Credit: Averyl Fong, Inside the MagicWhat is pure Disney luxury?
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There’s a quiet restaurant right in the middle of Main Street, USA. Its somewhat inconspicuous exterior blends into the forced perspective-riddled storefronts that line the busy thoroughfare, connecting the Park’s entrance to Sleeping Beauty Castle.
But this isn’t the Sleeping Beauty Castle that Walt Disney built. This is the extended iteration of the iconic building, built by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner in the 1990s — and this version of Main Street USA resides in the former EuroDisney Park, the current Disneyland Paris. This was a restaurant built by The Walt Disney Company in the days post-Tokyo Disney Resort mega-success, following the Eisnerian “spare no expense” philosophy — and the result is one of the most over-the-top experiences you can probably get at a Disney Park to date.
This restaurant came to be at a time when Disney truly believed their European Park to become a massive local triumph, standing as a glittering hub for all of Europe to experience the bastion of American culture that is the pure Disney theme park experience, after all.
Walt’s – an American restaurant
Despite Walt himself never setting eyes on this establishment, this restaurant stands as an essential shrine to the man himself. It is a temple for the Disney nerd. Nestled in the corner of a Main Street building, the restaurant itself cannot be seen from ground level — it actually sits above a grand foyer with glass windows imprinted with “Walt’s” across the panes.
On a warm summer’s day in June, the restaurant’s ground floor was practically dripping with homey Disney memorabilia and silently hungry tourists. It’s a different, quiet world in there — the walls and antique wooden furniture are covered with pictures of Walt; the man with his family, posing with teams of animators and Imagineers, pictures of baby Walter Elias Disney in a cotton smock. A piano stands to the side, a Mickey Mouse zoetrope that you can crank yourself, all as a no-nonsense Cast Member checks your reservation.
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Indeed, a reservation to this table dining option is definitely recommended. With the Disneyland Paris mobile app allowing dining reservations up to two months in advance, the best option is to always go for the optimistic booking — cancelations are free and they allow someone else to take your place on the day should you not be able to make it. I booked a month and a half ahead, and even then wasn’t able to secure a dinner table for four — so I booked the latest lunch slot at 5.30PM (dinner bookings start at 6PM), and secured an “early dinner”.
Our party was placed in the “Discoveryland”-themed room — yes, all the rooms are beautifully and tastefully decorated after different lands and themes within Disneyland Paris Park itself — and we were seated amidst gorgeous Jules Verne-esque, steampunk-fantasy contraptions and a golden Nautilus submarine as the room’s centerpiece. Unfortunately, entering the state of the bathrooms were a bit of a shock after being in the stunning dining rooms. Enough said there.
What is the food like?
The food at Walt’s is fascinating, to say the least. Due to its theme being wholly Walt-centric, nearly every aspect of the menu takes inspiration from the Uncle Walt himself — featuring an array of Walt’s favorite foods all “plussed”-up for the the substantially fancier establishment. It’s fancy, 1940s-1950s Americana styled up to suit European palates. The official website describes the concept as:
Serving sophisticated and contemporary American cuisine with European influences, this is a Victorian-style tribute to the life and work of Walt Disney.
Our French waiter walked in balancing a tray laden with three tables worth of food and drinks, and it was time to get a taste of Walt’s favorite foods.
For my Starter, I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie with Crunchy Vegetable Salad, and was met with a decently-flavorful “deconstructed” chicken dish. With a puff pastry crown perched on top of some creamy chicken stew-type base, it wasn’t anything mind-blowing. Decently chicken-breast-umami, it could have done with more salt. But it was homey, with an adapted 1950s-era recipe, and surprisingly filling. Someone in my dining party chose the Sweet Corn Soup with Isigny Crème Fraîche, Smoked Popcorn and Pastrami. After stealing a bite of that, I was a little disappointed that I hadn’t gone with the lighter (tastier and more exciting) option, too.
