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The Top 15 Walt Disney World Restaurants of All Time

The Boathouse

Dining at Walt Disney World can be an adventure, especially at some of the more popular restaurants located in the Disney theme parks and resorts. I have list 15 of these unique dining choices that will create even more special memories of your Disney vacation.

1. The Crystal Palace — Magic Kingdom — Main Street — Table Service, Character Meal — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner—Designed to resemble Victorian Greenhouses of the lat 1800’s, the Crystal Palace is filled with natural light, topiaries, and tropical palms; a perfect place to share a meal with all the characters from the Hundred-Acre Wood. Join Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore for a very special morning, afternoon, or evening meal. Each buffet, Morning, Lunch, or Dinner is filled with the finest and tastiest of trimmings—made-to-order omelets, fresh fruits, grilled meats, salads, pasta, fish, luscious desserts; oh so many delectable choices. What could be better than to enjoy your meal with Winnie and all his friends.

2. Columbia Harbour House — Magic Kingdom — Liberty Square — Quick Service—Lunch, Dinner —Columbia Harbour House located just as you enter Liberty Square resembles an old-fashioned New England eatery and pub where Ship Captains and sailors would have a warm meal and cold ale in front of a warm fireplace. This two-story nautical-themed restaurant offers plenty of seating, and a seafaring menu; such as lobster roll, fried shrimp, tuna sandwich, clam chowder and more. Desserts and beverages are also available. Relax and enjoy a delightful seafaring feast with all the trimmings.

3. The Hollywood Brown Derby — Hollywood Studios — Table Service — Lunch, Dinner—This restaurant is an exact replica of the original Brown Derby restaurant which was at the height of popularity during the golden age of Hollywood. The upscale décor and furnishings are based on the design of the original Brown Derby, wood paneling, checkerboard floors, and old-fashioned warm glowing ceiling and table lamps. The cuisine is contemporary American with signature dishes such as pork tenderloin, grilled filet of beef, pan-seared black grouper, and the famous Brown Derby Cobb salad, just to name a few. For a sweet ending to your meal, try the Amaretto flan blueberry cobbler or the Brown Derby original, the mini grapefruit cake. Enjoy your special meal while reliving the golden age of Hollywood.

4. 50’s Prime Time — Hollywood Studios — Table Service — Lunch, Dinner —The Prime Time features classic American comfort food of the 50’s, in a setting that brings back the memories of dining in Mom’s kitchen. The furnishings, knick knacks, table & chairs all date back to the nostalgic era of rock’n roll, and dining while watching a TV playing black and white clips from popular prime time shows of the 50’s. Choose from home-cooked favorites like old-fashioned pot roast, golden fried chicken, traditional meat loaf, and top the meal off with pineapple upside down cake, chocolate peanut butter layers cake, or a yummy ice cream sundae. Bring your appetite and your sense of humor, because here at the Prime time, “Mom”, your server, will chastise you if you put your elbows on the table or if you don’t make a “happy plate”.

5. 1900 Park Fare — Grand Floridian Resort — Table Service — Breakfast, Afternooon Tea Party, Dinner — Character Buffet Table Service — This delightful, whimsical dining room is home to “Big Bertha”, a turn of the century organ, built in France, which entertains the diners during their meal. The furniture and light fixtures are designed to resemble a fashionable tea room of the early 1900’s, including a number of lovely carousel horses that add to the Victorian style décor. The Supercalifragilistic Breakfast is hosted by Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter and friends. The buffet items include fresh fruits and breads, made-to-order omelets, Mickey waffles, bacon, ham, potatoes, and much more. Cinderella’s Happily Ever After buffet is hosted by Cinderella and Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drisella. The dinner buffet items include fresh salads and breads, jerked turkey breast, Mongolian beef sir fry, to name a few, along with a variety of luscious desserts. The Wonderland Tea Party for children ages 4-12, is an hour of games, stories, and cupcakes hosted by special Disney characters. Step into the world of Alice in Wonderland by dining at this elegant, but fanciful restaurant.

6. Morimoto Asia — Disney Springs — Table Service — Lunch, Dinner—Chef Masaharu Morimoto has opened a brand new ultra modern two-story restaurant at Disney Springs, and it is a dining work of art. The décor is modern Asian, and is chef Morimoto’s first-ever Pan-Asian restaurant featuring flavors from across the continent. In addition to the large flowing chandeliers, illuminated glass bottles, and a three-story glass corner, the restaurant includes spacious lounges, open terraces, a sushi and cocktail areas and an exhibition kitchen that allows diners to view culinary action. The menu offers specialties such as dim sum, Morimoto Peking duck, filet mignon, stir fry shrimp, spicy king crab, and much more. If you are a fan of Asian cuisine and elegant surroundings, this is the place for you.

