Tag: Dining

10 Excellent Entrees Under $15 at Walt Disney World

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

10 Excellent Entrees Under $15 at Walt Disney World   

In my own personal opinion, Disney is more than just attractions, and more than just details (which are a huge part of what I share here), but oftentimes a culinary exploration that so many guests overlook. As you wander the parks and resorts, it’s easy to miss the hidden gems of the vacation kingdom as you jump from attraction to attraction. However, once you find one prime dining location on property, it’s a part of the Disney experience that you won’t soon forget. 

Would you rather listen than read? Check out this weeks podcast where we cover this topic in greater depth! 

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 Of course, Disney dining can be quite expensive, especially when traveling with a large family. To narrow down some of the vast options across Walt Disney World, today we’ve assembled a list of 10 Excellent Entrees Under $15! 

(Update: August 2018) If you came across this post back in October of last year, we’ve got good news. We’re back with 5 more entrees you may want to check out in addition to the first five we originally shared!  

1. Whispering Canyon – Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich ($14)

For many years, Whispering Canyon has been a top pick for our family vacations and a place that we’ve come to expect a good meal from each and every time we visit. The cast on hand is outstanding (see our article: Legendary Cast of the Disney Parks – “Sunshine” From Whispering Canyon) and the atmosphere is fun and uniquely Disney. The Slow-Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich is one of my favorite entrees on property, especially when you consider the cost (and at a table service location). The sandwich is very large and easily enough food to leave you full and happy for many hours in the parks. 
In my own personal opinion, this is the best budget Magic Kingdom lunch option available. Of course, it is not located in the Magic Kingdom, but what many guests overlook is that this offering is typically less than 15-20 minutes away from any single point in Magic Kingdom. Hop on a designated Wilderness Lodge shuttle boat, outside of the Magic Kingdom gates, and a few minutes later you’ll arrive at the resort’s dock. From the dock, head to the main resort lobby and you can’t miss Whispering Canyon. You’ll hear the excitement of the atmosphere from across the lobby! 

Interested in breakfast? We highly recommend that as well! Check it out in our Whispering Canyon Breakfast – A Closer Look and Review post!

2. Floatworks – Catfish Po’ Boy With a Dessert of Beignets ($14.98)

Floatworks, over at Port Orleans French Quarter, is perhaps my favorite counter service location on property. While I raved about the location in Our Top 5 Quick Service Dining Options at Walt Disney World, one particular entree on the menu peaks my interest each and every time I visit, The Catfish Po’ Boy. This item is the must do option in my opinion out of the many offerings on the menu. It is supposedly a seasonal (or at least they do not claim it is always available) variation of the Shrimp Po’ Boy, but I have yet to visit when it was not available when I ordered it. While the sandwich alone costs much less than our $15 limit for today’s scenario, you can pair this entree with 3 Beignets (a French Quarter must do) to really complete your dining experience and still remain at only $14.98! You will be hard pressed to find that large of a meal anywhere on property, complete with dessert, for that low of a price (by Disney cost standards).     

3. Geyser Point – Classic Bacon Cheeseburger ($12.49)

I stumbled upon this great option on a recent stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We were staying club level (which just happened to work out well given our situation) and wanted to fill in the “gaps” left by the snack meals provided by the club level accommodations on our resort day. We were out by the pool and and decided to split a burger. To be quite honest I had heard good things about the food at Geyser Point, but really didn’t expect much from a standard cheeseburger. I was anticipating a typical Disney counter service cheeseburger, so when it arrived in a transportable package ready for the pool topped with tillamook cheddar cheese (really great cheese!) and accompanied by freshly made waffle fries, it was certainly a shock. 



After finding a seat by the water, on a hot Florida summer day, we gave it a taste and quite honestly found a cheeseburger that may just overtake my current favorite sandwich deemed One of the Best Burgers on Disney Property! 
   

4. The Boathouse – Filet Mignon Sliders ($14)

As the second true table service entree on this list, the Filet Mignon Sliders allow you to experience the high end and immersive environment the dockside boathouse dining location provides while not breaking the bank. At just $14 dollars, the sliders provide the melt in your mouth incredibly high grade beef you would expect from a luxury steakhouse (which it is in addition to many other things) in a bite size package. I will say that the sliders are served with a side of french fries. The fries are excellent as well, but the entree as a whole remains fairly small. Still, considering the price, it’s hard to beat. If you want to read more about our overall Boathouse experience, you may want to take a quick look at our A Top Disney Springs Dining Option: The Boathouse Restaurant post.

  

5. Flame Tree Barbecue – Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich ($11) 

This particular item made the list for more than one reason. First and foremost, it is the iconic Animal Kingdom counter service offering and a great option if you are looking for a quick meal. However, on the other hand, I list this particular option to draw a key comparison you may want to consider. Above, I listed another pulled pork sandwich that is not only served at a table service location, but also is a much larger portion accompanying a small $3 price difference. Now, I do understand that Flame Tree is in a park so it will accompany a higher price tag, but in all honesty the Whispering Canyon entree is far better and a much better deal for the money. 

Also worth noting is that these sandwiches taste very different. Flame tree utilizes a slightly spicy sauce that is quite unique, while Whispering Canyon utilizes a very sweet sauce across their entire barbecue lineup. Both are excellent, but I have always preferred the Whispering Canyon variation. It not only tastes better (in my opinion), but it is also presented in a fun loving environment and accompanies an experience rather than simply a counter service style grab and go functional approach. As with any dining offering, your “mileage” and preferences may vary drastically from mine.  

6. Homecomin’ Kitchen – Thigh High Chicken Biscuits ($15) 

As one of our biggest surprises in 2017, Homecomin’ continues to exceed our expectations. The location is perfect, the food is excellent, and the staff is incredibly pleasant. Homecomin’ offers the iconic Art’s Famous Fried Chicken but the particular dish is a bit too pricey for our list at $28. However, you can still get a taste of that famous fried chicken in an appetizer offered on the menu that very easily could be ordered as a full meal. I will preface this particular item with the fact that I honestly have not tried this exact menu item, but the fried chicken is just a scaled down version of the excellent offering throughout many dishes on the menu. Additionally, the biscuits themselves are cheesy and wonderful (which I have tried) and the entire creation is topped with a honey sauce (with a kick of spice mixed in) that completes the ensemble. While this may not be the largest meal, unless combined with a side item or something of the sorts, you’ll get a chance to dine at a fun location at budget friendly cost.        
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7. D-Luxe Burger – Barbecue Burger ($11.99)

Just a short walk away from number six on our list is D-Luxe burger. I know what you may be thinking, “What’s so special about a burger?” Well, that’s just it, it’s a simple item but the simplicity is what makes this location great. They don’t try to do too much, but they still manage to create an excellent meal in an incredibly welcoming environment. Even though It does remain crowded most of the time, D-Luxe burger has a certain small town feel to it that takes you home while many of us are hundreds of miles away from our residence. Take a step out onto the covered outdoor seating and enjoy a beautiful view of Disney Springs, Morimoto, and even Chef Art Smith’s across the water. The food is great, and while the burgers are intentionally cooked a touch rare for my typically preference, the flavor more than makes up for it! Try the Barbecue Burger and you won’t be disappointed! The rather large sandwich is sweet with a salty flair and when paired with fries is one of the largest counter service meals you’ll come across at Disney Springs.       
Once again for a full review of our experience here check out D-Luxe Burger – A Good Meal With A Great View!

8. The Hollywood Brown Derby – Famous Cobb Salad ($11.00)

When we first debuted our original five entrees under $15 back in October of 2017, we had a few requests for something healthy to be added to the list. To be quite honest, that isn’t necessarily my strong point, but you all answered the call and provided me with an excellent option for guests seeking a healthier alternative or for those with specific allergies or dietary constraints. To my surprise, the suggestions came at one of the pricier dining locations on property, The Hollywood Brown Derby. The restaurant is a true classic of Hollywood Studios and according to rave reviews, the Famous Cobb Salad is a must try for many guests looking for a break from fried foods and heavier meals. Plus, you get the opportunity to dine in a very classy location without the pricey bill at the end of the night. 

