8 Amazing Places to Eat at Disney World with Kids

“Mickey Waffle” by daryl_mitchell is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Families with little ones have a multitude of options to choose from when dining at Disney World with their little ones. Do you enjoy character experiences? Are your kids fans of princesses or classic cars? Do you have picky eaters, or are your kids as fond of tiramisu as they are peanut butter and jelly? Check out the following options to see which option best suits your tiny Disney fan!

Cinderella’s Royal Table at The Magic Kingdom

This restaurant is heaven on Earth for any child who dreams of being a prince or princess. Located inside Cinderella’s Castle, this location is what The Magic Kingdom is known for: beautiful medieval interiors complete with stained glass and arches, comfortable seating, and fantastic character experiences. All of the princesses are on call here: if your little one wants to hug Princess Aurora, this is where they will have prime access.

Menu items include everything from chicken nuggets to White Chocolate Jasmine Tea Mousse. You can make reservations for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Royal Table. If you have very young ones with you, breakfast may be the best option: it’s nice and early so nobody is tired yet, and the crowd is smaller.

Pros:

Incredible venue with beautiful decorations and great ambience
High-end cuisine
Fantastic character interaction opportunities
Ideal for fans of the princesses
A great option for kids and adults of all ages

Cons:

Reservations MUST be made in advance
Less ideal for travellers working on a budget
Less ideal for kids who aren’t fans of character interactions/the princess films

Be Our Guest at The Magic Kingdom

This is a must do if your child is a princess fan. Be Our Guest is definitely an example of the best dining at Disney World for children and adults alike. One of the most painstakingly detailed restaurants in The Magic Kingdom in terms of incredible interior decor, this is both an attraction and a restaurant based on the animated version of Beauty and the Beast. This restaurant features three dining rooms: The West Wing, where you’ll find the Beast’s torn portrait, The Rose Room, and the spectacular Grand Ballroom, decked out in all it’s romantic splendor.

Try the Grey Stuff (it’s delicious!) or a strawberry cupcake if you’re less inclined to keep it movie-themed. This restaurant is available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, although to really experience the best that Be Our Guest has to offer, dinner reservations are the best way to go. Check out an in-depth review here or here. Reservations MUST be made in advance: you won’t get a table if you try to book the day of. Reservation information can be found here.

Pros:

Beautiful location with many different seating options and choice of ambience
Delicious gourmet meals, including wine for adults
Engaging guest experiences
Ideal for fans of Beauty and the Beast and the princess films
Great for kids and adults of ALL ages

Cons:

Reservations MUST be made in advance. There is a Fast Pass option available for this restaurant, but using a Fast Pass means waiting in long lines and you aren’t guaranteed a spot as reservations get first priority.
Slightly pricier than a budget trip might allow.
Dining options don’t necessarily accommodate picky eaters or diners who prefer very simple dining options.

Sci-Fi Dine In Theater at Hollywood Studios

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is so much fun. If your kids are fans of burgers, fries, and milkshakes, make sure they eat in style…you can’t get a better ambiance than a table fashioned like a classic car stationed in front of huge screens showing goofy B-Movies from Hollywood’s golden past. There are also more traditional tables if you don’t want to make a reservation for one of the cars, but the cars are worth it! This is a great restaurant if your party includes slightly older kids along as well that are prone to complaining about things being too “little kiddy.”

Pros:

Incredibly kid friendly menu
Great for slightly older kids
Inventive, fun atmosphere that will appeal to adults too
Fun opportunity for parents and grandparents to get nostalgic with their younger guests

Cons:

Slightly higher price for fairly standard menu options
Sci-fi scenes might be a little scary for very sensitive viewers

Disney Junior Play n Dine at Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood Studios

Disney Junior Play n Dine is highly recommended: it’s got a five-star rating at Tripadvisor. This buffet is a fantastic choice for adults who might enjoy lobster mac and cheese, picky eaters who need their chicken fingers and ranch, or kids with food sensitivities who are fans of Disney Junior shows like Jake and the Neverland Pirates or Princess Sofia.

This is an interactive buffet that features meet and greets, characters visiting your table to say hello to your little ones, and a dance party where you and your kids are invited to join the characters for a dance-along! The show also changes seasonally to feature fun holiday themed activities.

Pros:

Super engaging, fun, energetic, and upbeat character interactions
A fantastic option for toddlers and younger kids
A diverse menu that will satisfy any palate

Cons:

Older kids or kids unfamiliar with the characters might not find this choice as exciting as fans/little ones

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness

This is a seasonal event that mimics a huge down home backyard barbecue. This is a dinner theatre and buffet: enjoy delicious traditional American cuisine like fried chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, burgers and hotdogs, greens, and corn on the cob while enjoying a fun country show led by Mickey and Friends.

