My Favorite Places to Eat at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios

Okay, here’s one of my dirtiest secrets.

I don’t love the food at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom as much as the other two parks.

While I typically eat at both parks whenever I’m there, I don’t have enough favorite restaurants to complete a full list for each place.

So, I’ll do something a bit different this time. Here are my favorite places to eat at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

ABC Commissary

I grew up on cheap, syndicated cable programming, causing me to watch tons of Doris Day movies.

Not coincidentally, while I’ve never eaten at a real one in my life, I always loved the idea of the commissary.

ABC Commissary is absolutely nothing like that other than the name.

You don’t order a bunch of a la carte items and bring them to the disinterested cashier or anything.

Still, as an old-school Hollywood fan, I’m a sucker for the name, even if the theming is objectively a bit lazy.

Also, the novelty desserts here are among my favorites, especially at Halloween each year.

Honestly, if the two parks hosted better restaurants, this one wouldn’t make the list, though.

Backlot Express

Conversely, Backlot Express would make the list for an entirely different reason.

I’ve had several wonderful experiences at this restaurant over the years.

Meeting friends and having excellent conversations during a meal matters to me, and it’s happened several times here.

The outdoor seating presents an ideal opportunity to hang out and enjoy the ambiance of Hollywood Studios.

Plus, I like that I can catch the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular on my way in or out of this meal.

Remember, folks! Not everything about a Disney dining experience is about the food…

Flame Tree Barbecue

Sometimes, it is VERY much about the food, though, and that’s definitely the case at Flame Tree Barbecue.

As my truth in advertising statement, this will be my only BBQ suggestion because I haven’t eaten at Rodeo Roundup BBQ yet.

I plan to do that in a few months, but my Disney Countdown remains stubbornly over 100 for the time being.

Since I eat BBQ several times a week – and will have it for lunch each of the next two days – I’m a sucker for this restaurant.

Flame Tree Barbecue stood unopposed as the best BBQ at Walt Disney World for ages.

We have competition at EPCOT and Disney Springs, but I still favor the classic, at least when I’m at Animal Kingdom.

As a tip for parents, this restaurant also serves alcoholic beverages, which you’ll appreciate if your kids are high-energy at the Disney zoo.

Hollywood & Vine

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love Disney character meals.

I’m a grown man without children, and I thankfully possess the ability to separate truth from fiction.

Even so, I can accept Disney’s theming enough to believe that Minnie Mouse will come to my table and entertain me.

I’m aware of the fact that it’s a Cast Member playing a role, but I’m fine with that for two reasons.

First, Keanu Reeves isn’t actually a revenge-seeking assassin or a time-traveling, well-intended moron. He’s an actor playing roles.

That statement applies to costumed Cast Members as well, and I know how competitive those jobs are.

So, Disney has chosen these people as the BEST representatives of its Minnie Mouse brand.

Moreover, I adore the conceit at Hollywood & Vine, which changes its character outfits once a quarter.

Frankly, I believe that several other Disney character meals would benefit from that same premise.

Satu’li Canteen

First, let’s give this restaurant credit for serving protein bowls.

When Disney started this in 2017, the idea garnered headlines because no other theme park restaurant was doing it.

Disney normalized the idea, and it managed to maintain the overall theme of Pandora—The World of Avatar.

For me, someone who isn’t into mixing foods in a bowl, the Cheeseburger Steamed Bun is perfect.

Bao buns are absolutely delicious, so much so that McDonald’s should reconsider its core business model. I’m only mostly joking.

Finally, we should all agree that the Blueberry Cream Cheese Moose is one of Disney’s best and most inventive desserts ever.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

I typically dine at all the restaurants listed here during a standard Disney vacation.

However, this restaurant and the next two are my favorites…and BY FAR!

As I’ve mentioned before, Sci-Fi Dine-In isn’t just my top choice at Walt Disney World; it’s my favorite restaurant on the planet.

As mentioned, I love cheesy movies from the 1950s and 1960s. This restaurant is pretty much nothing but that.

Disney plays the same movie clips on a loop and has done so since the beginning. So, I’ve got them all memorized now.

That in no way hampers my enjoyment. Honestly, it’s the opposite. Watching Walt Disney interact with a robot delights me.

Also, the idea of a puppet/robot thing smoking symbolizes all the ridiculousness of 1960s advertising. This is my everything.

If you disagree with me, that’s totally fine. I accept that the food here isn’t for everyone, but I happen to adore it.

I generally order a three-course meal at Sci-Fi Dine-In, and the food here often delivers one of my most satisfying dining experiences.

Woody’s Lunch Box

I’m a picky eater, with less than 50 menu items I enjoy. That’s not an exaggeration, and it’s a real problem for me.

So, you can imagine my joy with the menu at Woody’s Lunch Box.

When I die here, I can have a grilled cheese sandwich, tater tots, and an upscale Pop-Tart.

Sure, the names aren’t quite the same, but the flavor profiles are identical…and delicious.

Woody’s Lunch Box is also conveniently located and an ideal place to choose when hanging out at Toy Story Land and/or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

This may be my favorite overall Quick Service dining option at Walt Disney World.

Also, any time there’s a new Lunch Box Tart flavor, I’m gonna try it. My goodness, I love these things.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Finally, we have my daring choice on this list, at least by my standards.

By this point, you should recognize that I’m the opposite of a foodie.

As such, I possess limited dining options compared to most Disney guests. For this reason, I favor theming over flavors.

That’s the rule. Yak & Yeti represents the exception because this place is so exquisitely run in every aspect.

Nestled in the back of the Asia-themed land, Yak & Yeti exemplifies the concept of hidden gems.

Pan-Asian cuisine with a slant toward Indian and Nepalese spices leads to some mind-melting tastes.

I had a friend joke that he could see through time while tearing through the Firecracker Shrimp and Chicken Tikka Masala.

On two different occasions in my life, we have ordered five apps for the table and returned empty plates to our server.

Then, we ate every bit of the entrees as well. Don’t sleep on Yak & Yeti, y’all. This is a top ten restaurant in Orlando.

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Feature Photo: Disney