While Magic Kingdom isn’t known for its food options as much as Epcot or Animal Kingdom, there are still plenty of great places to eat. Disney restaurants, as a whole, often get a “bad reputation”. Yes, they are overpriced, but you are at a theme park, so it has to be accepted. I feel Disney has improved significantly through the years to add more variety, quality, and adapt to the dietary needs of its guests. Magic Kingdom is the original Orlando theme park and the location of some of the “oldest” restaurants on property. The menus may change slightly seasonally, but the best restaurants in Magic Kingdom are classics for a reason. Some of the best food in Magic Kingdom can be found if you just took a moment to look. I asked a few Disney experts to share their recommendations of the top ten best restaurants in Magic Kingdom.
The Ten Best Places to Eat in Magic Kingdom
While Magic Kingdom is not my favorite dining location at Disney World, there are still great places to eat at Magic Kingdom. I asked a few travel bloggers to share their recommendations on where to find the best food in Magic Kingdom, while I added some of my own favorite spots. The list includes fine dining, table service, quick service, and links of menus to help you make your decision. If you are planning a trip to this theme park soon, then check out some of the best restaurants in Magic Kingdom and what to eat.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Cinderella’s Royal Table is considered THE best restaurant in Magic Kingdom for most; however, it does come with a price! This highly lucrative fine dining restaurant is one of the most sought after at Disney and for a good reason. You get to actually dine IN the castle itself. The reservations go fast so make sure to book well in advance if you are hoping to get a table here. The dining choices offered are standard fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Honestly, the food is average, but note that you are paying for the experience. Check out the menu here.
While you are dining in Cinderella’s Castle, you will obviously get to meet Cinderella herself as well as many other Disney princesses. It is one of the best experiences at Magic Kingdom and well worth trying to snag a reservation during your vacation if you are up for the splurge. UPDATE: AS OF 2/23: THIS CHARACTER DINING AS BEEN MODIFIED.
Contributed by: Victoria from Disney Trippers
Skipper Canteen
As the Magic Kingdom’s newest table service restaurant, the Skipper Canteen (officially called the Jungle Cruise Co LTD Skipper Canteen, but who has time for that?) added some much-needed sit down dining opportunities. Located in Adventureland, this restaurant themed after the iconic Jungle Cruise themed after the skippers’ mess hall and the living quarters of mysterious Dr. Albert Falls.
Here you can find some of the best food in Magic Kingdom, which draws from cuisines in Africa, Asia, and South America (the locales your jungle cruise visits). The menu here offers slightly more exotic food options than you’ll find at the other Magic Kingdom restaurants, which is a great bonus if you’ve had your fill of burgers and pizza during your visit. With menu items like Trader Lamb and “Tastes Like Chicken” Because it Is!, some of the humor from the ride has been incorporated without going over the top. Other options like Sankuru Sue’s Seafood Stew and Perkins Thai Noodles make it one of the best dining choices at the Magic Kingdom for adults (but don’t worry – there’s a kids menu too for pickier eaters).
Contributed by: Kris from Nomad by Trade
Be Our Guest
One of the best places to eat in Magic Kingdom is Be Our Guest. This Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant is located inside the Beast’s castle and the only way to visit is by making a reservation to eat there. And it’s such an immersive experience, especially for families who love Disney Princesses! They offer quick service breakfast and lunch, but it’s a sit-down restaurant where they will serve your food with real plates and utensils. And in the evening, they offer a character dinner where you can eat with the Beast himself! UPDATE: AS OF 1/21, DISNEY HAS CHANGED THIS TO A TABLE SERVICE LUNCH AND DINNER (PRE-FIX MENU) AND THE BEAST DOES MAKE AN APPEARANCE DURING BOTH.
We enjoy eating breakfast at Be Our Guest because of the French-themed items like Croque Madame, croissant donut, and a variety of pastries. You can eat in the Grand Ballroom, The West Wing, or the Castle Gallery. Each dining room has magical Beauty and the Beast elements. The food is pretty tasty (and plentiful) but the real draw is the amazing ambiance! Check out the menu here.
Contributed by: Marcie from Marcie and the Mouse
Liberty Tree Tavern
The Liberty Tree Tavern is one of the best restaurants in Magic Kingdom. The theme is Colonial America since it is located in Liberty Square near the Hall of Presidents. There are six rooms, each named for a different hero from the American Revolution. Because the Liberty TreeTavern is so popular, it might take you a few minutes past your reservation time to get seated, but it is worth it.
The Liberty Tree Tavern’s menu is different depending on whether you go at lunch or dinner. At lunch, the menu is a la carte, but at dinner, there’s only one option: the all you can eat Patriot’s Platter. It comes with salad, roast turkey, pot roast, and roast pork with mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, stuffing, and mac and cheese. Some of the best dishes are New England clam chowder (only at lunch), the pot roast, and the mashed potatoes. But whether you go at lunch or dinner, don’t miss the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake! This decadent dessert will definitely have you calling the Liberty Tree Tavern the happiest place on earth.
Contributed by: Stella Jane from Around the World in 24 Hours
The Plaza Restaurant
The Plaza Restaurant is our family’s go-to food stop at the Magic Kingdom. Between the four of us, we have ordered many items off the menu from turkey club sandwiches, Cobb salads, chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, and our favorite – milkshakes! For us, it is one of the best places to eat in Magic Kingdom. While the food has always been delicious here, our family stops here for the milkshakes. Their featured milkshake last time we visited was the Minnie Mouse milkshake, which was just adorable to look at and perfect to split as it comes with an extra cup filled with the delicious strawberry ice cream.
