The best restaurants at Disney World in 2022

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with the most recent information.

Even surrounded by Disney magic, you’ve still got to eat. And at Walt Disney World, mealtime can range from quick burgers and fries to an entirely immersive experience. It’s not uncommon to spend at least as much time strategizing about where to eat at Disney as which attractions to ride. But not all food — and experiences — are created equally.

At Disney World, you’ll need to think of meals in two separate categories: There are regular restaurants or meals that just serve as a place to fuel up before getting back to the action. Then there are meals that also count as entertainment and a way to see characters or shows without crowds.

Once your kids know they can eat in space or that Mickey, Minnie or the princesses can join them for dinner, you may have to choose between an affordable meal and creating lasting memories during a pretty pricey dining excursion.

For more travel tips and guides, subscribe to the free TPG daily newsletter.

While much of Disney World is back to normal operations, some of our favorite sit-down restaurants have yet to reopen and there are some other modifications. We’ll do our best to note these changes as they come up, but be sure to double-check directly with Disney, especially since the situation is constantly evolving.

Here’s a quick roundup of our picks for the best restaurants at Disney World:

• Best in Magic Kingdom: Skipper Canteen.
• Best in Epcot: Via Napoli.
• Best in Hollywood Studios: Hollywood Brown Derby.
• Best in Animal Kingdom: Tusker House.
• Best table service: Takumi-Tei (currently closed).
• Best park character meal: Normally, Cinderella’s Royal Table (dinner). Currently, Garden Grill takes our top spot.
• Best all-you-care-to-enjoy meal: 'Ohana.
• Best character brunch: Topolino Terrace.
• Best meal for teens and tweens: Storybook Dining at Artist Point.
• Best out-of-this-world experience: Space 220.
• Best high-end meal: Victoria & Albert’s. A good substitute is California Grill or Steakhouse 71.
• Best quick service: Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom).
• Best lounge meal: Nomad Lounge (Animal Kingdom).
• Best snack: Dole Whip.
• Best grab-and-go item: Tie: Ronto wrap in Galaxy’s Edge and spring rolls in Adventureland.
• Best outdoor meal: The Boathouse at Disney Springs.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.

How to make Disney dining reservations

Steel yourself: In normal times, you had to book some Disney World restaurants six months ahead. Now, reservations are accepted just 60 days before your trip begins -- and yes, things book up quickly.

Typically, the hardest-to-get reservations are Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table (currently not offering character meals), Chef Mickey’s, Victoria & Albert’s (currently closed), Topolino Terrace (for brunch), and Oga’s Cantina and ‘Ohana (for dinner). Now you can also add Space 220 to that “hard to snag” list.

The My Disney Experience website and app are your best friends for dining availability, though Disney World maintains a phone line to answer your questions (407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-3463). The phone lines open each day at 7 a.m. EST, but the website starts taking reservations at 6 a.m.

For spots that don’t take advance reservations, such as Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom, you may still need to use the mobile walk-up waitlist. Even at restaurants that do take reservations, you can check the My Disney Experience app for “available now” options.

Related: Best credit cards for Disney and Universal

Best Disney restaurants

The best Disney World restaurant: Takumi-Tei

While at this point we should consider taking this one off our list since it's been closed for over two years, we're still holding out hope a while longer before packing up our chopsticks and moving on from fantastic upscale Japanese omakase in a theme park.

First opened in the summer of 2019 (though still closed due to the pandemic), Takumi-Tei and its five themed rooms (water, wood, earth, stone and washi paper) immediately transport you out of theme park mode and into a calm, serene environment with extremely attentive service, solid food and great attention to detail.

Besides the $130 seven-course omakase menu option, you can choose to order a la carte as long as you didn’t select the Chef’s Table in the water room. There, you must order a nine-course, $180 meal that takes place over three hours.

Among the individual dishes, we recommend the chef’s sushi assortment, served in bite-sized pieces ($37), the telen-garden salad with watermelon and tuna sashimi ($20) and, of course, the melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef.

There’s a children’s menu, but it comprises items such as roasted duck and sea bass, so this restaurant may be one you save for date night or when the children are older — it’s that good.

Related: These are the best hotels at Disney World

Best restaurant in Epcot: Via Napoli

Don’t worry, we aren’t going to only list restaurants you can’t go to right now. While Takumi Tei takes our “best of the best” category, we’ll add another great Epcot option here that is actually open and more affordable: Via Napoli.

