Food lovers flock to Walt Disney World to feast on candy apples, giant turkey legs, and as many Mickey-shaped ice cream bars as possible, but what about Michelin-starred dining? Disney’s various parks have a surprising number of high-end restaurants, serving everything from modern American cuisine to exquisite Japanese omakase – but none of them have ever been awarded a Michelin star… until now. For the first time in the park’s history, Victoria & Albert’s in Orlando has achieved the ultimate hallmark of culinary excellence.
Click or scroll on to find out more about Disney’s most exclusive (and most expensive) restaurant.
Victoria & Albert's is the jewel in the crown of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, showing there's truly something for everyone at the House of Mouse. The bona fide culinary destination serves up elegant modern American food with a French twist, and it's very highly acclaimed – receiving the AAA Five Diamond Award since 2000 and Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star rating since 2018. The latest accolade makes Victoria & Albert's the first and only restaurant owned and operated by a US theme park to hold a Michelin star.
As you might expect, dinner at Victoria & Albert's doesn’t come cheap. Hungry guests buckle up for an epic four-hour eating experience – the tasting menus start at around $300, but can be over $400 – complete with melt-in-the-mouth wagyu, luxurious seafood, and delicate patisserie. The restaurant first opened in 1988 and boasts an opulent interior inspired by Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebrations, with subtle Disney touches like a brass pumpkin from Cinderella.
Hungry for more? Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the best things to eat across Disney parks in America, from classic Mickey Mouse ice cream bars to cult-favorite Dole Whip.
Disney fans will already know about the truly tasty (and often Mickey-shaped) foodie treats served up at its US theme parks, as well as the many renowned restaurants, including Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, and New Orleans–themed Tiana's Palace, a long-awaited addition to the dining scene at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. With so many delicious treats on offer, we've rounded up the best of the best.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Inspired by the flavors and flair of 1920s New Orleans, the much-anticipated Tiana's Palace opened in early September 2023. It's themed around the dream restaurant Princess Tiana created in The Princess and the Frog, complete with Mardi Gras colors, a huge mural of the bayou, and a vintage jazz soundtrack. Popular dishes include the classic muffuletta sandwich and three types of gumbo, but it’s the beef po' boy, made with juicy slow-cooked beef coated in a rich gravy, that we’re desperate to try.
The sweet treat that’s got everyone talking at Tiana's Palace is the scrumptious house-filled beignet. The casual eatery is inspired by New Orleans, so it’s no surprise that there are beignets (airy, puffy fritters made from deep-fried choux pastry and liberally dusted with powdered sugar) on the menu. The zingy house special – stuffed with a delicious lemon icebox pie filling, and topped with a lemon glaze – is a must-try.
Another spot currently wowing Disney diners is the Roundup Rodeo BBQ, a Western-themed, family-style restaurant located in Toy Story Land that opened in March 2023. Styled to look like a rodeo arena for the Toy Story characters, the colorful eatery specializes in barbecued meat with all the fixings. The most popular choice is the platter of house-smoked meats, which includes smoked ribs, beef brisket, BBQ chicken, and a spiced pork sausage.
Disney World has a surprising number of higher-end dining options, and Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in EPCOT's Japan pavilion has fast become a must-visit destination for foodies. What makes this joint stand out is the fact that the menu and decor change every month, to celebrate Japan’s seasonal festivals. As well as sushi and sashimi, the restaurant specializes in okonomiyaki, a delicious savory pancake filled with shredded cabbage and bacon, topped with Japanese mayo.
Combining a soft, smooth swirl of vanilla ice cream with frozen pineapple and pineapple juice, Disney's iconic Dole Whip comes served either in a cup or as a tropical pineapple juice float. Not a pineapple fan? A wide range of alternative flavors including mango, lemon, orange, and lime can be found at parks across the US.
Not only are jumbo turkey legs one of Disney's most popular items (more than two million are sold each year), but they also boast a dedicated cult following and a line of merch. So what’s the secret behind the success of the gigantic snack? Nobody knows, exactly; the legs are cured to a special, closely guarded recipe, which gives them a tender texture and smoky, almost pork-like flavor. Tackle the beast alone or share yours with a friend – it’s up to you. Just remember that they’re not called jumbo for nothing...
The signature cookie at The Artist’s Palette, a café at the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, is a big hit with kids. The adorable sugar cookie is decorated with splashes of icing 'paint;' and even comes with an edible strawberry biscuit paintbrush – perfect for keeping little artists busy!
Sometimes you need a snack to stave off hunger pangs between rides and roller coasters, and that's where the Magic Kingdom's Mickey pretzels come in. They’re soft, doughy, and salty and, like so many things at Disney, super-sized. Take your pick from the plain original, or opt for one with a jalapeño or cream cheese filling. You’ll also find tubs of mustard and cheese sauce on hand for decadent dipping.
Corn dogs are a theme park essential, and the Magic Kingdom's offerings are a firm fan favorite. Coated in a buttery, honey-toned cornmeal batter, and deep-fried to perfection, they're satisfyingly crispy on the outside and comfortingly soft on the inside. Snackable corn dog nuggets are another tasty bite that's guaranteed to keep weary kids happy.
After an exhilarating day spent meeting Mickey and Minnie, there’s nothing quite like the Magic Kingdom's very own frozen lemonade to quench your thirst. The classic drink features slushy lemonade flavored with zingy, tangy lemon, and there’s a raspberry lemonade option too. In true Disney fashion, the drinks come with a special Mickey-shaped souvenir straw to take home.
