disney world

Best Places to Eat at Walt Disney World

March 28, 2023

Dining at Walt Disney World

One of the best things about Walt Disney World and other Disney Parks is that they offer a variety of dining options during your hotel stay and at the theme parks. Some are quick service while others are sit-down and require a reservation. Side note: many of my favorite quick service places are sweets-focused. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance of your reserved park day and are sure to book up. Learn all about making a Disney dining reservation in this blog post. Below I’ve listed my favorite restaurants below that you can’t miss during your next visit!

My Favorite Quick Service Dining at Walt Disney World

Storybook Treats in Magic Kingdom

Storybook Treats in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland section is a great place for a unique treat. Located straight across from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, this quick service spot offers themed ice cream cones that are both tasty and aesthetically pleasing. Pictured above is their Tink Pixie Dust Cone from a few years ago. This cone is no longer available, however the Snow White Cone pictured above is! Storybook Treats also offers a Sevens Dwarfs Speciality Cone, regular soft serve, floats, and sundaes.

Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom

Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland section is the perfect place to get something sweet and savory. The quick service restaurant is known for its ham/provolone/swiss sandwiches, warm cinnamon roles, themed dome cakes, and LeFou’s Brew (frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow). The interior is also designed to look like the tavern Gaston loves in the Beauty and the Beast movie!

Sommerfest in EPCOT

Sommerfest is located in the Germany Pavillion of EPCOT’s World Showcase. This spot is festive, tasty, and fast for a quick snack. You HAVE to try their jumbo pretzels like I did (pictured above)! They also sell bratwurst, pretzel bread pudding, and beer. For those of you unaware, EPCOT does serve alcohol at their dining locations compared to the other parks, which do not.

Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom

Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland section is your destination for all things DOLE Whip! This is a must-try while you’re at the parks. You can also find DOLE Whip at other Walt Disney World parks and at Disneyland Park, I just like Aloha Isle best. Here you’ll find regular DOLE Whip cups (pineapple, raspberry, vanilla, coconut, or swirl), floats, and speciality concoctions.

Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios

Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land section is a great themed spot for quick eating. Located right across from the Slinky Dog Dash ride, food is ordered through a walk-up window. Sometimes there is a waiting line due to its popularity. I liked the Frozen Mystic Portal Punch, Box Tarts, and “Totchos” (pictured in my photo above). Portions are definitely sharable and I recommend doing so!

Cheshire Café in Magic Kingdom

Cheshire Café in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland section will have you grinning from ear to ear. Located right next to the Mad Tea Party ride, the quick service cafe is Alice in Wonderland themed. They are most known for their Cheshire Cat Tails, Merry Unbirthday Cupcakes, and pepper jack pretzels. Which way did the right rabbit go? He went…that way.

Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom

Main Street Confectionery on Main Street in Magic Kingdom is a great stop when you’re watching the parades, fireworks shows, or on your way out of the park. Here you can get all the treats – candy, popcorn, caramel apples, cotton candy, Mickey krispie treats, and more. My favorite are the Minnie and Mickey Mouse caramel apples! I always get one as I’m leaving the park to take back with me to my hotel.

My Favorite Reservation Dining at Walt Disney World

Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom

Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland section will always be a favorite. Open for lunch and dinner, reservations are highly recommended to get a spot as the walkup waitlist can be long. The three Beauty and the Beast inspired dining rooms at Be Our Guest include the Grand Ballroom, the Beast’s West Wing, and The Rose Gallery. Cost is pre-fixed at $67 per adult and $9 for children (ages 3-9). This includes one appetizer, one entree, and a selection of deserts per person.

San Angel Inn Restaurante in EPCOT

San Angel Inn Restaurante in Epcot’s Mexico Pavillion is a restaurant you don’t want to miss. The indoor dining area is “inside” a Mayan-inspired ruin and, if you sit by the water, you’ll get a quick view of The Three Caballeros ride. Every time I go I have the Sopa Azteca! They also have tacos, enchiladas, carne asada, and more. After dining, check out the stores next door for shopping.

Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom

Cinderella’s Royal Table is located inside of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom. This sit down restaurant is a unique character dining experience where you can meet Disney Princesses for pictures and autographs. They offer a variety of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is $65 per adult and $39 per child. Lunch and dinner is $79 per adult and $47 per child. Character dining is always worth it!

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot’s Norway Pavillion offers Disney Princess character dining. This is a great way to meet multiple Disney characters all at once for your souvenir pictures and autograph books. Reservations for this experience is definitely needed. Breakfast dining is $53 per adult and $34 per child. Lunch and dinner dining is $63 per adult and $41 per child. I’ve attended this once and, for character dining, I’d say the price was worth it!

