Choices, choices, choices.
There is a lot to do at Walt Disney World—more than many realize. Figuring out what attractions, resorts, restaurants, and everything else to visit in the span of a brief vacation can feel overwhelming once you see the breadth of options available.
While everyone is likely to choose different paths to the ideal vacation, a little expert advice can be helpful in narrowing down the pool. Specifically, longtime visitors become seasoned in identifying which Walt Disney World experiences are worth their time, money, and energy and which ones may have better alternatives.
As always, every Disney guest is going to have different preferences on the subject of “Do This, Not That”—one person’s ”Awesome!” may be another’s “Nope!”. Take each of these recommendations with that in mind—stick to your gut if there’s a particular experience you really enjoy and include it in your vacation.
If you find yourself weighing options, here are the top 12 cases where we usually suggest, “Do this, Not that,” at Walt Disney World.
1. Visit in the off-season, not during school breaks
This is a common one brought up as general advice for Disney vacation planning—if you have the option to visit Walt Disney World when the parks are less busy, do so.
It surprises me how hard a sell this can be for many prospective guests. There are certain times we are just culturally hard-wired to label as “vacation time”, particularly if we have kids. Generally, these seasons fall on major holidays, during summer and spring break, and on weekends.
The problem is the majority of people visiting Disney parks also think the same thing.
Visiting Walt Disney World when crowds are lower can have a significant effect on your vacation experience—less crowds means less stress, more flexibility, and it can even mean access to better savings. Largely, this means doing what you can to avoid the busiest times of the year. These are:
- The weeks / weekends surrounding major holidays (especially New Year’s, Christmas, and Fourth of July)
- March into early April due to Spring Break
- Days surrounding Disney special events like RunDisney races
- Summer (though you might get lucky and catch a lull—this historically busy season had started to lighten somewhat before the 2020 closures)
The best times to visit remain mid-January, portions of February, September (after Labor Day week), and some portions of November and December (avoiding the holiday weeks). Other times exist throughout the year where crowds are moderate. Catching these times may require some creativity or even taking kids out of school (some schools will allow kids to do make-up work, but this will depend on each case), but if you can pull it off, it can make a big difference for your vacation.
2. Visit Walt Disney World’s other parks—not just Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is definitely Disney’s most iconic park (along with Disneyland), to the point that many first-time visitors assume it is “Walt Disney World”. Many guests will go so far as to plan their entire trip to take place at Magic Kingdom, perhaps only reserving a day or two, if that, for Disney’s other parks. For most visitors, this is a mistake.
It can come as a surprise that many Disney regulars actually don’t consider Magic Kingdom their favorite park. For some, it may actually be the least appealing of the four (particularly among teens and those who don’t have the nostalgia bug). Disney’s other three parks—Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom—offer an incredibly rich range of attractions, dining options, and exclusive experiences you won’t find in Magic Kingdom.
Each park has its high points, and none should be written off outright. Epcot is home both to some of Disney’s most creative attractions, as well as the resort’s richest dining, shopping, and exploration scenes. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to both a striking selection of immersive animal encounters and attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has grown particularly popular since the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but it also includes a variety of thrilling attractions for all ages.
In short, make time on your vacation to visit all four parks if you can.
3. Stay in a DVC Villa instead of a standard resort room
We are big fans of staying on Walt Disney World property whenever possible, largely due to convenience. For one thing, staying on property makes it possible to enjoy your entire trip without ever needing a rental car (thanks to Disney’s transportation network), and it also makes it very easy to take a mid-day break if you need a rest on park days.
What resort rooms are best though?
While Disney has many incredible resort options, our hands down favorites are the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villa resorts. These cozy resorts feature spacious apartment style rooms set-up to act as a home away from home during your vacation. The 1-3 bedroom models offer full kitchens, spacious living rooms, and luxurious bathrooms. Access to a kitchen alone has been a huge selling point for us—the ability to cook up a quick, tasty breakfast or store snacks has saved us quite a bit of money over the years.
Villas used to be only available to DVC members, but regular guests now have several options for booking them. While it is possible to book villa rooms through Disney directly, we find the prices can be quite high using this method. Instead, we suggest exploring DVC point rentals—using a reputable third-party site to rent points from a DVC member. Using this method generally offers significant savings on room prices for some of Disney’s best rooms available.
Bonus: The Swan and Dolphin > Disney-Owned Resorts
Looking for Disney deluxe accommodations at moderate prices? Consider staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. Despite being located directly between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, these two gorgeous resorts are owned by Marriott, not Disney. Guests at the Swan and Dolphin have access to many of the same perks as Disney resort guests, and you can even pay for your room using Marriot Bonvoy points or credit card rewards. When calculating and comparing prices, take into account that the Swan and Dolphin charge a daily resort fee, as well as a fee for self-parking.
4. Try Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen instead of Be Our Guest
Now I say this one with an asterisk: if you can get into Be Our Guest, you absolutely should. It is an outstanding restaurant with great food and stunning atmosphere, particularly if you little ones who love Beauty and the Beast. I would go so far as to say Be Our Guest is probably a better investment than a visit to Cinderella’s Royal Table (previously, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall was our top alternative for that). However, if you can’t land a Be Our Guest reservation, Magic Kingdom does have an amazing and oft-overlooked alternative for magical table service dining.
Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen in Adventureland remains one of the most unique restaurants at Walt Disney World that most guests have never heard of. The restaurant is themed as a local canteen for off-duty Jungle Cruise skippers, who make up most of the staff—the result is an exotic dining experience often filled to the brim with dry humor, hilarious quips, and incredible food. Rather than coming across as heavy-handed, we’ve always found the staff charming and friendly as they lay on lighthearted puns throughout your visit.
Humor aside, the real draw of Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen is the food. It is absolutely delicious, particularly if you like bold, zesty flavors. They truly offer one of the most creative menus in Walt Disney World, and we have enjoyed every meal there. Don’t forget to try the Kungaloosh!
5. Get your comfort food fix at The Biergarten instead of The Garden Grill
If rich comfort food is something you particularly enjoy, you’ll have plenty of options to pick from at Walt Disney World. Over at Epcot, the go-to choice has long been The Garden Grill in The Land, thanks to their Thanksgiving family-style lunch and dinner. While many families we know have enjoyed their experiences at The Garden Grill, this particular location lost some of the magic for us due to a decline in quality. Compared to the rich farm-to-table fare the restaurant used to offer, the current selection can feel more akin to upgraded cafeteria food at steakhouse prices if you catch it on the wrong day.
Instead of rolling the dice at The Garden Grill, our top recommendation for a hearty family meal at Epcot is World Showcase’s Biergarten Restaurant. This spacious Oktoberfest hall has been serving up delicious German feasts for decades, and the quality has remained consistent. Thanks to the return of full buffets at Walt Disney World, you can expect to find an incredible selection of choices including schnitzel, bratwurst, roast beef, German potatoes, strudel, salads, cold meats, and more. If that’s not enough, your meal also includes a show with the ever-charming Biergarten band.
6. Visit The Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls Trail instead of just Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kilimanjaro Safaris remains one of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for good reason, offering one of the best ways to encounter the beautiful animals of the park in a striking replica of their natural habitat.
Kilimanjaro Safaris isn’t the only place to see animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, however.
Many guests don’t realize Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to two incredible walking trails rich with animal encounters—Africa’s Gorilla Falls Trail and Asia’s Maharajah Jungle Trek. These two free exploration zones immerse guests right into the center of the park’s animal habitats, offering exclusive encounters with gorillas, tigers, Komodo dragons, Malayan flying foxes, zebra, and a stunning selection of birds.
More guests tend to find their way to the Gorilla Falls Trail due to its proximity to Kilimanjaro Safaris, but we feel like the Maharajah Jungle Trek (located near Kali River Rapids) is the real hidden gem of the two. Take your time as you explore the trails, particularly inside the aviaries—sit still long enough, and you never know what sort of feathered friends may come to say hello.
7. Try Docking Bay 7 instead of… well, everything else at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has really come into its own in the last few years as one of Walt Disney World’s most popular parks. While the park’s attraction and entertainment scene has vastly improved, its dining options still leave some things to be desired compared to Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The main issue is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has long suffered from offering the same styles of food over and over again—Americana with a little New York Italian thrown in here and there. This makes sense to a point considering the park’s theme, but it can make for a mundane dining experience if that isn’t what you’re looking for.
Enter Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.
Located right next to the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Docking Bay 7 is weird but wonderful—100% Disney magic. Like everything else in Batuu’s Black Spire Outpost, the restaurant is designed to feel like something straight out of Star Wars. The food is creative, flavorful, and filling with wild options like Batuuan Beef and Crispy Topato Stir-fry, Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs, and Peka Tuna Poke. Our favorite entrée remains the Felucian Kefta and Hummus Garden Spread, one of the most creative quick-service vegan dishes at Walt Disney World.
8. Try Ravello instead of Chef Mickey’s
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is an icon among Disney dining, but it has also earned its fair share of criticism. It’s one of those experiences people assume is “essential Disney” but doesn’t really offer much truly unique among Disney dining, especially when compared with alternatives like Kona Café’s incredible Polynesian breakfast, the Snow White dining experience at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or even Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
One option similar to Chef Mickey’s that most guests have not heard of is the Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals at Ravello, located at the Four Seasons Orlando. This might seem like an odd recommendation until you realize the Four Seasons Orlando is actually located on Disney property, tucked into the luxurious Golden Oak neighborhood.
Ravello stands out as a hidden gem among Disney dining as it is the only character meal I’ve ever seen win the approval of major food critics. It appears that buffet dining has returned to this location, and the selection is impressive. Guests can pick from familiar breakfast favorites like waffles, pancakes, pastries, and parfaits paired with chef-inspired frittatas, omelets, acai bowls, and more. As part of the Four Seasons, you know the quality is going to be top notch. What’s even more surprising is that this is a character breakfast, similar to Chef Mickey’s—you can expect to see Goofy and pals throughout your meal.
