Trying to get a reservation at one of Disney’s top restaurants can be a trying exercise even for expert travelers. Add onto that difficult-to-grab Fastpass+ reservations, and you have a recipe for frustration. While there’s no doubting the unmatchable quality of Disney’s crown establishments like Victoria and Albert’s, are there really any good alternatives for other mainstays at the Most Magical Place on Earth when reservations disappear?
Never fear, intrepid traveler. We found 7 alternatives to Disney’s toughest reservations, including one attraction do-this, not-that for good measure! Indeed, in many of these cases, we actually enjoy the alternatives more. Want to know which ones? Read on.
1. Cinderella’s Royal Table (Alternative: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall)
Image: HarshLight, Flickr (license)
There’s an understandable allure to the magic of dining in Cinderella’s Castle. There is no landmark in Walt Disney World more iconic. Since its days as King Stefan’s Banquet Hall, this Disney dining reservation has been a challenge to nab, and that holds even truer in the age of My Disney Experience.
Fortunately, Cinderella’s Royal Table isn’t the only top-notch princess encounter at Walt Disney World. Instead of stressing over this much-coveted reservation, book breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot’s Norway pavilion. This Norwegian manor has plenty of magical trappings with a stunning interior worthy of any of Disney’s princesses. We especially like their breakfast, but fans across the board give high marks to this charming character meal.
For one thing, Akershus only costs one Disney dining credit compared to two for Cinderella’s Royal Table. Food is served family-style (it switched from a buffet some years back) and is easily on par with its competitor. Families have reported they love how much time visitors get with the resident princesses and that they felt much less rushed at Akershus than they did at Cinderella’s Royal Table. While Cinderella Castle definitely wins for atmosphere, overall, many of our readers have come to prefer Akershus to get their princess dining fix.
2. Le Cellier (Alternative: Artist Point)
Image: Disney
Once upon a time, a reservation at Epcot’s Le Cellier Steakhouse was one of the most prized in Walt Disney World. While Le Cellier is still a tough reservation, the larger issue has been ongoing complaints of diminishing quality at this World Showcase classic while prices remain high.
Instead of shelling out big for Le Cellier, we recommend getting your steakhouse eats at Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point. You don’t even need a park admission to visit this outstanding Pacific Northwest steakhouse. With a cozy atmosphere and mouth-watering entrees, Artist Point was actually lauded by expert food and drink writer, Laurie Woolever, as one of the few places at Walt Disney World to find true world-class food. Whether you love rich steaks, flavorful seafood, or exquisite desserts, don’t miss this gem!
3. California Grill (Alternative: The Flying Fish)
Image: Disney
The Contemporary Resort’s California Grill is definitely no restaurant to sniff at. With top-notch Pacific cuisine and stunning views of Magic Kingdom fireworks, it’s no surprise reservations here are hard to come by. While you can get your fireworks fix from the observation dock on the 4th floor, if you want a spectacular meal on par with California Grill, look no further than The Boardwalk’s Flying Fish. We can’t gush enough about how much we have loved our experiences at this often-overlooked culinary treasure.
While this restaurant has undergone a remodeling and a number of changes during its tenure, we have never had a disappointing meal at The Flying Fish. The menu changes regularly to highlight seasonal seafood and steaks served with richly-flavorful sides like Kurobuta Pork Belly, Hokkaido Scallops with Antebellum grits and peppadew, and Oak-Grilled Salmon with Golden Cauliflower silk. Even our vegan family members had a spectacular experience dining here from an adjusted menu. While we love California Grill, we would pick a reservation at Flying Fish almost every time.
4. Chef Mickey’s (Alternative: Ravello)
Image: The Four Seasons Orlando
Chef Mickey’s is often considered a no-brainer as far as iconic character meals at Walt Disney World. From the fun ambience of the Contemporary Resort to the fun of seeing Disney’s most popular characters, it’s understandably a repeat guest favorite. However, whether you’re having trouble getting that Chef Mickey’s reservation or not, another character breakfast at Walt Disney World has stealthily taken the crown for Disney’s best character meal experience.
Most guests at Walt Disney World have never heard of Ravello. It’s not a traditional Disney World restaurant, and it would be very easy to completely gloss over this vaguely-Italian sounding entry on Disney’s website. Don’t be fooled, however. Ravello is a signature restaurant at The Four Seasons at Walt Disney World, hidden away in Disney’s exclusive Golden Oak community, and it houses what it might easily the best character breakfast at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
You don’t need a secret password or to be staying at The Four Seasons to visit Ravello—just a dining reservation and some arranged transportation. With a character array similar to Chef Mickey’s, the food at Ravello includes a lavish brunch with offerings like Chilled Florida Citrus Salad, Lemon Ricotta French Toast, and a buffet with stations for hot and cold selections, omelets, breads, fruits, meats, and more. This was one of the other restaurants foodie Laurie Woolever gave her highest marks to, and our readers have echoed that it is not an experience to miss.
5. Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie (Alternative: The Ganachery and Amorette’s)
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
Not all Walt Disney World restaurants have to require a reservation to be difficult to access. During peak times, Epcot’s Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, well-hidden in the furthest depths of World Showcase’s France pavilion, might tantalize with its delicious pastries, cakes, and croissants, but it can prove a royal pain to get into on a busy day. If you find yourself needing a classic pastry fix but can’t get into this popular spot, take a trip over to Disney Springs instead.
Disney Springs hosts a number of excellent bakeries and spots to enjoy sweet treats (include Erin McKenna’s gluten-free bakery), but our two favorite alternatives are The Ganachery and Amorette’s Patisserie. The Ganachery is extremely easy to miss—if you aren’t paying attention, you might pass it assuming it to be another uppity jewelry shop. This chocolatier packs a magical punch with rich chocolate truffles and desserts like no others. You won’t want to settle for humdrum Ghirardelli squares after trying some of the delicious treats here.
In turn, if you are looking for cakes and other classic pastries similar to Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, be sure and visit Amorette’s Patisserie. The variety alone at this place is insane, with a wide range of cakes, pastries, dessert beverages, and cookies to leave you gaping. Guest reviews of this location have been high across the board, so you’ll probably want to visit multiple times to try all the mouth-watering goodies that catch your eye. We never thought anyone could steal our hearts from Les Halles but Amorette’s might have!
6. Be Our Guest (Alternative: Monsieur Paul)
Image: Disney
Along with Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest has quickly become the other toughest dining reservation to get in Walt Disney World. Within only a few years, this enchanting Magic Kingdom getaway has captured the hearts of guests. However, capturing a reservation there can prove particularly frustrating.
While we already mentioned our favorite alternative for those looking for a castle-like atmosphere (see the section above on Akershus), if fine French cuisine is your specific interest, look no further than Epcot’s France pavilion—and no, we don’t mean Chefs de France.
Tucked away in an upper loft in World Showcase’s France pavilion is Monsieur Paul, a cozy gourmet bistro hosting some spectacular flavors. The atmosphere is far more relaxed than the bustling Chefs de France downstairs, and the menu takes classic French cuisine to new heights with unique offerings like Roasted Guinea Fowl Breast, Black Sea Bass, and two different pre-fixe menu options. If the appetizers and entrees aren’t stunning enough, the desserts bring it home in proper French brilliance. You won’t miss The Grey Stuff! As an aside, while no restaurant could likely hold a candle to The Grand Floridian’s Victoria and Alberts, Monsieur Paul is a good alternative for those looking for a fine dining experience at a lower price tag.
7. Bonus – Avatar: Flight of Passage (Alternative: Star Wars – Secrets of the Empire)
Image: The VOID
The do-this not-that philosophy doesn’t just apply to Disney dining. What is a family to do if you realize you aren’t going to be able to score a Fastpass+ for Animal Kingdom’s hottest attraction, Avatar: Flight of Passage? Sure, you could wait in line, but on busy days crowds swell and sometimes timings just don’t work out.
If you find yourself in this unfortunate position with a flustered family hungry for virtual thrills, take a detour to Disney Springs to try out Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire. Hidden in “The Void” compound near the Disney Springs carousel, it’s easy to miss, but we’ve written before about how Secrets of the Empire might secretly be the best attraction in Walt Disney World—even topping the spectacular Flight of Passage.
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire is a hyper-reality experience. You pay for it separate from a park admission, so this would ideally be a good activity for a non-park day or a half-day (though it’ll only take about an hour or so of your time). Guests are hooked up to a fully immersive virtual reality rig and then set loose on a stunningly realistic quest to steal Imperial secrets for the Rebellion. The magic is accomplished through virtual tricks and a carefully constructed maze that perfectly matches the virtual world. It’s hard to describe how vivid the experience is, and objects in the digital world react near-seamlessly to your real-life interactions. It is seriously the most fun we have ever had at Walt Disney World and is an experience well worth the price. Plus, it’s a great preview of things to come in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
What is your favorite “Do-This, Not-that” recommendation for Walt Disney World?