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in Magic Kingdom

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant on Main Street in Magic Kingdom is an ode to Lady and the Tramp’s romantic spaghetti kiss. The Italian menu includes spaghetti and meatballs, steak, chicken parmigiana, orecchiette with spicy Italian sausage, shrimp scampi, and more. The restaurant is located on Main Street right by the park’s entrance and is a great dinner option to end your park day with.

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Hollywood Studios

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in the Grand Avenue section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers Italian fare in a sit down setting. The restaurant is located next to the Muppets Vision 3D experience where you can find a statue featuring Miss Piggy as Lady Liberty. Mama Melrose offers appetizers, pasta, flatbreads, and desert. The last time I went I got the Mama’s Italian Pasta (pictured above).

Everything You Need to Know About Dining at Disney Parks

March 28, 2023

Dining at Disney Parks

One of the best things about Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney’s California Adventure Park is that they offer a variety of dining options during your hotel stay and at the theme parks. Some are quick service while others are sit-down and require a reservation. Below you will find information on how to make a Disney dining reservation! View my favorite places to eat at Walt Disney World in this blog post.

How to Make a Disney Dining Reservation

Reservations for Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Springs, Downtown Disney, and Disney’s California Adventure Park can be made up to 60 days in advance of your reserved park day, and are sure to book up right away. Especially the ones that include character dining. The best thing for you to do is set your alarm and log on to book the moment that 60-day mark hits. After testing it multiple times myself, Disney dining reservations go live at 8am CST. This includes both the app and desktop system. Here’s what to do:

1. Log in to your My Disney Experience account

2. Search dining availability

On the app, click the plus sign at the bottom of the screen and select ‘Check Dining Availability’. Choose the number of guests, day, and time of day. Browse through available options. On desktop, go to Things to Do in the site’s main navigation and select ‘Make Reservations’ under Dining. Choose your date, time of day, and number of guests. Browse through available options.

3. Secure your reservation

Reserved dining reservations require credit card information on file to avoid last minute cancellations and no shows. You will not be charged at the time of booking your dining reservation.

4. Check your reservation confirmation

Make sure you receive a confirmation email and that you can see your reservation under ‘My Plans’ in your My Disney Experience account.

Where’s your favorite place to dine at a Disney park? Comment below!

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: 5k 2022

April 6, 2022

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

One of my top life experiences has been doing a runDisney race, specifically the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in Orlando, Florida. This year was my third time participating in it. The first two times I did the Enchanted 10k (2016 & 2017), while this year I did the Disney Princess 5k. Both are a fun time and have the same perks! Only difference is a longer course and different featured princesses. The 2022 featured princesses were: 5k – Cinderella, 10k – Tiana, Half Marathon – Mulan, Fairy Tale Challenge – Moana. Featured princesses for each race change each year.

Not only did we do the 5k this time, but we also visited Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. If you are thinking about signing up for a future event, check out my tips on how to prepare for a runDisney race. Looking to visit a Walt Disney World park? Check out my Disney World Travel Guide to make the most out of your visit!

Disney Princess 5k Course

Both the Disney Princess 10k and 5k go through Walt Disney World’s Epcot park. You get to walk/run around “the world”! The best part? There are Disney characters along the course that you can stop and get pictures with, either on your phone or from a Disney PhotoPass professional. These photos count towards Memory Maker downloads if you purchased it ahead of time (we did and I highly recommend). I encourage that you pick and choose which characters you stop for. There will be lines, sometimes long, and you don’t want to get too far behind on the course. The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend features a lot of favorite Disney princesses on the course. While the races themselves start before the sun comes up, the view of sunrise in Epcot is beautiful.

Details About runDisney Race Weekends

Registration for runDisney races are done online. Race packets need to be picked up the day before your chosen event at the Expo. A free shuffle will be provided to the Expo and to the course the morning of the race if you are staying at a Disney resort hotel. A full list of my tips on how to prepare for a runDisney race can be found here.

1. Register for the race

runDisney offers a handful of race weekends each year at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and NEW for 2024 is the comeback of events at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. All can be found on the runDisney website where they will announce when registration opens. In-person spots go really fast, so it’s important that you’re online, logged into your MyDisneyExperience account, and ready to click register when your chosen race weekend goes live. Once in line, you will be able to register yourself and any additional participants if needed. Have their birthday, email address, and shirt size ready.

2. Reserve your hotel

After securing your race registration, I highly recommend that you book your hotel as soon as possible. Rooms during race weekends go fast. I also highly recommend to stay at a Disney hotel rather than outside of the parks. Disney hotels offer free shuttle buses to and from the Expo, morning of the race, and to Walt Disney World parks throughout the whole day. This is a a huge perk that will save you money!