Orlando’s Contemporary Resort Contempo Café recently had a complete menu refresh, and this adorable Minnie Mouse-shaped cinnamon roll is by far its most popular new item. A gooey, sticky cinnamon roll is dipped in red-hued white chocolate, then topped with a spotty white-and-red icing bow for the ultimate Disney treat.
If you’re a fan of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, you’ll be familiar with villain Gaston and his sidekick, LeFou, after whom this popular Magic Kingdom concoction is named. Often served in a special tankard you can take home, the alcohol-free drink is a mix of frozen apple juice and toasted marshmallow flavoring, with lashings of crushed ice. Finally, just to complete the beer-like look, it’s cleverly topped off with a passion fruit and mango foam.
Widely considered to be Disney's top plant-based offering, this Star Wars–themed dish (named after Planet Felucia from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) features Moroccan-style vegan meatballs, herb hummus, and tomato and cucumber relish, served with pita bread. You’ll find it at the Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo restaurants in the Galaxy’s Edge areas of the parks, which also offer vegan options for kids.
The days when Disney Parks were just about Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are long gone. The Stars Wars–themed Galaxy’s Edge areas at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are now just as much of a draw, as are Star Wars–inspired dishes like the Ronto Wrap, named after the gentle giants in the movies. Served in pita bread, the dish combines roast pork, spicy grilled pork sausage, tangy coleslaw, and peppercorn sauce. There’s also a breakfast version of the wrap, with scrambled eggs, grated Cheddar, and sausage.
If you’re traveling the galaxy and find yourself in need of a drink, a glass of Luke Skywalker’s blue milk (as seen in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) or green milk (as per Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi) could be just the thing. The blue milk looks rather less milky than the one in the movie, but it's delicious, nevertheless. Made with coconut and rice milks, and flavored with a tropical mix of dragon fruit, pineapple, lime, and watermelon, it’s a bit like a fruity slushie. The green milk, meanwhile, has a more citrusy flavor.
Not a million miles from those chocolate rice crispy cakes you may have made at home as a child, these Magic Kingdom snacks will bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded customers. They're essentially a Mickey-shaped rice crispy concoction on a lollipop stick, with the trademark ears dipped in chocolate.
This relatively recent addition to the Disney Parks food hall of fame is rapidly becoming a classic – and they’re not kidding when they say it’s 'not so little.' Served at the Avengers-themed Pym Test Kitchen, the brioche bun is more or less regular-sized, but squeezed into it you'll find a huge slab of crispy, juicy, fried chicken breast, pickled cabbage, coleslaw, and both teriyaki and red chili sauce. Its disproportionate looks are, of course, all part of the fun.
Disney says these are the 'happiest snacks on Earth,' and fans the world over tend to agree. The Mickey Ice Cream Bar has become an American classic, with smaller versions sold in supermarkets across the US. Featuring a Mickey-shaped vanilla ice cream coated in crunchy milk chocolate on a stick, there’s nothing complicated about it – but then again, the simplest ideas are often the best.
While these sugar-covered Spanish dough sticks are hardly a Disney invention, they're still one of the parks' most popular snacks. In true Disney style, the ones served here aren’t just any old churros. Instead, they're available in an array of irresistibly indulgent flavors, including salted caramel, Key lime pie, and apple pie, as well as a cinnamon-spiked 'breakfast churros' variety served with maple sauce.
Inspired by a line in the song 'Be Our Guest' from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Grey Stuff is actually far more appetizing than it sounds. A light and airy mix of crumbled cookies and cream-flavored vanilla pudding sits atop a scalloped cookie base – and it really is as delicious as our candelabra friend Lumière says it is.
Like most things that come from a galaxy far, far away, Disney's Star Wars–inspired Outpost Mix is wonderfully weird. Supposedly made from grains and spices collected by farmer Kat Saka of the planet Batuu, the snack is a blend of sweet, purple-hued popcorn and salty red chili flavor kernels, and it looks as jewel-like and exotic as you might expect.
As with so many other foods served up at the theme parks, the Disney waffle comes in a variety of flavors – from chocolate sauce-covered offerings to servings piled high with strawberries and honey. There are Mickey-shaped versions (of course), but you’ll also find waffles resembling The Lion King’s Nala and Simba, as well as plant-based offerings, and a sizable breakfast waffle with sausage, bacon, and golden syrup.
A favorite on Instagram, this multi-colored (and surprisingly tasty) frozen concoction comes from the Pandora: The World of Avatar area at Florida’s Animal Kingdom. It features refreshing apple and pear limeade, swirled to form green and purple layers, and comes complete with a crown of sunshine-colored, passion fruit-flavored boba balls.
Themed around the ghoulish Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida, this sweet blackberry milkshake is satisfyingly rich, cool, and creamy. But that's not all; it also comes finished with a purple frosting-topped chocolate donut that's generously dotted with black sprinkles. The spooky straw deserves a special mention, too.
Order a Squid’s Revenge at Florida's Magic Kingdom, and the first thing you'll notice is the gigantic octopus tentacle perched ominously over the edge. It's basically Disney’s own version of a Mexican Michelada cocktail: a slightly spicy mix of tomato juice, beer, and lime that's often compared to a Bloody Mary. Here it's served with a dash of spices, and rimmed with bright blue salt.
Another Disney Parks staple, these colorful candy apples come with a predictably huge variety of coatings (chocolate, caramel, and nuts, to name a few). Each one is also themed around a different character – and not just the ones you’d expect. Yes, there are Mickey and Minnie versions complete with polka dots and pink bows, but you can also try apples inspired by other favorites like Olaf, Goofy, Nemo, and Kermit the Frog.
Now discover the strange story of how Starbucks took over the world
Last updated by Natasha Lovell-Smith.