Meet the characters and have autographs signed if your youngsters are fans! If you make a Category 1 reservation, you’ll get to meet the characters ahead of time and you get premiere seating. It’s definitely worth the slightly higher cost. For more info on different reservations that you can make, click here.

Pros:

Fun for the whole family! Guests of all ages will appreciate this dining experience
Includes a dinner show and character interactions
Features a huge array of all-you-can-eat menu options
Less in-demand (this is a bit of a hidden gem at Disney World) and therefore less crowded!

Cons:

Only offered at certain times of the year; check ahead to make reservations
Reservations are tiered and the best dining experience is definitely the most expensive option

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and Starlight Lounge at The Magic Kingdom

Do you want to experience dinner and a show with goofy intergalactic characters that play a wacky alien organ? This is your place! This super kid-friendly venue is an outer space themed quick service restaurant with a fun menu including burgers, fries, nuggets, and even Uncrustables. If you prefer to dine in style, visit the restaurant’s Starlight Lounge and check out the Sonny Eclipse Dining Show if you can! The out-of-this-world Sonny is an animatronic maestro fashioned in the style of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and the best of the old-time swingers.

You won’t need a reservation, but if you want to make sure you catch Sonny’s show, call Disney World’s dining line ((407) 939-1947) for information regarding daily showtimes. This is a great option if you’re visiting on a budget and your kids like to laugh.

Pros:

Great for younger guests that prefer simple food options
No reservation required
Quick service menu items that don’t require waiting for waiters or waitresses to serve you
Food costs less here than it does elsewhere at the park

Cons:

You may spend a bit of time waiting for a table to open up in a location that you prefer
Menu choices are a bit limited; if you want the best dining Disney World has to offer, opt for a higher end restaurant

No character meet and greets

Good Morning Breakfast at The Four Seasons Ravello

If your kids like Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie, they will be thrilled to join them for breakfast at this fantastic breakfast buffet. Character dining is guaranteed fun for the wee ones in your group: take photos, have autographs signed, and choose from an awesome selection of kid friendly menu items. This is a great character dining option even if you’re not staying at the Four Seasons Resort, as the dining is first class and it tends to be a bit less crowded than other character dining experiences at the park. Nevertheless, book reservations ahead of time by calling 407-313-3777. More info can be found here.

Pros:

Great for very young guests
Less crowded than other character dining options
Delicious, higher-end dining options

Cons:

May not be as entertaining for older kids
Located at The Four Seasons Resort instead of inside one of the theme parks

50s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

An old school American diner decked out in polka dots, checks, and stripes, this sit-down restaurant is fun for the whole family. The decor is reminiscent of time-honored 1950s diners and roadside cafes. Televisions play episodes of classics like The Dick Van Dyke Show and other family friendly picks from days gone by. The menu at this diner is extremely kid friendly, featuring dishes that have served as Sunday Dinner comfort food for decades. (Check out the macaroni and cheese and pot roast…these choices are kid AND adult friendly.)

Fun soda-fountain drinks and nostalgic desserts are some of the standout items found here. Prime Time Cafe is also interactive: waitresses might scold Dad, for example, for not eating his vegetables! This is a great stop to make if Grandma and Grandpa are traveling with you as well; it might inspire retelling a few tales of their own childhood. To view the full menu and make reservations, click here.

Pros:

Less expensive menu options
Delicious, easy-to-eat comfort food that will please all diners
A great chance to experience nostalgia/1950s Americana with your younger kids
Appropriate for guests of any age

Cons:

May not appeal to adults who don’t want to “get in on the action”
Does not feature Disney characters
May not appeal to guests who want a higher-end, gourmet dining experience

Bonus Pick:

Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot

This is a fantastic pick if your little one loves animals (or films like Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid). It isn’t strictly Disney themed and you won’t necessarily have a “Disney experience” like you would at some of the other restaurants mentioned above, but this restaurant is gorgeous. The food is a bit higher-end too; burgers and fries aren’t going to be worth the price, but if your kids don’t mind slightly fancier faire, then this is an amazing pick.

The dining room doubles as an aquarium, and huge glass-paneled tanks line the walls of the restaurant, so you’ll be able to say hello to the REAL Nemo if you’re lucky enough to see him pass by! This location will appeal to the smaller crowd and the adults in your party. Make reservations and get a preview of the delicious seafood menu here.

Pros:

Delicious high end dining
Ideal for guests of all ages, including hard-to-impress teens and tweens
Educational and interactive: you can get right up to the glass and see the wonders of the deep up close and personal
Located in Epcot and super easy to get to

Cons:

Does not feature Disney characters or related experiences
A bit pricey
Reservations made well in advance are highly recommended

The Bottom Line

There are a lot of dining options available at Disney World that will please the younger members of your party. Hopefully this guide has given you an idea of what the best Disney restaurants are for your family.

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8 Amazing Places to Eat at Disney World with Kids