If you’re looking for meals that won’t break the bank, then consider a buffet dinner while at Walt Disney World. Buffets range in price, themes and whether or not characters will be present.
Magic Kingdom buffet places:
The Crystal Palace – The Crystal Palace actually provides a Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Buffet with your favorite Characters from the Hundred Acre Woods. Expect to see Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. This is one of our favorite meals at lunchtime and we’ve heard rave reviews about dinner. Adult pricing is $27.99 and children ages 3-9 are priced at $12.99. The restaurant offers a Victorian theme. Items that may appear on the menu are peel and eat shrimp, prime rib, salmon, salads, desserts, etc. This is one of the more gourmet buffets. They also feature a buffet with several kid friendly favorites like pizza and macaroni and cheese. If you’re dining here, remember since it is located in a theme park, admission to the theme park is required. (In other words, you can not eat here without entering the Magic Kingdom using a park ticket.)
Liberty Tree Tavern – A character meal with Colonial charm. Dine with Minnie and friends on a Thanksgiving Feast fit for a King. Menu items you’ll find here include salad, rolls, Turkey, and all the trimmings, flank steak, etc. Adult Pricing is $27.99 and children ages 3-9 are $12.99. As with the Crystal Palace, admission to the Magic Kingdom is required to dine at this restaurant.
Epcot Buffet Places
Biergarten – This restaurant is located in the Germany section of the World Showcase. Biergarten offers German favorites and live entertainment. Biergarten offers both a lunch and dinner buffet. Adult dinner pricing is $23.99 and children ages 3-9 is priced at $12.99. Admission to the park is required.
Garden Grill – The Garden Grill offers both lunch and dinner character meals. Even though you don’t fix your own plate this is still considered an all-you-can-eat meal. The meal is served family style and offers items like fried catfish, flank steak, fresh veggies, and dessert. Characters here are Farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. Pricing for adults is $28.99 and children pricing is $13.99. Admission to the park is required.
Hollywood Studios offers only one buffet restaurant at dinnertime.
Hollywood & Vine – This restaurant offers a buffet meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and Lunch both offer characters and is referred to as “Play-n-Dine”. Dinner offers no characters and is reasonable priced at $24.99 for adults and $12.99 for children ages 3-9. The menu changes daily but expect to find items like salads, vegetables, grilled meats, seafood, children’s selections, desserts, etc. Admission to the park is required.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom does not offer any buffet meals at dinnertime.
Several of the Disney resorts offer all-you-can-eat meals. Park admission would not be required to dine at these restaurants so for the days that you do not plan to enter the park, this would be your best option if this is the type of meal you are looking for.
Boma – This is one of our favorite buffets. Boma is located in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Boma offers a breakfast and dinner buffet – both character free. Dinner pricing for adults is $26.99 and Children ages 3-9 are priced at $12.99. I will say that this restaurant is more for the adventurous eater. Menu items here are on a rotation basis and are meant to give diners a sampling of African inspired dishes. If you get here before your reservation time, you may be able to view some of the animals from one of the savannahs.
Chef Mickey’s – Chef Mickey’s is located on the fourth floor of the Contemporary Resort. This restaurant offers character buffets for breakfast and dinner, featuring Mickey Mouse himself. Dinner items change regularly. Expect to be pleased though as most resort buffet meals are of high quality. Dinner pricing for adults is $29.99 for adults and $14.99 for children. (This one is a little pricier compared to other restaurants.)
Trail’s End Restaurant – This restaurant is located at the Ft. Wilderness campground. It is buy far one of the cheapest buffets you’ll find on property. Buffet is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Expect to find good down home southern cooking here. This place is rather small compared to other restaurants. Dinner is priced at $18.99 for adults and $10.99 for children.
1900 Park Fare – This restaurant is located at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The 1900 Park Fare offers character buffets for breakfast and dinner in a Victorian setting. Dine with Cinderella and friends during the dinner buffet. The items on the buffet here are more gourmet and worth every penny. Items you’ll find here are soups, salads, several meat selections, and an array of desserts. A kid’s station is also available. Dinner is priced at $29.99 for adults and $14.99 for children.
‘Ohana – This restaurant is located on the second floor of the Polynesian resort. This all-you-can-eat feast is brought to your table and served family style. I listed it as a buffet because it is all you can eat for one price. Ohana also offers a Lilo and Stitch character meal at breakfast. For dinner expect to see items like salad, chicken, wings, wontons, veggies, and meat brought out on large skewers. Save room for dessert! Dinner is priced at $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for children ages 3-9. Be prepared to be entertained while you dine. (This place can be kind of noisy.)
Cape May Café – This restaurant is located at the Beach Club Resort. The Cape May Café offers a character breakfast buffet with Goofy, Minnie and other characters in their beach gear. At dinner the buffet is set to resemble a clambake. (Great choice for seafood lovers.) Items here include clams, mussels, and shrimp among several other choices. For the non-seafood lover, don’t worry; there are choices like prime rib and BBQ ribs. (The desserts here are also amazing.) Dinner is priced at $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for children ages 3-9.
There are other restaurants like Akershus Royal Banquet Hall that I didn’t list for several reasons. Even though it is a set price and there are buffet choices to select from on a cold bar, I didn’t feel that it was really an all you can restaurant since you order only one entrée. Also the Whispering Canyon Café offers an all-you-can-eat entrée that can be ordered off of the menu, but remember no sharing!
Some of the character meals charge you a fee even if you decide to tag along and not eat with others in your party. (An entertainment fee.)
We feel that the dinner buffets offer a great variety for the price. Some of them are easier to get reservations for than higher end restaurants. In all cases though, it’s best to call as early as possible to make a reservation. You can make a reservation at any Disney restaurant by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE.
