Disney World Food and Snacks – Where to Start

Mickey-shaped pretzel at Walt Disney World

You’ve planned everything from where you are staying, to which park you are going to when and what rides you HAVE TO ride. But what about food?

There are so many choices for food and snacks while at Walt Disney World, it quickly becomes overwhelming! Will you be having table service meals, quick serve or just snacking along the way? Or will you be mixing it up?

For those of you that don’t know, table service meals are typically more expensive meals with multiple courses. This is also where you will find character dining, meaning you get to see different Disney characters while you eat.

Quick serve meals are more like a “fast food” option where you order on the My Disney Experience app or at the counter, and you take it with you to a table to eat. These tend to be less expensive, smaller meals.

Mickey-shaped pretzel at Walt Disney World
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival sign with Spaceship Earth

And Disney sure has LOTS of snack options to choose from! Everything from pretzels to popcorn to the famous Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, there is almost a snack kiosk around every corner in the parks. And those options expand during the festivals held at Epcot, as they have festival specific booths
available.

The great thing about all the options that Disney offers, is there is something for everyone! And if you don’t see it on the menu, chances are good that Disney can find what you want. If you have picky kids (or are picky yourself), you can talk to your waiter at table service locations, and they will be able to advise if they can accommodate your request. Things like chicken fingers and fries or mac and cheese are quite common at most locations, even when they aren’t listed on the menu. 

Hand holding a festival snack at Epcot

And Disney sure has LOTS of snack options to choose from! Everything from pretzels to popcorn to the famous Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, there is almost a snack kiosk around every corner in the parks. And those options expand during the festivals held at Epcot, as they have festival specific booths
available.

And if you don’t want to miss out on valuable park time with table service meals, then quick-serve or snacks will be your jam! This allows for so much flexibility, as you can just order something on the app or jump in line at a kiosk whenever you get hungry and whatever is closest to you. For quick serve though, be prepared for long waits (“ready times”) for meals during high-demand times. You can order hours ahead of time if you know where and when you would like to eat, although this does limit your flexibility.

Strawberry Nutella waffle snack at Walt Disney World

If you want to read more about dining options throughout the parks, follow us for future posts about specific dining in each park and each level resort.

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Ashley Flowers

Ashley Flowers is the owner of When You Wish Travel and has been helping families plan vacations since 2016. A wife, mom, and frequent Disney traveler, she combines firsthand experience at Disney destinations, Universal Orlando, and aboard cruise ships with practical advice for busy families. She believes the best vacations leave room for both the must-do experiences and the little moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.

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Sarah Barrette

Sarah Barrette has loved travel since she was 15, with adventures spanning France, Panama, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Alaska, and the Southern Caribbean. After visiting Walt Disney World with her husband in 2018, she’s returned every year, including a special trip with their children. While Disney is her specialty, Sarah enjoys planning everything from adults-only retreats to family vacations, bringing personal experience and thoughtful attention to every trip.

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Madison Fariss

Madison Fariss is a When You Wish Travel dream designer specializing in Disney destinations, Universal Studios, all-inclusive resorts and cruising. A mom of two toddlers in Western Kentucky, she heads back to the Disney parks year after year, whether she's on a cruise, hugging Minnie at Disneyland or park-hopping at Walt Disney World with a Mickey pretzel in hand. She loves taking the stress out of planning so families can focus on the magic.

Sarah Barrette

Sarah Barrette has loved travel since she was 15, with adventures spanning France, Panama, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Alaska, and the Southern Caribbean. After visiting Walt Disney World with her husband in 2018, she’s returned every year, including a special trip with their children. While Disney is her specialty, Sarah enjoys planning everything from adults-only retreats to family vacations, bringing personal experience and thoughtful attention to every trip.