Best Disney World restaurants for international first-timers

[Lei]

Hi everyone! My husband, son, and I are going in March. It’s going to be my husband’s and son’s very first time, and we probably won’t come back anytime soon, as we live so so so so far away from USA

We originally don’t plan to do any table-service meal, because we don’t feel the need to do it.

But the more I researched, the more I feel dining experience is such an important part of a Disney trip. So I’m starting to consider it.

So I’d love to hear your recommendations for table-service restaurants, for us first-timers who are unlikely to come back soon. ONE recommendation is enough, though, because we may only go for 1 table-service meal. Two, the most.

A bit of background:

- We don’t shun from what Americans consider as exotic foods. We’re from Southeast Asia, the land of weird and spicy grubs LOL.

- We’re not picky, but DS (4 years old) and I are really light eaters. At restaurants, DS and I usually share a plate.

- DH loves American and Italian food, while DS’s current go-to grubs are sushi (incl raw ones), pasta, and anything with mayonnaise.

- We don’t mind character meals, but prefer costumed characters. I’d love to meet face characters, but my husband is Mr Always-Super-Awkward, while my son doesn’t speak English at all and tend to be terrified if someone strikes a convo with him in English. Poor kid That being said, I guess 50’s Prime Time is out of the question!

- We won’t be going to DHS. It’s a pity because I think my son would love Sci-Fi

- We’ll have non-park days, so we’re open to eat at other resorts / Disney Springs / etc.

Thank you!

 

[tstidm1]

The food at WDW is blander than what you will have in South East Asia meaning that it won't be as Spicy. Be prepared as the cuts of meat are nearly standardized to a few cuts of Chicken, Beef or Pork. The most exotic place at WDW is called Sanaa. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-villas-kidani/sanaa/menus/ is the menu link. From everything I've heard, It's really good.

I would say the best Sit down meal with your needs is The Wave at Contemporary. Really fresh and seasonal American cuisine and you can get a Reservation for any time you want. I've enjoyed both their Breakfast and Dinner menus. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=550#menu for the menu. The menu changes seasonally since a lot of their food is locally sourced.

 

[glassslippergirl]

My recommendation is California Grill in the Contemporary. Do it on one of your non-park days. They are known for their sushi. It's at the top of the Contemporary, so there's a fabulous view of MK. If you eat there any time that night, you are entitled to watch Wishes fireworks from their top of the Contemporary viewing area. Finally, it's an upscale restaurant with a very savvy and professional staff who will be understanding of your language concerns.

 

[LovesTimone]

If this a trip were we would not be back for a while I would think about adding in some table meals, the experiences, and theming are wonderful. Plus you get a chance to sit down and relax, in the air conditioning, and have some wait on you which is nice. So I would not count TS dinning out.

I would go with a Character Meal, with a 4 year old for me would be the easy choice, I would stick to Chef Mickeys which is buffet but you get the Fab 5 ( Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy) and picture opportunity as they rotate through the dinning room, Breakfast is a nice way to start your day or have dinner and end the day. This is about as Disney as you can get. While it doesn't get praise worthy reviews. We have never had a terrible meal or bad service. It has a variety of offerings to choose from.

For a second TS meal I might would try Corral Reef, especially if your son likes to watch the fishes... whole wall is viewing into Sea Base Aquarium.... it is so beautiful and relaxing, we enjoy the food, service and atmosphere a lot. It's on our go to list.

Breakfast Character meals are less expensive than Lunch and Dinner

Another thought is either T-Rex or Rain Forest, Which is fun for kids of all ages and is located at Disney Springs... and Animal Kingdom( Rain Forest)

When our kids were little they loved to do appetizers so we would order a few and share at lunch time this might be a good way for you to try more table service.

Another thing when we are on vacation, making sure mom and dad are enjoying themselves, tend to make Dad want to come back more often

As far a sharing a plate with your son it will be no problem, just let the server know. For us Disney portions are huge and easily shareable.

Have a Magical time...

