Restaurant dining room

18 Best Disney World Resort Restaurants

Eating is one of the most important factors of any vacation. Sure, a good meal – heck, even a just-ok meal – can fuel you through your day, but a great meal can help make your trip even more memorable. The same can be said at Walt Disney World.  Yes, mediocre pizza, burgers, and chicken strips are pretty standard theme park fare, and you’ll certainly find them there. However, why settle for ‘mediocre’ or ‘standard’ when you could savor something that’s a cut above the rest.   

That’s why we decided to round up our list of the best Disney World resort restaurants. The Most Magical Place on Earth has a smorgasbord of dining options to choose from. And while you will find a fair-few worthwhile restaurants in the theme parks, some of the best Disney World dining can be actually be found in the hotels. Read on for our picks for the best Disney resort restaurants. 

Disney World Resort Dining 101

First things first – can anyone eat at Disney World resort restaurants? Yes! Diners do not need to be staying at the hotel to be able to eat at one of its restaurants. In fact, we love eating at Disney resort hotel restaurants because it gives us a chance to do a little resort hopping, one of our favorite things to do outside the theme parks

With so many Disney World restaurants to choose from, especially at the hotels, and so few vacation days, it can be difficult to decide which you want to squeeze into your trip. Many minutes are spent waiting in line for rides or on the Disney buses during your already-expensive vacation, so the last thing you want to do is feel like you’re wasting time on a meal that isn’t worth its price tag. 

While we’ll try to help make your Disney dining reservation decisions a bit easier with this list, My Disney Experience is also an invaluable tool for planning where, when, and what you’d like to eat. Not only will you need to use it to make your advance dining reservations, as well as join any walk-up lists, but we also like firing up the app to scope out restaurant menus ahead of time. This keeps you from scrambling over where to go at mealtime and helps to save you precious minutes when it comes time to place your order, meaning you can get back out into those ride lines faster. 

Although restaurants do accept walk-ins, this is based entirely on availability. So, advance dining reservations are highly recommended, especially if you have your heart and stomach set on a particular restaurant. Spaces fill up quickly, specifically for the most popular restaurants, which many of the restaurants on this list tend to be, as well as in-demand time slots. You’ll want to take advantage of the 60-day booking window for making dining reservations – hotel guests get additional days equal to the length of their stay (up to 10 days max) – or risk missing out on your restaurant(s) of choice. 

Once it’s time to eat, getting to the restaurant can be a bit tricky depending on which resort you’re going to. Disney buses are always an option, though we prefer the Monorail or Disney Skyliner if we must take Disney World transportation. If you have a vehicle, we highly suggest you drive to the hotel instead. Parking is free for those with reservations, although you will need to show an ID and your reservation to the cast member at the entry gate to get in. 

Eating at Disney Resort Hotel Restaurants During Covid-19

Seafood plate with octopus

There are a few things to keep in mind when dining at Disney resort hotel restaurants during the pandemic. Access to the Disney World resorts is restricted and you absolutely must have an advance reservation to be able to enter. As capacity is currently restricted, reservations can be at a premium, so it’s even more crucial that you plan ahead. 

While some Disney resort restaurants remain closed, most are back open and serving guests. Having said that, a modified dining experience is in place at many Disney World restaurants. In some cases, buffets have switched over to a limited menu served family-style. This is actually a change we don’t mind, as the food gets to your table fresher. Disney character dining has also gone through a shakeup, with the princesses and Mickey Mouse being relegated to socially distanced waving – or not making an appearance at all. 

All that being said, as long as you’re aware of the changes and adjust your expectations accordingly, it’s still a great time to enjoy the best Disney World restaurants the resorts have to offer. 

Our Criteria for Ranking the Best Resort Dining at Disney World

When it came to ranking the best resort restaurants at Disney World, there were a few things we kept in mind. Food quality is huge, but we also prefer spots with a wide variety of dishes and more unique options. This is Walt Disney World, so a well-developed theme can make a restaurant a must, as can an unbeatable atmosphere. 

Disney vacations are expensive enough as it is and the last thing we want to do is spend a massive amount of money on a meal that you could easily get somewhere else or that is too small to really satisfy. And although you’ll be hard-pressed to find a cheap restaurant at Disney World, there are plenty of dining options that make the overpriced dishes worthwhile. Finally, whether with character dining or special experiences that aren’t offered elsewhere in the sprawling Central Florida resort, we love a restaurant that oozes Disney magic. 

