|
|
Dining on Main Street U.S.A.
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
**
$$-$$$
Specialty: Italian (Kids Menu)
Indoor full service
Open for lunch and dinner
Tony’s Menu
Tony’s is a sit-down restaurant offering a menu with an Italian flair. Themed to Lady and the Tramp, this eatery features wrought-iron accents and a fanciful decor.
Specialties include pizza, pastas, salads and sandwiches at lunch, with an array of traditional Italian favorites at dinner. Located near the park’s entrance, this restaurant tends to be a bit quieter during the lunch hour. Dinner however is usually quite busy as many stop on their way out of the park. Advanced Dining Reservations are highly suggested if you plan on dining here any time after 4:00 p.m.
The Plaza Restaurant
*
$-$$
Specialty: American (Kids Menu)
Indoor sit-down service (with limited outdoor patio seating)
Open for lunch and dinner
The Plaza Restaurant Menu
The Plaza is a sit-down restaurant on the corner of Main Street, offering a menu filled with sandwiches of all sorts, salads, and burgers with a large selection of ice cream, shakes, and floats for dessert. The decor is fanciful and in keeping with Main Street’s 1800s theme however is not nearly as enticing for children as it is for adults. As one of Disney’s smaller restaurants, it fills up rather quickly at times; Advanced Dining
Reservations may be necessary during peak seasons.
Casey’s Corner
*
$
Specialty: American (No Separate Kids Menu)
Indoor counter service (with limited outdoor patio seating)
Casey’s Corner Menu
Casey’s is a counter-service eatery with a baseball motif running throughout. The red-and-white striped decor is reminiscent of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, though here you will find jumbo hot dogs, fabulous fries, and cold drinks (among a few other items) on the menu. The backroom features a large screen showing short cartoons with bleacher-style seating. Though one of the smaller eateries, it is a popular spot for a snack or a late-night stop on the way out of the park. It’s also a really great place to view the nightly fireworks display, especially with its small outdoor seating area facing Cinderella Castle.
Food for Thought:
For those of you with children who only eat hot dogs (or at least prefer them above all else) consider getting one (or two) to go. Many times you’ll find that kids, especially younger ones, are more apt to eat on the go that to sit and savor their meal. Doing this may also save you from the occasional defiance you may encounter at the designated time you’ve decided to dine.
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
*
$
Specialty: Desserts (No Separate Kids Menu)
Indoor counter service
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Menu
The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is a counter-service eatery that features Edy’s Grand ice cream in almost every flavor. This is by far the Magic Kingdom’s best spot for hard ice cream as it offers the largest selection anywhere in the park (elsewhere your more likely to find ice cream bars and soft serve treats).
The Main Street Bakery
*
$
Specialty: Pastries and Desserts (No Separate Kids Menu)
Indoor counter service
The Main Street Bakery Menu
The bakery offers pastries, cookies, and cakes, all of which are large enough to share. If you didn’t have time to stop for breakfast before you got to the park, you need go no farther. Espresso, cappuccino, and smoothies (among other refreshments) are available as well. Don’t plan on sitting down here however as the available indoor seating is extremely limited (it’s possible you may get lucky however). Be prepared to head elsewhere (though the two tables just outside the doorway are likely to be occupied as well) or eat on the go. If you do prefer to sit, and there are no seats available, make your way up Main Street (towards Cinderella Castle) and turn right at the corner. Some of the best seats in the park lie just beyond the Plaza Restaurant.
The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station
*
$
Specialty: Asian (Kids Menu)
Outdoor counter service
Open for lunch and dinner (seasonally)
The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station Menu
The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is a counter-service restaurant offering Asian fusion foods from noodle bowls to stir fry to salads. It has a tremendously large (though well-covered) outdoor seating area, great for people-watching while you’re eating. Just beyond is a smaller uncovered seating area if you prefer to soak up the Florida sunshine. Because the restaurant is off to the side a bit between Main Street and Tomorrowland, it is often overlooked as guests are making their way to the Tomorrowland attractions, and as such it makes a rather good choice for a less crowded atmosphere. Of course, the sheer number of tables helps too.
The Crystal Palace
***
$$-$$$
Specialty: American (Kids Menu)
Character dining
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
The Crystal Palace Menu (which changes and varies daily)
The Crystal Palace is by far one of the best character dining experiences in the entire Walt Disney World Resort. It is also one of the most spectacular restaurants in the park, as its name implies. It is beautifully adorned with glass and surrounded by flowers and gardens, looking as if it were transported directly out of the Victorian era. A varied and rather good all-you-can-eat buffet (including a dessert buffet with make-your-own sundaes and cones) is the fare at this restaurant. The menu actually changes rather frequently, but the choices are always numerous and include plenty of kid-friendly favorites. Pooh and his friends come around to each and every table spending a few moments with every child in the restaurant. This one is a family favorite, so I would highly recommend making Advanced Dining Reservations (as I would with any character dining experience in the resort). Just be prepared for the prices to run on the high side (though this is the case for all of the buffets, so the hungrier you are the better).
