The Best Places to Eat at Disney World Without a Park Ticket NOW
There are HUNDREDS of great places to eat at Walt Disney World, and while many of those lie behind the gates of Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, there are tons of spots you can dine at for a magical meal without having to step foot into a theme park. Disney Springs alone has over 60 dining options!
Disney Springs
It can be a LOT to try and navigate the best spots to dine at when visiting Disney World in general. And now, with Park Passes and shorter hours meaning you may not be in a theme park every day for every meal, knowing where to dine at Disney Springs or at one of Disney’s currently open resort hotels can be overwhelming.
But you know we have your back. Whether you’re taking a break from the parks, looking for a meal before EPCOT’s opening or after Animal Kingdom’s closing, these are some of the BEST table service spots to eat at Disney World right now without a park ticket!
Sanaa — Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village
Sanaa has been one of our FAVORITE restaurants at Disney World for some time now for the two things that matter most: the food and the views.
Animal ViewFirst, let’s discuss the most important thing: the food!
From the Butter Chicken to the signature Indian-style Bread Service, dishes at Sanaa are absolutely packed with the spices of Africa and India, so expect lots of fragrant food with warming flavors like plant-based Samosas and Potjie Inspired Braised Beef.
Sanaa
And those VIEWS! If you want to go to Animal Kingdom solely for the titular animals, well, you don’t have to! Just head to Animal Kingdom Lodge and grab a table at Sanaa to spot animals grazing in the savannah. Save that Park Pass for another park and enjoy birds RIGHT up at your table while you dine on some seriously yummy bites!
Sanaa Bread Service…With an Onlooker!
If you don’t want to partake in indoor dining right now but still want to enjoy Sanaa, you’re in luck! This restaurant is featured on the Table Service To Go feature on My Disney Experience. Oh yeah, you can get Sanaa’s Bread Service (or maybe TWO Sanaa Bread Services) TO GO! Take it back to your hotel room and enjoy it in comfort!
Our Table Service To Go feast!
Sanaa is a great option for dinner after a day at Animal Kingdom (since the park often closes before suppertime) or if you’re looking to cater to vegetarians or vegans in your party!
Read our latest review of Sanaa here!
Morimoto Asia — Disney Springs
If you’re out for adventurous flavors, don’t sleep on Disney Springs’ Morimoto Asia, either. The atmosphere in here is drop-dead GORGEOUS, with shimmering string light chandeliers that look like they belong in Cinderella Castle!
Morimoto Asia
But, OK, it’s beautiful, but how’s the food?! There are some truly iconic dishes here, like the Morimoto “Buri-Bop,” a dinner AND a show, where the chef cooks yellowtail in front of you along with raw egg, rice, and veggies in a 550-degree bowl! This is a dish that led to Chef Morimoto winning Japan’s Iron Chef Competition, so you KNOW it’s good!
Buri Bop Being Made!
It’s so tender and has flavors of ginger and soy, which will convert ANY fish hater! That’s worth the trip alone, tbh.
Read our latest review of Morimoto Asia here!
Topolino’s Terrace — Disney’s Riviera Resort
Character dining, especially at breakfast, is a beloved Disney tradition for many families, and if you want to do that right now, well, you don’t even have to go to a park to do so! You can head to Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort!
It’s Donald!
There are a few other places you can spot Mickey outside of character cavalcades in the parks right now. You can also see him at Ravello Italian Restaurant at the Four Seasons, and he’s back cooking and meeting guests at Chef Mickey’s.
Mickey at Topolino’s Terrace
Beyond the main mouse, Toplino’s Terrace has some pretty good eats! The menu, while smaller than usual, features Quiche Gruyère, Sour Cream Waffles, and Smoked Salmon for breakfast, which is when you’ll see Mickey and co.
Smoked Salmon
Topolino’s Terrace is a great option for a late start day at EPCOT (which sometimes opens as late as noon!) or for a lazy day when you just want a great brunch before swimming in your pool or shopping at Disney Springs!
Read our pre-park reopening review of Topolino’s Terrace here!
California Grill — Disney’s Contemporary Resort
California Grill can sometimes be hit-or-miss, and there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it, this place is PRICEY! One of the sometimes problems for California Grill is that it can feel a bit cramped and rushed, but due to lower capacity now, it feels bright and airy at this Contemporary Resort spot!
