Table Service
Updated: Mar 17
If you are looking for a more substantial meal, a break from the hustle and bustle of the park, and/or a special dining experience a table service meal may be the way to go. Here we will discuss the different types of table service restaurants at Disney World, the importance of advanced dining reservations, and give our recommendations for some of the best dining on property.
Disney has nearly one hundred different table service locations to choose from across the parks, Disney Springs, and their resorts. Each of these, especially the dining locations in the parks, have fun theming and all of them have some great food options.
Table service restaurants are, again just like it sounds, restaurants you go to to sit at a table, have a menu and waiter and have a sit down meal. Compared to quick service, any table service meal is going to offer larger portions and a bigger time and cost commitment. For some this time away from the rides is not worth it. So you should decide if you are willing to sacrifice between an hour to an hour and a half of your park time to a sit down meal before booking. Plus, not all table service locations are created equal. If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, and want more information click here to read more.
Planning:
When we go we like to do one table service meal each day and try to slip in a signature dining experience when we can. We enjoy the good food and theming, but we also like the break from running around the park. By scheduling a sit down meal we are forced to take a break, often in AC, which is good for tired muscles and overwhelmed brains.
If you want to do any table service restaurants during your trip it is best to scope those out and make advanced dining reservations (ADR). There are some restaurants you’ll be able to get a reservation day of, or even walk up and join a waitlist for, but many of these restaurants are popular so if they are important to you it is best to plan ahead. ADRs become available 60 days out at 6am EST. These are booked online, and if you have a vacation package, you can book your dining for your entire trip starting 60 days out from your arrival day. If you have your heart set on a particular dining location and cannot get a reservation at the 60 day mark, keep checking.
Different Kinds of Table Service:
Disney has a few different varieties of table service locations running from the regular sit down options, buffets/prix fix meals, character dining, and finally signature dining. Many of the restaurants fall into multiple of these categories so it is helpful to know a little more about each so you can plan what will work best for you and your family.
Table Service Meals
As we said before, nothing at Disney is really ordinary, but these restaurants that do not fall into the other categories will be less expensive while still offering a fun dining experience. You could be looking for a nice burger to chow down on in a relaxing environment, so why not have it at a drive in theater sitting in your very own 50s style car and watching some sci-fi cartoons and movie clips (Sci-Fi Dine In). Or perhaps you are looking for some seafood, why not eat it next to one of the largest aquariums in the world (Coral Reef Restaurant). Every table service restaurant on property has something unique to offer in both theming and food options.
Buffets and Prix Fixe meals
Character Meals
Signature Dining
Below are some of our recommendations for Table Service meals through the parks.
Magic Kingdom
Liberty Tree Tavern - Found in Liberty Square, Liberty Tree Tavern offers family style dining with roast turkey, pot roast, and roasted pork and sides of mashed potatoes, stuffing, macaroni & cheese, and a seasonal veggie. All of this is topped off with the toffee cake, which is worth it all on its own.
Be Our Guest - This is a Signature location and for good reason, here you get the privilege of dining in the Beast’s castle in one of three superbly themed rooms. The first is the Grand Ballroom, you know the one that will have you singing Tale as Old as Time, the second is in the West Wing, complete with rose and spooky effects, and the last is the Rose Gallery, a room filled with fun portraits and a giant Belle and Beast music box that was created just for this location. On top of the chance to dine in the Beast’s, the food is amazing. They used to offer a quick service meal here, but since the pandemic there has only been the prix fixe meal offered at both lunch and dinner.
Epcot
Garden Grill - Another restaurant that serves family style, Garden Grill boasts vegetables that were grown right there at the Land Pavilion and characters! This is one of the most affordable character meals with Chip and Dale coming to meet guests as they dine. We love to snag breakfast reservations here before park opening, chow down on the family style Harvest Feast, and then run over to Soarin’ as soon as park opens to ride it with little to no wait via the standby line.
Rose and Crown Dining Room- There are a whole slew of fabulous dining options in the pavilions around the World Showcase. But one we find ourselves returning to again and again is Rose and Crown dining. Back in the day you could show up to your dinner reservation a little early and request a patio table, and then get a front row, seated, view of the Epcot fireworks. This has since been upgraded to it’s own dining experience with a prix fixe menu, but we still think it’s worth it if you want a great view of the nighttime show without having to stand around for an hour or more. Plus, the food is really good so even if you aren’t looking for prime fireworks viewing this is a great place to go.
Hollywood Studios
50's Prime Time Cafe - This is one of our favorite dining spots, the food is always on point (and by food we mean you Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken) and the theming and atmosphere are so much fun. Picture this, you’ve been dropped into the family dining room of the quintessential 50s home, complete vinyl chairs, Formic tables, tv’s playing timeless shows and nosey uncles and busybody aunts to make sure you are well behaved during your dining experience.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ - Another great dining location is over in Toy Story Land where you’ll get to pair a fabulous meal with the fun of being a “toy” in Andy’s play rodeo. This is the newest dining location to be added to Hollywood Studios so snagging a dining reservation takes some patience and luck.
Animal Kingdom
Yak & Yeti Restaurant - If you are looking for on point food and stellar service we always recommend Yak & Yeti Restaurant over in Asia. Another favorite of ours, the asian menu has a wide variety of options for the adventurous and not so adventurous alike.
Tiffins Restaurant - Tiffins offers a more sophisticated atmosphere and some absolutely amazing food and stellar service. As the signature dining location in Animal Kingdom, this is a splurge place for us so we don’t go often, but every time we do it never disappoints.
Disney Springs
Raglan Road - If you are one of the lucky ones you get seated in the main area where you get front row seats to some fabulous Irish dancing in a lively and fun atmosphere. If you are like us you get seated in one of the side rooms every time and go stand in the main room to watch the irish dancing while you wait for your food to arrive. Wherever you get seated though, the food is always really good and the wait staff are great. This is our favorite spot to end an evening at Disney Springs, the music and dancing just complete the vibe of Disney Springs.
Resorts
Sanaa - Two words: bread service. Hidden over at Animal Kingdom’s Lodge Kidani Village, Sanaa offers great views of the animals on the Sunset Savanna, an African and Indian themed menu, and BREAD SERVICE. Now I’ll clarify that the Indian-style Bread Service is an appetizer, not just bread that comes with the meal, but it is sooooo good and so worth it. It’s five types of bread and nine different dipping sauces of magical goodness. It is a bit out of the way over at Animal Kingdom lodge, so we don’t make it over there every trip, but it’s well worth the trek if you can fit it in.
Topolino’s Terrace - We are talking the character breakfast here, the dinner is a signature meal and has a completely different feel. This is by far and away the best character meal on property, between the quality of the food, quality of the character interactions, and quality of service we love popping over the Riviera Resort for this meal when we can snag the reservation. Each of the characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisey) are decked out in their creative best and the general atmosphere is so fun and relaxed. It is one of the harder reservations to get, but worth it to keep trying. This is a prix fixe meal and can get kinda pricy depending on how big your party is.
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