When you think about theme park food, you’re probably imagining chicken fingers, fries, and pizza. And while you can get all of those things at Walt Disney World, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that your Disney World food choices go way beyond those old amusement park staples.
Many of the best places to eat at Disney World offer next-level dining options that are flavorful, interesting, and inspired by iconic Disney characters and cuisines from all over the world (and a few from a galaxy far, far away). And while everything on our list below are iconic dishes, you should always check the menus for restaurants before you go to the parks. Mickey’s chefs and culinary teams are always dreaming up new things to try, so there’s no guarantee that these exact dishes will be available during your trip.
How does Disney World dining work?
Table service vs. quick service
The first thing you should know about Disney World food is that Disney separates its restaurant offerings into two categories. Whether you’re looking for food at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or any of the other Disney theme parks (and Disney water parks), your two dining options are table service and quick service.
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Table service restaurants at Disney World offer a traditional restaurant experience with both indoor and outdoor seating options (where available). If you want to eat at one of the 133 table service restaurants on Disney property, you will almost certainly need to make reservations in advance. You can do this up to 60 days in advance of your trip. If you have specific restaurants in mind, you should hop to it, since the most popular spots often get booked as soon as they become available. Reservations for all table service restaurants open around 6:00 a.m. Eastern time, so be sure to set an early alarm to make those prized reservations.
Quick service restaurants at Disney World offer a more relaxed approach to dining. Most of these restaurant options offer indoor and outdoor seating, or you can take your food with you as you walk to your next attraction or show. You can find quick service Disney restaurants all over the parks, ranging from simple snack carts to full restaurants where you order and pick up at a counter, then go find a table to eat at. At most quick service restaurants, you can order ahead with Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience Mobile app and save yourself some time in line.
The best Disney World food and where to find it
There is no one single type of Disney food. Yes, there are some Mickey-shaped snacks (including a few that made it onto this list) and the standard theme park fare, but the most distinguishing feature of Disney World food is its sheer variety. The menus at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s other Orlando theme parks rotate throughout the year, so it’s always fun to try some new things along with old favorites.
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Among the permanent Disney dining options offered year-round, though, are some snacks and meals so good you may find yourself park-hopping to grab a bite. Here are the best foods (and best places to eat) at Walt Disney World.
1. Dole Whip, found at multiple locations
This vegan soft-serve pineapple treat is a cult favorite for a good reason: It’s delicious and refreshing under that hot Florida sunshine. It’s become so popular that you can find Dole Whip in several parks: Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland; Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Animal Kingdom; and at several spots at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, one of the best Disney World resort hotels in Orlando. At Disney Springs (Disney’s shopping and dining district in Orlando), a kiosk called Swirls on the Waters serves up classic Dole Whip treats alongside unique new combos. And throughout the year, Disney releases new twists on this classic snack, from a mango-lime swirl Dole Whip to an upside-down pineapple cake.
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One of my favorite places to grab a Dole Whip is from Aloha Isle at Magic Kingdom. I always mobile order, then take my sweet treat into the air-conditioned attraction, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, to enjoy. Additionally, if you’re looking for boozy Dole Whips, try one of the options at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or head to Wine Bar George at Disney Springs.
2. French patisserie found throughout the France pavilion at EPCOT
Imagine you’re strolling down the cobblestoned streets of your favorite arrondissement in Paris, the smell of fresh bread wafting through the open window of a boulangerie. You can simulate this experience with not one but three different quick-service restaurants tucked into the back of EPCOT’s France pavilion: Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris, Les Halles Boulangerie, and L’Artisan des Glaces.
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Try the classic hazelnut-chocolate crepe at La Crêperie, macaron ice cream sandwiches at Les Artisan des Glaces (with flavors ranging from classic vanilla to fleur de sel or cinnamon caramel), or a simple croissant from Les Halles. Bon appétit!
3. Pizza from Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at EPCOT
You can get pizza all over the parks, but that pizza is not the same as the wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at EPCOT’s Italy pavilion. If you, like me, live too far away from both Naples and New York City to get truly great Italian pizza, here is your chance to dig in. The classic margherita passes the picky-eater pizza test, but branch out for the carciofi or the prosciutto e melone and practice your Italian with a dedicated service team that comes from various regions around Italy.
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And don’t skip dessert here, where a limoncello float (for adults 21 and older), takes the lemon liqueur and pours it over house-made limoncello-flavored gelato with fresh raspberries.
4. Colossal cinnamon roll at Kusafiri Coffee Shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Before heading out on your safari expedition at Kilimanjaro Safaris, stop at Kusafiri Coffee Shop, a literal hole-in-the-wall in Africa at Animal Kingdom. This is not your average cinnamon roll, not least because it’s shaped like Mickey Mouse and is the size of your head!
