Walt Disney World Resort has been upping their restaurant game in the last few years with numerous openings at Disney Springs and within the parks. It’s now possible to get delicious casual fare from some serious local and national chefs.
But the signature restaurants within the resorts still reign as the most extravagant foodie experiences for families seeking a special vacation meal, business travelers enjoying their expense accounts, and Florida foodies making a pilgrimage to Central Florida’s most family friendly food capital.
Victoria & Albert’s
Victoria & Albert’s, the king (and queen!) of Disney restaurants, is inside the Grand Floridian, and has garnered acclaim under the helm of Scott Hunnel’s direction, including numerous James Beard nominations. Diners can choose the main dining room, the even more intimate Queen Victoria’s Room, which only seats eight guests, or the chef’s table inside the kitchen.
The restaurant is exceptional at catering their menus to dietary restrictions with advanced notice and can customize a vegan or gluten free menu, for example.
Victoria & Albert’s is the only restaurant on this list that isn’t suitable for children. But parents can easily still indulge in one of the multi-course tasting menus after placing the kids next door at the Polynesian resort’s revamped kids’ club. Disney’s Children’s Activity Centers accept children aged 3 (must be potty trained) through 12 for a flat fee ($45) and offers a full evening of fun: luaus, cooking lessons, pirate parties, and more.
California Grill
California Grill should be on every foodie family’s bucket list when heading to Orlando. Occupying the penthouse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the glass walled restaurant offers the best views of Magic Kingdom, the manmade Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian and Polynesian resorts. It is the place to enjoy both the sunset and the fireworks fired from Cinderella’s Castle next door.
The vibe of the restaurant is mid-century modern meets downtown San Francisco, and the food showcases California’s best locally sourced ingredients and purveyors. The cheese plate is exceptional as is the wine collection featuring California’s best including special reserve labels of the restaurant.
Each evening, savvy diners book their meal to coincide with the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks, as the soundtrack of the show is piped into the restaurant. If you are unable to grab that reservation, don’t worry. The lounge area serves the full menu (on a first come first served basis) and accepts walk-ins up to the point at which they reach capacity and close off access.
Blue Zoo
Blue Zoo, within the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort, features Todd English’ seafood menu. On your way to your table, you’ll pass its specialty, dancing fish.
Skewered fish appear upright over hot flames while spinning pirouettes in the open kitchen. Servers will happily debone the fish table side for you and offer your choice of sauces.
Because the Swan and Dolphin are serious convention hotels, the restaurant offers an adult vibe serving business travelers. Blue Zoo offers a children’s menu, but parents will love that two free hours of childcare are offered at Camp Dolphin for every adult ordering an entrée.
This is a no brainer. Compared to the Disney kids’ clubs, Camp Dolphin offers a simpler evening of Disney movies and coloring sheets, but we mentioned “free childcare,” didn’t we?
This restaurant is not an official Disney restaurant and does not accept the Disney Dining plan.
Ravello
Most families can’t escape a character meal at Disney World. And no serious foodie enjoys a mediocre buffet. So, head to the Four Seasons Orlando where they offer The Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals Character Breakfast on Thursday and Saturday mornings (and on additional Tuesdays during peak seasons).
Ravello offers a full breakfast spread worthy of the Four Seasons as well as a fresh pressed juice and smoothies bar for an additional fee. Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy wander around and pose for photos that are free to download and part of the Disney photo system.
Ravello is sneaky in offering an all you can drink Mimosa package, but I’d love to hear of a parent indulging, heading to the parks, and having that go well.
The Four Seasons doesn’t accept the Disney Dining plan, either, and guests can either drive or catch a quick Uber or Lyft to the resort within the prestigious Golden Oaks community which is located behind the Fort Wilderness Resort.
Tip: Book in Advance
Reservations at Disney World require advanced planning unlike any other destination. Tables at Victoria & Albert’s will book quickly on the 180-day mark when the tables become available to reserve, followed by California Grill during the fireworks times. (We love booking that table on our arrival day to kick off the vacation right).
Blue Zoo and the Goofy and Friends Breakfast at the Four Seasons will not require such advanced booking except during peak holiday weeks.
A few meals at these restaurants during a Disney World vacation will offer experiences that match the magic of the parks themselves.
Robin Hutson is a luxury family travel writer in Boston and writes about the best luxury hotels for families at her site Luxe Recess.
Images courtesy of Walt Disney World