9. Captain Cook’s – Hot Beef and Cheddar ($11.49) 

Moving back to a counter service option that is rather impressive, over at the Polynesian’s Captain Cook’s you can catch a quick meal while taking in the views in a location that even made our 4 Excellent Places to Relax During a Disney Vacation. The location offers a vast menu but one of my personal favorites is the Hot Beef and Cheddar. You can eat it with all the typical toppings including sweet chili mayonnaise, caramelized onions, and cheddar or make it simpler and remove anything you don’t want. As a result of it’s price you can pair it with a pastry or other item from the small array of bakery items and complete an excellent meal at a rather fair price. 

10. La Cantina de San Angel – Empanadas con Queso ($11.50)     

Last but certainly not least… until we decide to add on to this list once again… we have the Empanadas. For those of you who may not know, Empanadas are a fairly no frills dish at the Mexico pavilion which is a soft shell filled with cheese, fried, and paired with a unique slaw. When we first stumbled into this item we really loved it and it always gives us a chance to try something a little different that you can only get at one location on property in the World Showcase of Epcot. 


You see, experiencing a table service location, or making the most of a counter service option doesn’t have to break the bank. Disney debuts a vast array of dining offerings across an enormous platform of restaurants. These choices only scratch the surface as to what you can find as you search and prepare for your Walt Disney World vacation. Did a favorite of yours make our list? Have a favorite you’d like to share? Tell us about it in the comments!

If you enjoyed this article or know someone headed to Disney on a budget, be sure to share this with them! Thanks!  
      

Want to work with us here on the site or in the photography realm? Shoot me a message on social media anytime or email me directly at guide4wdw@gmail.com. We’re always looking for sponsors and new opportunities. If you ever have questions during your vacation planning or anything else feel free to message me there as well and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! 

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – A Near Perfect Epcot Dining Location

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – A Near Perfect Epcot Dining Location  

If you’ve read many of our articles here on the site, or even if you’ve read even one or too (we have a food “problem” when we travel lol), you know we’re no stranger to Disney’s lineup of dining offerings. However, on a recent trip we took the time to try a dining location we’d never quite taken the time to stop and enjoy on our way through Epcot. As you can likely guess from the title of this article, that dining location was none other than Via Napoli. 

If I’m being completely honest, I had a certain hesitancy about making a reservation for Via Napoli based on a previous experience we had at the near by Tuto Italia. Tuto Italia was and likely always will be one of the worst table service meals I’ve had anywhere on Disney property. It was near inedible. At first, I chalked it up to them just having an off day since that does happen at every restaurant. However, over time, I started talking to friends and others who had tried it as well and the results were undoubtedly consistent and consistently terrible experiences. 

So, as you can likely imagine, I was hesitant to try Via Napoli or any other Italian at Walt Disney World after that experience. At the same time, I was hearing repeat rave review after rave review of Via Napoli and at the urging of a friend I booked a reservation. 

As we made our way around the World Showcase this particular day, we arrived at our reservation over 30 minutes early. As soon as we walked in the door we were greeted and seated near immediately with no questions asked about being early. 

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Once we arrived at our table we were each poured a glass of ice water before our waiter even arrived. It was a nice touch of class that we didn’t entirely expect. After we ordered our additional soft drinks to accompany the meal, we took the time to review the menu and even ordered a caesar salad as an appetizer. The salad could easily be considered a full meal, but after seeing a few of them pass by we opted to split it among the four of us knowing full and well how much pizza we hoped to eat later on in the meal. While it was a pretty conventional caesar salad, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, the shaved mozzarella included in the mix was wonderful and quite flavorful (as you’d expect from a good Italian restaurant), and it easily bridged the gap between our order time and the arrival of our pizza to the table.    

In regard to our actual order, we chose to try the classic pepperoni pizza and the more unique Quattro Formaggi pizza featuring a white sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, and provolone. It sounds like a fairly simple “cheese pizza” but it is a far more intricate flavor palette than that oversimplification implies. Each cheese blends perfectly and the distinct flavors are noticeable in just the right way as you take bite after bite with each subtle variation of flavor.  Long story made short, this is, without a doubt, the best pizza on property and quite possibly one of the better pizzas I’ve had south of Chicago. Of course, Chicago pizza isn’t really a fair comparison because this isn’t deep dish and it’s not designed to be. At its root, Via Napoli serves pizza in a classic style that will likely exceed your wildest expectations. Paired with an excellent cast experience and an immaculately clean dining room, it’s certainly a meal that is hard to beat in the World Showcase.   

We did not have high expectations, but when we return in March for a short vacation once again, this is already high on our list of “must-do” experiences. If I had to share one word of warning it would be for the frugal folks reading this and it would be that this isn’t a super budget friendly meal. It’s not a hopelessly expensive meal but it’s quite likely that a family of four eating a reasonable amount of food could cost you in the neighborhood of $100+ dollars. If you do want to be bit more budget friendly, try ordering two individual pizzas and a salad to share if you have a party of four. We ordered two of the large pizzas and I’m 100% positive we over ordered… pictures do the size of these pizzas no justice. We still almost finished it (I told you we had a food problem lol), but for the average guest it’s typically more food than you’d want or need. Nonetheless you’re still probably looking at a $80+ meal unless you’re traveling with kids or exclusively drink water (which is an incredible way to save money anywhere on Disney property). 

At the end of the meal, the four of us unanimously agreed that it was one of the better meals we’d had anywhere at Walt Disney World. Additionally, we all said that we’d vastly prefer returning to Via Napoli over a buffet, or other more “classic” Disney go-to meals that so many guests feel obligated to eat at during their vacation experience.

Via Napoli was and is the perfect example of a restaurant that the typical guest will overlook time and time again. It’s a popular reservation but at the same time it doesn’t have the incredible demand someplace like Be Our Guest or Cinderellas Royal Table do and the food (in my opinion) is far better than either of those alternatives. 

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Lastly, it’s a great option for families with kids. It’s not a character meal, but what kid doesn’t like pizza? 

Would I go back?
I know the answer to this is likely obvious at this point, but I always like to finish food reviews with that exact question. Is it worth your money? Is it worth your time? Is it worth an hour or more of your oh so limited vacation experience? The answer to each of those questions is 100% yes! In fact, I’ve already booked this meal for our next trip! 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Ready to Plan?

Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to SHARE our new Disney dining “must do” with friends! If you’re booking a vacation and plan on spending some time at Disney Springs, be sure to check this place out!

Homecomin’ Kitchen: Our New "Must-Do" Disney Dining Location!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin
Just last Friday (when this article was originally written: Mid July 2017 – Updated December 2018), we had the opportunity to dine at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Kitchen. To be quite honest, I had heard outstanding reviews of the location, but really didn’t expect an amazing dining experience. I’m happy to say I was blown away by the level of service and incredible food the dining location encompasses. 

First off, we did have a reservation for dinner on July 7th at 6:00pm. We chose to spend that day of our trip at the resort just relaxing and taking in a few final minutes of Disney before flying home on Saturday. However, we wrapped up our time at the resort a little early and decided to head over to Disney Springs. Once we arrived, we decided to try to check in early for our reserved time (nearly 2 hours early), and the staff was more than helpful getting us a table much earlier than expected. After what was likely less than 10 minutes, we were at our table! 
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When you walk in the door at Homecomin’ you’re greeted by the smell of classic southern food and a friendly staff. At the check-in counter there’s a bowl of taffy to eat while you wait or take with you after your meal. While that is simply a little detail, it’s one of those things that sets a dining location apart from many others. (In a similar way, The Crazy Crab in Hilton Head Island, which many of you may have likely visited, has a characteristic key lime flavored candy at the welcome counter.) 

Once we were seated, our server arrived and really helped build the experience from the very beginning. As we pondered the menu, and attempted to narrow down our choices (which was extremely difficult because everything sounds good), our server made suggestions and helpful comments that were outstanding  Considering we were first time guests at the location, she made a special effort to share the location’s story and how a majority of the items are actually “Florida fresh,” and locally sourced. For me, that was a big selling point from the very beginning. Personally, if I can support the people around me in any way possible I’d much rather do that than an industry hundreds or even thousands of miles away. However, long story short, our server (Brooke – if you want to ask for her by name) was outstanding and really helped better our overall Homecomin’ experience. She gave truly honest opinion of what was served and really helped build an outstanding customer service experience!


After ordering, the food arrived fairly quickly and everything was brought to us hot and fresh.  All in all, we ordered four meals: Art’s Famous Fried Chicken, Fried Chicken and Donuts, The Chopped Pork Barbecue Plate, and another Famous Fried Chicken. We were fair warned that the portion size was huge by our server (we didn’t head the warning unfortunately), and she wasn’t kidding. The meals are huge and I wouldn’t have it any other way!  

