Family Friendly Dining

Is It OK To Look A Little “Goofy”?
Dress in all of the restaurants at Walt Disney World is casual and park attire is acceptable everywhere. Even If you elect to dine at one of the finer restaurants located at a Disney resort you won’t be turned away at the door if you arrive dressed in T-shirts, shorts and mouse ears after just finishing a tour of the Magic Kingdom. However, if you choose to treat yourself to one of these upscale restaurants you may feel a little more comfortable if you allow enough time to shower and change into a resort casual mode of dress.

Prices That Make Airline Food Look Cheap
For large families or just families on a budget cost is an important consideration. With meals that will in some instances run you the equivalent of half a week’s food allowance back home some planning is in order.
Consider having a simple breakfast put together from items you picked up or brought from home and kept stored in a refrigerator that you requested to be placed in the room. Carry some snack foods or fruit for a midmorning refueling stop and then make a priority seating for a mid afternoon late lunch at one of the full service restaurants found in the theme parks or back at your resort. It makes for a great break from the crowds and you will be able to order from the lunch menu where entrees are typically $5.00 to $7.00 cheaper than those found on the dinner menu.

The More You Know The More Will Enjoy
Take the time to find out something about the restaurants you are considering. Take advantage of restaurant reviews and menu’s published in travel books or on websites in order find out whether they offer foods that you and yours might enjoy. Planning this important aspect of your vacation will not only help you stay on budget but will allow you to avoid the disappointment of experiencing a less than satisfying meal at prices that would make Richie Rich blush.

Character Meals
No article about family friendly dining at Walt Disney World would be complete without a discussion on character dining.

Being able to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with Disney characters has proven to be very popular among Disney guests. In between bites of scrambled eggs at breakfast or prime rib at dinner you and yours can hug, be photographed with or get autographs from any number of Disney characters, as they make their way from table to table.

Which Way To Hundred Acre Woods?
Character meals can be found in all of the four major theme parks, as well as many of the Disney resorts. These character meals are all-you-can-eat affairs that are offered in one of three styles: buffet, family style or a pre-plated fashion.

Ouch!
Now as with much of what you will find at Walt Disney World a magical encounter of this magnitude does not come cheap. Is it worth it? Only you can be the final judge, but if you have kids or are just a big kid at heart, then you may not want to miss this special brand of Disney magic.

For our pick of the best Family Friendly dining options -click here-

Intimate or Adult Dining
Now if you are a couple who are looking to escape the stroller crowd and share a quiet dinner with friends or a mom and dad in need of some R&R take heart there is hope for you.

In our next issue we will explore some of the dining options scattered all around Walt Disney World with you in mind.