Feeling ready for a coffee and icecream? Here is a top tip…
9. Get your coffee at The Swan’s Java Bar instead of Joffrey’s or Starbucks
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Walt Disney World can be a rough place to visit if you’re particular about your coffee. The primary options available in Disney parks and resorts are Joffrey’s and Starbucks Coffee—decent options, but not everyone’s top choice. If you enjoy Joffrey’s and Starbucks, by all means continue to patron them, but if you’re looking for a coffee upgrade on your next trip, I recommend making a stop by The Swan resort.
The Swan’s Java Bar marks the best coffee we have found at Walt Disney World (besides coffee at the aforementioned Four Seasons Orlando). Their beans have been consistently high quality throughout our visits, and their drink selections are creative and well-executed. Their nitro cold brew is particularly good. If you want to try some coffee options that aren’t masked by too much syrup or sweetener, this is an excellent place to visit while touring between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They also offer some lovely shaken teas, green smoothies, light snack options, and even a few coffee drinks with health boosters like collagen.
10. Try L’Artisan des Glaces at Epcot instead of buying another Mickey Ice Cream Bar
Oh, I’m going there again…
I know many of our readers are passionate about Mickey Ice Cream bars. That’s totally fine, but let’s be honest—the appeal of Mickey Ice Cream bars is in the power of nostalgia, not so much the quality of the product. They’re good, but they aren’t that different from the average Klondike Bar. If having a Mickey Ice Cream bar is a time honored tradition for your family, by all means continue to enjoy them.
If you’re looking for a Walt Disney World exclusive ice cream upgrade, Walt Disney World is positively packed with amazing options. Consider Dole Whip floats—they’re delicious, totally Disney, and not something you can easily get at the supermarket. The sundaes available throughout the parks are impressive as well—you’ll find some incredible ice cream creations on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and at the Ghirardelli Soda Shop in Disney Springs, for example.
For a truly singular ice cream experience at Epcot, we recommend trying France’s L’Artisan des Glaces. This charming ice cream parlor is popular for good reason—not just for the quality of their ice cream, but because of their decadent Croque Glacé, a pressed brioche ice cream sandwich. These customizable ice cream sandwiches defy logic by pairing rich ice cream and a topping of your choice with a freshly pressed brioche. Some people describe it as the best thing they ever ate at Walt Disney World.
11. Try Picabu Market instead of Boardwalk Pizza
Calming the late night munchies at Walt Disney World has been tricky these last few years. Sure, you could DoorDash something to your resort from Orlando, but who wants to do that? Isn’t there anything decent to eat at late hours at Disney?
In the past, the best option was Boardwalk Pizza… not so much because it was the best but because it was open. The good news is Boardwalk Pizza isn’t the only choice for late-night Disney eats anymore—indeed, our go-to choice is just around the corner from it.
We can’t gush enough about Picabu Market at the Walt Disney World Dolphin—mostly because we want to make sure The Walt Disney World Dolphin never, ever closes it again. It’s not necessarily an easy place to find—it’s located as far as you can go in the farthest corner of the lowest level of the resort (if you find Gandalf fighting the Balrog, only then have you gone too far). The journey is well worth it for the variety available nearly 24 hours a day.
Picabu offers a lot of choices for late night diners, including a number of familiar dining hall staples like chicken meals, potatoes, and mac n’ cheese. The real place where they shine, however, is in their customizable burritos, bowls, and tacos. Guests can build their own southwestern entrée surrounding a protein of your choice like Carne Asada, Guajillo Pork, Adobo Chicken, or even Braised Jackfruit paired with a commendable range of toppings. We have always found the meats flavorful, and we can usually make a very filling late night meal out of a burrito paired with some snacks like chips and salsa.
12. Try Boma or Jiko instead of Sanaa or Tusker House
Disney has done a commendable job taking on African flavors as part of their restaurant lineup—there’s something truly special about this wonderful corner of Disney’s culinary spectrum, rich with bold flavors, creative pairings, and refreshing desserts. Most of the restaurants featuring African flavors can be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, with some options inside the park as well.
Which one is best, however? The two most popular choices are usually Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge (partially due to its striking savannah views) and Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. While both are good restaurants, we’ve found that neither quite reaches the quality of the two locations we wanted to highlight.
This one is a close call, but we wanted to highlight Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for one reason: the quality and variety is like nothing else at Walt Disney World. It truly remains one of Disney’s best buffets, an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Guests visiting Boma can expect both familiar and unfamiliar foods prepared with all the zest and creativity of Africa, with entrees including Durban chicken, beef tenderloin, Senegalese salmon, lamb bobotie, ox tail soup, Tunisian couscous, and even Disney’s famous Zebra Domes.
Want an experience upgraded even above what Boma can offer? Jiko is open for business again at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This incredible Disney signature restaurant remains one of the best places we ever ate at Walt Disney World. Words can barely describe this celebration of the flavors of Africa, a fully unique take on a steakhouse dining experience. It’s an ideal place for a date night, particularly if you’ll be celebrating a special day like an anniversary.
What are your top “Do This, Not That” recommendations for Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!