Art’s Famous Fried Chicken was the crowd pleaser for sure! Honestly, it is the best fried chicken I have eaten in my life. Each piece is breaded and fried to a crispy texture, but the best part is, a majority of the bones have been removed prior to frying (with the exception of the chicken leg), so you can essentially eat everything that is brought to you. Even the larger sections of chicken were cut around the bone making it extremely easy to eat. this particular meal is served with mashed potatoes and cheddar drop biscuits, but the side can be traded out for others on the menu. The macaroni and cheese is a $2 up charge and we’ll share more on that later.   


The other fried chicken dish we ordered came with donuts opposed to the biscuits and was also outstanding. While in that particular meal you do get fewer pieces of chicken (see pictures), the meal is a simple variation of what is the Chicken and Waffles concept. The donuts aren’t incredibly overbearing with sugar, and the sauce that comes with them is equally as tasty! It really offers up that sweet and savory combination that just goes great together. 
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The chicken itself is amazing, it is a heavy meal, but a very juicy chicken with a ton of flavor. The sides are just as wonderful. The mashed potatoes are smooth and rich with an abundance of flavor paired with an equally creamy gravy. The Macaroni was outstanding, extremely filling, and is quite a large portion (hence the up charge). Another side we ordered, sweet potatoes, we’re supposedly outstanding as well, but personally I never could stand the taste of that type of potato. I had to pass on that one.

Last, but certainly not least, the chopped pork meal was really surprising. The sauce was quite sweet and the pork was extremely tender. Also worth noting is that Macaroni is included in the original pairing for this item on the menu, so there is no upcharge to order it with this meal.   

No one in our group ordered alcoholic drinks, but I will comment and say that this is one of the few places on Disney property where you can get “real” sweet tea. I’m from the city portion of Kentucky, so going a week without sweet tea is a challenge (lol). If you’re like us, enjoy it while you’re at this dining location and it won’t likely disappoint. 


All in all, this was one of the best meals, if not the best meal, we had during our vacation and I know I’ll be returning at some point in the future (hopefully sooner rather than later!). I understand this sounds like another over-positive review, but once again we paid for all of this out of pocket and I have very few complaints. Yes, as with everything on property it was a little pricey, but that’s to be expected. However, if I could change one thing, the only gripe I could come up with is that the drink prices are really high even by Disney standards. Everything considered, the staff was outstanding, very friendly, and the food was really hard to put into words. It’s true southern cooking at it’s finest! If you go, ask for Brooke if she’s there, and don’t forget to try the chicken! If you want to check out a full menu here’s a quick link -> Menu and Prices

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are! 


Ready to Plan?

Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.


Thanks for reading, and be sure to SHARE our new Disney dining “must do” with friends! If you’re booking a vacation and plan on spending some time at Disney Springs, be sure to check this place out!

Honestly, I don’t quite know how affiliated this property is with Disney, but they do take the dining plan and other Disney related discounts if you’re interested! Thanks again! 

8 Underrated Disney Dining Locations You Should Try!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin Kendall

8 Underrated Disney Dining Locations You Should Try! 

With the Disney parks continuously changing and growing year after year, it’s almost inevitable that a few dining locations throughout the parks and resorts will “fly under the radar” of most guests. Those little known or often overlooked dining locations tend to be some of the very best food offerings in all of Walt Disney World. 

In my opinion, dining is a huge part of any Disney vacation. It’s time to recharge after hours in the parks, a time to gather around the table with family or friends, and a time to create memories that you never quite expect. 

Disney dining, in many ways, has a unique way of bringing families together in ways in which we don’t always take the time to do when we’re at home and dealing with busy lives and different schedules that make it almost impossible to gather around the table as a family. To me, no matter how simple or how luxurious a meal is, a meal at Disney is a time to set the worries of life aside and is an opportunity to reconnect with those we care the most about. Often times it’s not about the meal itself, or the theming, or even the food (as much as I love the food!), but rather just being there in the moment.

Today’s list hinges on that thought process but we’ll also be looking at some of the lesser known or largely overlooked dining locations and meals you should consider during your next Disney vacation. Our “underrated selections” aren’t necessarily the least popular meals or even the tucked away gems of the parks, but rather the dining locations that many first time and even some returning guests walk right past or never even stop to consider before attempting to book the most popular table service locations or heading straight to the iconic counter service locations. We all have our favorites but you never know when something new may exceed your expectations and become a new favorite you return to year after year.  One of our goals when we travel is to try one new dining location each and every trip, and inevitably those new offerings become staple elements of future Disney trips.      
     
(Katsura Grill Gardens – #8)

1. Geyser Point 

Geyser Point is one of the few restaurants at Walt Disney World that I can say I’ve eaten at since it’s very first days open to the public. We loved it from day one! The location is spectacular, the views are second to none, and their cheeseburger paired with waffle fries is one of the best burgers on property. The outdoor area, which is full of fans and moving air, is perfect for a sunset meal overlooking the water and is the ideal hangout spot for warm summer nights or those perfect Florida spring temperatures. 

The location itself is a unique set up. There is a bar present, but there’s also designated seating for a table service-esque style meal. In addition to that there’s a walk up counter service area which is great for a quick meal. The food is great no matter how you order or what you order. I have yet to try anything I didn’t like. I you’re staying at the resort, consider heading to the Boulder Ridge pool where a cast member will bring your order out to you poolside! For a full look at the menu check this out.    

(Geyser Point Late Night Views)

2. Garden Grill 

Garden Grill is one of those restaurants that has undergone change after change over the years. Some changes were good, others were awful, but now the breakfast is one of the very best family style breakfasts on property. 

A few years back, we gave Garden Grill a second chance when their breakfast meal time offering debuted, and despite previous bad experiences, it exceeded our expectations. In previous years we had been really disappointed in the dinner menu, but we had always loved the unique scenery of the restaurant and the subtle rotation of the dining area so that guests could peer down on Living with the Land below. It’s an incredibly unique dining experience, but one that you hear very few things about in the online Disney community. If you’ve not tried it, be sure to add it to the list for your next Disney Vacation. The breakfast sticky bun is worth a visit all on it’s own! Here’s a closer look at the menu.     

In my opinion, this is the best table service breakfast in Epcot and while the price is fairly high, you do get the added bonus of it being a character meal for the kids in your group or those of us that are kids at heart. 


3. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn 

Moving over to a different realm of dining, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn is one of the best quick service restaurants in Magic Kingdom. The menu is relatively unique and features tacos, taco bowls, fajitas, and even nachos! The best part about all of this is that once you pick up your food there’s a large topping bar to add as little or as much as you’d like to your meal. There’s a variety of salsas, cheeses, and typical Mexican fare toppings and it is all kept incredibly neat and clean despite the massive crowds that can fill this restaurant during peak attendance days in the parks.

You may be asking why this is on our list if it’s crowded on most peak attendance days, but the answer is relatively simple. So many guests wrote off this dining location when the menu changed from burgers and fries to tacos and Mexican food. I’ve always been a huge proponent of a broader variety of food in the parks. This location is an ideal example of that! As a result, if you’re in the parks and want something other than burgers and fries, you not only have 1 alternative here but also Columbia Harbour House a short walk away with equally unique food that tastes great. Last but certainly not least, there’s no denying that Disney food is expensive, but if you’re getting food that tastes higher quality and is different than what you can find at other vacation destinations, it tends to make the cost more “worth it” in the end result. For a look at the whole menu check this out.       

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4. Kona Cafe 

Kona Cafe over at the Polynesian has notoriously been a dining location that you can typically walk up and get a reservation for. There are some exceptions to that on peak travel times, but for the most part it’s an overlooked hidden gem of a table service location. Kona often gets overshadowed by Ohana, but the food at Kona is much better than it gets credit for. The menu is unique and features a polynesian flair with the addition of pineapple and other citrus flavors into the food. It’s a pleasant change of pace when compare to some dining locations on property. 

Personally, I love Kona. Part of that is due to the atmosphere as you sit on the second floor off the lobby in the Polynesian, you can see the monorail pass outside, and you can smell the classic scent of the Polynesian resort all around you. It’s a great place to sit down and enjoy a relatively quiet meal before catching a monorail and making a quick trip over to the Magic Kingdom. 