7. Casey’s Corner — Magic Kingdom — Main Street, USA — Counter Service — Lunch, Dinner—Located on a corner near the Castle hub, this quick service eatery boasts the best hot dogs in the Parks. This very popular diner is designed to look like a concession stand at a major league baseball game, with all the MLB trimmings and memorabilia decorating the walls. Try a chili-cheese dog, Barbeque slaw dog, polish sausage, or an all-American ballpark hot dog you can fix up yourself from the condiments bar. Also on the menu are corn dog nuggets, French fries, brownies, cotton candy, Cracker Jacks, and assorted beverages. There is ample seating on the outside with tables covered with umbrellas. For entertainment, Jim Omohundro, a very talented piano player, plays ragtime music on an old-fashioned player piano. He will delightfully take requests for your favorite songs. This is a great place to enjoy a meal, with a view of Cinderella’s Castle and entertainment by a very talented musician.

8. Pizzafari — Animal Kingdom — Quick Service — Lunch, Dinner —It’s hard to imagine a pizza place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but this pizzeria is like no other. Although the pizzas, meatball subs, Italian sandwiches, pasta, and salads re delicious, they are not quite the highlight of this special restaurant. Once you enter the Pizzafari, you are surrounded by authentic African music, cast members in authentic African costumes, and colorful murals and mosaics in each of the 6 dining areas. The detail in the artwork is magnificent. All the birds and animals seem to come to life. Look closely because some animals are hidden inside other animals. Also, listen to the music. All the music is about animals. After you’ve finished your meal, walk around and check out all the gorgeous and interesting wall paintings.

9. Be Our Guest Restaurant — Magic Kingdom — Fantasyland — Quick service for breakfast and lunch, Table service for dinner—From the gargoyle statues on the outside of Beast’s Castle to the shining suits of armor on the inside, this dining experience is extraordinary. If you’ve seen Disney’s full length feature film, Beauty and the Beast, you will recognize many of the elaborate details of Beast’s Castle, like the brilliant crystal chandeliers, colorful tapestries, and of course the beautiful enchanted rose encased in glass. There are three Beastly themed dining rooms; the Grand Ballroom (brightly lit with high domed ceilings and gothic arches), the West Wing (Beast’s mysterious study—dark and forboding), and the Castle Gallery (Belle’s private library with larger than life figures of Belle and Beast dancing). After ordering via a touch screen monitor, you receive a special rose from the host, find a table in one of the dining rooms, and within a few minutes, a server brings arrives with a cart containing your meal. The menu includes such items as a vegetable quiche for breakfast, carved turkey sandwich for lunch, or pan-seared chicken breast for dinner, and a special treat, if you choose it, for dessert, is the “gray stuff” chocolate shell, cookie crème topped with Lumiere’s gray stuff. You and your family will never forget your dining date with Belle and her Beast.

10. The Plaza Restaurant — Magic Kingdom, Main Street, USA — Table Service, Lunch, Dinner—This charming eatery is just around the corner at the end of Main Street and is a treasure that is often overlooked. The décor is that of a turn of the century dining parlor, with beautiful light fixtures and furniture reminiscent of an early 1900’s solarium, very quaint and cozy. The menu is delightful and delicious—deli-style sandwiches, burgers with homemade chips, and freshly prepared salads. The desserts are heavenly; such as flavorful sundaes, ice cream floats, luscious cheesecake, and more yummy sweet treats. The Plaza Restaurant is small but the atmosphere is lighthearted, and the menu will satisfy any appetite.

11. The Boathouse — Disney Springs — Table Service, Lunch, Dinner— The Boathouse is one of the latest additions to the new Disney Springs, and it is a beautifully designed waterfront dining establishment that offers a most unique, entertaining experience. The theming is that of an actual boathouse, featuring all sorts of fishing paraphernalia, outboard motors, and displays of a variety of sizes and styles of boats. You have a choice of dining casually at a bar, with a few small tables, a trendy communal dining room for large families, which also features a booth in a boat, and finally the upscale and more refined dining room, the Admiral’s Club Bar, with a glass fish tank as the centerpiece. The menu is diverse and sure to please every member of your family. Some specialties are oysters on the half shell, or wild caught baja shrimp from the raw bar, dock side bucket with wild caught surf clam strips, dock side bucket with coconut baja jumbo shrimp, lobster bake for two, salads, steaks & chops, and much more. After your meal, check out the highlight of the waterfront entertainment; a ride in an amphicar (a German designed vehicle, mass produced and sold to the public in 1961). It was described as amphibious and car, made to drive on land and water. A pilot escorts you in your vehicle driving from the boat launch into the water for a trip around the waterfront area. What a unique way to top off your marvelous lunch or dinner at The Boathouse.

