#6 - The Wave… of American Flavors, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Image: Disney
This restaurant is one of the hidden gems on the Monorail. For whatever reason, it doesn’t enjoy the same awareness as many of the other restaurants on the list, which is unbelievable to me. It’s conveniently located at the Contemporary on the ground floor. You just head past the front desk and you’re in the lounge, right beside the dining room to your left. Bookmark The Wave in your brain, because it’s one of the few table service establishments on the Monorail or at Magic Kingdom itself where you can walk up and get a table in many circumstances. The only noteworthy exclusion is when there’s a convention at The Contemporary. It’s one of the trendiest establishments on the Monorail, offering American cuisine cleverly fused with bold international flavors.You should also keep it in mind for the delicious breakfast buffet. Once you’re done, you either walk out into the lobby for bus transportation or head up to the fifth floor for the monorail.
#5 - 1900 Park Fare, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Image: Disney
I favor character meals, so your mileage might vary with regards to the top five. If you find them slow, tedious, or juvenile, you won’t appreciate 1900 Park Fare. During the morning it features the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, which brings to life the world of Mary Poppins, plus Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Tigger, too. Then, in lieu of lunch, they offer the Wonderland Tea Party for kids age four to 12. Once dinner rolls around, it’s time to enjoy Cinderella’s Happily Ever After dinner, including several storybook friends. You’ll want your autograph book and smartphone available for this one since the guest list of iconic Disney characters is variable and extensive. It’s one of the few places you can meet Prince Charming to, which is great for rare character enthusiasts!
The one drawback about 1900 Park Fare is that simply in terms of food, it’s one of the worst options on this list. They definitely skew young, but you can still find Disney’s signature Strawberry Floridian Soup on the menu. For many, that’s enough to justify the entire meal.
#4 - California Grill, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
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The criticism of Victoria & Albert’s above don’t quite match with California Grill. Yes, it’s pricey and yes, it’s a two-credit option on the Disney Dining Plan; however, it still offers more in terms of repeat value. Many people do go to California Grill on a consistent basis because of a couple of inimitable, exciting Walt Disney World experiences.
Guests check in for their meal at the California Grill on the second floor of the Contemporary. You’ll do most of your waiting on this floor. Then, you’ll feel like you’ve been let behind the velvet rope as you take an elevator up to the penthouse of the Contemporary. This is where the restaurant resides, and it offers a breathtaking view of many of the signature elements of Magic Kingdom. Windows stretch from the floor to the ceiling, and virtually everyone by now realizes that eating there during the fireworks provides one of the most magical views at Walt Disney World. Even if you finish your meal, you’ll be able to return to a viewing deck outside the building for the fireworks.
Both of these benefits are strong selling points, but the food is also amazing. Plus, California Grill offers one of the best options as a stop on a Monorail crawl. If it weren’t so expensive, it’d be the number one overall option. People who can afford California Grill should and do eat there on every Walt Disney World vacation.
#3 - Narcoossee’s, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Image: Disney
What’s to love about Narcoossee’s? Location, location, location! When you arrive at Grand Floridian, you’ll have a tendency to forget about this signature dining experience. That’s because it’s diametrically opposed from the hotel lobby, at the end of the hotel’s transportation boat dock. While that’s not ideal for people taking the Monorail, you’ll overlook your struggles in getting there once you’re seated at Narcoossee’s. The view here is spectacular, with most seats in the establishment offering a panoramic backdrop of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
While a lot of locations near Magic Kingdom have a reputation for being a great place to watch Wishes, Narcoossee’s continues to slip through the cracks as one of the least competitive options. That’s ridiculous since it offers one of the optimal ground floor viewings in the area. Finally and most important, the food at Narcoossee’s is absurdly good. If you love fish, this is arguably the greatest place at Walt Disney World. Their innovative concoctions are as decadent as lobster macaroni and cheese and the Narcoossee’s Candy Bar, a dark chocolate-mocha bar with homemade Guanaja Chocolate Gelato. You’ll go for the atmosphere, the backdrop, and the beachy setting, but you’ll come back for the seafood and the desserts.
#2 - Kona, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
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Located on the second floor of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Kona is only 50 steps away from its more storied sibling ‘Ohana, but that’s what I love about it. As people sit in frustration, waiting for their ‘Ohana table to open, I smile as I easily walk into Kona to get my table.
As I’ve mentioned before, this restaurant offers both my favorite steak and bread and butter. It also has a special seating area for sushi fans who want to be a part of the show as their meal is prepared. Kona is also one of the most intimate restaurants on the Monorail. They even have seating I can only describe as love seats on one wall. Plus, it has some of the most affordable prices of any Monorail table service restaurant on this list. I love Kona due to its bang for the buck, its atmosphere, its convenience, and its food quality. I seriously considered placing it first on this list, but it just can’t quite compete with...
#1 - Chef Mickey’s, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Image: Disney
Let’s work backward and start with the downside for Chef Mickey’s. At a cost in excess of $40 per adult and $21 for children under 10, it’s not cheap. Also, some of the buffet options are ordinary by Disney standards, which is a feature, not a bug. The target audience for Chef Mickey’s is the same one for Walt Disney World as a whole - children of all ages. The idea is to entice people with a smorgasbord of populist entrees and sides. When you’re eating at Chef Mickey’s, the “main course” is a misnomer. You’re not there for the fried chicken.
The appeal of the place exists on several levels. The first is that you drive right by it on the Monorail each time you ride through the Contemporary, building a subliminal hunger for the experience. Once you exit the Monorail, you’re only a few steps away from the restaurant, making it the most accessible table service option listed here. The first thing you do at check-in is head right to take a family photograph, cementing Chef Mickey’s as a memory for the ages. Once you sit down, the most iconic characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and even the cantankerous Donald Duck are all there to meet you.
Chef Mickey’s is impossibly loud, but you won’t care a bit. The noise stems from the raucous laughter of children. Disneyland’s slogan is that their park is the happiest place on earth, but I don’t believe that's accurate. I have never been to a place that felt closer to pure joy than Chef Mickey’s. You can’t put a price tag on something as pure as eating at Chef Mickey’s (even though Disney does). It is THE monorail table service restaurant.
Comments
The last time we went to Chef Mickey's was definitely the last time we will ever go there. And it's because of the birds. They fly all around overhead, making it feel like a dirty and unpleasant experience. And the food was just average. We also don't have any young kids with us anymore, so meeting the characters is something that, for us, is better done in the park.