The ultimate Walt Disney World dining guide

Spring rolls are one of the most iconic snacks at Magic Kingdom Park. The crispy spring rolls are stuffed with everything from ingredients that would be piled high on a classic cheeseburger or pepperoni pizza to pastrami and pepper jack cheese. The spring rolls are served with a savory dip that pairs well with the dish. The best part about this dish is you never know what the filling of the season will be, so there's always something new to try. 

Dole Whips are a classic theme park treat at Walt Disney World. If you want the classic version, you’ll order a pineapple Dole Whip, but if you’re willing to experiment, there’s often a rotating base of flavors to choose from. One of our new favorite twists is coconut and pineapple, which ends up tasting like a Pina colada. For an even bigger treat, consider getting a Dole Whip float, which is your choice of creamy soft-serve Dole Whip in a cup with pineapple juice. On hot Florida days, nothing beats this treat. Just be warned the line at Aloha Isle can be very long, so plan accordingly.

At the end of Main Street U.S.A., there’s a small quick-service restaurant called Casey’s Corner. You will find loaded hot dogs and one of our favorite snacks, corn dog nuggets. The tiny pieces of hot dogs are dunked into a cornmeal batter before being deep-fried to golden perfection. You can get this as a meal with your choice of side, but you can also get just the nuggets. If you choose the latter, transfer the corn dog nuggets out of the serving boat and into a paper cup to walk around the park.

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Those looking for a more hearty meal will want to make their way to Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen for lunch or dinner for Nile Nellie’s Noodle Bowl. This is a basic pad Thai dish with shrimp that can be made plant-based with tofu. What we love about this is the spicy sauce, which is actually spicy! Often at theme parks, when something says spicy, it isn’t because they are trying to please many people, but we love the kick the dish has. The portion size is also huge, so it is a good meal to split between two people.

Connections Eatery at EPCOT is just across the walkway from the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction. The quick-service restaurant has been very popular with guests looking for a tasty meal in a casual environment. One of our must-gets is the General Tso Chicken Salad. The salad has all the usual suspects, like mandarin oranges, edamame, and crispy wonton strips. Then, it’s topped off with warm chicken strips liberally tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.

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When it comes to a classic, there is nothing better than a plate of perfectly cooked fish and chips. At EPCOT, the place to go for that is Yorkshire County Fish Shop. The quick-service location only serves this one dish (along with a few British beers), so you know it’s going to be good. The fish lands on the plate perfectly golden brown and crispy, and the thick-cut fries are ideal for soaking up malt vinegar. When your order is ready, take your tray to the outside seating area to enjoy the views of World Showcase and World Showcase Lagoon.

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Choosing a dinner spot at EPCOT can be overwhelming because there are so many options, but one of our absolute favorites is La Hacienda de San Angel. This Mexican restaurant is located on the shores of World Showcase Lagoon and offers a quiet reprieve from the bustling theme park. While everything on the menu is outstanding, our favorite is the Alambre de Res, which is seared steak pieces tossed with bacon, poblano, bell peppers, onions, and smothered in gooey Monterey Jack cheese! The dish is served with bright salsa verde, rice, beans, and flour tortillas, so you can make your own tacos out of the big components.

At EPCOT’s Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue, the restaurant focuses on regional smoked meats, like Carolina pork, Kansas City smoked chicken, and Memphis-style ribs. But the star of the menu is the Texas brisket sandwich, where brisket is piled high between two pieces of Texas toast. There are a variety of sauces to choose from for the sandwich, but any good Texan would tell you brisket doesn’t need sauce. To go with the sandwich, be sure to pick a side. The macaroni and cheese and beer-battered onion rings are both fan favorites. 

Inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll find a small quick-service restaurant called Ronto Rosters. The outdoor restaurant is home to one of the best snacks with a cult-like following at Walt Disney World, the Ronto Wrap. The wrap starts with charred pita bread loaded with sliced roasted pork, a grilled sausage, a creamy peppercorn sauce, and a tangy slaw. Each bite is an explosion of flavors, which the peppercorn sauce really does help to bring together. The dish is messy, so grab a few extra napkins before sitting down to eat.

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Is there anything better than a milkshake on a hot day? We don’t think so, and the best place to get one at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is 50's Prime Time Café. This is where you’ll be able to try the classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Milk Shake. The creamy shake tastes just like the sandwiches you likely took to school in elementary school and are served in retro metal cups to keep everything cold. If you can’t get a reservation for the restaurant, walk next door to Tune-In Lounge, where you can get your shake to-go.

In the middle of a theme park, you wouldn’t think that you would be able to find an outstanding charcuterie plate, but BaseLine Tap House has it all. The cheese and charcuterie board has three different types of cheese, two types of meat, pickles, grapes, and toasted bread to make this the snack of dreams. Since the restaurant specializes in California craft beers, we usually get a custom beer flight to go with the board. Take both out to the patio to enjoy some prime people-watching.

Churros are a classic theme park treat, but some are better than others. The churros from Nomad Lounge are proof of that. Each batch of churros is cooked to order here and served with two dipping sauces, vanilla, and chili-strawberry. The churros come out to your table piping hot, and that’s the best time to eat them. Besides churros, Nomad Lounge is also known for its drinks, so be sure to pick and cocktail or mocktail to go with your sweet treat.

