Restaurants

From fast food on the fly to fine dining establishments, there are literally hundreds of restaurants scattered throughout Walt Disney World, including those at the theme parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom), the Disney resorts, and the "official" hotels. And those totals don't include the eateries located throughout the Downtown Disney areas of Pleasure Island, West Side, and the Marketplace. As a general rule, the food at Disney is decent enough, though only a small handful of the restaurants would truly qualify as gourmet. Portions are generally large, practically ensuring that you'll never walk away hungry, though prices match portion sizes accordingly. Be prepared to spend a rather hefty amount each day for just a few meals, a snack, and a drink (or two). If you have kids, sharing may be a good option, especially with very young children who tend not to eat so much when on the go. For those unwilling to share, sit-down and counter-service eateries, at least in the theme parks, do offer pint-size platters in the $4 to $9 range (though some may cost up to $12). Another option is to order a la carte, but don't expect to see this listed as an option on the restaurant menus -- you have to ask.

The prices for meals at Orlando restaurants -- except at theme parks and other attractions -- are no more exorbitant than you'd find anywhere else. The better the restaurant, the higher the price you can expect to pay (though you shouldn't necessarily consider a restaurant's pricing a benchmark of its quality). To help you out a bit, the restaurants in this section have been categorized by the price of an average entree per person. In this section, restaurants in the Inexpensive category charge less than $10 for an entree; those in the Moderate category charge anywhere from $11 to $20. Expensive restaurants will set you back $21 to $30, and Very Expensive restaurants will top that, sometimes by a rather large margin. Do note that when you toss in drinks, appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and the tip, the final tally at even a moderate restaurant can get rather high. Be sure to budget accordingly.

One last note: The restaurants I list in this guide occasionally change menus (sometimes seasonally, occasionally weekly, in some cases even daily). So items I feature may not necessarily be on the menu when you visit. And, as entrees vary, so do prices.

Special Tastes -- When it comes to eating at Disney, just because something's not on the menu doesn't mean it's not available. Looking for kosher food? Worried WDW can't entertain your vegetarian taste buds? What about low sodium, low sugar, or fat-free diets? Disney can usually handle these and other lifestyle diets as well as other special dietary requirements (meals for those with allergies or a lactose intolerance) at any of their full-service restaurants as long as guests give Disney advance notice -- 3 days is suggested to accommodate special dietary needs, while at least 24 hours is necessary for lifestyle diets. This holds true for other dining requests, too. If you are headed to one of the resort's restaurants and know your kids may have a tough time with the menu, chicken nuggets and some other kid-friendly items can be requested in advance. It's easiest to make special requests when you make your Advance Reservations (tel. 407/939-3463) or, if you're staying at a Disney resort, by stopping by the Lobby Concierge desk.

On Again, off Again . . . on Again -- The Plaza Pavilion in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland was transformed in the spring of 2005 into Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. Its menu includes Oriental-style chicken and beef dishes, egg rolls, and other Asian-themed cuisine. This is one of the prettiest and largest outdoor seating areas in the park; you can eat out in the fresh air even as you get a respite from the hot Florida sun. And as an added bonus, you get a great view of the gardens, waterways, and Cinderella Castle. If you have picked up a sweet treat along one of Main Street's eateries and can't find a place to sit down (as is often the case), this is the perfect place to head as it's often overlooked by visitors. Note: Since its debut the Noodle Station has been open only sporadically, so be sure to check your guide map to see if it's open when you're visiting. All items cost $6 to $8.

ImagineThat! -- Disney's latest addition to its lineup of unique dining experiences is Dine with an Imagineer! The dinner series offers guests an opportunity to dine with, and learn from, Disney's Imagineers. Each week a different presenter shares their experiences and expertise as guests are treated to an impressive meal in the casual yet upscale setting of Artist Point (Disney's Wilderness Lodge). The dinner program is offered every other Thursday at 5:30pm at a cost of $89 per adult ($110 with wine pairing) and $40 per child. If you're staying at a WDW resort, your lobby concierge can make arrangements or you can call tel. 407/939-3463 to make reservations (up to 60 days in advance with a credit card, a 48-hour advance cancellation policy applies).