This restaurant does get pretty full, so I recommend using the Disney app or calling for advance reservations for lunch or dinner. Because it is located on Main Street, we often eat here as our last stop out of the park. Also, since the food portions and milkshakes are on the larger side, our family often splits food here, which saves us some money.
Pinocchio Village Haus
Pinocchio Village Haus is one of the best places to eat at Magic Kingdom, particularly if you’re dining with kids. It’s conveniently located in Fantasyland, near several of the best rides for toddlers in Magic Kingdom. The menu at Pinocchio Village Haus is primarily Italian and offers a number of family favorites including chicken parmesan, flatbreads, and pasta. Additionally, it has a great kids’ menu with a variety of options that come with a smoothie, applesauce, and a drink at an affordable price.
While you’re eating at Pinocchio Village Haus, be sure to find a table in the back that overlooks the It’s a Small World ride. It’s best to get to the Pinocchio Village Haus early for lunch. Although it’s a large restaurant, it fills up quickly since it tends to be a family favorite at Magic Kingdom. You also have the option of pre-ordering food at the Pinocchio Village Haus, which is a great time saver as well and something I do recommend.
Contributed by: Amanda from Toddling Traveler
Columbia Harbour House
One of the best places to eat in Magic Kingdom is the Columbia Harbor House. Located across from the Haunted Mansion entrance in Liberty Square, this quick-service restaurant offers New England-style comfort foods. Some of our favorite menu items include the chicken pot pie, lobster roll, or a bowl of clam chowder.
They even have some delicious vegetarian options. Another reason we love this eatery is there is plenty of seating! In addition to the main dining room, they also have seating upstairs, making it easy to find a table even during popular meal times. The upstairs area is also one of our favorite places to enjoy some quiet time and escape the crowds while in Magic Kingdom.
Contributed by: Lauren from Where the Wild Kids Wander
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland is a great choice for eating at Magic Kingdom on a budget. It’s located next to Country Bear Jamboree, a fun show that’s one of our favorite things to do at Disney World and is ideal for taking a break from the afternoon heat and crowds. This counter-service restaurant is styled like an Old West saloon and serves Mexican-inspired cuisine. There’s plenty of seating but it does get crowded as peak meal times. Save time by ordering ahead of time on the Disney app.
The menu features fajitas, nachos, tacos, salads, burgers, and rice bowls. There are some good vegetarian options including nachos, a veggie rice bowl, and a plant-based cheeseburger. The rice bowl is especially good if you’re looking for a healthy option. The highlight of Pecos Bill is the huge free toppings bar where you can liven up your meal with salsas, cheese, jalapeños, pickles, and lettuce. If you are on a tight budget you could even share a meal and bulk it out with toppings.
Contributed by: Erin of Never Ending Voyage
Crystal Palace
When our kids were younger, we splurged twice and visited the Crystal Palace for a character dinner with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. Besides near the actual Winnie the Pooh attraction in Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace is one of the few places you can see those characters. If your kids love the Hundred Acre Woods, then this may be for you.
While I wouldn’t say it has the best food in Magic Kingdom, it does serve some delicious standard American fare buffet style. There are plenty of options for picky eaters and since it is an all-you-can-eat buffet, be sure to come hungry! In addition, the garden-like ambiance and Victorian decor are timeless. If you are interested in booking this restaurant, be sure to get reservations in advance.
Casey’s Corner
While there are some tasty places to eat in Magic Kingdom one of our favorites is the all-time classic Casey’s Corner. The nostalgic combination of Main Street USA with America’s favorite pastime, as well as hot dogs, brings back memories at the ballpark for many of us growing up.
Casey’s Corner is conveniently located at the end of Main Street USA near the hub area in front of the castle, making it easy to grab a quick bite to eat as you are passing through, or during a show or parade. There are not a lot of places to sit inside to eat at Casey’s Corner, but there is plenty of seating outside. A trip to the Magic Kingdom for us isn’t complete without a stop at Casey’s Corner. Some of our favorite menu items are the hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, and our favorite, the corn dog nuggets we crave— so, so good!
Contributed by: Josh from Peanuts or Pretzels Travel
Other Disney Food Recommendations
Here are some other restaurant recommendations besides the Magic Kingdom ones mentioned above.
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To try and cut down on some costs, you may want to take a look at how to do Disney on a budget, planning things to do in Disney World besides the parks, and what to bring on the trip using this Disney packing list.
If you are planning on doing both a visit to Disney World and a Disney Cruise, I recommend doing your trip to the parks first and then finish it off with a Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral. Here’s why – while a Disney World vacation is fantastic, it is not always relaxing. You are waking up early, running around the parks, and trying to make it to the next attraction for days. On a Disney Cruise, you will vacation at a much slower pace and be pampered by the signature Disney service. In addition, Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, is probably one of the best beach vacations you’ll ever have!
If you have not booked your Disney Cruise yet and are just looking at options, I would recommend using a travel agent to help you with the planning and give you some onboard credit as a thank you for using them. I have been on 5 Disney Cruises in the past 8 years and am a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. I can share my tips and tricks about cruising with Disney, provide free onboard credit, review check-in procedures, and go over what types of things to do on/off the ship. By the way, my services are completely free! If you’re interested in a free quote or even if you have already booked and would like to transfer it over so that I can help you, email me and we can get started.
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Such a great list and tips!
Okay soooo I need to go try all this amazing food!!
Thanks so much for breaking it down for us. It’s always so much easier to go in with a plan!