Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants Ranked 2024

Magic Kingdom, as the world’s most attended theme park, sells meals to an astronomical number of guests. How do you find the best Magic Kingdom restaurants during your visit? Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World continues to reign as king of the mountain in terms of worldwide theme park attendance.

This resource will present the options for the best Magic Kingdom restaurants. This will include table service restaurants, quick service restaurants, and snacks at Magic Kingdom. Also, this resource will mention some nearby restaurants outside of Magic Kingdom that would be worth your time on your Magic Kingdom theme park day.

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Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Table Service

Several excellent dining options exist at Magic Kingdom. Some of the most beautiful restaurants at Walt Disney World along with three different character dining options.

Magic Kingdom operates eight different table service restaurants. These table service restaurants will involve the need to make an advanced dining reservation. You can start making those 60 days in advance online at My Disney Experience.

Most Searched For Advanced Dining Reservations at Magic Kingdom Restaurants

Several of the most desired table service dining options at all Walt Disney World reside in Magic Kingdom. Thanks to data from the users of MouseDining, we know which Magic Kingdom table service restaurants are most searched for to acquire a reservation. In many cases, the most searched-for restaurants indicate the highest quality food. At the time of writing, the most searched-for Magic Kingdom table service restaurants are:

• Cinderella's Royal Table (most searched for)
• Be Our Guest
• The Crystal Palace
• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
• The Plaza Restaurant
• Liberty Tree Tavern
• Tony's Town Square Restaurant
• Diamond Horseshoe (least searched for)

If you decide to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest, you should prepare to make your reservation at the 60-day mark when reservation slots open. Based on the historical volume of Walt Disney World guests searching for advance dining reservations there, those reservations will disappear quickly.

Both Cinderella's Royal Table and Be Our Guests allow Magic Kingdom visitors to dine in style. These signature dining options allow guests to dine inside castles. Be Our Guest in the Fantasyland area of Magic Kingdom bring diners into Beast's castle. Cinderella's Royal Table allows guests to dine inside Cinderella's Castle. Due to these incredible dining environments, these are the two most popular table service restaurants at Magic Kingdom. More on these incredible dining spots are below.

Booking Reservations

We understand that booking a dining reservation for your vacation 60 days in advance sounds absurd. In fairness, Walt Disney World guests used to have to book 180 days in advance for the hardest reservations to acquire. A visit to Walt Disney World demands some planning. Some pre-planning cannot be avoided.

As you can see from the order of the most searched-for Magic Kingdom restaurants, the two most desired reservations are for signature character dining. Even with Magic Kingdom’s faults in terms of dining, it offers two Disney-level highly themed character meals.

Ranking the Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Table Service Restaurants

The following list of the best Magic Kingdom Restaurants reflects what the average group would consider best.

#8 Tony's Square Restaurant

Tony's Square Restaurant is themed after the animated film Lady and the Tramp which even includes a fountain featuring the famous dog couple. This Italian food restaurant is located near the entrance of Magic Kingdom in a turn-of-the-century-themed trattoria. There is also a patio you can dine on which is great for taking in the views of Main Street, U.S.A.

While the ambiance of Tony Square Restaurant is great for Lady and the Tramp fans, the food here is on the lower end of quality in Walt Disney World so many seasoned guests skip this one.

#7 Plaza Restaurant

The Plaza Restaurant is another turn-of-the-century themed table dining experience located on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. This dining experience is one of the more basic options at Magic Kingdom which is why it ranks lower on the list. The food options at the Plaza Restaurant are deli-style lunch and dinner with sandwiches, burgers, and homestyle plates.

While the Art Nouvea decor of this restaurant is lovely, there are more Disney-centric dining experiences you can enjoy at Magic Kingdom that also offer some more variety in food options.

#6 The Diamond Horseshoe

The Diamond Horseshoe is themed like an Old West music hall which in the past included live music but sadly is no longer offered. The Diamond Horseshoe and Liberty Tavern share a similar menu with holiday-style, hearty American food.

The Diamond Horseshoe includes all-you-care-to-eat salad, roasted turkey, pot roast, and oven-roasted park with traditional sides. Like Liberty Tavern, the dessert here includes Ooey Gooey toffee cake with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.