One word of caution is that the menu here isn’t quite as kid friendly for the less adventurous eaters out there. They do have kids offerings, but it’s not going to be quite the same experience for kids as it is adults. If you’re on the dining plan with kids, skip Kona and use your table service credit for a meal at Ohana instead. If you’re traveling with adults and want to try something unique, Kona will not disappoint!       


5. Cape May Cafe

Cape May Cafe is honestly one of my absolute favorite buffets on Disney property. It is the pinnacle of great buffets and one of the cleanest buffets I’ve ever been to. There is literally a chef at all times wiping off the bar if a piece of pasta falls out of a bowl or a shrimp tumbles off of the pile. It’s an unbelievable level of attention to detail. 

If you like seafood, and in particular crab legs, Cape May is a tucked away hidden gem dining location at Disney’s Beach Club Resort just steps away from Epcot’s rear international gateway entrance/exit. It’s a fairly expensive meal, but one that will exceed your expectations. Reservations are typically plentiful and oftentimes even “day-of” reservations are available if you’re flexible about what time you want to dine. 

We covered the entire experience in Our New Favorite Disney Dinner Buffet – Cape May Cafe article. 


6. Yak and Yeti  

Yak and Yeti is another dining review we recently put together in our article Yak and Yeti Restaurant Review – The Overlooked Gem of Animal Kingdom?. The food exceeds expectations and is a location that many guests completely overlook. The indoor table service dining is excellent and offers a great variety of asian cuisine while being a near perfect escape from the brutal heat of Animal Kingdom in the summer. Paired with the table service dining and offering some carry-over dishes, the adjacent counter service Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes is a great option for those on a tighter budget or looking for a quicker meal that is almost as unique. The outdoor seating of the counter service location isn’t ideal for the hot summer months, but if the weather is good it’s a uniquely themed area that fits quite well with the overall experience of Animal Kingdom.  

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7. Roaring Fork 

Roaring Fork over at Wilderness Lodge underwent a refurbishment rather recently and I have to say the resulting experience is a hidden gem dining location. With both typical resort dining quick service fair mixed with more unique options like chicken and waffles or a pulled pork sandwich the menu is quite varied but fits so many different tastes. As an added bonus, there is both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is quite nice and underneath of a covered overhang that sits right next to the flowing waterfalls of the resort. 

Roaring Fork isn’t quite as good as Geyser Point, a few steps down the path, it does offer a greater variety of food and is a touch more kid friendly. It is one of the more impressive resort quick service locations and one that I highly recommend visiting if you’re staying at the resort or are at Magic Kingdom and want to escape the crowds for a few minutes. Not only is the food great but if you’ve not visited Wilderness Lodge before, it is well worth making the short (free) boat ride from Magic Kingdom over to grab a meal and explore the vastly intricate theming of Wilderness Lodge.      


8. Katsura Grill 

Katsura Grill is perhaps one of the very best tucked away gems of Epcot. As a little “hut” in the gardens of the Japan pavilion, Katsura Grill welcomes guests into a relaxing environment complete with sushi that sushi fans deem incredible. Personally I’m not a huge sushi fan, but it doesn’t stop me from exploring this area. It sounds a little strange, but if you take the time to walk up the hill and to wander the gardens surrounding the restaurant, it’s surprising how authentic the whole experience feels. At times, you don’t even feel like you’re in Epcot. It’s incredibly difficult to describe in words, but the restaurant and surrounding seating area makes you feel like you’re miles from the hustle and bustle of the city. It doesn’t  make sense but it’s well worth a visit!   

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.    


Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.    

Disney Dining Plan Tips for 2018 – Is It Worth It?

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney Dining Plan Tips for 2018 – Is It Worth It?

Today we’re talking about the Disney dining plan. One of the very first questions potential Disney parks guests tend to ask is, “Should I add the Dining Plan?” Sadly, it’s not a one size fits all answer and for a variety of reasons. If you do choose to buy the dining plan, for a family of four (adults) booking a four night stay at Disney resort hotel it is going to cost you around $1200 to add the dining plan. In my opinion, that begs the question, “Is it worth it?” and, “How can you make the most of the plan if you choose to purchase the Disney Dining Plan?” Those are the two main questions we hope to answer for you today.  

 (D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs)

To start off, there are three dining plan tiers at this point in time: 

1. The Quick Service Dining Plan [Price Per Night: $52.50 for Adults – $21.74 for Kids (ages 3-9)]

-The Quick service plan includes 2 quick service meals per night, 2 snacks per person per night, and one resort refillable drink mug (to be used only at the resorts).
  
2. The Disney Dining Plan [Price Per Night: $75.49 for Adults – $25.75 for Kids (ages 3-9)]

-The Disney Dining Plan is what most guests choose to go with if they choose to purchase the add-on and is the plan we’ll be offering tips for today. This option includes 1 quick service meal, 1 table service meal, and two snacks per person per night of your stay. You also receive the refillable mug. 

3. The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan [Price Per Night: $116.25 for Adults – $39.99 for Kids (ages 3-9)]

-The last plan is perhaps the least utilized simply because of the sheer amount of food the plan includes. Honestly, unless you’re going to Disney solely with the intent to eat all the time, I do not recommend this option. It includes 3 meals per person per night (quick service or table service), 2 snacks, and the refillable drink mug once again.    

Each plan has it’s strengths and price differences but inevitably which plan is best for your situation is something that has to be considered on a case by case basis. Personally, we have always opted for the standard Disney Dining Plan option (#2). As prices climb and more filling and diverse offerings arise in the realm of quick-service, option #1 is getting more and more intriguing with the Quick Service Dining Plan. At the same time, we rarely use the dining plan and I’ll explain why at the bottom of this article.  

While keeping that in mind, we’re going to move into some of our top tips for utilizing the dining plan to the best of your ability. 

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Don’t “bankroll” Your Snacks 

I know this tip sounds somewhat ridiculous, but far too many guests hoard their snack and meal credits and then end up having to rush to a gift shop or resort dining location at the last minute to utilize all their leftover snack credits the night before they check out. For those of you who may not know, you’re given your “daily allotment” of meals and snacks in one big lump sum on the first day of your trip. It doesn’t matter if you use 5 counter service credits on the first day and none the next day, or 2 table service credits in one day and then none the next. It’s a running total for your length of stay. Inevitably, many guests think to save their snack credits for another day of their trip. Trust me, I’ve learned this one the hard way and the best way to overcome it is that if you see something you want to eat, just use the snack credit and eat what looks good in the moment. If you try to carefully plan it out, you’ll be thinking back on this article as you scourer the gift shop for travel stable snack credit purchases. 

(Garden Grill Breakfast) 

Get Creative  

Building on the last tip, if you do get stuck with extra snack credits or meal credits at the end of your stay, get creative about what you choose to buy. One of our go-to tips for getting rid of those snack credits is to stock up on shelf stable items. For example, the little metal mint containers almost every gift shop sells are considered a snack credit. They don’t go out of date, they travel incredibly well, and they’re not liquids that the TSA will take when you get to the airport. A few other great options are Disney themed PEZ dispensers, wrapped Mickey-Shaped Rice Krispy treats, and the Chip and Dale trail mix bags. In a normal situation there are far better snack offerings than these and this the only time I would recommend using snack credits for these type of items, but if you’re in a  pinch it’s far better than trying to eat 6 cupcakes the night before you leave (or is it???).

Pick Better Meal and Snack Items 

From a guest experience perspective this seems relatively obvious but for first time guest you may have no concept of the diversity in Disney dining offerings. Particularly at the quick service tier, try and avoid options like Starlight Cafe or the Electric Umbrella in favor of a more creative dining options like Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland or Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. The variety of food and the quality of food available at this point at Walt Disney World vastly exceeds the old days of simple amusement park cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets. 

Snacks follow a similar frame of thought. Avoid the ice cream carts unless you’re looking for that classic Mickey Bar and instead make your way to the Main Street Confectionary for a fresh baked treat. Over at Epcot, the same is true. Pass up the simple frozen and packaged foods you can get anywhere around the country and use your snack credit for an incredible French pastry at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie in the France pavilion. The possibilities are endless but knowing you have options is a huge key to making the most of your dining plan selections. 

(Garden Grill Breakfast) 

Order What’s Expensive 

One of the true highlights of actually using the dining plan is that in many cases you can order just about anything you want on the menu. Some places you have more options than others, but there’s really no price cap on what you can order. If you want to order something you’d otherwise shy away from due to price, the dining plan gives you that freedom because, in essence, it costs you nothing more!      

Try Something New 

Along the same lines as the above tip, the dining plan gives you a certain freedom to try something you otherwise would have never tried. Inevitably, this is only a perception in your mind because you already paid for your meal in a different way, but there is a different thought process when you look at a menu when you’re on the dining plan. It’s relatively difficult to explain but if you’re looking at the menu you may see an item like a New York Strip Steak. Maybe you’re not typically a fan of that type of meat for the cost, or quality, or any number of reasons, and you may prefer a filet instead. Well, if the menu has a 10 ounce New York Strip Steak or an 8 Ounce Filet at a similar price you might just order the New York Strip even though you typically wouldn’t. At times, the whole dining plan ordering process messes with your mind and makes you think about ordering in an entirely different way. In my opinion, it’s a good change of pace and creates a new level of freedom when dining in the parks. 


Consider the Costs of Gratuity

When many guests book a dining plan they tend to assume that gratuity is included in the plan. Unfortunately that is not true. Instead, gratuity is paid by the guest at each chosen dining location for table service meals. You can add a source of payment to your Magic Band to use to pay the gratuity, but it is not included in your package price. 

Typically the cost of gratuity isn’t something you necessarily budget for, but at Disney you almost have to in order to have a reasonable estimation of what your vacation will cost in total. Gratuity can be higher at Disney dining locations due to the overall face price of the meal (especially if you order the most expensive items). At a minimum, expect to pay around $30-$40 per table service meal in gratuity at Disney’s recommended 18%. Some meals may be higher and some may be lower but at $30+ dollars per meal, it’s something you should certainly consider when budgeting out your trip. 

Is it Worth It?

Truthfully, this is one of those questions I’ve been asked more times than I can count. I love answering this question because most people don’t entirely realize what the dining plan costs until they see it laid out in their package and, more importantly, many assume they’re saving money. In nearly every situation, you are not going to save money by buying the dining plan. Each plan, when you do the math, is within cents of what you would pay out of pocket to buy the same items that are included in the dining plan. I’ve done the math more times than I care to admit but it is shockingly close to what you would be spending out of pocket, even if you order the most expensive items on every menu. 
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On the other hand, if you go at purchasing it from the perspective of convenience, it is worth every penny for most guests. It is the most convenient and least stressful way to pay for dining in the Disney parks. That’s what it was designed to do and it does so near flawlessly. For a typical guest, that isn’t overly concerned about saving money during their trip, I do recommend buying the dining plan. For the guest looking to save money on your Disney trip, avoid the dining plan. 

Chances are (at least when we travel to the parks) you wont eat everything that would have been included on the dining plan. In that situation you are automatically saving money. Multiply that small savings each day times each member of your group and your length of stay and you may be surprised at how much you can save. 

Personally, I no longer use the dining plan unless it is part of a promotional offer. The reasoning behind it is simple. First, it tends to allocate more food than you need to or even want to eat. It’s great for the first few days but if you’re maxing out your choices on the dining plans you tend to be miserable by the end of a week long vacation. Second, and more importantly, it doesn’t really fit the way we dine at Walt Disney World. We split meals, park hop all the time, and have been known to do two table service meals in a day and then the next day just eat snacks throughout the day at Flower and Garden Festival or something of the sort. The logistics of keeping up with it just isn’t worth it for us. Long story made short, we simply eat sporadically and a “plan” just isn’t the best option for us. 

That’s the key to the dining plan in general. You have to figure out if it is going to work for your given situation and your individual needs. Do you have a kid that is a picky eater? The dining plan is great for that because of the options it provides. Do you travel solely for the culinary experience? This might be perfect for you! Do you travel with a massive group that is going to be near impossible to keep track of doing credits within? The dining plan may not be the best option of you! 


Hopefully, if nothing else, this article helped you think through the dining plan as a whole. If you’re still lost, feel free to drop a comment on this post on your favorite social media platform or feel free to email me directly! Additionally, consider giving our friends over at Destinations to Travel a shout (using our quote request form below). They know these plans like the back of their hand and they help us out in return in various ways. It also helps you support the site at no cost to you! Their services are completely free to utilize and are who we recommend because it is who we have personally used! 

Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.      

Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.

Save

Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way. 

Yak and Yeti Restaurant Review – The Overlooked Gem of Animal Kingdom?

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Yak and Yeti Restaurant Review – The Overlooked Gem of Animal Kingdom?

Dining and Disney tend to fall hand in hand due to the sheer amount of guests that traverse the park from day to day. In fact, there are over 400 places to eat on the 47 square miles of central Florida that Disney owns (even though much of that is untouched land). It’s a staggering statistic but just goes to show that there’s always something new to try each and every time you return to the parks and resorts. Nobody has seen and done it all, and today’s article is a great example of just that. In our 20+ years of Disney experience, we had yet to step foot in Yak and Yeti until our most recent trip to the parks. I have no idea how or why we waited so long to give it a shot.


Actually, in a round about way, I do know why we had yet to eat at this dining location and it hinges entirely on how much time we used to spend in Animal Kingdom. An average Animal Kingdom day for us was a half day in the park to hit some highlights and then we would move on our way to Epcot or Magic Kingdom to finish out the day. Pandora and the nighttime entertainment of Animal Kingdom changed all of that. Now, just to hit the highlights of the park you have to spend a good portion of a day there and, as a result, dining in the park becomes a portion of that experience. That single change in timing lead to today’s article but it also changed the way we look at dining at Animal Kingdom overall. Up until Pandora debuted, it was a shockingly rare night if we spent an evening in that particular park. For comparison, on our last trip, we left Animal Kingdom after the park officially closed for the night. The nighttime entertainment changed everything. 

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Getting Reservations 

Moving on to today’s topic, Yak and Yeti arrived on our “dining radar” almost by default. Earlier in our trip, we had taken the time to stop by T-Rex at Disney Springs as a result of our Landry’s Select Club benefits (which we wrote in depth about in our How Our Party of 4 Guests Ate At T-REX for $15! – Disney Springs Dining article). For those of you who may not know, Yak and Yeti is technically a Landry’s operated restaurant. The cast members in the restaurant don’t wear Disney name tags, you wont find distinct Disney branding anywhere inside the restaurant, and the reservation process is slightly different from Disney’s as well. You can book a reservation through the Disney dining website, but you can also walk up to the location and typically get seated. If you have a Landry’s Select card, you’re guaranteed front of the line access for walk up reservations. It’s a great perk and is the perfect way to escape the heat of the park for a great meal without having to worry about reservations. 

The Food 

The food itself is far better than I expected and we will be back in the future. Our typical travel group isn’t overly adventurous (which is probably another reason why we hadn’t tried this sooner), but it really doesn’t matter. The menu was great for us. If you wanted to, you could order Malaysian Seafood Curry, but if you want something simpler you can order the Kobe Beef Burger with sesame-soy mayonnaise and crispy shoestring fries. There is something for every dining preference. As odd as it sounds, my personal favorite item that we ordered was the House Fried Rice. The rice isn’t your typical “take out” fried rice but rather a mixture of different flavors, chicken, pork, and so much more. The portion is outstanding and easily fed two adults as a side item for a meal at $6.99. I won’t go through the whole menu but if you want to check out all of your options, feel free to use this link.


The Cost

Yak and Yeti isn’t a location that is is going to break the bank if you’re even remotely careful about what you’re ordering. Our family of four ate for well under $60 and had plenty of food. We decided to split meals and sides due to having another reservation later that day, but ordered the Firecracker Shrimp, 2 orders of House Fried Rice (pictured above), and one Kobe Beef Burger. As with most table service meals at Disney, we opted to drink water instead of soft drinks. Not only does it save you money but it also keeps you hydrated throughout the day when facing the Florida heat walking around the park.

      

My Recommendation

If you’re looking to try something new in Animal Kingdom without facing the cost associated with Tiffins or Tusker House, put this dining location on your radar. The food is a great blend of flavor while being recognizable, and if all else fails you’re not out $100+ like you could be for the other options mentioned. 

Additionally, I see this as an ideal table service lunch option for Animal Kingdom. If you’re still not sold, consider trying the quick service Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafe instead. The two locations are literally attached to each other and there is a fair amount of carry over between the two menus despite differences in portions and range of menu items.   

