Are you heading to Orlando soon and looking for the best buffet restaurants in the Walt Disney World resort area? One of the best things about the Disney theme parks is the food, and many of the buffet options offer a great way to have a fantastic character dining experience along with delicious meals. Keep reading to find all of the best buffets in the Disney World area.
Chef Mickey’s
The Chef Mickey buffet, located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort and is one of the most popular options for buffet dining in the Disney parks. For this reason, it is essential to snag your dining reservation right at the 60 days prior to your Disney vacation start date.
Chef Mickey’s is located in the beautiful Contemporary Resort, and you can even see the monorail fly through the resort while you eat! While in the dining room, you can take in the delightful views of Bay Lake and the amazing artwork of Mary Blair at the Contemporary Resort too. Chef Mickey’s offers a great character meal opportunity with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and all of their friends.
The popular breakfast buffet includes the famous Mickey waffles, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, and beef brisket. Signature breakfast entrees include banana bread french toast, potato cheese casserole, and the celebration Mickey pancake.
Dinner at Chef Mickey’s is served family style, starting with Chef Mickey’s Caesar salad and shrimp salad. The second course includes choices like potato gnocchi, potato gratin, prime rib, turkey, or salmon. Dessert options feature a fantastic variety from Disney pastry chefs.
Chef Mickey’s is a great restaurant for a family that loves the Fab 5 and wants to celebrate their Disney vacation with Mickey and all of his friends. Current pricing for the breakfast buffet at Chef Mickey’s range from $29 per child and $45 per adult. Dinner pricing ranges from $38 per child and $59 per adult.
Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace is a lovely buffet option in the Magic Kingdom and definitely belongs in a list of the best buffets in Walt Disney World. Located right off of Main Street USA, the Crystal Palace is a Victorian-style restaurant that makes it appear you are dining in a greenhouse right in the middle of the Disney parks. This is another one of Disney’s character buffets, with your favorite characters from Winnie the Pooh appearing at the breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet.
The Crystal Palace buffet includes breakfast items like fresh fruit, bacon, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, eggs, cereal, and assorted pastries. Prices for the breakfast buffet are from $29/child to $45/adult. The Crystal Palace lunch and dinner buffet features salads, fried chicken with gravy, assorted veggies, rolls, ravioli, mashed potatoes, prime rib, and shrimp creole. Dessert options include fruit cobblers, butterscotch pudding, strawberry shortcake and ice cream. Pricing for lunch and dinner ranges from $38/per child and $59/per adult. The menu also includes alcoholic beverages at an additional cost, which is relatively new for Disney World buffets.
If you are a fan of Disney buffets, delicious food, and Winnie the Pooh and friends, Crystal Palace is a great choice for you! It is such a unique experience in the middle of the busyness of a Disney World park!
Liberty Tree Tavern
I love Liberty Tree Tavern! Truth be told, it is a family-style restaurant versus a true buffet meal, but it is truly one of my favorite places for dining in the parks. When my reservations window opens up for Disney dining, I always snag a spot at Liberty Tree Tavern because I know it is an excellent choice for a great meal in Disney World restaurants. Add this one to your life of the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World!
Located in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom, Liberty Tree Tavern is in the style of an old New England Colonial-style inn. You can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for lunch or dinner. Options include roasted turkey, pot roast, and oven-roasted pork, along with an amazing salad called Declaration Salad, mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, and assorted vegetables. The Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is also delicious, as long as you saved room for it! Prices range from $21 per child and $39 per adult. You can also order alcoholic beverages at an additional cost at Liberty Tree Tavern.
There are no character interactions at Liberty Tree Tavern, but I do love how the atmosphere opens up some great conversations about American history. Each of the six rooms of the restaurant feature history about a U.S. figure like Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Paul Jones, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, and George Washington. Make a visit to the Hall of Presidents before or after your meal, and give yourself some school credit!
Cape May Cafe
If you are staying in the Boardwalk area, be sure to check out Cape May Cafe. It Is at the Beach Club Resort, a fantastic breakfast buffet option with characters. In the mornings, Minnie Mouse and her friends appear for Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast. The breakfast buffet menu includes Mickey Mouse waffles, scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes, sausage, oatmeal, and fresh fruit. The breakfast menu ranges from $29 per child to $45 per adult.
