Disney is known for having great food! There are so many choices to choose from sometimes you are unsure of where to go for your next meal. This is the first blog in my WDW Top 5 Dining Series. In this blog I will be giving you my top 5 favorite Walt Disney World resort sit down restaurants. Keep in mind I do not consider myself a “foodie” by any means. I typically stick to pretty plain Jane food dishes. So if you are a picky eater, like myself, these would be good options for you. Keep in mind most restaurants at Disney have a good variety of food choices. So if you are more adventurous when it comes to food, there will be options for you; if you are a picky eater, there will be options for you as well. Feel free to contact me with any further questions. I have dined at I believe every resort at most of their restaurants, so I should be able to help you out. I will include pricing and menu for restaurants that are buffet or family style. For more info head to Disney’s website or check out the My Disney Experience app.
1) Ohana, Polynesian Resort – Yes, yes, I know everyone recommends this. But seriously, you need to go. If you are not aware Ohana is all family-style; they’ll bring big dishes of foods to your table, it is all-you-can-eat. Like most Disney restaurants it is not just a place to eat, it is an experience. I have been here for both the character breakfast as well as dinner; both are great dining options! If you have kiddos or are into character meet and greets I definitely recommend breakfast at Ohana. It is in a great location as well so after breakfast you can head right over to Magic Kingdom or Epcot via the monorail. When I attended the character breakfast years back the characters who joined you were Lilo, Stitch, Pluto & Mickey. As far as my research tells me this is still the case. During dinner time you will encounter a ukelele playing cast member. He or she will walk around from table to table playing classic ukelele tunes while giving out leis. It is a great touch and definitely adds to the atmosphere. If you plan to go to Ohana for dinner try to get a reservation during Magic Kingdom’s firework show. While the fireworks are going off they will dim the lights and turn on the music for the show. It is a great way to end the evening.
Menu:
Breakfast ($15 – $34.99) – eggs, fried potatoes, pork, Mickey waffles, and assorted fruit and breakfast pastries.
Dinner ($35 – $59.99) – pineapple-coconut bread, mixed green salad, pork dumplings, chicken wings, sweet-n-sour chicken, steak, grilled shrimp, noodles, stir-fried veggies, bread pudding a la mode with banana-caramel sauce.
2) 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – I have only been to 1900 Park Fare once, and it was for what they call the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, so I won’t be covering their dinner and tea time options since I haven’t experienced them myself. This is a buffet character dining experience including Mary Poppins, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, Pooh, and Alice. When I attended the breakfast the characters were superb! The Mad Hatter caused so many laughs at my table, and we were all adults. That just proves that meet and greet dining isn’t just for the kids.
Menu:
Breakfast ($35 – $59.99) – fresh fruit, breads, muffins, salmon, eggs benedict, corn beef hash, omelets, yogurt bar, strawberry soup, cheese blintz, ham, pancakes, bagels, biscuits & gravy, french toast, scrambled eggs, rice, oatmeal, cheese grits, Mickey waffles, cinnamon buns.
3) California Grille, Contemporary Resort – This is another restaurant that everyone recommends, but is a must-do. I have enjoyed it as a child and an adult; while this is a great location for date night, don’t be afraid to take the kids – it’s Disney! They have a great variety of foods and alcoholic drinks. While it is pricey, the view is worth it. On my most recent trip I tried their sushi as well as a chicken dish, both were to die for. The chicken cut like butter and sushi was fresh. They even have a special dessert sushi made just for kids, super fun! If you have a reservation during fireworks you will have a great view, and they play the music just like Ohana. They even have an outdoor observation deck so you can take in the view. If your reservation isn’t during fireworks, no worries! You will be invited back that night to watch them from the observation deck.
4) Boatwright’s Dining Hall, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside – Boatwright’s is a hidden treasure that not many people talk about. They serve some amazing southern dishes including jambalaya, crawfish man and cheese, and catfish. For those of you who aren’t as adventurous they have barbecued ribs as well as chicken and waffles. They also serve cornbread that is to die for! If you haven’t been here I would definitely give it a try. The location is awesome as well; you can access this resort via ferry from Disney Springs.
5) Chef Mickey’s – Yes, a classic. While the quality of food isn’t the best, it is an A+ for kid-friendly. If this is your first trip to Disney or you are really into character meet and greets, this is the place for you! You get to meet that Fab 5; Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald; all while eating a great meal, killing two birds with one stone. This is a great dining option if you don’t want to spend park time meeting characters. They offer breakfast, brunch, and dinner buffets with a huge variety of food; too many to list honestly. It’s no California Grille, but food is food. Again, it’s not bad, but it’s definitely not 5 star
I hope you all enjoyed my Top 5 Resort Sit Down Dining Options! And I hope you found it helpful. Thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you real soon
Jayme
Disclaimer: These are not my photo and I do not take credit for them. This post is based strictily off of my opinions and experience from the restaurants.
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