My vacations always center around food. Oh, I love a good adventure, or a nice relaxing afternoon at the pool. But really? I’m wondering where in the world I’m going to eat my next meal. So, when Disney had their Dining Plan for FREE (when you bought tickets & booked a hotel), we HAD to do it. Free Disney Dining is AMAZING. Each person gets ONE SNACK (that’s like a Mickey Mouse ice cream or a slab of fudge or a box of popcorn) and ONE COUNTER SERVICE (that’s like a hambuger, bbq or chicken fingers) and ONE TABLE SERVICE (that’s like a character meal or a fancy shmancy meal at a resort).
In a nutshell: WE ATE TILL WE COULD EAT NO MORE.
In fact, we ate so much I know we had one table service left over and probably 2 counter service and (are you ready for this?) 26 snacks left over. There was nothing we could do about the meals. But, the snacks? Well, on our last day I stopped at the nearest candy shoppe and bought 26 pieces of fudge. Yup, $109 worth of fudge. The guys in the store thought I was hysterical. (Or weird, one). I neatly packed it all in a cooler and planned to serve it at Asa’s party. (I mean, how cool would that be? Disney World FUDGE driven in just for the party?!) Alas, my cooler leaked and soaked all the fudge. *sniff*
Now. Where was I? Oh yes, the FOOD! We ate so many yummy meals. And for any of you thinking about Disney, especially with the Dining Plan, here are my suggestions for the…
BEST DISNEY WORLD RESTAURANTS
(Ok, the best ones we ate at!):
1. Kouzzina by Cat Cora {at the Boardwalk}
I ate here for breakfast with my Disney Moms. So, I didn’t know what to expect for dinner. First of all, the service at Disney is just outstanding. Waiters don’t run by and tap their foot while you order. They stop and make faces at your crying kids (who me?), they give details on every single entree and never say, “Oh, I’ve never had it.” {<—ugh! I hate that!} So, just sitting down at Kouzzina and talking to our waiter was like a vacation.
I took our server’s suggestion and had the Seafood Stew. This is something I would never order although I love seafood. It had lots of tails, shells and stuff in it. And oh, my dear lord, it was divine. I was clapping when it arrived. Clapping.
Les had a pork tbone and loved it so much that we made a late night reservation to go back later in the week (and I got the Greek Lasagna with cinnamon. Comfort food like you ain’t never had!)
The dessert was this delicious chocolate lava cake that had me using my finger to wipe up every single morsel.
But Asa liked the doughnuts best!
2. Liberty Tree Tavern {at Magic Kingdom}
This restaurant is right next to the Liberty Tree and the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. If you haven’t guessed it’s theme and decor, well…maybe you should pick up a copy of US History somewhere. Anywhoo, I just love walking into a restaurant when you’re in one of the parks. It’s like walking into another world–away from the hustle and bustle from the crowd, there’s a whole fun adventure in dining waiting for you!
We sat in the Betsy Ross’ room and had some typical American meals–pot roast and turkey dinner. But really? The thing that made our trip there yummy? Our dessert, the ooey gooey toffee cake:
Seriously. The Mickey Mouse sprinkles did it for the kids. But I loved it because of the toffee and chocolate.
3. Contempo Cafe {at the Contemporary Resort}
This is a quick service meal but we really liked it. We got so tired of the Quick Service meals at our hotel (All Star Movies) and when we took a ride on the monorail, we figured the Contempo would be a good one to try. (Mainly because you order on computer screens and that’s just fun.)
I got a mahi sandwich with slaw. I took it off the bun and it ate it with the dressing and slaw. It was delish.
Les had a flatbread pizza. We both ate it and loved it!
The kids had something that I don’t remember. BUT I do remember dessert: I got a cherry filled chocolate cupcake (same one from my Moms Panel training) and the kids got a dirt and gummy worm brownie. They thought it was the most entertaining and delicious thing they’d ever eaten.
4. Hoop Dee Doo {at Pioneer Hall in Fort Wilderness}
Oh, Hoop Dee Doo how I love you! This actually takes 2 of your Table Service credits but I think it’s worth it. This is a dinner show–but it’s interactive and hilarious and heart-warming and just–oh! I love it. You’ll be singing “Hoop Dee Doo! Hoop Dee Doo!” for days.
