The Best of the Best Walt Disney World Meals
Six full days. That is how long my most recent, blissful vacation to Walt Disney World lasted. Six full days. That’s six breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners. That’s a lot of Walt Disney World meals! I make sure to hit my favorite haunts whenever I make the trip. The older I get, however, the more I realize that vacations-are happiest when everyone agrees to compromise
This past trip, that meant I had to skip a few of my usual ‘must haves’ so this one could dine in his own drive-in car and that one could have her favorite pizza. Compromise.
Maybe compromise is a bit of an overstatement because, let’s face it, I’d rather be at my LEAST favorite Walt Disney World restaurant than any other restaurant on the planet! The art of fitting everyone’s wishes into a vacation begins and ends with identifying the best of the best of the best foods, attractions, and experiences you yourself want to do, and go from there.
On my most recent trip, I learned that lesson a few times over, and instead of being inflexible with my restaurant choices like I usually am, I decided to visit the places that have what are the BEST of the best food offerings on property. If you’re traveling with a large party and only get to choose a select number of restaurants, make sure you choose the tastiest options in the World!
The Best Breakfasts
If I’m using what should be precious early morning park time to sit down to a table service breakfast, the meal had better be big enough and flavorful enough to hold me over until dinnertime.
A hearty breakfast is the way to go when you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, and your time, so choosing an in-park, unlimited meal is just the way to go! My pick is the Garden Grill in Epcot, which checks off all of my boxes: unlimited, delicious, oh…and it’s a character meal too!
My main reason for loving the Garden Grill is for that ridiculously amazing skillet packed with a warm sticky bun bake that gets served to every table ahead of the massive pile of eggs, meats, and waffles….but I’ll take a second skillet of sticky bun all to myself, please!
If you’re looking for an on-the-go breakfast that will fill you up, stay within budget, and not leave you feeling like the Michelin Man, my pick is the cinnamon roll from Gaston’s Tavern. The 4-inch high marvel starts with a twisted cinnamon-y, sugar-y pastry dough that gets baked and doused in thick frosting, and served to you…all while it’s still warm!
You can absolutely share this gargantuan treat with another member of your party, just be sure to ask for extra icing when you order so you can dunk and dip the otherwise dry center of that roll!
TIP: Don’t forget to ask for a complimentary side of extra frosting!
The Best Lunches
This is a really tough one for me because I’ve eaten everything from an ice cream cone to a dole whip and called it ‘lunch’, but for arguments sake, I’m going to stick with my favorite lunch items that are more traditional. If you can get a reservation, you’ve got to go to Be Our Guest Restaurant at lunchtime.
Lunch is a great time to visit because the price points are much more reasonable than during dinner, and you’re still experiencing the same massive ballroom with hand-painted ceilings and real crystal chandeliers and the hauntingly mesmerizing West Wing. The Croque Monsieur is my favorite item on the menu, and you’re not going to find a better cross between a ham and cheese sandwich and a perfectly melty grilled cheese out there. Plus, it comes with fries!
If you can’t snag that reservation ahead of time, don’t worry, Satu’li Canteen over in Pandora will satisfy your hunger pangs in the same delicious fashion, and maybe even more so because the menu items here are all completely customizable! I like to stick to my usual eating routine as closely as I can when I’m on vacation, and the build-your-own bowls at Satu’li offer healthy, veggie-based options and lean cuts of grilled meat for you to mix and match how you please.
The Best Dinner
TIP: Don’t forget to stay for the fireworks!
If I had to, I could survive on water (and maybe a Mickey bar) for the entire day in the Parks if it means I’ll get to sit down to a nice table service dinner at the end of a long day, and that’s why there is only one option out there if you’re looking to get the best service, food, atmosphere, and wine on your Walt Disney World vacation. Situated at the tip top of the Contemporary is the California Grill.
Featuring sweeping views of Magic Kingdom and its surrounding Resorts, watching the workings of the Resort from high above Cinderella Castle has to be seen to be believed…and the FOOD! The rotating menu ensures that you’ll be served the newest chef-curated dishes on the Resort, and with options ranging from pizzas to pork dishes, everyone in your party will definitely find something they’ll love. If you’re a fan of sushi, this spot has some of the best on property!
The Best Dessert
I know there are Dole Whips, I know there are Mickey bars, I know there are countless Disney-famed desserts out there, and I’m well aware that picking just ONE is a blatant disservice to the other fantastic options out there. Keep in mind that I am the self-proclaimed Ice Cream Queen, so you should expect to be pointed in the direction of the creamiest, richest, thickest, and most delicious scoops on property. There isn’t even a comparison: you’ve got to order a classic hot fudge sundae from Ghirardelli over at Disney Springs.
You can choose your flavors of ice cream (chocolate and vanilla for me!) and watch as the perfectly rounded scoops are smothered in the house-made hot fudge that haunts my dreams before being topped off with a squirt of rich whipped cream and, of course, a bright red cherry.
Just like that is perfect, but you will kick the whole thing up 10 notches if you add a house-made dark chocolate brownie to your sundae- thank me later! Are you as big of an ice cream fanatic as I am? What’s your favorite dessert on Property? Have you tried any of these restaurants, or will you on your next vacation? Let me know in the comments below!
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