Let’s Talk About the Best of Disney World Dining
I haven’t visited Disney in six weeks, which already feels like an eternity.
In fact, I’m already planning my next trip, which could happen as soon as May. Did you know there is a Free Dining promotion for 2025 now?


Photo:visitorlando.com
During my last visit, I took note of some of my favorite bites during the trip.
Then, I promptly got strep throat and slept for two weeks. So, I’m just cycling through my notes now.


Pop Century Dining
They’re too old to be useful now, as several menus have already changed since then.
But what I can do is have a more general conversation about the food at Walt Disney World.


(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
During the holiday season, you’ll think about food a lot since calories don’t count at Christmas. This is known.
So, let’s talk about the best of Disney World dining.
Best Backdrop


Photo: Disney clip art
As an FYI, I’m not listing any of the worst meals, foods, and experiences today. It’s the holidays. Let’s embrace the positive!
Instead, I want to focus on the settings at various Disney restaurants.


Roundup Rodeo BBQ
I don’t mean the theming per se, as that’s the topic in the next section.
I’m referencing the backdrops where you just sit there and stare, mouth agape, as you take in your surroundings.


Photo: Disney
Places like Rodeo Roundup BBQ, Sanaa, and Space 220 qualify since they feature a Toy Story setting, an animal habitat, and outer space.
Still, for my money, the best backdrop at Disney is right by the front gate at EPCOT. It’s Coral Reef Restaurant.


Photo: Disney Daily Dime
When you dine here, you stare into a massive saltwater tank exponentially larger than the restaurant.
The fish in the tank go about their lives, only occasionally paying attention to the humans on the other side of the fishbowl. It’s amazing.
Best Theming
Then, we have theming, which is a separate category. Disney’s best themed restaurants create fully immersive experiences.
You’ll escape to other places and times like Beast’s Castle, a baseball park, or even a 1950s family dinner.
In my opinion, you’ll find the best themed restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.
This place recreates the drive-in movie experience inside a building.
Back in the 1960s, movie lovers spent date night staring at an outdoor screen and the stars above.
Disney somehow manages the same feat at a place across from Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.
From the outside, the restaurant is mostly nondescript. Once you enter it, you’ll notice dozens of cars. It’s like an indoor parking garage…with food!
For many years now, Sci-Fi Dine-In has looped the same batch of horrible B-movies and animated shorts. And if they ever change it, I riot!
This place is my everything.
Best Theme Park for Dining
I’m not going to be intentionally controversial or provocative today. So, some of these answers are simple.
We all know that the theme park with the best Disney dining is EPCOT. It’s not even close.
Best Resort for Dining
Conversely, I could argue that five or six different official Disney hotels deserve this title.
Several of these resorts host multiple restaurants I adore. That’s why I eat outside the parks more often than not.


Disney
In debating this conversation, I shortlisted all three monorail resorts and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Ultimately, I settled on the place where we eat the most. It’s Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.


Photo: Disney
I think I’ve dined at ‘Ohana and Capt. Cook’s over the past five years than I have at local fast food restaurants like KFC and Wendy’s. Not even joking.
Best Quick Service Meal
Okay, there’s no wrong answer here. I respect that everyone has an opinion, and I’m happy if you’re happy.
For my family, our clear choice is Woody’s Lunch Box, though. This place has mastered the art of comfort food.
If this were a local restaurant or part of a chain, I’d eat here three or four times a week. And again, I’m being totally serious.
Best Table Service Meal
Here’s the most challenging debate, especially since I’ve made this list hard on myself. I’m not doing any duplicates.
While Sci-Fi Dine-In is far and away my favorite place at Disney, it already won in a category.


‘Ohana
So, we circle back to my fallback option, which is ‘Ohana at the Polynesian.
Hey, the Polynesian won the last category, not ‘Ohana!
Anyway, I prefer this place because I’m a simple man with the palate of the pickiest five-year-old you’ve ever met.
At ‘Ohana, the breakfast includes virtually everything I would ever eat. We’re talking sausage, bacon, ham, and pancakes.


Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.ie
Then, the dinner meal switches to a tour of the islands, with several Polynesian delicacies delivered to my table.
This place is bliss. Everyone knows it, too. That’s why it’s so hard to book a reservation here.
Best Breakfast
Here’s where I lose some of you, and I accept that.
Personally, I’ll order the same thing for breakfast at most restaurants.
So, the dining experience itself matters more than the food.
That’s especially true at Disney, as I order some version of the Bounty Breakfast Platter, typically sharing it with my wife.
Otherwise, we typically choose character meals for breakfast, ones with buffets.
Since the food is basically the same everywhere, what matters most are the photo ops.


Photo: Disney
That’s why my favorite is Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Café, which you’ll find at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
Minnie and friends wear the most charming beachy outfits, and they make for the best pictures.


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Plus, I love the hotel, which adds to the experience. In terms of just food, my favorite is Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk.
However, I liked the experience better when it offered a Tangled breakfast. Please bring that back, Disney!
Best Appetizer*


The iconic Sanaa Bread Service
Image Credit: Disney
I put an asterisk here because I’m about to cheat. Some people wouldn’t consider the menu item an appetizer, but I do.
Sanaa’s Bread Service is my favorite food to eat while I await an entrée.


Disney
You can argue the semantics of bread as an appetizer, but I feel the same way about Texas Roadhouse.
That’s a place I go solely to load up on rolls. The same statement applies at Sanaa, where the bakers on duty are wizards of their craft.
Best Dessert


Photo: Disney
For me, this one’s simple.
When Disney created Be Our Guest Restaurant, everyone knew the Grey Stuff had to taste delicious. It’s right there in the song!
To Disney’s credit, I’ve had multiple variants of the Grey Stuff here over the years.
Each one has been more mouth-wateringly delicious than the last.


Photo: D23 || Satu’li Canteen
If you don’t plan to spend a fortune at Be Our Guest and want a backup suggestion, the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse at Satu’li Canteen is exquisite, too.
Best Burger
Again, the experience matters to me, although I am quite the cheeseburger connoisseur, having lived off them for many years.
So, I’m of two minds on what to pick here. In terms of experience, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is impossible to top.
The throwback Happy Days-esque setting delights me to my very core.
In terms of pure flavor, I’ve found that The BOATHOUSE at Disney Springs has the best cheeseburgers at Disney World.
Best Steak


Photo: Disney Tourist Blog || Le Cellier
This one’s the easiest question on the list for me personally, as this is historically my most frequent Disney order.
So, I say as a true expert on this one culinary item – and really JUST this one – that Le Cellier Steakhouse serves the best steaks.


Le Cellier – Steak Dinner
Others with strong reputations like Yachtsman Steakhouse and STK Steakhouse Orlando really don’t do much for me.
Their prices don’t align with their flavors, while Le Cellier very much does. It’s definitely not cheap, but you get what you pay for.


Photo: Disney
I vote with my wallet on this one, too. In fact, we dined here for lunch on our tenth anniversary and will likely do the same for our 20th in May.
(That’s why we’re planning our next trip.)
Best Plant-Based Dish
My wife is a vegetarian, so her expertise in this area is better than almost anyone’s.
Liberty Tree Tavern’s Impossible Meatloaf is tough to beat!


Vegan Disney
You might also be surprised to learn that Backlot Express’s Teriyaki Tofu Bowl is a delectable dish at a value price.
Satu’li Canteen’s Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu bowl is another outstanding Quick Service option when you’re visiting Animal Kingdom.


Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio
But the yummiest option is one that we discovered on our most recent trip.
Try the Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio at Roundup Rodeo BBQ.


Photo: Disney
It features barbecued cauliflower, some fabulous plant-based bratwurst, and a rib chop that will have you hankering for more.
One of the best things about Disney dining is that they always have amazing options for vegans and vegetarians.


Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad
No matter what you pick, you’re probably going to be satisfied.
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Feature Photo: Disney