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Disney Dining Grand Floridian Café Review

Disney Dining Grand Floridian Café Review

The Grand Floridian Café is a bright and open dining location off the lobby of its namesake Grand Floridian Resort.  It is fairly easy to get a dining reservation here, so if you are a last minute planner or find yourself in need of a meal other than a hamburger this is a good place to check.

We made a reservation on an evening when we were going back to the Magic Kingdom late for fireworks and some nighttime fun.  Our experience began at the podium where we checked in and waited what I thought was a bit long for the hostess to prepare a table in a nearly empty restaurant.  We also requested a high chair.  After being seated without a high chair we asked for one again.  On this particular night my two year old was feeling particularly squirmy, so regardless of how we tried with books and coloring he didn’t want to sit still.  After a bit of time—at least 5 minutes but it felt like an eternity with a wiggle worm—the hostess returned and said they didn’t have any high chairs and she was going around the corner to 1900 Park Fare to get one.  Okay.  A Disney restaurant without enough high chairs—that’s a first.In the meantime our server arrived and we actually recognized her from 50s Prime Time Café (we may or may not visit Disney too often).  She took our drink orders and we again requested a high chair.

In a couple of minutes she returned with our highchair, so finally we were able to strap this crazy child in and look at the menu.

My husband and I weren’t terribly hungry so we decided to share an entrée and he added a Caesar Salad ($5.49).  We had the Char-crusted New York Strip Steak with red-bliss Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables, finished with a brandy-green peppercorn sauce—hold the sauce ($29.99).

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While we waited for our food I took in the atmosphere.  It fits the Grand Floridian well—sort of a casual elegance with a Victorian charm.  Lots of flowers and floral and light creamy colors.  One thing I really noticed was how loud it was in there (and it wasn’t my two year old this time).  There were a few children in there, but it wasn’t that they were fussing or being overly loud, it was just an overall clamor.  There are a lot of hard surfaces, and the marble floors of the lobby aren’t far away.  This is definitely a restaurant where you can bring your children and not worry about them disturbing other diners.

Our food arrived very quickly—already divided for sharing.  We ordered the steak medium well and it was maybe a little past that.  The steak is marinated and there was a nice charred crust on the outside (which I enjoy).  The flavor was very good and even though it was close to well done it remained juicy.  The seasonal vegetable was broccolini which neither one of us care for.  Our waitress joked that she couldn’t force us to eat it here as she could at 50s Prime Time.  We were too full to sample any desserts.

The Grand Floridian Café accepts the Disney Dining Plan and Tables in Wonderland for a discount.  We received our check quickly and paid using the new Magic Band touch technology—a portable reader is brought tableside and you tap your band there to pay.  You still have to wait for the printed receipt to add a tip and to sign, so there really isn’t any time savings in using the Magic Band—it may actually take a bit longer.

Overall, the service was efficient and enjoyable and the food was good.  The Grand Floridian Café is a good choice if you want to dine at the Grand Floridian with children, or if you want to dine there without spending a lot of money.  I always enjoy visiting the Grand Floridian if for no other reason than it reminds me of the Full House double episode when they visited Walt Disney World.

 

Food:  We didn’t sample a wide variety, but the menu does offer it a good selection—and most of the options would appeal to a lot of palates.  What we had was well prepared and flavorful.

Atmosphere:  Fairly basic, but in keeping with the Victorian theme of the Grand Floridian.  During the day the bank of windows overlooking the resort grounds would provide a lovely view.  It is a loud venue—this can be good or bad.

Service:  Fast and pleasant once our server was taking care of us.  The host/hostess stand was a mess checking in and trying to get a highchair.

Tips:  The Grand Floridian Cafe is a great option if you are at the Magic Kingdom and want to get away for a lunch or dinner, or if you are returning to the Magic Kingdom for the evening—just a monorail ride away.  It is also a good choice if you want to dine at the Grand Floridian without spending a lot of money, or need a last minute dining location.

About Sarah Chapman

I am a long time Disney fan since I was hooked on Walt Disney World with my first trip in 1987. Since that time I’ve tried experiencing everything I can in the parks, with a total of 30 visits and counting (I’m always planning my next trip) to Walt Disney World—not to mention Disney Cruise Line and even (shhh!) Universal Orlando and Sea World. I’ve turned my Disney obsession into a profession helping others plan their magical vacations as a Dream Vacation Maker at LBAC Travel. I am a work at home mom to three wonderful boys, and each one has been properly indoctrinated with all things Disney. Walt Disney World is definitely our “Laughing Place.” Look for me on Facebook at Facebook.com/SarahLBAC for updates, discount announcements, tips, tricks and planning advice for your next vacation. You can also find me on Instagram (sarahdreamvacationmaker) and Pinterest (sarahlbactravel).