Best Disney World Resort Restaurants

So, which Disney hotel has the best food? Well, you know how they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Then, deliciousness is in their tastebuds. It depends on what kind of cuisine makes your stomach happy. 

For us, some of our favorite Disney World resort hotel restaurants can be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, and Grand Floridian resorts. Home to a number of the best Disney restaurants outside the parks, these deluxe Disney World hotels are excellent options for a foodie couple or a family of adventurous eaters. 

Now, without any further ado, here’s our list of the best restaurants at Disney hotels. 

Best Disney Resort Breakfast

Hotel and monorail going by

Greet the morning and kick off your Disney day at these restaurants with the best Disney resort breakfast:

Grand Floridian Café at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: Table Service Restaurant

Cuisine: Polynesian, American, Seafood

Located at Disney World’s flagship resort, the Grand Floridian Café often gets outshone by other Grand Floridian restaurants – including one on this list. This unassuming table service restaurant is well worth a visit any meal of the day, but it really shines at breakfast time. One of the only Disney restaurants serving brunch every day of the week from 7:30am to 2pm, diners can fuel up for a day of theme park adventures on AM favorites with a refined twist. 

What to Get: Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle, Lobster ‘Thermidor’ Burger, Lobster Benedict

Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: Table Service Restaurant

Cuisine: Polynesian, American, Seafood

This table service restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort serves food all day long, but morning is easily our favorite time to go. Why? Two words: Tonga Toast. This breakfast confection comes stuffed with bananas, covered in cinnamon sugar, and sprinkled with strawberry compote for good measure. The Macadamia Nut Pancakes are also to die for. All in all, another great breakfast option if you’re staying in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area or heading to Disney World’s most enchanting park that day.  

What to Get: Tonga Toast, Macadamia Nut Pancakes

Best Quick Service Restaurants at Disney World Hotels

Dirty rice with sausage and corn bread

While you probably won’t seek out these Disney resort restaurants unless you’re staying at the hotel or doing some resort hopping, these next quick service restaurants are great places to grab some food fast if you happen to be in the area: 

Primo Piatto at Disney’s Riviera Resort

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $14.99 and under per adult

Type: Quick Service Restaurant

Cuisine: American 

Primo Piatto at Disney’s Riviera Resort technically dishes up American cuisine, but we prefer American with French and Italian flair. Quick service restaurant menus often tend to be pretty bland and uninspiring, but that isn’t the case here. While you will find standard offerings like Mickey waffles and burgers, like the resort’s other dining options, the flavors of the European Riviera are infused into many of the dishes here, making for a quick meal that’s as delicious as it is affordable. 

What to Get: Croque Madame, Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes, Croque Monsieur, Tuna Niçoise Salad

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – $14.99 and under per adult

Type: Quick Service Restaurant

Cuisine: Cajun, Creole, American

The Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter is another quick service restaurant with a tempting array of reasonably priced eats. A must for soul food fans, this food court dishes up flavor-filled Louisiana classics, with special dinner platters available in the evenings. Save some space for an order of the restaurant’s famous beignets, or head next door to Scat Cat’s Club, one of our favorite Disney World bars, after your meal for a booze-infused beignet with a side of live jazz.

What to Get: Mickey-shaped Beignets, Shrimp & Grits, Jambalaya

Best Disney World Resort Buffets

Inside dining room with tables

All-you-can-eat buffets are a Disney World mainstay. However, the best bottomless eats can be found at these next Disney hotel restaurants:

Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House

Cost: Breakfast – $15 to $34.99 per adult, Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Restaurant

Cuisine: African, American

For less-adventurous eaters, Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House may seem like an intimidating choice for a buffet. However, as many of the items on offer take their inspiration from South African dishes, many things on the buffet will appeal to those with picky palates. However, a kiddie buffet filled with items like chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, and French fries is also available. The rotating soup options and carving station are a highlight, as are the perennial favorite Zebra Domes. 

What to Get: Bobotie, Peanut Rice, Zebra Domes

(Closing Spring 2023) Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Cost: Breakfast and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Restaurant

Cuisine: American

Sadly, Disney has announced that Trail’s End Restaurant will close this spring to make way for a “marketplace concept with expanded quick-service options” later this year. To say that we’re upset is putting it mildly. This laidback restaurant has been a family favorite of ours for years, and we’re sure going to miss it once it’s gone. A specific closure date has yet to be announced, so be sure to stop by and soak up the cozy atmosphere while you still can. 

