Everything We Ate at Disney

all of the snacks, drinks, and restaurants you must check out

We went to Disney back in May and truly had the best time ever. Moments managing our own expectations while parenting kids were difficult but at the end of the day it was a trip we’ll never forget. This post is way overdue but I hope it’s helpful to anyone who might be planning a trip to the parks.

I previously posted Part 1 of my Disney series if you need to catch up!

Honest Thoughts on Disney World with 2 under 5

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We missed the reinstatement of the Disney Dining Plan this summer but it’s something I definitely would have looked into if it were available during our trip. I think we would have made good use of the casual dining, snacks, and sit-down options available with the vacation packages. I’ve separated this newsletter into sections primarily by park but have called out items we brought into the parks first. I tried to be honest about what was worth your money or not so you can make informed choices and feel like your money is well spent! I’ve seen a lot of people on the internet complain about the food prices at Disney but my personal opinion is that everything was decently priced and we were able to share several meals and snacks due to the portion sizes.

Breakfast in our Room

We stayed at the All-Star Movies Resort and had to use the microwave and toasters in the dining hall since there weren’t any in the rooms. It worked out fine and we stocked up at Publix on the way into Orlando.

• oatmeal

• fresh fruit

• coffee

• bagels w/ cream cheese

Park Bag Snacks

• granola bars and trail mix

• apple sauce pouches

• Goldfish

• juice boxes

• water and LiquidIV hydration mix

After obsessively reading the Disney Food Blog in preparation for our trip, we made a wish list of snacks and restaurants we wanted to hit up in the parks. I think the key to Disney in general is flexibility. As a planner, that’s hard for me but you simply cannot do it all. Between sleepy kids, long lines, and afternoon thunderstorms, you’ve got to be willing to pivot. Plus, it’s just food.

My younger sister and I did wake up at 6 a.m. 60 days before our trip to book our sit-down dining experiences. We wanted a breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace but we weren’t able to snag it that day. Patience and persistence paid off. I checked in the middle of a random day before our trip and saw an early morning reservation and booked it right away! If you’re traveling with young kids that don’t require a ticket, make sure to include them in your reservation count!

Disney Springs

Disney Springs

Raglan Road

Our table split an Irish egg, Pull the Boxty potato cake, a salmon appetizer, and the Gnocchi sea gnocchi do entree with a few drinks. I really enjoyed the overall vibe but it was very loud, especially with tired kids. The food was delicious and plated like a much fancier restaurant when you consider their reasonable prices. We enjoyed seeing the Irish dancers in our little corner of the restaurant but unfortunately, we were seated away from the bar and great restaurant views. I’d definitely go back with just adults!

Chicken Guy

I see mixed reviews about Chicken Guy because sure, it’s just chicken fingers, but they were really good! We loved trying out several of the dipping sauces. The fried pickle chips and mac n cheese sides were great too! We had so much food. You could definitely just split a tender basket and load up on extra sauces.

My younger sister really wanted to go to the Boathouse and it didn’t play out. I owe her a meal there so we’ll have to plan a special trip back just for that.

Epcot

Epcot

We visited Epcot during the Flower & Garden festival so some of these offerings were special for the event. Epcot is the best place to eat and drink around the world if you want to save a little extra money for trying out lots of snacks during your day there.

• Dole whip with Fanta and Strawberry Shortcake

• Empanada de barbacoa and Frozen Margaritas from Choza de Margarita in the Mexico Pavillion

• Frozen Viking Coffee from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in the Norway Pavillion

• Kansas City Smoked Half-Chicken and Loaded Burnt Ends Fries from Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the American Pavillion was probably our most surprising win. I’m not usually a huge fan of BBQ but the portions were big and the flavors really hit the spot.

• Croque Glaces and single scoop cones from L’Artisan des Glaces in the France Pavillion

For my birthday dinner, we ate at the German buffet at the Biergarten Restaurant in the German World Showcase Pavillion. If you enjoy German food, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s set up just like an Oktoberfest biergarten with live music and dancing. My daughter loved doing her own little version of the polka with my husband!

Hollywood Studios

• The breakfast tots bowl from Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land is a must-get! Jump on Slinky Dog Dash then head directly in line for your brekky. Reminded me of Christmas morning breakfast at home.

• Popcorn in a reusable bucket

• cheesecake dome, grilled cheese sandwich, chicken club sandwich, and pork carnitas tacos from ABC Commissary. Honestly, I loved this too. Portions are shareable and everything was flavorful. We sat outside at a little patio table in the alley.

• Mickey-shaped ice cream bar

Coronado Springs Hotel

Maya

Maya Grill

Did you know you can eat at other resorts during your Disney stay? We went to Maya Grill on a night with pretty bad thunderstorms so it was convenient to be able to drive there from our hotel. It took us a minute to figure out where to park and how to navigate the hotel. I really enjoyed the vibe. They had a great classical guitarist playing covers of Disney tunes. The service was admittedly not great and it took a long time for our food to arrive BUT it was delicious and worth it just to relax and savor a meal together. Our table shared the Prickly Pear Margarita, chips & salsa trio, house guacamole, fajitas, birra lamb enchiladas, and Baja fish tacos. The yucca fries and chimichurri sauce were a real treat!

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

• Crystal Palace breakfast buffet — the highlight for me was the hashbrown casserole! They have just about every item you could imagine for breakfast so whether you prefer something ultra healthy, basic like cereal, savory, or sweet, they have you covered. We were one of the first tables to meet the Winnie the Pooh characters on the left side of the restaurant and it was such a neat experience. My kids adored them all. We had reservations at 8:10 a.m. and even though it was a rush to get to the park on time, I highly recommend getting to see Main Street USA without the crowds.

• Cheshire cat tail and cold brew from Cheshire Cafe in Fantasyland… skip this.

• Spicy fried chicken sandwich from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe — this was not good but I was SO hungry and cranky I just needed to eat something close while the rest of my party went to meet Merida. We ended up hanging out in the café later in the day during a thunderstorm and both kids fell asleep watching Sonny Eclipse. If you’ve got a large party or are desperate to sit inside somewhere, this place is huge. So while the food is basic, it could be a good option for picky eaters and families.

• Joffrey’s pink sprinkle donut and coffee

• Casey’s Corner corn dog nuggets

• cheeseburger egg rolls from the Spring Roll Snack Cart and more Dole Whip with Fanta from Adventureland. 10/10! I wish I had known that these dole whip cups would have been huge compared to the serving sizes in Epcot. We should have shared.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

Yak & Yeti — Even though this is a chain place, it was one of my favorite meals. We didn’t have a reservation but we were able to walk in. Some of our party actually got a lightning lane to hop on Expedition Everest while we waited maybe 15-20 minutes for a table! It was so nice to be able to sit in the AC during lunch. It broke up our day before more afternoon thunderstorms rolled in. We shared pan-fried green beans, pork potstickers, Dragon Roll Bowl, Honey Chicken, and Pad Thai. The portions were huge. I think each of us took home an entire to-go box for later. Keep that in mind if you go! I wasn’t expecting it to be so much food.

• Starbucks and lots of Gatorade

• Frozen chocolate-covered banana and popsicles from various food carts

• Frozen Coke & Rum from Drinkwallah

• Cheeseburger pods and beers from Satu’li Canteen at Pandora enjoyed while dripping wet as we ran out of the park to the car

Have you been to Disney World recently? What are your must-eats? I’m already eager for our next round of culinary delights there.