Disney World Dining

Photo © AJ Wolfe

Disney World (and Land) vets know about the character breakfast at Cinderella's Palace, the Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party and an abundance of Mickey-shaped pancakes and pepperoni pies. But the Disney parks—in Orlando, Florida and Anaheim, California—have undergone culinary transformations in the last few years, becoming destinations that can be equally beloved by families who need quick value-friendly meals and adults who want extended dinners.—Julie Alvin

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Artisanal Spirits at La Cava del Tequila Bar

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Mexico Pavilion, Epcot

The upscale, hacienda-style tequila bar pours over 100 tequilas and mezcals as flights or in inventive cocktails like margaritas made with avocado, hibiscus or jalapeño. There's a shortlist of Mexican-inspired snacks such as spicy shrimp cocktail with fried tortillas.

Mexico Travel Guide

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Fried-to-Order Franks at the Corn Dog Wagon

Photo courtesy of Disney

Anaheim: Main Street USA, Disneyland

Locals have been known to make weekly trips to the theme park just to pick up this cart's hand-dipped, fried-to-order corn dogs. Know that the hot, crispy real thing will erase any pleasure formerly garnered from the prefrozen versions sold at carnivals.

All-American Recipes

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Caramel at Karamell Kuche

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Germany Pavilion, Epcot

The new caramel café in the German Pavilion is fashioned like a Bavarian cottage and sells cupcakes, apples and popcorn all slathered in its namesake. Patrons can snag free samples.

German Recipes

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Dole Whip at the Tiki Juice Bar

Photo courtesy of Disney

Anaheim and Orlando: Disneyland Resort, Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Dole Whip is an über-refreshing, frozen pineapple soft-serve that's only available at Disneyland and World, the Dole Plantation in Hawaii and a couple other locations worldwide. Dole-ophiles can spoon tart mouthfuls out of pineapple juice floats.

Caribbean Travel Guide

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Mickey-Shaped Melons in Disney Greenhouses

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: The Land Pavilion, Epcot

During the hour-long "Behind the Seeds" tour of the Disney greenhouses, guests are privy to experimental cultivation techniques, and witness trees and vines growing mickey-shaped lemons, watermelons, cucumbers and pumpkins. Diners at the Garden Grill restaurant might later find such cucumbers on their salads.

The Best Cucumber Recipes

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Wood-Fired Pizza at Via Napoli

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Italy Pavilion, Epcot

Opened in the summer of 2010, this pizzeria and gelateria serves blood-orange-juice coolers, fried arancini (rice balls) and pizzas pulled from giant wood-burning ovens designed in Naples. The mozzarella is flown in from Italy (as are, often, the servers), and the pies are made in strict adherence to Neapolitan pizza rules, with San Marzano tomatoes and a crisp, charred crust.

Italian Food, Wine, Travel and Style

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Gluten-Free Sweets at Babycakes

Photo © Rosina Murphy

Orlando: Downtown Disney Marketplace

This Manhattan bakery became a cult after perfecting cupcakes without gluten or dairy. The dense confections are made with rice or bean flour and sweetened with agave, but even the non-allergy-prone like the pretty pastel frosting and flavors like red velvet, banana-blueberry, lemon and vanilla.

Dessert Recipes

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Thanksgiving Year-Round at Liberty Tree Tavern

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom

This replica of an 18th-century American inn contains real Colonial artifacts and working fireplaces. It serves family-style Thanksgiving dinner every day of the year: platters of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, glazed ham, applesauce, mac and cheese and apple crisp.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipes

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Craft Beer at Big River Grille and Brewing Works

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Disney's Boardwalk Resort

The only microbrewery on the property, the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Big River Grille has five taps (some seasonally rotating), an outdoor patio, an on-site brewmaster and exhibition brewing rooms. Beer Advocate rates the label's Dunkelweiss a noteworthy B+, but there are pilsners, IPAs and stouts as well.

Best American Beer Bars

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Good Coffee at Joffrey's

Photo © AJ Wolfe

Orlando: Epcot

While Nescafé monopolizes almost all of the Disney properties, Florida-based Joffrey's grinds and brews high-quality coffee from Colombia, Ethiopia and El Salvador at four locations throughout Epcot. The company sells more than 124 premium blends and roasts its beans in Tampa, just over an hour away.