#5 Liberty Tree Tavern

This all-you-care-to-eat table service option, Liberty Tree Tavern, resides in Liberty Square. If you enjoy roast dinner or a USA-style Thanksgiving meal, this place calls to you. Surprisingly enough, Liberty Square has the same menu as The Diamond Horseshoe.

If you leave this place hungry, that would be your own fault. The cast members will bring more food if you want some for as long as you like. This dining choice revolves around the food itself in this old-fashioned New England setting.

Although this place provides decent plant-based options, the main reason to visit involves what Liberty Tree Tavern calls the “Patriot’s Platter.” This consists of roasted turkey, pot roast, oven-roasted pork, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, herb stuffing, and macaroni & cheese. This meal ends with Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake, a vanilla toffee cake, chocolate sauce, and vanilla ice cream.

Filling Meal

Liberty Tree Tavern is an excellent choice if you want a filling meal. We suggest wearing your stretchy “eating” pants, in any case. However, we do not suggest dining here right before your boarding group time for Tron Lightcyle / Run.

The major negative of Liberty Tree Tavern comes down to the style of food, not the quality. Many feel that a hearty meal like this does not make for an enjoyable time running around Magic Kingdom afterward. Also, many guests want something other than a roast or turkey dinner while at Magic Kingdom.

Nevertheless, the cost of $39 for table service all you care to enjoy dining at Magic Kingdom brings value. As mentioned earlier, deciding on the best Magic Kingdom restaurant depends on your group’s needs and preferences.

#4 The Crystal Palace

Fans of Winnie the Pooh and friends love The Crystal Palace. This character dining buffet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant allows guests to dine at this greenhouse-inspired Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace sits on Main Street, U.S.A.

The food options on the buffet fit a diverse range, even for breakfast. The food quality falls slightly below some other character dining buffets at Walt Disney World. However, with the current $45/adult for breakfast, this matches comparable character dining breakfast buffet prices. The lunch and dinner prices increase by $14.

The characters make this meal. If you want to see the Winnie the Pooh characters, then The Crystal Palace deserves a stop. Though you can find better character meals on Walt Disney World property, especially for breakfast, The Crystal Palace provides character dining in the heart of the Magic Kingdom. Read our full review of The Crystal Palace to see why this is our favorite character dining option in Magic Kingdom.

#3 Be Our Guest

At Be Our Guest, diners enter Beast’s Castle from “Beauty & the Beast.” This high-end themed dining experience offers a menu of French-influenced food. While this experience is technically a character meal, it just includes the Beast who comes out to the dining room a few times during the meal to interact with guests. The main focal point of this experience is being able to dine inside the Beast's castle which includes notable moments from the Beauty and the Beast film. The two other character meals on our list have far better character interactions but most guests dine here for the ambiance which is hard to beat at Walt Disney World which is why it ranks top of our list.

The food quality at Be Our Guest meets the signature dining level. Be Our Guest offers a Prix Fixe menu and is one of the more expensive meals at Walt Disney World. This dinner costs $67 per adult plus tax and tip, so many large families will be overwhelmed by the price.

For movie fans, the overall theming creates a beautiful experience and is a top experience for many Disney guests. Read our full review of Be Our Guest to see if this experience is worth the price tag.

#2 Cinderella’s Royal Table

Cinderella’s Royal Table gives guests the experience of dining inside Cinderella's castle overlooking Fantasyland. Because of this setting, this ranks as one of the top options for dining for guests at Walt Disney World. Who wouldn't want to dine inside Cinderella's castle?

Cinderella's Royal Table does come with a price tag to match the high level of this experience and is also one of the only meal options to require prepayment at the time you make your dining reservation. If you cancel within the allotted time frame, then you get a full refund.

Cinderella's Royal Table offers a prix fixe menu with more upscale dining options than you see at most table service dining options. But there are also plenty of kid-friendly options for the picky eaters in your group too.

Cinderella's Royal Table is considered a character meal featuring a selection of Disney Princesses that will greet guests as they dine. So if dining inside Cinderella's Castle wasn't magical enough, you also have the addition of Disney princesses. Read our full review of Cinderella's Royal Table to see if this experience is worth the price tag.