Via Napoli is located in the heart of Italy in Epcot.

This longstanding favorite may have slipped a notch since reopening, but it still features legitimate Italian food that would pass muster in New York City’s Little Italy. The prices are reasonable by Disney standards, with most entrées at or under $30. Pizzas are more expensive than you might hope (the large, shown below, was $44.50) but good for sharing, as a large can serve a family of three or four. The Piccante Pizza with added pepperoni is a great choice.

For now, you'll need to make reservations due to capped capacity, but at times there is a walk-up window to order a slice if you're in a pinch.

Best restaurant in Hollywood Studios: The Hollywood Brown Derby

This Hollywood Studios replica of the California icon has an air-conditioned dining room that’s an ideal lunchtime escape from the Florida heat.

Service here isn’t always fast and the prices aren’t cheap, but it is a glorious way to fill up while getting a legitimate break from the park. The Cobb salad is great and you can’t go wrong with the Brown Derby Signature Burger with bacon jam, cheddar, a fried egg and hand-cut fries.

Count us in for a leisurely full-service meal and a mixed drink before hitting the parks again.

Best restaurant in the Magic Kingdom: Skipper Canteen

Unless what you're after is a character meal, Skipper Canteen takes our top spot for the best restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. This claim is especially true if you enjoy both the Jungle Cruise ride and slightly more adventurous eating than just fries and burgers.

On the lunch or dinner menu, you'll find dishes such as Falls Family Falafel ($11) and Tastes like Chicken (because it is!), which is crispy fried chicken served with jasmine rice, a chili glaze and seasonal vegetables ($26). There’s also a sustainable fish course ($32).

If you like spicy noodle dishes, the Perkins Thai Noodles served with tofu and/or chicken, vegetables, rice noodles and spicy chili-garlic sauce is unlike anything else you’ll find in Magic Kingdom.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 2

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

Best restaurant in Animal Kingdom: Tusker House

This was a tough call, but we’ll give Tusker House the slight edge over Tiffins for the fun of the character sightings in unique, cool costumes.

Tusker House currently has a set menu for its safari-themed character dining option. It’s a bit pricey ($55 per adult and $36 per child, plus tax and tip), but you get a lot of food — as in, far too much for one person.

You’ll get a salad and bread plate (with hummus, coriander and mango chutneys) as starters, a large sampler of Moroccan-spiced beef, curry shrimp, split-roasted herb chicken and pork (with sides) for your entree, and a dessert trio platter for dessert.

The shrimp and rice dish was easily the best of the entrees, but the entire meal was tasty. Out of the desserts, the brownie was a favorite.

You can order an assortment of cocktails (from safari-themed drinks such as a Tikiti Punch to traditional drinks such as a Moscow mule), beers, wines and ciders at an additional cost.

Tusker House also offers a breakfast character dining option at a slightly lower price compared to lunch and dinner ($42 per adult and $27 per child, plus taxes and tip).

Best quick service meal: Satu’li Canteen

Quick service at its Disney-fied finest, this mess hall is next to Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom.

The beef, chicken and fish bowls make a great fast and cheap lunch or dinner, and the blueberry cream cheese mousse is a highlight.

There’s also wine and beer to help you wind down after the Avatar experience. This place is not only a yummy quick-service selection but also a good choice if you’re trying to eat healthy while at Disney World.

Best fancy meal: Victoria & Albert’s

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 6

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

0

1

2

3

4

5

If you simply want the best food at Disney World, head to the posh Victoria & Albert's restaurant in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Just don’t expect to roll in straight from the parks, as this is a dress-up place with a strict dress code.

Children under 10 aren't permitted here, and you should expect to spend several hundred dollars on a meal for two -- over $1,000 for two is common if you decide to include wine. This is a meal you reserve for seriously major occasions like a major anniversary, milestone birthday or epic celebration.

Pro tip: Book the chef's table in the kitchen if you want to watch the kitchen team at work while dining on some of the most amazing food you'll likely have all year.

Related: Is it worth visiting a reopened Disney World?

Best lounge meal

If you want a nice break in the day while in Animal Kingdom, there's no better alternative to Nomad Lounge. In fact, it's just about worth a visit to the park on its own. Located right before you enter Pandora, this is the absolute best place for a snack if you like items that are a bit more worldly and flavorful. It can easily take an hour or more to have your turn come up on the walk-up waitlist, however, so plan accordingly, but you'll be rewarded handsomely once inside (or on the patio).

