5 Great Insider Food and Drink Tips About Disney World
- Marla
- Nov 12
- 4 min read
Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort is a wonderful vacation destination, but it can be complicated to navigate. If you don’t map out your visit beforehand, you’ll miss out on a lot.
However, with so many guides and websites full of Disney intel, it's time-consuming and overwhelming to conduct the research.
This confusion not only applies to the fundamentals, like which hotel to stay in, whether to splurge on Magic Bands, and if the Lightning Lane passes are worth the price. It also extends to the food and drink options at Disney World. Should you use a dining plan? Do you want a character breakfast? Even niche Disney blogs that specialize in food and drink contain a lot of information, much of it not relevant to your particular stay.
We have been to Disney World numerous times and have learned several lessons over the years on how to maximize your food and drink experience. These pointers are, ahem, universal.
Here are five great insider food and drink tips about Disney World.
1. Seek Out the ‘Secret’ Park Food and Drink Options
Some of the most popular foods at Disney World include Dole Whip, turkey legs, and anything shaped like Mickey Mouse. Disney’s official website lists many of its best-known restaurants.
However, there are “hidden” gems that aren’t technically “secret” but can seem that way.
For example, there’s a large confectionery store on Main Street in Magic Kingdom. But did you know that in a corner of the store there’s a section where you can create your own customized popcorn bucket?
There are also some wonderful lesser-known beverage choices.
For instance, it’s very difficult to secure a restaurant reservation at Tutto Italia Ristorante, the upscale restaurant in the Italy pavilion at EPCOT, Disney World’s discovery-focused theme park. But Tutto has a wine bar with table service that is often available without a wait. Plus, it offers not only the regular Tutto menu but also its own, which has exclusive options on it, such as a limoncello flight.
Similarly, if you want to sample Canadian wine and beer, such as icewine or Molson Canadian, just head into the Trading Post store up the stairs in EPCOT’s Canada pavilion, where there’s a bar tucked into a corner.
2. Wear a Disney Special Occasion Button
Another great insider food and drink tip about Disney World is to let people know that you’re celebrating something while at Disney. Our last visit happened to coincide with my birthday, so Bobby suggested that I wear a special occasion pin to commemorate it. These pins, which also celebrate first-time visitors, “happily ever after” events, or other celebrations, are free and can be found at guest relations booths, hotel reception areas, and some stores.
It was great fun getting all of the happy birthday wishes from both “cast members” and visitors. I was even serenaded twice, once in a restaurant and once by a mariachi band in EPCOT.
But I was pleasantly surprised at all of the unexpected free birthday food I received throughout Disney, which I admit added to my experience. There is no guarantee that a button wearer will receive these “pixie dust” benefits, but it does increase your chances.
3. Map Out Seasonal Specialty Foods and Drinks Before You Go
It’s especially enjoyable to take advantage of the food and drink specials available only at certain times of the year. For example, we plotted ahead of our visit what we wanted to try from the pop-up booths in EPCOT during the annual Food and Wine Festival so we could prioritize and not walk past a favorite by mistake.
But limited-time novelty foods and drinks are not just sold during festivals; they are also often themed around seasons and holidays, such as gingerbread in December and foods shaped like flowers in the spring. These little touches add to the magic, so you should figure out what’s being offered when you’re going to be there. This targeted information is typically on Disney’s blog website.
4. Venture Out of the Parks and into the Resorts
It’s tempting to concentrate on the food and wine within the Disney parks since that’s where the attractions are.
But don’t dismiss popping over to a Disney hotel to enjoy additional food and wine experiences.
For example, the restaurant Sanaa in the Animal Kingdom Villas not only boasts a unique African/Indian menu but also sits amidst a savanna where more than 200 animals representing 30 species roam freely, right in front of the restaurant’s windows. We saw ostriches, zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes – without leaving our table. Very cool.
Likewise, we took the Skyliner to Topolino’s Terrace in the Riviera Resort Hotel. The food was great, and as it’s a rooftop restaurant, the views were phenomenal.
5. Keep an Eye Out for the ’13 Minute’ Cheat Code
The Disney Experience app is invaluable for managing your vacation, such as making reservations and learning about temporary ride closures in real time.
So it’s helpful to know the surprise “13 minute” cheat code for two of the most popular attractions, Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios and Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom.
If the wait time listed in the app is 13 minutes, it’s code that there is no wait; you can walk right in. This cast member-inspired insider tip stems from the spooky nature of both rides and of the number 13.
If you see this on the app, hurry over. This isn’t directly a food and wine tip, but if you can avoid the lines at these perennially crowded rides, you’ll have more time to explore the food and wine elsewhere at Disney World.
We hope that these five great insider food and wine tips about Disney World help you maximize your visit and reduce the time needed to research.
If you have additional recommendations, please share! Send us a message at info@winewithourfamily.com. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or feedback.
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