Walt Disney World Restaurants You’ve Never Tried but Should
With more than 200 different dining options at Walt Disney World, you can’t possibly eat at all of them.
Seriously, I know people who live in Orlando and own annual passes. Yet, they’ve never dined at restaurants I’ve visited many times.
Image Credit: Disney
We all have our favorites. So, we tend to eat at these places and never give others a chance. Sometimes, you need to live a little, though.
Here are eight Walt Disney World restaurants that you’ve probably never tried…but you really should!
The Daily Poutine
First of all, gross! Second of all, let me be blunt that I’m morally opposed to poutine.
This place isn’t for me, but I’m mentioning it anyway because I’m friends with plenty of Canadians.
To them, poutine matters nearly as much as coffee and donut holes at Tim Horton’s.
I don’t get it, but my wife must be partially Canadian, as she frequents a poutine place here in town.
What is poutine? Well, some mad kitchen scientist combined French fries with cheese curds and gravy.
At The Daily Poutine at Disney Springs, you’ll find more than just the basic option, though. This place serves five different kinds of poutine each day.
At some point in your life, you need to take a chance at poutine…even though it’s disgusting.
Disney Food Trucks
Have you ever hung out at the Food Truck area of Disney Springs? It’s a hidden gem that you should get in the habit of visiting.
photo source: Disney
This area resides near the AMC DINE-IN Disney Springs 24 and is easy to find. Also, it’s rarely crowded during the day, as the locals keep it in business.
Floridians know that you’ll stretch your food dollars at the three food trucks here. Only one item costs more than $11.75, and it tops out at $13!
Image Credit: Disney
At Walt Disney World, you legitimately cannot beat those prices.
Plus, street food tastes better since you get the thrill of RV cooking. I mean, you’ve seen the movie, Chef, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNwbdMwI0MU
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
Okay, you know this place and likely don’t even associate it with Walt Disney World.
After all, you’ll find House of Blues in several tourist areas like Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and…Cleveland?
Anyway, your vague opinion of House of Blues may not line up with the reality of this place.
Yes, The Blues Brothers inspired the franchise, and, yes, the live music experience matters greatly to your overall enjoyment.
However, the cuisine here will surprise you, as it’s New Orleans-friendly. You can take a bite of the Big Easy whenever you visit.
Dishes like jambalaya and gumbo taste like the ingredients come straight from the bayou, and the voodoo shrimp is exquisite, too.
House of Blues Brunch
Nobody ever talks about this fact, but House of Blues is an excellent option for foodies!
Ravello
Four Seasons Resort Orlando recently sold for $610 million! I sincerely doubt that Disney could get that much for Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and a monorail goes through that resort!
My point here is that the Four Seasons claims the current title of the most luxurious resort at Walt Disney World.
Investors know this statement is true, explaining the gaudy selling price for a single hotel property.
Photo: Four Seasons
You may not have spent much time here, given that the resort only opened in 2014. But, presuming that’s true, you’ve missed out on a spectacular meal.
Ravello serves some of the tastiest Italian food in Florida, albeit at a hefty price tag. A meal for two here will cost at least $100…and much more if you’re a wine lover.
Of course, you can eat here for less, and you’ll probably enjoy the meal more, too.
On specific dates each week, Ravello offers a third-party character meal. This breakfast offering stars Goofy & His Pals.
Yes, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are two of Goofy’s Pals! So, you’ll have a good time eating a big breakfast while watching members of the Sensational Six entertain!
Todd English’s Bluezoo
As an Iron Chef fan from way back when it aired in Japan, I have a soft spot in my heart for Iron Chef U.S.A., a short-lived program hosted by William Shatner.
This ridiculously pompous show featured Todd English as Iron Chef American, meaning that he was already a celebrity chef at the turn of the millennium.
When the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin plotted restaurants, they sought a name that would entice guests to visit.
Source: Marriott
Basically, the Marriott International hotels followed the Las Vegas playbook, eventually making English an offer he couldn’t refuse.
In 2004, Todd English’s bluezoo (the capitalization tends to vary) opened to rave reviews. Since then, it’s earned several awards both locally and statewide.
Photo: OpenTable.com
Seafood populates the menu here, but the drinks are spectacular, too. Flying Fish receives most of the attention, but bluezoo is flat out better.
Shula’s Steak House
Speaking of the Swan & Dolphin, the twin restaurants (soon to be triplets!) also operate one of Orlando’s most popular steak houses.
Shula’s Steak House is a small chain of chophouses across the south (with one in Arizona).
Super Bowl-winning and Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula lent his name to the eatery, cementing its credibility in Florida.
Frankly, this place primarily appeals to steak lovers, but it holds a sterling reputation among carnivores for its cuts of beef.
This place should be on your Disney bucket list.
Splitsville Dining Room
Don’t laugh! Yes, Splitsville primarily works as a bowling alley, a place at Disney Springs where fans can knock down a few pins.
However, as I type this, Splitsville Dining Room currently ranks in the top 100 among Orlando restaurants on TripAdvisor.
You didn’t see that coming, did you?
Fans love the wide array of menu options, including pizza, sushi, and vegan options.
Plus, the convenience of this place meshes well with its entertainment value. So, when you have friends in Orlando, you can meet here for a meal and some competition.
I know that Disney vacationers aren’t in love with the idea of bowling when they could be riding Space Mountain. So, that’s why you probably haven’t tried this.
I’m here to tell you that you’ll have so much fun eating and playing here that it may become part of your annual vacation routine, though!
STK Orlando
Here’s the most controversial suggestion on this list. Some Disney fans haaaaaate this place, and I can’t blame them.
Image Credit: STK
STK Orlando has gained infamy for its loudness. It’s a wannabe nightclub, even though it’s just a restaurant.
The music here blares so loudly that you’ll expect foam to come down from the ceiling at midnight.
Image Credit: STK Orlando
Presuming that you can tolerate that, you’re in for a treat, as the steaks here definitely live up to the hype.
So, the ambiance here admittedly isn’t for everyone, but the food is delectable.
If you’re choosing a place solely for the steak, I’d still go with Shula’s. However, in terms of the overall menu, STK Orlando is better.
You should pick this place when you’re dining with others, some of whom aren’t steak lovers.
Feature Image: SwanDolphin.com
