Why We Love Dining Around Walt Disney World Resort’s Monorail Loop

Most visitors to Walt Disney World Resort stick to the parks for their meals. Some might throw in a meal or two at their own resort, but only those who do their research even realize they should be looking outside of the parks and their own hotel for some awesome dining opportunities.

If you weren’t previously one of those few, you are now. Now that you know this fact, you’re probably wondering where you should be going for your out-of-park vacation meals. 

One of our very favorite places to look for meals in Disney World is along the monorail loop. This loop takes guests on a ride by—and in some cases, right through—three of the most beloved hotels on property.

The restaurants hidden away in these hotels are wonderful choices. Here’s why. 

1. No Ticket Needed

Okay, so this is actually true of all the resort restaurants. However, the fact that you don’t need a park ticket to enter is even more awesome when it comes to the resorts on the monorail loop. This is because one could easily fill an entire day hopping from one of these hotels to the next, trying new foods, exploring the grounds, and sometimes even enjoying live entertainment.

That’s right, you can do all of this for free, meaning you can expand on your Disney World trip on a budget. 

2. Ease of Access

As mentioned before, we love the fact that you can easily hop from one resort to the next on the monorail loop. On top of this, these resorts are also easily accessible from both Magic Kingdom and Epcot, making them great places to go when you want something different to eat but don’t want to wait for a bus.

This is definitely a major perk in our book, and we’re betting you’ll love it too. 

3. Escape from the Crowds

Want to get away from the crowds and noise for a while? Getting out of the parks is the perfect way to do this. As mentioned before, the monorail resorts are easily accessible from Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and this means they’re the ideal place to escape from all the hustle and bustle to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet with your meal. 

4. Amazing Character Dining

The three monorail resorts are home to a total of four character dining locations and numerous character dining mealtimes. These include:

• At 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa:Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner, and Wonderland Tea Party
• At the Garden Tea Room in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa:Princess Tea Party
• At ‘Ohana in the Polynesian Resort:Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
• At Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort:Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet

All of these are wonderful options. We especially love the two tea parties, but you’re sure to thoroughly enjoy any one you choose. 

5. Fine Dining Opportunities

In addition to character dining, the monorail resorts also house some wonderful fine dining options. These include:

• Victoria and Albert’sat the Grand Floridian Resort Resort and Spa
• Narcoossee’sat the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
• Citricosat the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
• California Grillin the Contemporary Resort

Once again, all of these are fabulous choices. These would be the perfect place for a romantic date night, and are ideal for adults looking for a bit of grownup fun after a long day of fun for the kids. 

6. Dinner Entertainment

As if character dining and signature dining weren’t enough, these resorts also offer a couple of super entertaining dinner options. These include:

• ‘Ohana at The Polynesian Resort— This restaurant might be a character dining location in the morning, but at night it turns into the ultimate family dining experience complete with games and entertainment.

• Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Polynesian Resort— An awesome luau experience with plenty of dancing and delicious food, this is one dinner show you won’t soon forget!

7. Amazing Views

As if amazing food in some amazing resorts wasn’t enough, it is also often possible to enjoy your food at one of the monorail resorts with an amazing view.

For example, if you time your reservation at the Contemporary’s California Grill just right, you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the window.

Alternatively, you could grab some quick-service food from Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian and eat on the beach with a fabulous view of Magic Kingdom across the water. Stick around long enough and you might even see the “Electrical Water Pageant” as well!

8. Highway in the Sky Dine Around

Can’t decide which awesome monorail resort you’d like to enjoy your meal at? Highway in the Sky Dine Around gives you the chance to try something at each! Three stops and five courses mean you’re sure to leave this experience feeling completely satisfied with your meal.

$7.96 with discount
$6.36 with discount
$7.96 with discount