Adventures by Morgan

As a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club Member, I spend quite a bit of time eating around the parks. While I do prefer quick service spots and snacks, there are a couple of table service restaurants that I would brave 6 a.m. reservation making for!

Let me start by saying, I have never had a bad meal at Disney. I have only had meals I prefer over others. You will notice a lack of “popular” restaurants on this list, and that is for a reason. I like finding hidden gems, restaurants I can get last minute reservations for, and ones I can stumble into without a reservation at all.

Let’s get into the list!

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5. Sebastian’s Bistro – Caribbean Beach Resort

Sebastian’s Bistro is a restaurant that I discovered was amazing by accident. My mom and I were staying at Pop Century and were going to do a Skyliner resort hopping loop. We were looking for something for dinner so I had hopped onto the My Disney Experience app to see if there were any reservations available along the route. I noticed there was one for Sebastian’s about an hour from that time, so we booked it.

I had always known this restaurant was here, but didn’t know anything about it. After eating here, it very quickly became one of my top favorites. The meal is served family style with a menu inspired by Caribbean and Latin cultures. Everything from the bread service to dessert was fantastic. As is the case with most family styles at Disney, if you want more of something on the platter all you have to do is ask. Essentially, it’s like a buffet without having to get up again.

This was also one of the more reasonably priced family-style restaurants on property with the online menu price listing $39 per adult and $21 per child. Comparatively, Cinderella’s Royal Table dinner is $92 per adult and $57 per child – and it isn’t even all you can eat. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone staying along the Skyliner loop!

4. Whispering Canyon – Wilderness Lodge

Whispering Canyon is a place my family had dined at when I was a kid, but I didn’t have any solid memories of it. A couple of years ago, my mom and I stayed at Wilderness Lodge and decided to go as there were open dinner reservations. Like Sebastian’s, this restaurant also serves their meals family style and you can get more of anything on the platter. However, the food is barbecue. Every single thing on the platter served here is absolutely fantastic. We always end up getting more of something!

Whispering Canyon is not just a normal Disney restaurant, when you dine here you should expect some shenanigans to take place. Like getting 30 bottles of ketchup delivered to your table if you ask for some (and having to deliver it yourself to the next person who asks) or your waiter yelling at you for being on your phone at the table. This is definitely something you should know before you head to eat here, because it can be jarring (I have heard stories!) if you are not expecting it.

This restaurant is also priced per person, but the price is determined by which platter option you choose. There are several different options on the menu, as well as some a la carte options if the platter option isn’t for you! Generally, you will pay ~$45 per person if you go the platter route.

Whispering Canyon is such a fun restaurant, and Wilderness Lodge is one of my absolute favorite Disney Resorts to visit. It’s always worth a trip over there just to see the lobby. You can get to Wilderness Lodge with a quick boat ride from Magic Kingdom!

3. Trattoria Al Forno – Boardwalk

Yet another restaurant introduced to me by dining with my mom. Are we sensing a theme here? My parents had actually eaten here for dinner and really enjoyed it. My mom and I tried it for breakfast, and let me tell you. This is one of my favorite restaurants and I consider it a true hidden gem. We have eaten here a couple of times since and we never have reservations, we walk right in, and the place is empty. Which boggles my mind because the food is spectacular. It has a really cool open kitchen concept as well. I genuinely can’t wait to eat here for dinner sometime.

The menu here is a la carte, so the pricing will vary depending on what you get. Breakfast is much cheaper than dinner, but dinner is also much more upscale than breakfast. I love Disney’s Boardwalk, and I love Epcot. This is a perfect spot to have a nice breakfast before heading into the back entrance of Epcot.

2. Topolino’s Terrace – Riviera Resort

I know, I know, I said there wouldn’t be popular restaurants on here, but after my experience at Topolino’s it deserves a spot on the list! My friend and I snagged a last minute reservation (about an hour before) for brunch. We woke up late after a late night at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, saw the reservation, and headed over on the Skyliner from Art of Animation.

Topolino’s is located at the very top of Disney’s Riviera Resort and the views from up here are stunning. Breakfast at Toplino’s is a character meal, so you will get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. I absolutely adore the artist/Riviera-inspired outfits that the characters wear here.

Now, let’s talk price and menu because this is why this ended up on my list. Personally, I thought the value here was some of the best. I expected this restaurant to be so much more than what it was considering the location, the characters, the popularity, and the quality of food. Breakfast is a prix fixe menu, so it’s one set price per person. It was $59 for an adult which included your entree, coffee, tea, juice, as well as an appetizer of some of the most delicious pastries I’ve had at Disney. I ordered the steak and eggs which was delicious and one of the best steaks I’ve had on property. For the price, considering this is also a character meal, I thought the price was absolutely worth it.

I have never had dinner here, and it is worth noting that dinner is NOT a character meal. It is also a la carte and not prix fixe like breakfast. So, keep that in mind, when you are considering coming here. If you are looking for a good, quality, character meal outside the theme parks Topolino’s is a fantastic option!

1. Wailulu Bar and Grill – Polynesian Island Tower

Rounding out the list is one of the newest restaurants on Disney property – Wailulu Bar and Grill at the Polynesian Island Tower! I ate here for the first time in December 2025 and I was immediately impressed.

To start, the view is amazing. I went for a late lunch so I was able to sit outside. The views of Cinderella’s castle and Seven Seas Lagoon are perfect. I even got to see some fireworks shoot off from the castle while I was eating. The second time I ate here in September 2026 we were able to see the nighttime water pageant from here. It’s perfectly located at the Polynesian Island Tower.

I’ve tried several menu items to include the Wayfinder Burger, the Garlic Noodles, and two of the desserts – the creme brûlée and the chocolate cake. Not one thing I had here was bad. The Wayfinder Burger has been touted as one of the best burgers on property, and I agree it’s a very strong contender.

As far as price goes, it definitely isn’t the cheapest restaurant on property. It’s not even the cheapest on this list. However, I do think at this restaurant in particular you really pay for what you get. The quality, the experience, the location, and the view all factor in to why I think the pricing here is worth it. But, if you’re wanting to eat at a monorail resort, specifically the Polynesian, it’s cheaper than some of the others.

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As stated in the intro, I have never had a bad meal at Disney. These five restaurants stand out to me after almost 3 decades of eating food at Walt Disney World. Leave a comment and tell me if you agree or disagree, or what your 5 favorites are!