Disney World Dining Is Just Another Attraction

I have practically shouted from the metaphorical spires of Cinderella’s castle (many, many, many times) about my feelings towards dining at the parks and resorts.

At Disney World, dining is just another attraction. Period.

There truly is something for everyone from traditional snacks like corn dog nuggets, turkey legs and popcorn to upscale signature restaurants. Enjoy yourself! We won’t tell Nemo and Friends that you had that delicious sushi in Epcot’s Japan pavilion.

The best magic is when the dining truly becomes an actual attraction. 

Imagineering doesn’t stop at the rides, shows and park pathways. A lot goes into the world building and storytelling of just about EVERY dining location in the parks and at the resorts. This includes the many quick service, table service, lounges and even resort pool bars on property. Let’s dive in to see the Disney World dining attractions that top our list!

The Parks

In order to eat at a dining location inside one of the parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot) every member of your party MUST have one of the following:

• A theme park pass for the park that the restaurant is located in
• A park hopper ticket to dine in any of the four parks AFTER 2pm (when park hopping hours begin) NOTE: in the event that a park reaches capacity, they may not allow anyone else in even if they have a park hopper ticket. This hasn’t happened yet, but at busier seasons it may occur.

Epcot

Space 220

Now open in Epcot’s Future World, Space 220 is the perfect example of a dining attraction. An elevator that whisks guests 220 miles above earth for a meal with views of “space” isn’t just any old themed restaurant.  Nestled near the Mission Space ride, Space 220 is the perfect compliment to that area of Future World. I just wouldn’t recommend eating there before riding the notoriously motion sickness inducing Mission Space Orange (Maybe Green is okay? Don’t know. Wild horses couldn’t get me on either version). You’re welcome.

Garden Grill

Okay. So this location isn’t as much of a spectacle, but the Land pavilion’s Garden Grill revolves. Giving guests on the perimeter a little glimpse of the slow boat ride, Living with the Land, Garden Grill actually offers a better view of Walt’s boyhood room than you can see while riding that attraction. Keeping in theme with the edu-tainment angle from Epcot’s inception, the kitchen here whips up meals from the produce grown in the Land Pavilion’s greenhouses. The Garden Grill attraction brings everything, well, full circle. (Sorry, couldn’t resist). We highly recommend the meals at Garden Grill and can’t wait to give Space 220 a try. 

On the other side of Epcot, the World Showcase dining options do just that: showcase dining in different parts of the world. The smells of native cooking spices enhance the whole World Showcase experience. Smell-O-Vision to go with the architecture. 

San Angel Inn Restaurante

I would argue that most of the pavilions have attraction level dining locations, but San Angel Inn is really all about the atmosphere. The bulk of the Mexico area is inside a Mesoamerican pyramid and represents a nighttime bustling outdoor market and restaurant. It also houses the Three Caballeros boat ride, parts of which can be viewed some of the seats at San Angel Inn. This dining location has been on our bucket list for a while and I’m reminded of it every time we ride Three Caballeros (we love a boat ride!). We plan to check that off of our list soon, but fellow blog hoppers, The Orlando Dinks, have been and give it a thumbs up.

Rose and Crown and Spice Road Table

We have also killed two birds with one stone by booking a table at both Rose and Crown (UK Pavilion) and Spice Road Table (Morocco) for a little dinner and a show. Both have seating areas that can afford great views of the nighttime show du jour in the World Showcase Lagoon.

Now, with the new nighttime show, Harmonious, guests can book a dining package at either Spice Road Table or Rose and Crown. These are starting on October 1st with reservations opening to book beginning September 23, 2021. We highly recommend booking dessert parties or dining packages to see a nighttime show in all of its glory. If you can swing it, it’s worth the splurge to guarantee having a great view of a new show at least once. We definitely plan on booking one of these next spring.

Magic Kingdom

Dessert Parties

Similarly, over at Magic Kingdom the dessert parties are coming back just in time to see the new 50th Anniversary night time spectacular, Disney Enchantment. Again, dinner (or desserts) and a show. The last three options on the list below sound pretty much exactly like the previous Happily Ever After dessert parties. We attended one of the garden area seating dessert parties for Happily Ever After and it was worth every penny. Our feelings on it in a nutshell? You get to see all of the castle projections up close once with a great view. This is another splurge we are adding to our spring trip next year. The opening dates are listed below but note that advance tickets are available for purchase now. Just like with dining reservations, you will need a theme park pass for Magic Kingdom OR a park hopper ticket for the dessert parties (doesn’t apply to the cruise or the Contemporary Resort celebration)

List of Disney Enchantment Dining Packages

• Ferrytale Dessert and Fireworks A Sparkling Dessert Cruise * (Opened Sept 19)
• Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors and Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort * (Opens Oct 2nd)
• Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment Treats & Seats (Opens Oct 3rd)
• Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment Pre-Party (Opens Oct 3rd)
• Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment After-Party (Opens Oct 3rd)

*NOTE: for these options, the castle projections won’t really be visible. They will most likely pump in the music and you will be able to watch the fireworks as you listen to the score.