Oh, and the food’s not bad either: salad, cornbread, baked beans, fried chicken, ribs and strawberry shortcake for dessert!
5. Via Napoli {in Italy at Epcot}
This is one of the newest restaurants at Disney. I love new places. (Mainly because the bathrooms are clean.) This restaurant is not only clean, it’s be-a-u-tiful. The pizzas are wood-fired in the most adorable ovens ever. And look at my pizza:
And desserts?! Les had some kind of fruity ice cream soda…
the kids had an ice cream sandwich…
and I had FRIED RICOTTA BALLS…
Seriously. We loved every bit of it. Asa liked it so much he licked his plate.
6. Sanaa {at Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge}
I was totally excited to eat at this restaurant because I’d never been to the Kidani Village (the newer section of Animal Kingdom Lodge) AND because Boma (the other Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurant) is one of my favorite meals ever.
{my husband. he hates it when I take his picture.}
The decor is just amazing {they own the largest collection of African art in the country!} and the view is ANIMALS. Like zebras and giraffes. It’s just breathtaking.
We actually spent a little extra money here because I so wanted the appetizer (table service on the Dining Plan includes a drink, entree and dessert). It was 3 different flatbreads and 3 toppings/dips like hummus. I seriously could have just eaten that and been happy.
I ended up getting tandoori chicken while Les got the shrimp, scallops and sustainable fish. They have a great dessert sampler which included Chai-pudding-something-or-the-other and 2 others. The chai was my fave.
7. Akershus {at Norway in Epcot}
This was a Character Meal with the PRINCESSES! Lydia was dressed in her princess best and when we arrived we were swept to a photo opp with Belle from Beauty and the Beast! When we got to our table four other princesses arrived to speak with us–Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and Sleeping Beauty. I think I may do a whole post on this because Lydia was literally in princess-heaven.
Now, the food. I liked the way they did this meal. It’s part-buffet, part hot-food-to-the-table. But no menu! So, as soon as you get to the table, they take your drink order and off you go to the buffet for fruit, pastries and cheese. Then a few minutes later your waiter arrives with a hot skillet full of sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs and some yummy cheese potato hashbrowns.
A big plus here is that we got a complimentary photo (rather, photos…about 5 copies) of the picture of Lydia and Belle. It was a special gift “to Lydia from Belle” and she loved it!
8. 50’s Prime Time Cafe {at Disney’s Hollywood Studios}
{photo has been pixelated to protect you from my tired vacation eyes, my horrific vacation hair and my no makeup vacation face}
This is one of my favorite themed restaurants. The first time I went I was in awe of the waiters because–well, because they yelled at me. They made me set my own table and introduced me to everyone else in the room because we were “family”! I think, though, that you have to provoke some of the waiters. When we were there this time, it was super busy and we were so tired that I think the waitress just did her best to be a good waitress. (And she was!)
I got the chicken pot pie. But the best part was the s’mores. Seriously. I’m not even going to tell you how much I ate of this thing.
9. Whispering Canyon {at Wilderness Lodge}
{that is a giant mason jar full of coke!}
This is another restaurant where the waiters like to be provoked. We didn’t do much provoking because we were there to see some of our bestest friends from Orlando. However, our waitress literally threw our napkins and straws at us. And brought us more food than we could ever eat in 2 lifetimes. Look at this all-you-can-eat yumminess:
10. Cape May Cafe {at the Beach Club Resort}
This is a yummy seafood buffet. SEAFOOD. BUFFET. We ate more crab legs than I’ve ever seen in my life. And then had saltwater taffy for dessert. How great is that?
And Lydia liked it, too. I don’t think she’s ever been to a buffet. She thought it was magical. Plus, you could write on the paper tablecloth. So, that was pretty special.
Other restaurants we ate at: Columbia House, Flame Tree Barbecue, Tusker House, Yak & Yeti Counter Service, Earl of Sandwich, Sunshine Seasons, Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck Express, 1900 Park Faire
Hungry yet?!
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I am NOT a Disney employee. All thoughts are mine. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Disney Company. And if you are a Disneyphile, please don’t check my facts on this post. I may be a Disney Moms Panelist but I’m not perfect!
