Top 9 Disney World Dining Experiences

Beyond the Parks: Unveiling Disney World’s Best Hotel Restaurants

Walt Disney World is renowned for its immersive theme parks, thrilling rides, and enchanting atmosphere. But beyond the iconic attractions, a culinary adventure awaits within the resort’s many hotels. While park dining offers quick bites and themed experiences, the hotel restaurants elevate the dining landscape with diverse cuisines, elegant settings, and award-winning chefs.

With over 25 themed hotels, each boasting its own unique dining options, navigating the culinary scene can be overwhelming. From casual poolside grills to sophisticated fine dining, these hidden gems offer something for every palate and budget. Some have even earned prestigious MICHELIN stars, proving that Disney dining extends far beyond the theme park gates.

While venturing to a different hotel for a meal may require a bit of planning, the exceptional food and ambiance make it a worthwhile detour. Here’s a curated list of some of the most impressive Disney World hotel restaurants, guaranteed to delight even the most discerning foodies:

A Culinary Journey Through Disney’s Hotel Restaurants

1. Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

Step into a world of Victorian elegance at Victoria & Albert’s, a dining experience inspired by Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The opulent decor features a crystal chandelier, Victorian artwork, and plush carpets, creating a regal atmosphere. Awarded a MICHELIN star, this restaurant showcases modern American cuisine with global influences. The tasting menus change seasonally, offering dishes like elk carpaccio and caviar with celery root. An extensive wine list with over 500 bottles complements the exquisite cuisine.

• Atmosphere: Victorian elegance
• Cuisine: Modern American with global influences
• Dress Code: Semi-formal or formal
• Price: Tasting menu starts at $295 per guest (wine pairings optional)
• Note: Children 10 years and older are welcome. Disney Dining Plan not accepted.

2. Boma – Flavors of Africa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge:

For a more casual yet equally impressive dining experience, Boma – Flavors of Africa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a vibrant taste of the continent. The restaurant’s design resembles an African marketplace, with wooden beams, a thatched roof, and buffet tables overflowing with flavorful dishes.

• Breakfast: Features Kenyan coffee, sticky buns, omelets, Mickey Mouse waffles, and African-inspired dishes like turkey bobotie.
• Dinner: Includes Berbere chickpea salad, Durban chicken, mac and cheese, and African spiced beef striploin.
• Atmosphere: Casual, family-friendly
• Cuisine: African
• Price: Breakfast buffet: $39 per adult, $23 per child; Dinner buffet: $58 per adult, $34 per child
• Dress Code: Casual
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted.

3. Toledo at the Coronado Springs Resort:

Located atop the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort, Toledo offers breathtaking views and a taste of Spanish cuisine. The dining room features a grand paneled ceiling that changes color, mosaics, and geometric patterns inspired by Spanish surrealist art. Window-side seating provides sweeping views of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the nightly fireworks.

• Cuisine: Spanish tapas, seafood, and steaks
• Menu Highlights: Pan con tomate, garlic shrimp, rioja-braised chicken, plancha-seared salmon, seafood paella, and chuletón bone-in ribeye.
• Atmosphere: Modern, elegant
• Price: Tapas start at $11, entrees start at $31, Chef’s signature dinner for two: $155
• Dress Code: Smart casual
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted. Open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday.

4. Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

This waterfront restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa specializes in fresh seafood. The bright dining room has a boathouse vibe, with light wood and white and blue accents. A wrap-around terrace offers stunning views of the lake and the fireworks show, with the show’s music piped through the speakers.

• Cuisine: Seafood
• Menu Highlights: Ocean-inspired charcuterie board, lobster bisque, blackened redfish, Gulf shrimp bucatini, Prime New York strip steak.
• Atmosphere: Fine dining, waterfront views
• Price: Appetizers start at $16, entrees range from $36 to $89
• Dress Code: Smart casual
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted. Reservations recommended.

5. Capa at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando:

Ascend to the 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando to discover Capa, a MICHELIN-starred rooftop steakhouse. The sleek dining room features dark wood, red accents, and an open kitchen. The terrace offers panoramic views and a prime spot for watching the fireworks.

• Cuisine: Modern steakhouse with Spanish influences
• Menu Highlights: Oysters, caviar, croquetas, wood-grilled steaks, rack of lamb, Maine lobster, Miyazaki Wagyu flight.
• Atmosphere: Swanky, rooftop views
• Price: High-end
• Dress Code: Dressy
• Note: Disney Dining Plan not accepted. Reservations recommended.

6. California Grill at the Contemporary Resort:

For 30 years, California Grill has impressed guests with its stunning views from the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort. A private elevator whisks you to the top, where floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom and the fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle.

• Cuisine: Californian
• Menu: Three-course prix fixe menu
• Menu Highlights: Sonoma goat cheese ravioli, tempura lion’s mane mushroom sushi roll, pan-roasted duck, plancha-seared sea scallops, panna cotta, blueberry-goat cheese cheesecake.
• Atmosphere: Fine dining, panoramic views
• Price: Prix fixe menu: $89 per adult, $39 per child
• Dress Code: Semi-formal or formal
• Note: If you dine earlier in the day, save your receipt and return at night to watch the fireworks from the balcony.

7. Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge:

Sanaa, located in Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, offers a truly unique dining experience. Trees are incorporated into the dining room’s design, and large windows provide views of the Sunset Savanna, where animals like giraffes and zebras roam.

• Cuisine: African and Indian
• Menu Highlights: Indian-style bread service, lamb kefta, vegetable curry, butter chicken.
• Atmosphere: Laid-back, family-friendly
• Price: Moderate
• Dress Code: Casual
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted. Reservations recommended for lunch and dinner.

8. Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort:

Named after Mickey Mouse’s Italian moniker, Topolino’s Terrace is a stylish rooftop restaurant at the Riviera Resort. It offers character breakfasts in the morning and fine-dining meals in the evening. The dining room boasts dark wooden tables, chandeliers shaped like pasta, and views of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

• Breakfast: Character dining with Mickey Mouse and Daisy Duck, sour cream waffles, quiche gruyère, steak and eggs.
• Dinner: Mediterranean-inspired dishes, handmade pastas, bouillabaisse, sole meunière, filet mignon.
• Atmosphere: Lively in the morning, refined in the evening
• Price: Prix fixe breakfast: $52 per adult, $33 per child; Dinner is a la carte
• Dress Code: Casual for breakfast, dress code in effect for dinner
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted. Reservations highly recommended.

9. Cítricos at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

Cítricos, another gem at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, offers an elegant dining experience inspired by “Mary Poppins.” The garden-themed dining room features floral upholstery and vine-patterned lattices.

• Cuisine: Coastal cuisine with Florida and international influences
• Menu Highlights: Citrus-cured hamachi, yuzu-soy roasted duck breast, crispy garlic-crusted domestic fish, oak-grilled filet mignon, Malbec guava-barbecued short ribs.
• Atmosphere: Elegant
• Price: High-end
• Dress Code: Smart casual
• Note: Disney Dining Plan accepted.

These nine restaurants represent just a fraction of the incredible dining experiences available at Disney World’s hotels. By venturing beyond the parks, you can discover a world of culinary delights that will elevate your Disney vacation to new heights.