• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

A mom from Virginia has this to add: “If the dining-reservations phone line or Guest Relations tells you there’s no availability, you can always just show up at the restaurant and talk to the hostess. What the dining line and Guests Relations can’t know is if there are going to be any no-shows that night, but the hostess certainly knows and sometimes they can work you in. Using this method on a recent trip, we were seated at two restaurants that the reservations guide had assured us were totally booked.”

There are quite a few buffets at Disney World and, for families, they solve certain problems, i.e., you get the food fast (as in, immediately) and there are plenty of options for picky eaters. But consider working some full-service venues into your week as well. As one mother from Oregon wrote, “The fast-food and buffet venues have the same hectic atmosphere as the parks—you still have to stand in a line, carry things, and try to keep an eye on the kids in the meantime. And they’re so loud, especially the character meals! We had an elegant, wonderfully relaxing lunch at the Brown Derby one day, and my husband said it was the perfect getaway from theme-park chaos—almost as if we’d gone back to our hotel room for a break.”

And if you’re worried that the kids will get antsy during a full-service dinner, rest assured that Disney is all about getting the food out fast. The kiddie menus have games and puzzles, and waiters will bring out crayons, crackers, and drinks with lids to keep the kids busy while you wait.

Finding Healthy Food

Disney has removed trans fats from all of its meals, making it easier to feel good about grabbing snacks. You’ll also find health-conscious choices in the kids’ meals—fruit instead of chips and milk or water instead of soda, for instance. To find your best bets at each venue, stop by Guest Relations in each park for a healthy dining guide. There will be at least one low-fat and one vegetarian entrée at every full-service restaurant.

And guests give Disney chefs major (trans-fat-free) brownie points for their willingness to address specific dietary needs. The chefs at full-service restaurants prefer advance warning (you can note any special dietary requests when you make your reservations) but are also pretty adept at meeting guest needs with shorter notice, as evidenced by this New Jersey mother’s story. “I’ve been on a weight-loss plan for several months and am happy to have lost 50 pounds. But the very thought of going to Disney World terrified me. I pictured nothing but grease and sugar. Our very first meal was at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, and when I asked the server a question about how something was prepared she said ‘Just a minute.’ Almost immediately the chef came out and he practically created a new entrée for me on the spot. After that, I asked to speak to the chef every time we sat down for a meal. My son started calling me ‘The Dining Room Diva.’ ”

Another mother wrote, “Both of my sons, ages 4 and 7, are allergic to dairy, eggs, and nuts, and dining out is usually a challenge for us. We had reserved a character dinner at the Crystal Palace, and after I spoke to the chef about our dietary restrictions, he couldn’t have been more wonderful. He walked me through the buffet pointing out which foods would be safe and which were risky, and he made a special batch of pasta just for our boys. For dessert he brought them banana splits using the same soy ice cream we buy at home. They were in their glory!”

Best Fast-Food Options for Families

IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM: COSMIC RAY’S STARLIGHT CAFÉ

There’s plenty of seating, the line moves fast, and they have sandwiches and salads in addition to the usual hamburgers and chicken fingers. (Cosmic Ray’s is also one of the few counter-service restaurants to offer kosher alternatives.)

AT EPCOT: TAQUERIA DE LAGO

This relatively new quick-service spot in Mexico is getting high marks from readers for its taquitos and quesadillas. If you can’t get seating, check next door at the Cantina de San Angel, which only serves