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Top 8 Disney World Restaurants For The Disney Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan is one of the most popular options to choose while on your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation. The key to getting the best value for your hard earned money is to know which of the over 70 different dining choices to choose from, all without leaving the Disney World property.
This Only WDWorld article will list the Best Disney World Restaurants to use your Disney Dining Plan Table Service credits. The list is divided into two categories: Character Dining Restaurants and Non-Character Dining Restaurants.
Character Dining Restaurants
Each of these restaurants only count as one Table Service
Dining Credit, but you not only get a great meal, you also get time with Disney
Characters for photos, autographs, and some personal interactions. Here is our list of favorites in order of
priority:
- Chef Mickey’s – This buffet meal located in the Contemporary Resort is where you can find Mickey Mouse himself, along with several of his friends. A must do for families with young children.
- Crystal Palace – Located inside of the Magic Kingdom, this buffet with above average food, is the home to Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Located in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot this is the place to see Princesses! Usually a minimum of 4 different Princesses will be there, although they will not guarantee any particular one. You will also get to sample tastes of Norwegian Cuisine.
- 1900 Park Fare – Forget paying extra to eat with Cinderella in the Castle, come here to spend time with her and Prince Charming and have an excuse to visit Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Buffet style service allows the children to eat while they wait for the characters to come visit them at their table.
Non-Character Dining Experiences
Disney
World is the home to many wonderful Dining Experiences with over 60 different
sit down Table Service Restaurants to enjoy.
Some are unique that you can only find here, while others are well done
versions of what you may find elsewhere.
Here are our recommendations for you to try while using the Disney
Dining Plan:
- ‘Ohana – Located within the Polynesian resort this Hawaiian style dining experience is one to be remembered. Served family style, you will not go away hungry. Grilled meats are brought to your table and they do not stop until you have had enough. Don’t forget to save room for the incredible dessert. There is also entertainment for the children, including the famous coconut race!
- Coral Reef – This setting of this Epcot restaurant is unlike any you have dined in before. The mood is much quieter and the lighting is dimmer. Besides the great seafood and other menu choices this restaurant stands out because of the large glass wall that allows you to see into the main tank of the Living Seas Pavilion! Dine while you watch sharks, rays, sea turtles, and a variety of fish swim by. Kids and adults alike are mesmerized by the sight.
- Biergarten – Located within the Germany Pavilion in Epcot, this dining experience is just fun for the entire family. The restaurant is a buffet of German foods served in a setting that resembles an outdoor Oktoberfest celebration. There is even a live band and entertainment that the entire family will enjoy.
- Chefs deFrance – Only in Epcot can you enjoy a Parisian styled café where all of the wait staff is from France! There aren’t any Disney Characters here, but you will get a great meal of French Cuisine and excellent attention from the servers. This choice is more about a fine meal in a nice atmosphere, than an entertainment venue.
This list includes two restaurants that are good dining
choices, but it is also about having an excuse to visit the Disney World
Resorts that they are located at. Each
of these resorts are truly Disney World Attractions unto themselves.
- Boma – Located in the Jambo House of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort, this buffet will give you an opportunity to taste a wide variety of Africa inspired dishes (don’t forget to try the Zebra Domes dessert!) You also want to give yourself time to explore the Resort. You absolutely can make an evening of this! Where else can you find a resort with its own Savannah with zebras, giraffe, Ankole cattle, ostriches, and a variety of other animals.
- Whispering Canyon Café – Travel to the American Northwest or at least Disney World’s version of it) and experience the Wilderness Lodge resort. The resort is stunning and this restaurant has good food and entertainment for the family. You can order off of the menu here, or order the family style barbeque skillets. Either before or after dining you will want to spend some time walking around this resort to check it out. Also recommend taking a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom when you are done (FREE of course!) to end the evening.