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The quick-service window and its cinnamon roll are only available for breakfast until 11:00 a.m., but it’s worth arriving early at Animal Kingdom anyway since that’s when you’re most likely to see animal activity throughout the park.
5. Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar throughout Walt Disney World
If you only have one ice cream treat while you’re at Disney World, make it a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar. My family has a rule that we have to wait until at least 9:00 a.m. to get our first Mickey bar of the day—the creamy vanilla ice cream and a rich chocolate coating are that good.
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You can find the iconic Mickey-shaped snack at ice cream carts all over the parks, water parks, and Disney resorts. Fair warning, though: The bars destabilize as you eat them, so definitely commit to it (and maybe grab a few extra napkins, too).
6. Blue Milk at the Milk Stand at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you’ve ever wanted to try a delicacy from a galaxy far, far away, head to Disney’s Star Wars land, Galaxy’s Edge, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can get both blue milk and green milk (which are plant-based) as they come for everyone, or with an alcoholic twist for the adults at the Milk Stand in Batuu.
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Blue Milk has already become a cult favorite at the parks, though if I had to choose an adults-only beverage, I’d rather saddle up to Oga’s Cantina, the nearby bar, for one of their Star Wars-inspired cocktails like the Jedi Mind Trick or the Fuzzy Tauntaun.
7. Cheeseburger spring rolls from the Spring Roll Wagon at Magic Kingdom
One of the most talked about savory snacks at Walt Disney World are the cheeseburger spring rolls from the Spring Roll Wagon at Magic Kingdom. You can find the cart near the entrance to Adventureland from the main hub in front of Cinderella Castle. The perfectly golden-fried spring rolls are filled with all of the classic flavors of a cheeseburger, including tiny pieces of pickles. Each order comes with two spring rolls, and a side of dipping sauce, which is reminiscent of a classic burger sauce.
If cheeseburgers aren’t your thing, then still check out the Spring Roll Cart because there’s often a rotating second option. In the past, I’ve seen everything from pepperoni pizza spring rolls, chicken cordon bleu spring rolls, and pastrami and pepperjack spring rolls.
8. Bread service from Tiffins and Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
One of Animal Kingdom’s best signature restaurants is Tiffins. The African and Indian-inspired restaurant is known for its elevated menu where everything from whole fish to the short ribs are thoughtfully prepared. But, it’s the bread service that keeps me coming back. A trio of warm breads paired with coconut-curry sauce, guava sauce, and ginger-pear chutney work perfectly after a long day riding big coasters.
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If the price tag for an entire meal at Tiffins isn’t in the budget, try to get a spot at Nomad Lounge, Tiffin’s cool cousin. The lounge takes walk-ins only and the outdoor porch has a relaxed open vibe. It’s a great place to watch the sun set over Animal Kingdom as the bioluminescence of Pandora come to life. And if you need a cocktail and a snack after a long day walking in the park, Nomad Lounge has some of the best drinks you’ll find anywhere in the parks.
9. Jumbo turkey legs from around Walt Disney World
Love them or hate them, turkey legs remain one of the most iconic Disney foods of all time. And let’s be real: There are few things funnier than watching a child attempt to eat something larger than their own head.
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You can find Jumbo Turkey Legs all over the Disney Word parks, but they are reliably available at Liberty Square Market at Magic Kingdom and Fife & Drum Tavern at EPCOT.
10. Small Plates from Spice Road Table at EPCOT
Grab a table at Spice Road Table in the Morocco pavilion, where Mediterranean-style small plates like hummus fries, Lamb Kefta, calamari, and more make this a secret Disney food gem. There’s also a variety of sangrias and specialty alcholic and non-alcoholic beverages to pair with your meal, which makes an evening at EPCOT even better.
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This is a great spot to catch the nightly fireworks at EPCOT too. Just be sure to time your arrival correctly, and try to get a table about an hour before the fireworks. While you may not be seated right on the water’s edge, you will be able to see the fireworks from the restaurant without fighting the crowds of people around World Showcase lagoon.
11. Mickey Waffles found throughout Disney World
You can’t leave Disney without trying at least one Mickey-shaped snack. And while you can choose from everything from Rice Krispie Treats to pretzels, it’s the fluffy Mickey waffles that are the real winners.
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You can get Mickey waffles at pretty much any location that serves Disney breakfast food, but if you want to go big—and believe me, you do—grab the loaded waffle at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. You can get your Mickey-shaped waffle topped with everything from sweet and spicy maple chicken or chocolate-hazlenut spread and fruit. Both are great options, and I often grab both when I’m traveling with my family so we have a sweet and savory option for breakfast or a mid-day snack.
