I’m Visiting Magic Kingdom. Where Should I Eat?
Whether you’re new to Walt Disney World or simply haven’t visited in a while, you’ll face many exciting challenges. One of them is where to eat.
You need to fuel up for your big adventure. Otherwise, you’ll spend the day yawning and falling asleep on dark rides.
Photo: Disney
That’s especially true at Magic Kingdom, the most popular theme park on the planet.
So, when you’re visiting Magic Kingdom, where should you eat?
Quick Service vs. Table Service
I explained the differences between Disney’s two primary dining options in this Hollywood Studios article.
The gist is that you’re most likely to eat Quick Service at the parks. You can think of it as fast food, the kind you’re accustomed to eating at theme parks.
(Kent Phillips, photographer)
Thankfully, Disney runs some counter-service restaurants that likely rival or surpass the fast-casual dining where you live.
Still, you’ll sometimes want to partake in a finer dining experience during your visit. That’s where Table Service meals come into play.
Photo: Matt Stroshane
These are the conventional sit-down meals you select for date nights and celebratory dinners in your hometown.
Disney owns and operates many Table Service restaurants, which run the gamut from Applebee’s-esque (but better) to “legitimately among the best in America.”
Photo: Getty
Your budget, mood, and reason for your visit will determine which places you pick.
For instance, if you’re on a honeymoon or anniversary, you’ll lean toward fancy Table Service meals.
If you’re just spending the weekend at Disney, Quick Service more than suits your needs.
Best Quick Service at Magic Kingdom
I would actually rank Magic Kingdom’s Quick Service dining options third out of the four Disney theme parks.
The only place I consider demonstrably worse is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and that’s due to a lack of options as much as anything.
Credit: Disney
Still, you can and will find excellent counter service dining at Magic Kingdom…presuming you know where to look!
One place is hard to miss. That’s Casey’s Corner, the baseball-themed restaurant with every kind of hot dog and corn dog nugget known to humanity.
Photo: Disney
However, those of you who aren’t into hot dogs should keep walking. At the Cinderella Castle hub, your best options involve heading left, not right.
On this side of the park, you’ll find quite possibly THE best Quick Service option, Columbia Harbour House. This eatery serves scrumptious seafood dishes for cheap.
You can also wander around the corner either way to discuss two other exceptional options.
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café serves southwestern flavors and decadent desserts. It’s a hidden gem for Disney insiders.
Photo: MealTrip.com
Personally, I usually go the other way and pick Pinocchio’s Village Haus, the home of flatbreads and chicken nuggets.
Admittedly, the menu here finishes fourth out of the four options. Still, I love the place because many of the seats include a view of It’s a Small World.
Photo Credit: MealTrip.net
Also, flatbreads work really well as filling meals that aren’t too heavy, an important consideration at Magic Kingdom.
Worst Quick Service at Magic Kingdom
I hate to speak negatively about any Disney restaurants, but some simply don’t do much for me.
Photo: Disney
Others lack viable menus or come with unacceptable prices relative to value.
Many Disney fans would agree that Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café provides the worst overall meal at Magic Kingdom. It’s a generic burger and fries place.
Photo: Disney
I still visit because I’m a sucker for the Audio-Animatronic, Sonny Eclipse. But I tell others to avoid it like the plague unless they’re shameless tourists like me.
Meanwhile, Tortuga Tavern offers some unique entrees but is mainly known for its hot dogs and Barbecued Slaw Dog.
Photo Credit: TouringPlans.com
Foodies could feasibly find a dish here that becomes a staple of Magic Kingdom visits. I wouldn’t recommend it for first-timers since it can be hit-or-miss, though.
Finally, you can’t help but notice The Lunching Pad since it’s in the middle of Tomorrowland. You’ll walk right past it to ride Space Mountain, Astro Blaster, or the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
Unfortunately, this place works better for a cold drink than as a restaurant. Its limited menu doesn’t include anything special enough to justify a stop here unless you’re absolutely starving.
Best Table Service at Magic Kingdom
Table Service dining at Magic Kingdom comes with opportunity cost. Your meal will take 60-120 minutes, depending on where and when you visit.
Photo: Disney
Still, the dining experiences are so memorable that they could make your entire vacation.
Specifically, a meal at Beast’s Castle represents an unforgettable moment in time. Be Our Guest Restaurant is absolutely beautiful and even features snow in one spot.
Image Credit: Disney
As for the food, The Grey Stuff definitely lives up to the hype. In truth, I suspect Be Our Guest would win the popularity contest as the best overall dining experience at Magic Kingdom.
Cinderella’s Royal Table proves more divisive. The massive pro is that you get to eat inside Cinderella Castle, an inimitable experience.
Photo: Disney
Also, you’ll interact with several Disney Princesses during your meal, a delight in and of itself.
As for the food, well, it’s…expensive. And I definitely wouldn’t say that it’s worth the price. But are you really eating inside Cinderella Castle for the cuisine? Of course not!
Photo: Trip Advisor
If you want better flavors, you should pick Liberty Tree Tavern or Skipper Canteen, underrated Table Service restaurants that provide tremendous bang for the buck.
Skipper Canteen also extends the Jungle Cruise theme to the servers, who act like hapless Skippers, too.
Photo: junglecruise.fandom.com
Meanwhile, Liberty Tree Tavern serves Thanksgiving meals all day every day, and its vegan entrée, Impossible Meatloaf, is arguably the best on the Disney campus.
Worst Table Service at Magic Kingdom
Everyone has favorites at Disney, and nobody’s right or wrong when it comes to tasty food.
Photo: Disney
Still, I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that Tony’s Town Square is the kind of Italian Food you’d expect to find at Olive Garden.
You can probably eat three times at Olive Garden for the cost of one meal at Tony’s Town Square, too.
I don’t know that for sure as I haven’t eaten at Olive Garden in years, but it sounds right.
The point is that Tony’s Town Square serves generic Italian food at upscale Disney prices.
Photo: Disney
Finally, Crystal Palace offers one of the best character meals at Magic Kingdom…or anywhere else for that matter.
You get to hang out with the characters from Hundred Acre Wood in a breathtaking building. It’s quite magical.
Photo: Disney
However, the prices here aren’t for the faint of heart, and the buffet food is very, VERY Golden Corral.
As such, Crystal Palace is another place that I don’t recommend to others, but I eat here myself.
As a non-foodie, I’m more about experiences than flavors.