Breakfast: Adult $ 18.99 Children 3-9 $ 10.99
Lunch: Adult $ 20.99 Children 3-9 $ 11.99
Dinner: Adult $ 27.99 Children 3-9 $ 12.99
As A Note: Because character dining is most often served as a buffet meal the prices are usually set for each meal. I have included the actual pricing to give you the most accurate idea of just what the cost will be. Keep in mind however that prices change often and the prices listed can easily be off by a dollar or 2, sometimes more. Be sure to check the official Walt Disney World web site or www.travel-insights.com for the most current and up-to date pricing available just prior to your vacation to be sure you don’t experience sticker shock after you’ve arrived.
Dining in Adventureland
Aloha Isle (across from the Swiss Family Treehouse)
**
$
Specialty: Drinks and Fruity Treats
Walk-up outdoor snack spot
Aloha Isle Menu
This little walk-up snack spot features Dole Whip treats, pineapple floats, juices, and other cold drinks. Some of the best treats in the park are served here so be sure to stop by on your way through. Just so you know however the pineapple spears aren’t really served in spear as the name would reflect, rather they are in a sealed plastic bag and served with a fork.
The Sunshine Tree Terrace
*
$
Specialty: Drinks and Fruity Treats
Walk-up outdoor snack spot
The Sunshine Tree Terrace Menu
Another great stop for a cold drink or treat, the Sunshine Tree Terrace, found just behind the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, features some great Citrus specialties from slush drinks to frozen yogurt in flavors like raspberry, orange, and lemonade. They also offer cappuccino, espresso, and other drinks.
El Pirata Y el Perico
**
$-$$
Specialty: Tex-Mex
Outdoor counter service (covered outdoor seating) Open for lunch and dinner
(seasonally)
Open for lunch and dinner (seasonally)
El Pirita Y el Perico Menu
This little counter-service café features tacos and taco salads, nachos, and hot dogs (for those little or even not so little pirates not quite accustomed to Tex-Mex yet).
There is covered outdoor seating, but I have found that if you simply head to your left you will find yourself entering (from the back) one of the many indoor seating areas of Pecos Bills Café. The restaurant is only open seasonally, so be aware it may or may not be operational when you visit. Check your Times Guide when you enter the park to see if they’re open that day so you’ll know before you get there.
Frontier Fries
*
Walk-up snack spot
Frontier Fries Menu
While the name implies that it’s in Frontierland, it’s actually located just in between Adventureland and Frontierland. This small snack stop features McDonald’s french fries and cold drinks. It’s the perfect place to pick up some familiar food for the picky eaters and toddlers in the family.
Dining in Frontierland
Pecos Bill’s Café
***
$-$$ ($$ by the time you add on your drink and/or dessert to select items)
Specialty: American, Southwestern (kids menu)
Indoor counter service (with additional outdoor patio seating)
Open for lunch and dinner
Pecos Bill’s Menu
This one’s a family (and personal) favorite in the long list of counter-service eateries. The seating capacity is simply tremendous, but what differentiates this restaurant is the cozier atmosphere created by separating the seating into several smaller rooms. The dark wood and decor (with golden stucco, wrought iron chandeliers, and tile accents running throughout the many rooms) are reminiscent of an old western saloon. If you prefer the sunshine, there’s a small outdoor patio as well. The menu features hot dogs and burgers, salads and sandwiches, with a fabulous chicken wrap. Almost everything comes with fries, but you can substitute carrots if you prefer a healthier side, if not simply ask for it à la carte. The kids’ meals even come with a small bag of character-shaped cookies. The meals are served relatively plain, but don’t fret, there’s a well-stocked fixin’s bar full of lettuce, tomatoes, relish and pickles, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and of course cheese, all to top off your meal to your liking.
Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn
$
Specialty: desserts and snacks
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
Aunt Polly’s Menu
If you find yourself on Tom Sawyer Island and in need of a quick pick-me-up, Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn features a small selection of sweets and treats. Drinks are available as well. This little snack spot is only open seasonally, so check the Times Guide to see if it‘s open when if you intend on scouting out the island on an empty stomach.
Dining in Liberty Square
The Liberty Tree Tavern
*
$-$$
Specialty: Traditional American (kids menu)
Open for lunch (a-la-carte) and dinner (buffet)
Character dinner (buffet)
The Liberty Tree Tavern Menu
This restaurant is practically a tribute to Early American decor with a somewhat presidential flair. The atmosphere is a bit more extravagant than that of other restaurants in the area, but it is still a very appropriate place to bring the entire family (just as all of the theme park restaurants are). The lunch menu includes pot roast, roast turkey, New England clam chowder, fish, sandwiches, and soups. Dinner is served family style, with the food placed in the center of the table for all to take what they please) The menu includes all-you-can-eat salad, roast turkey, beef, pork chops, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and macaroni and cheese (with a handful of other choices as well). Dinner also brings with it some of your favorite Disney characters while you dine. The cost for character dining here is $27.99 for an adult and $12.99 for kids 3-9.
