The BEST RESORTS, RESTAURANTS, CHARACTER DINING, AND SNACKS at WALT DISNEY WORLD

When someone asks me to blog about Disney and link to a bunch of awesome Disney bloggers, I have to say yes! You see, I love Disney. And these Disney bloggers were asked about our favorite and least favorite items at Walt Disney World. But because even my least favorite is still some of the best in the world, and my least favorite is someone else’s favorite, I decided to focus on the best of the Best. I love bringing you The Best Resorts, Restaurants, Character Dining and Snacks at Walt Disney World Resort from nineteen Disney Bloggers. But first, let me tell you why I have visited so many different restaurants and resorts at Walt Disney World Resort.

Our family has visited most all Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and waterparks, most of the Disney Resorts, many of the restaurants (they are always opening new ones), and all but two character dining experiences. Our love for everything Disney didn’t overtake our lives until Jack-Jack.

Jack-Jack is our 13-year-old autistic son. When he was about 5 we realized that he had a deep love of Disney that gave him the ability to learn, grow, talk, spell, read, and understand the world around him. Nothing else impacted his life in the same way. Wanting to help him try new things in his “happy place,” we started to learn everything we could about Disney and sought out new and different experiences for him to partake in when we visited Disney. While we were checking out new resorts, restaurants, and the off-the-beaten-path experiences, we discovered that we all had different favorites. But there are some that really stand out. This post deals with some of The Best Resorts, Restaurants, Character Dining and Snacks at Walt Disney World.

So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that a group of nineteen Disney blogging experts would have such a ride range of likes and dislikes. I am choosing to focus on the likes, but not just any likes. I will be talking about the BEST of the BEST at Walt Disney World Resort.

Here are the BEST RESORTS, RESTAURANTS, CHARACTER DINING AND SNACKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

What IS THE BEST DISNEY RESORT?

I have stayed at all but two Walt Disney World Resorts. And even though there are two that I have not stayed at, I have still seen the rooms at those resorts and visited, walked around, and eaten at the restaurants. I can say that my hands down favorite resort is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. I love how I feel as I walk around the resort. It gives me the feeling of traveling somewhere exotic. I love the attention to detail, the restaurants, and the Dole Whips! 

But don’t just take my word for it. Kim Segher from This Ole Mom loves the Poly as much as I do. “Polynesian Resort King Kamehameha Club Level is my favorite. Why? I love when I step into the lobby to check in, and they place the lei around my neck, and they escort my family to our building. It makes me feel special and pampered. Just the extra pixie dust sprinkled on my family makes staying at the Poly more magical. Also, I love the beautiful views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and of the Castle from the club level lounge and the rooms. Everything about the poly including the grounds is AMAZING!!”

And Carrie Hurst, from A Princess and Her Pirates, loves the Polynesian too. “I love it for so many reasons!  First, the theming is amazing, and I find it very relaxing.  The tiki torches, landscaping, the smells….it’s all amazing.  Second, the pool area is fantastic for kids and families of all ages.  There is nothing like sitting poolside and seeing Cinderella’s Castle in the distance!  There are so many amazing dining options, and I find it is easy to navigate.   Plus, being on the monorail is the best!”

Another Polynesian vote came from Lisa Cameron from Adventures in Familyhood. She says, “Its location on the monorail loop makes it convenient for families. The theming of the resort is amazing. At times you forget you are actually at Walt Disney World. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is also home to some of the best restaurants on property such as ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe.”

Tina M. Brown from Footprints in Pixie Dust could be my lost twin. Her love of the Poly includes my favorite treat – Dole Whips. “I mean Dole Whips at your fingertips, fabulous restaurants, a tremendous view of Happily Ever After and an island feel I have yet to experience in real life.”

Coming in a close second is Disney’s Beach Club Resort. As Tammy Graham from Living the Disney Dream says, “Disney’s Beach Club Villas is my favorite resort. We love the beachy-feel, the amazing pool/water park, the food offerings, and the walking path to Epcot – perfection!”

And the pool is simply amazing. It gives you the feel of being at a pristine beach. And the smell of the lobby is ah-maz-ing!

But there were votes for 11 different Disney Resorts. Angie from Disney Parents loves Art of Animation. We have stayed there a couple of times, and I agree with her assessment. “We are local annual passholders in Orlando so when we visit the resorts it is usually in a “staycation“ capacity. Because our 3 children are under the age of 10, personally we enjoy the Art of Animation resort. That pool area is easily manageable for us and there something for each of their personalities.”

