Favorite Disney Dining Options!

For me, one of the highlights of a Disney trip is all the great restaurants you get to experience! I thought I’d share some of my favorites with all of you!

*I’ll also preface this by saying that on vacation in Disney, I tend to avoid burgers and fries like the plague. (But for the picky eaters, there’s plenty of burgers, fries, and chicken tenders, too.) So my favorites often reflect my interest in more unique dining experiences.

TABLE SERVICE RESTAURANTS (TS):

Resort TS Restaurants:

*Jiko – Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Signature Restaurant. Excellent meats, fish, and soups. African fusion cuisine, also serving authentic South African wines. I have never been disappointed by a meal at Jiko. Quite possibly the best restaurant at Disney.  (2 credits on the DDP.)
*Sanaa – Located at Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village. Indian food, accompanied by great service! Flatbreads, curry dishes, and a Tandoor oven make for great meal selections! The decor is beautifully whimsical with giant windows that look out onto the Savannah so you can watch the animals go by while you dine.  (1 credit on the DDP.)
*California Grill – Perched atop the Contemporary Resort, this restaurant serves a great mix of American and Asian flavors. Another perk to dining here is getting to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a sky-high view!  (2 credits on the DDP.)
*Yachtsman Steakhouse – tucked inside the Yacht Club Resort behind Epcot, this steakhouse serves up amazing steak and seafood.  (I really love the scallops dish!)  Their onion pull apart bread is my guilty pleasure, and the service is impeccable!  It’s definitely more of a refined restaurant, where folks tend to get a bit more dressed up.  (2 credits on the DDP)
*Ohana – Family style restaurant at the Polynesian Resort. Skewers of meat and shrimp are brought right to your table – eat all you like! Ohana also has my favorite mixed drink at Disney – the Lapu Lapu! It’s a VERY strong mixed drink served inside an actual pineapple. If you time your meal right, you can head out to the beach after dinner to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks while relaxing in the sand. This restaurant also has fun kids’ entertainment and activities for families.  (1 credit on the DDP.)

Park TS Restaurants:

*Le Cellier – One of Disney’s hardest to get reservations! This intimate steakhouse in Epcot’s Canada serves up great food with great service. Their signature meal is the filet mignon on mushroom risotto – so good! Their pretzel bread and bacon cheese soup are legendary.  (2 credits on the DDP.)
*Chefs de France – I love eating lunch at this restaurant in Epcot’s France. Their French Onion soup is probably the best I’ve ever had. Many authentic french dishes.  It’s a great lunch choice!  (1 credit on the DDP.)
*San Angel Inn – This restaurant in Epcot’s Mexico wins hands-down for best ambiance at a Disney restaurant. The inside of the Mexico pavilion is set up to look like a Mexican village market at night, the restaurant overlooking the river, while a pyramid and volcano rise in the distance.  (1 credit on the DDP.)
*Yak and Yeti – This Asian restaurant in the Animal Kingdom park has a great variety of flavors – many of their specialties are seafood dishes, tempura, sweet and sour, and my favorite fried wonton dessert!  (1 credit on the DDP.)

QUICK SERVICE DINING/COUNTER SERVICE DINING:

*Columbia Harbour House – located in the Magic Kingdom, this is the place I ALWAYS eat at in the Magic Kingdom. Good food – love the fish and chips and the Lighthouse Sandwich. The second floor has TONS of seating and is never crowded. Great place to take a break from the crowds.
*Yak and Yeti Counter Service – right next to the Table Service in Animal Kingdom Park. Good options like egg rolls, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Kung Pao Beef.
*Tangierine Cafe – Yummy middle eastern food in Morocco in Epcot. The chicken and lamb shawarma platters come with hummus, Tabouleh, and couscous. They also have GREAT baklava for dessert!
*Katsura Grill (formerly Yakitori House) – Japanese food in World Showcase, Epcot. Sushi, Teriyaki, Tempura, and sukiyaki dishes.
*Boulangerie Patisserie – located in Epcot’s France. Yummy sandwiches and delicious french pastries!

SNACKS AND DRINKS:

*Dole Whip Pineapple Float – pineapple soft serve in pineapple juice (but you can also get other flavor combinations)- Magic Kingdom
*Grand Marnier orange slushie – yummy alcoholic deliciousness in France in Epcot
*Lapu Lapu – strong alcoholic drink served in a pineapple – Polynesians resort restaurants
*Rice Cream – rice pudding dish with strawberries – Norway in Epcot

CHARACTER DINING:

Now, since I don’t have kids, I generally don’t do the character dining experiences. But I do happen to know a thing or two about this fun option! (And I have experienced a couple with my young nieces.)  The most popular character meal is Cinderella’s Royal Table (CRT.) CRT is right inside Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Your table is visited by princesses galore, and many little girls get dressed up in their own princess dresses to go to this meal! CRT is a hard reservation to snag during busy times. Another princess meal option is Akershus in Epcot’s Norway. This meal has lots of princesses too, but only costs 1 TS credit on the meal plan. (CRT costs 2 TS credits.) It is also not as difficult to get a reservation here. Many kids enjoy Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort, as well. Mickey visits your table in his full Chef outfit, along with many other favorite Disney characters.  (But I don’t feel that the menu is an impressive.)  As to my favorite character Breakfast? 1900 Park Faire – hands down.  It’s in the Grand Floridian resort, and in addition to characters, the food is really good, PLUS there is a really nice expansive buffet to choose from.  (And it’s just 1 credit on the DDP!)