How to Make Coffee

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Frontierland Turkey Legs

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Frontierland, Magic Kingdom

The mammothly amusing salty-smoked legs sold from a wagon in Frontierland are now ubiquitous on Disney grounds. Not common knowledge: The Bamm-Bamm-worthy bones may run upward of 1,000 calories.

F&W's Most Popular Meat Recipes

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Neighborhood Coffee Shop at The Writer's Stop

Photo © AJ Wolfe

Orlando: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's version of a bookstore-cum-coffeehouse employs focused baristas and provides shelves of books—plus cozy chairs to read them in (or break for carrot cake). Occasional book signings attract the likes of crime novelist Ridley Pearson.

Video: How to Make Crepes

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Hong Kong Fish at Flying Fish

Orlando: Disney's Boardwalk

It's off the menu and has to be ordered at least a day ahead, but the Hong Kong Fish is a terrifically fresh local yellowtail snapper, coated in tempura batter and fried whole. There's even a chef's counter in the kitchen so diners can watch the action.

Hong Kong Travel Guide

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Rice Krispie Treats at the Main Street Bakery

Photo © TheseAmazingPlaces.com

Orlando: Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom

The old time U.S.A.-style bakery and candy shop has monstrous and incredible Rice Krispie Treats and cinnamon rolls—and dining credits will cover the cost. Homemade ice cream sandwiches are also fantastic.

How to Make Marshmallows

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Dine with Animal Academia at Sanaa

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal specialists proffer knowledge about the giraffes, zebras and wildebeests roaming outside Sanaa, where the relatively exotic Indian-African menu includes green curry shrimp, tandoori lamb over Basmati rice and flaky, griddled paratha breads.

Global Recipe Guide

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Legendary Bread at La Brea Bakery Cafe

Photo courtesy of La Brea Bakery

Anaheim: Downtown Disneyland District

An offshoot of the famed SoCal bakery founded by Mario Batali's Mozza partner, Nancy Silverton, makes sandwiches on artisanal breads. The stellar loaves also anchor breakfast as in brioche French toast with cranberry compote and a melty, Gruyère-loaded croque madame on country white sourdough.

Video: How to Make Bread

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Walt Disney's Secret Club 33

Photo courtesy of Disney

Anaheim: New Orleans Square, Disneyland

Before he died in 1966, Walt Disney founded the members-only Disneyland Club 33 with the goal of entertaining politicos and other important guests. The French New Orleans-inspired gallery space and dining rooms weren't finished before his death, but 33 upheld its exclusivity—the waiting list to join the club is said to be fourteen years.

New Orleans Travel Guide

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Ohana's Vegetarian Menu

Orlando: Disney's Polynesian Resort

All Disney restaurants can accommodate vegetarians, but the Polynesia-themed Ohana is the most buzzed-about. When diners call ahead, the chef customizes a menu that might include stir-fried tofu, and house-made baba ghanouj.

Vegetarian Recipes

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Dinner and a Movie at Fork and Screen

Photo courtesy of Disney

Orlando: Downtown Disney

Opened in May 2011, AMC's dine-in theater complex, Fork and Screen, takes reservations and waiters deliver cocktails and full courses—like smoked salmon BLTs and chocolate spooncake—to moviegoers in their seats.

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Gospel Brunch at House of Blues

Orlando: Downtown Disney West Side

Top gospel choirs serenade brunch goers every Sunday at the House of Blues when the buffet is piled with southern favorites like biscuits and gravy, cheesy grits, fried chicken and jambalaya.

Comfort Food Recipes

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Disney World Dining

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Artisanal Spirits at La Cava del Tequila Bar

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Fried-to-Order Franks at the Corn Dog Wagon

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Caramel at Karamell Kuche

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Dole Whip at the Tiki Juice Bar

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Mickey-Shaped Melons in Disney Greenhouses

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Wood-Fired Pizza at Via Napoli

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Gluten-Free Sweets at Babycakes

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Thanksgiving Year-Round at Liberty Tree Tavern

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Craft Beer at Big River Grille and Brewing Works

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Good Coffee at Joffrey's

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Frontierland Turkey Legs

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Neighborhood Coffee Shop at The Writer's Stop

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Hong Kong Fish at Flying Fish

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Rice Krispie Treats at the Main Street Bakery

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Dine with Animal Academia at Sanaa

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Legendary Bread at La Brea Bakery Cafe

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Walt Disney's Secret Club 33

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Ohana's Vegetarian Menu

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Dinner and a Movie at Fork and Screen

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Gospel Brunch at House of Blues

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