Best Places to Eat at Walt Disney World Resorts
Many Disney fans would say no trip to Walt Disney World would be complete without indulging in their classic treats, such as DOLE Whip, Churros or a Mickey-shaped Ice Cream Bar. And remember thinking how gigantic those turkey legs were when you were a kid? The nostalgia is endless.
The food experience at Walt Disney World has and continues to be a priority for the parks and resorts. Mr. Walt Disney wanted his visitors to enjoy more than just the rides and characters, and thus it was his top priority to ensure the food offerings were on point. Today, there is even a top-secret place called “FLAVOR LAB” where all the culinary research and development takes place. Can I say dream job?? What to eat during your Disney vacation can require extra planning all in itself. Some visitors go as far as planning an eating itinerary. Or even adding food tastings in their vacation budget!
Personally, my husband and I have mixed feelings on eating at and around the parks during our Disney vacations. We have had a hard time finding good quality meals that we are amped to go back for. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty good offerings that we’ve tried. But for the most part they have left us desiring for more. However, I will admit we tend to go for quick-serve options as we have a hard time justifying taking time away from rides to sit down and eat. So perhaps we are just not looking in the right places as many visitors have differing views than us on this category!
All that aside, not all eating establishments have been a disappointment to us. We have certainly found a handful of eateries that we will always rely on for a tasty bite every time we visit Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
Aloha Isle
Whisk yourself away to a tropical vacation (wait, you’re already in Florida!) by cooling off with a cone of Disney’s iconic DOLE Whip. This creamy, pineapple flavored soft serve sure hits the spot in the middle of a hot Florida day. Aloha Isle can be found in Adventureland, across the way from The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. This is a must for us every time!
Columbia Harbour House
Never in my wildest dreams would I say that I found one of the best lobster rolls at Walt Disney World. Columbia Harbour House has always been a go to for us when looking for a quick quality meal. As the name suggests, this quick-serve restaurant specializes in seafood offerings. For us, it is always a toss-up between ordering the Lobster Roll or the Shrimp Skewer Platter. You can’t go wrong with either. What we like best about Columbia Harbour House is the freshness of their meals. Which is always welcomed after a day of snacking. And even better, they have ample seating indoors, making it a great place for a little R&R.
Gaston’s Tavern
You’ll find Gaston’s Tavern tucked away in Fantasyland near Under the Sea – Journey of Little Mermaid and the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Here you will find the Creme Brulée Croissant, which is essentially a doughnut-like croissant filled with an ooey gooey custard. If you have had a Kouign-amann pastry, it is like that with a custardy filling. This is the perfect snack to order when looking for a sweet treat. And oh does it hit the spot! One serving is perfect for our family of four – just enough to get our fill.
Golden Oak Outpost
Stop by at the Golden Oak Outpost to feast on Princess Tiana’s famous beignets! Located in Frontierland near Tiana Bayou’s Adventure, this cult classic snack will not disappoint. There is not much more to say other than there is a reason why Disney guests are obsessed with this simple but oh so fluffy pillow of heaven. Enjoy!
EPCOT
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
Inside the world of Anna and Elsa, aka Norway, you will find Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, which has one of the best treats at the Walt Disney World Resorts (next to the Mickey-shaped beignets). The Norwegian Skolebrod (or School Bread) is a unique melting pot of flavors that can really only be understood when it is devoured. Think a sweet roll meets a custard cream filled doughnut, topped with shredded coconut. Enough said.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
French cuisine hardly disappoints, and Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie is no exception. Now I will say it doesn’t quite hit the spot as say a cafe found on the streets of Paris, but for a street in the Paris of EPCOT it’s not too bad! You can’t go wrong with any of their traditional French sandwiches, and of course the Pain au Chocolat or just a loaf of Baguette to munch on. And don’t get me started on the pastries…yum! Les Halles Boulangerie-Patiesserie is also one of the few places at Walt Disney World where you can find the ever so popular Mickey-shaped Beignets. As the French would say, Bon Appetit!
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
A classic English dish can be found at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the land of the Brits. As the name suggests, fish is on the menu! The only meal served here is Beer-battered Fish and Chips and yes, they do it well. Enjoy this with a side of an ice-cold Irish beer and you’d think you were feasting in a good ‘ole English Pub. The only difference here is you might get a sighting of your favorite mouse!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
ABC COmmissary
Pretend to dine among the stars at this studio inspired commissary. While the dishes offered are not completely unique, we have never been disappointed with our meal here. Offering plenty of seating, it’s a great place to take a break from the bustle of the day and enjoy a quality bite. ABC Commissary also provides a variety of flavors, such as Shrimp Tacos, Mediterranean Salad, and a Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich, making it an especially great place if you have any picky eaters in your group!
Milk Stand
If you find yourself trying to catch bounties in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, be sure to pick up a refreshing glass of milk. Enjoyed by Luke Skywalker and the like, this unique drink is sure to invigorate your taste buds. There is a blue and green option, with each having different flavor notes (we prefer the blue flavor). If you are looking for an extra kick, try the adult slushie version of this popular drink from the land of Batuu.