At Nomad Lounge, we enjoy the bread service from the connected Tiffins restaurant ($12), sliders with amazing yucca fries ($15) and never, ever skip the churros ($9). This is all very shareable for a group so you can try different things without filling up too much in the middle of the day.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 3

Nomad Lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

0

1

2

Best street treats

Sit-down meals aren’t the only things to get excited about at Disney. The treats can be just as fine (and a lot less expensive).

Dole Whip

Looking for the best snacks at Disney World? The list begins and ends with Dole Whip. Among a host of good and even excellent snacking options, Dole Whip reigns supreme.

What’s Dole Whip? It starts with pineapple-flavored soft serve and then (if you’re smart) there’s added pineapple juice. On a hot day, it’s perfection.

Disneyland and Disney World were, for some time, two of the very few places you could find this treat, though nowadays it’s available elsewhere. The original is in Disneyland’s Adventureland. At Disney World, you can get your Dole Whip at the Florida version of Adventureland, just beyond The Magic Carpets of Aladdin at Aloha Isle.

You can also find Dole Whip in Animal Kingdom at Tamu Tamu, where you can add a shot of alcohol, and at the Polynesian Village Resort just behind the main building as you head toward the pool.

Use mobile ordering on the My Disney Experience app for your Dole Whip. If you want to change things up, the coconut soft-serve shown above in the Kakamora Float, when available, is a really fun way to try a twist on the old favorite.

A similar (and extra sweet) Disney treat is LeFou’s Brew — frozen apple juice with toasted marshmallow and passionfruit-mango foam — is available at Gaston’s Tavern in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. If you've ever wanted to try drinking frozen sugar, this is it.

Gideon’s Bakehouse

If you're a cookie person, the hottest new thing on the Disney block is half-pound cookies from Gideon’s in Disney Springs. But if you're the kind of person who needs to see the nutrition facts before ordering, don't bother.

These are massive, decadent and there are, blessedly, no printed calorie facts.

On the regular menu, you’ll find the iconic original chocolate chip cookie plus peanut butter crunch, triple chocolate and a few other more exclusive and limited-time flavors that can and do sell out early in the day. Rumor has it the peanut butter iced coffee is a can’t miss if you are into that sort of treat.

If you want one of these cookies (maximum purchase of six), you’ll probably need to join the virtual queue as soon as you get to Disney Springs by going to Gideon’s and adding your number to the list. It is often an hour or two of virtual waiting, followed by 10 to 20 minutes in the physical line once you receive a text that it's time to join. The cut-off to get in the virtual queue can sometimes be a few hours before closing, so plan to join the line before 7 p.m. to have a good shot at cookie bliss.

Ronto wrap

If you ask us, there’s no doubt the best food within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a grab-and-go wrap from Ronto’s Roasters.

There are two versions of a great-tasting Ronto Wrap (both around $13) with grilled pork sausage wrapped in a warm pita as the base. The breakfast version (which is superior) adds eggs and cheese, while the other features peppercorn sauce, roasted pork and slaw.

For more TPG news and travel tips delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Egg roll cart in Adventureland

It isn’t open every single day, but if you’re hungry and see a line forming at the egg roll cart at the entrance to Adventureland, you’ll be wise to join the line.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 2

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

Here you can get two egg rolls in flavors such as pepperoni pizza, cheeseburger and buffalo chicken. That may sound a little weird, but they taste amazing. It’s $9.50 for your choice of two egg rolls.

Best Disney character dining experiences

Do you want a side of Mickey or Cinderella with your bacon and eggs? That’s usually no problem, but it’ll cost you.

Having a Disney World annual pass, Disney Vacation Club membership or similar may lighten the bill at our favorite character meals, but there are no two ways around it: Disney World character meals are expensive. And while many are back to normal, some are still different from pre-pandemic operations.

Best character meal in the Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table

Any conversation about Disney character dining traditionally had to include Cinderella’s Royal Table, served in the iconic Cinderella Castle, the center of the Magic Kingdom. But it has drawbacks — it’s pricey, and, currently, only Cinderella makes an appearance on a platform as you enter the castle. This is a far cry from the previous iteration.

During normal times, breakfast here is almost $70 per adult. Dinner is a bit of a better overall value at roughly $90 all-in, with much better food selections, including braised pork shank, pan-seared chicken, a charcuterie plate and amaretto cheesecake.

