Credit: DisneyWhen it comes to dining at Walt Disney World Resort, it seems that the options are endless. There are more than 400 eateries, offering everything from Mexican to French, German, Italian, Japanese, Indian, classic American fare, and more. One thing that has always set Disney World apart is that so much of its food is next-level. There are so many great places to eat that narrowing it down to your top choices can be really difficult.
However, not every restaurant is a winner, even some that are the most popular. And now, guests are sharing what Disney World restaurants they think don’t match the hype.
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Reddit user Due-Lawfulness7862 recently asked what Disney World restaurants did not match the hype, and the answers were brutally honest.
Unfortunately, we have to start at the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is frequently cited as having the weakest theme park food in Disney World, so it’s not really surprising that one of its most popular eateries ended up on the list.
Be Our Guest opened in 2012 as part of a massive Fantasyland expansion. In the beginning, it offered a quick-service lunch option and a table service dinner option.
Which WDW restaurant is this?
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At first, Be Our Guest earned a lot of praise for how gorgeous the restaurant was and how good the food was. However, that majority opinion has now shifted, along with the restaurant’s change to a full sit-down restaurant.
Lunch and dinner are both prix-fixe menus, and the prices are $72 per adult and $43 per child. Many guests feel that the quality of the food does not justify the high price tag.
I agree. We managed to snag a last minute reservation in 2022. The food was okay, just okay and honestly “the gray stuff” is not delicious. We waited for quite a while for our table despite having a reservation and then felt incredibly rushed during our meal as they seemed to prioritize a high turnover rather than an enjoyable experience. Even the waiter spoke fast!
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Another big issue guests have with Be Our Guest has nothing to do with the food. One of the restaurant’s big selling points was a meet-and-greet with the Beast. That meet-and-greet no longer exists; now, the Beast just walks through the restaurant and waves.
Another restaurant that guests said was not worth the price was one of Disney World’s newest — the Cake Bake Shop on Disney’s BoardWalk.
This restaurant made waves before it even opened, after guests saw the high price points on the menu. The backlash was so intense that the restaurant ended up lowering some of its prices.
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However, guests are still put off by the price they pay compared to the quality they get. Just one slice of cake will set you back $22, while a Walnut Brownie is $11, and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie Cup is a whopping $15.
And the savory menu is no cheaper. A single crab cake appetizer costs $27, the Lemon Caesar Salad is $25, the Shrimp Po’Boy is $36, and the Vegetarian Burger costs $29! And for breakfast, be prepared to spend $26 if you want to enjoy the Eggs Benedict.
Worst service and the most mediocre food I’ve ever had at that price point. Maybe my expectations were higher given the price tag but I wouldn’t even buy a piece of cake from the bakery after our experience there. We didn’t even have a waiter or waitress after our initial order. We were told that we had to go to the bar and ask the bartender if we needed anything else It was pretty awful. My husband liked his burger but my food was soggy and cold and the cake was dry. I really hope it was a one off event for everyone else’s sake but we would never eat there again.
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Some restaurants had a little bit of debate surrounding the taste versus the hype, and one of the restaurants that consistently fell into that category is Space 220. Some guests felt that the appetizers were really good, but the main courses fail to meet expectations.
On the other side, a lot of people felt the entire menu was too pricey for the quality of the food being served.
It’s not hate, it’s just disappointment. The food is fine. It used to be quite the challenge to get a reservation, and thus the reward feels like it should be higher than it is. It also gets negative points for being prix fixe, so you can’t just get every app on the menu and have tapas.
Everything I have ever eaten at Space 220 doesn’t rank on any list. It’s not the cheapest or most convenient. I like the salad, but again, just at Epcot and offhand, I’d rather have the salads at Connections, Le Cellier, Via Napoli, and Sunshine Seasons has a pretty solid power salad. Lunar carrot cake? I’m going to the Karamell Kuche for the carrot cake whoopie pie or Rose and Crown for sticky toffee pudding. Unless the category has the qualification “at a space themed restaurant,” nothing there is my go to for anything I have had there. Nothing has been bad per se, there are just better options at other places and I get more control over what I am eating.
If you notice, even you called it best for value, not best tasting.
Hundreds of comments were made on the Reddit post, and dozens of restaurants were mentioned as guests shared their preferences. However, several other restaurants frequently came up in conversation, including ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and The Hollywood Brown Derby, also at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
While many people might agree with some of the restaurants named in the Reddit post, where you choose to eat during your Walt Disney World Resort vacation is entirely up to you. You can always listen to these suggestions, but as Jiminy Cricket would say, “Always let your conscience be your guide!”
Do you agree with the restaurants named on this list? What Disney World restaurants do you think are overhyped? What do you think are some of the most underrated restaurants at The Most Magical Place on Earth? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!