food IS a theme park
The Disney Dining Plan isn’t a shortcut to cheaper meals. It won’t automatically lower your food costs or turn every purchase into a great deal.
Full spread at Akershus
What it does offer is a structured way to prepay for meals, with a fixed number of credits to use throughout your trip. If you use those credits strategically, you can come out ahead on value. If you don’t, it’s easy to spend them on lower-cost meals and miss the point of the plan entirely.
Choosing where to eat in Disney World sounds simple until suddenly you’re debating whether your family needs a character buffet, a fireworks-view dinner, a quick-service lunch that won’t bankrupt the snack budget, or a lounge where you can sit down and become a person again.
Mickey Waffles!
Disney World has hundreds of restaurants, snack stands, bars, lounges, food courts, carts, kiosks, bakeries, walk-up windows, and “wait, does this count as dinner?” situations. And some of them are excellent. Some are fine. Some are coasting entirely on location, nostalgia, or the fact that you forgot to eat lunch and are in desperate need of air conditioning. That’s why we made a FREE printable list of the best restaurants in Disney World, according to the experts at Disney Food Blog. And by experts, we mean the people who are constantly eating, reviewing, comparing, re-ranking, reconsidering, and quietly judging theme park mac and cheese on your behalf.
When it comes to visiting Disney World hotels, there are a whole OTHER set of rules you need to know about.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
For example, if you’re traveling with your pet, only SOME Disney World hotels have pet-friendly accommodations. But there are also some driving and transportation rules that you may or may not know about, especially at hotels you’re NOT staying at. Don’t worry, though! We’ll fill you in and tell you what you need to know.
There are a LOT of new restaurants opening soon in Disney World, and we can’t wait to try them all! Roundup Rodeo BBQ and Summer House on the Lake are a couple of examples, but our sweet tooth is craving The Cake Bake Shop.
The Boardwalk
The bakery’s third location is coming to Disney’s Boardwalk later this year. We already have an idea of what the menu and pricing will be like based on its other locations, and we’ve even interviewed the owner and founder, Gwendolyn Rogers. We just got a sneak peek of what some of the decorations could be when this new location opens!
Did you know that Disney World hotels have their own set of rules?
Art of Animation
For example, if you’re bringing your pet to Disney World, there are only a few specific hotels where they can stay with you. Before you visit, you’ll want to know about the hotel rules where you’re staying! And that includes this seasonal transportation restriction. [Read more…]
There are literally HUNDREDS of places to get meals and snacks in Disney World. From table service restaurants to quick service counters to snack kiosks, Disney has just about every kind of food you can think of. So how in the world do you decide where to eat??
Spread at Connections Cafe in EPCOT
Here at the Disney Food Blog, we have reviews of every restaurant in the Disney World parks and hotels. We’ve also tried all the snacks and treats so that you know which ones are worth your money and stomach space. To get all of that great information in one place, you can check out our DFB Guidebooks. We’ve got guides for Disney World Dining, the snacks in every theme park, EPCOT festival eats, and more. Right now, you can save BIG on a DFB Guide Bundle! [Read more…]
Whether you’re a foodie, a chicken nugget connoisseur, a Disney pro, or a first timer, Walt Disney World offers some super under-the-radar dining experiences that can add value to your vacation.
Cake Decorating at Amorette’s
Some provide a little education, others put you in touch with the animal kingdom, and still others are just plain fun.
When it comes to restaurants on the Monorail Resort loop at Walt Disney World, a few probably spring immediately to mind: California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (well, maybe not that last one, but we’re on a mission to make it a must-do for everyone!).
But even though those headliners get the most attention from guests (and are regularly enjoyed here at DFB!), lesser-known restaurants on the loop often bring just as much quality and thought to their menus. The Wave… of American Flavors on the lobby level of the Contemporary can be a surprisingly good destination meal — especially for breakfast. There’s a SUPER SECRET DFB TIP included in our review that we think you’re going to want to know about… .
The Wave bills itself as crafting new American flavors that incorporate international tastes, too. The focus of the restaurant’s fluid menu is on seasonal and local ingredients, and while we don’t see the menu changing as often as, say, The Wave’s upstairs sister-friend California Grill, the menu here does have a level of freshness that you don’t find everywhere.
The Wave serves up three meals a day, with lunch and dinner being a la carte. (See our dinner review here!) Breakfast offers both buffet and a la carte options, making it a great place to grab an early meal with the fam. I met up with friends to check out the offerings and see if some old favorites and new additions are still worth a journey to The Wave.
The Wave… of American Flavors
The Wave is located in the lobby of the Contemporary, so if you arrive by Monorail, you’ll need to head downstairs to the ground level. [Read more…]
This year is going to be BIG for the Disney Parks. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
is opening at Walt Disney World on August 29 and at Disneyland on May 31. Plus the all-new Skyliner transportation system will begin operating at Walt Disney World in the summer or fall! But that’s not all…
Oga’s Cantina © Disney
Quiet on the set! There are some new lunch items available at Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that we have to share!
Starring Rolls is a tiny cafe on the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard — doesn’t that location just scream show business? I usually swing by to check out its collection of sweet treats and pretty pastries, but the often-overlooked lunch options are worth a shot! Soups, salads, and sandwiches are the stars of the show at lunch time, and we suggest finishing off lunch with one of our all-time favorites, the Napoleon.
Ready?
Starring Rolls Cafe on Sunset Boulevard
And, ACTION!
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