  

Wrapping Up

In the end, our party of four all agreed that this was and is a great value dining location while touring Animal Kingdom. It gives you that needed break from the heat, the staff is incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable, and the overall experience is hard to beat at it’s price point. We asked our server 5 to 10 questions before ordering, and she knew every single answer without hesitation. Our drinks were never empty, our food was piping hot when it arrived, and the casual yet intriguing design of the building makes you feel like you’re in the heart of Asia. The theming is never broken from the park around it and everything exceeded our expectations. 

One particular aspect of this location worth mentioning is that it isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for character meals or a direct Disney influence. It’s not going to give you that “Disney” charm that a character meal at Crystal Palace might, but it’s not designed to. It’s designed to stay distinctly authentic to the theming of the land it helps develop. In my opinion, the food is still incredibly kid friendly but if you’re looking for that kid specific experience you get from a character meal, you wont find it here. It’s a great meal, but typically more adult focused than some. 


Your Thoughts

As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need My Help?

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or free-lance work at Guide4WDW@gmail.com. If you need a landscape or theme park photographer, feel free contact me with photo requests or contracts. All theme park writing and photos will be assessed on a case by case basis. 
For anyone else looking to give me a shout or to have their questions answered by me, feel free to contact me anytime via that same email address! I never charge anyone to answer a question and I do answer all of my emails personally.      

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Need a Travel Planner?

If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.                    

How to Get Walk-Up Reservations at Disney Table Service Locations in 2018

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

How to Get Walk-Up Reservations at Disney Table Service Locations in 2018

With the near insane crowds that have essentially become the norm in the last five years of the Disney parks, it’s no surprise that most guests assume walk-up reservations have become a thing of the past. Truthfully, that isn’t necessarily the case if you know where to ask and how to ask. On a similar note, never give up on securing reservations because often times last minute reservations pop up for the most unexpected of dining locations. 

Today, I’m just going to jump right into it and skip my usual introductory remarks. Truthfully, there really is no perfect introduction to set the scene but rather a simple statement. Walk up reservations at Walt Disney World aren’t near as readily available as they are at Disneyland and other Disney parks, and in all reality the only “fool proof” way to secure reservations is to book them as early as you possibly can in your reservation booking window. This process and these tips for walk-ups should be an afterthought and at times walk-up availably is the exception rather than the rule. At the same time, it is vastly doable and I can honestly say we’ve had more last minute reservations in the last year than we have in the past 5 years combined (including a walk up on New Years Eve at Crystal Palace!) What made the difference? Well, here’s what we figured out.

1. Dont Be Afraid to Ask… and then ask someone else

I know, in the most basic sense, this sounds counter productive but knowing who to ask and trying more than once can make all the difference. If you go to a restaurant, you’re likely to find a check in area out front. In this case we’ll use Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom as the example. For that particular restaurant, there are two reservation/check in areas. One down at the bottom of the staircase and one on the patio area with a designated line. First, ask the cast member at the bottom of the staircase and if you get a “no” or very little information from them, go ask the other counter. Personally, I don’t know if they’re looking at the same information or not, but the answers you face can be vastly different. You never know unless you ask!  

2. Be Willing to Wait Around For a Few Minutes

If you ask for a walk up reservation, a vast majority of the time you’ll be given a pager or the cast member will take your phone number and text you when a table opens up and they can get you seated. If you don’t have a fastpass in the near future, take your pager and wait around for a few minutes. Sometimes they wont be able to tell you when or how long it will be until you will be seated, but if you’re willing to wait, a lot of times the wait is far less than you expect it to be. 

There tends to be an extraordinary amount of things to see and do within a two minute walk of most table service locations, so put your name on the list and go explore something you’ve never taken the time to do.    

3. Eat at Strange Times of Day

When eating at weird times of day and being willing to deviate from a set dining schedule, you really open up the realm of possibilities and your walk up success odds. So many people get in a rut and eat at the same time every single day. You’re on vacation! Switch it up and eat a late lunch at 3:00 in the afternoon or catch a breakfast at 10:30 in the morning. If you eat good table service meals you can essentially cover two meals with a late lunch or an early dinner. Our family is notorious for eating a late breakfast, skipping lunch, and eating an early dinner. Not only does it cut some costs but it also makes reservations a breeze and vastly increases the chances of a walk up.     

4. Ask for A Better Time to Check Back

This is my go to tip for anyone who couldn’t get the reservation they wanted. If you walk over to the counter and get a snappy response about the location not taking “walkups” (which is rarely true except for Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and other very high volume spots), first use tip number 1 and if that doesn’t work, ask if there’s a better time you can return for a better chance at a cancelation or filling in for a “no show.” The cast members who run these reservation counters and check in locations tend to know the guest patterns as a result of working the dining location almost daily. If you’re pleasant and ask carefully, they may share a tid bit of info with you about when to return and how to give yourself the best chance of a walk up. 

Once again, Crystal Palace is great about this. We were told a few years ago that if you arrive near the end of breakfast and the start of lunch, walk ups tend to be readily available. We decided to give it a shot and after a short wait of about 15 minutes (about the same wait time as you still face with a reservation to begin with), we were seated. If you’re flexible, you may be surprised at what information the cast can share and will share with you to make the most of your dining experience.   


5. Try Something New 

Many table service restaurants always have availability. If you know where to look and where to attempt to walk up, reservations are readily available if you are willing to try something new or something “off the beaten path.” A few good options I can name off hand are Via Napoli (outdoor seating only sometimes), Nine Dragons, Yak And Yeti (no wait with the Landry’s Select Club!), Skipper Canteen, The Plaza, Beaches and Cream, the Boathouse, Paddlefish, and basically any table service location at Disney Springs. The only park that can be a struggle to secure a meal at the last minute is Hollywood Studios. It can be done at Sci-Fi, but it is extremely hit and miss. Another option is the Brown Derby Lounge, which never requires reservations to begin with. If you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone and try something new, you may be shocked at what dining offerings you may come across and what location may become a new personal favorite for you. 

6. Dont Give Up On Online Reservations

If you really want one specific reservation and all the above tips have failed, keep checking the My Disney Experience App for cancelations. Personally, I’ve seen Be Our Guest reservations pop up the day of or the day before the meal would take place and it’s not all that uncommon! At times, guest flights get cancelled, trips get cancelled last minute, or unfortunate circumstances develop that require a guest to give up entirely on the meal they had previously planned. On top of that, many guests will hold dining reservations and drop them right before they get charged if they don’t cancel in an allotted time period. 

I’m not an advocate of having your phone in your hand every minute of every day, but if you have a few minutes waiting in line or waiting for a show to begin scroll through the app and see what you can find. If something you want pops up, book it quickly, but also be aware that if you do not show up for the reservation you book you will be charged $10 per guest in the booking party. 


Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.                   

D-Luxe Burger – A Good Meal With A Great View!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

D-Luxe Burger – A Good Meal With A Great View!

In its simplest form D-Luxe burger is, in my opinion, a rustic and charming restaurant at Walt Disney World that tends to exceed expectations. Sure, at first the menu doesn’t seem all that creative and the options are somewhat limited for those who don’t necessarily want to eat a burger and fries. However, this isn’t your average cheeseburger and fries and it’s incomparable to the somewhat typical Starlight fast food cheeseburger you used to find nearly anywhere on Disney property. Thankfully those “cookie cutter” meals that you could find in nearly every park and resort foodcourt have basically gone away in favor of location based menus and more price worthy meals. 

When I say “price worthy” I do so for one main reason and that is to say that Disney food is obviously and undoubtedly expensive, but at the same time in recent years menu changes across property and new offerings are really helping guests feel like what they’re paying is now a “good deal” despite the high cost. 

D-Luxe Burger is the perfect example of that aforementioned concept and even tends to remind me of another dining location we went as far as to call A Disney Hidden Gem Dining Location! The prices are expensive, but at the same time you get a fair amount of food and a high quality meal with a few added perks along the way for the high cost. 


Location

This unique dining opportunity was one of the very first locations to officially debut in the Town Center section of the Disney Springs project and an opening that I can remember rather vividly. It became the talking point and what many considered the first true example of what this new area could be and should be as the construction project unfolded. The location was met with rave reviews and it quickly became one of the most talked about portions and openings in the new area. In many ways, D-Luxe quieted the skeptics of the Downtown Disney to Disney Springs overhaul and in many ways gave a “sneak peak” of what was coming and the level of detail we could expect. 

