In addition to the attractions and entertainment that Disney Parks have to offer, they also provide an opportunity for guests to try all the unique restaurants throughout the property. There are a variety of different restaurants at Walt Disney World that are highly praised, but there are also a few outliers.
We will go over some of the restaurants you should avoid on your vacations. Whether it be because of the mediocre, overpriced food or the crowd levels, there will always be those restaurants that do not hold up to the more beloved restaurants at Disney World.
In this article:
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom
Another Magic Kingdom classic, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, is definitely a restaurant to stay away from if you're trying to avoid large crowds and mediocre food. Like Pinocchio Village Haus, this restaurant consists of many basic entrees such as hamburgers, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, and plant-based burgers.
Cosmic Ray's offers affordable meals for everyone, but the food is nothing too special. Guests can also enjoy a performance from Sonny Eclipse, an icon audio-animatronic that performs his hits. However, it does usually get extremely busy at peak lunch/dinner hours, so you may not get a good view of him, leaving you to sit in one of the more basic areas of the restaurant. If you are looking for a place that will have something simple (like chicken tenders and burgers) this is the restaurant for you, but if you are looking for a more unique park meal, there are definitely better options.
Pinocchio Village Haus at Magic Kingdom
Pinocchio Village Haus is a staple Magic Kingdom Quick Service restaurant that is themed to the 1940 classic Disney film Pinocchio. With its menu consisting of flatbread pizzas, chicken tenders, and Caesar Salad all for an affordable price, this restaurant provides a quick meal for non-adventurous eaters.
However, the quality of the food is not very good, and the crowds are often overwhelming (remember, for crowded restaurants such as these, make sure to utilize mobile order for the most efficient way to get your food without having to wait in super long lines!) When sitting at specific tables, there is a view of the loading area of “it's a small world,” which is often covered up by a large amount of people. I would recommend trying to find a food location with more unique options for your money.
Tony's Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom
This lush, white restaurant located at the entrance of Magic Kingdom is said to be where Lady and the Tramp had their first kiss! The view of Main Street U.S.A is one unique to this restaurant and one of the best views at Disney World. But don't let that deceive you.
Tony's Town Square Restaurant serves a variety of Italian food such as pasta, steak, and other dishes, and it rages in entree price from $26-$35. The food at this restaurant has been compared to basic Italian food like that of Olive Garden in the past, and it has often been called overpriced. The shrimp scampi is $32 and the Spaghetti and meatballs is $26, so the prices are not so reasonable.
When at Disney World, most families are looking for something quick and affordable, and this restaurant definitely does not meet those expectations. If you are looking for more upscale Italian food, this location may not be for you.
Restaurantosarus at Animal Kingdom
Located in Dinoland U.S.A, Restaurantosaurus is another restaurant that offers simple theme park food such as chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and burgers. The theming of the outside of this restaurant is actually extremely unique, with the backstory explaining that paleontology students took their base and turned it into a prehistoric-themed restaurant! The theming sets this location apart considering it serves more basic food.
The price ranges from about $10-$14, making it a reasonably-priced meal. This restaurant is good for those who just want to stick with their chicken nuggets or burgers, but with all the unique options at Animal Kingdom, adventurous eaters would enjoy much more than Restaurantosaurus.
Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom has a variety of delicious and unique food options, but unfortunately Pizzafari is not one of them. Pizzafari is a Quick Service Italian restaurant at the front of Animal Kingdom near Pandora. It offers standard Italian food such as pizza, salad, and a chicken parmesan sandwich. The pizza at this restaurant is very similar to the other thick crust pizza at Disney locations, which is often described by Disney fans as ordinary.
The price is about $12 and under per adult, which makes it one of the more affordable locations in the park, and it does offer plenty of indoor seating, which is a great way to beat the heat at Disney World's hottest park. The menu is also very accommodating for picky eaters and has an assortment of refreshing beverages with and without alcohol. However, if you are looking to expand your palette and try something new, Pizzafari is probably not for you.
Lotus Blossom Cafe at EPCOT
Lotus Blossom Cafe is a Quick Service location at EPCOT which serves Chinese food staples. This location is small with an open, covered seating area and does not utilize Mobile Order, which may make lines more lengthy. There is a short menu with standard Chinese food such as orange chicken, stir fry, fried rice, etc. The entree prices range from $12.50-$14.50 and the portion sizes are quite small, which may not be worth the price.
