Walt Disney World is a foodie’s paradise! With so many restaurants to choose from, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the options. But what about if you’re a picky eater? Traveling to Walt Disney World as a picky eater can be difficult, but we are here to help! Here are our top picks for Walt Disney World Restaurants for Picky Eaters.
Walt Disney World for Picky Eaters
Whether you’re headed to Walt Disney World with a smaller traveler, or you personally don’t like a wide variety of foods, that’s ok! There are plenty of options for food that’s not too adventurous. Now when I speak of picky eaters, I’m not referring to those with such a refined palate that they can only eat the best of the best. Disney has a lot of high-quality food, and finding these places is generally pretty easy.
No, I’m talking about Walt Disney World guests whose dietary preference consists of macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. This is not to make generalizations, but rather in my experience as a travel agent, this is the request I get most often. When people ask for recommendations for picky eaters, they are usually inquiring about either themselves or their child and they only prefer a couple of things. Since most Disney restaurants are themed, finding just plain food can sometimes be a challenge.
Via Napoli for picky eaters at Walt Disney World
Who doesn’t love pizza?! Ok, so some people actually don’t love pizza. Which we think is wild, but hey, to each their own. But if you’re looking for something simple, at a sit-down restaurant, Via Napoli fits the bill when it comes to pizza. Delicious and shareable, you can’t go wrong with this one. Unless of course, you don’t like pizza.
For the full menu at Via Napoli click here.
Rainforest Cafe
Rainforest Cafe is not one that I personally ever recommend. But that’s because it’s actually a chain. You don’t have to visit Walt Disney World to eat at Rainforest Cafe. But if you’re a picky eater just looking for a fun, themed meal at Walt Disney World, Rainforest Cafe may be for you. The experience itself is a little cheesy in my opinion, but some people find it to be super fun. Overly themed to dining in a “rainforest”, with animatronic animals to boot, this place even has its own little shop to buy souvenirs.
And luckily for picky eaters, Rainforest Cafe is located in two places at Walt Disney World. One location can be found at Animal Kingdom. And one can be found at Disney Springs.
You can see the Rainforest Cafe menu here.
Restaurantosauarus for picky eaters
This one is a little controversial. Restaurantosaurus is often either on people’s best or worst lists. But I’m including this one because it has a limited menu perfect for those who don’t want anything exciting. Burgers, hot dogs, and fries, along with a few classic extras like cobb salad. If you’re on the hunt for simple food, this quick-service restaurant in Animal Kingdom may suit you just fine.
You can see the full Restaurantosaurus menu at Animal Kingdom here.
Boardwalk Pizza Window
Another pizza option that’s super easy and affordable. The Boardwalk Pizza Window offers Pizza by the slice, or you can buy the whole pie. It’s quick and easy, and if you like pizza, it’s pretty good. Get it plain with just cheese, or with pepperoni. We think this is actually one of the best to go options for hot food in the Boardwalk area. And it’s a great option for your budget!
You can see the Boardwalk Pizza Menu here.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe for picky eaters
Cosmic Ray’s offers a pretty simple menu. Burgers, chicken, fries, and mac and cheese make this an easy spot to appease most picky eaters. But the best part is, that if you’re not super picky, they also have a great toppings bar. So while the picky eater in your family may just be sticking to a plain cheeseburger or chicken strips, you can stack the toppings with whatever you want to make it a bit more exciting.
Best of all, Cosmic Ray’s has a good amount of indoor seating, which can be hard to find at quick-service restaurants in Walt Disney World. And most meals will cost you less than $15 per person here.
See the full menu for Cosmic Ray’s here.
Casey’s Corner
Casey’s Corner may or may not be for you if you don’t enjoy hot dogs. That’s all they sell. Hot dogs, corn dogs, and fries. So if you don’t like hot dogs or fries, then this may not be for you. But for those who love these things, Casey’s Corner may just be the ticket.