Cape May Cafe also features a buffet option for lunch and dinner, though no characters appear for these meals. If you are a surf and turf lover, this is a great option for you! Their dinner menu food options include salads, clam chowder, fried seafood, a carving station, New England-style steam boil, and paella. You can also pay a bit extra for some delicious snow crab legs!
Your kids can also find some family-friendly options at the dinner buffet like pizza, mac and cheese, chicken, and pasta. I also love their dessert options like the Cape May signature bonbons, Boston Cream pie, and ice cream. Dinner prices range from $27-$46 per person and alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Storybook Dining with the Royal Princesses inside of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is another great option for those wanting to dine at one of the best restaurants on Disney property along with Disney characters. Though the term family style best fits this option, this is an excellent choice for those wanting plenty of food variety in Epcot’s World Showcase.
As you dine along with many of your favorite Disney princesses in a medieval castle, you can enjoy options like Norwegian meatballs, grilled salmon, Norwegian chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and macaroni and cheese. The desserts include a variety of Norwegian inspired favorites. A variety of cocktails, beers, and wines can also be purchased separately. The dinner buffet costs $41 per child and $63 per adult.
Be sure to snag a dining reservation for Akershus. It is a popular dining reservation, known as one of the best restaurants on Disney property for character interactions, and it fills up quickly. If you decide to skip your reservation, be sure to modify or cancel your spot to avoid Disney’s cancellation penalty of $10/per person for missing your reservation.
Garden Grill
If Chip ‘n Dale are some of your favorite Disney characters, Garden Grill may become one of your favorite places! This family-style restaurant is located in the World Nature building in Epcot, near Living with the Land and Soarin. Lunch and dinner menu favorites include a garden salad, barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, spoon bread, grilled beef, mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, and berry shortcake. Allergy-friendly platters can also be prepared, along with specialty cocktails, wines, and beers for an additional cost.
The restaurant rotates, allowing visitors to see different views of the Living with the Land attraction. Don’t worry – it doesn’t move too quickly! Chip and Dale and friends make appearances throughout your meal, making it a great spot to get away from the crowds of Epcot. Be sure to check it out on your next visit to the Disney parks!
Tusker House Restaurant
Tusker House Restaurant in Animal Kingdom is a fantastic option for guests wanting to dine with Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy in their safari gear. Located in the Harambe marketplace area, diners can choose breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this buffet style restaurant. Tusker House features breakfast favorites like Safari bread, Mickey and Simba waffles, and for more exotic taste buds, Durban chicken and egg curry! If you like more exotic foods, this is definitely one of the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World.
The lunch and dinner menu features even more flavors of Africa with dishes like Moroccan spiced beef, herb chicken, Cape Malay green curry shrimp, and marinated pork. Jasmine rice, roasted potatoes, and Durban curry round out the sides menu. Lunch and dinner prices range from $38-59 and the breakfast buffet costs $29-45 per person.
Hollywood and Vine
If you love Minnie Mouse and friends, be sure to book a breakfast, lunch, or dinner reservation at Hollywood and Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Echo Lake. Many of the Disney Junior stars appear at the breakfast time. Breakfast options include assorted pastries, an omelet station, delicious biscuits and gravy, Mickey waffles, and eggs benedict. Hollywood and Vine breakfast specialties include salmon and bagel casserole, a plant-based frittata, and brioche french toast. The price for this Disney Junior Play and Dine pricing is $27 per child and $42 per adult.
The Disney Junior characters only appear at breakfast, but lunch and dinner have some great buffet options as well called the Minnie’s Seasonal Dine option. Lunch and dinner buffet options include couscous salad, seared salmon, mushroom risotto, pork belly, peel-and-eat shrimp, herbed chicken, and crispy tofu. Cocktails, wine, and beer options are available for an extra cost. Lunch and dinner buffet costs $38 per child and $59 per adult. As with all of the dining options within the parks, be sure to have a park pass reservation on the day of your visit to the park restaurant.
Boma
Boma is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This incredible restaurant, inspired by African and Asian flavors, offers both breakfast and dinner buffet options. Boma is another popular dining spot, so be sure to snag a dining reservation. The Kenyan coffee is one of my favorite coffees on Disney property!