Right now, lunch and dinner are being served with lower price points than normal ($62 for adults and $37 for kids) due to the absence of the regular lineup of princesses. Breakfast is currently $42 for adults and $27 for kids.

If eating in the castle is on your bucket list, this could still be worthwhile. But if you want the full experience with Cinderella’s friends, including Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Rapunzel stopping by for table visits, know that's still on pause. And, frankly, if they don't return soon, this experience will get knocked out of our top spot as far as characters are concerned -- though it may still take the (cup)cake for coolest location.

Best character brunch: Topolino Terrace

Cinderella has a run for her slipper in the top spot because Disney’s Topolino Terrace offers a very good character brunch — and it’s currently fully operational. Located at the top of the new Disney Riviera Resort, Topolino has top-notch service, delicious food and some pretty famous characters in unforgettable costumes.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 4

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

3

The breakfast at Topolino Terrace features a pastry basket, juice, coffee and an entrée from a selection including smoked salmon, quiche Gruyère, sour cream waffles or a wild mushroom scramble for $42.

Meals for kids up to 9 years old will cost $27 and come with options such as Mickey waffle dippers, eggs or fruit and yogurt.

The food is very good and the characters are downright adorable. Minnie, Mickey, Daisy and Donald are in their finest Mediterranean outfits and are introduced with music.

Best character meal in Epcot: Garden Grill

Located in Epcot’s Land Pavillion, Garden Grill doesn’t look all that interesting or impressive at first glance. In fact, for years, we just walked right past it.

But if you’re after some relaxing time with classic characters, I’d actually call Garden Grill a sleeper hit.

Priced at $55 for adults and $36 for kids, the all-you-care-to-enjoy Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast has a family-style platter of sliced turkey, seasonal veggies, grilled beef, salad, cheesy mac, fluffy rolls and more. The restaurant actually rotates, and at some points, you can see scenes from the Living with the Land ride, which is where some of the ingredients may have been grown.

While the food here is solid, the characters steal the show. While you dine at your booth, Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto make regular visits.

Just be sure to not over-stuff on rolls and macaroni, as dessert awaits at the end of the meal.

Related: Why you should use a (free) Disney vacation planner

Contemporary Resort: Chef Mickey’s

If you’re looking for a meal that tastes fine and also keeps your kids occupied, look to Chef Mickey’s inside the Contemporary Resort. This is one of the best combinations of food and kid-oriented fun, as long as you aren’t looking for quiet.

The restaurant traditionally offered a buffet-style meal, but right now it’s open for breakfast and dinner and food is served family-style at a price of $42 for adults and $27 for kids at breakfast, and $55 for adults and $36 per child for dinner.

Breakfast includes everything from eggs, bacon and sausage to salmon, Mickey waffles and the famous loaded potato-cheese casserole.

Dinner features dishes such as baby shrimp, potato gnocchi, prime rib, salmon and an assortment of desserts.

While you’re dining, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy dance around to music and keep your children mesmerized. We dined for an hour once at Chef Mickey’s and our kids didn’t complain one bit.

Best character meal for tweens and teens: Storybook Dining at Artist Point

One of the newest character meals at Disney World is also one of the best — and now it's back.

Located inside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (so, no park ticket required), the full three-course meal at Artist Point went well beyond burgers and fries with a shrimp cocktail starter and main dishes that included butter-poached snapper and a truly amazing vegetarian dish that featured butternut squash, arugula and gnocchi. There was a trio of included desserts (with a poison apple theme, naturally) and, best of all, a visit with the Evil Queen herself.

If you want something a little different than Mickey and Minnie, this is a great choice.

Related: What it is like at reopened Disney character meals?

Best all-you-care-to-enjoy meal

If you are looking to save up your stomach space for the day and go all-out on an all-you-care-to-enjoy experience at Disney that isn't a character meal, you should strongly consider 'Ohana. Located at the iconic Polynesian Village Resort, 'Ohana has been popular for a long time. While it had some unpopular menu adjustments in the weeks after its pandemic reopening, it's back to most of its previous plate-after-plate glory.

At $55 for adults and $33 for kids, this meal is an investment in both calories and cash. But, if you love the 'Ohana noodles, signature bread, pork dumplings, bread pudding and more as much as we do, it's still a hit.

Our advice is to plan your mealtime around the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom and enjoy them either from the dining room (set to the music) or head out to the beach at the Polynesian to watch them from across the lake.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 3

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

Grabbing a pre- or post-meal drink at Trader Sam's makes for an epic-themed (and delicious) Disney evening outside of the parks.

