Immersive Resort Dining

The Walt Disney World Resort is all about theming. Everything from the attractions in the parks to the different resorts on property each have their own unique theme that is carried throughout. For example, at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, guests feel as if they are stepping right into an old Hollywood hotel in the 1940’s. Or, if you are staying at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you will be transported into a South Seas paradise without ever having to step foot outside of Central Florida.

And while the parks and resorts have achieved perfection with their themes, the restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort are not far behind. All around property, guests will find unique dining experiences that can turn an ordinary meal into extraordinary memory for the whole family.

One of the best dining experiences for guests at Walt Disney World takes place at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. That South Seas feel is brought to life at Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. This live celebration of Polynesian culture delights guests with fire twirlers, hula dancers and other entertainers that you would normally find in a Polynesian luau. In addition to the great entertainment on the stage, you will also feast on an all-you-can eat menu that is served family-style and features the tastes and flavors of the South Seas in a unique open-air dining environment.

Another one of the best themed dinner shows at the Walt Disney World Resort is the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. The show centers around the Pioneer Hall Players, a group of singers and actors who are taking their act on the road. These entertainers sing, dance, interact with the crowd and, most of all, have fun all evening long. In between acts, an all-you-can-eat, family-style dinner is served, with tossed salad, a loaf of cornbread and honey butter for starters and Ma’s delicious fried chicken, smoked barbeque pork ribs, buttered corn on the cob and country style baked beans for dinner (strawberry shortcake is served for dessert!).

While the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show and the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review may be the best dining experiences that combine a show with your meal, possibly the best themed place to eat at Walt Disney World is the Rainforest Café, which has two locations – one just outside the main entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and another at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace. The Rainforest Café is fun for the whole family, with good food and a rather unusual environment to eat in. Instead of a regular dining hall, the inside of this restaurant is turned into a tropical rainforest, complete with volcanos, wild animals (the animatronic kind) hanging from the ceiling and tropical foliage everywhere. There is even the occasional thunderstorm that rolls through, complete with thunder and lightning.

The wait times for these restaurants are usually pretty lengthy though, so plan ahead by putting your name in early. Or, for reservations at any Walt Disney World Resort restaurant, you can simply call (407) WDW-DINE. While you can walk right up to the Rainforest Café, you have to have reservations for other select dining experiences, including the two aforementioned dinner shows.

(For Special dietary requests at Walt Disney World click here)