Food is half the fun of a Walt Disney World vacation, and it seems like there really is something for everyone in dining at the Most Magical Place on Earth. From traditional American fare to rich ethnic cuisine, from sumptuous comfort food to fine dining, Disney has built quite the eclectic palette of options for diners.
As with all things, theme parks go through inevitable changes, and many of those shifts have affected Disney dining. Many longtime favorite restaurants have gone through menu adjustments over the years. Sometimes these are not necessarily good or bad, but just different enough to lose some guests. On the other hand, some changes have led to diminishing quality at some of Disney’s mainstay restaurants (often pinned on the Disney dining plan which gave Disney strong incentives to cut costs on many popular dining experiences). In either scenario, guests might find themselves a little disappointed that a former favorite Disney restaurant just isn’t what it used to be.
All opinions on Disney dining are subjective—different people have different tastes, and we do still feel Disney offers some of the best theme park dining in the world. However, if you find yourself feeling that Disney “goofed up” your favorite restaurant, here are a few alternatives you can consider for your vacation plans…
1. Satul’i Canteen (Alternatives: Docking Bay 7, Picabu Market, Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen)
Image: Disney
We figured we’d start off the list with one of the more recent menu changes at Walt Disney World—The World of Pandora’s Satul’i Canteen. Satul’i canteen opened as one of Disney’s most successful ventures into themed immersive dining: an otherworldly quick service experience featuring zesty bao bun “pods”, healthy protein bowls, alien drinks, and colorful desserts.
We do want to emphasize that we’re not knocking Satul’i Canteen—the restaurant is still one of the best places in Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a good quality protein bowl. Unfortunately, some of the more unique items on the menu recently went bye-bye, including grains like quinoa as a base and the Canteen’s famous pods. You can still get the cheeseburger pods off the kids menu (do so shamelessly), but the zestier spice pods are no more, which is a shame.
If sci-fi dining is the element you crave the most, then you may want to consider a visit to Satul’i Canteen’s cousin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios– Docking Bay 7 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We weren’t certain what to expect from Docking Bay 7, but thus far, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by their eclectic menu which bears a number of similarities to Satul’i Canteen. We’re especially fans of the Felucian Garden Spread, the Endorian Yip Tip, and the Kaadu Ribs. Don’t be intimidated by Docking Bay 7’s unusual menu—the cast members are extremely nice and are happy to answer questions to help you figure out what things are. In our experience, it all tastes great.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
If your favorite part of Satul’i Canteen was exotic flavors, you may like Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen. This quirky table service restaurant has become one of our favorites, both thanks to its zesty dishes and hilarious cast members (who may even offer you a choice between the river water and the “premium” water to sate your thirst). The Skipper Canteen’s menu has changed a few times, but their selections across the board continues to include exotic and bold flavors perfectly fitting to an adventurous spirit like the Shiriki Noodle Salad, Curried Vegetable Crew Stew, and even a “Tastes Like Chicken” (because it is) zesty fried chicken dish.
As a final alternative, if you find yourself missing Satul’i Canteen’s rice and grain bowls, we highly recommend Picabu Market at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. This 24 hour eatery is one of the best places on property to eat LATE, with a wide variety of Chipotle style tacos, burritos, and bowls (among many other options). Picabu can be a challenge to find as it is tucked into the furthest corner of the Dolphin’s lowest level, but a quest to try it out will prove well worth it. It’s also a way better choice for food at midnight than pizza!
2. Le Cellier & Artist Point (Alternatives: Flying Fish, Monsieur Paul, and Jiko)
Image: Disney
Walt Disney World generally has a great track record for steakhouses. Guests hungry for a traditional steakhouse experience can choose from a wide range including the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club, Shula’s at the Dolphin, and the Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Unfortunately, there has been some shifts at two of Disney’s longest reigning steakhouse favorites. On one hand, Epcot’s cozy Le Cellier has suffered what many guests feel is a decline in quality compared to its former glory. Disney dining can get expensive, and some guests just feel Le Cellier doesn’t make the cut anymore for their hefty prices.
Our top alternative that we used to recommend was Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point—a restaurant so acclaimed that top foodies said it was one of the best places to eat on Disney property besides Victoria and Albert’s. Unfortunately, Artist Point also went through changes recently to convert it to a Snow White themed character dining experience. While the restaurant is still highly praised (you’ll see it again on our list later), it no longer fits the profile it used to for an adult signature dining experience.
The good news is that signature dining is one of the areas where Disney still shines, and there are a lot of choices to pick from. For vibes similar to Le Cellier within Epcot, we highly recommend Monsieur Paul, the smaller, more intimate upstairs cousin to Chefs de France. While Monsieur Paul’s menu changes seasonally with the inspiration of the chef, you can be certain that on any visit, you will find a stunning array of top notch steaks, seafood, fowl, and unforgettable French cuisine.
Another strong contender is Boardwalk’s Flying Fish. This incredible restaurant is often overlooked by guests who assume the menu is all seafood, but Flying Fish remains one of the most consistently excellent signature dining experiences on Disney property. Their steak options alone include Wagyu Filet Mignon, Char-crusted New York Strip, and even a Tomahawk rib-eye for two… and that’s not even touching their delectable seafood choices.
