AnnMarie,
Thanks for asking your question to planDisney!
While
mobile online ordering is a fantastic convenience for grabbing a meal on the go, no, you do not have to use it. On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, I was able to walk up to order directly at several of the dining venues that also use the mobile order feature.
I will admit, I did visit Walt Disney World soon after the parks re-opened, and because Disney was focused on guest safety, at the time they did have some restaurants where you had to order using the mobile app. They did this so that crowds were not gathering in lines unnecessarily, so really it was about safety first. My guess is that you might have heard some fellow guests sharing that past experience.
Some of these restaurants included
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café (because sometimes Doug needs some of Walt's chili-cheese fries),
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (because sometimes Doug needs some nachos), and
Casey's Corner (because Doug
ALWAYS needs some corn dog nuggets). In all three cases, where on past trips these restaurants focused on mobile orders, I was able this time to walk up to the counter to order directly.
BONUS TIPDon't overlook some of the fantastic foods available in food carts throughout the parks. My family loves to grab some fresh fruit for a snack, or one of the amazing sharable small plate items at the stands around the EPCOT World Showcase pavilions.
Please feel free to
write me back directly if you have any follow-up questions.
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug