This record ranks the most productive & worst brief provider eating places within the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney Global. In spite of the park’s deficient recognition for counter provider eating, there are some excellent choices, particularly for households with youngsters who’re choosy eaters. (Up to date July 5, 2024.)
With that stated, we’re now not going to sugarcoat this. Even supposing it’s Walt Disney Global’s flagship park, Magic Kingdom is a long way and away the worst for counter provider meals. There’s just one speedy meals choice that we’d imagine actually nice, or even this is going to be a whole non-starter for a large number of households. The remaining are both chaotic cafeterias or glorified snack spots with restricted choices. There in point of fact isn’t a variety of in-between.
One (certain) factor that complicates your eating selection while you’re within the Magic Kingdom is the awesome choices simply out of doors of the Magic Kingdom. Contempo Cafe, Gasparilla Island Grill, Captain Cook dinner’s, Roaring Fork, or even the new-look Path’s Finish Eating place are all a brief monorail or boat journey from the Magic Kingdom, and all are forged possible choices. In truth, there are a number of monorail loop eating place eating places on our Best 10 Counter Carrier Walt Disney Global Eating record.
In contrast, maximum of Magic Kingdom’s best 10 counter provider eating places are most effective mediocre to excellent. Reasonably than being a “very best of” record, that is more than likely extra as it should be a listing of “least dangerous” choices. On best of that, a number of of the great places most effective serve a selected form of meals, that means they more than likely aren’t even going to be viable choices for households in need of a variety of crowd-pleasing choices. This makes Magic Kingdom’s brief provider eating harder to rank than another park. Don’t say we didn’t provide you with a warning!
In different phrases, you in point of fact must paintings for it if you wish to do two excellent counter provider foods at Magic Kingdom. There’s one very good eatery that’ll paintings for just about everybody, however the different quick-service eating places all have pitfalls. Whether or not or not it’s that they’ve huge menus of mediocre meals, small menus of fine possible choices, or are loud and chaotic–many of the possible choices go away one thing to be desired.
To make issues worse, virtually each and every Magic Kingdom eating place has had its menu scaled again in the previous few years and the former #1 pick out is not a counter provider eating place in any respect…
N/A. Be Our Visitor Eating place – New Fantasyland – As soon as the unequivocal #1 counter provider eating place in Magic Kingdom, Be Our Visitor Eating place now serves an all-day menu (see our Be Our Visitor Prix Fixe Lunch/Dinner Assessment). This implies it’s most effective desk provider, with the similar appetizer, entree, and dessert choices all day lengthy. It’s been this fashion since Magic Kingdom reopened, and stays the case a couple of years later.
At this level, we’re now not positive that Be Our Visitor Eating place will revert to a counter provider lunch anytime quickly. That’s in point of fact unlucky, as many of the choices go away one thing to be desired. Even the “excellent” entries in this record don’t be offering one thing for everybody, so excellent success on getting your circle of relatives to agree on 2 meal places in Magic Kingdom!
N/A. Aunt Polly’s – Tom Sawyer Island – In overall, Aunt Polly’s is more than likely most effective open for a handful of weeks according to yr. It’s most often open all over height season round Christmas and New 12 months’s, plus Spring Ruin, Easter, and different vacations. It hasn’t been open in any respect within the final 2 years, however possibly that’ll exchange this Thanksgiving?
Pre-closure, the menu at Aunt Polly’s was once restricted however excellent. Its location on Tom Sawyer Island is a pleasant respite from the crowds–a glad break out when Magic Kingdom is at its maximum bonkers, crowd-wise. We propose going from your technique to search it out. The total enjoy is far higher than the #10 score may recommend–it’s most effective this low as a result of 95% of you received’t also have a likelihood to enjoy it.
N/A. Tortuga Tavern – Adventureland – A few decade in the past, Disney refurbished the seasonal El Pirata y El Perico and renamed it to Tortuga Tavern. Numerous decor was once new, with a heavy pirates motif and a few witty indicators. Our expectancies had been prime, for the reason that eating place regarded cool, however for some explanation why it remained seasonal.
Since then, Tortuga Tavern has been open extra frequently, whilst receiving a revolving door of latest menus. Whilst some pieces had been excellent (Peanut Butter, Chocolate-Hazelnut Unfold, and Banana Sandwich), maximum weren’t. Nevertheless it doesn’t a lot subject now, as Tortuga Tavern is now closed indefinitely, and as coated in Eating place Thriller at Magic Kingdom, we suspect it’s being transformed into the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern. Right here’s hoping that serves excellent meals along the booze!
9. Gaston’s Tavern – Fantasyland – This makes the record for loss of higher choices. Don’t get us mistaken, we like Gaston’s Tavern. This sleepy little spot is comfortable and a thematic gem that’s arguably higher than Be Our Visitor Eating place in relation to design and setting.
