Walt Disney World Resort

Dining

Walt Disney World_® Resort has more than 400 places to eat. You will not run out of options.

Quick service counters let you grab a meal in minutes. Table service restaurants have a server who takes your order. Some restaurants feature Disney characters who visit your table. Snack carts and kiosks are everywhere for a quick bite between rides.

The key to dining at Disney World is planning ahead. Table service restaurants open for reservations 60 days before your visit, and the most popular spots fill up fast.

How Walt Disney World restaurants work

Walt Disney World restaurants fall into three categories. Each one serves a different role in your day.

• Table service. You sit down, a server takes your order, and the meal takes 45 to 90 minutes. These range from casual spots to fine dining. Certain table service restaurants offer character dining, where Disney characters visit your table during the meal. Most require reservations.
• Quick service. You order at a counter or through your phone and pick up when ready. Meals take 15 to 30 minutes. No reservation needed.
• Snack and beverage locations. Carts, kiosks, and small windows throughout the parks and resorts. Grab a turkey leg, a Dole Whip, or a cold drink without slowing down.

My Disney Experience app lets you browse every Walt Disney World restaurant, see menus, and check open times. It is also how you place mobile orders at quick service locations.

Eating in the parks vs. eating at the resort

Where you eat matters as much as what you eat. Meals inside the theme parks and meals at resort hotels serve different purposes in your day.

Inside the parks, every meal competes with ride time. A table service lunch takes 60 to 90 minutes away from attractions. That said, some in-park restaurants are worth every minute — great food, a fun atmosphere, and a chance to sit in air conditioning. Quick service is faster if you want to keep moving. Order from your phone, pick up your food, and eat in 20 minutes.

At the resort hotels, the pace slows down. Character meals at resort restaurants are a popular option for rest days. Your family meets Disney characters over a relaxed meal. No park ticket needed.

Disney Springs is another option outside the parks. It has dozens of restaurants from quick bites to upscale dining, all without a park ticket. Many families eat dinner there on their arrival night or rest day.

Table service restaurants

Table service is the full sit-down experience. A server takes your order, brings your food, and handles the check. Meals last 45 to 90 minutes depending on the restaurant and your party size.

Walt Disney World table service restaurants cover a wide range. 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios_® serves comfort food in a themed setting. Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom_® Theme Park offers multicourse meals with global flavors. ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a family-style feast.

Most table service restaurants accept reservations — and the popular ones need them. Walk-ups work at some locations. But a reservation is the best way to lock in the restaurant and time you want.

Quick service restaurants and mobile ordering

Quick service restaurants at Disney World are counter-service spots. No reservation needed. Every theme park, water park, and Disney Resort hotel has them.

Mobile ordering makes quick service even faster. Open the My Disney Experience app, choose a restaurant, pick your items, and pay. When you arrive, tap “I’m Here, Prepare My Order.” Your food is ready in minutes.

Mobile ordering works at more than 60 locations. You’ll find it across all four theme parks, the water parks, Disney Springs_® Area, and many resort hotels. During busy lunch and dinner rushes, it can save 20 to 30 minutes over the regular line.

Walt Disney World quick service food goes well beyond burgers and chicken tenders. Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park serves grain bowls you can customize. Docking Bay 7 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has smoked meat and roasted vegetables in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge_®. Connections Café at EPCOT offers flatbreads, sandwiches, and salads with views of Spaceship Earth.

How dining reservations work

Table service dining reservations open 60 days before your visit. They go live around 6:00 AM Eastern time each day.

The booking window works differently depending on where you stay:

• Disney Resort hotel guests. You can book dining for up to 10 nights on your 60-day mark. Your entire stay opens at once. This is one of the biggest perks of staying on site.
• Off-site guests. You book 60 days ahead, but only one day at a time. Each morning, a new day opens up.

There are three ways to book Disney dining reservations:

• My Disney Experience app
• Walt Disney World website
• By phone at (407) 939-3463 (WDW-DINE)

A credit card holds your reservation. Disney won’t charge it at booking, but there’s a fee if you no-show or cancel with less than two hours’ notice.

Character dining

Character dining is a sit-down meal where Disney characters visit your table. It combines food and meet-and-greets into one experience.

This is one of the best ways to meet characters without waiting in long lines. Your family sits down for a meal while characters visit your table. Each restaurant has a different lineup — one may feature Mickey and friends, another princesses, another Winnie the Pooh.

Kids light up — and watching their faces is half the fun for the adults.

Character meals happen inside the theme parks and at resort hotels:

• Inside the parks. Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom_® Park, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT, and Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
• At resort hotels. Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Resort character meals don’t need a park ticket. That makes them a strong fit for rest days, arrival days, or departure days.

Plan for 60 to 90 minutes. Characters stop at every table, so these meals run longer than regular table service. Book early — character dining is some of the hardest to reserve at Walt Disney World Resort.

Dining at EPCOT festivals

EPCOT hosts four annual festivals. Each one brings dozens of limited-time food booths to World Showcase. These small outdoor kitchens serve dishes and drinks inspired by the festival theme.

• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (January–February). Creative dishes, themed drinks, and food that doubles as art.
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (March–July). Garden-inspired bites with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival (July–November). The biggest festival. Booths from around the world serve small plates and craft beverages.
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (November–December). Holiday traditions from around the world, with festive food at every pavilion.

Festival food booths don’t take reservations. You walk up, order, and eat. Portions are small — think appetizer-sized — so most families sample several booths throughout the day. It’s one of the best Disney World food experiences.

When you visit determines which festival is running. EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is the longest and most popular.

Dining plans

Disney offers dining plans for guests at a Disney Resort hotel. Plans are part of your vacation package. A dining plan bundles meals and snacks into one per-night price added to your room.

Two options are available:

• Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan. Covers quick service meals and snacks.
• Disney Dining Plan. Covers one table service meal, one quick service meal, and snacks per night.

In 2026, kids ages 3 to 9 eat free when at least one adult in the room purchases a dining plan.

Gratuity at table service restaurants is not included. Plan to tip your server on your own.

A dining plan works best when you plan to eat at table service restaurants often. Families who stick to quick service may not get the same value. Work with your Good Story Vacations travel advisor for full breakdown of options to match your family’s needs.

Food allergies and special diets

Disney handles food allergies and dietary needs at every restaurant across Walt Disney World Resort.

At table service restaurants, tell your server about any allergies when you sit down. The chef can adjust dishes or prepare something off-menu. At quick service locations, ask a Cast Member for the allergy-friendly menu. Many locations keep separate prep areas for common allergens.

Disney covers the most common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame. Plant-based options are on the menu at every major restaurant in the theme parks and resort hotels.

For complex needs — four or more allergens or texture-modified meals — email Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com no more than 14 days before your arrival. The Special Diets team will help you plan meals at the restaurants you’ve reserved.

Enjoy the food

It’s easy to treat meals as just a break between rides, but they’re worth more than that. Disney chefs craft dishes with the same attention to detail you see in the attractions. The theming, the plating, and the flavors are all part of the story.

A character breakfast where your toddler meets Mickey for the first time. A quiet dinner at a signature restaurant after the kids are asleep. A Dole Whip on a hot afternoon while you watch the boats go by. These are moments you can’t get anywhere else — and families talk about them for years. If you want to pair a meal with a fireworks view, check the Enchanting Extras guide for dessert parties and dining packages with reserved fireworks seating.

Slow down when you sit down. Some of the best memories from a Walt Disney World vacation happen at a dining table.

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