On the other end of the familiarity spectrum, Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is just about as All-American as it gets. One of the more affordable buffets at Disney World, Trail’s End offers a cornucopia of comfort food classics. Getting here can be an adventure in and of itself, but with its rustic, away-from-it-all setting and selection of stick-to-your-ribs BBQ, this is one of the best value meals at Disney World. Make a night of it and stay for Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Singalong, one of our favorite free things to do at Walt Disney World

What to Get: Breakfast Skillet, Smokehouse Skillet, Covered Wagon Sundae

Best Hidden Gem Restaurant at Disney World

Inside white cafe with dining tables

With its out-of-the-way location, this next Disney World hotel restaurant doesn’t get as much traffic as some of the other restaurants on our list, but those in-the-know consistently rank it as one of the best:

Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: Table Service Restaurant

Cuisine: American

Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort dishes up American comfort food with an island twist. Take your tastebuds to the Florida Keys during breakfast, lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. There isn’t much any in-your-face Disney magic going on here, making it an excellent choice if you’re feeling like you need a pixie dust detox.  

What to Get: Banana Bread French Toast, Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken, Key Lime Tart

Best Disney Resort Restaurants for Families

With hands-on activities and kid-friendly antics that are sure to thrill the younger diners in your group, these next Disney resort restaurants are a must for families:

‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Cost: Breakfast – $15 to $34.99 per adult, Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: All-You-Can-Eat Family Style Restaurant, Character Dining

Cuisine: Polynesian, American

‘Ohana at the Disney Polynesian Village Resort is one of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World – and with good reason. This playful restaurant touts a Disney character breakfast starring Lilo and Stitch, delicious all-you-can-eat dishes dripping with tropical flavor, and sweeping views of Magic Kingdom Park. If you plan your reservation accordingly, you can even catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from right there in the restaurant. Kids will love taking part in everything from hula lessons to coconut races. 

What to Get: Pineapple-Coconut Bread, Pork Dumplings, ‘Ohana Noodles, ‘Ohana Bread Pudding

Cafe seating in lodge

Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Cost: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: All-You-Can-Eat Family Style Restaurant

Cuisine: American

Another fun Disney World restaurant in the same vein as ‘Ohana is Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. With Wild West-themed hijinks like hobby-horse races and impromptu singalongs, this is the restaurant to go to if you’re looking for a good time. Best of all, the menu is just as family-friendly as the atmosphere, featuring hearty, bottomless skillets overflowing with barbecued meats and comforting sides. 

What to Get: All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Signature Skillets, ‘Burnt Ends’ Nachos, Seasonal Cobbler

Best Character Dining at Disney World Resorts

Character dining is a quintessential Disney experience, and while there are many character meals at Disney World, the best character dining at Disney World resorts can be found at these restaurants:

Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Cost: Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: Character Dining

Cuisine: American

Most Disney character meals are about the characters (obviously) and less about the food, but that isn’t the case at Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White. Featuring visits from Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey, and the Evil Queen as well as a delicious, prix fixe menu of elevated dinner dishes, this signature restaurant meets Disney character dinner is a must for any Disney Princess lover. 

What to Get: Royal Prime Rib Roast, Magic Mirror’s Slow-braised Pork Shank, A Stroll Through Nature

Meat plate with garnishes

Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort

Cost: Breakfast – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: Character Dining

Cuisine: French, Italian

Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at Topolino’s Terrace is another meal at Disney World that takes character dining to the next level both literally and figuratively. This Disney character breakfast offers upscale AM dishes with a hint of European flair and interactions with Mickey and his pals all dressed up in their artsy best – along with bird’s-eye views of the resort below from the restaurant’s rooftop patio. 

What to Get: Quiche Lorraine Frittata, Smoked Salmon, Sour Cream Waffle

Best Disney Dinner Show

Ah, dinner theater. It’s the ultimate in pleasure-seeking multitasking. There are two Disney dinner shows to choose from, but our favorite is this one (the other is the Spirit of Aloha Luau at the Polynesian Village Resort):

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Cost: Dinner – $66 to $74 per adult

Type: Dinner Show

Cuisine: American

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness is the original Disney dinner show, making its debut in 1974 and do-si-doing its way into diners’ hearts ever since. This hootenanny of a meal features laugh-out-loud fun in the Wild West, toe-tapping songs, and buckets of stick-to-your-ribs Southern favorites (ribs included!). Best of all, bottomless alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and sangria are complimentary.  