 

[LSLS]

The Wave and Morimoto are probably my favorite places on property at this point. If you are looking for Italian I'd head over to the Swan/Dolphin for Il Mulino. For character meals, it depends on who you want to see, but keep in mind they are all buffets so with you being light eaters they may not be worth it. Chef Mickey will give you all the characters, but pretty bad food. Crystal Palace has pretty good food if you want Winnie the Pooh, and Cape May is underrated for breakfast for characters. Ohana is a great option if you are into Lilo and Stich as well.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

That's a tough one. I think I would choose California Grill for dinner as the view is absolutely amazing (you can see EP, DHS and MK from the observation decks) or Tusker House where you will get some really good food and get to meet most of the Fab 5.

 

[Stefecatzz]

Boma or Sanaa at AKL would be my choice.

For Italian, Tutto Italia in Epcot.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Il Mulino (for Italian) and Tusker House (for characters)

 

[Lei]

The food at WDW is blander than what you will have in South East Asia meaning that it won't be as Spicy. Be prepared as the cuts of meat are nearly standardized to a few cuts of Chicken, Beef or Pork. The most exotic place at WDW is called Sanaa. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-villas-kidani/sanaa/menus/ is the menu link. From everything I've heard, It's really good.

I would say the best Sit down meal with your needs is The Wave at Contemporary. Really fresh and seasonal American cuisine and you can get a Reservation for any time you want. I've enjoyed both their Breakfast and Dinner menus. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=550#menu for the menu. The menu changes seasonally since a lot of their food is locally sourced.

I've heard such good things about The Wave! Really curious about the buffet. Looks really delicious.

The Wave and Morimoto are probably my favorite places on property at this point. If you are looking for Italian I'd head over to the Swan/Dolphin for Il Mulino. For character meals, it depends on who you want to see, but keep in mind they are all buffets so with you being light eaters they may not be worth it. Chef Mickey will give you all the characters, but pretty bad food. Crystal Palace has pretty good food if you want Winnie the Pooh, and Cape May is underrated for breakfast for characters. Ohana is a great option if you are into Lilo and Stich as well.

Thanks for the ideas! I tried to book Crystal Palace for early breakfast on our MK days, but nothing's available so far Will check out Ohana, Cape May, and Chef Mickey.

My recommendation is California Grill in the Contemporary. Do it on one of your non-park days. They are known for their sushi. It's at the top of the Contemporary, so there's a fabulous view of MK. If you eat there any time that night, you are entitled to watch Wishes fireworks from their top of the Contemporary viewing area. Finally, it's an upscale restaurant with a very savvy and professional staff who will be understanding of your language concerns.

That's a tough one. I think I would choose California Grill for dinner as the view is absolutely amazing (you can see EP, DHS and MK from the observation decks) or Tusker House where you will get some really good food and get to meet most of the Fab 5.

Wow, from pictures and Youtube videos, California Grill's view is absolutely stunning! The menu looks super delicious and seems to suit our palate as well. Thank you for suggesting, too bad it's a bit out of budget for us

 

[Lei]

If this a trip were we would not be back for a while I would think about adding in some table meals, the experiences, and theming are wonderful. Plus you get a chance to sit down and relax, in the air conditioning, and have some wait on you which is nice. So I would not count TS dinning out.

I would go with a Character Meal, with a 4 year old for me would be the easy choice, I would stick to Chef Mickeys which is buffet but you get the Fab 5 ( Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy) and picture opportunity as they rotate through the dinning room, Breakfast is a nice way to start your day or have dinner and end the day. This is about as Disney as you can get. While it doesn't get praise worthy reviews. We have never had a terrible meal or bad service. It has a variety of offerings to choose from.

For a second TS meal I might would try Corral Reef, especially if your son likes to watch the fishes... whole wall is viewing into Sea Base Aquarium.... it is so beautiful and relaxing, we enjoy the food, service and atmosphere a lot. It's on our go to list.

