So, you wanna know the best Disney World restaurants are for your trip?
I don’t blame you!
Because let’s be honest, a full theme park day isn’t complete without a satisfied stomach!
So today, in typical ThemeParkHipster fashion I’m going to give you a comprehensive guide of the DOs and DON’Ts of Disney Dining…
…aka the 5 Best Disney World Restaurants, and of course, the 5 WORST Disney World Restaurants!
Are you ready? I thought so!
Let’s get started!
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The Top 5 Best Disney World Restaurants
Let’s start this guide with my top recommendations.
1. Victoria & Albert’s
I really only need six words to sum up this first restaurant on this Best Disney World Restaurants List: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Why? Well, the Grand Floridian Resort happens to be the highest-rated, most luxurious place to stay on Disney property.
So the fact that that’s where Victoria and Albert’s is located should already clue you in to just how good it is.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Disney World Restaurants
With multiple fine dining awards, including being the only Orlando, FL restaurant to receive a AAA Five Diamond Award since 2000 this Disney restaurant is constantly receiving awards.
With a five-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide since 2018, Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and through-the-roof Zagat reviews, save your pennies because this one’s worth it!
Another clue into just how good this restaurant is? A dress code. The official Victoria & Albert’s website says:
Victoria & Albert’s is an exquisite and intimate upscale dining experience and the culinary crown jewel of Walt Disney World Resort. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in semi-formal/formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant and opulent aesthetic.
So yeah, basically this is not your “after a sweaty parking hopping day” type of restaurant.
Instead, think of this as your classy, high-end foodie experience that you don’t even need a park ticket to enjoy.
TPH Restaurant Round Up:
- Type of Food: “Modern American cuisine with exquisite products sourced from around the world” including tastes of Italy, Japan, and the world’s best caviar.
- Price Point: $$$$ Prix-fixe menu begins at $295.00 per guest. Optional wine pairings start at $155.00 per guest. Zero-proof pairings start at $115.00 per guest.
- Rating: 5 Stars
- Things to Note: Their list of awards goes on and on. If you’re an international foodie, then this restaurant should top your eat-around-the-world bucket list, not just your Disney World Restaurants bucket list. And of course, it should go without saying, that a reservation is 100% required!
ORDER NOW to secure your Walt Disney World theme park ticket! GET MY TICKETS.
2. California Grill
All the way on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort, just walking into this restaurant feels exclusive and exciting!
And of course, in true California fashion, this restaurant specializes in seafood and sushi.
So if you’re a lover of all things under the sea, then this is one of those Disney World Restaurants you simply must try!
However, if seafood isn’t your thing, or you have shellfish allergies, don’t fret.
There are also a lot of mouthwatering pasta, steak and more waiting for you including plant-based and allergy-friendly options.
Like the Oak-grilled Filet of Beef, Cherry, and Dark Chocolate Mille- Feuille and Corn and Summer Squash Mezzaluna with Confit Baby Leeks, Corn Velouté, Heirloom Squash, Pearl Onions, Squash Blossoms (For Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies).
Why We Love This as One of the Best Disney World Restaurants
Another great thing I love about this Disney dining restaurant is that the menu is always evolving.
It changes seasonally to match the changing of seasonal items from the state so you can every time you dine here you will experience a magnificent and unique dish every season.
This is one of the ultimate places to eat at Disney!
Not only will you delight in extraordinary signature dining but you will be treated to equally signature views and what feels like a VIP experience from the elevator ride up.
So our overall take on California Grill as compared to Victoria and Albert’s? Less pricey, but still plenty tasty and fancy (dress code still required)!
TPH Restaurant Round Up:
- Type of Food: Mostly Seafood (but other options available)
- Price Point: $$$$ ($89 per person ages 10 and up)
- Rating: 4.6 Stars
- Things to Note: California Grill is only open for dinner time (5 pm and later) and requires a reservation, so keep this in mind as you gather your finest clothes to enjoy one of the best meals Disney World Restaurants have to offer!
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3. Sanaa
An amazing, exotic dinner with an exotic view… THAT’S what you’re signing up for when you dine at Sanaa!
Located in the gorgeous Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village. Sanaa has floor-to-ceiling windows so you can gaze out at the savannah while you eat!
You can look out and see some of the incredible animals that reside here at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village such as giraffes, zebra, and Ankole cattle.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Disney World Restaurants
Oh, and what are you eating by the way?
