Resort Dining at Disney

It's that time of the year where boo to you and Halloween decor go away and the wreaths and Christmas trees go up at your local Disney World™. I snagged this photo in front of the massive tree last year when my bestie started working at the Grand Floridian in January. Insider tip before we go on, that the photopass did, is take a panoramic shot horizontally to get a gorgeous photo like this one that displays the entire tree. Also make the Grand a priority this season and stop by to check out the big gingerbread house in the lobby right by the tree. Anyway, here my friend and I are posing at GFlo because the theme of this blog post is all about resort dining options and this resort is home to some great Disney dining spots.

Boardwalk Area

Trattoria al Forno

Coming in hot right off the bat, this restaurant was my favorite spot for their character dining breakfast. Here at this dining spot, you'll get to meet princes and princesses/characters such as Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel, and Flynn Rider. Another preface to this spot is that breakfast is prix fixe at $44 per adult and kids ages three to nine are $26. Starting off the breakfast are the pastries to share with the table, pictured on the right. It's an assortment of delicious breakfast pastries that come in a Rapunzel-esque frying pan. For my entree, I ordered the royale breakfast. This dish, pictured on the left is oak-grilled steak, asparagus, cheesy egg torte, fonduta, and breakfast potatoes with crispy onions on top. Also pictured in the photo on the left is the iced coffee. This is Trattoria's special blend of coffee, cream, and sweetener served over ice. Not mentioned on the menu but my entree also came with a side portion of fruit salad, which is pictured in the middle. I honestly really enjoyed my breakfast but there are other great classic breakfast items on the menu to choose from. There is also King Triton's shipwreck al Forno which is a calzone with scrambled eggs, bell peppers, salumi, bacon, sausage, cheese, and gravy.

Jellyrolls

This spot isn't in also not in a resort but is not in the parks so it will reside here on this list. It is not a restaurant but is one of the college program bars that of age CPs need to go to. There is a $15 cover charge but if you are a cast member then you can get in for free on Sundays. Jellyrolls' signature theme is that it is a dueling piano bar. This means that there are two pianists on stage singing and playing todays hits as well as Disney classics. If you want, you can also request to have them play your favorite songs. Here you can drink and sing along to your favorite songs, what more could you ask for from a Disney bar. Pictured above is my typical vodka cranberry, but they also have their own signature cocktails to choose from. I couldn't find the menu online but if you end up going then it is posted on the walls and chalkboard above the bar.

Beach Club Resort

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

This sundae spot is one of the signature resort restaurants because of its afamed sundae, the kitchen sink. I never got to partake in devouring the kitchen sink but we did see a couple of people order it. It's quite the experience because lights go off on the ceiling and cast members announce to the restaurant that someone ordered the kitchen sink. Anyway, the kitchen sink is comprised of scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberries, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip ice cream with all of their possible toppings on top. There are other options for this dish such as chocolate lovers or neopolitan but bring friends or family because this bad boy is meant to serve four people. Or just be exceptionally hungry, I won't judge. We didn't get ice cream when we went but I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato bisque which is pictured on the left side. Pictured on the right side is the angus beef burger which is a blend of angus brisket and short rib with cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato in between two buns. There are also some adult desserts if you're above the age of twenty one, one of the options is the s'mores. This decadent s'more themed shake is chocolate and vanilla ice cream, amarula liqueur, and bols creme de dark cacao topped with marshmallow, chocolate sauce and graham crackers. Side note, I believe that this spot is closed for refurbishment at the moment so you'll need to check on the My Disney Experience app for more details on this one.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma

My best friend and I hit up most of these Disney breakfast spots when we both had a free morning to spare so naturally we came to this spot. Thankfully located right next to my home park, Animal Kingdom, is the extremely beautiful DAK Lodge. If nature is your thing then you'll go bananas with the outdoor, nature theme that this resort embodies. Boma also reminds me so much of the Harambe Village in Animal Kingdom because of the African theming. Boma is a buffet so this means that pricing is prix fixe. It is cheaper than Trattoria al Forno though with the price per adult being $29 while children ages three to nine are $16. One of the great things about Boma is that they offer a wide variety of foods ranging from traditional African cuisine to your typical American comfort food. The appetizer options include the African fruit fool salad, spinach-quinoa salad, an assortment of cheeses, a yogurt bar, and smoked salmon. As for the main entrees, there are many options to choose from. Options are omelets, french toast bread pudding, ham, waffles, plantains, corned beef hash, pancakes, oatmeal and more. Also take full advantage of the pog juice that they serve with every entree. This much loved Disney beverage is passion orange-guava juice and is extremely delicious.