#1 Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Our preferred table service choice at Magic Kingdom can be found in the Adventureland area. Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, known as “Skipper Canteen “by most, provides quirky, unique dining. As the restaurant name implies, this table service option plays off the world’s famous Jungle Cruise attraction.

Guests can expect “corny” jokes in the Jungle Cruise style at Skipper’s Canteen. The menu reflects this pattern also. With entrees like “Tastes like Chicken” Because it is” and “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork, the pattern is set for your dining experience. The restaurant plays in the backstory of the Falls family and the lore of explorers associated with the Jungle Cruise attraction. If dining here, prepare for many puns and “Dad-level” jokes.

This table service option makes the best Magic Kingdom restaurant list as the only non-prix fixe or all-you-care-to-eat option. We feel the entrées are worth your time. Though this menu used to be more adventurous, we found plenty to enjoy here.

Several menu items that earn high marks from guests are Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles, Falls Family Falafel, and the non-very secret menu item, the Brazilian Cheese Bread. The creative dishes with some Asian influences, reasonable prices (for Walt Disney World), and an excellent atmosphere make this our best Magic Kingdom restaurant for table service.

Magic Kingdom offers many options in terms of table service dining. If table service dining fits your theme park plan, you should have no problem selecting the best choice for your group. Once again, be ready to make an advance dining reservation 60 days in advance.

Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Think Outside the Box (or Park That is!)

A day at Magic Kingdom brings fun, amazement, crowds, and Florida weather. Most Walt Disney World experts recommend taking an afternoon break from the theme parks to rest up and coming back in the evening.

Based on your hotel choice for the Disney vacation, returning to your hotel for a break may not be practical. We have a few suggestions for a break without going too far away.

The Magic Kingdom utilizes the Disney monorail to help guests arrive. With the monorail close to the Magic Kingdom entrance and exit, you could take a lunch break at one of the Monorail hotels. The Monorail will take you to the nearby resort hotels and back to Magic Kingdom.

Any person can visit a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. We often suggest that people dine at the Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants. The food tastes better than in the theme parks without a higher price.

Before you think these hotel restaurants are a bargain, you will still pay far more than in your city. Still, the quality increase and ability to take a break from a busy Magic Kingdom will make your day far better. Each of the three Monorail hotels offers table and counter service (quick service) options. For a proper break, we suggest reserving one of the table service options for lunch around 1:00 p.m. Also, many of these nearby Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants stop serving lunch around 2:00 p.m. in preparation for dinner service later that day.

Of the table service choices, we would suggest the following as the best Magic Kingdom restaurants for lunch not actually in Magic Kingdom:

Steakhouse 71, Disney’s Contemporary Resort

This table service option on the lower floor of the Contemporary Resort serves one of the best table service lunch options at Walt Disney World. Since Steakhouse 71 opened in 2021, the lunch menu has continued to receive glowing reviews.

We suggest the Steakhouse 71 Onion Rings (plant-based), the Stack Burger, the Vegetable “Wellington,” and the Gourmet Grilled Cheese.

Kona Café, Disney’s Polynesian Resort

This table service dining choice at Disney’s Polynesian Resort presents a more relaxing dining environment. Kona Café, for lunch, serves Asian and American-influenced cuisine. We suggest sushi, a Kona stir-fry, or the Big Kahuna Burger. The setting within Disney’s Polynesian Resort increases this experience.

Grand Floridian Café, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

This elegant table service option at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa reminds guests of dining in a Victorian setting. This restaurant displays lots of merging items within breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.  For example, you can order a burger at 7:30 a.m. and request a full breakfast platter at 2:00 p.m.

Even though the best burger on the property, the Lobster Thermidor Burger, no longer exists at Grand Floridian Café, this place offers a pleasant break from the theme parks. The food for lunch measures up nicely here. You should be nice and refreshed after dining here. This will fortify you for a return to the Magic Kingdom crowds.

Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Quick Service

Suppose you have decided to remain in the Magic Kingdom for mealtimes. In that case, the quick service (or counter service, another term that Walt Disney World uses for this type of dining) options show more promise, for your budget, than the table service Magic Kingdom restaurants.

