- Mar 13, 2024
- 8,635
- 36
There’s no doubt the majority of Disney World Cast Members LOVE Disney. However, sometimes even they have their limits. After all, you work in Disney World six days a week for over six months, you start seeing Mickey Mouse in your dreams!
Blooming Rose
Yes, there are some things we REFUSE to do now that the Disney Food Blog team of former Disney World Cast Members is off the clock. Today we’re talking FOOD. After working in EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we have some opinions about Disney World dining. Here’s a list of all the places we DON’T plan to visit any time soon.
OK, with a team full of former Disney World Cast Members, no one around here wants to Be [Disney’s] Guest.
Be Our Guest
Let’s just take a second to look at the prices. This place has a prix-fixe menu, and the meal is $72 per adult and $43 per child. It’s not cheap. But that’s not our biggest gripe because, for a three-course meal, it’s not totally unreasonable to charge roughly $23 per dish. The problem is the food itself!
Steak Frites
We’ve eaten a LOT of Disney food. A LOT. There’s just something about the menu here that leaves us feeling a little let down. The atmosphere? Stunning! The highly rushed Beast sighting and mediocre entrees? Disappointing. For the price, we wanted a little more.
Beast in Be Our Guest at Disney World
This restaurant used to be a fan favorite. In fact, we used to LOVE coming here for breakfast. But breakfast à la carte is no more. We miss those days.
Most Disney World Cast Members — both former and current — seem to agree that Coral Reef is just not a go-to spot for people looking for a really good meal in EPCOT.
Coral Reef Restaurant
Again, the atmosphere here is pretty unique. You’re dining next to a HUGE tank full of fish! That’s not something you can do at your local Cheesecake Factory, eh?
Entertainment while you eat!
But, once again, we need to address the food. It’s just not our favorite! Coral Reef has some stiff competition in EPCOT. It’s got Via Napoli, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Le Cellier, and La Hacienda de San Angel to compete with, and those are some POPULAR restaurants.
New England Clam Chowder
When you work in EPCOT and get to smell the heavenly scents of Karamell-Küche and smoked meat at EPCOT festival booths on a daily basis, you certainly don’t feel inspired to walk past all the amazing World Showcase offerings for a bowl of Clam Chowder. Just sayin.
Sorry, Mr. Eclipse. We don’t mean to offend. But of all the quick-service locations in Magic Kingdom, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is usually our least favorite.
Hello, old friend.
Is this a good place for picky eaters? Sure. Maybe. Do the chicken tenders have that star quality we look for in a good fried meal? Not really. They’re just okay!
Chicken Strips
We will say, the new Buffalo Chicken Strips are a standout and worth grabbing if you do stop by Cosmic Ray’s!
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magical Guides-Buffalo-Chicken-Strips-Cosmic-Rays-Starlight-Cafe-Food-Restaurant-Tomorrowland-Magic-Kingdom-Disney-World-7-2-e1763590701741-700x481.jpg
Buffalo Chicken Strips
We can’t bash this place too much because you may still catch us here if we’re starving and need a quick snack, but Magic Kingdom has better options. Cheeseburger Spring Rolls will ALWAYS beat the actual burgers served here.
This may be a little bit of a hot take! You may be surprised to see this on the list. But really, this is a one-and-done restaurant for us. The atmosphere is fine (there is a nice view of the World Showcase Lagoon, though). The food is, once again, mediocre. But with so many BETTER places to eat in EPCOT, we can’t confidently recommend this one to our friends.
Rose and Crown in the UK
Let’s be honest — most people probably come here for the drinks, not the food. There’s nothing wrong with that, but be warned that this location can be NOISY, so it’s probably not the place to take a family with small children.
Finally, we have to talk about one of the heaviest themed EPCOT restaurants, Space 220.
Space 220 in EPCOT
This place is known for its atmosphere. The story goes that you’re dining wayyy up in space, 220 miles above Earth. You even take a space elevator to get up to the restaurant. Fun!
Full spread
With such an interesting dining concept, we had high hopes for this place! Ultimately, though, the prices felt a little too high, and the menu didn’t “wow” us. Are we being a little harsh with our opinions? That’s up to you to decide! If you love the menu items here, like the Gemini Burger or the Steak Salad, enjoy! But when we’re working with a $55 for lunch/$79 for dinner two-course prix-fixe menu, we want to leave satisfied. Ultimately, we didn’t.
Those views are COOL, though!
