Best Disney World Restaurants

[IHateMyJob2004]

We are on the meal plan. So what i should have said is that we are not doing any places where dinner counts as 2 "sit down dinner meals".

The place on the top of the contemporary is one such example. Also, Canada(steak house) at Epcot is another example.

Why save? If I want a good meal it won't be at Disney. Simple fact is that food prices there are higher than reasonable. I can walk down the street from my house (1/4 mile) and eat at one of the best restaurants in the state of CT. I've eaten there once because as good as a $20 hamburger is, it is still a $20 hamburger. Point is, if I spend an extra $20 at Disney it will be on something that I can't buy/do elsewhere.

 

[quikah]

We are on the meal plan. So what i should have said is that we are not doing any places where dinner counts as 2 "sit down dinner meals".

Chef Mickey's is terrible. The ONLY reason to go is to see the characters. The food sucks. Crystal Palace is good.

Hoop Dee Doo Revue is REALLY fun, you should seriously consider it. It costs 2TS, but I think it is worth it.

For lunch, if I had my way I would just go to Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney Marketplace everyday. It is awesome. But that can be a little inconvenient. Here are my picks:

MK:
Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Rays (good variety)
Epcot:
Sunshine Seasons or almost any of the countries in World Showcase (avoid America)
HS:
Avoid at all costs
AK:
Flame Tree BBQ, the Yak & Yeti QS is not bad also.

 

[Anonemous]

Went to Disney World last year, the food isn't all that great... but I guess it's great for the kids.

 

[drquest]

Oh, one more thing, the Tusker House buffet in Animal Kingdom is yummy, works with or without kids.

I agree, it's quite good...

In Epcot Le Cellier Steakhouse is good, and we enjoyed the heck out of Teppan Edo, which is a Japanese restaurant.

The Yachtsman Steakhouse is great, and Cape May Café is good too.

 

[drquest]

Chef Mickey's is terrible. The ONLY reason to go is to see the characters. The food sucks. Crystal Palace is good.

We usually always hit Chef Mickey's and the food isn't great, because it's a buffet, but it's far from terrible. We always enjoy ourselves there. Crystal Palace has done nothing but disappoint us the past two times we have been there, again buffet style food, and not that great.

Ohana's is pretty good, and also in the Poly the Kona Café is good.

 

[Craig234]

We are on the meal plan. So what i should have said is that we are not doing any places where dinner counts as 2 "sit down dinner meals".

The place on the top of the contemporary is one such example. Also, Canada(steak house) at Epcot is another example.

Why save? If I want a good meal it won't be at Disney. Simple fact is that food prices there are higher than reasonable. I can walk down the street from my house (1/4 mile) and eat at one of the best restaurants in the state of CT. I've eaten there once because as good as a $20 hamburger is, it is still a $20 hamburger. Point is, if I spend an extra $20 at Disney it will be on something that I can't buy/do elsewhere.

The best restaurants at Disney ARE things you can't buy elsewhere, unless 'good food is all the same to you', in which case it'd be a waste of your money.

 

[Craig234]

Went to Disney World last year, the food isn't all that great... but I guess it's great for the kids.

You didn't eat at the good restaurants, did you?

The 'average' places are just 'ok' and overpriced.

 

[de8212]

If doing the meal plan, keep in mind that Cinderella's Royal Table requires two meals per person (your kids too)!

There are other places you can eat that have princesses that only count as 1 meal. One is at Epcot and I think the other is at the Grand Floridian resort. See my OP. I think one of htem is in that list.

Yeah I know. It's worth it to me just to see the look on my daughters face when she finds out we are going into the castle and eating.

Also, we get 5 days of the dining plan but we're getting there later on a sunday so we won't really use a table service on that day. We'll probably just grab something quick.

 

[Phynaz]

Chef Mickey's is terrible. The ONLY reason to go is to see the characters. The food sucks. Crystal Palace is good.

Hoop Dee Doo Revue is REALLY fun, you should seriously consider it. It costs 2TS, but I think it is worth it.

