BREAKING NEWS: Select Walt Disney World Buffet Restaurants WIll Be Moving To Family-Style Dining
One of the looming questions that many people have had about returning to Walt Disney World is what will be happening to Disney World’s many buffet restaurants.With COVID-19 cases still out there and social distancing still be promoted at the parks we knew that a change would be essential but a recent post from one of Disney World’s local unions has given us a sense of how Disney will move forward.
Workers have recently been called back to work at both Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Biergarten at EPCOT and have been told that dining at these eateries will be “Family-Style” for the foreseeable future.
Here’s a look at the original post:
Local 737 advised that workers will return to both eateries (along with a long list of others that we’ll include below) on June 28th or July 5th. Disney is reaching out to workers directly to let them know and those with seniority will be the first to return to work under Union rules.
What is Family Style?
For those wondering what Family-style dining is, if you’ve ever eaten at Garden Grill in Epcot or Ohana for breakfast at the Polynesian Village Resort then it’s the same type of experience you’ve had there! Rather than going up to a buffet. Menu items will be brought to your table on large platters for family members to share. If our past experience at the two restaurants we just mentioned are anything to go by, portions should be plentiful.
What About Other Buffet Restaurants at Disney World?
We only know about the changes above because the worker’s unions are reporting cast members being called back to work. This means that other eateries that are buffet-style like 1900 Park Fare, Boma, Tusker House, Cape May Cafe and more may follow a similar route. This is a story that we’ll be following closely so keep checking in for the latest news and updates!
Do I Have To Make a Reservation To Dine at Chef Mickey’s?
Yes. It is advisable that reservations be made. If you were following along with us yesterday, you’ll know that Disney has cleaned the slate when it comes to dining reservations by cancelling existing reservations. Guests can rebook your reservations starting today! However, initially, reservations can only be made for dates from June 22, 2010 – July 10, 2020. June 22nd is the date that select resorts reopen to the public and July 10, 2020, is the day before the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom reopen.
Starting next week guests WITH a Walt Disney World hotel reservation between June 22nd – July 10th can make reservations by calling 407.824.139. DVC members can call Member Services at 1.800.800.9800.
In Park dining has not opened up for reservations as of yet. Keep checking in with us and we’ll let you know when it does.
List Of Walt Disney World Restaurants That Have Called Back Workers:
Animal Kingdom
- Africa Bars
- Africa Stands
- Asia Bars
- Asia Stands
- Central Bakery
- Creature Comforts
- Discovery Island Bars
- Flame Tree BBQ
- Food Handlers
- Harambe Market
- Nomads
- Outdoor Foods
- Restaurantosaurus & Bar
- Satu’li
- Tiffins
Magic Kingdom
- Adventureland Stewarding
- Be Our Guest (TSR only – no QSR)
- Central Bakery
- Cone Shop
- Cosmic Ray’s
- Food Handlers
- Jungle Skipper
- Liberty Square
- Liberty Tree Tavern
- Main Street Bakery
- Outdoor Foods
- Pecos Bill’s
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Plaza Restaurant
- Tony’s Town Square
EPCOT
- Coral Reef\
- Electric Umbrella
- Festivals
- Food Handlers
- Fountain View
- Garden Grill
- Liberty Inn
- Production Bakery
- Regal Eagle
- Sunshine Seasons
- *Le Cellier
- Biergarten (Family Style)
- Norway (Non-Tipped only)
- Rose & Crown
Hollywood Studios
- Backlot Express
- Brown Derby
- Culinary Support
- Docking Bay
- Food Handlers
- Galaxy Edge Culinary & Stewarding
- Mama Melrose
- Ogas Cantina & Carts
- Outdoor Foods
- PizzeRizzo
- Prime Time
- Production Bakery
- QSR Stewarding
- Sci Fi & Tap House
- Sunset Blvd.
- Tap House
- Trolley Car Café
- Tune In Lounge
Disney Springs
- Deluxe Burger
- Food Trucks Culinary
- Hangar Bar
- Outdoor Vending
- Amorette’s Patisserie
RESORTS
Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Food Handlers
- Housekeeping
- Mara
- Sanaa
Boardwalk Inn
- Food Handlers
- Quick Service
- Trattoria Al Forno
Contemporary Resort
- Bakery Culinary
- Bay Lake Tower Bartenders
- California Grill
- Chef Mickey’s (Family Style)
- Contempo Café
- Food Handlers\
- Housekeeping
- Sand Bar
- The Wave
Coronado Springs Resort
- Barcelona Lounge
- Catering Culinary & Stewarding
- Food Handlers
- Housekeeping
- Stewarding
Fort Wilderness
- Food Handlers
- Meadows Snack Bar
- Pioneer Hall Culinary
- Stewarding
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Bakery Culinary
- Catering Culinary & Stewarding
- Food Handlers
- Gasparilla Grill
- Grand Café
- Housekeeping
- Narcoosee’s
- Pool Bars
- Room Service
- Service Bar
Old Key West
- Food Handlers
- Goods to Go
- Olivia’s
Polynesian Village Resort
- Bakery Culinary
- Captain Cook’s
- Food Handlers
- Housekeeping Phones
- Kona Café
Pop Century Resort
- Culinary & Stewarding
- Everything Pop
- Food Handlers
- Petals Pool Bar
Rivera Resort
- Food Handlers
- Le Petit Café
- Pastry Culinary
- Primo Piatto
- Topolino’s
Image Credit: Disney
Saratoga Springs Resort
- Artist Palette
- Culinary
- Culinary & Stewarding
- Food Handlers
- Housekeeping Runners
Wilderness Lodge
- Food Handlers
- Whispering Canyon
Yacht & Beach Club Resort
- Ale & Compass
- Beaches & Cream
- Culinary & Stewarding
- Catering Culinary & Stewarding
- Food Handlers
- Housekeeping
- Market QSR
- Martha’s Vineyard Lounge
- Private Dining
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