Disney Trip Planning: Where to Eat- Part 2 of my Ultimate Disney Guide

Eating is my favorite part of a Disney vacation. Let’s be real, food is life. Disney goes above and beyond your typical theme park food and has some really unique dining options.

Spicy Mickey Dome Cake from Pecos Bill's in Magic Kingdom

I’m going to break down dining options into 3 categories: table service (TS), quick service (QS), and snacks.

• TS is your typical sit down type restaurant. Some are better than others, some I would skip entirely. These can be 1 or 2 credits on the dining plan depending on whether or not it is a signature restaurant. 
• QS is a counter service restaurant where you order at a counter or kiosk and either take your food back or it is sent out to your table. You do not have a waiter like a typical restaurant. Don’t be fooled, some of the best food options at Disney are QS locations. 
• Snacks are just that; delicious, can’t miss sweet or savory treats. On the dining plan you get 2 per night of your stay. Snacks change frequently and without notice. We may list something here that may be gone by the time you take your trip. Sad but true.

Farewell Churro Ice Cream Sandwich, you will be missed

Dining reservations open 180 days before your trip and some of the restaurants will fill up pretty soon after that. When booking I usually start with my hardest to get reservation and work back from there. Many restaurants can have same day availability and cancellations but I wouldn’t risk not making reservations in advance. 

Ok, now that we have that sorted out lets dive into my favorites. 

Magic Kingdom

1. Liberty Tree Tavern is a must do for my family for every trip. We love the food and theming here, which is described as a "colonial-style inn serving traditional New England-inspired fare." The all you care to enjoy option is great as is the lobster roll. The ooey gooey toffee pudding is the bomb dot com and definitely hits the spot. (TS)

Lobster Roll from Liberty Tree Tavern

2. Be Our Guest Restaurant. Where else can you eat inside the Beast's castle? The food is good and the dining rooms are super cool. Be sure to walk around and look in the different rooms. From an enchanted portrait of the Beast, to freshly fallen snow, the dining rooms are magical. My favorite dish here is the Coq Au Vin (braised chicken). This is a QS restaurant during breakfast and lunch but  TS for dinner. Reservations are required and they fill up fast, you'll want to book this one at the 180 day mark. (QS/TS)

Enchanted Rose from Be Our Guest Restaurant

3. Sleepy Hollow Refreshements is home to the nutella waffle, corn dogs, and recently removed churro ice cream sandwich. They always have fun and delicious snacks here, be sure to stop by. (S)

4.Gaston's Tavern has huge cinnamon rolls and a tasty apple flavored frozen drink called LeFou's Brew. I always stop here for breakfast and a brew to cool off on a hot Florida day. (S)

Ice cold LeFou's Brew, apple flavored with passion fruit foam

Two LeFou's Brews and a Cinnamon Roll

5. Two words. Dole whip. Three if you make it a Dole whip float. Aloha Isle is the only place in the Magic Kingdom park that sells these delicious snacks although they can be found in every park (Tamu Tamu and Pineapple Lanai both have alcohol versions as well) and even some resorts. If I had to pick only one iconic snack to try, this would be it. I'm team dole whip float all the way! (S)

Dole Whip Float from Aloha Isle

Magic Kingdom is home to too many snack to name, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for new and limited time treats.

Candied Pork Belly found in Frontierland September 2019

EPCOT

1. Biergarten is the second restaurant that we eat at on every Disney trip. With traditional German fare celebrating Octoberfest all year long, this restaurant is great for the kids. A Yule time celebration with a live show and music entertains the whole family and you can even get a boot of beer too! (TS)

2. At the front of the Germany pavilion, Karamell Kuche is a caramel lovers heaven. The best caramel treats can be found here. My favorites are the caramel apples, caramel corn, and the caramel apple cookie. I bring home some of these snacks and freeze them so I can continue to enjoy them after I get back from my trip. (S)

Shortbread Pecan Caramel Bar from Caramel Kuche

3. Les Halles has traditional french pastries from wall to wall. We usually get a box full of snacks and bring them back to the room for breakfast in the morning. I'm not always a fan of Disney desserts, a lot of them taste too processed for me, but these are heavenly. Chocolate chip cookies, croissants, and even lobster bisque are some of my favorite dishes here. (S)

Raspberry Macaron from Les Halles

4. You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. L'Artisan des Glaces is the ice cream shop in the France pavilion. They have great, unique flavors as well as an ice cream sandwich like no other.