Jungle Navigation Company Ltd. Skipper Canteen

Over in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland sits one of the most heavily themed dining locations known, thankfully, as simply Skipper Canteen.  Near the Jungle Cruise ride, this restaurant is based on the attraction, but even more so, the world behind the attraction: The Society of Explorer’s and Adventurers (SEA). This is a very niche Disney “world” full of fictional folks that span across all of the domestic and international Disney parks. If you aren’t that deep into the Disney nerdom, Skipper Canteen is still pretty cool on the inside even if you don’t “get” all of the Easter eggs spread around the place. Think of it as the pit stop to or from your cruise through the jungle. I enjoyed the food, but the menu is more adventurous here and the rest of my Disney tribe isn’t as keen on it. Check out the menu before you commit. 

Casey’s Corner

For a slice of Magic Kingdom’s good old Main Street U.S.A, you can’t do better than Casey’s Corner. Grab a hot dog and take in the goings on in the hub. People watching is the attraction here. Hopefully they will be bringing back the piano player who offers up ragtime tunes in keeping with the turn of the century/early 1900’s vibe. Highly recommend the corn dog nuggets. Not fancy, but DELICIOUS.

Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest

For those of you seeking out something a little more fairytale inspired, Cinderella’s Royal Table offers a meal inside the castle. The last time I ate inside the castle was in 1975 so I can’t vouch for the food here. Several folks have sampled the breakfast since this location’s re-opening and with mostly favorable reviews. To be honest though, I think the draw here is mostly location, location, location.

Park goers can also live out a fairytale as guests of Beast and Belle at Be Our Guest. Each room has a different theme: the library, the ballroom and the study (where the enchanted rose rests). It really is like walking into their world.

A while back, we did get a quick service breakfast at Be Our Guest (breakfast is no longer available there). I will say it was worth the experience ONCE. Can’t speak about the lunch/dinner situation there but it was a wee bit overpriced at the time for basically a small entrée and a plate of just okay baked goods. In our opinion, you are going to these places for the spectacle, not necessarily the cuisine. 

Animal Kingdom

Satu’li Canteen

As a eco-tourist on the moon of Pandora, you can grab a bit to eat at the Satu’li Canteen. Here boba signifies alien, I guess, and is sprinkled over the food and dunked in the drinks. Simple but it works. The various bowls that they have are amazing, pretty healthy, and just exotic looking enough to keep you immersed in the world of the Na’vi. One of our favorites and arguably the best quick service location on property.

Yak & Yeti 

This is an interesting dining location in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom. It’s one of the those places with a zillion things on the menu, so everyone should be able to find something. We had a great dinner at Yak and Yeti but I highly recommend going at dusk or when it’s dark. While the atmosphere is okay, it’s not super eye catching during the day. At night, it’s like a little glowy mirage nestled among the trees. Request a window seat and you won’t be disappointed. NOTE: there is also a quick service Yak and Yeti with fried rice that folks rave about.

Hollywood Studios

Galaxy’s Edge Dining Locations

All of Galaxy’s Edge dining locations in Hollywood Studios look fantastic: Ronto’s Roasters, Docking Bay 7, Oga’s Cantina. Just as immersed in the Star Wars universe as the attractions, each really knock it, ahem, out of the park. Clearly I am very into the cheesy puns today.  You will have to excuse me. I am giddy with excitement because, in a couple of months, I will be kicking back with a mouth numbing cocktail at Oga’s Cantina. I CANNOT WAIT. I’m also on board to try that weirdly seasoned popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle. The green and blue milk, though? I’m a little more hesitant there. We will see. 

50’s Prime Time Cafe

We are also big fans of this dining location in Hollywood Studios. Go for the retro theming and sassy service but you might just be surprised at how good the the food is. All of the yummy traditional homecooked classics can be found here: fried chicken, pot roast, and meatloaf. My group loves the milkshakes. It feels like sitting at the kitchen table in a 1950’s sitcom. Think of 50’s Prime Time as a middle class suburban oasis surrounded by all of the Old Hollywood glamour that permeates the park. You know, like you and the Beaver are on vacation and just stopped for lunch. 

Woody’s Lunch Box

This quick service spot in Toy Story Land deserves a mention also. Woody’s Lunch Box serves up old school lunch box style items with an updated twist. I admire the theme but I can’t say that I’m crazy about the food. It is generally cuter than it is tasty but the area offers another people watching situation. The little Babybel cheese seats are limited but if you get a chance, grab a drink or snack and take a load off. You get a much better sense of a land that can get pretty crowded and rushed. There is a lot of detail here that can be easily missed otherwise. Be a tiny toy for a minute and enjoy. 

The Resorts

Avid resort hoppers/snoopers, we can attest that resort dining is also just another attraction.

