Dining and Snacks

You need this, and don't worry I have a tutorial! 

WDW and resorts are mostly cashless. You pay with credit card, phone/tap, smartwatch, and gift card.

The App serves as a pay source too, since you can mobile order.

Reservations for sit-down restaurants are made through the App.

WDW has some of the best food, created by award-winning chefs, and is presented with pixie dust and Bubble magic. 

Each resort hotel has its own quick service, casual dining, fancy dining, and bars/lounges. You can see all menus on the App. 

You do not need to be staying at a resort hotel to eat in their restaurants. 

You do need a reservation to be able to get on to that hotel's property, unless you take some other form of transportation in (that is not your personal car).

Steakhouse 71, at the Contemporary Resort

• the Lounge has a separate menu
• straight out of the 70s, this restaurant is a casual dining option
• steak and classy drinks
• I have never been mad at this choice. It is regularly visited during our trips
• Secret Tip: plan to take the 5 minute walk over to MK after dinner and watch the fireworks, then walk back...and avoid the monorail and TTC traffic
• walk-up only for the Lounge, set up reservation for sit-down in the dining room

Whispering Canyon Cafe, at the Wilderness Lodge

• great breakfast option
• comfortable atmosphere and the servers are sassy
• waffles, eggs, meat platters
• mimosa flight!
• love this resort, my son enjoys running and exploring 

Tusker House, at Animal Kingdom Park

• character breakfast in the cutest safari outfits! (Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Daisy)
• the food is amazing, and buffet style, with signature African fare at one station, all-you-care-to-enjoy
• many familiar items, but also a section of African dishes
• Friendly Reminder: you also need a reservation/ticket for Animal Kingdom Park

Boma, at Animal Kingdom Lodge 

• similar food to Tusker House, no characters, lesser cost
• buffet style, all-you-care-to-enjoy
• Perk- you are in Animal Kingdom Lodge and can wander around. Live animals on the savanna, photo ops, culture to the max, excellent gift shop, all around beautiful atmosphere
• Perk the second- a quick bus ride away from AK park (don't forget your park pass)

San Angel Ristorante, Mexico Pavilion, EPCOT

• familiar Mexican food, but with a more formal flare
• I highly recommend the chicken fajita skillet
• Friendly Reminder: you also need a reservation/ticket for EPCOT

Magic Kingdom

• Spring Rolls, by Adventureland
• Cinnamon Roll, Gaston's Tavern (available until 10am-ish)

Hollywood Studios

• Beer and pretzel, Baseline Taphouse
• Popcorn from Kat Saka's, Galaxy's Edge

EPCOT

• France. Just go to the bakery and pick something. Even a little loaf of bread is ridiculously amazing.
• giant pretzel from Germany
• the on-special beer at Refreshment Port
• chips and guac, Mexico
• tacos, Mexico
• three-layered margarita, Mexico
• just go to Mexico
• any festival booth food

Animal Kingdom

• anything on the menu at Nomad Lounge, Kungaloosh beer (it is as close to a Christmas Ale as you will get. It is also superb.)
• Dole Whip with/without alcohol, Tamu Tamu 
• anything at Flame Tree Barbeque

Popcorn, from any stand (pro tip- buy the bucket, you can reuse forever, and refills are $2)

** NOTE ** a credit card must be on file in the app to use these options

I suggest some practice, in the comfort of your home, before you execute this on property.

• Within the + button on the App home screen, choose Check Dining Availability OR Order Food

Check Dining Availability allows you to see a range of dates, at various (or filtered) locations.

• you can see immediate walk-up availability and/or set up a reservation here too

Order Food

• you can order immediately with Available Now, or schedule this transaction
• choose the location in the blue line drop down
• tap Begin Order: you will see the entire menu, adding to your "cart" works the same as any other mobile order app.
• ** NOTE ** there is no discrimination for age and ordering from either regular/kids menu

Besides ordering meals to go, or grabbing snacks at will, the Dining Plan is also available.

However take caution. 

This is meant for bigger families staying for longer than a weekend, and you have to eat expensively, to make it work.

You will order the big ticket items, a snack multiple times a day, sometimes big/fancy drinks, and have three large meals a day.

For some, this may not be your style of meal structure. It is certainly a lot of food that you then carry in your belly, on rides throughout the day… in the warm Florida sun…