Magical Journey, Part 3 "Top 10 Restaurants"

Ohhhh, the restaurants of Disney.  If you are a food snob, you will not necessarily have your palate tickled.  But, if you are a kid inside, your imagination will love Disney Dining.

I could wax eloquent, but lets get to the list.

Okay, I LIED.  Couple of things first.

Practically speaking, please call Disney...their website search engine is not very sophisticated.  I DID score Cinderella's Royal Table on a random search, but I also called (407) WDW-DINE and found out that there were a couple different options that weren't showing up online.  Also, the kindly, fairy godmother-like lady on the other end coaxed me into which time slot was better since I have small kids.  You don't get that on a website.

Also, as SOON as you book your package, start planning your meals.  Do some research.  There are tons of great food offerings with clever and entertaining themes.

Now.  The good stuff.

Yankee Peach 's Top 10 Disney Restaurants

1.  Sanaa 

Located in Animal Kingdom Villas (aka Kidani House), it was our 5th choice after everything was booked.  The operator said, "Well, you could try this new place..."  It ended up being our most favorite of all time.  It opens at 5pm...book the 5pm slot.  Perfect for your Animal Kingdom day, since that park closes around 5 anyway.

In Disney, you typically have to choose between great food and great experience.  Sanaa gets both right.  The food is to die for and is VERY gluten free friendly.  Their chai mousse changed my life.

See those windows?  There are now tables at each one...with zebras!

Experience wise, if you book early, you get a table in an alcove that has floor length windows right on to Animal Kingdom Lodge's savannah.  Its a cool, dark, quiet atmosphere after a hot sticky day in the park.  Our kids loved watching the zebras and giraffes graze right in front of us.  And, once our food came, a gnu stared at us intently as if to say, "You gonna eat that?"

Sanaa is a 1 sit-down meal credit with the Dining Plan.

2.  Cosmic Ray's

We are groupies of this guy!

Located in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom, Ray's is a quick service place.  It has several stations that serve different styles of food.   There is a Deli/Salad station, a Burger station, and a Barbecue place with some fairly good ribs for quick-service.  The eating area is great. Sunny Eclipse, an anamatronic alien lounge singer, entertains your tired little children while you eat.  One of our favorite memories is watching our kids dance like maniacs to Sunny's alien vocal stylings. Its on the Dining Plan, but is also very reasonably priced if you don't use the plan.

We literally plan our Magic Kingdom touring day around lunch at Cosmic Ray's.

3. Cinderella's Royal Table

Okay, I've never been.  BUT, you have to go if you can.  The room is small and the demand high, so book early!  Be persistent if you don't get in right away.  We finally got in after trying for 30 days and will be there next week!

You have to go because, as a child, you and I beheld Cinderella's Castle in all its glory and mystery but could do nothing but pass through its arches to the other side of the park.  I always peaked around each corner in that tunnel and looked up each set of stairs wondering what was up in that castle.

Now, our kids can walk up the stairs to Cinderella's Table and meet her and some of her friends!  Do it for you...although your kids will love it too!

The food is okay, but this is one time where the experience outweighs the food.  Some of my friends love the fare offered them, but the kids' selections are pretty average when you look at the menu.

CRT will cost you two sit-down meal credits.

4.  Whispering Canyon

You'll find WC in Wilderness Lodge.  The Whoop -De-Doo Review costs 2-sit down credits and has only average food.  Whispering Canyon, on the other hand, is 1 credit and has GREAT barbecue!  PLUS, its alot of fun.  If you get there early and have a cute child with you, the crusty old cowboy that guards the entrance MIGHT let your child ring the triangle to signal the opening of the restaurant...or so I am told ;)

I may have ordered this...without sharing

Whispering Canyon's name is ironic.  Its loud.  Very loud.  But very entertaining.  I won't give away some of the things, but you better watch yourself or you will be jailed if you do not ask for ketchup correctly!  There are also races for the kids, singing, dancing and fabulous service.

