The Best Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom

A long time fan of the site wanted to put his 2 cents in and give us a rundown of the best restaurants in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

- by Trey D, September 14, 2011

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Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants
Disney World sorts all of its dining locations into three categories: table service, counter service (also called quick service) and snack shops. The Magic Kingdom has dining locations available in every category, and enough variety to please even the pickiest eater. The best dining locations in the Magic Kingdom are conveniently located, serve up great food in a timely manner and are a good value for the fee charged.

Table Service: Of the Magic Kingdom’s four table service locations, Cinderella’s Royal Table is the most popular, often reaching full booking capacity up to 6 months in advance. If you have never dined at this popular restaurant, located in the iconic Magic Kingdom castle, then this should be your top pick. Cinderella’s Royal Table is a character dining location, so expect to see Cinderella, Prince Charming and other characters visit your table while you dine.
The food at this location is very good, but not spectacular; the appeal here is the castle location and character availability. Head to Cinderella’s Royal Table if the location and view appeal to you, or if you are travelling with little girls who adore the Disney princesses.  For a similar but less expensive meal, try the Crystal Palace instead; a Winnie the Pooh-themed character meal located at the end of Main Street U.S.A.

Counter Service:
Head to Tomorrowland to visit one of the Magic Kingdom’s best dining locations – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. Not only is the Café huge and very convenient to access, it houses many different food types under one roof. You can grab ribs or chicken, hamburgers and wraps at Cosmic Ray’s, allowing you to find something for the whole family without visiting multiple locations. If the weather is good, you can dine outside and get a great view of Tomorrowland or Cinderella’s Castle; in hot or inclement weather, there is plenty of comfortable indoor seating and convenient restrooms as well. Cosmic Ray’s serves up hot, fresh food throughout the day, and is an ideal spot to grab a bite without worrying about reservations or waiting for a table.

Snack Shops:
Follow your nose to the best snack shop in the Magic Kingdom – the Main Street Bakery.  You won’t be able to resist the heavenly smells that emanate from this busy location – from fresh baked waffles and cookies to brewed coffee. This is a busy location, but the line moves very quickly and you’ll find more variety here than at any other Magic Kingdom snack location. From huge frosted cinnamon buns to petite apple turnovers, the Main Street bakery has something for everyone. Stop in and grab a pastry and coffee to go and you’ll be able to finish your breakfast as you walk to your favorite Magic Kingdom ride.

Special Tip: Many hotels near Disney World offer a free breakfast or even a kids eat free program, which allows your children to eat for free providing the parents pay for their meals. The most expensive part of a Disney World vacation is always the cost of eating out so keep this in mind when making an Orlando hotel reservation. Choosing a hotel with one of these options may save you a lot of money.