Best out-of-this-world dining experience

Newer to Epcot is Space 220, a dining experience that virtually takes you 220 miles above the Earth to dine in "space." This meal experience is expensive since it is a prix-fixe menu that includes two courses at lunch ($55) and three at dinner ($79), with kid meals costing $29.

While “dining in space” as guests of Disney at a preview event, we enjoyed the Starry Calamari, Bluehouse Salmon, Centauri Burger and the sticky toffee pudding cake for dessert.

But to be honest, it’s the experience of blasting off and then dining in space, looking out of the windows at ships and space tourists going by, that you come here for more than the specific menu items.

If you don’t want to spend the money or time required for a multicourse meal, then dining in the lounge or at the bar can be a great way to have the experience via an a la carte approach if you can get a walk-up spot or reservation, both of which are in high demand.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 6

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

3

4

5

Best outdoor meals at Disney

If you prefer to eat outdoors, you’re in luck at Disney. There are some great outdoor options beyond just getting your fish and chips to go and finding an open bench within the park (though that works, too). In fact, we have an entire guide on the best outdoor dining at Disney World.

The Boathouse at Disney Springs

A fantastic outdoor dining experience is on the water at Disney Springs, which means you don’t need a park ticket to enjoy it. The Boathouse has plenty of outdoor dining space.

Not surprisingly, the Boathouse has very good seafood, including crab cakes, poke, lump crab and more. The complimentary honey butter rolls are ridiculously tasty and worthy of the trip all on their own.

The burgers, fries and Yacht Club club sandwiches are all also hits. Prices here start under $20 for some of the sandwiches and burgers and top out around $30 for most entrees, making it more affordable than several other top spots for a nicer meal at Disney.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 4

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

3

The kid meals, at $10, were kid-taste-test-approved by my little eaters and come in cute containers.

Spice Road Table

A good walk-up option in Epcot that almost always has availability is Spice Road Table in the Morrocco Pavillion. Here you’ll find Mediterranean-inspired options such as hummus, lamb, naan, shrimp and calamari by the water with an open-air, covered patio.

Geyser Point

Located alongside Bay Lake at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the open-air Geyser Point lounge, with menu items such as cheesy barbecue brisket with chips, chicken wings, bison bacon cheeseburger and cheese and charcuterie boards.

This spot doesn’t take advance reservations and is open for walk-in drinks and food items for both lunch and dinner, making for potentially a great break from Magic Kingdom if you just hop a boat ride over to the Wilderness Lodge.

Nomad Lounge

Another sought-after spot that doesn’t take advance dining reservations and offers some outdoor seating is the aforementioned Nomad Lounge, which is so good it absolutely deserves consideration if you are seeking fresh air.

As an added bonus, with a little luck, you can get a view of the character-filled flotillas on the “river” below.

Related: Best outdoor meals at Disney World

Best dinner show

Hoop Dee Doo Revue

If you like laugh-until-your-belly-hurts kind of fun, this is it. If the laughing doesn’t make your belly ache, then the all-you-can-enjoy fried chicken and fixings can do the trick at what was one of the longest-running dinner shows in the country.

This dinner show at Fort Wilderness is a Disney classic and a ton of fun for kids and adults, as long as you like singing along to American classics and laughing at corny jokes. Or just come for the strawberry shortcake and bottomless sangria, wine and beer.

While it’s on pause for a little while longer, when it’s running, there are traditionally three shows each evening. Pre-closure, prices ranged from $66 to $74 per adult (depending on your selected seating tier) and $39 to $44 per child, ages 3 to 9.

Related: Guide to visiting Disney World

Honorable mentions

There are a few restaurants that might not be our absolute favorites but should be on your list of spots to consider, especially if you can’t secure one of the more coveted, hard-to-get reservations.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Yak & Yeti is both a sit-down and quick-service venue in Animal Kingdom. The quick-service window is a stripped-down version of the menu offered inside. Yak & Yeti isn’t cheap, but the pan-Asian cuisine is quite good, making it one of our favorites at Animal Kingdom. The decor will give you a bit of the feel of eating in a Nepalese market.

One way to keep your total check affordable is to order one of the shareable plates (ahi tuna nachos are our favorite). The portion size is plenty for two or more. Skip the barbecue and burger in favor of the duck or one of the bowls. Make sure you finish with the dessert wontons — you’ll be glad you did.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse

Regal Eagle is a newer kid on the block in Epcot.