Finally, for a more adventurous dining experience, you cannot beat Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko. Jiko might initially seem an odd choice as an alternative for Le Cellier or Artist Point—their menu is generally associated with African flavors—but for steak lovers, you won’t want to miss Jiko’s perfect Oak Grilled Filet Mignon with South African Wine Glace, Bone-in Grilled Rib-eye, or their exceptional Moroccan Lamb Shank.
3. Pecos Bill Café (Alternative: Flame Tree Barbecue)
Taking a step away from fine dining, sometimes on a busy Disney day, you just want some good quality barbecue. Pecos Bill Café at Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland has been a beloved mainstay in the park for reliable BBQ and Tex-mex cuisine for decades. Unfortunately, some guests feel the restaurant has suffered a decline in quality. Where is a Disneyphile to get some good BBQ if you just aren’t feeling Pecos Bill Café?
Walt Disney World houses a number of respectable barbecue locations, including Art Smith’s Homecoming at Disney Springs and Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge, but the most consistent favorite remains Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For many families, it’s a must-visit lunch stop for any Animal Kingdom day, and it remains one of the most reliable counter-service locations at Walt Disney World. Picky eaters especially will appreciate the simplicity of Flame Tree’s steadfast menu of ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and other barbecue favorites.
4. Akershus Royal Dining Hall (Alternatives: Artist Point, Ravello)
Image: Disney
This one was a surprise for us because we’ve been referring guests to Epcot’s Akershus Royal Dining Hall as a more intimate alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table for years. While the princess storybook dining experience at Akershus remains excellent thanks to the princesses (kids will definitely get more character interaction than at Cinderella’s), many guests feel the food at Akershus just isn’t up to par. There’s no question that Cinderella’s Royal Table is a great character dining experience, but where are guests supposed to go if they can’t get a reservation or are looking for something similar to Akershus?
We mentioned Artist Point would show up again on our list, and character dining is where the new Artist Point absolutely shines. Guests can’t go on enough about the Snow White themed character dining, and the food at Artist Point remains outstanding with plenty of decadent culinary choices for the adults.
If you aren’t focused as much on Disney’s princesses, consider one of the best off-the-radar character dining experiences at Disney: Ravello at the Four Seasons Orlando. The food is absolutely the star at Ravello’s delicious brunch, and families can enjoy the company of Mickey and the gang throughout your meal. The Four Seasons remains one of the best kept secrets at Walt Disney World thanks to its secluded location in the Golden Oak gated community, and guests dining at the resort are certain to enjoy a world class experience here, not just in the restaurant but even in just exploring the grounds.
5. Restaurant Marrakesh (Alternatives: Spice Road Table and Tiffin’s)
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
The Morocco pavilion remains one of our favorites within Epcot for its beautiful atmosphere, winding streets, and stunning art. Restaurant Marrakesh has been a mainstay at the pavilion for decades, but some feel that much of the food just isn’t what it used to be. While guests who are craving delicious Moroccan food can find some great options at the pavilion’s counter service location, Tangerine Café, where are guests to go for Mediterranean and North-African flavors in a table service restaurant?
One of our two picks can be found a stone’s throw away on the pavilion’s waterfront. We have loved Spice Road Table since its opening nearly ten years ago, and it remains one of our favorite dining locations in Epcot both for its delicious menu of Moroccan style tapas and relaxing atmosphere. We’re big fans of the Mediterranean Vegetable Platter.
While nothing can replace the unique flavors of traditional Moroccan food, if you’re looking for a top notch dining experience from a similar palette, you may want to consider Animal Kingdom’s Tiffin’s. Tiffin’s is not a Moroccan restaurant, but it does offer an eclectic menu from around the world with some of the most delicious Asian and African dishes available at Walt Disney World. The Gobi Manchurian remains one of the best things we ever ate in the parks along with the Crispy Sadza.
6. The Garden Grill (Alternatives: The Boathouse and Tusker House)
Image: Disney
This was probably the most challenging location on our list to find alternatives for. Epcot’s Garden Grill is a uniquely polarizing restaurant. We were disappointed with recent experiences due to changes on the menu from the original farm-to-table model to more of a family Thanksgiving feast. Many guests love the latter, but for us, it just felt like the Garden Grill had lost its sustainable soul in the name of a more mass-producible comfort food model.
There is not much that can replace the old Garden Grill with its rich flank steak, sustainable fish, farm fresh salads, and roasted vegetables. However, if you’re willing to try a slightly more upscale experience, consider the Boathouse at Disney Springs. The Boathouse is truly a hidden gem (well, not exactly hidden—it’s huge) among Disney Springs’ myriad dining options, but we have yet to find anything on the restaurant’s rich New American menu that we didn’t care for. It’s hard to put a finger on just why the Boathouse makes us think of the Garden Grill of yesteryear, but it might be the respect with which Boathouse treats their food. You really feel like every entrée is a celebration of the protein or vegetable you’re enjoying.
If family-fun and character dining is your favorite aspect of the Garden Grill, we highly recommend Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tusker House mostly features African flavors, but their buffet also includes a great selection of comfort food items and familiar favorites kids will love. The character dining is a huge hit with kids as Mickey and the gang regularly travel the restaurant to greet guests. It can get a bit raucous compared to the Garden Grill at times, but the insanely delicious food more than makes it worth it.
Are there other restaurants at Walt Disney World you no longer visit due to menu changes or decline in quality? Where do you go instead at Disney as an alternative?