The Magic Kingdom quick service restaurants primarily sell burgers, fries, chicken tenders, and pizza. We have a few places to recommend regarding quick service at Magic Kingdom. If your group needs burgers, chicken tenders, or pizza, most places at Magic Kingdom will solve that need. Also, if you dine at Casey’s Corner and want to find a seat to enjoy your food, “may the odds ever be in your favor!”

Aside from our top three, two other noteworthy options include Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Café along with Casey’s Corner’s corn dog nuggets.

#3 Friar’s Nook

Friar’s Nook barely beats out Pecos Bill and Casey’s Corner to make this list of best Magic Kingdom restaurants.

Friar’s Nook, in Fantasyland serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One of the best options at Friar’s Nook is the Sausage and Gravy Tots. For lunch and dinner, Friar’s Nook sells Bacon Macaroni & Cheese Tots that many guests enjoy.

This location often closes early, so check the hours of operation when planning your meals. This comfort-style food provides a reasonable non-traditional option at a theme park without as many of those.

#2 Columbia Harbour House

Another good option in terms of quick service can be found in the Liberty Square area of Magic Kingdom. Columbia Harbour House goes for a New England-style environment and décor. Seafood provides the primary options at this quick service location.

We recommend the Trio Platter. That consists of fried shrimp, chicken strips, and battered fish served with hushpuppies and a choice of side. However, any big fan of seafood will not be impressed with its worth. However, for quick service theme park food, it ranks well. Also, even though many people love it, we would avoid the Lobster Roll here. If you have ever tasted a decent New England-style lobster roll, this one will not impress you.

This place combines a balance of decent food and an enjoyable atmosphere. Also, we recommend dining in the upstairs area of Columbia Harbour House. That dining area tends to be quieter and more comfortable. In addition, depending on where you sit, you can see the castle from your table.

#1 Sleepy Hollow

Also, in the Liberty Square area of Magic Kingdom, we find our number one selection for quick service at Magic Kingdom. Sleepy Hollow, a rather unassuming food and beverage kiosk, serves primarily funnels cakes and waffle sandwiches. You can also order a turkey leg or corn dog here if you wish.

For full disclosure, we found ourselves surprised that this earned the number one spot on our list for quick service. However, weighing all quick service factors such as price, food quality, and overall experience, this edged out the other options.

Though many people enjoy the Nutella Waffle at Sleepy Hollow, we suggest the Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken-Waffle Sandwich. This comes with broccoli slaw and a honey-sriracha glaze. You also receive some chips. Do not let the spicy term scare you away. The spice is below even theme park-level spice.

If you make it to Sleepy Hollow during breakfast, you could order the Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich containing strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and chocolate hazelnut spread. No matter which waffle sandwich you select, they add the bonus of being portable food if needed.

While there is no indoor seating, you can take some solid photos of the castle in that area. You could even start your day with breakfast and a view of Cinderella’s Castle. If feeling very brave, you could get an off-to-the-side view of the evening fireworks.

Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: Snacks

Sometimes you want a snack. The idea of a counter service or table service full meal sounds overwhelming. Perhaps, one of the kids in your group starts to feel “hangry.” Okay, maybe, the one feeling “hangry” stands taller than the children. Whatever the reason, snacks serve as the perfect solution sometimes.

In fact, some of the snacks at Magic Kingdom include some of the most iconic options in the parks!

Best Snacks at Magic Kingdom

Mickey Shaped Food

An honorary mention for the best Magic Kingdom snacks has to go to all the Mickey-shaped items you can find. One fan favorite is the Mickey-shaped pretzel which is found at a few snack carts around the theme park. Another Mickey-shaped treat is the Mickey ice-cream bar which is chocolate-coated vanilla icecream in the shape of Mickey. Kids especially will love this one! You can also find Mickey waffles at nearly all the breakfast buffets like Crystal Palace.

#5 Cheshire Cat Tail at Cheshire Café

This relatively simple pastry, the Cheshire Cat Tail, created a large following at Magic Kingdom. You can find this treat in the Fantasyland area of Magic Kingdom at Cheshire Cafe. This tail-shaped treat, inspired by the Cheshire Cat of “Alice in Wonderland,” comes filled with chocolate chips. The pastry receives a pink and purple icing design on top to complete the look. The flaky layer and chocolate inside create the reason people love this snack.

