Outpost

In the Disney Parks

Eating inside the parks requires careful thought and advance planning. Most of the outlets serve fast food, however cleverly packaged. It's very good, often quite original. But you're still buying lots of fried foods, pizza, soft drinks and ice cream. The best of the fast food is the giant turkey leg they serve in Frontierland. This is a meal in itself. It makes you wonder what the whole bird looked like. You could buy one of these just before you get in one of the long lines and gnaw on it pretty much the whole time. However, there is also serious sit down eating. Each park has three very good restaurants which would do well located on its own in any city. They're a bit pricey, but you get ambience, famous characters stopping by to pose for photos, talk with the kids and sign autographs, and outstanding service. There's also value to sitting down in the air conditioning and relaxing after several hours of fighting the crowds in heat and humidity. These restaurants are good enough that the adults in the group will remember them in the same way the kids will remember Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion or The Safari.

The most spectacular restaurant in the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's Royal Table on the main floor of The Castle. The designers haven't missed a trick : high peaked arches, leaded glass windows, medieval flags, coats of arms, suits of armor, elaborate light fixtures, and, of course, Cinderella coming around to pose for pictures. If you have girls in the family -- ages five through 18 -- you must eat here. The big problem is reservations. You have to make them months before you arrive at peak seasons. During other times you have to make them in the same phone call as you reserve your lodging and park tickets. This is also the priciest of the Magic Kingdom restaurants, but you're paying for a lot more than the food. However, while the food is not five star quality, it's good. Cinderella's Table serves three meals a day. The classic breakfast includes juice, milk, eggs, bacon, french toast, yogurt, and your choice of pastry, with tea or coffee available for adults. There's a bit of theatrics to begin lunch, in which Cinderella summons her staff and orders a special appetizer for everyone. Then the big lunch time hit is braised ribs, but you can get chicken, mac & cheese or other entrees. The sherbert is great for dessert, or you can request chocolate mousse. Dinner features chicken, beef or a vegetarian pot pie. Ths kids can order pizza or chicken strips. Window seats here are especially spectacular.

Many long time Disney visitors consider The Crystal Palace the best restaurant on Disney property. This is a beautiful building in a beautiful setting with the finest buffet in Orlando. Salads, pastas, veggie dishes and desserts (tarts, cheesecake, key lime pie, chocolate mousse and soft serve ice cream) are especially good, and there's even a kids' buffet. The fresh roast is carved right in front of you. They do a fine job with chowder, mussels and salmon. Service is outstanding. As a final touch, their coffee is great. Winnie the Pooh and his entourage hang out here so if you have Hundred Acre Wood fans in your family this becomes mandatory. Since portions and beverages are unlimited, this is one of the best deals in the park, and is especially good for those on the meal plan. Its biggest crowds are in the 90 minutes before the Electric Parade.

Facing the river in Liberty Square, the Colonial Boston section of the park, Liberty Tree Tavern is the best sit down lunch stop in the Magic Kingdom. The Liberty Tree was the beloved tree the Sons of Liberty met under, hung lanterns from and used as their symbol. The original tree still stands, and a cutting from it is now 40 years old and spreads its branches just outside this tavern. Inside, the architecture and decor are modelled after The Green Dragon, the restaurant Paul Revere, John and Sam Adams, Johnny Tremain and John Hancock ate at regularly. The lunch menu features items they might have eaten, although sadly it omits Donkers, the famous colonial dumplings, and their famous Ales. However, they serve a fine New England Clam Chowder, and Today's Kettle (soup of the day) is always good. They list their Colony Salad among the entrees, but it's a fine salad : apples, pecans, cheddar, cranberries, grilled chicken and greens. There's a Pasta with chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms, shrimp and basil. And there's a Vegetarian Burger, with one of the better potato quinoa vegan patties you've tasted coated with tzatziki sauce. However, we recommend the Pilgrim Feast (herb bread stuffing, roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and fresh vegetable), New England Pot Roast (braised beef in cabernet wine and mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes and vegetables), or Lamb Stew. If none of these appeal to you, their Fish of the Day is always outstanding, or there are several sandwiches. Desserts include Toffee Cake, Chocolate Cake, Fruit Crisp, Johnny Appleseed (white cake filled with apples and cranberries and topped with ice cream), and Sherbert With Berries. The Coffee and Freshly Brewed Iced Tea are outstanding, as are their Cappucino and Hot Cocoa. They also serve Chocolate Milk, Lemonade and soft drinks.

