Walt Disney World offers many restaurants for guests. What are the best Disney World buffets or family-style restaurants? For most Walt Disney World visitors, the idea of sitting down to an all-you-care-to-eat meal sounds odd. Still, Walt Disney World offers a wide variety of all-you-care-to-eat dining options. These range from character meals to themed buffets and meals where a server brings the food to your table. Guests can find these at the four Disney theme parks and the Disney-owned resort hotels. Should your group enjoy one of these meals during your Walt Disney World vacation? With so many options, where should your group dine at Walt Disney World? Should you reserve a buffet or family-style meal?

What Type of Meal Are You Looking for at Walt Disney World?

Walt Disney World visitors vary in their desire for a buffet or family-style meal. Of course, the meals differ significantly. Some offer Disney characters. In fact, there are nine Walt Disney World character meals that are either buffet or family-style. We previously broke those down in our “Best Disney World Character Dining” article. If character dining is your group’s priority, that resource will help. Not all thirteen Walt Disney World character meals will make this list of best buffets or family-style meals.

Other Walt Disney World table service meals are family-style, with servers bringing the all-you-care-to-enjoy items to your table. Several Walt Disney World table service restaurants function as buffets. One option in this category is offering entrees and a buffet add-on. Another all-you-care-to-enjoy Walt Disney World restaurant offers skillets, unlimited milkshakes, or a la carte entrees. Deciding which Walt Disney World buffet (or family-style style) restaurant can be challenging. This resource aims to point Walt Disney World guests in the right direction for their vacation.

Advanced Dining Reservations

One step that guests sometimes overlook when planning their dining at Walt Disney World involves the advanced dining reservations. Making these can make or break your Walt Disney World buffet or family-style dining experience.

Walt Disney World table service restaurants accept advance dining reservations. We suggest parties interested in enjoying a Walt Disney World buffet select the restaurant as early as possible. Guests will use the My Disney Experience mobile app or their computer browser to do this. Also, guests can book advance dining reservations up to 60 days in advance.

Disclaimers about Best Disney World Buffet or Family Style Restaurants

We have two significant disclaimers about our choices for the best buffet or family-style restaurant at Walt Disney World. First, our list of the best does not include some unique all-you-care-to-enjoy options. Several Walt Disney World Resort hotel table service restaurants have entrees that are all-you-care-to-enjoy, but this does not cover the entire menu.

For example, at Whispering Canyon at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, guests can order all-you-can-eat skillet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These make great meal options at Walt Disney World. However, guests can visit those places and not order a buffet or family-style meal. Thus, we did not include those styles of dining options. Sadly, the breakfast buffet at Ale & Compass did not make the list for similar reasons. Guests dining at Ale & Compass at Disney’s Yacht Club can purchase a wonderful value for breakfast with an add-on buffet. The buffet options are not very expansive, but the price of the buffet add-on can be as little as five dollars, depending on the main entrée ordered. So, guests can get an all-you-care-to-eat meal with a beverage for $28 plus tax and tip.

Best Ten Disney World Buffets (or Family-Style) are not Ranked in this Article

Second, we did not rank these in any order. If they make the list, then we can visualize some groups picking that restaurant as the best choice for them.  In this category, dining can be very personal. For example, those who want Walt Disney World characters will look for specific table service restaurant options. Others who wish to enjoy the best food value will consider another option.

Third, this list does not include every Walt Disney World buffet or family-style restaurant. If you do not see one on this list, we feel that better options fulfill the strength of that table service restaurant. For example, Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios did not make this list.  The food quality there still falls under the level of comparable character buffet meals. Unless the kids in your group must meet those Disney Jr. characters during breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, better options exist elsewhere. For clarity, 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort did not make our list either for similar reasons.

In addition, some dining options did not make the “Top Ten” list because there were only so many slots. Having made all those disclaimers, it is time to present the list.

Top Ten Disney World Buffets (or Family-style Dining): Biergarten at Epcot

Biergarten makes this list for groups looking for a good “Disney value” buffet inside one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Biergarten can be found tucked in the back of the Germany pavilion of the World Showcase.

The large dining area at Biergarten makes this advanced dining reservation one of the easier to acquire. Also, some guests express concern about German-style food. We think those concerns should be placed aside since the buffet at Biergarten offers plenty for everyone.

The buffet contains various German-style items like traditional sausages, chicken, sauerkraut, potatoes in many forms, and schnitzel. The buffet at Biergarten presents some of the best-tasting food at a buffet at Walt Disney World. However, the buffet at Biergarten lacks the variety of vegan options one usually expects.