#4 Candied Bacon Skewer from Westward Ho

This non-traditional treat comes from a food and beverage kiosk in Frontierland of Magic Kingdom at Westward Ho. These brown sugar-coated pieces of bacon taste even better than you would expect. These do come with chips, according to the menu. However, you can order them without the chips to save a little money. These make a solid snack to enjoy while watching the parade roll through Frontierland.

#3 Cinnamon Roll from Gaston’s Tavern

Also, in Fantasyland, Gaston’s Tavern serves a large cinnamon roll. In fairness, this cinnamon roll tastes like… a cinnamon roll. However, the larger portion size and quality make this a good snack. You can even share this cinnamon roll if you do that type of thing.

We recommend ordering these early in the day. They come out fresh each morning. They drop in terms of quality by lunchtime or so. We recommend asking for extra icing for your sweet tooth.

Another popular option at Gaston's Tavern includes La Fou’s Brew. The frozen apple juice-based drink serves as a signature beverage for this place.

#2 Cheeseburger Spring Roll at Spring Roll Cart

Since our other treats leaned towards being sweet, we needed a savory snack. Fortunately, this snack fits the bill. The popular Spring Roll cart sits near the entrance to the Adventureland area of Magic Kingdom. This cart often serves at least one other style of spring roll. Still, the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls continue to be a fan favorite.

These unique cheeseburger spring rolls contain seasoned ground beef and melted cheese. These spring roll-wrapped snacks often arrive to guests gooey and cheesy. Yes, they taste like a cheeseburger inside a fried shell versus a bun.

They do come with a flavor-filled mayonnaise-like sauce. You rarely see this cart without a queue for these spring rolls.

#1 Dole Whip

In its many forms, Dole Whip makes the most obvious selection for this best Magic Kingdom restaurant list. This popular Dole soft serve item makes a great way to cool off when at Magic Kingdom. You can find these treats at several food and beverage locations. Aloha Isle makes a great option to pick up a Dole soft serve treat. Still, the queue can grow long there. You can also find Dole soft serve at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney Springs.

Also, do not tell anyone, but you can buy Dole soft serve in many places outside Disney. You can even buy this at Universal theme parks and grocery stores.

Still, the many flavors and combinations of Dole soft serve feel like they taste better at Disney. See all of the Dole Whips you can get at Disney World ranked! This snack category counts for any version of Dole soft serve. We prefer the traditional pineapple flavor. Any way you like your Dole Whip, we approve.

Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants: View of Magic Kingdom Fireworks

Unlike Epcot, Magic Kingdom does not offer any great views of the fireworks from its restaurants. You can grab a snack in Fantasyland. Also, you could follow the crowd for some corn dog nuggets at Casey’s Corner.

However, we have a few suggestions for dining while watching fireworks at Magic Kingdom. If you are willing to leave Magic Kingdom and pay for signature dining, California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers excellent food and a great view of fireworks.

California Grill is located near Magic Kingdom, with massive windows facing Magic Kingdom. Also, there is an outdoor observation deck for people dining at California Grill. This place will run you over $100 per person when you calculate tax and tip. Still, the experience will be memorable. They even play music to match the fireworks display. Narcoossee’s, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, also offers a good view from its patio.

Magic Kingdom also sells Fireworks dessert parties. These meet at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant inside Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World sells several varieties of these dessert parties. These parties offer an above-average viewing experience in the Plaza Garden, which is elevated from the park and gives you a higher view of fireworks and projections.

The Fireworks Dessert party includes tasty treats, including baked goods, puddings, and parfaits. Be prepared for sugar overload, however. These parties used to include some savory items but are now almost entirely sweets.

Ready for a Trip to Magic Kingdom?

At Mickey Visit, we strive to create resources to help you plan your next Disney vacation. Also, we offer a free newsletter to help keep you updated on savings and news about Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. In addition, we listed a few more resources below to help your Disney vacation planning.

• Magic Kingdom Guide
• Magic Kingdom Dining Guide
• Magic Kingdom One Day Itinerary
• Walt Disney World Fireworks
• Walt Disney World Entertainment