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The Worst Dining Spots at Each Disney World Theme Park

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, wearing formal outfits, stand in front of Cinderella's Castle at Disneyland. Mickey is pointing to a large thumbs-down emoji floating between them while Minnie holds a proud pose.
Credit: Disney Dining

When vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort, one of the problems a guest may face is deciding where to eat. But that is not because there are so few good options, it is because there are too many incredible choices! There are nearly 400 places where guests can grab a bite to eat — ranging from snack kiosks to quick service spots, and sit-down dining.

There are also a ton of choices when deciding what kind of food you want to indulge in, from tacos to pizza, French cuisine, seafood, steakhouses, and so much more. There is truly something for every budget and every palette.

Cobb Salad

Credit: Disney

Of course, not every restaurant is a winner, even at a magical place like Disney World. So, let’s take a look at some of the worst restaurants you might want to avoid on your trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Magic Kingdom

For many Disney World foodies, the Magic Kingdom is the weakest of the theme parks when it comes to food choices, but Disney has been stepping up its game, especially with the opening of Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen. But if you are headed to the Magic Kingdom, then you may want to skip the spots below.

Worst Table Service Meal – Cinderella’s Royal Table

Now, we know what you’re probably thinking, “What are you talking about?! This is one of the most iconic dining spots in Disney World!” And you aren’t wrong. Dining in Cinderella Castle is truly one of the ultimate magical Disney experiences. However, it is an incredibly expensive experience. One where you will be paying top dollar for food that is average at best.

Cinderella's Royal Table

Credit: Disney

Related: The Best Disney World Restaurants You’ve Never Been To

Adult breakfast costs $69 and includes classic American dishes like Shrimp and Grits, Steak and Eggs, and Banana-Stuffed French Toast. Lunch and dinner are a whopping $84, and guests get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Lunch and dinner include options like Braised Beef, Filet Mignon, Chilled Jumbo Shrimp, and Berries Mousse.

Cinderella's Royal Table Dessert

Credit: Disney

One thing that people love about dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table is that it is a character dining spot where they can meet several Disney Princesses. However, guests can save some money, enjoy a buffet, and still meet multiple princesses if they head over to EPCOT and dine at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Worst Quick Service Meal – Pinocchio Village Haus

The one big thing Pinocchio Village Haus has going for it is that it sits above Disney’s iconic “it’s a small world” attraction. But other than that, Pinocchio Village Haus definitely gets our vote for the worst quick service spot in the Magic Kingdom.

Pinocchio character figurines with quote "hi diddle de dee an actors life for me" at Pinocchio village haus

Credit: Disney

The menu is pretty simple, some pizzas and salad. Now, this restaurant would get a higher ranking if the pizza was really, really good. Unfortunately, it is average at best. And there are much better places around Disney World to grab a slice, like Via Napoli in EPCOT or Pizza Ponte in Disney Springs.

Caesar Salad and Chicken Caesar Salads are also a dime a dozen around the massive resort, so we recommend trying some other amazing options the Magic Kingdom has to offer. We suggest heading to Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square, where you can grab a Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich, made with Nutella, strawberries, bananas, and blueberries.

Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich

Credit: Disney

Or, maybe head to the Spring Roll cart, which is just outside the entrance to Adventureland. There, you can get the legendary Cheeseburger Spring Rolls. There is a reason that there is always a line for this delicious snack!

EPCOT

If you’re a Disney foodie, then EPCOT might just be your favorite Disney World theme park. Sure, great food can be found in the World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery areas. But the World Showcase is where it’s at for many. There are eleven pavilions — Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada — and each of those pavilions has its own dining options.

worldshowcase epcot

Credit: Disney

Related: The WEIRDEST Food We’ve Seen at Disney Parks!

Worst Table Service Meal – Coral Reef Restaurant

Now, there is definitely one thing that we can say about Coral Reef Restaurant, it might be the BEST restaurant when it comes to setting and ambiance. The restaurant is surrounded by giant glass windows that let guests watch an array of marine life swim around in a giant aquarium while they dine. So, if the setting is at the top of your list, then you may want to consider Coral Reef.

Interior of Coral Reef Restaurant

Credit: Disney

Unfortunately, the food that Coral Reef has to offer is not the best that Disney World has to offer. It’s not even the best that EPCOT has to offer. If you are a seafood fan, then you might enjoy it. However, if you are not a seafood eater, then there are only two options for you — the Roasted Cauliflower and the Mojo Chicken.

If you really want to enjoy some incredible seafood during your Disney World vacation, we suggest trying Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk. Or, you can head to Disney Springs, where both The BOATHOUSE and Paddlefish have mouthwatering seafood options.

Seafood tower at The Boathouse

Credit: The Boathouse

Worst Quick Service Meal – Refreshment Port

When you’re visiting EPCOT and looking for a quick bite to eat, you’ll want to skip Refreshment Port. During festivals, there are typically only one or two dishes available at Refreshment Port. And during the short amount of time when there is not a festival going on, there are only a few options, and they are not very noteworthy.

