Meal planning at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida

Meal planning at Walt Disney World

Whether you’re on a budget, have digestive problems, allergies or intolerances, or simply want to eat well, this article shares my own preparations before you leave.

Step 1: Meal plan or not?

It always depends on who’s in my travel group and what their needs are. Do I have the kids with me, just my spouse, my parents, etc.? ? In some cases, it can be worth it, especially with the whole family, and that’s what I determine as much for myself as for any family I meet. For this article, we’ll assume that I don’t have a meal plan, as we already have a very good article about meal plans on our Voyages en Route website.

Step 2: Which à la carte restaurants must be booked 60 days in advance?

The first question I ask myself is how many à la carte restaurants I want to visit during my week. In general, I consider one or two dinners with service to be sufficient for the duration of my stay. Personally, I don’t make reservations for breakfast, as I love to enjoy the peace and quiet of the parks in the morning. As for lunch, I rarely make reservations because I’ve changed my mind too many times on my first trips. Either I was in a queue for an attraction, or I wanted to go back to the hotel for lunch and a break. In short, I’ve often changed my mind during the day, which means I no longer reserve seats for lunch either. For dinner, it’s different. I often know where I’m going to be and when, which makes planning easier.

So, I select four choices of restaurants, usually one in each of the parks and another for a special outing at Disney Springs. When the 60-day advance booking window arrives, I make my final choices based on availability.

Step 3: Schedule planning based on bookings received

60 days before we leave, it’s time to book! Super excited, I jump on the My Disney Experienceapplication, which now works on both cell phones and computers. My customers and I meet a few days beforehand to discuss everything, how it works and whether they need my help.

So I look at what’s available according to my tastes. I like to dine early, so I look at what’s available around 5:00-5:30 pm. If all four options are available, I choose my priority and then my second choice. In a few minutes, it’s settled. My schedule for the week will take my reservations into account to make sure I’m in the right place at the right time.

My favorite à la carte restaurants

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti Restaurant. I can’t stop eating there, it’s my favorite!
• Magic Kingdom: With characters, you will be amazed by Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella’s Royal Table, otherwise the Jungle Navigator Co. LtD Skipper Canteen is interesting.
• Epcot: With characters, I’d say the Garden Grill Restaurant, as much for its healthy choices as for meeting Tic and Tac with their friends. There are many excellent restaurants to choose from in this park, and I try to try new ones every time. I really like the San Angel Inn Restaurante for its special atmosphere.
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano would be my choice for great Italian food.
• Disney Springs: This is a tough one, as there are a ton of really good choices, but The Boathouse is definitely my favorite, as I love the “Cape Cod” look, the boats and so on. The food is delicious, especially the little buns for starters.

Step 4: Other meals: where to eat? In a hotel? In a park?

When I visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, I don’t like to think about what I’m going to eat, so I also plan my fast food restaurants! And yes, I love planning! The weeks leading up to my departure are just as exciting as the departure itself. I always have lunch at the hotel except on the day I go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park because I leave too early to go there, and I always have lunch at the same place, at Pongu Pongu in The World of Avatar section. So this meal portion is very easy. Then I think about my lunch and dinner. I usually have lunch at the park just before returning to the hotel for my pool break. Then, often, I have dinner as soon as I get back to the park. So I build my schedule accordingly.

Step 5: Check menus in advance and select 2 meal choices per restaurant

I go to the My Disney Experience app and look at all the “Quick Service” restaurants by theme park. For example, I select Magic Kingdom in the filters and look at all the menus for the different restaurants. I choose one restaurant for lunch and one for dinner. Then I select two options per restaurant for me and my companions. By preparing in advance, I’ll be able to order on the go if I feel like it. For example, I regularly have lunch at the Columbia Harbour House, with its delicious lobster sandwich. So I’ll order it while I’m waiting at my first ride for 11:30 or noon, and pick it up on my way out of the Haunted Mansion. And if, for example, I’m dining at the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, I’ll do my mobile ordering while I’m on the shuttle to the park. A word of advice: start by sharing a dish, and recommend if you’re still hungry, as this will prevent you from eating beyond your capacity and/or wasting food.

That’s it, my meal planning is done, I have my menu and I’m able to budget well. Sounds intense, doesn’t it? The good news is that by doing business with me, I’m sharing my menus from recent trips that can guide you very easily. When you’re unprepared, you waste time, and at Disney, time is both magical and precious. I want to make the most of it, and if I can avoid breaking my head over my meals, I’m all set!