Hi Ellen, and welcome to planDisney. Thanks for stopping by with such a great question. I hope you are either in the middle of enjoying your Walt Disney World vacation or have just wrapped one up and are already thinking about a bounce-back trip. I was just at Disney World myself last week and then set sail on a Disney Cruise, doing plenty of “research” so I can better help with questions just like this.
Whether you are still there taking in the sights and sounds of the holidays or bookmarking this for your next visit, I’ve got you covered.
To start,
California Grill is an excellent choice for dinner or drinks. With views of Magic Kingdom and the chance to catch Happily Ever After if you time things right, it’s hard to beat the atmosphere up there. It is a popular spot, so reservations go fast, but the good news is that walk-ups are often accommodated at the bar. The bar seating is limited and first-come first-served, but if you go in with some flexibility, you’ve got a real shot at grabbing a seat and enjoying the menu.
Another fantastic option is
Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. They have a small bar area that works perfectly for a single diner or a party of two, and the views across Seven Seas Lagoon are tough to beat. You’ll even be able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from there.
If you feel like branching out from the Magic Kingdom area, I’d head over to Disney’s BoardWalk. You’ll have the dining options of three Resorts right next to each other, and, if you have a theme park ticket, you can stroll into EPCOT through the International Gateway for even more choices. Over on the BoardWalk, I’d look at
Ale and Compass,
Flying Fish, or
Trattoria al Forno. And if you do pop into EPCOT,
Space 220 is an unforgettable dining experience if you can snag a reservation or walk-up lounge spot.
Now, if you’re leaning more toward cocktails or lighter bites, there’s no shortage of great lounges around the property. A few that always deliver:
Enchanted Rose at the Grand Floridian,
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at the Polynesian,
Crew’s Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club,
Banana Cabana at Caribbean Beach, and
Steakhouse 71 Lounge at the Contemporary. You genuinely cannot go wrong with any of them.
Inside the parks, make sure to check out
Beak and Barrel at Magic Kingdom, BaseLine Tap House at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or
Geo 82 Lounge in EPCOT.
I hope this gives you a solid list of spots to enjoy, Ellen. If you need more help planning this trip or the next one, swing back by planDisney, and I’ll be happy to help.
Cheers,
Brent