Hi Travel Fam! Ready to snack your way around Walt Disney World? Or looking for additional experiences to make the most of the magic WDW has to offer? Well then, you are in the right place. Below you will find a comprehensive guide to the eats, treats, and special events Disney has to offer. Bon Appetite!
But first! Do you want personalized help planning your WDW vacation? My expert travel agents can help! Email me your information below and we will be in touch. And for more information, check out my other blog posts about Disney here.
Let’s go park by park and talk about the best food to find, both for snacking and for sit down meals.
1. Magic Kingdom
OK, this is my favorite park for food, so bear with me as I rant…
Snacks
Cheshire Cat Café: Cheshire cat tails are a wonderful warm pastry coated with frosting and filled with chocolate. There’s also a yummy looking slushy that I have never tried but it comes with a candy coated straw so it can’t be bad!
Pineapple Dole Whips: These can be found in Adventureland, on the other side of the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. It’s a classic Disney treat and an absolute must have.
Churros: I put this because my sister would kill me if I didn’t. But yes, they are sugary and delicious. I prefer a good Mickey Ice Cream though…
Sleepy Hollow: If you want to eat an entire day’s worth of calories in one shot, head to the left side of Cinderella’s Castle right near the entrance to Frontierland. I recommend the Nutella Waffle or a classic chicken and waffles.
Sit Down Options
Be Our Guest: This is my favorite restaurant in WDW, mostly for the atmosphere, but their food is pretty good too. You NEED reservations here. If you don’t make a reservation the maximum days out from your trip possible, you will find it very difficult to get in here. I suggest doing lunch there because it is a quick service menu for lunch (full table service at dinnertime). This allows you to order food on the app ahead of time and have it waiting for you when you arrive. My favorite is the French Dip Sandwich with a Master’s Cupcake for dessert (it has the famous gray stuff!)
Crystal Palace: This is a character dining experience featuring the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh was my entire childhood, and I still get excited at the chance to hug Pooh and friends (even at 24 years old!). The food here is pretty good and is buffet style, so it’s a good top tier option for character dining.
Cinderella’s Royal Table: If you really want to splurge, this is the place to do it. Head to the top of Cinderella’s Castle for a delicious meal with several Disney princesses. This books up far in advance, so definitely try to get your reservation here early. This is one restaurant that charges you if you cancel your reservation within a certain time frame, so only book this if you are sure you want to eat here!
Liberty Tree Tavern: For good family dining, this is a great option. Classic American comfort food is served family style in a cozy, old time inn. Pass the mashed potatoes please!
2. Animal Kingdom
Satu’li Canteen: For amazing and unique quick service food, head to Pandora. The Satu’li Canteen has delicious bowls that mimic Asian cuisine with a twist. Very, very yummy and quick!
Pongu Pongu: This little shack right next to the canteen has some delicious drinks: both alcoholic and non. My favorite is the Night Blossom which is a multi-flavored slushy topped with exploding Boba balls. Refreshing and delicious!
Pizzafari: This is a great option for quick service pizza and is conveniently located towards the entrance to the park, so it’s an easy food stop as you transition from one side of the park to the other.
Yak and Yeti: This is both a counter service option and a sit down restaurant. While the traditional Asian dishes at lunch and dinner are good, the real star of this place is breakfast. There are delicious crispy hash brown bites and breakfast tacos for after your ride on Expedition Everest.
Tiffins Restaurant: This is the spot to splurge at Animal Kingdom. Delicious food, and you can typically get reservations closer to the day you want to eat unlike other busy places around WDW.
Skip: Tusker House. The food here is just so-so, but if you really want character dining in Animal Kingdom, this is the best place to do it. You can get a breakfast reservation here before the park opens, which will grant you access into the park for opening which can be strategic, but don’t expect a gourmet meal despite the hefty price tag.
3. Hollywood Studios
Sci Fi Diner: Classic burgers and shakes are served as you sit in your own personal car at a mock drive in movie theatre playing old science fiction classics. I definitely recommend, but get reservations early since this place can book up sometimes!
Mama Melrose: If you are craving some yummy Italian food, Mama Melrose is the place to be. However, this is located at the back corner of the park, so it can be a hike to get here! Usually you can get reservations for smaller parties the day of, so it’s a good option for a last minute desire for a sit down meal.
50s Prime Time Café: This place serves classic American comfort food just like mamma used to make. If you clean your plate you even get a sticker and become an honorary member of the Clean Plate Club.
Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Num: Head over to right before Toy Story Land to find the small Neighborhood Bakery stand that serves these giant, gooey cookies. Pro tip: If you get to Neighborhood Bakery in line first, often times Cast Members let you officially open the shack and you may even get your order for free😊
Obviously, there is a TON to see and eat in the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. For a complete guide to all things Batuu, click here.
Woody’s Lunch Box: In Andy’s backyard this is the only place to grab a bite, but overall the food is very good with treats that mimic Pop tarts that serve as a nice mid-afternoon sugary pick me up.
4. Epcot
World Showcase: If you want a huge variety of food options, hit up the World Showcase: The world showcase has 11 countries in a loop, all staffed with cast members from their represented country. You can start in either Mexico or Canada, and you may decide where to start based on what time your Frozen fastpass is. If it is earlier, start in Mexico because Norway is right after! For more info about rides and fastpasses, click here.
Each country has amazing snacks and drinks, more than I could ever include in this list. I will say, don’t load up on a lot of food from one country, sample a little bit from each one! One drink and snack in each country and your belly will be full and happy (even though your wallet will be empty and sad).
We rarely eat outside of the World Showcase when at Epcot, and the nice thing about the wide variety of restaurants is that you can nearly always get same day table reservations. For a dinner splurge, grab a steak at Le Cellier in Canada, and for quick service the stands in China and Japan are my favorite!
Other Places to Eat
Disney Springs: Disney Springs has a variety of food, drinks, and shopping for all tastes. I highly recommend leaving an evening free to roam around and sample some of the many things the Springs has to offer, often including live entertainment!
Beaches and Cream: This is my sister and I’s favorite spot for a sweet treat, and we always make a point to get a reservation here. This is ice cream at its finest, with decadent shakes and even a Kitchen Sink sundae that will rock your world (topped with a whole can of whipped cream!). Their burgers and fries are delicious too! You definitely need reservations as this place is small and fills up fast.
Jellyrolls: Disney, dueling pianos, and drinks. Need I say more? 21+ only! To find it, head to the Boardwalk Hotel and walk to the outdoor entertainment area. You can walk from here to Beaches and Cream or vice versa!
Seven other Amazing Experiences:
Disney has so many things to offer that go beyond the parks. The hardest part of some of these experiences is transportation as WDW does not have shuttles that run between the hotels, but Uber or the Disney version of Lyft called the Minnie Van service is always an option.
1. After Hours Events:
At Disney, there are seasonal after hours events at many of the parks. These have an extra cost ($90-150 approximately), but this is the time the park is closed to everyone except event guests. You will have short wait times, exclusive snacks and merchandise, and usually special shows, parades, and character appearances. I have attended Villains After Hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, both at Magic Kingdom, but there are events throughout WDW that change every few months. Definitely worth it!
2. Hoop de Doo Revue:
Let’s raise the roof inside the Hoop de Doo! To get here, head to The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. This interactive dinner show will leave you laughing for hours. Complete with delicious food, unlimited drinks, and live entertainment this one is definitely worth the money.
3. Boardwalk/Beach Club Resort Area:
I alluded to this earlier, but the area around the Boardwalk resort has a lot of entertainment. This is where you can walk to Beaches and Cream, play boardwalk games, shop, head to Jellyrolls, and more! Definitely worth it to stroll around here if you have some time in the evening.
4. Tea at the Grand Floridian:
For a splurge, get a reservation for tea at the Grand Floridian resort. You will feel like royalty as you sip and munch on delicious tea and snacks. Definitely worth it! Other hotels offer wonderful dining experiences too, so look at what your resort offers. Some of my favorites include a classic New Orleans dinner at Port Orleans (complete with beignets) and the Whispering Canyon Café at the Wilderness Lodge (please ask your server for extra ketchup).
5. Water parks:
Disney is home to two waterparks that can serve as the perfect way to beat the summer heat in Florida! Typhoon Lagoon is my favorite, but both are extremely fun with a variety of water rides for all ages.
6. Bay Lake:
The Lake around Disney’s Magic Kingdom is home to plenty of entertainment of its own. There is a nightly electric water parade on the lake, and from the Fort Wilderness Resort you can rent boats for the day to spend some time out on the lake. You can even sail around for a unique view of Cinderella’s Castle that still let’s you feel like you are at Disney but not fighting crowds in the middle of the theme park.
7. Mini Golf:
For a fun afternoon with family, head to one of WDW’s mini golf courses. My favorite is Winter Summerland. If you purchase the Ultimate Ticket with Memory Maker option, you will get admission to either the Water Parks or mini golf courses included with the purchase price.
For more information, help booking tickets, or if you want help planning your WDW vacation, email me below and I would be happy to help you! Happy travels, fam!
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