Breakfast Character meals are less expensive than Lunch and Dinner

Another thought is either T-Rex or Rain Forest, Which is fun for kids of all ages and is located at Disney Springs... and Animal Kingdom( Rain Forest)

When our kids were little they loved to do appetizers so we would order a few and share at lunch time this might be a good way for you to try more table service.

Another thing when we are on vacation, making sure mom and dad are enjoying themselves, tend to make Dad want to come back more often

As far a sharing a plate with your son it will be no problem, just let the server know. For us Disney portions are huge and easily shareable.

Have a Magical time...

Thanks for the great ideas! I've looked them up and T-Rex and Coral Reef seem like something my son would absolutely love! And yes, I'd definitely try to make Dad falls in love with Disney

Also good to know that sharing a plate won't be a problem. A bit nervous of being judged LOL

 

[Lei]

Boma or Sanaa at AKL would be my choice.

For Italian, Tutto Italia in Epcot.

Il Mulino (for Italian) and Tusker House (for characters)

Tusker House and Tutto Italia seem great! Honestly I'm not too excited with Tusker House's offerings but I heard nothing but good things about it, including the characters' interactions. Will probably shortlist it. Thank you!

 

[goofyintoronto]

California Grill is a great choice if you love sushi. Plus the view is stunning.

The Wave (at the Contemporary Resort) is a hidden gem and one of my fave restaurants, along with Via Napoli (italian restaurant in Epcot). Both have phenominal food and a wonderful atmosphere.

For characters I love Winnie/Pooh characters at Crystal Palace (I prefer breakfast), and I also like Cape May at the Beach Club resort (characters are only at breakfast). Characters at Cape May are Minnie, Goofy and Donald. Its one of the quieter character breakfasts...plus the food is really good. For a louder atmosphere, try Chef Mickeys. Although I gotta admit, food is better at the other two i mentioned.

 

[sleepydog25]

Agree with earlier comments about not expecting truly exotic tastes with most of Disney dining. While they do "color outside the lines" a bit with certain restaurants, they never stray too far and largely keep recipes "americanized." That being said, there are a few restaurants I'd recommend. You can research them at your leisure to see if one or two of them might be worth your time.
1) Sanaa - A real treat and actually budget-friendly, relatively speaking. The bread service alone is worth the visit, but you'll find other items that might meet your eye.
2) Il Mulino/Kimono's - Actually two different restaurants at the Swan Hotel, one offers very good Italian and the other has excellent sushi.
3) Morimoto Asia - Located in Disney Springs, it's got some excellent items on the menu, most notably the buri bop.\

Good eats!

 

[LovesTimone]

Thanks for the great ideas! I've looked them up and T-Rex and Coral Reef seem like something my son would absolutely love! And yes, I'd definitely try to make Dad falls in love with Disney

Also good to know that sharing a plate won't be a problem. A bit nervous of being judged LOL

No-one is going to judge you for sharing a meal with your child, or anyone( adults sharing, kids sharing) in your party. DH and I share stuff all the time, don't worry about that. Make sure to do a trip report after you get back.
Have a magical time.

 

[DISNEY1975]

If you dont plan on visiting again soon, and with a young child, I highly recommend character breakfasts. Most are buffets, so there is something for everyone. In my opinion, you can never have enough character meals. You can eat steaks, sushi, italian etc..anywhere, but only at Disney can you dine with characters. You can never replace a wonderful memory with a wonderful filet mignon, which will be gone and forgotten in an hour!

Hollywood and Vine - DHS

Chef Mickeys - Contemporary Resort

Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom

Cape May - Beach Club Resort

Ohana - Polynesian Resort

Tusker House - Animal Kingdom

Akershus - Epcot

1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian

Be Our Guest - Magic Kingdom (dinner only)

Also,
Garden Grill - Epcot
Liberty Tree Tavern - Magic Kingdom (dinner only)

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Be Our Guest

 

[Lei]

For characters I love Winnie/Pooh characters at Crystal Palace (I prefer breakfast), and I also like Cape May at the Beach Club resort (characters are only at breakfast). Characters at Cape May are Minnie, Goofy and Donald. Its one of the quieter character breakfasts...plus the food is really good. For a louder atmosphere, try Chef Mickeys. Although I gotta admit, food is better at the other two i mentioned.