The ability to cater to everyone earns Biergarten a spot on this list. Picky eaters will do well at Biergarten. The buffet features enough unique and “safe” items to satisfy your group. The buffet costs $49 per adult. Based on the prices of the buffets at Walt Disney World, that price fits nicely in line. A children’s buffet costs $27.

In terms of atmosphere, Biergarten would not be considered a quiet dining option. A German-style polka band plays, creating a version of dinner and a show at Biergarten. Depending on the time, dancing might also be happening. Biergarten offers plenty of quality food and entertainment, causing it to make this list.

Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Based on the idea that some groups would find this character buffet a must-do, Chef Mickey had to make a top ten list. Though we struggled to rate this character meal in the top tier in that category, Chef Mickey’s easily deserves to be on this list,

Historically, the food at Chef Mickey’s has been considered below average, especially for the increased price of character dining. However, based on our most recent visit, the food quality has improved slightly.

This very popular restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort consists of the “Fab Five” Disney characters and a buffet meal. Guests can meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. However, the environment will be noisy.

Chef Mickey’s qualifies as one of the most active dining locations around. The dining area can become congested. However, most of the Disney characters will come to your table. You may need to wait in line at the end of your meal to meet either Mickey or Minnie. This place offers breakfast and dinner Disney character meals. Breakfast costs adults $58. Kids’ breakfast costs $37. Dinner costs $69 and $44.

The menu consists of comfort-style food. The breakfast options include pancakes, fresh tropical fruits, and sweet Mickey waffles. Guests will enjoy juicy carved meats, buttery mashed potatoes, and mac ‘n’ cheese for dinner.

Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

In contrast to the noisy character meal at Chef Mickey’s, guests can find “Disney value” and a more laid-back atmosphere for dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro. At Sebastian’s Bistro, your meal comes with unlimited food skillets or plate refills. Also, your meal starts with signature bread. At Sebastian’s Bistro, they bring buttery house-baked pull-apart rolls. These come with guava butter and caramelized onion jam. The butter and the jam make this bread taste wonderful.

Soon after the bread service, you receive the salad course for dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro. The Spice Necklace Salad includes mixed greens and kale with spiced candied pumpkin seeds, tropical fruit, and radish with key lime dressing.

The main course earns the title of “Taste of the Caribbean.” Guests may order this in a standard form or a vegan-friendly version. The standard selection comes as a plate of oven-roasted citrus chicken, slow-cooked mojo pork with mango sambal, grilled chili-rubbed beef with mojito relish served with cilantro rice and beans, vegetable curry, and grilled seasonal vegetables. Just like the salad, guests may request unlimited amounts of these plates. Considering the cost for an adult is $39, that makes for an excellent value, especially at Walt Disney World.

The vegan version of “Taste of the Caribbean” offers some expected alternatives. Vegan diners may enjoy an Impossible™ kabob, fried jerk tofu, and Impossible™ sausage served with cilantro rice and red beans, vegetable curry, and grilled seasonal vegetables. We have not consumed this version at Sebastian’s Bistro. However, our friends dining exclusively vegan stated that this meal holds up very well regarding vegan dining on Walt Disney World property.

The dessert consists of a bread pudding. Sebastian’s Bistro also offers a plant-based version. Sebastian’s calls their version a coconut-pineapple bread pudding. This bread pudding gets drizzled with caramel sauce. Vanilla ice cream finishes this concept. The vegan version involves plant-based caramel sauce and vanilla rice milk frozen dessert. This family-style meal costs the least of any table service dining in this category at Walt Disney World.

Ten Best Disney World Buffets (or Family-style Dining): Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Our next stop on this buffet and family-style dining tour takes us to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This Walt Disney World Resort hotel offers some of the best dining on the property. Boma shines as the buffet table service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Boma—Flavors of Africa table service restaurant serves breakfast and dinner buffets. It boasts a family-friendly buffet with an African flair. Boma—Flavors of Africa (commonly just called “Boma”) is in the Jambo House section at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on the first floor of the main building.

Guests will encounter a large dining room resembling an open-air African marketplace with thatched-roof-style ceilings. Of course, Walt Disney World visitors will be treated with the most outstanding care at Boma. Most of the tables are located in the large dining area. Sturdy wood characterizes the tables and chairs. Also, the largest tables are shaped like the continent of Africa. Away from the dining area, guests will see several buffet stations. These contain an array of food choices.

Boma serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with the last reservation spot being at 11:25 a.m. on most days. The dinner buffet starts at 5:00 p.m. and runs until 9:30 p.m.

