Must do Dining in Walt Disney World

I had an interesting question from a client “What is the one Disney restaurant you would recommend to say you did Disney?” He added “When we got home we can say we ‘did Disney’ becuase we ate here”. Now I recommend dining spots all the time & usually I base it on their interests. For example are characters a must do? Are there dietary needs? Are you into interested in a cool theme? When it came time to think of the most Disney restaurants it was a challange. But I was up for it. Here is my list of must do dining experiences in Walt Disney World. Some places are ones you have to do, even if it is only once in a lifetime while others you may want to go to every trip! Where would you recommend as a must do restaurant?

Chef Mickey- This is a must do character meal at least once in your Disney trips, maybe even twice. Chef Mickey is located in the iconic Contemporary resort. This is a great option when you’re visiting the Magic Kingdom. After you’re done visiting with Mickey and pals you can just walk over to the Magic Kingdom.

Chef Mickey is an all you care to eat meal currently serving breakfast and dinner. You will meet the fab 5 here; Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy & Pluto. We love the variety of food here the fun loud atmosphere and the interaction with the classic characters.

We have eaten breakfast and dinner here and I loved each meal. They served things buffet style back then and offered a great variety of food. This is a pretty loud place in the heart of the Contemporary, something to keep in mind if you have anyone in your party with sensory sensitivity. If you’re looking to meet Mickey & pals this is the place for you!

Sci Fi- This very unique themed restaurant is located in Hollywood Studios. It is set up like an old school drive in. They serve burgers, shakes & even some healthy salad options while you sit in a car watching cartoons and old movies. We have eaten here many times. The theme is great and the food is always good. We love doing lunch here on a hot summer day giving us a break from the sun and some time to cool off in the ac at a drive in. If you’re looking for a cool theme this is it!

Cinderella Royal Table- This must do dining experience is something every Disney fan has to do at least once. Dining in Cinderella’s castle is pretty cool you enter at the ground level and go upstairs to the royal dining room! You will meet Cinderella and pre covid times you met other princesses as well, things are changing with character meals in this post covid world so stay tuned to the news. We ate here once and loved it, it was and is a pricey meal. The food, to be honest, was not my favorite on property. We did feel the experience was worth it, even if we liked the food at other places better this was a once in a lifetime experience and I would recommend this place to any Disney princess loving fan!

Ohana - Is a pretty iconic Disney restaurant located at the Polynesian resort. This is an all you care to eat menu that is so delicious! The service the food and views it is all spectacular! We have eaten breakfast and dinner here… a few times. In pre covid times breakfast was a character meal with Lilo & Stitch with a guest apperance of Mickey and Pluto. Currently there is no breakfast, but I expect (and hope) it will be back soon. Dinner on the other hand will not have characters but great food and atmosphere. They have great noodles, meats and dessert, oh man the dessert is so yummy! Your adult beverages like the lapu lapu will be an extra cost, but also worth it!

The pineapple drink is the lapu lapu, and I need to get it every visit. It is so good!

I recommend coming here on an empty stomach.

Be Our Guest This magical restaurant is located in the Beast’s castle in the Magic Kingdom. When they opened a few years ago it was a huge hit creating long wait times, they then started to take reservations which are still hard to come by! Pre covid Be Our Guest was open for breakfast & lunch for a quick service meal and transform into a table service meal for dinner. Now in the post covid world we are navigating they are open for lunch and dinner for a table service meal. This is a must get reservation and I recommend dining here at least once in your Disney World vacations. Be Our Guest has three dining rooms you may recognize from the movie; the beautiful ballroom, the castle gallery & the west wing.

For dinner you can even have a chance at spotting the Beast!

Honorable mentions- Becuase the list above may not be available or they may not be what you’re looking for here are a few more places that are pretty cool Disney spots to eat or drink.

Oga’s Cantina- This is located in Star Wars Galaxy’s edge in Hollywood Studios. This cantina does not offer a lot of food with their Star Wars themed drinks, but will have some snack sized items to nibble on while you enjoy your blue milk. They offer alcoholic beverages as well as non-alcoholic so even the littlest traveler can enjoy the cantina! This is a not a large space and reservations are hard to get!

50’s Prime Time- This 50’s themed dining spot is also located in Hollywood Studios. This is remenicent of when tv dinners started to become a thing. The wait staff is full of sass and is so much fun to be around. They offer great cocktails and a variety of home cooked food, and don’t forget dessert here!

Via Napoli- I could probably mention every restaurant in Epcot. You really cannot go wrong from Le Cellier in Canada to Regal Eagle in the American Pavilion, I don’t think I have ever had a bad meal in Epcot. Via Napoli is the one that I recommend the most to families and seems to also always be a hit. This delicious pizza place is just amazing that is all. You must add it to your list, trust me you won’t be disappointed.

Hoop Dee Doo Revue -This was the longest running dinner show in the country prior to the pandemic, when it comes back it is a must do, at least once in your Disney vacationing years. The show is a lot of fun & the food is all you care to eat. I am drooling thinking of the fried chicken right now! Pre pandemic times this ran two times a day both at dinner time & is fun for the entire family! Stay tuned for opening news!

Do you have any must have dining spots that when you get home you can say we did Disney right becuase we ate there? I would love to know.