Should You Eat at These Walt Disney World Resort Restaurants II
Every Disney resort owns and operates at least one restaurant, with most having two or more.
The available choices may overwhelm you, which is why MickeyBlog is here.
We can fairly evaluate all the resort dining options based on our experiences.
Should you eat at these Disney resort restaurants? Here are our thoughts…
Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
I discussed Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort in the first article.
At the time, the restaurant had recently reopened. So, it felt right to highlight the place.
Even so, Disney fans know the star attraction at Beach Club, which is the soda shop right beside Stormalong Bay.
1950s style burgers and fries are on the menu here, along with milkshakes and other glorious ice cream concoctions.
Pros:
This place is just plain fun. You half expect the gang from Happy Days to walk in…or you would if you were old enough to know that show.
Seriously, this place might as well be Arnold’s. You’re eating greasy food that you know is terrible for you, which only makes it taste better.
If anything on this menu is healthy, it’s accidental. But you’re on vacation, a time when the calories don’t count!
Plus, after your meal, you can head to EPCOT, which is only a few hundred feet away from your table. You can burn off the milkshake calories here.
Wait, those aren’t pros. Well, here are a few: the food is great, the ice cream is arguably the best in Florida, and all Kitchen Sink orders feel like a party.
Oh, the prices seem reasonable, too!
Cons:
My two favorite places for burgers at Disney have proven divisive among fans. Some folks believe that the food here is mediocre.
Since Beach Club resides across the street from Disney’s BoardWalk and behind the World Showcase, these people feel that better options are available nearby.
Verdict:
If you like ice cream and ridiculously over-the-top milkshake concoctions, you should eat here at least once.
I definitely recommend the place for those of you staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Beach Club, or at a Disney Skyliner resort.
You can reach this spot quickly, and you’ll have fun here.
Kona Café
Did you know that Scarlett Johansson has a twin brother? Well, Kona Café is the Hunter Johansson of restaurants at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Nobody notices Kona Café because they’re too busy obsessing on the restaurant across from it, ‘Ohana.
Pros:
They serve something called Tonga Toast at breakfast. This banana/toast concoction will change your life.
Also, as you might expect from the restaurant’s name, you’ll find Kona coffee for sale here. There’s even a service stand adjoining the dining room.
As for the food, distinctive Hawaiian flavors infuse all the dishes with a wicked sweetness that could dazzle your palate.
I say could because not everyone has a sweet tooth. Personally, I think Polynesian cuisine is what ambrosia must taste like.
Another pro is the popularity of ‘Ohana. Since everyone tries to eat there, tables are often available at Kona Café during your trip.
This place is also much less expensive than a meal at ‘Ohana.
Cons:
Many people believe that Kona Café has changed menus at least one too many times.
Several popular dishes like the steaks and desserts aren’t available now. In fact, Kona Café no longer offers the Kona Kone.
That’s like watching a Luis Fonsi concert where he doesn’t play Despacito. What’s even the point?
Verdict:
For the longest time, Kona Café was my favorite resort restaurant. We stay at the Polynesian a lot, and some of the tables here are really just sofas.
These seats look out on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. They’re my happy place.
Photo: Disney
So, I’m naturally biased for this place and even celebrated a couple of birthdays here.
Even I, as a superfan, don’t understand the recent menu changes, though. Kona Café has lost some direction.
I still recommend it for the ambiance and view. However, if you can snag a reservation at ‘Ohana, you’ll probably enjoy it more.
Steakhouse 71
During the summer of 2021, management made the somewhat controversial decision to retire The Wave of… American Flavors.
The restaurant rarely suffered from crowding issues, which is a problem for owners of that space. They want a steady headcount throughout the day.
So, we lost The Wave in favor of what many expected to be a restaurant themed to The Incredibles. But, surprisingly, that didn’t happen.
Image Credit: Disney
Instead, Disney went retro with Steakhouse 71, a nod to Walt Disney World’s opening in 1971.
That was only the same year that Disney’s Contemporary Resort debuted. Fittingly, Steakhouse 71 resides just by the check-in desks in the lobby.
Credit: Disney
Pros:
Steak.
The menu here deviates from the former restaurant…but not as much as you might expect.
Disney has somehow kept the spirit of The Wave alive while transitioning to a, well, steak-ier set of entrees. Don’t worry! Vegans will find plenty to love here as well.
Credit: Disney
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Disney has maintained the price structure of The Wave.
Recently, whenever something ended, the replacement cost much more. That’s not the case here.
Credit: Disney
So, Steakhouse 71 probably delivers the best bang for the buck out of everything we discuss today. Also, its desserts are ridiculous, especially the chocolate cake.
Cons:
Honestly, not many. I mean, you could pick something else at this hotel, as Contempo Café and California Grill both deliver terrific dining experiences.
However, the food at Contempo Café is on the low-end of Walt Disney World, while California Grill skews highbrow.
Steakhouse 71 is like Goldilocks…just right.
Credit: Disney
Verdict:
Eat here. A lot. The Wave was one of the hidden gems of Walt Disney World. Nothing has changed with Steakhouse 71.
Storybook Dining at Artist Point
Technically, this meal isn’t the only option at Artist Point, at least when there’s not a pandemic. However, dinner remains the only choice for now.
Artist Point resides near the lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, one of the most visually stunning places at Walt Disney World.
The meal involves the Evil Queen, some of the Seven Dwarfs, and even an appearance by Snow White. It’s magical.
Pros:
As a character dining interaction, Grumpy the Dwarf places high on my list of most entertaining options. He’ll mess with you, which isn’t normal at Disney.
The meals here will also impress you in that they’re unlike anything you’ve had before. It is like dining inside a fairytale.
Many years ago, Charlize Theron appeared on Top Chef and asked for a meal fit for an Evil Queen. The dishes looked like this:
I firmly believe that someone at Disney drew inspiration from this idea, as that’s what you’ll find on your plate.
Cons:
Since its inception, Storybook Dining has proven to be one of the most popular meals in Orlando. Yet, despite this fact, it comes with several negatives.
The prix fixe menu means that prices will seem high to some. Also, due to said popularity, reservations here will prove challenging.
Then, you may struggle to pick an entrée. I would describe the menu as arcane, with options like Hunter’s Pie, A Stroll through Nature, and Sorceress Spell of “Tricken” Chicken.
What is any of that? I don’t know, and as a control freak, that worries me. If you live for the experience, you won’t care, though.
Verdict:
Before I ate here for the first time, nothing at Disney excited me more than the possibility of Storybook Dining.
Since then, I’ve adopted a different perspective. It’s a strange meal that isn’t for everyone.
Those of you with adventurous personalities AND palates will love the place. But, unfortunately, everyone else runs the risk of finding it massively overpriced.
At the time of publication, a meal here starts at $60 plus tax and gratuity for adults. Also, it can increase depending on your adult beverage needs.
So, this answer is open-ended. If you can afford it and won’t feel bitter about a strange experience, definitely give it a shot.
Those of you who are risk-averse might want to avoid Storybook Dining, though. I’m unsure that I’ll go back anytime soon.