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Gasparilla Island Grill

I went to this spot with my Grand Floridian cast member to meet up for lunch one day and then took the monorail to Magic Kingdom for more Disney World fun. This quick-service spot is located outside of the main portion of GFLo but is still definitely worth the trek. I would also recommend if you're driving there to park at transportation and take the monorail to GFLo because if you're not a guest or have a dining reservation then security might turn you away. Anyway, on to dining here at Gasparilla. Pictured on the left is what I ordered, which is the house-made macaroni and cheese. 10/10 mac and cheese, also in my always humble opinion this is best mac and cheese on property. The adult portion comes with a side, which I opted for fries. Other options for the entrees are a cucumber salad, house-made chips, or a side portion of mac and cheese. Save some room for some dessert because they also have a pretty wide pastry assortment. I grabbed this chocolate Minnie cupcake with chocolate frosting and Oreos on top. As I've said for all of my Disney dining posts, if you want to get a smaller portion or you're just ballin' on a budget then the kids meals are a great option regardless of your age. In comparison the kids portion of mac and cheese is $7.19, comes with two sides and a drink while the adult portion is $9.29. One more quick-service hack that I recommend is to order through mobile ordering and it'll save a lot of time of waiting in lines. You can use that time to be in the parks or by the pool, and that is crucial to your Disney vacation.

1900 Park Fare

This was just another breakfast dining spot that we needed to check off of our list. 1900 Park Fare combines the character dining of Trattoria with the buffet style of dining of Boma to create a character dining breakfast buffet. While we were here we got to experience the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast. The characters that we got to meet were Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh. In the evening, it is Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner with the guests of course being Cinderella and Prince Charming. As for what is included in the buffet, there are so many options to choose from. Options from the fruit and bread are croissants and sticky bread, doughnuts, watermelon, pineapple, assorted breads, oranges, honeydew, grapes, and other great grains and fruits. From the 'chef's favorites' selection there are some unique finds. This includes the Floridian strawberry soup, which is made with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Another classic 'chef's favorite' option is one of my favorite breakfast options, eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce. Other great breakfast dishes from the buffet are the hickory-smoked ham, pancakes, bacon, Mickey waffles, biscuits and gravy, and more. I also was off so I got to take advantage of this and order myself a mimosa and just like Boma we were served the delicious Pog juice.

Polynesian Village Resort

Capt. Cook's

Saving the best for last per usual. Honestly the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian are ties for the best resorts in my opinion. When you walk into the lobby of the Poly you're smacked with a sweet, Polynesian scent with cute bamboo, wooden accents spread out all around. The decor and the ambiance definitely make the resort great but their quick service spot makes it even better. I came here on one of my first days in Orlando during my CP. I recommend this spot if it's your first night in Disney for your vacation then come to this quick-service spot for the food and the view. You can sit by the beach during the evening and watch/listen to Happily Ever After at 9 PM while eating your Capt. Cook's dinner. Unfortunately you won't be able to see the castle projections or Tinkerbell flying from the castle, but you'll still get to feel the magic prior to your Magic Kingdom trip that the show gives off. Alright now on to the fun part, the food. The two things that I've ordered are pictured right above. On the left side you have the pork fried rice. This is just a traditional fried rice dish with slow-roasted pork on top. I suggest adding sriracha to the dish to give it a nice kick. On the right is my favorite resort dish and one of my favorite overall Disney World dishes, the pulled pork nachos. Just look at how majestic and delicious looking she is. Please excuse my drooling but this beautiful nacho plate is potato chips, topped with ooey-gooey melted cheese, spicy mayonnaise, pico de gallo, pineapple salsa, and pulled pork. Might sound like an interesting combination but I promise it is incredibly delicious. This spot is also a quick-service as I've mentioned so take advantage of the app and skip the madness of the lunch rush by using mobile order for a fast and smooth ordering process.