Top 5 Best Disney Resort Quick Service Restaurants

Nothing beats finding a good, budget friendly meal at Disney World, especially when you’re filling your Disney Days to the brim with activities, rides and shows. But sometimes, the best places to grab a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner aren’t inside the parks, they’re at the resorts. Luckily, all the parks have Disney Resorts nearby that make it easy to take a break, and relax for mealtime. So when we are at Walt Disney World, we find ourselves heading to the resorts for our quick service meals. And while you can also stop for the typical “theme park food” at the Disney Parks Quick Service Restaurants, we like to opt for the Disney Resort Restaurants instead. Not only do they usually have shorter lines, but they often have better food, specialty and seasonal menus and desserts and more seating. Read on for the best quick-service restaurants at the Walt Disney World resorts!

What is Quick Service at Disney World?

If you’re looking for food fast, Disney Quick Service Dining is just counter service food that requires no reservation! Meaning you can just walk right in, up to a counter, and order. Better yet, you can even Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience App, so there’s no wait at all. And at the resorts, you can find some of the best quick service restaurants around.

Plus, they’re usually less busy. Which is nice when you’re trying to escape the crowds. Quick-service dining options at the resorts are available to everyone. So, you don’t need to be a guest staying there to enjoy these restaurants.  The easiest way to get to most of these is going to be Disney transportation. But you can also drive or take an Uber. And depending on which park you’re visiting, some of the Disney Resorts are within walking distance of the parks. In our list here, we’ll share what restaurant, at which resort, and what park it’s closest to so you can make a day plan. Here are our favorites.

Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort | Near Magic Kingdom Park

Found at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Contempo Cafe is not only one of the best quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World, but it’s also super easy to get to if you’re spending a day at Magic Kingdom. Just a 5-10 minute walk or the first stop on the monorail from Magic Kingdom and you’re there. Contempo Cafe is located on the 4th floor, so if you’re taking the monorail, head down the stairs one level and follow the flow of the room. It’s located right next to the entrance of Chef Mickey’s, which means that it sometimes can get a little loud. But it’s usually not disruptive. And it’s a cool place to see the monorail running through the contemporary. Kids love that part! Best of all, the seating is all inside! So it’s a great place to escape the heat or rain at Walt Disney World for a little bit.

Contempo Cafe has, in the last couple of years, mostly been using mobile order for all orders. Just be aware that you may not be able to order in person here.  You can find flatbreads, salads, burgers, and unique desserts here. Once in a while, they even have a little more adventurous limited-time offerings. We recently tried a Banh Mi from Contempo, and it was completely delicious. Truthfully, we’ve never had a meal here that we didn’t like. See Contempo Cafe’s Menu here. 

Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort | Near Magic Kingdom Park

Another restaurant conveniently located on the Magic Kingdom Resort Monorail Loop ( acccessible just outside the park) is Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian Resort. Captain Cook’s has both indoor and outdoor seating which we love because we never feel like finding a table is a difficult task.  They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. And fans of Kona Breakfast will love that they can find the beloved Tonga Toast here too.  It doesn’t come with the strawberry topping here, but it is just a little over $10 making for a great budget meal at Walt Disney World. Other breakfast options include breakfast burritos, platters, and of course Mickey Waffles. 

At lunch and dinner, guests can find Polynesian-inspired flavors along with American classics. With menu items like Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables, burgers, pulled pork, and salads, you’re sure to be able to find something for everyone to enjoy here. Find the full menu for Captain Cook’s here. 

The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge | Near Animal Kingdom Park

We love the quick service options at Animal Kingdom, but sometimes we just need a slower pace. That’s where The Mara comes in. The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge tends to be a go-to for us during Animal Kingdom days when we need a break from the Park. Not only do they have some of the most unique and fun desserts in their bakery case, but they also offer fun flavors you generally won’t find anywhere else. Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our favorite resorts in general. So just being able to spend time there is always a win for us! They also offer inside seating and outside seating that is in the shade. So even on hot days, seating at The Mara is pretty comfortable. Just grab the Animal Kingdom Lodge Bus, outside of Animal Kingdom Park, for a quick 10 minute bus ride, so you can enjoy lunch, enjoy the resort, and see the animals roaming on the savanna there too. You can find unique flavors inspired by AFRICA. The Mara quick service menu can be found here.

Primo Piatto at Disney’s Riviera Resort | On the Skyliner Line

One of Walt Disney World’s newer resorts, the Disney’s Riviera Resort, has brought with it some exciting new restaurants. You can get to the Riveria Resort by taking the Disney Skyliner from Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. If coming from Hollywood Studios, you’ll make a transfer at Caribbean Beach Resort. But believe us when we say, seeing these resorts and expereincing the restaurants, is worth it, no matter where you’re coming from.

We are big fans of Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort, and it has quickly become one of the most popular character breakfasts at Walt Disney World. But what if you can’t score that hard-to-get reservation? Or maybe it’s just not in your budget, cost, or time-wise. You can still enjoy a nice meal at the Riviera by visiting Primo Piatto! This quick-serve restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And with it being on the Skyliner route, it’s also easy to get to. And if you’re looking to add something a little extra special to your breakfast, you can easily stop by Le Petit Cafe for fancy coffees and pastries. 

For breakfast, guests can enjoy items like Blueberry-Lemon pancakes, French Toast Bread Pudding, and Croque Madame. For lunch and dinner, you’ll find pizzas, burgers, lasagna, and salads. You can find the full Primo Piatto menu here. 

Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | Near Magic Kingdom Park

Our love affair with Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has been a long one. And after our recent stay there, which was a bit longer than usual, we stand by that this is one of the best resorts at Walt Disney World. I mean, can we just live here? Probably not, but a girl can dream. Sigh. Easily accessible, you can grab a boat from Magic Kingdom Park, and head to Winderness Lodge for any meal and a stroll around the best Disney Resort at Disney World.

Roaring Fork is the resort’s main quick-service restaurant. And even though they’ve recently redone their menu, and gotten rid of the chicken and waffles, everything we’ve eaten there has been fantastic. Roaring Fork is also one of the few resort quick-service restaurants that offer specialty coffees. We were so smitten with the S’Mores Latte we even created a Disney Copycat recipe. So, if you’re looking for coffee at Walt Disney World, Roaring Fork has some fun options. 

On the menu, you can find things like quiche, breakfast croissants, and pastries. And for lunch and dinner, hearty options like barbeque brisket, burgers, and salads are available. And a great stop for some food during a resort break or on your way to enjoying some quiet time at Territory Lounge. See the full menu for Roaring Fork here. 

Resort Dining at Disney World

Overall, we feel the quick service options at the resorts are generally some of the best quick service restaurants at Walt Disney World.  If you have the time and don’t mind leaving the Parks for food, we highly recommend checking out what the resorts have to offer. Did your favorite make the list? Let us know!