For lunch, if I had my way I would just go to Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney Marketplace everyday. It is awesome. But that can be a little inconvenient. Here are my picks:

MK:
Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Rays (good variety)
Epcot:
Sunshine Seasons or almost any of the countries in World Showcase (avoid America)
HS:
Avoid at all costs
AK:
Flame Tree BBQ, the Yak & Yeti QS is not bad also.

My qualifications:
I go to Disney twice a year, lost count of the number of times we have been there around trip 19 or so.

EVERYTHING in this quoted post is true.

If you must eat at HS Moma Rosa is the only place that is edible.

Food quality at Disney World has been declining for years. This trip (March 3rd) is probably the last time we will use DDP.


Do yourself a huge favor and buy this book. You can thank me later (and you will )

http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Gu...233X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329362080&sr=8-1

 

[conehead433]

I've only eaten at the Biergarten Restaurant at Epcot. The food was good, reasonably priced and the atmosphere was pleasant. Nothing to write home about, but enjoyable.

 

[spacelord]

If you can't or don't want to do the princess meal at the castle, you can do a princess breakfast at some restaurant in Epcot.. near Norway I think. These are for kids of course...haha.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I'm surprised that one of the best restaurants at DW hasn't been mentioned...Jiko. They have some amazing food.

Your best bet is going off-property though. You'll get better food at better prices.

Bahama Breeze - It's a Darden restaurant but it's nothing like Red Lobster.

Seasons 52 - Another Darden spot whose menu changes with the seasons. It's food very well done.

Sushiology - Cheap and awesome sushi. I know you have kids but if they can handle Sushi, absolutely go.

Le Cafe de Paris - Cheap and awesome soups, salads, and sandwiches,

Further afield I would recommend:

Le Coq au Vin - Classic Country French that is an institution in Orlando.

The Ravenous Pig - It's all the way up in Winter Park. Eclectic gastro-pub food and a great beer selection.

 

[Phynaz]

1. He has kids, so Jiko is out.
2. He's on DDP, so he's staying on property.
3. Leaving the property to eat is a waste, IMHO. Why spend the countless hours, not to mention the hassle?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

1. He has kids, so Jiko is out.
2. He's on DDP, so he's staying on property.
3. Leaving the property to eat is a waste, IMHO. Why spend the countless hours, not to mention the hassle?

1. Jiko has a kids menu.
2. If he can use the DDP for the entire stay, that's fine. I wanted to offer some alternatives in case that doesn't happen.
3. Some of the places I listed are no more than 10 minutes away and are just off Disney property in the Lake Buena Vista area.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm surprised that one of the best restaurants at DW hasn't been mentioned...Jiko. They have some amazing food.

Your best bet is going off-property though. You'll get better food at better prices.

Bahama Breeze - It's a Darden restaurant but it's nothing like Red Lobster.

Seasons 52 - Another Darden spot whose menu changes with the seasons. It's food very well done.

Sushiology - Cheap and awesome sushi. I know you have kids but if they can handle Sushi, absolutely go.

Le Cafe de Paris - Cheap and awesome soups, salads, and sandwiches,

Further afield I would recommend:

Le Coq au Vin - Classic Country French that is an institution in Orlando.

The Ravenous Pig - It's all the way up in Winter Park. Eclectic gastro-pub food and a great beer selection.

For most taking the 45 mins (at least) each way to leave the park and then get back is not worth it especially with kids.

 

[DCal430]

May I ask what hotels do you plan to stay in.

If you plan to stay in one of the so called "All-Star" "Hotels" avoid it, they are crap. Dirty and very low quality. Plastic cups for water, industrial size all purpose "soap", instead of shampoo and body wash. Avoid.

 

[alkemyst]

With 5 and 7 year olds...I'd book Crystal Palace for Breakfast. Definitely do the Cinderella deal once for your daughter. My wife wanted to see it, they even let me pull out excalibur which normally only kids can do. We live less than 2 hours away so we visit on the lowest visited days.

What ruined our experience was 'every' kid was having their birthday that day. Freaking parents just milked it. Furthermore is parents taking their kids to long sit down meals (even if a 'kids menu' is offered, and to be honest their always is one 9 times out of 10). The adults want to relax, your kids want to play...bad mix.

