May 15th, 2012 by Gigi

Disney World Dining Tips

When mentioning Disney World, theme parks, Disney’s magic, and family fun come to mind. But for me it’s also the dining experience. On my many trips to Walt Disney World® Resort, I’ve had the chance to dine at some great restaurants, each different not only by the food offerings but also the theme, the ambience. Here are some of my favorites:

California Grill
Located on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this signature restaurant offers amazing food, from flatbreads and sushi to seafood and meat. Even though I was full after eating a so tender oak-fired beef filet, I couldn’t resist ordering and sharing with friends quite a few desserts, all delicious! What I also loved at this restaurant was the photo opportunity on the rooftop overlooking Tomorrowland and if you time your dinner right, you might catch the fireworks over Magic Kingdom.

Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
I love the Mediterranean inspired menu. Beef, Chicken, all is wonderful and my favorite dessert, the warm chocolate banana torte with the chocolate crown. It’s amazing!
Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
I had breakfast at this buffet-style restaurant. The food selection is amazing from African dishes and eggs to pastries and fruit. I tried to reproduce their signature juice at home, but without the Disney magic, it didn’t taste the same!

Also at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, there’s Jiko.
Offering African cuisine and a wide selection South African wine. It is so good, pace yourself to savor it all, from the amuse-bouche to the desserts, from the wine to the ambiance; and you might consider Jiko one of your favorite restaurants!
Via Napoli
Bring your appetite! The pasta, the pizza, the gelato, it’s difficult not to sample it all! And while you eat ‘in Italy’ at Epcot’s World Showcase, it’s always fun to try to speak Italian with the native staff. Buon Appetito!
Hollywood Brown Derby
You could say you’re ‘dining with the stars’. At this Disney’s Hollywood Studios restaurant, the Cobb salad is must. It follows the recipe from Bob Cobb and yes, it’s the best Cobb salad I’ve ever had! And it’s so big, order it as an appetizer and share it with your party and that way, you can still order something else from the menu!

There are so many dining options at Walt Disney World, I could keep on listing more restaurants! Like at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, bring the kids to Whispering Canyon Café for some fun times and where the malts are delicious! And how about a Character Breakfast? Let me tell you, that’s quite an experience. I had mine at the Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and I loved the Mickey waffles as much as posing with the Characters!

If you just want a quick meal, you can still experience some great food, at your resort’s food court, or if you are at Epcot for example, there are so many options. A pastry in “France”, a taco in ‘Mexico’, a burger in the “America’ Pavilion, and so much more.
A couple of things to consider – Look into the various Dining Plans. It’s a great option that can save you quite a bit of money on food. Also, many sit-down restaurants are quite popular and book quickly. So I’d recommend making reservations even prior leaving home for your magical vacations (up to 180 days in advance!) by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Bon Appetit!

-Gigi from Delta Vacations