Whether you are having a snack in the lobby, a drink in the lounge, or a sit down table service meal.  NOTE: if you are driving yourself or using a rideshare, you may be required to have a reservation or a placed mobile order for pick up to park or get dropped off. The rules vary but are stricter now due to the pandemic.

Wilderness Lodge

Whispering Canyon

Based on the shenanigans, this seems like the 50’s Prime Time of Wilderness Lodge to me. Whispering Canyon Cafe is  on our very, very, long bucket dining list.  A place that has skillets full of goodness, dramatic drink refills, and a whole vaudevillesque routine around ketchup sounds like a good bet.

Storybook Dining at Artist Point

Sadly, this one is currently closed. Storybook Dining at Artist Point is listed as “temporarily unavailable” but we’re hopeful that it will return. It is the perfect storm of rare character interaction, fantastic food and lovely surroundings. When (fingers crossed) it returns, we HIGHLY recommend that you check it out.

Polynesian Resort

‘Ohana

Over at the Polynesian Village Resort, ‘Ohana gets a lot of press and, most of it,  for good reason. They have a character breakfast, but we’re not big Stitch fans (don’t hate me) and sit down breakfasts cut too much into our park time. However, we have had dinner there on a couple of occasions. While dinner can feel a little rushed sometimes, the whole tropical vacation vibe is fun and a nice break from the parks. Yes, the noodles ARE delicious. Yes, the bread pudding dessert is AMAZING. I would also like to add that I have had mixed results with cocktails at Disney World, but the ones here NEVER disappoint. Full disclosure, I have a deep meaningful relationship with POG juice and these drinks are loaded with it. I may be a bit biased.

We have had different experiences when it comes to entertainment, but often there is a strolling ukulele player which adds to the whole experience. You can also try to time a reservation with Magic Kingdom’s nighttime shows. It’s a popular place to watch the fireworks from afar and in a non-crowded air conditioned space. With a seat.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

So happy this opened back up after it’s closure. Fingers crossed that we get to experience Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto this Fall on our first sister trip. (Deep sincere apologies to my kid, but…school.) This is a whole mini dinner theater situation complete with a volcano and an angry Tiki God. A boozy dark ride without the ride vehicle sounds like perfection.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sanaa

Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa is a popular and beautiful dining location. You may see a giraffe while you eat. Do I need to say any more about this? Mini private safari WITH FOOD. Unless you are brand new to Disney World you will have heard about the bread service here. It is just a delicious as everyone says. The menu, though, is adventurous. Like Skipper Kanteen, I enjoyed a meal here, but the rest of my group was not as impressed. 

Have I convinced you that Disney World dining is just another attraction yet? 

Maybe if I pose a few scenarios? Eating a cheeseburger spring roll with the Adventureland soundtrack thumping around you. Enjoying the best rice krispie treat you have ever eaten while watching people head out on a safari. Drinking a cold beverage in the lobby of a National park lodge or a sea side hotel. Having a  yummy snack by a fire pit as a gazelle saunters by. Sipping on a Night Blossom near the floating mountains of Pandora with a waterfall crashing in the background. Dining is just another part of the whole Disney World experience.

Don’t sleep on those Advance Dining Reservations. 

Check out the menus online at the official Disney World website (AllEars.net also has fantastic and super thorough menu information), see what appeals and set that alarm for 5:45 am 60 days from the start of your trip. You will not regret it. Dining these days is a smidge more complicated and deciding on the spur of the moment when everyone is tired and hangry and everything is booked doesn’t make for a great vacation. Reservations can be hard to get even in advance and you will need to familiarize yourself with mobile ordering for quick service locations. Plan, but don’t drive yourself crazy. It can be as simple as grabbing a Starbucks and sitting on the hub grass with the Dapper Dans harmonizing in the background. 

Some diehard guest don’t feel like they have even been to Disney if they haven’t had a Mickey pretzel or a Dole Whip. 

Food and drink are big memory makers. Many of us are in the Karamell Küche caramel popcorn fan club (not officially, but is there an official Karamell Küche caramel popcorn fan club? I should look into that.) Folks order Joffrey’s coffee at home to feel closer to the parks. I’ve been known to stock my freezer with Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwiches and Trader Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak Bao Buns (dead ringers for Satu’li Cantina’s cheeseburger pods). Such is the power of food at Disney World.

So, yes, food is important to us here at Dustless Pixie. Admittedly, I’m riding on the high of just having secured not one, but TWO, reservations for Oga’s Cantina, a first breakfast trip to Boma and a long awaited return to Sebastian’s. We got our tickets to ride the dining attractions at Disney World and we very much recommend that you grab yours.

Here is a list of all of the Disney Friends Blog Hoppers!

1. www.stressfreemickey.com
2. www.mouseandthemagic.com 
3. www.accidentaldisneyfamily.com 
4. www.disneyparklife.com 
5. www.theorlandodinks.com 
6. www.dustlesspixie.com 
7. www.magicaladventureco.com 
8. www.cateatdisney.com