I can still remember the very first trip we made down after this place opened (I’m a little shocked it took me this long to review it) and the one thing that stood out to me more than anything else was how foreign and unrecognizable the expansions were but also how familiar it all seemed despite being entirely new. To me, the whole expansion and redesign always made sense and met and/or exceeded my wildest expectations. 

I’m not a huge shopper but projects like this one and other restaurants in the area gave me a reason to return to Disney springs for more than just shopping. If you like food… you have so many options, if you like shopping… thats covered too, and if you can simply enjoy a nice view… they’re everywhere you walk! To me, that last point is a huge highlight of D-Luxe Burger. After grabbing your meal, you can head our onto the deck and enjoy your food with a shockingly picturesque view of the glowing lights over the turquoise waters of the Springs. The lighting is perfect and a warm and inviting glow, and it sets the stage for a memorable sunset with a great cheeseburger and a friend or family to enjoy a little conversation with along the way. Of course, indoor seating is available (and we were actually almost forced to use it do to a pop up storm during our last visit) and it follows the rather rustic theming trend that encompasses many of the neighboring restaurants and shopping locations. The detailing has a somewhat industrial look to it (which seems to be all the rage right now… I have no idea lol – Obviously I don’t watch enough HGTV) and I have to admit it’s a surprisingly pleasant environment even on a the busiest of days.

If I had to pick out one week aspect of this particular venue, it would be the seating availability. On select nights, especially weekends, it can be quite difficult to find a seat with an average sized group and nearly requires a “runner” elected by your party to go and find a table while the others order the meals. It’s not ideal, but is certainly easy to work around.   


Food 

As mentioned, there isn’t a huge array of choices on the menu outside of burgers and fries but there is a rather excellent lineup of different burgers each with a unique flavor. Personally, my favorite options here are the Classic Cheeseburger described as a Signature Blend Beef Patty topped with Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onion and Pickle or the Barbecue Burger described as a Signature Blend Beef Patty topped with a Fried Onion Ring, Smoked Gouda, Bacon, Barbecue Sauce, Grilled Onion and Lettuce. Both options are outstanding and full of flavor but other more uniquely topped creations are available like the El Diablo Burger described on the menu as a Chorizo and Signature Blend Beef Patty, Fried Banana Peppers, Pepper Jack, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onion and Chipotle Mayonnaise. Burgers range in price from $9.99 to $13.99 and everything is ordered at a counter and then you are given a pager so that a runner can find your table and deliver your meal.


Fresh Cut French fries are served as sides in two sizes: Large – $7.49 and Regular – $4.99. A large is easily sharable among two or so guests and 6 different dipping sauces are available by request! I love trying sauces so this was and is a huge bonus every time we dine here. In the lineup of sauces you can find Three-Mustard and Honey, Garlic Ranch, Curry Ketchup, Chipotle Mayo, Horseradish, and Buffalo. The Curry Ketchup is a little strange but the variety of options is always a plus in my book and we almost always end up trying every sauce during our meal.


On the kids side of things you can find chicken nuggets or cheeseburgers. Lastly, there is a huge variety of shakes, but I’ll let you dive into the details of each of those here.

Overall 

From a “big picture view” I’d put D-Luxe Burger firmly in the above average category. It’s not going to blow you away with excellent food and while it’s very good food, the atmosphere is really the only thing that sets it apart compared to other Disney quick service offerings. Is it worth a try? Absolutely! We’ve eaten here multiple times and enjoyed it every single time, but there are better options if you’re looking for something a bit more unique to try while you’re at Disney Springs. 


When trying to put this one on a ranking scale, I struggle for a couple of reasons. One, if I took the location away from the food and the views away from the food, I don’t think I’d enjoy it all that much. On the flip side of things, compared to a traditional “fast food” or counter service of years past at Walt Disney World, this will vastly exceed expectations of returning theme park and Disney Springs guests. My opinion is largely a mixed bag and one thing in particular stops me in my tracks every time we eat here and it’s the cost. Let me reiterate, the food is great and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this dining location, but it is rather expensive and almost off-puttingly expensive even by Disney standards. An average meal is going run you around $20 per adult assuming you’re careful about what you order. For that kind of money I’d head over to Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge and enjoy a quieter meal, a better cheeseburger, and some amazing waffle fries for $3-$5 less than D-Luxe! Of course, that’s just my two cents, and obviously we’ve been back anyway for any number of different reasons but the cost is certainly something you’ll want to consider before putting this one on your list of dining location for your vacation.

If you’re willing to spend the money, I’d almost recommend walking around the corner to Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Kitchen where you can spend around $10 more and get a much larger meal, table service, and a far more unique menu for a few dollars more (depending on what you order). At that point, the cost is easier to rationalize and it’s more of an “experience” rather than simply a place to eat.   

If this particular dining option doesn’t strike your fancy, be sure to look at our other reviews here on the site on our Disney World Dining Tips – All Our Dining Posts In One Place page! 

Want to work with us here on the site or in the photography realm? Shoot me a message on social media anytime or email me directly at guide4wdw@gmail.com. We’re always looking for sponsors and new opportunities. If you ever have questions during your vacation planning or anything else feel free to message me there as well and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! 
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Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.



Disney Springs Restaurants – Our Top Picks and Must-Do Offerings

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney Springs Restaurants – Our Top Picks and Must-Do Offerings 

Over the last few years, Disney Springs has become the true must see location on Disney property. You don’t have to have a ticket to enter and you don’t even have to plan out your day there with the exception of a few potential dining reservations. It’s the perfect place to hang out and as 2018 progresses even more offerings will be unveiled to guests of all ages. 

Many of you who have been to Disney World may better understand Disney Springs as it’s former Downtown Disney title. While I’m a bit nostalgic and wish the days of the Adventurer’s Club and other classic aspects of the Downtown Disney experience were still around for the enjoyment of a new generation (including myself), I’d be lying if I didn’t say I love the changes that have unfolded. Without a doubt, the process has been a long and tedious construction timeframe, and we won’t even mention how long it took to construct the current parking structures, but the results undoubtedly speak for themselves. The area has been given new life and a new, entertaining, and beautiful setting that welcomes guests of all ages and backgrounds. Sure, some of the new experiences are quite expensive, but if you’re willing to look for it, a delicate balance can be found of high end dining and shopping with more reasonable opportunities (in regards to price) for those who do not intend to spend large amounts of money during their visit. 

I could talk about Disney Springs for days and could even share personal story after personal story of our experiences in the area over the last couple of years during and after a majority of the construction was completed. However, today we’re taking a look not at the past or even the future, but at what you can experience today at Disney Springs in regards to a culinary experience.

Honestly, I wouldn’t say we’re the most luxurious group of guests in the realm of dining, but we do appreciate a great meal at a fairly acceptable price. With that being said, on our list you’re not likely to find $100 steaks or top price menu items, but rather an honest analysis of the dining locations and entrees that most guests can afford for an entire family. We’ve tried these things from experience, but as with anything, your experience may very and your opinions of the food may very, but the joy of Disney dining is uncovering what works for you and your unique situation. With all of that being said, here are a few of our top picks for Disney Springs Restaurants.


Homecomin’ Kitchen

I would be saddened and disheartened if any Disney dining list left off Our “Must-Do” Disney Dining Location – Homecomin’ Kitchen. For me, no trip to Disney Springs is complete without a trip into Homecomin’. It is the ideal Disney Springs Restaurant. It isn’t typically over crowded, the prices aren’t too terribly high (in comparison to other Disney dining), and the food is second to none. It’s a place that makes you feel like a piece of the family. From the wait staff to the picturesque views out over the artificial aqua blue springs to the excellent food provided, in my opinion there is no better place to dine.

The food is largely based around homemade fried chicken and locally sourced items. As always, anything that is locally sourced is a bonus in my book, not only because of a desire to buy local, but also because the quality shines through in the end result. Everything on the menu tastes fresh and is a welcomed home cooked meal after a few days on vacation. Now, I may be little biased due to my southern roots here in Kentucky, but this is the dining location that works best for us and one that I’ll always support if the top quality experience remains steady or improves over time. I’m not partnered with Homecomin’ (even though I wish I was!), but the price is right at around $30 a person and the quality and quantity of food you receive vastly outweighs the price.

The Boathouse

The Boathouse is a Disney Springs Restaurant that I really hoped to enjoy on our first visit and to be quite honest it met but did not necessarily exceed my expectations. However, the food is excellent. The pricing is where this one takes a step back for me. Again, the food quality is excellent but the portion size in relation to what you pay for it needs to be improved on some entrees.

