What Are the Must-Do Restaurants at Walt Disney World?

When you’re relatively new to Walt Disney World, you want to follow Shakira’s advice and “Try Everything.”

Due to the sheer size of the Disney campus, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start, though.

Well, that’s why you’ve got MickeyBlog! We can tell you all the things that will take you from a Disney novice into a pro!

Let’s start with feeding your belly, as you’ll want to stay fueled during your park visit.

Tony’s dining area

So, what are the must-try restaurants at Disney World? Here are my suggestions.

Casey’s Corner

In creating a list like this one, we must consider crowd behavior.

I don’t want to send you off on any wild goose chases in search of places.

So, we won’t include any resort restaurants or any Disney Springs options.

Instead, we’re just discussing what’s available at the parks and favor anything that’s easy to find.

What’s simpler than the first restaurant on your left at Main Street, U.S.A.?

When you enter Magic Kingdom, Disney will transport you back in time to the golden age of Americana at a time when families played together on Main Street and hot dogs were cheap.

You’ll mostly find the same to be true at Casey’s Corner, where the hot dogs and corn dog nuggets remain reasonably priced. And delicious.

Connections Cafe

This is one of the newest places on the list and also one of the most generically themed.

Still, eating here doubles as a rite of passage for EPCOT guests due to the restaurant’s location.

You can’t help but notice it as you explore the park for the first time.

When you enter Connections Cafe, you’ll quickly realize that the modest doors belie a giant restaurant with multiple seating areas.

It’s a cavernous place and designed that way for a reason.

A staggering percentage of guests stop here for a bite, and you should, too.

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

Some of Disney’s newest and most unique restaurants are themed to popular brands.

So, let’s say that you like Star Wars.

Photo: Disney

I know I’m going out on a limb with that one, but I’ll take my chances that you do.

Thus, you’ll love Docking Bay 7 due to its unique themed setup.

Photo: Disney

You’re eating inside an old hangar bay retrofitted to serve the finest cuisine on Batuu.

You can stroll into the restaurant, self-assured like Han Solo, and order Batuuan Beef, Chicken Tip Yip, and Kaadu Pork Ribs.

Disney added the protein descriptions because guests used to order blind.

Now THAT was an experience.

Photo: Disney

Still, the food is terrific and never once breaks the immersion of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Flame Tree Barbecue

Photo: Disney

Like many people, I have a love/hate relationship with Flame Tree Barbecue.

This eatery serves some of the most delicious, hearty food at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Photo: Flame Tree

For that matter, it often leads the conversation about the best barbecue at Walt Disney World.

However, the restaurant does feature outdoor seating, which explains why some fans dismiss it as being “for the birds.”

Flame Tree Barbecue

That’s a literal assessment, as the local wildlife hangs out in the area, hoping to share your lunch.

Some fans find it charming – you are at Animal Kingdom, after all – while others find it a bit gross.

Either way, the location of the place will appeal to you, as will the menu.

Hollywood & Vine

You’ll want to do a character meal when you’re at Walt Disney World.

These meals are incredible because while you’re seated at your table, various costumed cast members will come to your table and entertain you.

Disney

The one warning about some of these character meals is that the food is often overpriced and fairly middling.

You won’t care.

Photo: Disney

All that matters are the memories you’ll make interacting with your favorites.

At Hollywood & Vine, Minnie Mouse hosts the festivities, but the details change every three months.

Every three months, the characters’ outfits are updated to reflect the season.

You may see Halloween costumes or members of the Sensational Six dressed in their Easter best.

Disney

So, when you eat here, you can compare notes (and social media images) with other Disney fans who visited at different times of the year.

Pinocchio’s Village House

As you explore New Fantasyland, you’ll encounter classic attractions like “it’s a small world,” Peter Pan’s Flight, and Prince Charming’s Carrousel.

You don’t necessarily have to ride all of them to catch part of the experience, though.

Photo Credit: MealTrip.net

A handful of seats at the nearby Pinocchio’s Village House include a view of a portion of “it’s a small world.”

I don’t want to oversell it, because you really only watch the boats as they enter the first room of the attraction.

You’ll still find it relaxing if you’re lucky enough to grab one of those seats, though.

Even if you’re not, you can take a peek while you wait for your food or after you’re done with your meal.

While you’re there, you can enjoy some pretty good flatbreads and a shockingly good key lime pie tart.

Satu’li Canteen

No matter what restaurant list I choose, the next two restaurants seemingly always appear because they work for just about anything.

You’ll find Satu’li Canteen at Pandora – The World of Avatar, and it’s like Docking Bay 7.

Disney has themed the restaurant to maintain the immersion that you’re eating in a former mess hall on an alien planet.

So, the space is spacious, yet it remains quite crowded since everyone loves the food.

Disney

You’ll dine on protein bowls and cheeseburger steamed pods, both of which are unique to this restaurant.

The menu ties into the theme, and all roads lead to the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse, one of Disney’s best desserts.

Woody’s Lunch Box

Photo Credit: Steven Diaz, photographer

Finally, we have the most popular destination at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

When Toy Story Land opened, Disney officials knew it would appeal to children.

So, management decided to make life easier for parents.

We all know that some kids are notoriously picky about what they eat, and an eclectic menu would have done more harm than good.

Instead, Disney stuck with the basics, creating upscale versions of dishes as simple as grilled cheese sandwiches and tater tots.

You’ll even find a clever spin on Pop Tarts here.

This place stays crowded from the moment it opens until it sells its last Totchos of the day.

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Feature Photo: Disney