Your Just Desserts -- After a day of pounding theme park pavement, a sweet treat is just the ticket. Just some of Disney's bestsellers include a warm berry cobbler (Artist Point), Strawberry Napoleon (Flying Fish Café), old-fashioned s'mores (50's Prime Time Café), Jack Daniel's mousse cake (Yachtsman Café), Key lime pie (Olivia's Café), grapefruit cake (The Hollywood Brown Derby), and a satiny crème brûlée (Disney's Grand Floridian). In their efforts to satisfy your sweet tooth, Disney's pastry chefs use slightly more than 700,000 pounds of sugar and 300,000 pounds of chocolate in a single year.

Advance Reservations at WDW Restaurants

Walt Disney World's Advance Reservations system, while similar to a reservation, is not nearly as rigid. Essentially, the system guarantees that you will get the next available table that will accommodate your party after you've arrived at a restaurant (which should be 5-10 min. prior to the time you've reserved). In other words, a table isn't kept empty while the eatery waits for you. As such, it's likely that you'll end up waiting anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, even if you arrive at the time you scheduled your meal. You can arrange Advance Reservations 180 days in advance at most full-service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney resorts, and Downtown Disney. Advance Reservations can also be made for character meals and dinner shows throughout the World. To make arrangements, call tel. 407/939-3463; groups of eight or more can also call tel. 407/939-7707.

Nighttime dinner-theater shows can be booked up to 180 days in advance as well, a notable change from the previous time frame of 2 years. Be aware, however, that these dinner shows require full payment in advance and that cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the time of the show to avoid penalties. Note: Since the Advance Reservations phone number was instituted in 1994, it has become much more difficult to obtain a table as a walk-in for the resorts' more popular restaurants. I strongly advise you to call as far ahead as possible, especially if you're traveling during the peak seasons. It wouldn't hurt to mark your calendar and enter the phone number into your speed dial either. Amazingly, some restaurants, especially the dinner shows and character meals, can book up quite literally within only a minute or two of the phone lines opening (7am EST) on that 180th day out.

If you don't make your dining plans in advance, you can take your chances by making your Advance Reservations once you have arrived in the parks. In addition to the places listed, you can always head directly to your desired restaurant to see what's available.

Nearly all WDW restaurants with sit-down or counter service offer children's menus with items ranging from $4 to $7, though in a few cases they're $9 to $12. Some include beverages and sides.

Coming Attractions

At press time, Disney announced it would add two new themed restaurants to its already long list of interesting dining opportunities. The first, an Asian restaurant slated to open in the summer of 2007, will complement Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest attraction and will have the look and feel of a Himalayan village. The second, scheduled to open in 2008 at the Downtown Disney Marketplace, will be similar to the Rainforest Cafe, but with a prehistoric twist. Instead of dense jungles and hanging vines, you'll find a paleontologist's paradise with animatronic dinosaurs. Both restaurants will be owned in part by Landry Restaurants, the people who run the Rainforest Cafe.

On a Budget?

Magic Kingdom: Try a turkey leg from a cart ($5.75), fruits and snacks ($1-$3) at the Liberty Square Market, a hot dog at Casey's ($4), pastries at the Main Street Bakery ($2-$4), or a frozen fruity treat at Aloha Isle ($1.50-$4).

MGM Studios: Grab a burger and fries ($2-$7) at the Backlot Express, sweets ($2-$4) at the Starring Rolls Bakery, or fruits and snacks ($2-$4) at Anaheim Produce.

Animal Kingdom: The stir-fry and pot stickers at the Chakranadi Chicken Shop ($4-$6) are a good bet, as are the pizzas at Pizzafari ($6) and sweet treats at the Kusafiri Coffee ($2-$4).

Epcot: Head to the Kringla Bakeri og Café for dessert ($3-$4), or snack on a bratwurst or apple strudel at Sommerfest ($4-$6).

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Maps

• Epcot Dining
• Walt Disney World & Lake Buena Vista Dining
• Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Dining
• Downtown Disney Dining

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008 Author: Laura Lea Miller Pub Date: September 04, 2007 Price: $16.99				Related Titles: Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal SeaWorld & the Best of Central Florida, 5th Edition Frommer's Florida 2008 Frommer's Florida 2009

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