Noted, thanks!

If you dont plan on visiting again soon, and with a young child, I highly recommend character breakfasts. Most are buffets, so there is something for everyone. In my opinion, you can never have enough character meals. You can eat steaks, sushi, italian etc..anywhere, but only at Disney can you dine with characters. You can never replace a wonderful memory with a wonderful filet mignon, which will be gone and forgotten in an hour!

First of all, thanks for sharing pics of your daughter! So adorable I agree with your comment on character meals, esp because we are not exactly foodies. Thanks again!

 

[Lei]

No-one is going to judge you for sharing a meal with your child, or anyone( adults sharing, kids sharing) in your party. DH and I share stuff all the time, don't worry about that. Make sure to do a trip report after you get back.
Have a magical time.

Thank you!! I am planning to write a trip report actually. I've started a pre-trip report here if you'd like to see

 

[Lei]

Thanks for all the recommendation, you guys! California Grill and character breakfasts definitely got a solid vote. I wish we can do them all, really, but can't due to time and budget constrains (and being late to snag the breakfast ADRs, dang it).

So far, we have decided on The Garden Grill (lunch) and T-Rex, due to DS' current love for dinosaurs. Both dining experiences are nothing like we've seen before and we're excited! Thanks again everyone.

 

[Minkishly]

Hey there! I'm from Singapore, just returned from a Disney honeymoon back in December. We tried quite a number of character dining meals and other table service restaurants during our trip. My husband is really shy too and he was initially horrified at the idea of character dining meals, especially ones with face characters. We ended up going for two princess meals, haha! He actually survived those pretty well.

These are the restaurants with character meals we dined at:

Akershus (Dinner) - Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Ariel
Cinderella's Royal Table (Lunch) - Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine and Ariel (repetitive, I know, but we *had* to eat in the castle!)
Crystal Palace (Dinner) - Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet
Tusker House (Brunch) - Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy (in safari clothes!)

And other Disney restaurants:

Le Cellier Steakhouse (lunch)
Sci Fi Dine-in Theatre (dinner)
Be Our Guest (lunch) -- technically quick service but worth a mention due to its popularity

I initially made other ADRs at other restaurants (Sanaa, TREX, 1900 Park Fare, Ohana breakfast), but eventually cancelled them because we decided that we wanted to spend every bit of time we had at the parks. It does take time to travel around the world because it's massive, so we decided to skip the resort restaurants this trip. Since you're already planning to visit Disney Springs, TREX will definitely be a great choice!

I definitely 100% recommend the character meals because it's an experience that you can only find at Disney. It also helped that everyone at Disney was so incredibly sweet to us. Traditionally, the service is quite stoic in most Asian restaurants so it was such a refreshing change. If you ever decide to try another character meal, I highly recommend Crystal Palace. The food is amazing. It's standard American fare that is perfectly done. Nothing exotic, but I think we have enough of that at home hehe. Crystal Palace is a beautiful place to dine in and the character interaction here is amazing.

Tusker House is really great too, with slightly more varied food offerings. I actually prefer the food at Crystal Palace because a lot of the Asian inspired dishes were actually not as enjoyable for me. It's very nicely cooked but having already developed a kind of expectation of what it ought to taste like made me a little biased. I'm only pointing this out since I think we should have a similar palate. Having said that, the food was nice and the restaurant's safari theme is really unique and fun. It's also a real plus to see the characters in special attire.

One word about reservations - it's actually not impossible to get last minute reservations at the more popular places (and the more popular timings as well!). A lot of people cancel the day before because their plans changed and they wanted to avoid the no-show fee. I saw a lot of Be Our Guest and Crystal Palace reservations open while I was on my trip. In fact, I got my Akershus dinner and Tusker House brunch while we were actually at Disney. Maybe something to keep in mind, just in case you decide to throw in another meal!