7. 1900 Park Fare

Image: DisneyIf we were grading simply on ambience, 1900 Park Fare would rank in the top three for sure. As far as buffet meals go, it’s one of the finest on the Disney campus. You actually do serve yourself here, although a cast member supplies you drinks.

When you reach the buffet islands, you’ll discover grilled chicken, Mississippi catfish, and the Grand Floridian’s legendary Strawberry Soup. Amazingly, those are just the starters. 1900 Park Fare provides savory dishes such as pork loin and Mongolian beef, too.

The overall menu here is very good, and the desserts are divine. I’m a huge fan of the fruit tart while my wife is all about the cheesecake. We enjoy the overall experience here so much that I regret not ranking it higher, but there are much better AYCE restaurants at Walt Disney World…and that’s an amazing fact since 1900 Park Fare is so good.

6. Whispering Canyon Café

Image: DisneyThis one is kind of a cheat. I know that some of you are ready to point out that Trail’s End is the true AYCE joint at the Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness Resort area. That’s definitely correct, but despite the shared facilities, I’ve always had better food at Whispering Canyon Café, and they have an AYCE menu item that’s in the conversation for best thing to order at Walt Disney World.

The All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Skillet is $32 per person. For that not insignificant cost, you get enough food to last you for a week. I think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not 100% sure. A server brings you massive skillets worth of food, with everything from cornbread to mashed potatoes to baked beans in one skillet. My favorite of the sides is the grilled corn, as I can somehow taste the rustic. And those are just the side vittles.

The entrees are pork ribs, glazed chicken, and pulled pork. There’s so much of it that I guiltily cover my Fitbit’s display when the skillet arrives. This meal is among the most savory and thematic experiences on the Disney campus. Trail’s End is theoretically the same, but it just hasn’t worked out that way for our family. Whispering Canyon Café is always better for us.

5. Cape May Café

Image: DisneyOne of the trends in Disney is for the buffets to have a certain level of sameness. That’s a feature, not a bug. Disney wants theme park tourists to feel comfortable at any restaurant. They stock the menus with similar items, comfort foods that most people enjoy. Virtually anyone can fill a plate with this sort of food, but it’s also generic.

Cape May Café is different. This is the only true seafood buffet onsite, and it’s amazing. The selection of seafood would make Neptune proud. You will smell this restaurant half a mile before you reach it. My family has a running joke about this as we head to Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Anyone doesn’t like the smell of fish should avoid this place like it’s on fire, but for the rest of us, it’s magic.

4. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Image: DisneyYou’re noticing a theme here. I’m a southerner, and I love classic camping staples. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is (arguably) the longest running musical variety show in the world. It’s also dinner theater. While the musical revue may cost more than the other restaurants listed here, the show means that you get more for the money. Call it a wash.

As for the food, the entrees get it a song! You know the chicken’s good if total strangers are singing, “More chicken! More chicken!” The best part is the servers slamming the giant plates on the table in front of you, creating a cacophony of poultry. No, it doesn’t help the flavor any, but it does lift the spirits. As for the food, look, Wilderness Lodge is my type of place. The food they serve is authentic campfire cuisine. I’m a huge fan, and this is my favorite meal onsite.