*Originally posted in Spring 2015 - Stay tuned for an updated post as I experience more at Walt Disney World!
At Walt Disney World, there's always something magical to do! Whether it's hitting up your favorite attraction, taking in a Broadway-style stage show, or indulging in some retail therapy, there's something for everyone to enjoy. But did you know that all of Disney's restaurants and dining options are just as magical? With nearly 300 dining options on property, you're bound to find something unique for your family to enjoy each and every day during your Disney vacation. This post is dedicated to my top 10 favorite casual dining spots around Walt Disney World and all of the magical moments they can offer you and your family, without having to worry about getting fancy. While I haven't been able to experience each and every restaurant or eatery at WDW myself, these are the ones my family and I frequent the most and continue to call our favorites: #1 - Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort Want to have a meal with the big cheese himself? For me, there's no better way to do it than at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort, right next to the Magic Kingdom. This character dining location serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style right in the middle of the famous Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World's original on-property resort hotel. Perfect for families of all sizes with kids of all ages, you get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto (characters subject to change!) while enjoying a fabulous spread of your favorite American cuisine, including my favorite Disney breakfast item: MICKEY WAFFLES! It's a great place to fill your tummy before heading out to the Magic Kingdom for the day, or to kick back at the end of a fun-filled day before heading back to your hotel. This is one of the most popular Disney character dining restaurants, so be sure to plan ahead and make your reservation within the applicable 180-day window before you arrive at Walt Disney World (which also applies to many of my other top 10 favorite picks!). #2 - T-REX at the Downtown Disney Marketplace If you're a fan of dinosaurs and intricately-themed, immersive dining experiences, then T-REX at the Downtown Disney Marketplace is the perfect place for your family! Set up like the familiar Rainforest Café, this restaurant offers up American cuisine in a space that takes you back to the Stone Age. You'll see advanced animatronic dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, and undersea creatures, and a meteor shower rains down on the entire restaurant every 30 minutes. There's also a large gift shop at the front entrance that includes a space for amateur archaeologists to search for fossils. This is my family's must-do every time we visit Downtown Disney for the night! Be wary if you're traveling with very young guests or those with sensitive hearing, as the meteor showers can be a bit frightening and loud. #3 - Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios Travel back to the 50's and take in a science fiction flick at the drive-in during a meal at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This uniquely-themed dining location allows you eat your meal in a car under the stars and watch campy science fiction short films featuring aliens, robots, monsters, and more! Also offering traditional American cuisine, Sci-Fi Dine-In is known for its menu of sandwiches, ribs, and gourmet burgers, including their most-requested All-American Picnic Burger. Plus, if you're of legal drinking age and like trying different specialty drinks, this dining location boasts a slew of unique cocktails, including those with glowing ice cubes! #4 - Columbia Harbour House at the Magic Kingdom If your family prefers counter-service eating at the parks over sit-down, table service dining, then be sure to check out my favorite quick-service dining location at the Magic Kingdom: The Columbia Harbour House. Located right across from the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square, this restaurant is known-for their seafood specialties including lobster rolls, fish and chips, and clam chowder, among other options. It's a great place to escape the heat and spend some time indoors people-watching from the bridge that looks over the entrance to Liberty Square from Fantasyland. Plus, it's usually not as crowded as other counter-services locations like Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café in Tomorrowland and Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland. And the New England seaside theme is quite charming! #5 - Lotus Blossom Café at EPCOT EPCOT's World Showcase undoubtedly offers the most unique and varied dining options at Walt Disney World, and the Lotus Blossom Café in the China pavilion is one of my favorite quick-service spots "around the world." Offering go-to, familiar Chinese dishes and snacks including shrimp fried rice, potstickers, and Orange Chicken (my favorite!), it's a great place to stop for a lunch in the middle of your trip around World Showcase with something for everyone in your party to enjoy. Plus, the outdoor seating serves as a great spot to people-watch and catch some of the China pavilion's street performances