walt disney world dining
One of the highlights of your Walt Disney World vacation can be indulging in one of the many amazing dining experiences that are available. Sharing a special meal with loved ones while surrounded by Disney magic and service is one way to create lifelong memories. Whether you prefer to grab a quick bite between rides or plan for a relaxing sit-down meal at a resort, here is a quick guide to the options that are available.
quick service dining
At Disney quick service (or counter service) dining locations you can grab a quick and casual meal which you will generally order either through the mobile app or at the counter and then take to a nearby table to eat. Similar to fast food these meals are less expensive and don’t take a lot of pre-planning, and are available at all resorts and parks as well as Disney Springs. There are a variety of choices available, and although it is quick and casual it doesn’t mean that you cant find good quality and delicious food. You can look through the menus online and place a mobile order on the “My Disney Experience” app.
table service dining
At Disney table service restaurants diners are seated and then waited on by servers, or will serve themselves at a buffet. These meals almost always require a reservation, and are available at many resorts, all parks, and at Disney Springs. Table service meals include a variety of different options from causal family dining to buffets to character meals to fine dining to dinner shows.
Because most of these meals require reservations it is important to plan ahead to get the experiences that you want. Reservations for guests staying at a Disney Resort open 60 days prior to check-in for the entire duration of your stay. If you are not staying on site then you can make reservations 60 days in advance, but you have to make reservations day-by-day instead of having the entire duration of your vacation open at once. This may seem like a small difference, but some of the most popular reservations are difficult to impossible to get 60 days prior, so being able to reserve the entire length of your trip gives you a better chance to snag hard-to-get reservations for later on in your vacation.
You can preview the menus for all table service restaurants on the “My Disney Experience” app or online to get a better idea of what might be the best fit for your travel party.
character dining
During a character dining experience diners will get to enjoy delicious food as well as interactions with some of their favorite Disney characters.
Character dining is offered at several resorts as well as all parks, and each dining experiences is unique in which characters you will get to meet and what type of meal is served.
These meals are among the most popular, so deciding early which of these you would like is important to make sure that you have a chance to secure the reservation that you want.
fine/signature dining
If you are looking for a nice place to celebrate a special event or just enjoy a date night, Walt Disney World offers some amazing fine dining venues located in several resorts and all parks and at Disney Springs.
Signature restaurants offer the best food, best service, and best wine lists on property. Reservations are highly recommended, and some locations have a dress code. While children are generally welcome, it is important to remember that these meals can be multiple courses which may take longer than a normal dining experience and other guests may be celebrating a special night out and hoping for a more mature environment. Use good judgement when deciding if this is the right place to take them, or maybe consider a lunch reservation rather than a late dinner if you really want to experience a meal at one of these locations with your kids.
dining plans
Some people like the convenience and freedom of prepaid dining so that they don’t have to stress over the bill when they are on vacation. If this sounds like you, and are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, there are two dining plan options available to choose from.
The Quick Service Dining Plan includes 2 quick service meals and 1 snack per person per night of your stay. This plan also includes a resort refillable mug for each person. The cost is $57 per adult (10+) and $24 per child (3-9) per night.
The Dining Plan includes 1 table service meal, 1 quick service meal and 1 snack per person per night of your stay. A resort refillable mug is included for each person as well. The cost is $94 per adult (10+) and $30 per child (3-9) per night.
The cost of the plans may be more than you would spend on these meals, so you can look over the menus of the places that you would like to eat and see if it is a good deal for your family.
dining events
Disney offers several different dining events to enhance your vacation. The two main options help you enjoy the nightly entertainment at the park.
At Epcot and Hollywood Studios you can get dining packages that include a full meal at a selected restaurant as well as guaranteed seating at either that evening’s festival concert (Epcot) or at Fantasmic! (Hollywood Studios). Having guaranteed seating means that you won’t have to spend valuable park time standing in line to get a seat.
At Magic Kingdom there are a variety of Desert parties and cruise options to go along with the nightly fireworks show. This ensures you a reserved spot to watch the fireworks as well as a generous spread of deserts, snacks and drinks to enjoy during the party.
other dining options
In addition to all of these options the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness is a fun family dinner show full of knee-slapping jokes and music you can clap along to.
There are also a variety of festivals year-round at EPCOT, and one of the highlights of the festivals are the food booths located around World Showcase. Depending on your when your vacation is you may have the opportunity to visit these booths and try some special foods and drinks available only during that festival. It’s a great way to try some new and creative dishes!
grocery delivery
If you prefer having a small breakfast in your room or want to have some snacks to take along with to the parks, there is grocery delivery available to your resort through a number of outside vendors. Please ask about it, and we can help you find the right service to meet your needs.
From an out-of-this world restaurant in “Space”, to an out-of-the-way Star Wars watering hole, to giant ice cream treats big enough for the whole family to share, we can help you find exactly the dining experience that you are looking for.
Take some time to browse through the options, then fill out the dining questionnaire and we will help you create a plan to fill your belly and make some awesome memories!