The NYC Magic Traveler: Disney World Dining Tips
- May 1
- 4 min read
DISNEY DINING TIPS
TOP 10 FACTS TO KNOW
Eating at Disney World is just as much fun as going on the attractions! There's counter (quick) service, casual dining, fine/signature dining, and even a few rooftop experiences. You can eat your way around the world at Epcot, and sit courtside at certain nighttime spectaculars and enjoy dessert with your fireworks (subject to weather, health and safety concerns) or pose with Disney characters.
Here are a few Disney World dining tips for your trip:
1. Fine dining is very popular at Disney World. They say reservations are recommended but they seem to be required: it can extremely difficult to walk in. Sometimes, you can join the standby virtual waiting list via the My Disney Experience app. Take our advice, make reservations. You can make dining reservations well in advance, but if the restaurant is in one of the theme parks, you will need a ticket for that park and you might need a reservation for the park when you make the reservation (or not, procedures keep changing). Download the My Disney Experience App or make them on the Disney World website. TIP: Use the filters to narrow down your location.
2. You can order your fast food for pick-up on the app for many quick serve places in the parks. Not only can you order what and where, but you can pick a time and actually tell them when to start preparing your order.
3. When ordering a mobile pick-up, scroll down through the menu for special needs such as gluten free, plant-based and more. Disney Dining Tip: Usually, you can't pre-order the snacks from the carts.
4. Definitely check out the character dining, a dining experience when Disney characters come out to greet you while you eat. These spots will almost always need a reservation. Many times, these locations are buffet. They have special areas for children, with the foods that kids like and lower serving areas for children to serve themselves (with supervision, of course). Each theme park has one: The Crystal Palace and Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom); Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Norway, Epcot); Tusker House (Animal Kingdom); Hollywood & Vine (Hollywood Studios). All locations and offerings are subject to availability, current safety concerns and schedule changes.
5. Fun Disney "dining" tip: The popcorn experience is really special! If you buy the bucket, you can get low cost refills for the duration of your stay (meaning the whole trip, at all parks). There have been theme buckets and people have been collecting them for years. Popcorn is usually not part of the snacks category in the Disney Dining Plan (see #9). Also, Disney sends out news about limited availability of seasonal snacks (not just the December holidays, either). These specially decorated treats may be at certain locations only, such as the Main Street Confectionary in Magic Kingdom, places on the Boardwalk or Disney Springs. Keep up with your favorites on the Disney Parks Blog.
6. You have to have a park ticket (and currently, a park reservation) to eat in the restaurants in the parks, even if you do not plan to do any attractions. This includes breakfast that might be scheduled before the park opens, and of course, the famous festivals in Epcot. Some of the character dining buffet experiences offer breakfast. Disney dining tip: Get there early because your breakfast reservation time might coincide with the time when the park opens (aka, the rope drop).
7. You do not have to be a guest to eat (or shop) at the resorts, which also have their famous restaurants. If you are driving into a resort, you must show your restaurant reservation to park at that resort. Otherwise, you can "resort hop" from the parks using the Disney transportation (buses, monorails, ferries or skyliner). Allow enough travel time to get to the restaurant in time.
8. Disney Springs, the shopping, dining and entertainment district, is not a park per se. However, it is one of the busiest places to eat and I would recommend reservations highly. In my opinion, they are a must. But if you can't get a dining reservation, check out their food trucks!
9. The Disney Dining Plan will take another whole article, but briefly, you can prepay for your meals before you even get to Disney World. You have to be a guest at one of the resorts. There are two basic plans: the Disney Dining Plan and the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan. Certain meals, beverages and snacks qualify in the categories. Gratuities are not included. The
10. If you are an annual passholder or Disney Vacation Club member, ask about a discount at the table service locations. Show your ID and info from the My Disney Experience App (to prove that your pass is active). The percentage discounted may vary according to current regulations.
All in all, the food is not to be missed at Disney World!!
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