At some point along the way, the Walt Disney Company realized that Walt Disney World could be more than just a resort destination – it could be a world class dining hot spot as well. Over time, the company added more and more destination dining locations, complete with award winning chefs and stunningly inventive cuisine. And, as those locations gained a following, Walt Disney World itself earned a reputation as a place that is as much a culinary theme park as it is a literal one.
Some of those restaurants, like Victoria and Albert’s and the California Grill, have become must-try affairs, while others have managed to fly under the radar – despite producing food that is, in many ways, just as delicious.
And, unlike those famed and prestigious restaurants, these are much easier to find a reservation for. Let’s take a look at just a few undiscovered gems of the Walt Disney World culinary scene. Raise your hand if you’ve been to all five.
1. Sanaa, Animal Kingdom Lodge
Image: Disney
If you’re a foodie with an adventurous palate, you should probably try to stay in a room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Jiko, the Cooking Place and Boma: Flavors of Africa are the more well-known locations to try, but Sanaa, situated in the resort’s Kidani Village subsection, is a slightly more unheralded triumph.
Meshing African cuisine with Indian flavors, the inventive menu at Sanaa is likely not for everyone; however, those who are willing to try something new will be rewarded with a combination of unique food and a stunning savannah view.
Sanaa offers both lunch and dinner, but those drawn to the restaurant by its view might be more inclined to seek a lunch reservation – the savannah is less visible night. The menus in the two seatings are similar, although the dinner menu is a bit more refined and features an African play on a New York Strip and a hefty lamb shank.
While big brother Jiko more often steals the headlines (and rightfully so – it’s delicious), Sanaa offers a more laid back vibe with simpler, but no less tasty, food.
2. Golden Oak Outpost, Magic Kingdom
Yes, that’s right – a snack location at the Magic Kingdom. A day at Walt Disney World’s signature park can blur the line between vacation and sociological experiment, so it can often be difficult to stop and think about where to grab a bite to eat.
Given the dearth of sit-down dining locations worth trying at the Magic Kingdom, the park is forced to bring its A-game when it comes to the quick-serve and snack locations, and Golden Oak Outpost is no exception.
You’d be forgiven for not wanting to try an order of Barbeque Pork Waffle Fries on a blazing summer day in July, but in doing so, you’re missing out on a gluttonous and surprisingly tasty treat. The window’s full selection of waffle fry-related cuisine reads like something out of a dorm-room fever dream: Brown Gravy and Cheese Waffle Fries, BLT Waffle Fries, and Tex-Mex Waffle Fries.
Is it healthy? No. Is it refreshing? No. Would you want to eat it while walking around a theme park? Probably not. But here’s the thing – because everyone else thinks that, there’s less of a line for you. And it’s vacation – sometimes gluttony is a good thing.
3. Narcoossee’s, Grand Floridian Resort
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Narcoossee’s kind of sits in the uncanny valley of Walt Disney World Restaurants: guests who want an upscale, high-class dining experience often opt for the traditional culinary powerhouses like the California Grill or ascendant spots like the Flying Fish Cafe, while guests looking for a relaxed, cozy vibe often look for a cheaper restaurant than this seafood locale.
For this reason, Narcoossee’s isn’t often the first place one things of when looking for a Disney dining reservation, but guests who do make the decision to visit are greeted by two things: The first is a deliciously simple menu structured around fresh seafood, and the second is a gorgeous view of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
In many ways, Narcoossee’s can be viewed as a sister restaurant for the California Grill, offering the same level of elegant cuisine joined by a spectacular view and a tiny bit of spectacle.
You see, one of the great joys of a meal at Narcoossee’s is when the Electrical Water Pageant makes its nightly tour of the Lagoon, stopping for a show just outside the restaurant’s beautiful picture windows. The show, running since Walt Disney World’s early days of operation, is as quaint and charming a production as you’ll find anywhere, and compliments the clean seafood flavors perfectly – giving guests a unique version of the dinner-and-a-show experience they might find elsewhere on property.
4. Olivia’s, Old Key West Resort
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If you’ve been to Olivia’s, one of two things is probably true about you: either you’re a Disney Vacation Club member (Old Key West is the original DVC property), or you’re a Disney superfan who’s been determined to try every restaurant on property. Naturally, those aren’t mutually exclusive.
However, the Disney layperson probably has never been drawn to the casual Key West-themed spot. Usually, guests looking for a casual dining spot don’t venture far beyond their current location, but those who do will find one of Disney’s more eclectic American menus: Everything from pulled pork to sea scallops to ribs to a French dip.
But even more than the menu, Olivia’s is a delight for its comfortable and friendly vibe, perfectly capturing the carefree air of the Conch Republic – with an added bit of Disney design work.
It won’t compete with the big boys of Disney dining, but as a second-tier restaurant on-property, Olivia’s is tough to beat – particularly if you’re in need of a last-minute reservation.
5.Todd English’s bluezoo, Walt Disney Dolphin Resort
Image: Disney
There’s an argument to be made that this list could, and maybe should, include every single restaurant at the Swan and Dolphin. Being that these restaurants aren’t owned or operated by the Walt Disney Company, it’s possible guests dismiss them out of hand as being a lesser product. In fact, this is absolutely not not the case.
Bluezoo is a seafood offering from celebrity chef Todd English, complete with a Vegas-style eye-catching interior aesthetic. But, lest the ambiance intimidate you, the food is both delicately prepared and creatively interesting. Rather than opting for the clean, simple flavors one might find at Narcoossee’s, bluezoo instead builds its menu around inventiveness – dishes like a barbecue-rubbed swordfish and a Miso-glazed sea bass aren’t what you’d expect to find at a typical seafood spot.
And, as with all Swan and Dolphin properties, reservations are usually not too difficult to come by.
All in all, when looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat on your Disney vacation, it’s often worth it to look a few steps off the beaten path. There are so many good options both on and off property, that you can hardly go wrong trying something new. But, of course, it’s always nice to go back to that one spot you’ve always loved – some traditions aren’t worth messing with.