What to Get: Fried Chicken, Baked Beans, Cornbread, Strawberry Shortcake

Cast of broadway show on stage

Best Disney World Hotel Restaurants for Adventurous Eaters

Most Disney World restaurants play it safe and familiar when it comes to their menus. However, if you’re on the hunt for more exciting global cuisine at the Disney hotel restaurants, this is it:

Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village

Cost: Breakfast – $14.99 and under per adult, Lunch and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: Dinner Show

Cuisine: African, Indian

Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village isn’t just a culinary adventure, with panoramic views of the hotel’s savanna. Dine on Indian-inspired dishes with African heart from morning to night while watching giraffes and zebras pass by. Not sure about the menu? An Indian-inspired take on a burger and picky-eater-approved dishes like Butter Chicken should entice even less daring diners. 

What to Get: Boere Breakfast, Methi Paratha Breakfast Sandwich, Indian-style Bread Service, Potjie Inspired

Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Disney World Resorts

Fine dining may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Walt Disney World, but you might change your mind after eating at these two restaurants:

California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Cost: Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: Signature Dining Restaurant

Cuisine: American, Seafood, Sushi

Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, California Grill is the hotel’s crowning glory. The menu focuses on California cooking, offering everything from sushi rolls to wood-fired pizzas. Plus, with a wall of windows overlooking Magic Kingdom Park, this is one of our favorite places to watch the Disney fireworks outside the parks

What to Get: Menu changes seasonally – Hand-rolled Sushi, Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli

Tapas, Steak & Seafood combination

Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Cost: Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: Signature Dining Restaurant

Cuisine: Seafood, Steakhouse, Spanish

We love a good rooftop restaurant, and Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is no exception. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a lofty location at the top of Gran Destino Tower, and a Spanish steakhouse-inspired menu that’s heavy on the tapas make this an excellent spot for a Disney World date night. If you plan your dinner right, you can even catch the fireworks burst in the distance at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. 

What to Get: Flight of Four Pintxos, The Spaniard, Chuletón Bone-In Rib-Eye, ‘The Toledo Tapas Bar Dessert’  

Best Disney Resort Restaurants for Adults

While the previous two restaurants are also beloved by Disney adults for their delicious food, these next two restaurants are sure to make grown-ups smile with their sophisticated flavors and intimate atmosphere: 

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Cost: Dinner – Over $60 per adult

Type: Signature Dining Restaurant

Cuisine: American

Costing a cool $235 per person minimum, nothing says Disney luxury like a meal at Victoria & Albert’s. This isn’t just one of the best Disney restaurants outside the parks, it’s also one of the best restaurants in the Sunshine State, having been recognized with the AAA Five Diamond Award every year since 2000. With three different settings available (The Dining Room, Queen Victoria’s Room, and the Chef’s Table), impeccable service and world-class cuisine are the hallmarks of this exclusive Disney World dining experience.

What to Get: Chef’s Tasting Menu

Signature dining with tables

Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House

Cost: Dinner – $35 to $59.99 per adult

Type: Signature Dining Restaurant

Cuisine: African

Jiko – The Cooking Place at the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House immerses adults (and kiddos with more mature palates) in the flavors of South Africa and the rest of the African continent. And you know what that means? Lots of smoky meats and wine. There’s even a Jiko Wine Tasting for those who would like to explore the vintages of Cape Town a little bit further. 

What to Get: Tour of Africa, Oak-grilled Filet Mignon, Botswana-style Beef Short Rib

Best Disney Resort Dining for Dessert

Every meal at Disney World deserves a sweet ending. You’re on vacation, after all! And there’s no better place to indulge in dessert than this next Disney World restaurant:

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort

Cost: Lunch and Dinner – $15 to $34.99 per adult

Type: Table Service Restaurant

Cuisine: American

A kitchen sink filled with ice cream

While you could soak up some air-conditioning or go for a swim in your hotel pool, the tastiest way to stay cool at Disney World is with ice cream from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. While this restaurant at Disney’s Beach Club Resort also serves up All-American diner fare, we love coming here for the specialty shakes, sundaes, and ice cream sodas. The Kitchen Sink is a monstrous frozen confection that comes with five ice cream flavors and every topping possible and serves four people. 

What to Get: Kitchen Sink, No Way Jose, Snicker Sundae, Fudge Mud Slide

Well, all you Disney foodies, that wraps up our best Disney resort restaurants rankings. Which Disney World hotel restaurants are your favorites? Are there any restaurants we missed? Let us know in the comments!

Want time to try more food? Spend more time eating and less time waiting in lines with our 1-day plans for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Then, save some cash for your culinary adventures by booking our discounted Walt Disney World tickets