So, what do you think? Are you ready to disagree in the comments? We want to know! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
What do YOU think about these choices? Let us know in the comments!
Blooming Rose
Yes, there are some things we REFUSE to do now that the Disney Food Blog team of former Disney World Cast Members is off the clock. Today we’re talking FOOD. After working in EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we have some opinions about Disney World dining. Here’s a list of all the places we DON’T plan to visit any time soon.
Be Our Guest
OK, with a team full of former Disney World Cast Members, no one around here wants to Be [Disney’s] Guest.
Be Our Guest
Let’s just take a second to look at the prices. This place has a prix-fixe menu, and the meal is $72 per adult and $43 per child. It’s not cheap. But that’s not our biggest gripe because, for a three-course meal, it’s not totally unreasonable to charge roughly $23 per dish. The problem is the food itself!
Steak Frites
We’ve eaten a LOT of Disney food. A LOT. There’s just something about the menu here that leaves us feeling a little let down. The atmosphere? Stunning! The highly rushed Beast sighting and mediocre entrees? Disappointing. For the price, we wanted a little more.
Beast in Be Our Guest at Disney World
This restaurant used to be a fan favorite. In fact, we used to LOVE coming here for breakfast. But breakfast à la carte is no more. We miss those days.
Coral Reef
Most Disney World Cast Members — both former and current — seem to agree that Coral Reef is just not a go-to spot for people looking for a really good meal in EPCOT.
Coral Reef Restaurant
Again, the atmosphere here is pretty unique. You’re dining next to a HUGE tank full of fish! That’s not something you can do at your local Cheesecake Factory, eh?
Entertainment while you eat!
But, once again, we need to address the food. It’s just not our favorite! Coral Reef has some stiff competition in EPCOT. It’s got Via Napoli, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Le Cellier, and La Hacienda de San Angel to compete with, and those are some POPULAR restaurants.
New England Clam Chowder
When you work in EPCOT and get to smell the heavenly scents of Karamell-Küche and smoked meat at EPCOT festival booths on a daily basis, you certainly don’t feel inspired to walk past all the amazing World Showcase offerings for a bowl of Clam Chowder. Just sayin.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Sorry, Mr. Eclipse. We don’t mean to offend. But of all the quick-service locations in Magic Kingdom, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is usually our least favorite.
Hello, old friend.
Is this a good place for picky eaters? Sure. Maybe. Do the chicken tenders have that star quality we look for in a good fried meal? Not really. They’re just okay!
Chicken Strips
We will say, the new Buffalo Chicken Strips are a standout and worth grabbing if you do stop by Cosmic Ray’s!
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magical Guides-Buffalo-Chicken-Strips-Cosmic-Rays-Starlight-Cafe-Food-Restaurant-Tomorrowland-Magic-Kingdom-Disney-World-7-2-e1763590701741-700x481.jpg
Buffalo Chicken Strips
We can’t bash this place too much because you may still catch us here if we’re starving and need a quick snack, but Magic Kingdom has better options. Cheeseburger Spring Rolls will ALWAYS beat the actual burgers served here.
Rose & Crown
This may be a little bit of a hot take! You may be surprised to see this on the list. But really, this is a one-and-done restaurant for us. The atmosphere is fine (there is a nice view of the World Showcase Lagoon, though). The food is, once again, mediocre. But with so many BETTER places to eat in EPCOT, we can’t confidently recommend this one to our friends.
Rose and Crown in the UK
Let’s be honest — most people probably come here for the drinks, not the food. There’s nothing wrong with that, but be warned that this location can be NOISY, so it’s probably not the place to take a family with small children.
Space 220
Finally, we have to talk about one of the heaviest themed EPCOT restaurants, Space 220.
Space 220 in EPCOT
This place is known for its atmosphere. The story goes that you’re dining wayyy up in space, 220 miles above Earth. You even take a space elevator to get up to the restaurant. Fun!
Full spread
With such an interesting dining concept, we had high hopes for this place! Ultimately, though, the prices felt a little too high, and the menu didn’t “wow” us. Are we being a little harsh with our opinions? That’s up to you to decide! If you love the menu items here, like the Gemini Burger or the Steak Salad, enjoy! But when we’re working with a $55 for lunch/$79 for dinner two-course prix-fixe menu, we want to leave satisfied. Ultimately, we didn’t.
Those views are COOL, though!
So, what do you think? Are you ready to disagree in the comments? We want to know! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
YOU CAN, TOO.
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What do YOU think about these choices? Let us know in the comments!
