As a tour guide, I often find myself grabbing a quick bite for lunch in the Magic Kingdom. During the busy times of year (which is most of the time), it can be a challenge to do anything quickly in a Disney theme park. It is for this reason that I normally recommend getting a reservation at one of the table-service spots. In some cases, they can actually be a faster alternative to standing in a long line at a quick-service restaurant. However, there will be times when eating at a “sit down” location won’t be practical due to cost or availability. I have talked about the best ways to save time at quick-service spots in a previous article. Today, I will discuss how to find seating in several Magic Kingdom restaurants.
The main tip I want to convey is to always think “upstairs.” Most guests at Walt Disney World miss many of the great details of the parks simply because they don’t lookup. So many people are constantly looking down at their phones, a park map, or simply at the direction they are walking. Although focusing on these things can be necessary, it is also important to look up. This concept holds true when looking for a place to sit in the restaurants I’m going to highlight.
Related: Tour Guide Tuesday: How to best enjoy a day at Islands of Adventure – including Harry Potter
First, let’s talk about Pinocchio Village Haus. This popular spot in the middle of Fantasyland can get very crowded during lunchtime. Although there seems to be plenty of tables spread throughout this location, it can be difficult to find one quickly. However, most guests don’t realize that there is a staircase, toward the left side, that leads to a balcony with a handful of tables overlooking the center of the restaurant. Even on very busy days, I have seen this area completely empty. In addition to this indoor area, there is a door leading to an adjacent outdoor balcony that doubles the amount of upstairs seating. These tables overlook Fantasyland with great views of Cinderella Castle.

Next, let’s head down to Liberty Square to the Columbia Harbour House. This is one of my favorite spots for quick seafood in Walt Disney World. Again, the ground floor fills up quickly and your best bet is to head up one of two staircases to find a very large second-floor dining area. When walking away from the serving counters, I suggest heading up the left-hand staircase. Once at the top, you should bear to the right toward the back corner of the restaurant. This seems to be the last area to fill up on busy days.


Last, but certainly not least, I want to talk about Pecos Bills. I probably eat here more than any other spot in the Kingdom. The dining areas aren’t that big, and they usually fill up quickly. However, if you continue down the main hallway (toward the exit on the Adventureland side), you will come across a ramp on the left. If you make this left turn and head up the ramp, you will come to an additional seating area referred to as the “Jack Sparrow room.” I know it isn’t technically upstairs, but it is on an upper level. This is normally the last area to fill up and certainly the easiest to find open tables. Make sure you hit the toppings bar before you come to the Jack Sparrow room, otherwise it is quite a long walk back to the front of the restaurant!


I hope you enjoy “Tour Guide Tuesday.” If you want additional tips while you’re in the parks, WDW Guided Tours is happy to help!