Even though that was a distinguishing factor of our experience, I would say that the atmosphere greatly makes up for the high cost. Every table is pleasantly set with white linens that are not off-putting to most guests while setting the stage for a classy yet somewhat casual dining experience. In a way, the location has a bit of a beach vibe to it that I really enjoyed. We visited the Boathouse on the very first night of our last trip and it really brought us into the feeling of the Florida oceanfront dining establishments while remaining in the heart of Orlando on the lake of Disney Springs.

The decor is second to none. The painstaking process that was made by Steven Schussler and his team to create a one of  kind experience full of history and authenticity is truly impressive to experience. From the iconic boat shaped table (if you’re lucky enough to dine in it) to the exterior bar out on the wooden dock area sitting directly on the water, it’s hard to beat the atmosphere. So, while I’d be careful what I ordered next time, I’d return to the Boathouse for the experience alone. It more than makes up for the cost and makes the whole dining location worth the price paid. For more details on what we ordered and what it looked like, be sure to check out our A Top Disney Springs Dining Option: The Boathouse Restaurant article.

Earl of Sandwich

As one of the most cost effective options on this list, Earl of Sandwich is a classic Disney Springs offering that dates back to the earlier days of Downtown Disney. For us, it has been the iconic Disney Springs counter service restaurant forever. If you’re looking for a quick meal before going back to shopping and enjoying the atmosphere of the Springs, this is the place to go. The food is reasonably priced, and one of the very best sub sandwiches you’ll ever get the chance to eat. My personal favorite pick is what is called The Full Montagu. The sandwich features roast beef, turkey, Swiss, cheddar, lettuce, Roma tomato, and a mustard sauce. There is very little that rivals the sandwich in the realm of sub sandwiches. The mustard sauce is a unique blend of sweet and tangy, and the bread is soft yet firm enough to hold together as you eat it one bite at a time. It’s an impressive meal for the money, no matter what you order.

Fair warning, go early on in the day if you’re planning to eat lunch or dinner or expect a long line to order your food. Earl of Sandwich is incredibly popular and well worth the the wait, but you may be standing in line for fair amount of time before you get to order. Either way, it’s well worth the time and money spent.

So, those are our 3 top picks, but now it’s your turn. What is your favorite place to dine in Disney Springs? The area has been unveiling more and more new features and with the debut of The Edison, Pizza Ponte, Maria and Enzo’s, the Polite Pig and many others, this list may change as we get the opportunity to go and enjoy new things on future vacations. Have you tried any of the newest offerings? Share your experience with us on your favorite social media platform!

The Polite Pig 

Sticking with food, one of the most recent offerings we’ve tried in the area is the Polite Pig. I was somewhat hesitant to try the location at first, but it turned out to be one of the best counter service options we’ve tried at Disney Springs. I’ve always loved barbecue and this is a unique spin on the traditional American classic. The food is incredibly flavorful and the spices used really round out a unique and varied array of menu items. Over the last few years and various Disney trips we’ve eaten here a few times and it has never disappointed. While we’ll be updating the review sometime soon, here’s a closer look at the first time we visited the Polite Pig and our initial thoughts. If you’re looking for a great meal for your arrival day, or before heading to the airport for a late flight on your last day, this is an incredible option. No reservations are required, the meal is relatively fast, and the food is outstanding. To our surprise, this option has jumped way up our list of must do’s at Disney Springs. While these listings aren’t in any particular order, for counter service offerings, this one is hard to beat!        

Ready to Plan?

Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you!  

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips, 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets, check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections! 

Disney World Dining Tips – All Our Dining Posts In One Place!

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney World Dining Reviews and Tips – All Our Dining Posts In One Place!

In my opinion, dining and Disney tend to fall hand in hand. For years I’ve been a firm believer that a good meal should be considered an attraction in and of itself. A great meal with a great cast member can make all the difference in your day and give you that perfect break and revitalizing few minutes of rest to continue on and really make the most of your time in the parks. Unfortunately though, not all Disney dining locations are created equal and restaurants tend to change and receive alterations on a nearly day to day basis

Keeping up with the trends, new additions, and top offerings are one of many things we try to share here on the site and while it’s a near impossible task to cover every little detail, hopefully these reviews and tips help you solidify and set up your dining plans (not to be confused with the Disney dining plan) for your next trip.

Speaking of the Disney Dining Plan, it’s no secret that I’m not necessarily a fan of the offering for our personal travels. We eat sporadically while we are in the parks and eat a varying blend of counter service and table service which doesn’t quite match up with Disney’s established packaged plans. On top of that, I feel that if you really make the most of your allotted dining plan credits, you’re never going to be short on food or looking for an extra meal. Chances are the opposite will be true and you’ll end up overeating if you really use those meal and snack credits for great dining locations across property. On the other hand though, it certainly has it’s benefits. One, it’s not like you’re paying more for what you’re receiving. If you bought the same items out of pocket that are included in the plan, the costs are near identical. The convenience factor and flexibility it offers is truthfully the driving force as to why it may be a good option to consider for select parks goers. Additionally, if you want to know exactly what your vacation is going to cost ahead of time, before you even arrive at Walt Disney World, the dining plan is the most ideal way to do so. The cost is upfront and known when you book your vacation. There are no surprises and you know exactly what to expect.

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(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); With that seemingly small caveat covered, dining at Disney can be a great or not so great experience. Typically when you ask someone about the food at Disney you get one of two responses. 1. “it was all fast food!” or 2. “It was amazing and we loved the variety!” What’s the difference between the two experiences? Location, Location, Location.

If you go to the parks and eat exclusively at the Electric Umbrella, Starlight Cafe, resort food courts, and places designed to be the “people eater” food locations, you’re going to leave a little disappointed. Those particular spots and those similar to them are designed to feed mass amounts of guests in a fairly quick fashion. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with these restaurants and every once in a while a simple cheeseburger or some chicken can be just the ticket for a meal that hits the spot, but if you eat that every day of a multi-day vacation it’s going to get old quick! Instead, if you take the time to explore the table service in the countries of the World Showcase, schedule a few table service meals, or look for something a little out of the ordinary compared to typical theme park food, the variety of other options can be shocking at times and the variety can make all the difference. That aspect of dining on its own is one of the main reasons we’ve written so many food related articles here one the site!

Disney Dining Reviews

Every once in a while we’ll dive into greater detail about a new favorite restaurant or one that we’ve grown to love over the years, and we’ll add it in to this list with it’s own feature review. We haven’t reviewed every dining location on property, and likely never will, but a few stand out offerings will warrant an in depth discussion. As always, if you ever want to see us try a new offering, give us a shout and we’ll see what we can do! Additionally, if you ever have questions, shoot us an email or message us on your favorite social media platform and we’ll gladly share some thoughts that may or may not have made our list of articles quite yet! You may notice a trend of positive reviews on our list and that’s not because anyone pays us to eat at these locations but rather because I don’t see a purpose in reviewing a restaurant that we had a bad experience at. If I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend I’ll rarely even mention the unfortunate and rare poor dining experiences here on the site.      

Disney Dining Tips 

Beyond dining reviews in the most literal form, we’ve shared a ton of dining and reservation tips for Walt Disney World over the last few years and the list continues to grow! Some of these will pertain to our top picks for dining, while others will share a few recommendations and learned ways to make the most of your Disney dining experience. If you let Disney be a culinary journey, you may be surprised at some of the world class offerings available in some of the most unexpected locations across Walt Disney World. We’ve yet to see and eat at all of the restaurants on property (a near impossible task), but there are certainly a few standouts among the various options that may exceed your greatest expectations. 
In the realm of Disney dining there are a vast variety of options and truthfully this only touches upon a few select highlights and tips that can be found online and even across this particular site. Disney is massive and the variety of food and types of dining experiences are immensely diverse. Often times picking what restaurants you want to and are able to fit into your length of stay is far more difficult than you may expect originally as a first time guest! 
Always be willing to try something new and you may be shocked at how much you enjoy an offering you would have never considered previously!  
Want to work with us here on the site or in the photography realm? Shoot me a message on social media anytime or email me directly at guide4wdw@gmail.com. We’re always looking for sponsors and new opportunities. If you ever have questions during your vacation planning or anything else feel free to message me there as well and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! 

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.