This buffet offers all the expected standards to satisfy the picky eaters. However, the African twist on several items elevates this place to a higher status. The chefs do a good job creating interesting entrees that taste good. Guests looking for a solid Walt Disney World buffet without the upcharge price of characters should consider making the trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to visit Boma – Flavors of Africa.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground continues to be one of the longest-running dinner shows in the United States of America. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue started back in 1974 at Walt Disney World. Except for minor changes, the show marches similarly close to the original version. This “corny” dinner show features talented musicians and equally talented Pioneer Hall Players. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue transports you to a Disney version of the past with singing and dancing. Also, guests should be prepared to be part of the show.

Though this family-style restaurant can be a challenge to get to, it has plenty to offer. Guests receive a show, and you can enjoy food and alcoholic beverages. You read that correctly: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue guests can have unlimited beer and sangria.

Pricing for the meal varies based on where you book to sit. Still, guests should expect to pay around $65-75 for this family-style meal. Many guests claim this is a must-do dining for every trip to Walt Disney World. Guests looking for dinner and a show that do not mind the hassle of getting to and from Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness should prioritize this during their Walt Disney World vacation,

‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

‘Ohana continues to be one of the most complex advanced dining reservations to acquire at Walt Disney World. This table service dining option presents guests with all you care to enjoy skillets during breakfast and dinner. The breakfast works as a character meal with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto. Dinner does not involve characters, but guests enjoy a range of quality dinner options like shrimp, chicken, and steak.

Breakfast costs $53 for adults and $33 for kids. This Polynesian-themed restaurant offers a family-style breakfast with all-you-can-eat pineapple coconut bread, fresh fruit, and loaded breakfast skillets. Guests can enjoy scrambled eggs, spicy sausage links, Hawaiian-style ham with pineapple, crispy potatoes, and Mickey waffles. Of course, the meal opens with sweet pineapple coconut bread. ‘Ohana also provides guests with many vegan and gluten-free menu items.

The character experience is superb at ‘Ohana. Mickey and Pluto appear in tropical outfits. ‘Ohana earns many positive reviews for family-friendly food and immense character fun near Magic Kingdom.

However, ‘Ohana sometimes struggles with reservations being seated later than scheduled. This should be considered if you plan to visit the Walt Disney World theme parks after your meal. In addition, the character experience often gets loud with a parade of sorts going through the restaurant. Those looking for a relaxing meal might want to choose a different Walt Disney World character meal.

The family-style dinner costs $65 for adults and $42 for children. The dinner menu consists of:

• Mixed Greens Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
• Signature ‘Ohana Bread with Honey Butter
• Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings
• Pork Dumplings Tossed In Garlic-Chili Sauce
• ‘Ohana Dinner Skillet, which contains Wood Fire-grilled Black Pepper-Mirin-Teriyaki Beef*, Peel-n-Eat Shrimp coated with ‘Ohana Seasoning, Grilled Chicken with Guava-Pineapple Glaze, ‘Ohana Noodles with Mirin-Teriyaki, and Stir-fried Vegetables
• ‘Ohana Bread Pudding À la mode with Homemade Caramel Sauce.

Like the breakfast menu, vegan dining options are effortless to order here. Other dietary adjustments include gluten-free, which is also easily done at ‘Ohana. These and other reasons are why ‘Ohana continues to be one of the most desired advanced dining reservations at Walt Disney World. Breakfast will cost $53 for adults and $33 for kids aged three to nine. Dinner costs more at $65 and $42.

Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom

While the food will not be as good as at ‘Ohana, Liberty Tree Tavern offers excellent value in terms of theme park buffets or family-style meals. Liberty Tree Tavern offers traditional turkey, pot roast, and mashed potatoes. In our article about the best Magic Kingdom food, we rated this table service option just below The Crystal Palace. However, we would choose Liberty Tree Tavern over The Crystal Palace in this category. If your group wants character dining with Winnie the Pooh and friends, then The Crystal Palace makes a great choice. However, regarding food quality, we would choose Liberty Tree Tavern.

Liberty Tree Tavern provides decent plant-based options. Still, the main reason for visiting is what Liberty Tree Tavern calls the “Patriot’s Platter.” This consists of roasted turkey, pot roast, oven-roasted pork, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, herb stuffing, and macaroni & cheese. This meal ends with Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake, a vanilla toffee cake, chocolate sauce, and vanilla ice cream. Some guests dine here just for the dessert. We suggest you save room for it!

