While I was recently writing about which rides attractions are “must-do’s” for first time visitors to Walt Disney World – I got to thinking about just how HUNGRY one might get while touring the Disney Parks – and the sheer volume of WDW dining options can be intimidating – and knowing where to start can be tricky. But fear not – as I have compiled this list of theme park restaurant choices perfect for first time WDW travelers:
Tusker House: A day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom wouldn’t be complete without this character meal featuring Donald and friends – who dress up in safari outfits and roam the dining room for hugs, autographs, and photo ops! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here buffet-style – with a wide assortment of fresh, delicious options like bobotie (think an egg-y quiche type dish with beef and spices – it’s out of this world!), carved meats, salads, and plenty of mouth-watering desserts too. I recommend you start your day here and then you will have a nice full stomach that will energize you for a day full of animal fun!
50’s Prime Time Café: “Comfort foods like mom made!” are the name of the game at this popular Hollywood Studios restaurant – where you’ll find items like pot roast, fried chicken, meatloaf and pork chops on the menu, as well as a delicious peanut butter and jelly milkshake on the dessert menu. The décor definitely has a “retro” feel to it – that “All-American 50’s” theme is in effect big time here, but the real “entertainment” here is the wait staff – who want to make sure you are minding your manners – so you better be on your best behavior and make sure you eat all your veggies and keep your elbows off the table – or else you might get a stern talking to!
San Angel Inn: Dine on authentic Mexican dishes and drinks while enjoying the beautiful atmosphere inside the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. The inside of the pavilion is always a bustling, busy place – with the marketplace area and then the open restaurant area – it’s a really nice place to escape the heat and relax while enjoying a delicious lunch or dinner. With menu items like chicken enchiladas, tortilla soup, chicken mole, and fresh fish – plus tons of delicious drink options (tequila and margaritas anyone?) – this really is a “must-do!” Check out my full review of lunch here over on the Disney Food Blog
Sunshine Seasons: This quick service spot located in Epcot’s Future World serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner and plenty of snacks – all full of fresh ingredients (some of which are even grown in the Land greenhouses!). Some of my personal favorites include the Asian station – where I can get delicious Mongolian Beef or sweet and sour chicken, and the Rotisserie chicken is always a winner here. It’s a great place to grab a quick bite, and a lot of the choices are on the healthier side (lots of veggies here!) – so you can feel good about what you are feeding your family! Oh plus – if you eat a healthy lunch, then you can splurge on dessert – whoopie pies, cheesecake, cookies, and the famous strawberry shortcake are all on the menu
Be Our Guest: This is the Magic Kingdom’s newest addition to their dining lineup – the Beast’s castle is home to this restaurant that serves up French classics for lunch and dinner. Lunch is considered a quick service meal with menu items like vegetable quiche and a classic Croque Monsieur, while dinner is a table service meal where you can order steak, lamb, or raratoullie. Oh – and don’t forget to try the Grey Stuff – its delicious! TIP – if you want to have lunch here, then arrive before the restaurant opens. Seriously – that line can get brutal! And take some time to wander around the various dining rooms, the theming and décor is spectacular!
Casey’s Corner: This little baseball themed hot dog place may seem like not much at first glance – but there are a few reasons why you will want to stop here for a bite. The first being its location – what could be better than enjoying a hot dog while enjoying the view of the afternoon parade as it makes its way down Main Street? Second, the menu may not be large or fancy – but what they do, they do it well – hot dogs (including fancy versions like BBQ slaw dog and chili cheese dog), corn dog nuggets, fries – they are all cooked to perfection here and can really hit the spot after a long day of Park touring
Crystal Palace: Located in the Magic Kingdom, this spot serves up a delicious buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – with amazingly delicious items like made to order omelets and Pooh’s Breakfast Lasagna in the morning, and assorted carved meats, fresh salads and a great dessert selection for lunch and dinner. But the highlight here is the character lineup – Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet work the room at all three meals, and they are a delight for kids and adults to meet. I have had nothing but delicious food and great service here, and have been coming back for more since I was a kid
You will definitely want to try to book the table service meals in advance – as they tend to be pretty popular. As for the counter service locations, I recommend eating at an “off” time (aka, don’t try and get lunch right at noon – as most places will be swamped!)
Stay tuned here on Chip and Co next week – when I will talk about the MANY more restaurant options at the Disney World Resort Hotels that are great for your first visit to the Happiest Place On Earth!
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Have to add my favorite quick-service meal, and that is FlameTree Barbecue, located at Animal Kingdom. It happens to be in my favorite park at WDW, as well. It is an economical meal (for Disney) that is truly deliscious (sp) and satisfying. I, personally, get the half chicken meal, which comes with cole slaw and beans that add to the flavor of the whole meal. I also include an order of onion rings, that are hand-battered, and I never can have enough of them. Top it off by going behind the main order area and go sit by Discovery River and enjoy the view of Expedition:Everest, as well as the creation of the upcoming Rivers of Light presentation that I cannot wait to see.