Replacing the Liberty Inn in the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, Regal Eagle features a variety of barbecue plates and draft beer. Purists hailing from barbecue meccas like Central Texas won’t necessarily fall in love with the fare. But, the barbecue is good and it’s an exceptional value (especially by Disney standards) for families who can share.

A kid’s meal consisting of a chicken leg or barbecue rib and two sides along with a drink is around $8 and can feed a pretty hungry child. And for less than $20, you can order a combination platter that features your choice of three different types of meat from the menu. If you’re a family looking to stretch your dollars, an air-conditioned meal at Regal Eagle may be the perfect Epcot lunch.

Crystal Palace

Located in the Magic Kingdom, on the way to Adventureland from Main Street USA, this restaurant offers good food and a few characters during normal times. Some even say the food at Crystal Palace is better than at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

The pre-pandemic buffet is now gone and some say that has made the food even better. Here you’ll find seasonal salads, homestyle buttermilk biscuits, blackened catfish with shrimp and a dessert platter.

During normal times, Winnie the Pooh and his friends will stop by your table and, if your kids are feeling adventurous, lead them on a march around the dining room. Plan on spending about $40 per adult and $25 per kid, plus tax and tip.

Oga’s Cantina

Oga’s Cantina, the Star Wars-themed bar inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios, is really light on actual food items. However, the experience is so over-the-top and unique we had to include it on this list.

If you’re hungry, you might try a Mustafarian Cinnamon Roll or some Batuu Bits with your Blue Bantha or Yub Nub. But you’re not really here for the food or even the pricey drinks. You’re here because DJ R-3X is spinning tunes and your bartenders are in full costume and character. The vibe will turn even the most anti-Star Wars person into a smiling participant.

Make a reservation in advance if you want to visit, even if just for a drink, as this spot gets very, very busy.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 2

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

Cool and atmospheric, this restaurant is on a less-traveled walkway in Hollywood Studios.

You can dine in your own “car” while watching old movies. Better yet, let your kids have their own car so you can eat in relative peace. The menu is a la carte, ranging from hamburgers to pasta and shrimp. It’s fairly easy on the budget, at about $20 an entree, and the cast members really get into their roles. The old movie clips shown aren’t likely to hold your kids’ attention and the food isn't always the star of the show, but it’s still a cool experience to try at least once.

Rose and Crown

This Epcot take on U.K. fare serves an authentic plate of fish and chips or bangers and mash. If you can’t or don’t want to sit down, there’s often a to-go counter next to Rose and Crown where you can get your fish and chips on the run.

But if you aren't in a hurry, make a reservation at Rose & Crown and enjoy the ambiance along with the fare.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 4

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

3

California Grill

If you want an upscale Disney dinner that's not quite as fancy (or expensive) as Victoria & Albert’s, try California Grill.

The check-in desk is on the second floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but the actual dining room is on the 15th floor. This elevated location gives it a five-star sunset and fireworks view of the Magic Kingdom and surrounding resorts.

There is a dress code at California Grill, but it isn’t as strict as at Victoria & Albert’s — jeans in good condition are permitted, though men are asked to wear collared shirts.

Here you’ll find fresh foods inspired by the Pacific coast such as sushi and sashimi, goat cheese ravioli, yellowfin tuna, oak-fired Angus filet, rack of lamb, a cheese platter and a truly amazing chef’s garden heirloom-tomato starter.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 8

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

You can expect to spend about $20 on appetizers, $25 on sushi rolls and $40 to $60 on entrees.

Related: How much does it cost to go to Disney World?

Steakhouse 71

New to Walt Disney World is Steakhouse 71, which is also located inside the Contemporary. This restaurant, which takes the place of The Wave, ties its menu and stories back to the roots of Walt Disney and the opening of Disney World in 1971.

Previous slide

Next slide

1 of 3

(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

0

1

2

Menu standouts here are the sea salt-dusted potato brioche ($12), Steakhouse 71 stack burger with fun touches such as lemon aioli and a brioche bun ($20), the vegetable “Wellington” ($26), a signature chocolate cake ($11) that has 16 layers (to match the 16 floors of the Contemporary) and even the surprisingly delicious ambrosia ($8).