Typically, guests grabbing some food at Refreshment Port can only choose from Traditional Poutine, Chicken Nuggets with French Fries, and Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone.

A white plate containing several pieces of breaded chicken nuggets and a side of french fries. There is a small cup of dipping sauce in the background, reminiscent of meals you'd find at one of the worst places to eat at Disney World. The scene is set on a blue tablecloth.

Credit: Disney

Related: The BEST Choices For Drinking Around the World at EPCOT!

There are so many amazing places to eat in EPCOT, so we suggest skipping Refreshment Port on your next trip. If you want to indulge in the classic Canadian dish, poutine, then we suggest heading to the Canada Pavilion and dining at Le Cellier Steakhouse.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

“Let’s go to the movies! Let’s go see the stars!” Disney’s Hollywood Studios transports guests back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, or at least, it used to. Disney has made significant changes to the theme park in recent years, including the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

lunchbox-tarts

Credit: Disney

With the opening of new lands, amazing food options have also been added to the theme park, including Ronto Roasters, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, and Woody’s Lunch Box. Unfortunately, some disappointing options still remain.

Worst Table Service Meal – Mama Melrose’s

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has long been one of Disney World’s more controversial restaurants. Disney wanted guests to be able to get traditional Italian dishes, but they never seemed to live up to the hype. If guests wanted to get delicious Italian food, they would head over to EPCOT, and even Disney Springs to dine at Maria & Enzo’s.

Calamari

Credit: Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante

Related: Controversial Disney World Restaurant Overhauls Menu

Disney recently revamped the menu at Mama Melrose’s. New dishes include the Mushroom Artichoke Cheese Dip, Braised Pork Osso Bucco, Goat Cheese Pizza, and Pasticciotti Cream Tart.

Sadly, the changes aren’t enough for us to recommend dining at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano on your next Disney World vacation.

Rigatoni Mama Melrose's

Credit: Disney

Worst Quick Service Meal – Catalina Eddie’s

This choice might be a little surprising since there is always a lot of chatter surrounding PizzeRizzo — which replaced Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade in 2016. A lot of that conversation has to do with the “puffy pizza” served at PizzeRizzo, but in all honesty, the food is not that terrible. The salads and sandwiches are decent, and the price is perfect for a guest on a budget.

Now, Catalina Eddie’s, on the other hand, isn’t talked about much because it is entirely forgettable. The menu is incredibly small, and the quality is subpar.

Pepperoni Pizza Catalina Eddie's

Credit: Disney

Related: How to Have the WORST Day in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World

Guests who dine at Catalina Eddie’s will only be able to choose from Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad, Breadsticks, and a Toffee and Coconut Blondie. The Blondie might be a nice sweet treat, but there are so many other options that you can pass on Catalina Eddie’s during future Disney World trips.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney World’s newest theme park is also its most stunning. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is full of lush greenery, memorable attractions, and dozens of animals you can watch to your heart’s content. There is also a lot of great food, including Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork from Flame Tree Barbecue and Cheeseburger Bao Buns at Satu’li Canteen.

Steamed Cheeseburger Pods - Bao Buns

Credit: Disney

Related: Best Quick Service Dining Plan Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

With so much to enjoy at Animal Kingdom, you can definitely pass on some restaurants.

Worst Table Service Meal – Rainforest Café

So, Rainforest Café isn’t exactly a bad restaurant. It has an extensive menu that many people can enjoy, and the tropical atmosphere is really fun. Diners really enjoy the Beef Lava Nachos and the Sparkling Volcano dessert. There are also a ton of choices when it comes to salads, burgers, and pasta.

Rainforest Cafe

Credit: Disney

Rainforest Café made the list because there are locations all over the country. Rainforest Café is not unique to Disney, so why would you want to eat there when you can dine at places like Satu’li Canteen?

If you have picky eaters in your group, then Rainforest Café might be the best choice for you. But we recommend trying a restaurant that you can only enjoy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Worst Quick Service Meal – Restaurantosaurus

While the menu for Restaurantosaurus may be a little bigger than some of the other quick-service spots on the list, the food quality makes it our pick for the worst counter service in Animal Kingdom.

Restaurantosaurus exterior and sign

Credit: Disney

Guests who head over to DinoLand U.S.A. and eat at Restaurantosaurus can choose from dishes like Foot-long Hot Dog with Chili and Cheese, the 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger, a Cobb Salad, a Fried Chicken Sandwich, and more. Regrettably, while the dishes might sound really good, the quality will leave you saying “eh”.

We actually don’t know how much longer Restaurantosaurus will be in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney has announced that DinoLand U.S.A. will be transformed into Tropical Americas. Instead of focusing on dinosaurs, Tropical Americas will have areas dedicated to the Indiana Jones franchise and Disney’s hit film, Encanto (2021).

Encanto and Indiana Jones lands Animal Kingdom Tropical Americas

Credit: Disney

And there you have it, our picks for the worst restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort. Of course, these are just our opinions, but you’ll find that many guests agree with them. So, if you want to avoid potential disappointment, we suggest you give these restaurants a pass and opt for something else.

Which spot has your vote for the worst restaurant in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!