Dinner is a different story. It's a preset all you can eat menu with fewer choices than lunch. Everyone is served a large salad and the Patriot's Platter (roast turkey, carved beef, sliced pork, mashed potatoes, vegetables, herb bread stuffing, and macaroni and cheese). Dessert is the Johnny Appleseed (white cake filled with apples and cranberries, topped with ice cream). Beverages are unlimited refills. Given the greater choices, we think Lunch is the better deal, but if you're starving after a long day in the park, Dinner is guaranteed to fill you up.

Over in the Asian section of the Animal Kingdom, The Yak & Yeti is a Himalayan restaurant lavishly decorated with artifacts from the mountainous sections of China, India, Thailand and Nepal. The menu here is quite exotic, what is technically Pan Asian Cuisine. If you're used to straight Chinese or Indian back home, this will definitely be a different twist on the same basic flavors. Servings are very generous. Back home most people would take home part of their meal for tomorrow's lunch. Knowing this, be careful ordering appetizers, and you will probably not have room for dessert. However, this is a tough decision, because they have several delicious Appetizers : the Pot Stickers, Ahi Tuna and Won Ton Soup leading the list. Their signature entree is a Seafood Medley (mahi mahi, scallops, clams, mussells, shrimp, zucchini and tomatoes in red curry and coconut sauce over a bed of jasmine rice). We have eaten in some of the best Asian and Indian restaurants in the country and this is competitive with any of them. Maple Tamarind Chicken, Ribs, Miso Salmon and the Shinzong Steak are also very, very good. Among the Desserts, someone at your table MUST try the Fried Wontons and Mango Pie (in raspberry sauce). If you're into mixed drinks, the Mango Daquiris here are outstanding. Take time to wander around the restaurant. It has an impressive collection of authentic statues, carvings and other items. The intent is to recreate the flavor of the restaurants over there, and over there tables are placed very close together. They are here, too, so don't let it bother you. Definitely make a reservation, and make it for early in each time frame, 11:30 for lunch and 5 pm for dinner. Later, even with a reservation, expect to wait half an hour or so. If you don't have kids along, there's a bar in here which is a nice air conditioned break from the heat and humidity, and they serve some pretty good drinks. This is the only bar in the Animal Kingdom. There's also a deck. You can order off the same menu and eat on the deck while watching the African and Asian wildlife. The Yak & Yeti is owned by Landry's and run by the same people who run the two Rainforest Cafes, but they still accept the Disney Meal Plan.

The Rainforest Cafe is one of the zanier places to eat at Disney World. This one is located just at the entrance to the Animal Kingdom, so you could eat there without actually having a ticket to enter the park itself, or you could eat dinner there after the early closing of the park. Inside you'll have tropical birds, huge fishtanks, thunderstorm every 30 minutes, and large animatronic jungle animals peering at you through the lush vegetation. The menu is spotty; some items are very good, others only average. Among the appetizers, we like the Chili (melted cheese, tomatoes, onions, green chilis) and Chimi Cha Cha (wonton stuffed with chicken, corn, onions, beans, lime, roast red peppers, cheese). Their Tomato Basil Soup and Clam Chowders are very good. There are six pretty good salads, of which the best two are the Calypso (lettuce, baby greens, goat cheese, cranberries, strawberries, red onions, pecans) and Volcanic (grilled chicken, lettuce, bleu cheese, olives, tomatos, chopped egg, carrots and bacon). They offer eleven burgers and sandwiches. The best entrees may be the Paradise Pot Roast, Amazon Feast (rotisserie chicken and slow roasted ribs) Tilapia Salmon, and the New York Strip Steak (huge; two normal eaters could share one). Better than the one in Downtown Disney but Does Not Accept Disney Meal Plan.

