9. Get your coffee at The Swan’s Java Bar instead of Joffrey’s or Starbucks

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Walt Disney World can be a rough place to visit if you’re particular about your coffee. The primary options available in Disney parks and resorts are Joffrey’s and Starbucks Coffee—decent options, but not everyone’s top choice. If you enjoy Joffrey’s and Starbucks, by all means continue to patron them, but if you’re looking for a coffee upgrade on your next trip, I recommend making a stop by The Swan resort.

The Swan’s Java Bar marks the best coffee we have found at Walt Disney World (besides coffee at the aforementioned Four Seasons Orlando). Their beans have been consistently high quality throughout our visits, and their drink selections are creative and well-executed. Their nitro cold brew is particularly good. If you want to try some coffee options that aren’t masked by too much syrup or sweetener, this is an excellent place to visit while touring between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They also offer some lovely shaken teas, green smoothies, light snack options, and even a few coffee drinks with health boosters like collagen.

10. Try L’Artisan des Glaces at Epcot instead of buying another Mickey Ice Cream Bar

Oh, I’m going there again…

I know many of our readers are passionate about Mickey Ice Cream bars. That’s totally fine, but let’s be honest—the appeal of Mickey Ice Cream bars is in the power of nostalgia, not so much the quality of the product. They’re good, but they aren’t that different from the average Klondike Bar. If having a Mickey Ice Cream bar is a time honored tradition for your family, by all means continue to enjoy them.

If you’re looking for a Walt Disney World exclusive ice cream upgrade, Walt Disney World is positively packed with amazing options. Consider Dole Whip floats—they’re delicious, totally Disney, and not something you can easily get at the supermarket. The sundaes available throughout the parks are impressive as well—you’ll find some incredible ice cream creations on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and at the Ghirardelli Soda Shop in Disney Springs, for example.

For a truly singular ice cream experience at Epcot, we recommend trying France’s L’Artisan des Glaces. This charming ice cream parlor is popular for good reason—not just for the quality of their ice cream, but because of their decadent Croque Glacé, a pressed brioche ice cream sandwich. These customizable ice cream sandwiches defy logic by pairing rich ice cream and a topping of your choice with a freshly pressed brioche. Some people describe it as the best thing they ever ate at Walt Disney World.

11. Try Picabu Market instead of Boardwalk Pizza

Calming the late night munchies at Walt Disney World has been tricky these last few years. Sure, you could DoorDash something to your resort from Orlando, but who wants to do that? Isn’t there anything decent to eat at late hours at Disney?

In the past, the best option was Boardwalk Pizza… not so much because it was the best but because it was open. The good news is Boardwalk Pizza isn’t the only choice for late-night Disney eats anymore—indeed, our go-to choice is just around the corner from it.

We can’t gush enough about Picabu Market at the Walt Disney World Dolphin—mostly because we want to make sure The Walt Disney World Dolphin never, ever closes it again. It’s not necessarily an easy place to find—it’s located as far as you can go in the farthest corner of the lowest level of the resort (if you find Gandalf fighting the Balrog, only then have you gone too far). The journey is well worth it for the variety available nearly 24 hours a day.

Picabu offers a lot of choices for late night diners, including a number of familiar dining hall staples like chicken meals, potatoes, and mac n’ cheese. The real place where they shine, however, is in their customizable burritos, bowls, and tacos. Guests can build their own southwestern entrée surrounding a protein of your choice like Carne Asada, Guajillo Pork, Adobo Chicken, or even Braised Jackfruit paired with a commendable range of toppings. We have always found the meats flavorful, and we can usually make a very filling late night meal out of a burrito paired with some snacks like chips and salsa.

12. Try Boma or Jiko instead of Sanaa or Tusker House

Disney has done a commendable job taking on African flavors as part of their restaurant lineup—there’s something truly special about this wonderful corner of Disney’s culinary spectrum, rich with bold flavors, creative pairings, and refreshing desserts. Most of the restaurants featuring African flavors can be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, with some options inside the park as well.

Which one is best, however? The two most popular choices are usually Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge (partially due to its striking savannah views) and Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. While both are good restaurants, we’ve found that neither quite reaches the quality of the two locations we wanted to highlight.

This one is a close call, but we wanted to highlight Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for one reason: the quality and variety is like nothing else at Walt Disney World. It truly remains one of Disney’s best buffets, an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Guests visiting Boma can expect both familiar and unfamiliar foods prepared with all the zest and creativity of Africa, with entrees including Durban chicken, beef tenderloin, Senegalese salmon, lamb bobotie, ox tail soup, Tunisian couscous, and even Disney’s famous Zebra Domes.

Want an experience upgraded even above what Boma can offer? Jiko is open for business again at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This incredible Disney signature restaurant remains one of the best places we ever ate at Walt Disney World. Words can barely describe this celebration of the flavors of Africa, a fully unique take on a steakhouse dining experience. It’s an ideal place for a date night, particularly if you’ll be celebrating a special day like an anniversary.

What are your top “Do This, Not That” recommendations for Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!