For some guests (including Buster and the Banshee), dining is a major part of a Walt Disney World vacation. It isn’t just a way to refuel between rides. In many cases, dining is the attraction.
Disney is known for offering a wide variety of high-quality food across many cuisines. Whether you’re craving Italian, barbecue, burgers, seafood, or classic chicken fingers, there’s something for everyone.
In this DISNEY 101 article, we’ll cover the basics of dining at Walt Disney World, including the different types of restaurants, how reservations work, and what accommodations are available for guests who need them.
Types of Dining Options
Disney classifies its food locations into two main categories: Quick Service and Table Service.
Quick Service Dining
Disney considers any dining location where you order your own food and are not seated by a host or served by a waiter to be Quick Service. This includes a wide range of styles, such as:
- Counter-service restaurants
- Cafeteria-style locations
- Grab-and-go spots
- Food booths and kiosks
- Food trucks
- Some bars/lounges that serve food
Disney isn’t always consistent with how it labels these locations. For example, Liberty Square Market (an outdoor fruit stand at Magic Kingdom) is listed as Quick Service on Disney’s website, while the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (an indoor shop) is not.
For practical purposes, though, these locations all function the same way, so we will consider them to be Quick Service
Mobile Order
Many Quick Service locations offer Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience app. This allows you to order and pay for your food on your phone, then pick it up without waiting in a traditional line.
This feature is a huge time saver, and we highly recommend using it whenever possible.
Here’s how Mobile Order works:
- Find the restaurant in the My Disney Experience app and select Order Food
- Choose an arrival window or pickup time
- Select your items and pay through the app
- When you arrive, tap I’m Here in the app
- Wait for the notification that your food is ready
- Pick up your order at the Mobile Order window
At very popular locations or during peak times, you may need to select a pickup time later in the day. Ordering early can help you secure a better time slot.
Table Service Dining
Table Service dining is what most people think of as a traditional sit-down restaurant. A host seats you at a table, a server takes your order, and your food is brought to you.
Most Table Service restaurants at Walt Disney World accept advanced dining reservations, and many of the most popular locations book up weeks or even months in advance.
Types of Table Service Dining
Within the Table Service category, there are several important sub-types to be aware of.
Character Dining
These restaurants feature Disney characters who circulate through the dining room, stopping at each table to interact with guests. This is a great way to meet characters and take photos without waiting in long lines. Fun for kids of all ages.
Dinner Shows
These combine a meal with live entertainment. Currently, the only dinner show at Walt Disney World is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness.
Dining Packages and Events
These special experiences include a meal along with guaranteed or priority seating for a show or nighttime spectacular. Examples include fireworks dessert parties, Fantasmic dining packages, and festival concert dining packages at EPCOT. These must be booked as specific packages.
Signature or Fine Dining
These locations offer an elevated dining experience due to food quality, service, atmosphere, or uniqueness. While they may feel more upscale, most are still family-friendly. This is Disney, after all.
A La Carte vs Prix Fixe vs All You Can Eat
Table Service restaurants can also be grouped by menu style.
À La Carte
You order individual items from the menu and pay only for what you choose. This is the most common and flexible option.
Prix Fixe
You pay a fixed price per person and choose one item from each course category, typically an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. This offers less flexibility and may not appeal to lighter eaters.
All-You-Care-to-Enjoy
This includes buffets and family-style meals. For one price, guests can eat as much as they want. This can be a great value for big appetites, but less so for smaller ones.
Note that specialty beverages and certain premium items may cost extra, regardless of menu style.
Finding Restaurants
With hundreds of dining options across Walt Disney World, finding the right restaurant might feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Disney provides several helpful tools.
Using the Walt Disney World Website
The Dining section of Disney’s website allows you to filter restaurants by:
- Location
- Dining type
- Cuisine
- Price range
- Disney Dining Plan eligibility
This is a great way to narrow your choices before your trip.
Using the My Disney Experience App
The app offers even more flexibility:
- Use the search icon to find restaurants by name
- View all dining options in a park using the Tip Board
- Check nearby availability when you’re hungry
- Start a Mobile Order directly from the app
- Join walk-up waitlists at select Table Service locations
The app is especially helpful once you’re already in the parks and need to make decisions on the fly.
Dining Reservations
Most Table Service restaurants accept reservations up to 60 days in advance, starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Guests staying at Disney resorts (as well as Swan & Dolphin and Shades of Green) can book reservations for their entire stay—up to 10 days—starting 60 days before their check-in date. This is a major advantage when booking popular restaurants.
For high-demand experiences, booking right at the 60-day mark gives you the best chance of getting the time and location you want.
Cancelling Reservations
Most reservations can be canceled without penalty up to two hours before the scheduled time. Late cancellations or no-shows typically incur a $10 per person fee.
Some special dining experiences have stricter cancellation policies, so be sure to check the details when booking.
Dining Accommodations
Mobility Accommodations
Most restaurants can easily accommodate guests using wheelchairs or ECVs. You may remain in your mobility device while dining or transfer to a chair if you prefer.
If you need to remain in your wheelchair, it’s a good idea to note this in your reservation when you make it. Some seating areas are harder to access, and advance notice helps the restaurant prepare an appropriate table.
Dietary Restrictions
Disney does an excellent job accommodating guests with food allergies. Many restaurants offer allergy-friendly menus and can prepare meals without common allergens, including eggs, fish, milk, nuts, soy, and more. They can also accommodate other common dietary requests, such as low-carb, low-sodium, plant-based and more.
If you have questions or concerns, you can contact Disney in advance or speak with a Cast Member at the restaurant. Disney is generally very proactive and flexible when it comes to dietary accommodations. For more information, you can visit Disney’s Special Dietary Requests web page.
Kosher and Halal Meals
Disney can also accommodate guests who require a kosher or halal meal. You will need to call Disney’s dining reservation line at least 24 hours in advance to request an appropriate meal.
In addition, many quick and table service restaurants can accommodate kosher and halal meals without any advance notice (subject to availability).
More information about kosher and halal meals are located on Disney’s Special Dietary Requests web page.
Wrap Up
If you’ve made it this far, you should now have a solid understanding of:
- The different types of dining at Walt Disney World
- How reservations and Mobile Order work
- What to expect in terms of accessibility and accommodations
Happy eating!
AD: We hope you enjoyed this post. If you are coming to Central Florida and need a place to stay, please consider the Encore Magic Villa. It sleeps up to 12 and features a game room, theater room, themed bedrooms, and private pool… located within a short drive of the Magic!
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