Dining
Disney offers many, many options when it comes to Dining. I will try to break it down for you quickly. I will also very briefly go over the Dining Plan, but I’m not going to spend too much time on it as it is currently unavailable – but we are hopeful it will be back as things continue to reopen and if and when they do, I will do a more comprehensive post on it.
First thing you need to know is the categories Disney uses for their restaurants. The 3 categories are Quick Service, Table Service, and Signature Dining – which is really a subcategory of Table Service.
Anything you get at one of the kiosks, such as popcorn, Mickey bars, Mickey pretzels, etc are considered snacks (and can be considered a snack credit if you have the Disney Dining Plan).
Quick Service
Quick service is any restaurant in which you do not need a reservation and can walk up to a counter and order. Examples are Cosmic Ray’s and Pecos Bills in Magic Kingdom or the ABC Commissary and Docking Bay 7 in Hollywood Studios. At this type restaurant you order your food, pick it up from the counter, and then find a table to sit down. Think of it as a fast food restaurant.
A few years ago, Disney also introduced Mobile Ordering, in which you can use the My Disney Experience app on your phone to order your food ahead of time. First, you pick a time you would like to pick it up. Then once the window comes around for the time you picked, you will open the app, select “I’m On My Way” (you should actually be on your way to the restaurant) and they will start your order. You will get a notification in the app when it is ready and you just need to go pick it up! It’s very simple. The meal will be charged to the credit card you have on file with your Disney account.
Due to Covid-19, Disney has really encouraged the use of mobile ordering and in some cases, you can only use mobile ordering. However, as some restrictions ease, some restaurants are allowing walk up orders again.
Table Service
The Table Service restaurants are a casual restaurant where you sit down and have a server come to your table to take your order and bring your food. These restaurants are great if you need to take a break from the parks or want some time in the air conditioning. Table service restaurants often have a theme, whether that is a specific country such as Tokyo Dining or Via Napoli in EPCOT or more of a family friendly Disney theme such as Tusker House or even the Rainforest Café in Animal Kingdom.
Signature Dining is technically a table service style restaurant, but much higher end. They are more of a finer dining experience, with the price tag to boot. Typically, you may want to dress a little nicer for these style restaurants, but you won’t be turned away if you don’t. This style of restaurant includes California Grill at the Contemporary resort and Narcoosee’s or Victoria and Albert’s in in the Grand Floridian resort.
The table service restaurants can be a buffet style or a menu you choose your meal from. They can be in the parks, at Disney Springs, or at the Moderate and Deluxe resorts.
Character dining is also an option at Walt Disney World. There are restaurants all over the Disney campus that allow you to have a meal with the characters. As you eat your meal the characters come to your table to talk with you, take a photo, and sign an autograph. There are typically 4 to 5 characters per meal that you can meet. Depending on the restaurant, this could be Mickey and the gang, Winnie the Pooh and friends, or a random assortment of princesses.
Dinner Shows
Another option Disney offers, is dinner and a show. The Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue at the Fort Wilderness campground is a comedy show starring cowboys and cowgirls from the Wild West. It is an all you can eat buffet.
So while you are enjoying your dinner, you can watch live entertainment – a nice option when you want a break from the parks.
Epcot Festivals
Epcot is an entirely different animal when it comes to food. Not only do they have fun themed restaurants like Coral Reef – where you get to eat your meal in an aquarium – and different culinary options in each country around the World Showcase, but throughout the year Epcot also features different festivals. During each festival, in addition to the brick and mortar restaurants, they have bonus nations represented with kiosks all over the World Showcase. Some of these extras include Israel, Hawaii, and Africa. Each kiosk features a signature dish from its homeland. The festivals and menus may change throughout the year, but the locations stay the same.
Dining Plan
So here’s a quick overview of the dining plan and this is subject to change at any time, especially if and when it becomes available again at Disney World. There are typically 3-4 options and each one is priced accordingly. Depending on the option you choose, you get varying amounts of meal credits. This includes snack credits, which can also be used at the kiosks at the Epcot festivals, Quick Service credits, and lastly, Table Service credits. You get a certain number per NIGHT you stay on Disney property – another benefit of staying at a Disney resort with a vacation package. One thing to note is the Signature restaurants require 2 Table Service credits. But that’s it. If they bring the dining plan back, I will have a more in depth post about it!
Leave a Comment