while you eat! #6 - Boma-Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is world-renowned for it's architecture and sweeping views that make you feel like you've traveled from Florida to Africa in just a quick bus ride. But it also offers up authentic African cuisine in its various dining locations, including at the buffet-style Boma-Flavors of Africa restaurant. You can put your all-you-can-eat meal together from choices of dishes coming from over 50 different African countries that are sure to satisfy every member of your family. And don't worry there's American favorites like mac 'n cheese and mashed potatoes for picky eaters as well. This is a great place to enjoy a meal outside of the hustle and bustle of the parks and experience a different culture. Don't forget to try the zebra dome cakes! #7 - Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at EPCOT If you're a pizza fan, look no further than Via Napoli at ECPOT's Italy pavilion for the best pizza at Walt Disney World! Nestled in the back of the pavilion area, Via Napoli Is a southern-Italian themed restaurant with nearly 30 different kinds and sizes of Neapolitan pizzas that are cooked to perfection in the coolest pizza ovens you've ever seen. Via Napoli also serves up classic, authentic Italian dishes that are not to be missed, as well as specialty cocktails and house-made specialty sangria. This is definitely a good place to stop for a relaxed, table-service meal before taking in EPCOT's nighttime entertainment offerings! #8 - Casey's Corner at the Magic Kingdom A signature icon of Main St. USA at the Magic Kingdom, Casey's Corner serves up specialty hot dogs, nachos, and other ballpark favorites right in front of beautiful Cinderella Castle. This is always a favorite stop of ours for a counter-service meal before Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes fireworks spectacular. The indoor and outdoor seating is almost always taken all day long, so don't be afraid to find a spot to sit on the Main St. curb and eat there - It's a great way to save your spot for the daytime and nighttime parades and eat at the same time! This is definitely a good option for families with young children who may be picky or non-sophisticated eaters. #9 - Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney's Animal Kingdom Located in the Discovery Island section of Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Flame Tree Barbecue counter-service dining location offers up (in my opinion) the best pulled pork barbeque sandwich at Walt Disney World! The covered, outdoor seating areas offer stunning views of the park, including a direct view of the Expedition Everest roller coaster attraction, and is a great option for a hearty lunch to fuel up for the rest of your day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Other meal choices include barbecue ribs and chicken in their signature Flam Tree BBQ rub. A must-do for barbecue fans! Flame Tree Barbecue is currently undergoing refurbishments at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and is therein closed until early Summer 2015. You can still try some of their signature dishes and snacks at nearby stands though - Just look for the signs on the construction walls! #10 - Whispering Canyon Café at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Another location that's perfect for barbecue fans can be found at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, right off of the central lobby. The Whispering Canyon Café is a table-service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring classic American cuisine. The Cast Members are known to be sassy and wise-cracking, there's plenty of activities for younger guests to enjoy while your waiting for your table, and the theming and decorations make you feel as you've gone back to the Old West. But be warned, you might get an interesting reaction from your server if you ask for ketchup! To learn more about these dining locations, and all of the others available at Walt Disney World, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/. And definitely consider making your desired table-service dining reservations as soon as the 180-day window opens up before your trip. Be sure to check back for posts on Disney's Dining Plan options, how to make special dining reservations before you arrive at WDW, the best places to dine with Princesses of all ages, and what to expect when you have a meal with Disney's famous character friends. Until the next post, see ya real soon! ![]() It's no secret that the summer season is a busy time at Walt Disney World. Not to mention that it can get extremely hot and humid... But that doesn't mean you have to miss out on any fun! There's so much to explore and do from May through August at WDW, so check out some tips on making the most of your summer Disney vacation, and some activities for the whole family that add a little extra pixie dust: ![]() **Know that the parks WILL be busy, and hotels WILL be full Summer is considered to be a 'peak season' at Walt Disney World. With kids out of school, a few holidays, and more families planning trips, the parks are busy every day of the week and Disney's on-property resort hotels have little to no vacancy. You have to approach planning your vacation with this mindset, because that will mean a lot of long lines, crowded buses and parking lots, and busy hotel common areas. Don't let that deter you from having a magical vacation, just be realistic of what to expect and what to prepare young guests for. Talk with children about what to do if they get lost or separated from the group, be prepared with all appropriate documentation before you check in to your hotel so the process is as efficient as possible, and plan on early mornings to combat crowds at the park entrances. Know what you're getting into and have a plan! **Pack accordingly! And don't forget your ponchos Going with the same theme, know you're packing for a hot and humid Florida vacation. Be sure to bring plenty of lightweight clothing that wicks away moisture, soft/worn-in shoes that will keep your feet happy throughout the day, and sunglasses for everyone in your travel party. If you're traveling with little ones or family members with fair skin, also be sure to bring hats or visors to protect them from the sun's rays. And of course it goes without saying to bring plenty of sunscreen! You should have enough for everyone to apply three times a day, minimum, each day on your trip. I like to bring a larger bottle to keep at the hotel for morning applications and time at the pool, and then a smaller bottle to put in my park bag that doesn't add a lot of weight. And even though Florida is known for heat and sunshine, it's also known for daily rain squalls that come and go quite often. Be proactive and bring your own rain gear, no matter what the forecast says before you leave home. Ponchos are available for purchase in the parks, but are marked up at a much higher price than what you can find at your local drug store or dollar store. **Drink plenty of water Another one that goes without saying, but people still forget to do. Be sure to take frequent water breaks and limit your soda and alcohol during the day as you navigate the parks and spend time outside. You can find drinking fountains scattered around the parks (most often near restrooms), bottles of water for sale at almost every snack stand, and can also ask for free cups of ice water at all counter and table service restaurants. Plus you can bring your own water in your park bag, so there's no excuse when it comes to staying hydrated! I also recommend taking some time to sit and people watch in the shade as you stop and fuel up, just to be sure. Your body will thank you at the end of the day! **Consider adding on a day or two at the water parks A lot of people tend to forget that in addition to the four main theme parks, Walt Disney World is also home to two amazingly-detailed water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. With tons of water slides, wave pools, just-for-kids play areas, and more, these parks are great places to visit on particularly warm days in the summer. And if you're staying on property, you can hop on a bus for direct transportation to the parks from your resort hotel! Be sure to wear (and consistently reapply) sunscreen, bring a cover-up and water shoes/crocs for each member of the family, and have swim diapers on hand for little ones. I also recommend bringing as little as possible with you so you don't have to lug a lot around, but lockers are available for rent at the front of each park if you need. And be sure to leave towels at home/your hotel - you can use Disney's towels for the day at each park! Note: Make sure when purchasing your tickets that you add the Water Park Fun & More option for everyone (with or without the Park Hopper option). And yes, your Magic Band CAN get wet! **Or plan a day or two to enjoy your rest hotel pool and recreation offerings All of Disney's on-site resort hotels offer a medley of recreation options, include amazing pools and water play areas not to be missed! It's not a bad thing, especially in the summer months, to plan relaxing days in between park days to sleep in a bit, recharge, and spend time at your hotel. Some of my favorite resort hotel pools include the Fuentes del Morro pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, the Lost City of Cibola pool at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, and the Big Blue Pool at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. Plus, a lot of the on-property hotels offer recreation options like running trails, bike rentals, beach volleyball, and more. Definitely a lot to discover no matter where you stay! **Hit the water rides toward the beginning of the day I personally prefer to tackle water rides like Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids earlier in the day, as you'll dry off pretty quickly in the warm sun as you walk from attraction to attraction. While there might be shorter lines toward the end of the day/park closing, you're more likely to walk around wet and damp as the sun goes down. I know I don't like sitting on the bus at the end of the day with wet clothes! Definitely consider getting FastPasses for attractions like these, since you can add on more after you've used your first three of the day - Another incentive to hit them up in the morning! **Pick your parade and show viewing spots early I can't stress this one enough! Remember when I said that summer is considered a "peak season" at WDW? Well everyone else visiting the park you're at for the day will more than likely also want to take in the same parade or show you'd like to see, so find your viewing spot early and stay there. I like to go and get a snack around 2:00 PM and find a spot for the Magic Kingdom's afternoon parade, Festival of Fantasy, and eat, chat, and people watch. It serves as a great time to get off your feet and relax, as well as talk with your family/travel party about your day and trip so far and plan the rest of the afternoon. Same goes with evening fireworks and nighttime spectaculars too, especially Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios. They have a full concession stand inside the amphitheater with food, ice cream, and even beer, so get there early, settle in, and enjoy the nice viewing spot you secured! Tip: For parades, especially at Magic Kingdom, find a spot to sit near a trashcan - You won't have anybody sitting next to your group on the side where the can is, and you can easily throw away your trash from your snack/lunch while you wait. You can also try to find a spot near a light post or temporary stanchion. **Utilize FastPass+ and choose your first three for the beginning of the day As I mentioned with the water rides tip, plan your first three FastPasses for the day as early as possible, so you can add on more as needed right away. If you reserve a FastPass for say, 9:00 PM, you won't be able to add others to your plans until you've used that one. Also, be sure to book these FastPasses right at the 60-day mark if you're staying at a WDW resort hotel, or the 30-day mark if you're staying off-property. The earlier you book with FastPass+, the more likely it will be to get the attractions and times of your choice. Some attractions to consider getting FastPasses for in the summer months: any of the mountains, including the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, at Magic Kingdom, Soarin' or Test Track at EPCOT, Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Tower of Terror or Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios. But of course get FastPasses for anything that's on your must-do list to ensure you don't miss out on that experience - including character greetings! **Make any special dining reservations early This is a best practice I recommend throughout the year, so definitely be sure to make advanced dining reservations 180 days before your trip if there are any particular locations you'd like to eat during your summertime trip. Anywhere character dining is offered are certainly spots where you'll want to make reservations ahead of time, especially Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, and The Crystal Palace. Have your plan in place, credit card ready (you'll need it to confirm your reservation - not necessarily to prepay), and make those reservations online or by phone as early in the day as possible at that 180-day mark. If you're staying at a WDW resort hotel, you can make dining reservations for your whole trip at 180 days before your check-in date, or else you can make your reservations 180 days out from the intended date for your special meal. **Check out the Independence Day fireworks before July 4th Disney's fireworks are always top-notch and extra magical, but their fireworks for Independence Day really go above and beyond their usual displays. The Magic Kingdom is always busy on the Fourth of July, especially in the evening, so check the schedule for July 3rd to see if they'll be showing the fireworks a night early. This is something they do for New Year's Eve fireworks, since that's another super busy day at MK, and it allows guests a little more breathing room in the park to enjoy the show. It will still surely bring a lot of people in, but the advanced-showing is something not a whole lot of people know about! **Enjoy an outdoor movie under the stars or a nighttime campfire with s'mores Did you know that most Walt Disney World resort hotels show movies outside under the stars and roast marshmallows nightly during the summer?! These entertainment offerings are free to resort guests and can really add some extra pixie dust to the end of a day, whether you spent it at the parks or relaxing by the pool. Just check the entertainment/recreation schedules for your hotel by the pool or in the main lobby (which is usually provided for you at the desk when you check in). Walt Disney World truly is "the most magical place on earth" all year round, so don't worry about crowds, heat, or long lines in the summer months. Yes, you'll experience all of that, but you can have a wonderful vacation if you're prepared and plan ahead. Be sure to visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ for comprehensive information, and also take a look at the upcoming "Coolest Summer Ever" events for 2015, including the kickoff 24-hour celebration at the Magic Kingdom on May 22nd. Have any special tips or advice of your own for surviving summer at WDW? Share them with me in the comments below! Until the next post, see ya real soon! |
About MeA twenty-something alumni of the Disney College Program looking to help others plan the Disney vacations of their dreams! Living that Disneyland AP dream in SoCal. Archives
February 2018
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