How Disney World Dining Works



Updated 9/6/2022

Disney World parks, resorts and Disney Springs offer a lot of dining options:

  • Quick Service (which are just counter service locations)
  • Table Service (sit down restaurants with waitstaff)
  • Signature Table Service/Signature Dining ($$$ Table Service)
  • Character meals
  • Bars and lounges
  • Festival food booths (in season at Epcot)
  • Grab & Go (what Disney calls prepared food and quick snack locations in the parks and resorts)
  • Loads of bakeries, snack carts and places to get coffee

Food is a big draw for my traveling party. We like to try out new restaurants and food booths. Eating is as much a part of our trips as the attractions. Whether your traveling party is more interested in a quick bite to sustain them for all of their park hopping or you are all die hard foodies, Disney World has something for you.

Can I bring food into the parks?

Disney World does allow you to bring food into the parks. That’s right. If you want to pack your own lunch, bring snacks for the kids, drinks to hydrate yourselves along the way, go right ahead.

Do the restaurants take reservations?

Yep. They call them “Advance Dining Reservations” or ADRs. Restaurants do book up fast and even though it seems crazy to make Advance Dining Reservations 60 days BEFORE your trip, for some places you really need to.  All of the Table Service restaurants on property and some at Disney Springs take Advance Dining Reservations via  My Disney Experience or by phone at (407) 939-3463. Many dining locations also have walk-up lists that you can join in person or via the My Disney Experience app as well.

What is Quick Service and is it different than Grab & Go?

Quick Service is walk up counter service.  Grab & Go  is more of a prepared baked goods, sandwiches and snack option situation. Food carts, sweet shops and resort/park food court areas, as well as gift shops, often have a Grab & Go items. Those Grab & Go locations at the resorts are particularly helpful if you want to grab a muffin  or some fruit and a coffee on your way to catch park transporation in the morning.

The quick service food court and Grab & Go locations generally have self-service beverage stations where you can fill up your refillable resort mug if you purchased one.

What is the difference between Table Service and Signature Table Service?

Table Service options range from typical sit down restaurants to Character Buffets to All You Care to Eat meals.

Signature Dining locations are pricier sit down restaurants. Some have character encounters and some do not.

Are adult beverages available at Disney World?

Yep.  There are adult beverages for sale in all 4 of the theme parks. In Magic Kingdom,  adult beverages can be found at the Table Service restaurants ONLY. In the other three parks and at many of the resorts,  there are bar and lounge areas that also serve some kind of snack or lighter fare along with adult beverages.

I’m guessing that a bottle of water costs a small fortune in the parks, right?

Keeping hydrated at Disney World  is super important. You will be walking around A LOT in the parks and Florida’s warm weather is not to be trifled with.  If you don’t want to bring your own water bottle to the parks, you can get a free cup of ice water at any Quick Service location.

Where can I get a cup of coffee? I’m going to need lots of coffee.

For the grown ups in your travelling party, another important consideration will be where to find the caffeine. Grab and Go locations and food courts at the resorts are perfect for grabbing a cup on the way to the bus. For Starbucks fans, there is a “hidden in plain sight” Starbucks location in each of the parks: Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery, Animal Kingdom’s Creature Comforts, Epcot’s Traveler’s Cafe, and Hollywood Studios’ Trolley Car Cafe.  There are also Joffrey’s carts or booths in the parks

I should expect the usual amusement park fast food, right?

Eating at Disney World does not have to be turkey legs, Mickey bars and Dole Whips, but it can be. The price points, types of cuisine (yes cuisine) and where you eat them are as varied as a box of popcorn,  sushi, barbecue ribs and cupcakes the size of your toddler’s head. This is one area where there is, indeed, something for EVERYONE. We consider the food to be an attraction in and of itself.

What’s this Dining Plan I keep hearing about?

Disney World offers pre-paid dining plans for guest that book a resort/ticket package. For more information, check this out. Note, these dining plans are more a matter of convenience than savings.

Check out a comprehensive list of Disney World’s dining locations here.