DELICIOUS Asian selections of African cooking with Indian flavors, including Potjie Inspired entree, Zanzibari Vegetable Curry with Chicken or Shrimp, Tandoori Chicken, and Fenugreek-scented Tomato Soup with seared Paneer Cheese
And remember, it’s not a trip to Sanaa if you don’t order the Indian-style bread service ($22 appetizer) that includes five different styles of warm naan with all nine incredible accompaniments!
Can you say YUM!
Although advance reservations are highly recommended for lunch and dinner they do serve breakfast without needing to worry about making a reservation.
You can start your day out with Banana Brûlée French Toast or Boere Breakfast that includes a coconut drop biscuit.
TPH Restaurant Round Up:
- Type of Food: Asian (More specifically, African and Indian)
- Price Point: $ for breakfast with meals $15 and under, while $$ for lunch and dinner with meals ranging from $15 to $35
- Rating: 4.7 Stars
- Things to Note: Get to your reservation early, or be prepared to stay late, so you can do some window gazing outside of the Animal Kingdom Resort. Why? Well, because at this resort you’ve got a front-row seat to animals grazing, napping, and playing on a 30+ acre savannah!
Worried because you want to go for dinnertime but don’t want to miss the amazing safari views? Don’t sweat it!
Ask for night vision goggles at the front desk to still get up close and personal with the giraffes, zebras, and exotic birds, even once the sun has set!
ORDER NOW to secure your Walt Disney World theme park ticket! GET MY TICKETS.
4. Cinderella’s Royal Table
Sometimes you have to eat at a certain restaurant or have a certain experience just to say, “YEAH, I did THAT!” And eating in Cinderella Castle is just one of those.
While the food may not be STELLAR and the princess character interactions may be brief, it’s still an amazing experience!
ESPECIALLY if you can snag a reservation during fireworks!
Why We Love This as One of the Best Disney World Restaurants
Cinderella greets you in the lobby, and then you enter the glamorous restaurant through a stone spiral staircase adorned with stained glass windows and chandeliers fit for royalty.
So basically, this restaurant is the perfect excuse to bring your cameras and empty stomachs… and maybe even get a royal princess makeover!
The meals are fit for princesses and princes with entrees being served of Grilled Filet Mignon, Slow-braised Beef, Crab-topped Catch of the Day with smoked gouda grits.
For the grand finale rich decadent desserts like The Clock Strikes Twelve of Chocolate Ganache Tart topped with salted caramel coffee mousse or Floating Island or melt-in-your-mouth raspberry meringue with tropical fruit coulis and plant-based ganache.
While the menu does change occasionally the menu is pre-fixe which means you’ll order one appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert from a set list of options.
TPH Restaurant Round Up:
- Type of Food: High-Quality American Selections i.e. Duck, Beef Tenderloin, and Scallops
- Price Point: $$$$ ($84 per adult)
- Rating: 4.3 Stars
- Things to Note: This is possibly the HARDEST of all the Disney World Restaurants to get a reservation for. Be sure to call WDW Dining or check your My Disney Experience app EXACTLY 180 days before your desired dining date. And if you’re still out of luck, keep checking back daily for reservation openings due to cancellations!
5. Tusker House
Now, if you’re anything like the typical ThemeParkHipster, you might be seeing this on a Best Disney World Restaurants List and scratch your head.
“Tusker House?” I can hear you say, “Isn’t that buffet character dining?”
You bet it is! And that’s why I put it on my list.
Oftentimes, character dining, especially in a buffet setting gets a bad rap (just see a few options on our Worst Disney World Restaurants list below).
However, the truth is, this trope just doesn’t hold true with Tusker House.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Disney World Restaurants
Tucked away in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom, it’s sort of a hidden secret, especially because it doesn’t serve the typical tired Disney buffet food i.e. powdered scrambled eggs, chicken fingers, and frozen pizza.
Instead, Tusker House has a delicious, fresh buffet full of flavors from Africa.
Dive into dishes like Spit-roasted Tandoori Chicken, Green Curry Shrimp, South African-spiced Cauliflower Curry, Lentil Salad, Couscous Salad, and Watermelon-Feta Salad.
The dessert bar will have your mouth watering when you lay your eyes on the sweet treats. Baby Flamingo cupcakes, Baby Bee cupcakes, Double-Chocolate Zebra cookies, plant-based Chocolate Mousse, and fresh fruit salad.
Oh… and did I mention the African Blood Marys, Ngumu Jungle Juice, African Mimosas?!