DIsney’s Animal Kingdom
Satu’li Canteen
Deep within the world of Pandora is Satu’li Canteen, a quick-serve restaurant that is sure to give your taste buds an experience. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Valley of Mo’ara, the dishes served here are wholesome, fresh, and full of flavor. Majority of the options served at Satu’li Canteen is a “create your own” bowl style, with a variety of proteins (including plant-based options) and sauces to pick from. My husband has mixed feelings about the flavors, but I found what I ordered to be quite tasty! If anything, we appreciate the healthfulness of their meals and the uniqueness that’s done well. Satu’li Canteen will not disappoint!
Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe
At the base of Kali River Rapids, you will find Yaki & Yeti Food Cafe, an Asian inspired quick-serve restaurant. They serve a variety of Asian flavors such as Korean BBQ, Honey Sesame Chicken, and Egg Rolls. I especially enjoyed the Vegetable Tikka Masala, which is just as good as any quality Indian restaurant you will find. Everyone in our group was completely satisfied with their meal here. Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe will always be our go to after trekking through the Himalayas at Animal Kingdom!
Starbucks Locations
Being Seattleites for much of our lives, Starbucks runs through our veins. We were thrilled when we found that there is a Starbucks cafe in each Disney Park – The Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom, Connections Cafe in Epcot, Trolley Cafe in Hollywood Studios, and Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom. Now the coffee snob in me will say that there is much better coffee out there than Starbucks. However, we actually like their food offerings when needing a quick bite, and their coffee is perfect for an afternoon pick me up. The predictability of what you order here is always appreciated.
Around the Resorts
There is no shortage of places to eat outside the Disney World parks, as well. Being Florida residents, we find ourselves limiting the amount of time spent outside the parks and thus do not have a lot of experience eating “offsite”. However, we do have a handful of places that we always enjoy eating at when we do make the time.
Amorette’s Patisserie
No visit to Disney Springs is complete without stopping by Amorette’s Patisserie. This French inspired bakery serves freshly made croissant sandwiches, and delicious pastries that are almost too pretty to eat! Our favorites are the Petit Mickey Mouse Dome, a chocolate on-top of chocolate mousse cake, and the classic Vanilla Eclair. They also often serve seasonal Disney inspired delights. Amorette’s Patisserie will not disappoint!
DISNEY FOOD TRUCKS
Nestled along the lagoon at Disney Springs is a small food truck park serving popular Latin American dishes and refreshing smoothies and bowls. This is the perfect option if looking for a quick bite. And if you’re lucky, you can watch the Aerophile balloon ride ascend 400 feet into the air while munching on a Cuban Sandwich or enjoying tropical flavors of an Acai Bowl!
eet by Maneet Chauhan
For anyone who is a fan of the Food Network, famed chef Maneet Chauhan is sure to ring a bell. Known for her Indian inspired cuisine and exuberant personality, Chef Chauhan has become a fan favorite, and I will admit I was very excited to try her restaurant. If looking for a quality meal, eet by Maneet Chauhan is the place to go. I would classify her restaurant as more of an Indian fusion rather than traditional cuisine. There are unique dishes such as Tandoori Chicken Poutine, Chicken Tikka Naan Pizza, and Build Your Own Bowls. My favorite is the Bhunna Paneer Flatbread. My mouth is watering just reminiscing about it!
Grand Floridian Cafe
Looking to celebrate something special? Or wanting to experience the luxury of old Victorian charm? The Grand Floridian Cafe is the perfect place. We indulged in their brunch menu for a Mother’s Day celebration. And it will surely be one to remember. They have a large variety of classic breakfast and lunch options such a salads, Chicken and Waffles, Eggs Benedict, and of course Mickey-shaped waffles for the little kids (or the big kids too!).
However, the only dish that really needs to be ordered off this menu is the Passion Fruit, Guava, and Orange French Toast. As I said in my bio, I died and went to heaven. If I could eat this meal every day, I would. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, especially if visiting the cafe on a weekend.
Scat Cat’s Club Cafe
Disney guests flock to the Scat Cat’s Club Cafe at the Port Orleans – French Quarter resort for the ever so popular Mickey-shaped beignets. During our stay at this resort, sharing an order of these fluffy doughnuts was a daily occurrence for us. You can access the resort either by driving or taking the river boat from Disney Springs. Therefore, there is no excuse for not being able to have a quick bite or two of this favorite Disney World snack!
Disney Resorts Pizza
On the search for some tasty comfort food? Disney offers a great option to order a whole pizza pie straight from most resort cafes. At a fairly reasonable $20.99 for a cheese pizza (this is Disney World after all!), we can easily feed our family of 4. And I must admit the pizza is quite delicious! Be sure to check out this option if looking for an easy and less expensive meal.
The plethora of food options at Walt Disney World can be quite overwhelming when planning your next Disney vacation. Everyone’s idea of the “the best place to eat at Disney World” is different. Hopefully our family’s favorites will provide some inspiration. Happy Eating!
Do you have a “must eat” to add to this list? Or perhaps a differing opinion? I would love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to comment below!