Tusker House is located in the Animal Kingdom's African section, right next to the Kilamanjaro Safari. It's a buffet restaurant, with a spectacular "Wall of Flame," an 18 ft. rotisserie roasting every imaginable meat throughout the day. This is a great place to eat breakfast just before heading out on Safari. The buffet includes a vast expanse of waffles, eggs, yogurts, bacon, fruit, breads, juices, hot beverages, and various dressings. But the lunch and dinner buffets are also pretty impressive. In addition to that long row of roast meats, there are salmon, sushi (made in front of you or you can make your own), salads, breads, rices, pastas, curries, excellent fresh vegetables, and 20 choices of desserts. There's an African theme here, but curiously there aren't as many African foods available as there are at the restaurant over at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is also one of the great character restaurants. Donald Duck hosts a Safari Breakfast at which kids can get their photos taken with him and have their autograph books signed. At lunch and dinner Donald and Daisy are present and other members of their entourage (Goofy, Scrooge, etc.) drop by.

Over in Hollywood Studios, 1950s Prime Time is guaranteed to be the funniest restaurant you've ever visited. Decorated like a 1950s kitchen, it's complete with black and white TVs playing old sitcoms and advertisements. It really is like your grandmother's or maiden aunt's house on Sundays, with lava lamps, formica tops, and cat clocks with the eyes and tails rolling back and forth. This is more like a museum. It's the only restaurant where you get fussed on. Continually. Your server plays the role of Aunt Nelda or Cousin Francis. She'll will leave your plates, utensils and napkins stacked and tell you to set your own table, because "your mother doesn't work here." You're reminded to go wash up before dinner, sit up straight, keep your elbows off the table, and not talk with food in your mouth. You can't order dessert until you clean your plate. They give everyone napkins and crayons while your food's prepared and hang the best artwork on the refrigerator door. The food here is only average but you're paying for the decor and the abusive waitresses. But the Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Chicken Pot Pie, Hot Roast Beef Sandwich and real milk and ice cream Milkshakes are outstanding. Assuming you eat all your veggies, the best dessert is the S'mores.

The Brown Derby is one of DW's priciest restaurants, requiring two meal plan credits. It's modelled after the Hollywood Brown Derby, which for a century was the hangout of movie stars, producers, directors, writers and agents. Disney's Brown Derby is walled with photos of those people. We recommend requesting a booth when making reservations; they're more comfortable than the tables out in the middle. The Brown Derby created the Cobb Salad so it's fitting that the Cobb here at DW is the best you've ever had (it's fresh, minced correctly, and the waiter tosses it at your table), but the Bibb Salad is also outstanding. Among appetizers, we highly recommend the Blue Lump Crab Rolls, Asian Slaw, and a cup of the Lobster Bisque. This bisque contains wheat, not rice, so has a slightly different taste. Of the entrees, their signature items are the Grilled Salmon, Almond Crusted Grouper (spiced with a coreander sauce), Duck Two Ways (duck wrapped in swiss chard) and Chargrilled Filet. Long time Disney veterans debate which restaurant serves the best steaks and about half vote for the Brown Derby. The Pork Chop can be good but specify you want it thoroughly cooked, and when it arrives check to make sure. Top desserts are Grapefruit Cake, Chocolate 3 Ways Tort, and Double Vanilla Creme Brulee.

Hollywood & Vine is a seriously underrated Hollywood Studios buffet restaurant. It offers comfort food, so compared with all the gimmicky restaurants with a unique decor or serving unique foods this seems tame. The decor is fairly straightforward, leaning slightly toward mid 20th Century but not as elaborate as other Disney restaurants. However, the items they serve are very good. The chef carves the meat off the bone at your request. Whatever soup they're serving the day you're there is always delicious. They're noted for their Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, Meatballs and Roast Beef. The Salad section has a surprising range of choices, including Artichokes and Roast Red Peppers. Among the desserts, Apple Cobbler and Blueberry Cobbler are the best. The wine list is small but good.

They do a Character Breakfast and Lunch here which includes all the minor Disney cartoon figures. Since they're not as popular, it's easier to get reservations and easier to interact with the characters once you get there. But be aware that with all the kids interacting with the characters, the restaurant gets busy and noisy. This is not a problem at dinner.