Another moderate wonderful resort is Port Orleans Riverside. Having stayed there a few times, I think it is a viable candidate for our list. Janine from Along with the Youngs had this to say, “Port Orleans Riverside – we as a family love everything about it. The charm of the resort, the pool options are great, but most notably being able to take the water taxi to Disney Springs.”

What is YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY RESTAURANT?

While one of my favorite restaurants is The Yachtsman Steakhouse because 1) Steak, 2) We have never had a bad meal there, and 3) I love the atmosphere, there are so many wonderful restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort that out of 19 bloggers, there were 14 restaurants represented. My second favorite restaurant may just well be ‘Ohana which received the most votes.

Devon Weaver from Mama Cheaps commented, “Ohana – We loved the food, the atmosphere and the view of the lake. The kids loved the broom and pineapple race during our meal.  We had a wonderful dinner at Ohana and hopped back on the monorail to enjoy the night at Magic Kingdom.”

Jamie Welch-Schelin from Florida’s Family Fun had an excellent tip about ‘Ohana. “Make your reservation for 8:30 and ask to sit by the window for fireworks. It is the best.”

And another vote for ‘Ohana came from Allison Jones from Jones Family Travels. “There are so many amazing restaurants at Disney World. It is tough picking just one. We do have one that we consistently love! That is ‘Ohanas for dinner at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This restaurant overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon with views of Cinderella Castle. During Happily Ever After, they even pipe in the show. The food for dinner is also delicious with so many choices. Be sure you save room for dessert, too!”

One restaurant I haven’t been to is Monsieur Paul. Janice Brady from An Open Suitcase says, “Monsieur Paul is an upscale signature spot hidden away on the second floor of the France Pavilion in Epcot and is only open for dinner. Gourmet food is an understatement! It’s pricey but worth every penny. Because of the high cost, reservations have never been a problem to get and the dining experience can’t be beat.”

Ashley from Ashley & Company loves “Be Our Guest- the grey stuff and atmosphere.” And it does have plenty of atmosphere. All of the dining rooms are unique and beautiful. My family loves the grey stuff, but it is packed with gluten which means it is off limits to me.

What is YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER DINING EXPERIENCE?

A favorite character experience for me is 1900 Park Fare, but don’t just take my word for it. Melissa Russo at The Farm Girl Gabs says, “1900 Park Fare for breakfast is my favorite character dining. I love the food and the atmosphere. The characters are pretty cool too.” And the famous strawberry soup was mentioned a few times. It is so good that I make it at home. Visit HERE for the recipe!

While 1900 Park Fare was mentioned as a favorite more than any other locations, the Garden Grill, Hollywood & Vine and Akershaus were mentioned more than once.

Emily from The Journey of Parenthood recommends Hollywood & Vine because “I LOVE the vibe of Hollywood and Vine. Very relaxed and we were able to meet all the characters multiple times!” 

And Jennifer from My Boys and Their Toys had this to say about that location, “Hollywood & Vine character dinner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We love their themed dinners, like when Mickey and pal’s dress up as Star Wars characters or Minnie’s seasonal dining for a beach-inspired bash, etc. The service is good and you get to meet the characters sometimes more than once.”

Theresa Mabe from In Sight: Full Life recommends a character dining experience that our family has not tried yet. “If Trattoria al Forno was easier to get to in the mornings, the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast would be a must-do dining experience every time. The Tangled and Little Mermaid themed pastries that start the meal are as delicious as they are adorable. The character interactions with Ariel, Eric, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider were some of the best I’ve had at Walt Disney World, and from watching the families around me, I could tell others felt the same. Plus, the waitress kept asking if she could bring us more plates of bacon every time she saw ours was empty. What’s not to love?”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SNACK?

These answers were so varied. From my personal favorite, THE Dole Whip to Mickey Pretzel’s to popcorn, the snacks at Walt Disney World Resort tantalize our taste buds from sweet, savory and salty.

Lucy from Gigglebox Tells It Like It Is couldn’t pick just one. “We always buy popcorn.  Also, love the Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwiches.”

Megan loves the Mickey Pretzel. I know this is a fan favorite, but it is another no-no for me because of the gluten. 

So What IS YOUR DISNEY BEST OF THE BEST LIST?

My family has many favorites, and since results are so varied, what may be my favorite may not be yours. Comment below and let me know your favorites in each of these categories – Resort, Restaurant, Character Dining and Snack.