Yup! All that yummy food, PLUS top-notch themed décor, and Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy in the cutest safari outfits you ever did see!
You know, in case you had your fingers crossed for some high-quality character dining.
TPH Restaurant Round Up:
- Type of Food: African Buffet (with child menu options available)
- Price Point: $$ ($62 for adult lunch/dinner; and $47 for breakfast)
- Rating: 4.2 Stars
- Things to Note: As this restaurant is located in Animal Kingdom, you will have to have an Animal Kingdom park ticket to enter, but theme park clothing is A-OK for this character dining buffet! But you will need to have a confirmed dining reservation including that of the young ones in your party to dine at this Disney restaurant.
Recommended: 5 Best Disney World Deluxe Resorts to Stay at Right Now
The 5 WORST Disney World Restaurants
So now that we have covered the top extraordinary one-of-a-kind best restaurants at Disney let’s move on to a few that you can “leave off” your Disney dining bucket list.
1. Chef Mickey’s
Alright, alright, we know this classic Disney character restaurant is a barrel of fun, however…the same can’t really be said for the food.
Lackluster, cold “scrambled” eggs, probably frozen breakfast pizzas, and a ridiculously high price tag are just a few of the reasons we wouldn’t recommend you flock to this restaurant.
Sure, it’s in a cool location (the Contemporary hotel, next to the monorail tracks and overlooking Magic Kingdom depending on where you’re seated), and of course, the characters are in their cute chef outfits.
Aside from that, you’re not missing much.
The price tag is ridiculously high and the food is less than subpar.
I would recommend skipping this buffet and considering Cape May Cafe instead if you want a delicious character dining breakfast buffet with less traffic and way better food.
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2. Hollywood and Vine
Similar to Chef Mickey’s, this restaurant concept is cute and all, but as far as food options go, we give Hollywood and Vine a hard pass!
In this Hollywood Studios restaurant, Disney Junior characters greet you by day, and the fabulous four (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy) greet you at night in seasonal outfits.
And even though those are some cool character opportunities, the food is about the same as you’d get at Chef Mickey’s – hastily prepared kiddie food that’s been left out for WAY too long.
So, if a glorified kid’s menu isn’t what you had in mind for your theme park hopping day, then we’d say skip Hollywood and Vine.
Maybe instead consider the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant for a fun, themed dining experience with food you’ll actually enjoy!
3. Tony’s Town Square
Described by some as a below-par Olive Garden, the problem at this Italian restaurant may honestly just be that it gets too much traffic.
Being located on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street is a lot of pressure, and food has to be turned out at a crazy fast rate, which can lead to some less-than-desirable meals.
From a too-fishy Caesar salad to nearly inedible chicken parm, Yelp reviewers tell us to stay away from this Lady and the Tramp-themed restaurant.
Instead, try Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk (just a boat ride away from both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios) if you want some high-quality Italian food during your magical stay!
Check out our debate on the BEST Lounges at Disney World here!
4. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
Yet another overpriced Italian restaurant on property, Mama Melrose is located in the Muppet section of Hollywood Studios.
Some Guests comment that they enjoy the location (tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the park).
While others say they like to eat here for dinner as it comes with a Fantasmic seating package that guarantees great seats for the amazing nighttime show).
However, the ratings on the food itself are quite inconsistent.
Some guests say the pizza has a delightful “wood-fired” taste, while others say it’s nothing better than a frozen pizza from home.
So if you’re one who likes to take a gamble, then sure, maybe Mama Melrose is for you and you’ll get lucky on the night of your reservation.
However, if you like to bet on more of a sure thing, then we’d recommend Hollywood Brown Derby.
The menu is a bit pricier, but it might be worth it to ensure that you enjoy your meal, plus this restaurant has a Fantasmic dining package available too!
5. Crystal Palace
Alright, let’s start off our review of the fifth and final WORST of the Disney World Restaurants with this comment: if you are a HARDCORE Winnie the Pooh fan, then disregard what I have to say.
Because this is the ONLY location on Disney World property that you can see Eyore and Tigger, and that in and of itself might be worth it for you.
However, if the Hundred Acre Woods crew really isn’t a selling point for you, then we’d have to give this restaurant a big NO THANK YOU!
The buffet options can leave a lot to be desired, and because this restaurant is Winnie the Pooh themed, it attracts LOTS of little ones and lots of traffic aka long wait times and crying babies.
