snacks and foods that don’t require heating into any Walt Disney World Theme Park. When you enter a Theme Park, inform a Cast Member about any food items.
Please consider these questions when making a decision
It may seem difficult to choose the best option from all of these. When making plans, consider these suggestions:
- Do your children have a picky palate? Pack your lunch and add one or two stops for food throughout the day. No need for a dining plan.
- Are you fond of “amusement park foods”? You can save a few bucks with the quick dining plan.
- Do you love amusement parks? Then choose the quick dining plan. Most sit-down restaurants and buffets will take at least an hour.
- Would you rather relax all day long? You can choose to either eat in your room during the most busy afternoon hours, or you can opt for the Deluxe Dining Plan that allows you to relax and enjoy air-conditioned comfort while away from the crowds.
- Do you want to meet the Disney characters (or at least most of them)? Then choose the Deluxe Dining Plan. Enjoy the intimacy of a character-themed meal by booking one every day or alternately every day, depending on your length of stay. Be sure to know the characters that will be at each scheduled meal. Some characters appear in more than one location!
- Are you planning to spend some time in the resort’s pools or recreation areas? Disney World offers Quick Dining and Deluxe dining options. Choose the plan that suits you best.
You will find the perfect dining option for you if you consider your “dream vacation” and your family’s preferences. We have chosen dining options over the years for a variety of reasons. When our children were younger, we enjoyed the chance to relax, meet characters and eat in air-conditioned comfort. Our sons have grown up and now it’s all rides and junk.
Special note for those who are staying off-property:All of the dining options listed can be booked through the Disney Dining Reservation webpage, or by calling Disney Dining at 407WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).