Ice cream and seasonal Pumpkin Spice Macaron sandwich 

They take a rich, buttery, brioche bun and heat press some of their craft ice cream between the two buns. My favorite was the white chocolate pear ice cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce that I got two years ago. I still dream about this snack. They also have classic and season flavors of macaron ice cream sandwich which are delicious. You can't go wrong with any treat from here. (S)

Croque Glaces from L'Artisan des Glaces

5. If you like margaritas you must try La Cava del Tequila. They are tequila experts and have pages upon pages of specialty margaritas. The horchata margarita is my favorite and the cucumber and avocado margaritas are great as well. This is the best place to get margaritas in my opinion, followed by the premixed flavors at Choza de Margarita outside of the Mexican temple. (S)

Cucumber Margarita from La Cava del Tequila

6. Garden Grill is a family-style, character dining restaurant with views from Living with the Land. The restaurant slowly rotates to give you glimpses from the ride where much of the food is sourced. This is great place to get breakfast before the park officially opens (before 8 AM) and by the time you're done you can hop right in line for Soarin' with little to no wait. (TS)

Hollywood Studios

1. 50’s Prime Time Cafe is a blast from the past with its '50s theme and American comfort food. The waiters play, joke, and even remind you to wash your hands and keep your elbows off the table. They have some of the best fried chicken on property and is home to the peanut butter and jelly shake. All around crowd pleaser even for the pickiest of eaters.

2. Baseline Tap House has craft wine, beer, and hard sodas. With delicious snacks to accompany the unique brews, Baseline Tap House is a great place to stop, rest, and recharge during a busy park day.

Baseline Taphouse Charcuterie Board

3. Immerse yourself in this Star Wars themed lounge. Oga's Cantina has out of this world (no pun intended) drinks for all ages. The buzz foam on the Fuzzy Tauntaun will momentarily numb your lips and the Blue Bantha is a great non alcoholic option of blue milk (better than what's served outside).
The Rodian Ration was super fun and the fanciest jello shot I've ever had, but I got no kick from the vodka and sour apple pucker in it (whomp, whomp). 

From left to right. Rodian Ration, Blue Bantha, Fuzzy Tauntaun

Animal Kingdom Park

1.Yak and Yeti is a pan asian restaurant which is ornately decorated in a Nepalese-style. From potstickers to ahi tuna nachos, ramen to lo mein, adventurous and picky eaters alike will be able to find something delicious to eat here. (TS)

2. Flame Tree Barbecue has huge portions of delicious BBQ. With platters big enough to share, the ribs, chicken, and sides all hit the mark. Great lunch option or to grab a quick bite before the river of Lights show. (QS)

3. Tamu Tamu Refreshments serves huge double chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches as well as Dole whips with RUM!! No better way to cool off than with a tropical drink that packs a punch and a melty, chocolatey ice cream sandwich. (S)

Double Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich

4. Trilo-Bites is home to two of my favorite park snacks. Buffalo chicken chips and a chocolate bourbon bacon milkshake. The combination of salty, sweet, spicy, crunchy, and chocolatey goodness can't be beat. These are two must eat treats for me whenever I go to Animal Kingdom Park. (S)

Chocolate Bourbon Bacon Milkshake

Disney Springs


*Disney Springs is filled with so many places to eat I could fill just a single post with pages and pages of places I love to eat. I'm only going to include my top two places and I'll save the rest for another post.

1. Amorette’s Patisserie is filled with high end desserts almost too beautiful to eat...almost. You can also find wine slushies, teas and coffees. Although it is a little expensive, these desserts to not disappoint and are scrumptious.

Wine Slushie and Pumpkin Creme Brûlée

Key Lime Tart from Amorette's

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake from Amorette's

2. The Polite Pig. Barbecue and bourbon, need I say more? Hand crafted cocktails and modern BBQ fare makes this restaurant my favorite place to eat in Disney Springs. When I was pregnant I even considered flying down for a night just to have this chicken sandwich, before I shook some sense back into my head (I kept telling myself this wasn't a totally outrageous idea since RT flights were under $100, still would be one expensive chicken sandwich). Smokey, crunchy, salty, and sweet, this sandwich is a perfect balance of all things BBQ.

Smoked Fried Chicken Sandwich from Polite Pig

Spend a day eating around Disney Springs, you won't regret it!

Hang in there were almost done!!

Hotels
There are so many options at the hotels it would be impossible to list them all. If you find yourselves at any of these resorts be sure to snag a reservation at any of these bar/restaurants:

• 'Ohana (family style dining) and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (awesome interactive and themed bar) at the Polynesian. Make a night of it and hit up both. Make sure to arrive early as Trader Sam's has limited seating and fills up fast.
• Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club is a classic soda pop shop home to the Kitchen Sink Sundae (you have to see it to believe it)
• Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge has unique, African inspired dishes.

For high end dining it doesn't get better than Victoria and Alberts at Grand Floridian

California Grill at the Contemporary.