The issue is that it’s too comfortable and intimate–an excessively small venue with little seating and a small menu. There’s actually just one savory factor at the menu at the moment, plus the Gray Stuff Cupcake and the enduring Cinnamon Roll. A excellent choice for candy treats, however now not such a lot for a complete meal. Such is the tale with Magic Kingdom eating.
8. Sleepy Hole Refreshments – Liberty Sq. – “How the mighty have fallen” is just about the theme of this record, with Sleepy Hole now becoming a member of that class. Sadly, all the fan-favorite waffle sandwiches at the moment are long gone as of Summer season 2024, changed by way of plenty of subpar Mickey waffles.
The fan backlash to this Stunning Scandal at Sleepy Hole has been swift and powerful. We haven’t heard outcry and lawsuits like this for the reason that notorious ‘Ohana Noodlegate of ’21, which led to an unpopular determination being undone. Whilst I’m now not retaining my breath, I may see the similar taking place right here. During which case, Sleepy Hole is as soon as once more within the best 3. Within the period in-between…a minimum of they nonetheless serve a corn canine, I suppose?
7. The Lunching Pad – Tomorrowland – This walk-up window below Astro Orbiter has expanded from being Magic Kingdom’s hotspot for scrumptious pretzels to in any case residing as much as the pun in its identify as a spot for a fully-fledged lunch. (The Lunching Pad additionally now serves breakfast, which is shockingly excellent.)
There at the moment are a couple of gourmand sizzling canines right here, and those are what elevates the Lunching Pad to this spot. Or it’s essential to pass full-on “holiday mode” and easily order two of the fantastic Cream Cheese Heat Crammed Pretzels for lunch. Now not certain in regards to the dietary knowledge of that, nevertheless it’d be a scrumptious determination.
6. The Friar’s Corner – Fantasyland – This unassuming meals counter serves up some scrumptious in charge pleasures for breakfast, plus mac & cheese centric dishes for lunch and dinner. The ones dishes coupled with our “hack” of consuming up on a balcony overlooking Fantasyland and Cinderella Fortress are what earns the Friar’s Corner its unusually prime spot.
Sadly, the particular Mr. Toad menu pieces at the moment are long gone, however the Friar’s Corner nonetheless overperforms relative to its restricted menu. That this walk-up window does so smartly will have to underscore simply how susceptible the lineup is in Magic Kingdom. In any of the opposite 3 parks, the Friar’s Corner wouldn’t crack the highest 10. It’s in point of fact disappointing that Walt Disney Global’s most well liked park has any such lazy lineup of informal eating choices.
5. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe – Tomorrowland – Oh, how the mighty have fallen – section 2 of four (possibly of 5-6, in truth). Cosmic Ray’s was our favourite counter provider eating place at Magic Kingdom, and we dined right here with regularity. The menu at all times had some standouts, together with “experimental” burgers, bbq ribs, rotisserie hen, and a minimum of a few fascinating wholesome choices. Upload to that the very good toppings bar and an expansive menu of ‘secure’ possible choices that may be piled prime with a heaping serving to of tomatoes, pickles, and condiments.
All of this is long gone now–aside from for the secure choices. There is not any toppings bar and not anything fascinating or distinctive at the menu. It’s all usual theme park fare. Like Pinocchio Village Haus, it’s additionally a madhouse all over top eating hours, which makes it someplace you’ll need to steer clear of all over the height lunch and dinner rushes if you need a reprieve from the crowds and chaos.
Nonetheless, it’s house to the living room lizard Sonny Eclipse, the alien Audio Animatronics performer who’s the epitome of the kind of ‘little factor’ that makes Walt Disney Global particular. We nonetheless pass there every so often simply to look one in all Sonny Eclipses units, however we’re seldom inspired by way of anything else we devour at Cosmic Ray’s.
4. Pinocchio Village Haus – Fantasyland – Disney were given swept up within the flatbread craze a number of years in the past, and Pinocchio Village Haus turned into the default location in Magic Kingdom for the ones. The menu began sturdy, however has long gone downhill since, and it’s lengthy past due for some other new idea. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to once in a while get fortunate with a freshly-made flatbread that tastes nice. They’ve additionally had seasonal flatbreads once in a while which can be most often higher than the everlasting menu choices. (I in fact kinda just like the Buffalo Rooster Flatbread, pictured above.)
Some other upside of Pinocchio Village Haus is the window perspectives overlooking “it’s a small international.” That’s in point of fact a laugh and distinctive, and we like past due nights seated right here when the eating place has cleared out. The downsides are just about the whole lot else. Pinocchio Village Haus is the Fantasyland eating place, and that’s obvious all over the lunch and dinner rushes. It’s loud and chaotic with households and young children, and the meals most often is fine at very best.