3. Purchase your theme park tickets

Now that you have your hotel booked, it’s time to purchase and reserve your theme park tickets. runDisney race registrations do not include entry to a Disney park. Ticket options include one park per day, more than one park per day (Park Hopper), and more. Purchasing your theme park tickets is a two-parter. First, select your ticket option. Once bought, you will then need to reserve which park you want to go to and on which day. This can be done under ‘Park Reservations’ in your MyDisneyExperience portal and is a step that can not be skipped.

4. Book your flight

If outside of the area, you will need to book a flight. I start looking at options very early so I can track the prices and find a good deal. As of January 2022, Disney will no longer offer their free Magical Express shuttle from the airport to Disney resort hotels. They now partner with Mears Connect. We reserved a roundtrip ride from the airport to our hotel for $32 each.

5. Plan a runDisney race outfit

People get really into dressing up as Disney characters for the race. For my first runDisney race weekend I went as Princess Jasmine, following year I was Pocahontas, and this year I was Evie from Descendants. Fun Disney-inspired outfits can be found on Etsy. That’s where I have found my past purchases. Make sure to follow RunDisney’s costume guidelines when planning. It’s also a good idea to test your race outfit before your trip to avoid any mishaps. Here are the Race Polices specifically for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

runDisney now offers virtual race weekend options. I can’t wait to participate in the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon weekend with its 5k and the 2023 Princess Half Marathon Weekend with its 5k!

Walt Disney World Travel Guide

April 6, 2022

From magical rides to nostalgic character meet-and-greets, Disney World is a trip that no one should skip. No matter how old you are, this Orlando theme park will have everyone smiling. I grew up watching Disney movies and visiting Disney World from time to time. My most recent trip was this year for a RunDisney race weekend, to visit Magic Kingdom, and for a Star Wars lightsaber workshop in Hollywood Studios. I’ve also experienced Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, which was delicious. Over the years I’ve obtained different tips and tricks to make your Disney World visit most enjoyable. Keep reading for a comprehensive Disney World travel guide!

Disney World Vacation Planning To-Do List

Planning a Disney World vacation is no small feat, but it is worth every minute of preparation. If you’ve never visited, you may be unaware of the steps needed to do so. I’ve listed these out below!

Create a My Disney Experience account and download the My Disney Experience mobile app. Your account will be used to book your park tickets, hotel, & extras and the app will be needed for ride wait times, park maps, reserving Lightening Lane selections, mobile food ordering, and more.
Book your hotel stay (read where to stay below)
Purchase your Disney park ticket (Add Memory Maker and Genie+ at this time)
Make your Disney park reservation
Make any dining or Enchanting Extras reservations (available 60 days prior to park day)

Where to Stay During a Disney World Trip

One thing I can’t stress enough is how valuable it is to stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel if you’re going to be visiting any of the Disney theme parks. These range in price, with the value resort hotels still offering a pleasant stay. I’ve stayed at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort a few times (a value-level resort) and it was great. I highly recommend booking your hotel, park tickets, Memory Maker, and Genie+ all together in a vacation package on Walt Disney World’s website. Below are the notable perks that Disney World resort hotel guests receive during their stay:

Complimentary shuttle buses to and from all Disney theme parks and Disney Springs
Early theme park entry (30 minutes before the public)
Extended theme park hours
Early access to Lightening Lane/Genie+ selections (7am instead of at park-opening)
Pre-arrival discount on online MagicBand purchases
Complimentary parking at Disney theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs
Select dining discounts

The complimentary shuttle buses to and from the theme parks alone will help save you some money. The resorts no longer Disney’s Magical Express at Orlando’s International Airport. They now partner with Mears Connect. We reserved a roundtrip ride from the airport to our hotel for $32 each. The bus was nice with a bathroom onboard and they made sure we got to our destination on time.

Disney PhotoPass Memory Maker

I highly recommend purchasing the Disney PhotoPass Memory Maker option when booking your park tickets. Professional photographers associated with Disney PhotoPass are stationed around the four theme parks in optimal picture spots (i.e. in front of Cinderella’s Castle). Before taking your photo, they will scan your MagicBand to have the images sync with your My Disney Experience account. The photos load pretty quickly (within 10-20 minutes after taking) within the app. Usually these would be sold for a cost and have a watermark over them. By purchasing Memory Maker you have unlimited access to all professional photos taken during your trip. This includes photos and videos from all four theme parks as well as RunDisney races (learn how to prepare for a RunDisney race weekend here).