Not to mention that the tables are rather close together, so that combined with small children and characters on the go can make for quite the lack of elbow room (and peace in general) while you’re eating.
And besides, you can always visit Pooh and Piglet next to the Mad Tea Party teacup ride to get your Winnie the Pooh fill without the crowded atmosphere and subpar food that is Crystal Palace.
What to Know Before You Go to Disney World Restaurants
With all the Disney World Restaurants on the property, sometimes navigating all the ins and outs can feel overwhelming. Let me help you with this FAQ: Disney Dining-themed edition!
Should I make dining reservations for Disney World Restaurants ahead of time? And if so, how?
You should ALWAYS make a reservation when dining at sit-down Disney World Restaurants.
In fact, some people make multiple reservations and then decide a few days before which to keep.
Just be aware of the cancellation policy for those you make a Disney dining reservation with. Some have certain restrictions that do not allow modifications within 2 hours or 2 to 3 days.
However, an example would be Victoria & Albert’s, which is one of our best places to eat at Disney which requires you to cancel at least 5 days prior to reservation time.
And remember, you can make reservations up to 180 days (or 6 months prior to) your park visit by calling (407) 939-3463 or using the My Disney Experience app.
Should I get the Disney Dining Plan? Is it actually worth it?
Believe it or not, this is a highly debated topic among online bloggers and Disney chat rooms. And as is with most complicated issues, the answer is: it depends.
The first and most simple question you have to answer to figure out if the Disney Dining Plan makes sense for you is: “Am I staying on Disney Property?”
And that’s because the Disney Dining Plan is only open to resort guests. So, if you’re not staying on the property, then this question has already been answered for you.
If you ARE staying on Disney property, and still don’t know what to do in terms of the dining plan, keep reading.
In recent years, the Disney Dining Plan has become a better deal, as they have added alcoholic drinks into the mix, a plus for those adventurous ThemeParkHipsters out there!
If you don’t use the Disney Dining Plan strategically, you will end up losing money.
The first strategy I recommend you follow to make it worthwhile?
If you aren’t that hungry, don’t waste your meal credit on something small just for the sake of using it up that day and wasting it.
Remember that your meal credits can be carried over to the next day, or any day during your stay if you don’t use it so you will want to get your money’s worth.
Guests on the Disney Dining Plan receive a number of meal credits based on how many nights they plan on staying for one flat fee
Additionally, Disney Dining Plan enthusiasts recommend the following strategy for getting the most bang out of your buck: eat breakfast at a table service restaurant, use snack credits for lunch, and get dinner at a Signature Table Service restaurant.
This ensures you wisely use all credits every day if that works best for you.
How to get the most out of your Disney dining budget?
But the best strategy of all? Do a little math.
Look at the different tiers of dining plans (cost averages about $57 per night, while other averages about $94 a night) and ask yourself: would I spend this much money on food daily at the park anyway, or am I not really a big eater?
If you find that on a typical park day you’d only really spend $20-$30 on food and snacks, then a Disney Dining Plan might be a big NO for you!
HELP! The restaurant I want has NO reservations!
Don’t worry ThemeParkHipster, you’re not alone! When it comes to Disney World Restaurants, especially the BEST ones, it can be hard to snag a reservation.
But luckily, I’ve got some tips and tricks to help. Our first trick is to become BFFs with the My Disney Experience app. This allows you to reload reservations in real-time, which is great.
Because, sometimes, people hold multiple reservations and make cancellations last minute.
And believe it or not, that’s GREAT news for you because you might even be able to snag one the day of, as long as you constantly refresh your app!
And finally, remember to be flexible. You might really want dinner at Be Our Guest, but maybe only lunchtime reservations are available.
Take the lunch option and you can always check back every day and switch out the reservation if a better time comes up.
Are you planning a Disney vacation soon? Read the Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
In Conclusion…
Overall ThemeParkHipsters, I hope you enjoyed our Best … and Worst… Disney World Restaurants break down!
As you can see, Disney World restaurants offer so many one-of-a-kind, unique dining experiences for one incredible trip to remember.
Do you agree with our list? Got anything else you’d like to add? Let us know in the comments below, because when it comes to theme park planning, knowledge is power!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
Gina is a former Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line Cast Member who enjoys reliving the magic by writing helpful tips and tricks for future guests!
Check out more about her Disney adventures and writing endeavors here on ThemeParkHipster or Florida Hipster!
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(Original Article Date: June 21, 2021/Updated by Editor on August 13, 2024)