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12. California Grill — Disney’s Contemporary Resort — Table Service, Dinner — I would say this is more of a dining choice for adults, especially on special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, etc. It is an absolute fine dining choice which will be a very memorable event. Your evening begins with a trip on the resort elevator to the 15th floor, where the view of the Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake is spectacular. After you are seated in the elegant dining room, you will have time to study the menu and choose from such entrees as oak-fired filet of beef, Pacific halibut, bison strip sirloin, specialty salads or soups, and so much more. For a decadent dessert, try the heirloom apple and walnut cake or warm homemade fritters, plus other tasty treats.

Featured wines by the glass are available, along with a variety of other beverages. For the real uniqueness of your meal is the fireworks show over the Magic Kingdom. The lights dim as the music from the fireworks show is piped into the restaurant. It is a truly magical experience and a wonderful memory for a couple or a family.

13. Biergarten Restaurant — Epcot — World Showcase – Germany Pavilion — Buffet, Lunch, Dinner— At this international favorite, you can celebrate Oktoberfest all year long. The theme is a typical Bavarian Village restaurant with communal biergarten-style tables. Here you can feast on rotating buffet selections such as bratwurst, rotisserie chicken, pork schnitzel, and a variety of salads. For dessert you can sample the Bavarian cheesecake and hand pulled apple strudel, made fresh daily. While you enjoy your meal, the air is filled with the music from an authentic German band playing lively polka tunes. You’re invited to get up and join the dancing. And, of course, lift your stein of whatever brand of German beer you choose, and toast your neighbor in a lively, festive atmosphere. At Oktoberfest, there are no strangers. It is a friends and family affair.

14. Liberty Tree Tavern — Magic Kingdom— Liberty Square—Buffet/Family Style, Lunch, Dinner
The Liberty Tree Tavern takes you back in time to a colonial style inn serving typical New England style family feasts. The restaurant is divided into 6 themed rooms honoring famous historical figures, and each room is filled with artifacts that commemorate these famous patriots and their influence on early America. The lunch menu offers New England pot roast, or the Pilgrim’s Feast—roast turkey breast, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, or other luncheon favorites. Dinner is a family-style feast, the all-you-care-to-eat Patriot’s Platter, piled high with carved turkey breast, roast beef, and pork tenderloin, accompanied by traditional sides. For your sweet tooth, try Johnny Appleseed’s cake filled with apples and dried cranberries, or ooey, gooey toffee cake with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Come one, come all for a truly magnificent family feast.

**The Liberty Tree Tavern has been closed for refurbishment, but should reopen on Nov. 20, 2015**

15. Cinderella’s Royal Table — Magic Kingdom — Fantasyland — Table Service — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Character Dining — Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table is the most magical and memorable place to dine in the Magic Kingdom. Here you are treated like Royalty, and Cinderella greets you in the Grand Hall as you enter this magnificent Castle. After your meeting with Cinderella, you ascend a spiral staircase to the Royal Banquet Hall, a storybook setting with stone archways, medieval flags, and spectacular stained glass windows overlooking Fantasyland. As you are dining, classic Disney Princesses come around to your table for visits and photo ops. The food is, as they say, fit for a King, and there is plenty to choose from: Breakfast—eggs, bacon, potatoes, baked quiche, etc., Lunch—pork tenderloin, chef’s fish of the day, braised short rib, etc., Dinner—slow-roasted port tenderloin, steak and shrimp, pan-seared all natural chicken, etc. For dessert, try the signature flourless chocolate cake with caramel hazelnut, meringue, and berry compote, plus other sweet delights. If your timing is right, you will be entertained by the evening fireworks display which lights up the whole room with shimmering bursts of color, the best view in the Park. Dining at Cinderella’s Castle is a fairy-tale dream come true.

Wherever you choose to dine at Walt Disney World, it will be a happy, magical experience. Whether you dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table, or a quick snack at Casey’s Corner, your meal will be extra special, because you are dining at the most magical place on earth.

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!

About Cecilia

I am a working mother of four adult children, 2 granddogs, and one grandcat. I have been a Disney fanatic since 1959, when my parents took my sister and I on a journey across the country to Disneyland. Needless to say, we were thrilled, and this became our vacation destination for the next 10 years. Later, when Walt Disney World was opened, we travelled to Florida and discovered a whole new Disney experience, and WDW became our new vacation destination. Now, our extended family members are all Disney Fanatics and always ready to talk about anything Disney.

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