Plus, you get to have the jaw-dropping experience of walking in to Wilderness Lodge to get there.  Its a beautiful resort.

5.  Akershus

Located in "Norway" in Epcot, its a great alternative to Cinderella's Table.  Many of my friends prefer it. I wasn't a huge fan of the food, but many rave about it.  You walk in to a room inhabited by whichever princess is "hosting"....usually Belle...and get a picture taken and presented to you in a keepsake folder during your meal.  As you eat, you are greeted at your table by Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine and, in our case, Pocahontas.  My kids LOVED it.  It stressed me out, hopping between trying to get the kids to eat, getting them out of their boosters to meet a princess, then settled down to eat again until the next princess came, but the kids were delighted.  AND, as my friend Sarah pointed out, it beat waiting in a 20 minute line per princess to meet them throughout the park. And the princesses are truly charming.  Cinderella did not fail to act like she was in love with my son and commented that my blonde, blue-eyed daughter looked JUST like her.

Its also only 1 sit-down credit.

6.  Hacienda de San Angel

In "Mexico" of Epcot, you MUST go into the Mayan temple and experience Disney's true genius in transporting you to another world.  Soak in the ambiance.  Shop the market. Ride the little boat ride.  Then get the heck out of there.  That restaurant in there,  San Angel Inn, is notoriously slow and has been since I was little.

Instead, hop across the street to the inexpensive quick-service Hacienda de San Angel.  The food is to die for.  The red sauce they put over everything is delicious and the portions are huge.  Good place to share food if you are not on the Dining Plan.

7.  Pretzel Cart

Okay, I don't know the name.  BUT there is a pretzel cart in "Germany" that will change your life.  I don't know what they do different, but their big, soft, smushy, buttery pretzels are sent from heaven.  Get one.  True, its not a restaurant, but who am I to judge if you make one of these your lunch?

8.  Liberty Tree Tavern

I should've put this up further in the list.  Liberty Tree, in Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom) is one of the most pleasant dining experiences.  Again, it was a "Well, everything else is booked...lets eat at the boring colonial place."  Boy were we surprised!  After a busy, crazy day, its a great place to catch your breath.  Its themed, but not in the sensory-overload way that Disney tends to celebrate.  And, most importantly, the food was good and came FAST.  Think American comfort food.  Cobb Salad for me and Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes for my husband.  Normal chicken nuggets for the kids, but again...it was fast!  Much appreciated.

9.  Sunshine Seasons

Epcot has the best food in the 4 Kingdoms.  This quick service place located in The Land has well-made, healthy fare.  Again, it was a gluten free girl's dream.  Quick and yummy.

10.  Coral Reef Restaurant

Looks pretty cool to me!

Again, my host of Disney-loving friends helped me with this one.  Its located in the Nemo pavilion in Epcot.  I have never been, but MANY people gave it rave reviews...many of those friends have sophisticated (for me) palates.  Not only is it good food, but you the restaurant surrounds an aquarium.  As you eat, your kids can enjoy watching sharks and the occasional diver swim by.  And, I am sure, you will hear many shouts of "Look, Mommy, its Nemo!" :)

Notice that I did not put anything on Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom on here.  We've never been to Hollywood Studios and I was not super impressed with the food in AK.  However, many of my friends suggested that The Brown Derby and the 1950s Diner in H.S. are great.  We are doing a character meal at Hollywood and Vine next week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

In Animal Kingdom, my friends suggested Tusker House and Yak and Yeti as not only park favorites but favorites of all time.

If your kids love Pooh, then you will HAVE to do Crystal Palace along Main Street of Magic Kingdom.  The venue is pretty but the buffet left me frustrated.  I felt sure we would miss the characters if we went for more salad, so we sat planted at our seats...starving and impatient.  However, my kids are still young and love those characters, so we are going again!

Oh!  And every book, website, and many friends rave about Peco's Bills in Frontier Land of Magic Kingdom.  Its quick service taco fare.

Hope this helps you all as you plan and dream!    NEXT....we pick apart Magic Kingdom and the rides...my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!