Casey’s Corner can get quite busy, especially close to the fireworks. So we recommend using mobile order here when possible to avoid those long wait times.
For the Casey’s Corner menu, click here.
T-REX
With a variety of burgers, pasta, and chicken, T-rex also offers a wide variety of other foods to appease the more adventurous eaters in your group. So even if you’re trying to find some simpler foods, not everyone eating at this restaurant will have to sacrifice on taste. T-rex is located at Disney Springs, making it a great option for arrival or departure days, or during days when you don’t have a park ticket. It’s kitschy, but it tends to be fairly popular. So be sure to get your advanced dining reservations for this one.
The full menu for T-Rex can be found here.
Liberty Tree Tavern for picky eaters
Liberty Tree Tavern is often overlooked as a table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom. And we understand why. With a Thanksgiving-themed menu, Walt Disney World can sometimes just be too hot for such a heavy meal. But if the picky eater in your family loves Thanksgiving food, then this restaurant may just be a hit. Serves family style, you can easily pick and choose what you like, as for more of something you do like, or ask them to leave something off the platter altogether. Know you don’t want the pork? Ask for double turkey instead. And the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is so delicious, the trip here is often worth it.
You can find the full Liberty Tree Tavern menu here.
Sci-Fi Dine in Theater
If you’re looking for classic, easy meals in a fun setting, look no further than Sci-Fi Dine in Theater. With mostly burgers, sandwiches, and salads, the kid’s menu is also one of the most basic menus you’ll find. Burgers, macaroni and cheese, and chicken are on the kid’s menu, meaning even the pickiest of eaters should be able to find something they enjoy. And with the fun setting of sitting in a pretend car at a pretend drive-in while watching old-timey cartoons. This reservation can be hard to get, so we recommend you plan ahead for this one!
The Sci-Fi Menu can be found here.
Tips for traveling with Picky Eaters at Walt Disney World
As you can see, there are plenty of restaurants for picky eaters at Walt Disney World. But if you do have someone particularly picky in your group, whether it’s you or someone else, there are a few tips that can help you navigate your day at Walt Disney World a little easier.
Plan your meals ahead of time
We always recommend doing this anyway. Being hangry is the last thing anyone wants at Walt Disney World. So we always recommend having a plan, and sometimes even a backup plan for all of your meals. In the case of traveling with someone who only likes particular things, this is especially important because not every restaurant will have food that someone a bit pickier might enjoy. Make sure you know of 1 or 2 quick service restaurants wherever you’ll be where you can grab something simple.
Bring snacks
If you have a really picky eater with you, consider bringing snacks. Although you can find a plain Mickey pretzel in most places around the parks, it might not be the most budget-friendly option when they cost $9 a piece. Popcorn is also a great option and less expensive. But bringing your own snacks means you’ll have something you know they like, and won’t have to be on the hunt until you find something.
Ask for other options
While it’s not guaranteed that every restaurant can accommodate you, most restaurants can offer kids menu items whether or not it’s on their menu. Things like chicken tenders are usually available at every table service restaurant at Walt Disney World. You do have to request it, and if that’s the only thing your kids (or you!) will eat, you may want to stop by the hostess stand earlier in the day and make sure they can fulfill your request. But generally speaking, most restaurants are able to grant simple requests like this.
Check out the Buffets
We didn’t list any buffets on here, mostly because many are still getting their footing from reopening over the last few years. And also because a lot of people don’t like buffets in general! I’ve found it’s very much a love-or-hate kind of thing. But if you really need a variety of kid-friendly, or kid-palate-friendly meals, buffets may be an ok option. Just be sure to check the menus before making those reservations, because currently, menus for a lot of buffets have been changing frequently as they reopen.
Traveling with a picky eater at Walt Disney World doesn’t have to be difficult! Plan ahead, get familiar with menus, and make sure you secure reservations for restaurants you know want. Easy! Do you have a favorite restaurant for picky palates? Let us know, we’d love to add it to the list!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
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