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Let’s head to outer space as Walt Disney World celebrates the anniversary of one of its most “beloved?” eateries.
The nearly-25,000 acre Walt Disney World Resort property can be overwhelming and stressful for many first-time Guests as well as Disney veterans alike. Everyone’s gotta eat, and Disney offers countless high-class options for Guests wanting a deliciously authentic and atmospheric eating experience. But we’re not here to talk about fine dining today; no, we are looking at one of Magic Kingdom’s most popular (some may argue, by default) quick-service restaurants.
Today, on December 9, 2021, Walt Disney World celebrates the anniversary of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. The restaurant opened in 1994 as part of Magic Kingdom’s revamped and futuristic (at the time) Tomorrowland expansion project, which included attractions and rides such as Astro Orbiter and the terrifying ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.
One of the coolest aspects about this restaurant is the animatronic singer and performer Sonny Eclipse, who takes center stage singing and performing for Guests who are devouring their BBQ ribs while taking a break from waiting in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
The amount of chicken, burgers, and french fries consumed in Walt Disney World is quite possibly rivaled by no other country on earth, let alone restaurants on property, and Disney World offers many places to indulge your junk food cravings.
But perhaps the cutest, kitschiest, and certainly busiest quick-service restaurants across all Disney Parks is that of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. Featuring three entire stations of food, a sprawling sitting area, and some wild early-1990’s architecture, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe always seems to be packed to the brim of Guests just wanting some simple fried foods. It had been deemed the third busiest quick-service location in America, at a point in time!
While the general consensus from Guests on this quick-service restaurant tends to lean more towards contempt than loving embrace, there is no doubt that this special restaurant is fast, efficient, and an integral part of Tomorrowland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in general. After all, it’s often stated by Guests and Cast Members that Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is the busiest restaurant in the world and, while this fact is not proven, it’s hard to take a look at it during the lunch hour rush and disagree.
Are you a fan of Cosmic Ray’s? Let us know in the comments below!
Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Disney World’s water parks, four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district!