Disney Dining Plan Guide For Families With Young Children
Disney Dining Plan Value
It is important to recognize that although there are over 100 different dining locations where you can use the Disney Dining Plan, not all of them provide a good value. It only makes sense to redeem your Disney Dining Plan credits at locations that maximize the enjoyment for your family and get the most for your dollar. This guide will help provide dining suggestions to help you meet both of these goals.
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
One of your goals during your Disney World Vacation should be to enjoy a wide variety of experiences, especially ones that you cannot achieve in your home town. At Disney World this would include Character Dining, themed restaurants, and enjoying different cuisines. There are a number of choices in each of these categories for your family to choose from. Fortunately almost all Disney Restaurants will have menu items that will please even the picky and/or unadventurous eaters.
Table Service Dining For Dinner
Although you may use your Table Service credits at any meal of the day, we would highly recommend that you use them for Dinner. The main reason is that during breakfast and lunch you typically will not receive full value for your dining credit. This means that you may actually be paying more than listed menu prices to eat at these restaurants. (The adult cost of Disney Dining Plan is $51.54 (including taxes) each day. You can figure the Table Service portion of that cost is around $32-$35. If you go to a $20 meal, you are trading in a credit you paid $35 for in exchange for a $20 meal.)
Disney World Character Dining
There are several great Disney Character Dining options that are recommended for Families using the Disney Dining Plan. Not only are they great fun, they are a great fiscal use of your Disney Dining Plan Table Service credits. (Prices shown are for comparison purposes if you do not have the Disney Dining Plan and are subject to change.)
- Chef Mickey's - This fun buffet at Disney's Contemporary Resort is where you can get a chance to interact with Mickey Mouse and his friends! At $40.46+tax for adult buffet it is also a great use of the DDP.
- Princess Storybook Character Dining At Akershus Royal Banquet Hall - This under appreciated Character Dining Experience in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot is a great way to meet all of the Disney Princesses (except Cinderella) and get your picture taken with each. Also a great value with Adult meals costing $46.85.
- Crystal Palace - Here is your chance to eat within the Magic Kingdom and enjoy a marvelous buffet and see Winnie The Pooh and the characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. Adult meal costs $40.99.
- Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare - Dining at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is a wonderful experience and this is a great Character Meal as well. Meet all of the characters from Cinderella and enjoy a great buffet. Adult cost is $42.59
There are a few themed restaurants that are great to check out for the delicious food and the wonderfully dining experience that the entire family will enjoy.
- 'Ohana - This is a great restaurant to take the entire family. The Polynesian Resort is a great place to visit and you are made to feel at home in this friendly atmosphere. There is entertainment for the kids and the family style dining insures quick service and plenty of great tasting food. A must do for many families on each Disney World Vacation.
- Coral Reef - This unique Epcot restaurant actually shares a wall with the giant tank from the Living Seas attraction. This allows you to watch a vast array of sea life swim by while you dine. The atmosphere is a little more quiet and upscale, but the views are amazing. The restaurant has a full menu, but specializes in seafood and steak. Cap off your meal with The Chocolate Wave, which is one of our favorite Disney World desserts. Remember desserts are included in the Disney Dining Plan!
There are lots of different choices to experience cuisine that you may not always get in your home town. Here is your chance to try it. If you have any allergies or food restriction concerns, Disney is the best anywhere at making accommodations without a hassle.
- Boma - This buffet at Disney's Animal Kingdom allows you to enjoy the flavors of Africa. There is a wide variety of options and kid friendly choices as well. This restaurant has some of the most incredible soups to try on the buffet. Don't forget to try the famous Zebra Domes on the dessert bar. Adult meals cost $39.40.
- Biergarten - This fun buffet in Epcot Germany fits the bill for Themed Restaurant and Great Cuisine. Enjoy a vast German Buffet and be entertained with traditional German Music while you eat. There is even a chance to get up and polka if you are so inclined. Always a family favorite! Adult meals cost $39.40.
- Chefs de France - Be transported to Paris, France to enjoy a great meal in Epcot France. All of the waitstaff is from France and are the food is excellent. The restaurant has a little more upscale feel to it and you order off of a menu here.
- Restaurant Marrakesh - If you are feeling exotic you can try visiting Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot Morocco. The meal includes authentic Moroccan music and a belly dancer! This is your chance to try Moroccan cuisine in a fun atmosphere.
Take full advantage of the Disney Dining Plan during your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation. We would highly recommend trying restaurants in each of the categories for a great vacation. By following this advice you will not only experience some great restaurants with great food and entertainment, but you will also be getting the most benefit out of your Disney Dining Plan Option purchase.
If you would like personalized assistance in selecting restaurants for you family and making Dining Reservations contact Only WDWorld Travel (phone: 336-899-7943 or email: info@OnlyWDWorldTravel.com ). This advice and service is FREE for all customers who book a Disney World Vacation.
'Ohana Means Family At Disney's Polynesian Resort
'Ohana means family, literally, and that makes it a great name for the Hawaiian inspired restaurant at Disney's Polynesian Resort.
This is a great restaurant to bring your family and it handles large groups well if you are travelling with a larger family gathering. Here everyone eats family style from the fixed menu meal that is brought to your table.
The meal is considered "all-you-care-to-eat" so you can ask for more of any item that is brought to the table if you need more. Being family style, the dishes are brought to the table in a large bowl or serving platter and you need to pass the items around the table for each person to be served.
A mixed green salad with honey-lime dressing, Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings, & Pork Dumplings with Sweet and Sour Sauce are brought out to start you off.
Entertaining Meal
The main entrees are cooked on skewers over an 18 foot oak fire pit near the center of the restaurant.
On the skewers you will find:
•Asian Barbequed Pork Loin Skewers
•Oak Grilled Turkey Skewers•Marinated Sirloin Steak Skewer
•Marinated Shrimp
The servers bring the skewers tableside and ask each guest if they would like some of the meat from the skewer that they have. They continue to come to the table at intervals a few minutes apart. Again, you may have as much as you care to eat. This really makes for a fun dining experience.
The side dishes of Lo mein Noodles, tossed in a Teriyaki sauce with fresh vegetables, and Stir-fried Vegetables are brought to your table as the skewers are being served.
At different intervals throughout the evening there is live entertainment for the whole family. For the kids they may get to participate in the 'Ohana Coconut Race, where each child pushes a coconut with a broom in a loop around the restaurant. There is singing, ukelele playing, and storytelling to entertain and immerse you in the Hawaiian culture during your meal. Also each guest is presented with a lei to remember their visit.
Don't Forget The Dessert!
The dinner is capped off with the famous 'Ohana bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce. Make sure you save room for this dessert because it is wonderful and a reason in itself to dine at 'Ohana.
If you time your dining time properly, the restaurant has a great view of the Magic Kingdom and you can see the Wishes fireworks show. During Wishes they dim the lights in the restaurant and pipe in the music for the show. The makes a wonderful finish to the dining experience.
Tip: Don't worry if you finish your dinner a little early before Wishes, you can go down to the Polynesian Resort Beach to catch Wishes, even if you are not staying at the Polynesian Resort.
Plan Ahead - Reservations Are Required
'Ohana is very popular and rightfully so. Expect to have to make reservations well in advance, and you may have a wait, so make sure that you show up a little prior to your reservation time to check in.
If you are spending your day in the Magic Kingdom, strongly consider 'Ohana to dine at ahead of the table service locations within the Magic Kingdom. The food and the dining experience are better and it is easily accessible by taking the resort monorail to and from the Magic Kingdom.
Summary
'Ohana is definitely considered one of the top restaurants on the Disney Dining Plan (that only requires one credit). The food is very good and the atmosphere is fun, family friendly, and accomodates large groups well.
We would highly recommend 'Ohana as a restaurant to experience during your next Disney World vacation.
