All Dining Experiences Offered At Walt Disney World: Explained

Quick Service / Counter Service

Counter service is the fastest way to get your meal at Disney World. It’s akin to fast-food dining, where you order at a counter, pick up your food, and then find a place to sit down and eat. The menus typically include easy-to-eat, quick-to-serve food items ranging from sushi and stir-fry to BBQ ribs and gourmet salads.

Don’t let the label of quick service convince you that these meals aren’t absolutely delicious. The quality and selection that can be found at Walt Disney World’s quick service locations are second-to-none in the theme park industry, and rivals dining locations outside the parks as well!

Quick Service Dining Location Examples

• Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios
• Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom
• Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT
• Restaurantosaurus in Animal Kingdom

Fast Casual

Fast Casual dining at Disney World offers a nice blend of speed and quality. It’s typically a step up from fast food, often providing more diverse options. This dining style retains the convenience of counter service to ensure a swift dining experience while elevating the menu options making it perfect for those eager to get back to their adventures.

Fast Casual Dining Location Examples

• Connections Eatery in EPCOT
• Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom
• The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Food Truck

Food trucks at Disney World offer a unique and delightful dining experience. These mobile eateries serve up an array of quick bites and specialty dishes, catering to a wide range of taste buds. These mobile food trucks can be found in Exposition Park in Disney Springs, and perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat.

Food Truck Dining Location Examples

• Hot Diggity Dogs in Disney Springs
• 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck in Disney Springs
• Mac & Cheese Food Truck in Disney Springs
• Local Green Orlando in Disney Springs

Quick Service Mobile Ordering

Disney has introduced mobile ordering for select Quick Service restaurants. This convenient feature allows you to order and pay for your food using the My Disney Experience app. Once your order is ready, you’ll receive a notification to pick it up, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing your park experience.

Table Service

Table Service at Disney World provides a more relaxed and immersive dining experience. There are several sub-categories within Table Service. In many cases you may find these categories being combined to better describe the dining experience offered, such as Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace is both a Buffet-style, and a Character Dining experience.

Let’s dive a little deeper to explore all of the categories that Disney’s dining locations are commonly put into:

Fine / Signature Dining

Signature Dining experiences are the epitome of luxury dining at Disney World. These restaurants offer exceptional service, an elegant atmosphere, and gourmet menus crafted by top chefs. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want to treat yourself, Signature Dining is the way to go.

Fine / Signature Dining Location Examples

• Le Cellier in EPCOT
• Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom
• Tiffins Restaurant in Animal Kingdom
• The Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios

Unique / Themed Dining

Disney World is renowned for its ability to create immersive experiences, and this extends to its dining options as well. Unique or Themed Dining restaurants offer guests the opportunity to not just enjoy a meal, but to step into a different world while doing so.

Themed Dining is not just about the food, but also about the overall experience. The decor, music, costumes of the staff, and even the way the food is presented all contribute to creating a magical dining experience that’s quintessentially Disney.

Unique / Themed Dining Location Examples

• Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant in Hollywood Studios
• Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom
• Coral Reef Restaurant in EPCOT

Character Dining

Character Dining is a unique experience where you can enjoy a meal while interacting with some of your favorite Disney characters. This experience is particularly popular among children who get to meet their heroes in person. From princesses to Mickey Mouse himself, it’s a magical experience that adds an extra sprinkle of Disney magic to your meal.

Character Dining Location Examples

• Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom
• Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT
• Tusker House Restaurant in Animal Kingdom
• Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios

All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Buffet

As the name suggests, these buffets allow you to eat as much as you want. They offer a wide range of dishes, making them a great option for groups with diverse food preferences. You will still be assigned a server that will take your drink orders, and provide access to any specialty items or allergy-menu items your party needs.

All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Buffet Dining Location Examples

• Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom
• Tusker House Restaurant in Animal Kingdom
• Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios
• Biergarten Restaurant in EPCOT

All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Family-Style

Similar to the buffet, Family-Style dining serves unlimited portions, but the food is brought to your table. This style of dining encourages sharing and is perfect for large families or groups. There is generally a set menu, or a choice of a few options, which your whole party will be served to share amongst the table.

All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Family-Style Dining Location Examples

• Rodeo Roundup BBQ in Hollywood Studios
• Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom
• Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue in Fort Wilderness

Table Service Mobile Ordering Not Available

While mobile ordering has revolutionized the dining experience at Quick Service locations, it is important to note that this feature is currently not available for Table Service dining locations at Disney World.

The personal touch and immersive atmosphere of Table Service restaurants make them incompatible with the concept of the mobile ordering system. These restaurants provide a more traditional dining experience, where you are seated by a host and served by a waiter or waitress in a uniquely-themed environment.