Liberty Tree Tavern is an excellent choice for a filling meal. The major negative of Liberty Tree Tavern comes down to the style of food, not the quality. Many feel that a hearty meal like this does not make for an enjoyable time running around Magic Kingdom afterward. Also, many guests want something other than a roast or turkey dinner while at Magic Kingdom. Despite that, an all-you-care-to-eat meal at Magic Kingdom for $44 for adults ($24 for kids) sounds like great value.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at Epcot

Since this is a dining discussion at Walt Disney World, the character dining with the Disney princesses must make the list. Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom involves the castle atmosphere and the premier princess experience. However, it also comes with a challenge to book it. If guests book it, then they face sticker shock of paying basically $100 for lunch or dinner when tax and tip are calculated in the equation.

Based on that and a few other factors, we suggest that groups looking to dine with princesses visit Epcot to enjoy the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Guests will find this in the Norway area of the World Showcase. Despite not meeting Anna and Elsa of “Frozen” fame at this meal, many other Disney Princesses will visit you at your table. Along with Belle, guests will see other Disney princesses like Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, Mulan, and others. The characters visit diners at the tables in their sparkling gowns for photos and hugs.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall offers character meals for breakfast for $59 and lunch and dinner for $69. Breakfast features mostly standard items, while lunch and dinner include more unique dishes like grilled Norwegian salmon, kjøttkake meatballs, and chocolate mousse cake with blackberry cream.

We find this Disney Princess dining option to be of better value than others and more relaxing. It also avoids the issue of the prix fixe meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

The meal is served family-style now. In the distant past, this Akershus Royal Banquet Hall was a buffet. Walt Disney World states guests can “Delight in family-style platters fit for royalty! For breakfast, enjoy pastries, scrambled eggs, potato casserole and Norwegian waffles! Lunch and dinner highlights include field greens salad with lingonberry vinaigrette, traditional kjØttkake (Norwegian meatballs), and grilled salmon.

Be sure to save room for dessert—a platter of 2 delectable desserts served family-style for the perfect ending to your feast.”

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/akershus-royal-banquet-hall/

The most significant negative for many guests involves the food. Though dining is family-style, the menu contains some unique Norwegian cuisine. Some guests express a dislike for those items. Still, the meal overall creates more fans than dissenters.

Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This character buffet table service restaurant offers unique dining and plenty of characters. This makes an excellent choice for those looking to fill their stomachs while at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tusker House serves a buffet meal with Disney characters for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast costs $49 for adults and $33 for children aged three to nine. Lunch and dinner cost $64 and $42.

Donald’s Dining Safari at the Tusker House Restaurant offers great African-inspired food, fun characters, and lively entertainment. For breakfast, there are Simba Waffles, Durban Chicken, and egg curry with jasmine rice. For lunch and dinner, guests can choose from Moroccan-spiced beef, Berber-marinated pork, herb chicken, or green curry shrimp.

Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy visit guests while wearing their safari gear. Guests can take plenty of photos with the Disney characters amid all the excitement. However, this character meal can be loud when the characters enter to special music for dancing.

The most notable advantages of this Walt Disney World character meal are the high quality of the food on the buffet and the competitive pricing compared to other character meal options. However, some guests expressed concern that the African cuisine did not align with their tastes and that the restaurant had brief noisy periods.

While the food at Tusker House does not match the quality of Boma over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we enjoy dining here. When dining with picky eaters or those with dietary concerns, they find plenty to eat at Tusker House.

Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Our final table service restaurant on this list is at Disney’s Beach Club. This buffet beats out places like Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Garden Grill at Epcot based on food quality and value. Cape May Café offers a character breakfast buffet and a dinner buffet without Disney characters.

The breakfast and dinner buffet cost $49 for adults. While some of the more upscale buffet items are no longer included at that price for dinner, most guests still find value at Cape May Café.

We enjoy Cape May Café because of its location at Disney’s Beach Club Resort near Epcot and its buffet options. For breakfast, Disney characters appear. Guests should expect Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy. They will be seen wearing their summer-style attire. The breakfast buffet provides guests with made-to-order omelets, a carving station, and breakfast Disney World standards like Mickey waffles, fresh fruit, oatmeal, and cheddar biscuits with gravy. Several tasty pastries can also be found on the buffet. Be careful not to fill up too much on those.

For dinner, the menu transforms into a buffet leaning towards seafood items, as you might expect at Disney’s Beach Club. Since this buffet resides outside the theme parks, it offers a more relaxing environment.

The most significant weaknesses revolve around the noise factor at breakfast and some inconsistencies in terms of service. Despite those things, we would choose Cape May café over many other table service options at Walt Disney World.

Working up an Appetite for Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation?

The “Pixies” at Pixie Vacations can help you plan your next Orlando area vacation. The talented and experienced staff can guide you in planning a magical vacation. They will also be with you every step of the way with their fee-free services. Guests can get a free, no-obligation quote at the Pixie Vacations website. Happy vacation planning, and as always, eat like you mean it, especially on vacation!