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If completely customizable meals are your thing, get to Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Before you get to the restaurant, you’ll smell the woodfire smoke grilling beef and chicken. The quick-service restaurant specializes in custom bowls, where you pick your base, sauce, and protein, and it’s all made to order. Bases range from a grain salad to noodles, and the sauces range from a creamy ranch-like sauce to a herby chimichurri style. No matter what combination you choose, it is going to be tasty.

When the lunch bell rings, one of the best places to go is Harambe Market. This outdoor quick service location is known for its delectable chicken and shrimp bowl. Each bowl starts with a bed of jollof rice and a small salad and is filled with juicy grilled chicken and shrimp. This is a great dish to share between two people. The one downfall to this restaurant is the location, which is all outside, so it can be very hot, and there are just a few tables under awnings for cover during the typical Florida summer rains.

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Wine Bar George is easily one of the best restaurants in Walt Disney World and Orlando. The Master Sommelier-led restaurant is known for its impressive wine list and fantastic, shareable small plates. While there are plenty of options on the menu, one of the best is the burrata cheese, served with seasonal tomatoes tossed in a light mint-forward dressing and grilled bread. Snack on this while sitting at the bar, sipping your favorite wine or a delightful cocktail.

The much-hyped ice cream shop Salt & Straw has made its debut at Disney Springs. The small shop is dishing out creative spins on classic ice cream flavors and has a rotating menu of seasonal options for ice cream lovers to choose from. One option that’s always on the menu is the Arbequina Olive Oil ice cream. The ice cream is made with rich Oregon olive oil, which has savory and grassy notes that will change your mind about what ice cream can really be.

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You might have seen the Taco Cone from 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck all over social media lately, and it’s for a good reason. It is huge and perfectly made for TikTok, but each ingredient is delicious, making for an all-around great meal. The cone starts with a deep-fried tortilla that’s formed into a cone and stuffed with your choice of meat, shredded lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, cilantro, jalapenos, and a lime wedge. You’re going to want to find a spot to sit and eat this because it can be messy.

One of the newest restaurants to open at Disney Springs is eet by celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan. The restaurant features incredible Indian street food dishes like chicken tikka rice bowls and Indian-style walking tacos, but the real star of the menu is the Tandoori Chicken Poutine. The dish starts with a bed of fries that have been tossed in chaat masala seasoning, then comes with perfectly cooked tandoori chicken, white cheddar cheese curds, and a silky tomato butter sauce. This dish is worth fighting the crowds at Disney Springs, trust me.

Those venturing to Disney Springs for lunch or dinner will want to make a point to stop at The BOATHOUSE, where nautical vibes are endless, and the view from the lakeside patios is impressive. One of the best items on the menu is the Filet Mignon Sliders, which are perfectly cooked pieces of steak on toasted buns and topped with maitre d’ butter. The dish is served with house fries, which are fresh-cut and utterly perfect. Seats outside are prime, but you can also get great views if you request a seat near a window.

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Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is one of the most beloved resorts at Walt Disney World. After walking through the grand lobby and past the pool, you’ll stumble upon Geyser Point Bar and Grill. The menu is filled with tasty dishes, but none are better than the Cheesy Barbecue Brisket. The dish starts with shredded brisket, then topped with plenty of melted cheese and served with house-made chips. The smokey and sweet taste keeps us coming back time and time again.

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Tambu Lounge is a popular spot at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. While the lounge is known for its tropical tiki drinks, it’s also the spot where you can get the noodles from Ohaha, which is right next door. The noodles have a large following, and Disney fans can’t seem to get enough of them. At Tambu Lounge, the noodles are dressed in a sort of teriyaki sauce and served piping hot. You can also get the noodles at Ohana, but that requires a dinner reservation that can be very challenging to get.

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If there’s one thing that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is known for besides seeing giraffes right outside your hotel room, it’s the zebra dome dessert. The sweet treat starts with a small piece of white cake, layered with a creamy Amarula Cream Liquor mousse and covered in a glaze of white chocolate, before getting chocolate stripes that look like a zebra’s stripes. The dessert is almost like tiramisu, but better. You can get these at The Mara, the quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, or at Boma, a buffet-style restaurant that serves them only at dinner.

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There’s nothing like biting into a juicy cheeseburger and one of the best is from Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago. What makes this burger so special is all of the creative toppings. It starts with a toasted bun and perfectly cooked patty, then a crispy potato, melty manchego cheese, a spread of roasted garlic and lemon aioli, spicy arugula, and a slice of ripe tomato. The dish is served with fries tossed in smoked paprika, adding a ton of flavor. The restaurant is only open for dinner, so be sure to plan your day right to be sure you get here.

When it comes to fried chicken, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has the best at Walt Disney World. The dinner show, which happens to be one of the longest-running in the United States, is known for its knee-slappin’ good times and scrumptious food. Of course, that means buckets of fried chicken, along with ribs, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and sweet strawberry shortcake.

After walking into the Disney Water Parks, you’ll smell sweet cinnamon sugar wafting through the air. This isn’t your imagination playing tricks on you; this is actually freshly made mini donuts from Joffrey’s cart. The donuts are available at both Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Parks and are worth the wait. They are served warm with loads of cinnamon sugar. I like to get these on my way out of the water park to munch on while walking to the car.