There is no denying the delight in Mickey waffles, Mickey shaped rice crispy treats and Mickey ice cream bars, but when it comes to dining at Walt Disney World, there are options for those with a bit more culinary prowess and its called signature dining.

Signature dining offers a more expansive menu than you will find at table service restaurants; with appetizers, entrees and desserts that feature Chef’s specialities.

If you are on the Disney dining plan, signature restaurants will take (2) table service credits per person. I find deluxe dining to be most beneficial when on the deluxe dining plan, which offers (3) table service credits per person, per night. You could have a signature meal every night without any out of pocket cost.

These fantastic food options await you at venues throughout the parks and at the resorts. This list includes all signature dining by location, with a brief description. To review the menu just click the link!

Animal Kingdom Lodge: Jiko (The Cooking Place)-Jiko overlooks the beautiful grounds of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, get to dinner a little early and walk around, the view of the Savannah is breathtaking and you have a pretty good chance of seeing the animals that wander there. The restaurant is very chic, with ambient lighting, dark rich African woods and tribal accents. The menu offerings are as broad as the savannah with African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.

BoardWalk: Flying Fish Cafe-Located on the BoardWalk this seafood lovers delight is full of whimsy and elegance. Watch the chef’s cook in the open kitchen setting or sit down for Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner which offers a 6-course prix fixe menu, complete with wines chosen to compliment your courses.

Contemporary Resort: California Grill-Enjoy the view out of the floor to ceiling glass windows in your panorama from the top of the Contemporary Resort. Choose one of the rooftop walk outs to get a view of the parks from a bird’s eye view. If you dine during the fireworks shows, the decks offer a great view of Wishes, with the music piped in. You can also sneak a peek at Illuminations in Epcot!

The Grand Floridian: This deluxe resorts hosts two signature dining experiences: Citricos and Narcoossees. Citricos offers you a taste of the mediterranean with a unique hint of citrus and Narcoossees is the to-go place for surf and turf. Of the two dining rooms, Citricos has the more upscale feel while Narcoosses overlooks the water of Bay Lake and has comfortable nautical touches.

Wilderness Lodge: Artists Point-The “lodge feel” is eminent in this beautiful dining room with views of the “wilderness”. The murals and natural touches are reminiscent of dining rooms at National Park Lodges. The menu features steak, seafood and game items that can be paired with wines from Oregon, California and Washington State.

Yacht & Beach Club: Yachtsman Steakhouse-If you are craving an expertly cut selection of beef, Yachtsman is the place for you and offers the traditional steakhouse dishes you would expect. Side dishes like truffle mac and cheese, caesar salad and sauteed mushroom caps are the perfect addition to your steak, lamb, bass, chicken or pasta dish.

Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table-Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on a prix fixe menu fit for royalty. You will be greeted and treated like a member of the royal court and meet Cinderella and her princess friends at her castle. The atmosphere is one of a kind inside the castle and it’s something everyone should experience.

Epcot: LeCellier Steakhouse-The newest signature restaurant has been delighting the World Showcase for a long time, but recently became a signature dining experience offering new menu items, seasonal favorites and an expanded wine list. LeCellier also has a castle atmosphere but is very different than the view you’ll see from Cinderella’s Castle, because there is no view! You’ll find yourself in the underground of a Canadian castle with creamy yellow walls, rod iron fixtures and sturdy furniture. The canadian cheddar cheese soup is the favorite on the appetizer lists and you’ll find it hard to choose from the selection of beef, seafood and duck from the entree section.

Hollywood Studios: The Hollywood Brown Derby-Two words immediately come to mind “Cobb Salad”. The Brown Derby is famous for the cobb salad, which is made to feed two and will be mixed at your table. You’ll also find an atmosphere fit for a movie star and will find yourself searching for the celebrity caricatures that cover the walls.

Signature dining can also offer you exclusive experiences like dinner shows, which we’ll look at later on.

If your shorts fit a little tighter after you try signature dining…don’t say we didn’t warn you!

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