Memory Maker for one day: $69
Memory Maker for your whole trip/more than one day: $169

This feature is great for groups, especially when it’s just two people and no one else to take quality photos of you together. Sometimes the PhotoPass staff will add fun Disney animations to your photos, like the image of Tinkerbell featured above!

Disney Genie+ Add-On

Disney theme park tickets can be purchased as a one day or multiple day (Park Hopper) option. They usually range between $135-$155 per day, plus tax. Remember, you must also make a park reservation with your park ticket! Disney Genie is a free service in your My Disney Experience account to save rides and shows to a wish list that you can refer to during your visit. Disney Genie+, however, is a paid add-on that allows you to make Lightening Lane (fast pass) selections. When selecting your park days, you can select Disney Genie+ as an add-on. If it doesn’t show in check out, you can add it later on after purchasing your park ticket.

I highly recommend Genie+ and having Lightening Lane access. If you hate waiting in long lines, or have someone with a disability that makes it hard to do so, Genie+ is a huge help. To give you an idea, we were able to select some of our favorite, long-wait rides throughout the day and only wait about 10 minutes in the Lightening Lane line compared to 60-70 minutes in the standby line. BIG difference. Offered Lightening Lane options include a variety of rides, character meet-and-greets, and shows in Disney World’s four theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom.

Disney World Enchanting Extras Reservations

Disney World has some great secret gems, including their Enchanting Extras! These, in my opinion, are wildly underrated and under-advertised. You can find available Enchanting Extras on this page. They range from food-focused events to building workshops. During our most recent trip we did Savi’s Handbuilt Lightsabers Workshop in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section of Hollywood Studios. It was awesome! This workshop had us create our own custom lightsaber from scratch. We made our reservations when they became available 60 days out and left a bit of time open before and after it. This specific experience was $219.99 per person plus tax, but Enchanting Extras can range from $20 to $399 per person depending on what it is.

What to Do at Disney World

Once you’ve planned your trip, it’s time to arrive and enjoy! Make sure you make the most of your time at Disney World theme parks with the below list.

Reserve Lightning Lane (Genie+) spots for Disney theme park rides or shows
Eat at popular quick service and sit-down spots
Get pictures taken with available Disney characters
Shop for souvenirs on Main Street

Disney World Rides with the Longest Wait Times

All Disney theme park rides and character meet-and-greets will have some type of wait time, but it will be a lot shorter with Genie+. From my experience, I’ve seen a pattern with which rides have the longest wait time and have the wait increase the fastest. These are the rides you’ll want to use your Genie+ Lightning Lane selections towards. I can only speak for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios as those are the parks I’ve been on rides the most. As a rule of thumb, usually thrill rides will have a huge wait.

Magic Kingdom Rides

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Peter Pan’s Flight
Splash Mountain
Jungle Cruise
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Haunted Mansion
It’s a Small World
Space Mountain

Hollywood Studios Rides

Tower of Terror
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Millennium Falcon
Rock ‘n’ Roll Coaster
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Disney World Dining: Quick Service and Reservations

Disney World offers a variety of dining options during your hotel stay and at the theme parks. Some are quick service while others are sit-down service and require a reservation. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, and are sure to book up. I’ve listed my favorite restaurants, and one’s I’m still dying to try, below.

Recommended Quick Service Restaurants

Magic Kingdom

Storybook Treats – Themed ice cream (like The Snow White Cone pictured above)
Cheshire Café – Alice in Wonderland themed
Aloha Isle – DOLE Whip treats
Gaston’s Tavern – Treats & beverages
Main Street Bakery – Disney themed treats

Hollywood Studios

Woody’s Lunch Box – Toy Story themed
Ronto Roasters – Star Wars themed
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – Star Wars themed
ABC Commissary – American cuisine

Epcot

La Cantina de San Angel – Mexican cuisine
Joy of Tea – Egg rolls & tea
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe – Norwegian treats
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie – French treats

Animal Kingdom

Tamu Tamu Refreshments – DOLE Whip treats
Trilo-Bites – American cuisine
Anandapur Ice Cream Truck

Recommended Sit-down Restaurants

Magic Kingdom

Cinderella’s Royal Table – Character dining (subject to COVID)
Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast themed
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant – Basic Italian food

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood & Vine – Character dining (subject to COVID)
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano – Good Italian food
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – 50’s-style drive-in “theater”

Epcot

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Character dining (subject to COVID)
San Angel Inn Restaurante – Mexican cuisine with an awesome interior
Coral Reef Restaurant – dining next to an inside, living coral reef

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House Restaurant – Character dining (subject to COVID)
Yak & Yeti Restaurant – Pan-Asian cuisine

A Disney trip is magical. I hope this Disney World travel guide gave insight on how to plan your vacation! Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions.