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12 Restaurant Experiences You Must Have At Disney World Resort Hotels

Cinderella _ Grand Floridian

7. 1900 Park Fare (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

Another all-you-can-eat character dining endeavor to delight in can be found once again at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, by way of 1900 Park Fare. Whether you come for breakfast or dinner, both engagements are magical for diners of all ages, though whichever one you choose depends on the experience you seek.

If you pop on in for breakfast, for instance, you’re in for a simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious experience with their Supercalifragilistic Breakfast. Laden with all those classic staples you know and love so well (along with a few house novelties), your mealtime enhancements will include personal table visits from such characters as Alice and the Mad Hatter direct from Wonderland, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh straight out of the Hundred Acre Wood, and the practically perfect Mary Poppins, of course.

Dinnertime is an enchanting endeavor straight out of a fairytale, offering a happy ending to a happy day with Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner. As the name implies, for this engagement you will be sharing dinnertime magic with Cinderella and Prince Charming, along with the more sinister Lady Tremaine and her two daughters Drizella and Anastasia. Back and fourth banter and in-character deliveries in performance while visiting with guests make this mealtime event go off in fine fashion fit for a fairytale. And the decadent array of all-you-can-eat offerings, both traditional American and unique house specialties alike only add to the overall magic and appeal.

Storybook Dining Artist Point
Photo credit Disney

6. Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort)

There is another relatively new character dining must-do experience awaiting you at Artist Point—this one featuring the fairest maiden of them all. Artist Point has been a renowned signature restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, for many years, and now with the addition of such characters as Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and even the Evil Queen joining diners every evening, mealtime attendance is at an all-time high. In addition to meeting and mingling with such iconic characters from Walt Disney’s first animated feature film, newly inspired entrées, drinks, and desserts really encompass the overall fairytale experience. A magical meal for adults and children alike, Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is already a new classic celebrating Disney’s most classic princess—the one that started it all.

Trader Sams
Photo Credit: Disney

5. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort)

While lounges aren’t typically included on the list of must-have restaurant experiences at Disney World Resort Hotels, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort isn’t by any means a typical lounge. For starters, the menu isn’t limited to libations alone, as guests frequently come out to enjoy traditional South Seas light bites the whole family can appreciate it. And that brings us to our next point—Trader Sam’s can be an experience the whole family shares in up until 8 p.m. nightly, at which time only guests that are 21 and older are permitted.

But it’s the interior décor and synchronized special effects happening within the walls of this intimate 51-seat establishment that are most worth noting. As you dine (or drink) you will notice a broad range of memorabilia, photos, and other nods to various Disney film, history, and attractions. But the hands-down greatest part about attending Trader Sam’s is undeniably the stormy special effects that are triggered upon command, depending on what a guest orders.

citricos _ Dining at disney world
Photo credit Disney

4. Dine with an Imagineer at Cítricos (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

Another phenomenal fine dining experience awaiting you at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is savoring American-Mediterranean fusion enticements at Cítricos. A signature restaurant that’s already stellar in so many ways, various special dining engagements happening in-house within the establishment’s private area make personalized mealtimes even more memorable. One such example to delight in is signing up for the special Dine with an Imagineer option.

Similar to the Dine with an Imagineer engagement at The Brown Derby within Disney’s Hollywood Studios, these small group mealtime gatherings allow you and your guests a private and personal chance to enjoy a four-course dinner in the presence of one of Disney’s own magic makers. Throughout the meal you will gain a wealth of knowledge and insight into various behind-the-scenes happenings throughout Walt Disney World Resort, and come away with far more fun and fascinating tidbits than you ever imagined. Dine with an Imagineer at Cítricos is available every first Thursday of the month (unless otherwise reserved) and is suitable for guests 14 years of age and older.

3. Dine with an Animal Specialist (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Much like the aforementioned Dine with an Imagineer endeavor, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has its own personal one-on-one offering to guests. Taking place within Kidani Village’s own scenic Sanaa Restaurant—a favorite dining destination with large viewing windows that allow you to see animals up close and personal as you eat, guests also have the opportunity to sign up for privately reserved Dine with an Animal Specialist offerings.

Available to just intimate gatherings of 12 or so guests at a time, you will enjoy a four-course African lunch feast with one of the resort’s own animal care specialists, who will enlighten your party with fun and interesting facts about the wild inhabitants here and all the ins and outs of daily care for these marvelous creatures. Dine with an Animal Specialist opportunities are available to anyone aged eight or older. Reservations well in advance are highly recommended.

Jiko

2. Jiko—The Cooking Place and the Wanyama Safari (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Another wild epicurean endeavor to pursue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is dinner at Jiko—The Cooking Place. A famed signature restaurant renowned for stellar fusion cuisine that encompasses the flavors of Africa, India, and the Mediterranean, mealtime here is an experience to savor. And it gets even better when you opt for the Wanyama Safari Dinner Package. By doing so, you get to not only enjoy dining at its finest, but take part in a privately-led 90-minute safari tour of the resort’s surrounding savanna lands and all its resident animals. The Wanyama Safari Dinner Package is available to groups of 12 at a time, ages 10 and older.

Monorail

1. Highway in the Sky Dine Around (Magic Kingdom Area Resorts)

While plenty of Magic Kingdom Area Resort Hotels offer up refined restaurant experiences directly on premises, the most unique signature fine dining resort event to take in isn’t located in just one place—but many. Get ready to ride the rails of Disney’s world-renowned monorail system for the ultimate culinary endeavor via Highway in the Sky Dine Around. For this ultimate taste tour of world-class cuisine and splendor, you will enjoy a five-course dinner spread out among three of the Magic Kingdom Area’s most distinguished Deluxe Resorts—The Contemporary, Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian.

Tambu Lounge

Start the journey by treating your taste buds to appealing appetizers offered up at the Contemporary Resort’s Wave…of American Flavors. Next, you will break your journey at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for exotic island fare via light bites and libations. Next it’s on to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for champagne, artisanal cheese charcuterie, and then the chef’s main course selection at Cítricos. Then it’s back onboard to Disney’s Contemporary for dessert, cordials, and coffee and a sweet sendoff amidst taking in the Happily Ever After Fireworks display happening right next door within Magic Kingdom Park from a private patio.

These are just 12 of several stellar dining experiences to take in at Walt Disney World Resort. From other character dining engagements, upscale fine dining venues, dinner cruises, and even in-room dining and private butler services, the opportunities are seemingly endless. Just keep in mind that advance reservations are always recommended (and in some cases mandatory) for reserving a spot to whichever dining endeavor you choose to pursue. It’s also important to keep in mind that not all of the aforementioned experiences are covered by Disney Dining Plans, and some that are, require the equivalent of two Disney Dining credits. But with Disney, you are always assured that whatever meal, venue, and experience you so choose is sure to be magical.

By Laura



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