Our least favorite Disney meals

Even with all the magical pixie dust at Disney World, there are misfires. Granted, most of these haven’t reopened or haven’t reopened in this form, but it’s still good to know which one might not be a good fit for you when it does come back.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Character dining is a big part of the Disney experience. You might think you can save a few dollars by dining with the princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot rather than Cinderella’s Royal Table, but it’s a poor substitute (unless you just need a bite near the “Frozen” ride in Norway).

Although your favorite princesses will join you for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food just isn’t on par with the other Disney eateries. That said, it’s an easier reservation to snag than Cinderella’s Royal Table, so keep it in your back pocket if you need a “last-minute” princess meal.

Teppan Edo

This spot in the Japanese Pavilion at Epcot is another letdown, especially compared to the spectacular Takumi-Tei. The food here is decent, but there’s not a lot of performance factor at this teppanyaki place. Frankly, we’ve seen better performances at a more reasonable price point in teppanyaki restaurants in strip malls closer to home. At Disney prices, there are definitely better values for your hard-earned dollars, with themes you can’t easily recreate elsewhere.

Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

With a few exceptions, it’s hard to find great food in Magic Kingdom, but you should avoid the worst of the worst, which has recently been Pecos Bill’s quick service. The menu looks interesting, with a mix of rice bowls, nachos, fajitas and burgers, but in the end, the service can be curt, the food a bit disappointing and recently, even our mini churros were almost inedible.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

Another Magic Kingdom misfire is Cosmic Ray’s. The menu is very limited to theme park staples such as chicken fingers, burgers and fries, which would be OK in theory if that’s what you were after. In practice, Cosmic Rays can get very crowded and run very behind with orders. And at the end of the day you still end up with … burgers and fries.

Be Our Guest

Surprised this perennial favorite made this list? Consider it a victim of its own success. We’re not saying it’s a bad place to eat (watching the rose petals fall when the lightning crashes is a nice effect) but the crowds at lunchtime before it became sit-down service during the pandemic could be brutal.

Right now, Be Our Guest is a fine choice if you’re comfortable with the price tag. If it goes back to a la carte dining for lunch, think twice if you want to avoid crowds. Regardless of when you eat, ask for the Beast’s dining room, as it’s by far the coolest of the three dining areas.

To give you a better idea of what we mean by lunchtime crowds, compare the stock image for Be Our Guest with a photograph of what it actually looked like at lunch before the coronavirus pandemic:

For now, we fully support a fancy sit-down meal at Be Our Guest since both lunch and dinner offer set menus, if your wallet is ready for the hit. Just know a lunch for two adults and two children will likely cost about $250 when you factor in tax and tip.

Related: What to expect at a Disney hotel right now

Our final tip

If you want to enjoy a Disney World sit-down meal (and we recommend it), be sure and make your reservation well in advance. You can cancel or modify if you change your mind, but it’s good to have the option of being waited on in the air conditioning. Services like Mouse Dining can help you keep an eye on availability if you don’t want to refresh hundreds of times per day looking for a spot at one of your favorites.

Booking your Disney trip via an agent that specializes in Disney, such as our partners at Mouse Counselors, is another great way to get some professional help with snagging those hard-to-get reservations.

If you are ordering from a counter-service restaurant, you’ll need to have the My Disney Experience app downloaded, as you can’t even enter quick-service restaurants right now until you’ve placed your food order in the app and have been notified that it is ready.

To rack up extra points, you can charge Disney meals to your room (using the app or your Magic Bands) and then earn a bonus on all your in-park meals by paying at resort checkout with a card that gives you a bonus on travel. Paying with Disney gift cards you purchased at a discount is another great way to save a bit while dining at some of Disney World’s best restaurants.

If you pay for your Disney meal on the spot with a credit card, use one that gives you the best payout on dining.

Most Disney World restaurants do code as dining charges, even within the parks. This means you can earn 4 points per dollar awarded on dining at restaurants with the American Express® Gold Card, 3 points per dollar on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or use one of the other best cards for dining.

Want to read more about Disney parks around the world? Check out our other Disney guides:

• Best hotels at Disney World
• 22 new things coming to Disney as part of 50th-anniversary celebration
• The best points hotels near Disney World
• TPG’s ultimate guide to Disney World
• 9 things families should know before visiting Disneyland
• How to save money by renting Disney Vacation Club points
• The 10 best Disney thrill rides around the world
• How to use points for Disney tickets
• Disney World without kids: 10 ways to enjoy an adult trip to Disney
• How to eat healthy at Disney World
• How to have groceries delivered to Disney World