3. Casey’s Nook – Major Side road USA – Magic Kingdom is house to many iconic sights and must-dos for the ceremony of passage Walt Disney Global holiday. Arguably, Casey’s Nook is a kind of. The new canines are shockingly excellent, nevertheless it’s the plant-based slaw canine this is maximum scrumptious (sure, in point of fact).
Then there are the well-known Corn Canine Nuggets. Should you ate those any place else, they more than likely can be totally atypical and forgettable. As a past due night time Fourth Meal with a view of Cinderella Fortress whilst looking ahead to the fireworks? They’re natural perfection.
Nonetheless, Casey’s Nook is however a easy sizzling canine spot. Is it in point of fact deserving of a spot within the best 3? At another Walt Disney Global park, it will now not. However in the case of Magic Kingdom, there’s a greater argument for it score #2 than #4.
2. Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe – Frontierland – Pecos Invoice was the Frontierland an identical of Cosmic Ray’s, nevertheless it now serves a menu of Mexican delicacies plus some conventional theme park meals. The range by myself makes it one of the most higher possible choices within the Magic Kingdom.
In spite of being one in all Magic Kingdom’s huge eateries, Pecos Invoice additionally advantages from a awesome seating space. It’s subdivided into a large number of other sections, and whilst the primary one you method will probably be crowded and chaotic–identical to Cosmic Ray’s–all over top eating hours, the others are in most cases higher.
The one downside, as coated in The Loss of life of Pecos Invoice, is that not one of the meals right here is superb. The meats are all one step above the grade of the stuff they installed pet food. There’s not a toppings bar to masks the low high quality of the opposite substances. It’s a shedding mixture around the board, and implies that Pecos Invoice is a shadow of what it as soon as was once.
Should you don’t see anything else on this description that sounds worthy of a #2 score, smartly, you’re proper! That’s exactly the purpose, and it’s an issue endemic of Magic Kingdom counter provider eating, as a complete. Walt Disney Global has switched providers, decreased parts, and dumbed down menus to chop prices. In consequence, virtually all the counter provider delicacies at Magic Kingdom is downright dangerous–nowhere as excellent because it was once 5 years in the past.
1. Columbia Harbour Area – Liberty Sq. – Fortunately, there’s one exception to this rule. Columbia Harbour Area stays a favourite of ours, due to its forged seafood menu and really at ease upstairs seating. Whether or not you need one thing at the more fit aspect or a platter of fried delights, Columbia Harbour Area has were given you coated. It’s additionally an excellent spot to flee the crowds of Magic Kingdom.
The parts are hearty, the dishes style nice, and Columbia Harbour Area in most cases provides excellent worth for cash. From the Lobster Roll to the Grilled Salmon to the Shrimp Skewers, the menu is bold and pleasant. (Fortunately, the fan-favorite Hushpuppies also are again!) There are nonetheless some fundamental choices and it received’t enchantment to those that dislike seafood, however for seafood lovers, it’s the simple #1 pick out in Magic Kingdom.
Columbia Harbour Home is the one full-scale counter provider eating place in all of the park this is lately value your time, cash or abdomen area. It’s now not even a remotely shut name, both. Despite the fact that it has additionally long gone downhill a little in the previous few years, Columbia Harbour Area remains to be a long way and away the most productive counter provider eating place in Magic Kingdom. It’s arguably the one access in this record that’s in fact excellent as of 2024.
Based totally upon those descriptions, you’ll be able to more than likely perceive why it’s so tricky to rank one of the most Magic Kingdom’s counter provider eating places. The highest of the record has some excellent choices, and there are a couple of selection pieces right here and there at the remainder of the eating places, however by way of and big counter provider eating within the Magic Kingdom is a sea of ‘meh.’ The Magic Kingdom is the worst park in relation to counter provider eating, with Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios all having considerably higher counter provider choices. It’s in point of fact now not even shut.
Thankfully for Magic Kingdom visitors, in point of fact nice choices are just a monorail or boat journey away within the Magic Kingdom House Inns, and lunch at such a counter provider locales could be an effective way to get a divorce the day. You’ll no doubt have a pleasant meal within the Magic Kingdom, however we really feel Walt Disney Global’s flagship theme park in point of fact must up its recreation in relation to eating. Be Our Visitor Eating place was once a excellent get started, however now that’s long gone and different menus across the park have got even worse.
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Your Ideas
Which Magic Kingdom counter provider eating place is your favourite? Have you ever dined at those eating places? Which did you favor and dislike? What are your best Magic Kingdom counter provider eating places? We like to listen to from readers, so you probably have any ideas or questions, publish them within the feedback!
