Our Favorite Disney Foods: A Magical Culinary Adventure✨🍽️

One of my favorite parts of any vacation is the food—and Disney did not disappoint! During our 2023 visit, the Disney Dining Plans were still on hold, so we paid out-of-pocket for every meal. While I won’t share the grand total (😅), I will say this: every single dime was worth it. Thankfully, Disney Dining Plans have returned, and they can truly save you money—especially if you enjoy signature dining experiences like we do.

Here’s a look at the restaurants and snacks that stood out the most on our trip. While we tried plenty, I’ve narrowed it down to our absolute favorites!

🍳 Crystal Palace – Magic Kingdom

Our trip kicked off with an early morning reservation at The Crystal Palace, located just off Main Street in Magic Kingdom. The real magic? Early park entry! However, because buses don’t run that early, you’ll either need to drive and pay for parking—or do what we did: take a Minnie Van.

The Minnie Van (ours was a Suburban) was adorable—decorated Minnie Mouse-style—and our driver was friendly, helpful, and full of Disney knowledge.

The breakfast itself was buffet-style and featured typical offerings like eggs, Mickey waffles, and fresh fruit. While the food wasn’t anything wildly unique, the experience was what made it special. We met Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger, who were all wonderful with the kids—especially Tigger!

✨ Bonus Perk: Finishing breakfast just in time for Rope Drop with hardly any crowd!

🕯️ Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom

This was hands-down one of our favorite dining experiences. The atmosphere made us feel like we were dining inside a fairytale castle. The restaurant operates with a prix fixe menu offering three courses: appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

My picks:

🧅 Appetizer: French Onion Soup au Gratin
🥩 Entrée: Grilled Filet Mignon with smashed potatoes, veggies, and a rich sauce
🍰 Dessert: Dessert Trio — featuring the mysterious and oh-so-delicious Grey Stuff (yes, it really is delicious!)

The kids menu was also a hit. My youngest had the fruit and cheese plate, grilled steak, fries, and her favorite—the white chocolate chip cup.

While we didn’t dine in the ballroom with the enchanted rose, we did visit it after our meal. The Beast made a surprise appearance, which thrilled everyone at our table.

🍁 Le Cellier Steakhouse – EPCOT (Canada Pavilion)

This one might just take the crown as my favorite meal of the entire trip. We didn’t even have a reservation! I joined the walk-up queue through the Disney app and, to our surprise, we were seated in under 10 minutes.

The food? Incredible.

I ordered the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup and a perfectly cooked steak topped with crispy onion tanglers a dreamy sauce. My daughter’s steak was topped with an amazing sauce and some cube with a fancy maple sauce (no clue what it was—but it was amazing). We all sampled each other’s plates and agreed: Le Cellier is a must-do. My youngest daughter ordered Mac and Cheese for her entree but the real hit for her was the huge dessert she ordered.

🪐 Blue & Green Milk – Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios

We didn’t make it to our reservation at Roundup Rodeo BBQ because we were too full from snacking around the park. Our favorite? The Blue Milk from Galaxy’s Edge!

Both Blue and Green Milks are frozen plant-based drinks made from coconut and rice milk.

Blue Milk: Fruity and sweet with hints of dragon fruit, pineapple, and lime
Green Milk: More citrusy—mandarin orange, passionfruit, and grapefruit

Our family was split: most of us loved the Blue, but my oldest preferred the Green.

🌺 ʻOhana – The Polynesian Resort (Character Breakfast)

The best overall food experience of our trip was breakfast at ʻOhana. If you have a Stitch fan in the family—this is the place to be! Characters included Stitch, Lilo, Pluto, and Mickey, all of whom made their rounds to each table.

Breakfast is served family-style—big platters of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, Mickey waffles, and more are placed in the middle of the table, and you can ask for refills of anything.

The star of the show? The POG Juice (passion fruit, orange, guava)—the best juice I’ve ever tasted.

The Polynesian Resort itself is stunning, and the atmosphere made us feel like we were on a tropical getaway.

🍔 Intermission Food Court – All-Star Music Resort

We stayed at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and while we dined at higher-end locations during the day, we often wound down at the Intermission Food Court in the evenings.

The food here was solid—especially considering it’s a quick service location. Everyone in the family found something they liked, and my personal favorite was the Mickey Cheesecake, which became my nightly snack!

We also made good use of the refillable drink mugs, which saved us money on beverages.

Aloha Isle

I can’t leave out Aloha Isle—home of the famous Dole Whip! This refreshing treat absolutely lives up to all the hype. We each tried a different variation and loved them all. Autumn chose a swirl of pineapple and strawberry, Kennedi went with the pineapple and vanilla swirl, and I got the classic pineapple. While the original is a timeless favorite, I have to admit the swirls had a little something extra that made them even better. You can also find Dole Whip at Disney Springs at Swirls on the water, so if you miss it in the parks, don’t worry—you’ll get another chance to enjoy this iconic snack!

📝 Final Thoughts

Dining at Disney can be pricey, but with the return of the Disney Dining Plan, it’s more manageable and can actually save money if you take advantage of character meals and table service restaurants.

Whether you’re a foodie or just love Disney magic, there’s something special about enjoying a meal surrounded by characters, castles, and childhood memories.

Have questions about Disney dining or want help planning your dream trip? Let me help! Contact me at:
📧 jennlynntravels@gmail.com
📞 573-649-0996
🌐 jenniferjones@dreamvacations.com