If you asked Disney World fans what their favorite park is, many will probably say Magic Kingdom.
We get it — that’s THE original Disney World park, with the Castle and Main Street, U.S.A., as well as the worlds of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy. Although you may never want to leave Magic Kingdom, though, when it comes to eating, you might just want to.
Yes, we said it — you may want to leave Magic Kingdom when it comes time to eat. But why? Well, let’s get into it.
Why You Should Leave Magic Kingdom to Eat
Reservations Can Be Hard To Come By
The main reason you might need to leave Magic Kingdom to eat may be that you want a nice sit-down meal at a table service restaurant, but every table service restaurant is booked up, and you weren’t able to score a reservation. Why should you settle for counter service (which isn’t necessarily Magic Kingdom’s strong suit)?
The Food Isn’t That Great
Here’s another thing, though, and yes, we’re going to say it: Magic Kingdom table service restaurants aren’t that great, at least for what you pay for them. We might say Skipper Canteen is the exception to the rule, but if you have picky eaters, they might not find anything they’ll like there.
Then there’s Plaza Restaurant, which we usually find…just okay. But you don’t have to settle for okay if you leave Magic Kingdom.
Yes, even Be Our Guest, which is hard to get reservations for, is hit and miss, especially when you consider that it’s now a prix fixe menu for both lunch and dinner. If you want variety, you won’t find it there, and you might also question how much value a meal here offers. Not everyone wants a full three courses for lunch.
The other two table service restaurants, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Crystal Palace, are okay in the food department, but they fall under the “hard-to-get reservations for” category because they’re both character dining.
Counter Service isn’t much better — it’s mostly limited to hot dogs and hamburgers, and well, you can do better than that in Disney World (although if that’s what you prefer, more power to you!).
You’ll Need A Break
You’ll also find that Magic Kingdom can be overwhelming — the experience is…a lot for some people. It’s always nice to take a break from the parks when you can, and a meal is a perfect reason to do that.
Crowds
Speaking of which, it’s also nice to take a break from crowds. At night, things can even feel a little oppressive near fireworks time with everyone crowding in and around Main Street, U.S.A. to catch the show.
Believe it or not, you can see the fireworks OUTSIDE of Magic Kingdom while dining (and we’ll get to that).
The 20 BEST Meals You’ve Probably Never Tried in Disney World
Where You Should Eat
The wonderful thing about Magic Kingdom is that it’s on the Monorail, which gives you easy access to some AMAZING restaurants at three Disney World hotels: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. You’re also a quick ride away from EPCOT.
EPCOT
Speaking of EPCOT, there’s almost ALWAYS a festival of some kind going on, and if you have the park hopper option added to your ticket, you can just hop on the Monorail and head over to EPCOT from Magic Kingdom after 2PM to indulge in festival foods, which will offer way more variety (and fun) than what you’ll find in Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
If you’re wanting a delicious sit-down table service meal, look no further than ‘Ohana, which is a fan favorite restaurant for a reason. Plus if you time it right, you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks while you’re eating in a location that’s way more laid back than Main Street, U.S.A.
However, if you’re wanting a quick lunch, did you know you can have a lot of those ‘Ohana menu items at Tambu Lounge instead? Grab some ‘Ohana noodles, pot stickers, and even that yummy ‘Ohana bread pudding, and you could be back in Magic Kingdom within the hour!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is also easily accessible via the Monorail. You can get the FULL 50th Anniversary dining experience right now at California Grill. Even better? You can book a special Fireworks Dining Party to eat some small bites and watch the fireworks in a relaxed setting.
If you’re just wanting some delicious food, though, Steakhouse 71 should be on your list and is absolutely worth leaving Magic Kingdom for. Every meal we’ve had here has been solid, and you’re likely to find something here for even the pickiest eaters in your party.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
If you really wanted to eat at Be Our Guest but didn’t manage to snag a reservation, there’s actually ANOTHER Beauty and the Beast-inspired restaurant in Disney World that’s just a Monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom. It’s called the Enchanted Rose Lounge, and although you won’t see Beast here, you will get to have some great drinks and eat some delicious food in one of several rooms, including a Beast’s Library-inspired room and a room inspired by the forest around Beast’s Castle.
If you want something faster, like a quick lunch, the House-Made Macaroni & Cheese at Gasparilla Island Grill is well worth leaving Magic Kingdom for. You can hop on the Monorail, enjoy some delicious comfort food, and be back in Magic Kingdom in no time!
So next time you’re in Magic Kingdom and aren’t completely happy with the food choices and restaurant availability there, remember you have more choices than you think if you’re willing to leave the park to eat.
Looking for MORE great dining in Disney World? Here’s a ranking of ALL the table service restaurants in Disney World, as well as best restaurants at every price point!
Also, remember if you DO want to eat at a table service restaurant in Disney World, you should make advance dining reservations as soon as you can — you can make those reservations as soon as 60 days from the first day of your trip.
Have you ever left Magic Kingdom to eat? Where did you go? Let us know in the comments!
Maybe pack some food instead of wasting a quarter of your day to drop even more money into walts piggy bank. Every food option is overpriced, sit down resteraunts, cafeterias, etc. Pack a couple of sandwiches and water bottles, save a few hundred dollars on food every day, and get the most out of those overpriced tickets.
Just ate the buffet at Crystal Palace yesterday. The food was great, much better than before the pandemic. There was lemon soaked mahi mahi. And Walt’s chicken was delicious. Also Walt’s chili. My wife loved the spinach and goat cheese ravioli. My grandson enjoyed the beef quesadilla. Of course the deserts were good too.
We also agree Skipper Canteen is one of the best and we actually go to the MK to eat there occassionally.
You only touch the surface on dining options outside the MK. Take the boat to the Wilderness Lodge. Take the bus to any other resort. (We especially like Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge).You can also take the bus to any Epcot area resort (Beach or Yacht Club, Boardwalk, or Swan and Dolphin) and go to a Boardwalk dining spot. And you can take a bus to Disney Springs (or if none is available to Saratoga Springs and walk over to Disney Springs or take a boat ride over). The only thing you really have to sacrifice is time. But if the kids are getting tired and cranky, going somewhere to dinner is a nice defuser. And you can always have an early dinner and go back for the fireworks.