I was brought up properly so if my parents did want to eat out nice and had me with them, I knew to be on my best behavior or they'd just as soon take me home and forfeit that meal/day cost. After the first time this happened I didn't make the same mistake again. At 5 and 7 they should be at that level.

The fast food in disney and epcot is not much more than local chains and IMHO good.

My wife is Japanese and we did the formal Japanese place, but she liked the fast food one better. Canada is a good choice for steak.

I am not a foodie so the meal is just some fuel to me. Personally as an adult I like Sea World better and I can have a beer easily between rides/shows.

 

[DCal430]

I heard Jiko is really good, when we went a few years we thought about eating there, but decided we wanted the buffet since we were so hungry.

 

[alkemyst]

May I ask what hotels do you plan to stay in.

If you plan to stay in one of the so called "All-Star" "Hotels" avoid it, they are crap. Dirty and very low quality. Plastic cups for water, industrial size all purpose "soap", instead of shampoo and body wash. Avoid.

The All-Star hotels are designed for BASIC accommodations...they have a lot to keep kids busy at night as well for adults looking for an hour or two of alone time. It's about the same as a Day's Inn/HoJo/etc. If you are looking to have all your toiletries provided nicely, think more of about $200+ a night on a theme park property. That's about my average room cost just traveling. I have yet to see body wash provided.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

For most taking the 45 mins (at least) each way to leave the park and then get back is not worth it especially with kids.

The Ravenous Pig is the only 45 minute destination and could be 25 - 30 minutes depending on traffic. The only reason I mentioned it is because, imo, it's worth the drive for their truffle fries and charcuterie alone, not to mention the Berkshire pork. As a foodie who lived in Orlando for over 40 years and knows the area and restaurant scene very well I'm am simply offering alternatives. I also provided some alternatives very nearby. The OP can pick and choose from those as he sees fit, if he chooses any of them at all. If he wants to stay in the parks the entire time, that's just fine too.

 

[DCal430]

The All-Star hotels are designed for BASIC accommodations...they have a lot to keep kids busy at night as well for adults looking for an hour or two of alone time. It's about the same as a Day's Inn/HoJo/etc. If you are looking to have all your toiletries provided nicely, think more of about $200+ a night on a theme park property. That's about my average room cost just traveling. I have yet to see body wash provided.

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Contemporary Hotel, and All Star Sports.

The AK and Contemporary were both very nice, well for the price All Star wasn't terrible. I think we paid 350 for the AK and 300 for Contemporary a night and like 70 a night for All Star one. We had no children with us, so someone with children on the trip might have different needs.

If all you care about is a bed to sleep in and want to save as much money as possible then the All Star isn't a terrible place.

 

[Howard]

I've been in both the All-Star and Kidani Village in AK. Both are worth the price but the A-S is certainly not bottom of the barrel.

 

[alkemyst]

The Ravenous Pig is the only 45 minute destination and could be 25 - 30 minutes depending on traffic. The only reason I mentioned it is because, imo, it's worth the drive for their truffle fries and charcuterie alone, not to mention the Berkshire pork. As a foodie who lived in Orlando for over 40 years and knows the area and restaurant scene very well I'm am simply offering alternatives. I also provided some alternatives very nearby. The OP can pick and choose from those as he sees fit, if he chooses any of them at all. If he wants to stay in the parks the entire time, that's just fine too.

you can't even get in and out of the attractions in 25 mins.


I live within 2 hours and go all to the time...it's only worth it to go off property if you really don't plan on coming back that day. We usually eat dinner off property.

 

[alkemyst]

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Contemporary Hotel, and All Star Sports.

The AK and Contemporary were both very nice, well for the price All Star wasn't terrible. I think we paid 350 for the AK and 300 for Contemporary a night and like 70 a night for All Star one. We had no children with us, so someone with children on the trip might have different needs.

If all you care about is a bed to sleep in and want to save as much money as possible then the All Star isn't a terrible place.

Most going to theme parks, aren't planning on using their rooms for more than sleeping...although all talk about how they do.

We stay off property mostly because we usually do more than just Disney.

 

[Phynaz]

I live within 2 hours and go all to the time

I unfortunately am 1,900 miles away. :'(


Probably semi-retire in Celebration though