Overall, this location serves basic Chinese food that you can get at any local restaurant for much cheaper. There are so many unique and delicious food options throughout this park, whether it be during a festival or just everyday EPCOT operations. I would recommend avoiding this restaurant and choosing one of the other restaurants or food booths throughout EPCOT.
Fairfax Fare, Catalina Eddie's, and Rosie's All American Cafe at Hollywood Studios
At my time working at Hollywood Studios, whenever guests wanted more basic theme park food options like chicken nuggets, burgers, and hotdogs, we always sent them to this area of Sunset Boulevard called the Sunset Ranch Market. There are three small quick-service locations with outdoor seating that offer a variety of American classics.
Rosie's All American cafe offers chicken nuggets and hamburgers, great for a quick and easy meal before Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n' Rollercoaster. Fairfax Fare offers a variety of different bowls such as a buffalo chicken bowl, beef brisket bowl, and a plant-based noodle bowl, which offers some unique variety to this stop. Finally, Catlina Eddie's menu consists of pizza, caesar salad, and breadsticks.
One of the main downfalls of these locations is the shared outside seating, which gets crowded fairly easily and does not provide any relief from the Florida heat. The basic food options mixed with the outdoor seating make these decent places to eat but not ones that I would recommend to all guests.
PizzeRizzo at Hollywood Studios
PizzeRizzo is a fun Italian restaurant themed to one of the beloved muppets, Rizzo the Rat. Filled with puns and portraits of Rizzo and his family, this restaurant serves basic theme park pizza and other Italian meals that leave more to be desired. The average price for a meal is about $10, which makes it a quick and easy meal for a decent price. This location gets busy very quickly during the lunch rush, so make sure to utilize Mobile Ordering.
This is not the best quality Italian food you can get on Disney property, but it is definitely the best for guests who are looking for a quick, decently-priced meal. There are many different places to sit at this location, inside and outside, which makes it accessible for guests with large parties or guests looking for short waits. PizzeRizzo may not be one of the best meals at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but it does have some qualities that make it a good choice for some guests.
Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs
Planet Hollywood is a chain restaurant located at various locations around the United States. It contains a variety of movie memorabilia and basic American food, and the atmosphere is the main reason so many guests chose to dine here. This restaurant has a long drink menu with non-alcoholic, alcoholic, and dessert beverages ranging from about $4-$15. The rest of the menu includes burgers, salads, pasta, barbecue, and sandwiches with the price ranging from $15-$35 per adult.
Overall, this restaurant offers many choices for classic meals but has a steep price tag. Reservations for this restaurant are highly recommended due to the popularity of this location but can sometimes be difficult to get. There are many other different food options at Disney Springs for a smaller and more unique food.
Rainforest Cafe and T-REX Restaurant at Disney Springs
Rainforest Cafe is a chain restaurant you can find throughout the United States with beautiful scenery and a menu including many classics like burgers, pasta, and chicken dishes. T-REX is a similar restaurant exclusive to Disney Springs with Dinosaur theming. Both of these restaurants contain dynamic experiences with audio-animatronics and special effects that can sometimes be overwhelming and scary to some guests.
Even with all of these interesting Rainforest Cafe and T-REX Restaurant elements that some love, both these locations offer an overpriced and basic menu. The average price for an adult meal at these locations is between $15-$3o for forgettable food that is not usually recommended amongst most Disney fans.
These locations often recommend reservations in advance of your dining date due to their popularity. They also offer walk-ups, but these may become very lengthy or even unavailable depending on the crowds that day. Overall, these locations are fun and full of life but may not be the best dining locations throughout the Disney parks, as there is a variety of options with excellent food offerings and unique atmospheres.
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For the best food options after that list of restaurants to avoid, take a look here. While Disney World has an abundance of delicious food, there are some sit-down restaurants that stand out in particular. Read our list of the top Disney World sit-down restaurants and learn what makes them can’t-miss experiences that you’ll want to try during your next trip!
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I find it quite funny that you say a restaurant is overpriced and mediocre food. You’ve named almost every restaurant at Disney World. And to say a quick service restaurant is over crowded, again you are at Disney World what would you expect. The truth is go you should go to the restaurant that you like and realize that no matter what you are going to get overpriced mediocre at best food in crowded conditions. This my friend is Disney World and to expect anything else you would be living in a dream world.