Colombia Harbour House
**
$-$$ ($$ by the time you add in a drink and/or dessert to select menu items)
Specialty: American, Seafood (kids menu)
Indoor counter service
Open for lunch and dinner
Colombia Harbour House Menu
This is another personal favorite for both food and atmosphere. This quaint little restaurant is split up into several rooms to create a more cozy dining experience with some rooms upstairs, some rooms down. With its New England nautical theme and its not-so-familiar fare (fish, chicken, sandwiches, salads, and New England clam chowder, not to mention bologna sandwiches and macaroni and cheese for the kids), the Colombia Harbour House offers a good diversion from the usual fast-food offerings found throughout the park.
Sleepy Hollow
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot.
Open seasonally
Sleepy Hollow Menu
Ice cream, funnel cakes, and other treats, as well as a variety of beverages, are all
served here.
Dining in Fantastyland
The Pinocchio Village Haus
*
$
Specialty: American (kids menu)
Indoor counter service
Open for lunch and dinner
Pinocchio Village Haus Menu
The neatest feature of this restaurant is the view. Some of the windows overlook the It’s a Small World dock, where riders are getting both on and off. The menu here features hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and salads, so there’s certainly something for everybody. Something to think about, though, is that it’s located smack in the middle of one of the most popular children’s areas in the park, which makes it rather crowded during both lunch and dinner.
Scuttle’s Landing
$
Outdoor walk-up snack stand
Scuttle’s Landing Menu
Frozen Sodas and icy cold drinks are available to cool you off on a hot day. It’s located just behind Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
***
$$-$$$
Indoor sit-down dining
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Character dining during all meals
Cinderella’s Royal Table Menu
Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, and an array of other princesses (the characters will vary daily) join in the fun at breakfast and lunch, though expect to make Advanced Dining Arrangements (and in this case, full payment--no matter which meal you choose-- is required at the time you do so) if you expect to join in yourself. This is by far one of the most popular character dining experiences in the park, which, given its location (Cinderella’s Castle), should come as no surprise. At breakfast and expect an array of American fare including fruit, eggs, bacon, pastries, French toast, and an array of other items, served tableside (keeping in mind it’s all you can eat). Lunch and dinner feature a set menu of select entrees in which to choose from. Seafood, pasta, and sandwiches are among the fare for lunch while dinner brings with it a more adult menu (though there is of course a children’s menu as well) featuring prime rib, salmon, lamb, with additional yet similar items to choose from as well. Dinner however, is hosted by the Fairy Godmother and includes in the price a special edition lithograph and a photo package.
Breakfast: Adult $ 31.99 Children 3-9 $ 21.99
Lunch: Adult $ 33.99 Children 3-9 $ 22.99
Dinner: Adult $ 39.99 Children 3-9 $ 24.99
As A Note: Because character dining is most often served as a buffet meal the prices are usually set for each meal. I have included the actual pricing to give you the most accurate idea of just what the cost will be. Keep in mind however that prices change often and the prices listed can easily be off by a dollar or 2, sometimes more. Be sure to check the official Walt Disney World web site or www.travel-insights.com for the most current and up-todate pricing available just prior to your vacation to be sure you don’t experience sticker shock after you’ve arrived.
Enchanted Grove
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
Enchanted Grove Menu
Cold drinks and coffee drinks are served up here.
Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
Mrs. Pott’s Cupboard Menu
Another great place to cool off. It features ice cream treats, including cones, floats, sundaes, and shakes.
Dining in Toontown
Toontown Farmer’s Market is the only spot in town (Toontown, that is) to grab a snack or drink. As the name implies, it’s a somewhat open marketplace with a selection of the usual snacks and drinks, but the bonus is that you’ll find fresh fruit here as well.
Dining in Tomorrowland
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
**
$-$$ ($$ by the time you add in a drink and/or dessert)
Specialty: American (kids menu)
Indoor counter service
Open for lunch and dinner
Cosmic Ray’s Menu
Another family (and personal) favorite, Cosmic Ray’s has a tremendous amount of indoor seating available. The menu is varied, offering a variety of chicken dishes, hot dogs, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and soups. The only drawback here is that there are 3 separate stations from which to order, each with its own menu. If you choose an item from one menu and the kids choose something off another, you will find yourself having to wait in line twice (maybe even 3 times). Other than that, the varied menu practically ensures that no one will walk away hungry.
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Menu
If you need to cool off, this is just the place. Ice cream, frozen yogurt, cold drinks, and fruit cups are all on the menu.
Cool Ship
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
Cool Ship Menu
If you need a cold drink, you can get one here. If you need a snack, head a few doors over to Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies.
The Launching Pad at Rockettower Plaza
*
$
Outdoor walk-up snack spot
The Launching Pad Menu
Snacks, including those tremendously large smoked turkey legs, and drinks areavailable here at the base of the Astro Orbiter.
|