California Grill Seating
While there are no fireworks at the Magic Kingdom right now (well, there are little baby fireworks), the views at California Grill are still seriously stunning! And you can see Cinderella Castle with its nightly Christmas projections shining bright at nighttime. It’s not pyrotechnics, but it’s still pretty darn gorgeous!
View from California Grill
California Grill is also a great spot for sushi lovers, with sashimi and hand-rolled sushi. It also has some fan-favorite items currently on the menu, like the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli (thank goodness it’s back!) and Pepperoni Pizza.
Pepperoni Pizza
California Grill is great for date night or an evening when you want to soak in the views and magic of the Magic Kingdom without actually having to step into the Magic Kingdom.
Click here for our latest review of California Grill!
Grand Floridian Cafe — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
There’s a LOT of fabulous dining at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, but don’t sleep on Grand Floridian Cafe. This hidden gem table service spot is on the Monorail loop, so it’s the perfect stop on a day full of resort hopping.
Grand Floridian Cafe
This is one of our favorite spots for brunch, and it features some SECRET MENU ITEMS (hellooooo, chicken and waffles).
Chicken and waffles
This quiet, well-lit spot also happens to have a KILLER Chipotle Bloody Mary, topped with shrimp and chorizo!
Bloody Mary
While Grand Floridian Cafe has dinner, too, we think this spot is an elegant way to start your day, either for a weekend indulgence if you’re a local or as a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the parks if you’re visiting Disney World.
Read our full review of the Grand Floridian Cafe here!
Homecomin’ — Disney Springs
Do you love fried chicken? Like, really, really LOVE fried chicken? If yes, then Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is the spot for YOU at Disney Springs!
We’ll eat Homecomin’s Fried Chicken any day!
It’s classic comfort food with a local twist here, from the Cheddar Cheese Drop Biscuits to the HFK Barbecue Bun, which features sweet and spicy barbecue chopped pork, a fried egg, and Southern slaw.
HFK Barbecue Bun
We love this spot for a fill-your-gut meal at Disney Springs, and BONUS, they have refillable sippers to go for $22, and you can refill it with an on-tap moonshine for $13! Coke products are FREE, so, we’ll take two.
Read our full review of Homecomin’ here!
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant — Disney Springs
SPEAKING of hearty meals at Disney Springs, we could never forget Raglan Road! This spot is oftentimes lively and loud, but due to capacity limitations, it’s mellowed out a bit lately.
Raglan Road
Despite a recent price increase, Raglan Road’s signature pub fare has been a hit with fans for years, and it’s hard to go wrong with classics like Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s to Die for Pie, and Braised Be Beef.
Shepherd’s Pie
We also recently learned this place has a TOTALLY Instammable brunch with delicious dishes like Pork Hash Tagged and delectable bread service.
Pork Hash
Raglan Road is a good option if you like a good time, good, hearty pub food, and a good ol’ pint of Guinness with your FACE ON IT!
Read our full review of Raglan Road’s brunch here!
Wine Bar George — Disney Springs
Is wine more of your thing? Heck, even if it’s not, Wine Bar George in Disney Springs is a TOP spot for dining. Like, we kind of can’t get enough of this place, and it’s one of the FIRST spots we went to when Disney Springs reopened this spring.
Wine Bar George
You may think a wine bar is pretentious, but the drinks, the eats, the servers, and the master sommelier here couldn’t be any more inviting!
George Miliotes at Wine Bar George’s Reopening
The interior is warm and cozy, making this spot perfect for date night or for a great catch-up lunch with friends!
Wine Bar George
The wine? Well, there are more than 130 choices by the ounce, bottle, and glass as well as cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Hooten Whiskey Cocktail
As for the food, it’s hard to pick just a few things to recommend, but we’re CONSTANTLY dreaming about the tender House-Made Meatballs, the melt-in-your-mouth Iberico Pork Pluma, and the Saganaki on Fire. Yes, that’s FLAMING cheese, presented table-side, of course.
Saganaki on Fire
Wine Bar George is a great spot to begin or end your Disney vacation, so if you’re flying in midday, head here for dinner as a wonderful “welcome back” meal. You’ll feel at home right away!
Read our latest review of Wine Bar George here!
And there you have it! Those are some of the BEST table service spots at Disney World outside of the theme parks right now.
Our TOP 10 Restaurants in Disney World Since Reopening
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What are your favorite spots to dine at outside of Disney World’s theme parks? Let us know in the comments!
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