My Very Blunt Reason for Not Eating at This Disney World Restaurant

I’m about to bring down the hammer on a popular Disney World restaurant…

Cosmic Ray’s

If you are planning your next Disney World vacation, you could be thinking about which restaurants you want to dine at and which ones you should avoid. Over at Magic Kingdom, you can find plenty of dining options — from snacks to quick service and table service restaurants. There is one quick service restaurant in particular that we can usually find packed, but to be honest, it’s a BIG skip for me. I’m going to tell you why you should skip it and where you should eat instead.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is a quick-service restaurant located just beyond Cinderella Castle, situated between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. They serve burgers, chicken strips, salads, and similar American fare. I feel like it’s one of the most commonly visited Magic Kingdom restaurants due to its location and simple offerings… but I have a real problem with eating here.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

First, the food is mediocre at best, with the quality of the items being average. The fries are often tasteless to me, and they give me “high school cafeteria” vibes. We recently picked up the Flame-broiled 1/3 lb Angus Burger topped with bacon, American cheese, and Sonny Eclipse’s signature sauce on a brioche bun, served with French fries for $13.99. We found it to be just ok and your standard theme park burger. We KNOW that there are more delicious options found at this park, but we’ll get there!

Flame-broiled 1/3 lb Angus Burger

Next, it is crowded here, especially during peak meal times. While this restaurant offers TONS of seating –indoor and outdoor — it’s still not enough during busy times of the year. I have even witnessed guests eating on the floor around the Christmas season. It is also pretty noisy in here due to the sheer number of people and the large open rooms. If you need a break from the crowds, this is not the place to escape to.

Cosmic Ray’s Seating

Alright — I know this is controversial — but it is still not worth eating here to see Sony Eclipse. Sonny Eclipse is an animatronic vocalist who performs throughout the day at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. I’ve been coming to Disney World since I was little, and Sonny is one of my favorite memories as a kid. However, it’s still not enough for me to sit and have a meal here. When I find myself missing Sonny, I just do a quick walk-through to say hello and then off I go.

Sonny Eclipse

So… where should I dine instead to avoid these issues? Columbia Harbour House. This nautically themed counter-service restaurant is not talked about enough.

Columbia Harbour House

You can find lobster rolls, shrimp, salmon, and salads here, and they usually deliver great quality. It has a lot of indoor seating that is broken up, allowing for more space and lower noise levels. It’s also convenient to get to in Liberty Square, and it has the luxury of Mobile Ordering. If you haven’t been here before, check it out on your next trip!

Columbia Harbour House

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant, all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips.

For more Disney World dining tips, follow us at DFB.

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Which Magic Kingdom restaurant is a skip for you? Tell us in the comments. 

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