The breakfast buffet at Boma includes pretty traditional options including muffins, waffles, bacon, sausage, ham, turkey bobotie, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, breakfast potatoes, bread pudding, oatmeal, omelets, and sticky buns. Pricing for breakfast is $21 per child and $35 per adult.
The dinner buffet menu at Boma features chickpea salad, couscous salad, peanut rice, sweet corn pudding, Durban chicken, salmon, beef tenderloin, cauliflower salad, pork ribs, and lamb babotie. Prices for dinner range from $32-$54 for children to adults. Cocktails, wine, and beer can be purchased separately.
Boma is a favorite in our household and the Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my favorite Disney resorts. Be sure to make some time before or after your dining reservation to explore the grounds. Check out all of the animals and grab some delicious Zebra domes for dessert! It is definitely one of the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World.
Biergarten Restaurant
If you love German food and live music, be sure to check out the Biergarten restaurant at Epcot’s World Showcase. You find it in the Germany pavilion. You can get into Oktoberfest celebration mode with a live Polka band, any time of the year! The lunch buffet, priced at $27 per child and $49 per adult, includes seasonal salads, rotisserie chicken, and potatoes. You can also find schnitzel, sausages, sauerkraut, spaetzle, and nudel gratin. Beer, wine and cocktail options are available.
Dinner pricing is the same as lunch. The dining tables are large and shared space between parties. Be sure you are comfortable with that before making your reservation. It is a great spot for dining in Epcot!
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Whispering Canyon Cafe is more of a family-style dining option, but one of my favorites. I had to include it in this post! This sit down restaurant is in the beautiful Wilderness Lodge, a Disney resort close to Magic Kingdom. The restaurant and resort is absolutely beautiful, in the style of the Pacific Northwest. They are well known for their signature skillets, all “bottomless” until your party is full!
The breakfast skillets include the Heritage skillet with biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, country potatoes, bacon, sausage, and Mickey waffles. The Carnivore skillet features cornbread, pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, herb chicken, country potatoes and carrots. The Lighter side skillet has Swiss oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, egg white frittata, turkey sausage and turkey bacon, and Mickey waffles.
If you like, you can also order a la carte items instead of the $26 skillets. See the menu for current individual pricing. There is also a kids menu and an allergy-friendly menu.
The dinner menu at Whispering Canyon includes starters like nachos, jackfruit dip and chips and the house salad. The skillets feature the Traditional with beef brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken, sausage and smashed potatoes. The Land and Sea Skillet includes salmon, chicken, sausage, portobello mushrooms, roasted potatoes and carrots. The Pig Skillet includes Pork Belly, Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Western-style Sausage, Smashed Potatoes, Corn, and Green Beans. There is also a plant based option for vegetarian diners. Again, you can also order your main items a la carte instead of a skillet, if you wish.
Our favorites for dessert at Whispering Canyon include the Pioneer Chocolate cake and the Granny Smith Apple pie. Paired with a good cup of coffee and delish! Be sure to add this one to your list of the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World!
1900 Park Fare
1900 Park Fare has not yet reopened post-pandemic. I wanted to include it because it is a great buffet option! Located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, 1900 Park Fare breakfast features famous Disney characters. Mary Poppins (love her!), Alice in Wonderland, The mad Hatter, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh all make appearances. The beautiful organ called Big Bertha is also housed at 1900 Park Fare.
The breakfast buffet includes custom-made omelets, mini pancakes, Mickey waffles, ham, bacon, sausage, and delicious strawberry soup! Breakfast pricing is $29 for children and $45 for adults.
The dinner buffet includes tomato salad, broccoli slaw, and Mongolian beef. You will also find creamy chicken, salmon, and shrimp scampi. Savory dishes include chicken noodle soup, penne pasta, ravioli, pulled pork, chicken wings, green beans, and jasmine rice. The buffet dinner features a visit from Cinderella and Prince Charming, and pricing ranges from $39-60 per person.
Be sure to put 1900 Park Fare on your buffet list as soon as it returns to the Grand Floridian!
I hope this post has given you some great info on the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World! Keep reading for more great tips on your next Disney trip and sign up below for my best Disney World packing list.
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