For my Main, I made the decision to go for a menu item that had immediately caught my eye — the Chilli con Carne with Tortilla Chips, Cheddar and Isigny Crème Fraîche, Red Onion, Coriander, White Rice and Kidney Beans. Touted as one of Disney’s favorite meals (the man had simple tastes), this too was somewhat deconstructed — but this time in a way that paid off.
The dish itself was served in a tall, cylindrical ceramic dish, making it look a bit like a fancier take on canned chilli. The tomato-forward chilli would be poured out onto another plate with the beans, onions, rice and other chilli accoutrements, for the Guest to assemble at their own desire. This too was adorned by a Mickey-shaped topper. It was well-balanced and well-spiced, pairing surprisingly well with the rice and onions.
Dessert was quite good — our group got a Lemon Meringue Pie, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (exceedingly turn-of-the-century), and a Flower Street Sundae to share, because we just wanted to taste a bit of everything. And everything in the realm of sweets was good. With the (again, deconstructed) Lemon Meringue Pie being nicely balanced, and a favorite of the lot.
As our party watched the Disney Stars on Parade show make its way down Main Street from the comfort of our table’s window, the whole experience definitely felt a bit ethereal. Getting to step away from the sweaty hubbub of the Park and luxuriating in a different world felt at once alienating and refreshing. Although the app constantly telling us that Avengers: Flight Force had finally opened back up, reminding us of a need to return to the Park proper did maybe put a damper on the laissez-faire mood. Although that’s hardly the restaurant’s fault, taking into account its theme park-centric location.
So, how much does it cost?
Walt’s is rated €€€ according to Disneyland Paris’ price scale. A set menu (with vegan options, willing to cater to dietary restrictions) featuring a Starter, Main Course and Dessert come in at €55, with an additional €20 for “a flight of three wines from our selection”. Compared to table service restaurants at Parks like the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort, it’s not too different to how much you’d pay for dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant, or Cinderella’s Royal Table (both listed $$$$, around $60 per person). The experience just feels a lot more private and personalized at Walt’s.
Whether it’s entirely worth it comes down to a few key factors.
Is Walt’s a recommended Disney restaurant?
If you’re willing to drop €55 per person while at Disneyland Paris, and if you’re a big enough Disney history nerd to enjoy the experience — I’d say, do it.
The restaurant was originally the most expensive in the Park, but was somewhat recently moved to the €€€ tier. This puts it now at the same price point as Auberge de Cendrillon in Fantasyland and Bistrot Chez Rémy over at the Walt Disney Studios Park. Overall, Walt’s one of the better date spots for sure — because instead of dining alongside screaming children (no offense, kids!) and giant, fake forks and pepper shakers at Chez Rémy, you get fantastic atmosphere, good service and a satisfying feeling that your money is going towards something “more special”.
The decor and theming of the restaurant at the end of the day is just something that can’t be beat. It’s luxury taken to a Disney extreme — in the sense that the food is good for a theme park, and the place is nice — but it’s the kind of nice place that really lets a fan wallow in history. From exploring the Gothic-style detailing in the Fantasyland room, to staring at those creepy, early Mickey Mouse Ice Capades-style character costumes on the wooden staircase — I’d say that this location epitomizes Disney nerd luxury, and is a unique experience for the ultimate Disney or theme parks history-lover.
Have you ever been to Walt’s – an American restaurant? Would you want to go? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Discover the enchantment of Disneyland Paris, Europe’s premier theme park nestled in Marne-la-Vallee, France, at the heart of the continent. Adjacent to the Disney Village, this must-visit park promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Disneyland Park offers a plethora of thrilling rides, captivating shows, immersive storytelling, and meet-and-greets with beloved Disney characters and princesses. Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of Sleeping Beauty Castle, embark on daring adventures through Main Street, USA, Frontierland (home to the iconic Big Thunder Mountain), Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. Don’t forget to explore the adjacent Walt Disney Studios Park, which features the Marvel Avengers Campus and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
You can buy and reserve your Disneyland Paris ticket and/or Disney Premier Access over at the Park’s official website.