5 Hidden Hotel Restaurants That Are Beloved By Disney World Reviewers

I’m not the only one who feels slightly overwhelmed when I realize just HOW MANY great restaurants there are in Disney World, right?

I mean, on both the quick service and table service sides, there are just so many great meals and snacks to try in Disney World, how am I supposed to choose which ones to experience again on my next trip? Thankfully, we’ve got AllEars team members in the parks each and every day to try the new snacks that pop up, and keep restaurants on their review list so we can be sure we’re bringing you the latest reviews, but even we can’t be at every single Disney World restaurant every day. And that’s when we turn to YOU! I’m getting ready for my trips coming up later this year and wondering where I want to eat, and I decided to check out the reviews YOU, our readers, have left on our website, and wow, there are some hidden gems we all really need to be appreciating more!

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop

Now this place has been on my personal list for quite a long time because of those decadent ice cream creations BUT there is truly so much more offered at Beaches and Cream than just sweet treats.

Located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort,  you’ll find this exciting, bright restaurant. You may have heard about the MASSIVE Kitchen Sink ice cream sundae here that has every single ice cream flavor and topping on the menu (it’s NO JOKE), but there are also some pretty fantastic lunch and dinner options here as well. AllEars reader Tabren writes:

“Beaches & Cream has one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten at Disney World. It’s just a good, basic burger,and sometimes that’s what you really want. And the fries are AMAZING!!!! The menu isn’t huge but it offers a good variety of choices, especially for desserts and ice cream. The cast members are super friendly and accommodating, and the theming is perfect. You’d swear you were sitting in a seaside soda shop.”

Now, if you’re not a fan of noise (or someone in your party isn’t), you likely won’t be a fan when the staff breaks out into celebration and dramatically brings a table the Kitchen Sink, so that’s something to keep in mind. It’s also not going to be the most mind blowing food you’ve ever had, but the atmosphere here is unmatched, and, as Tabren said, sometimes simple is exactly what you want! There’s also a to-go window to check out too if ice cream is really just what you’re craving — no reservation required.

Artist Point

Talk about UNDERRATED! Storybook Dining at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is one of THE MOST underrated spots in the entire resort, especially when it comes to character dining.

One of the most recent reviews from reader NattyAnn shared:

“I just love this place. We’ve been lucky enough to dine here 3 times now. The food has been amazing each time. The service is always so good, and the character interaction can’t be beat. The Queen…Fantastic!!”

And she’s not wrong! In our experience, the character experience here in unmatched — not only because you get to meet Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs characters you don’t get to meet elsewhere, but because the way they immerse you in the meal is fantastic. The same reader left a review on our site a whopping 2 years ago and shared:

“We ate here both in March 2020 and recently in March 2022, and both times it was our favorite meal of the trip. We ordered different entrees just to try something different this time, and they did not disappoint. Everything here from the appetizers, entrée, dessert, and drinks are so good! Our server was amazing, and the characters are great! I will definitely eat here again!”

So if you’re looking for an incredible character interaction with some great food and you’re not opposed to heading a good bit away from the parks, this is the restaurant calling your name!

Olivia’s Cafe

Over at Old Key West Resort, which is a DVC (Disney Vacation Club) resort (but anyone can book a reservation to dine here!), you’ll find Olivia’s Cafe. Despite the seemingly simple name, the reputation of this restaurant may just be enough to having you booking a reservation there ASAP!

Specifically, a lot of our readers seem to really love the breakfast here at Olivia’s Cafe. Reader EmmyMorgan94 shared the following review a few years ago, but we think it still holds up now:

“On our trip this past September we had breakfast here for the first time, and it was delicious. I highly recommend the Banana Bread French Toast, though it may be too sweet for some.

Overall, this is a great restaurant for any meal. We’ve never had a bad experience here.”

Another reader, PowerlinesRoadie, shared:

“This hidden gem was amazing on our last trip to Old Key West. We had all ages and everyone from a one year old to his grandmother loved this restaurant. The ambiance was really immersive and it had pretty good food. We liked it enough that we will go back at times even when we are staying at different resorts.”

I will admit to you that some readers shared that they think breakfast is the real highlight here, while lunch and dinner are more on the average side, so if you can, grab that breakfast reservation!

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Say it with Sage and I, all together now: LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IS IMPORTANT! And dinner and show at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is truly an experience like none other.

I think this review from an Anonymous reader said it best:

“If you like theatre, this is for you!
If your family doesn’t like performances or theater shows, you will probably be underwhelmed.
The environment is extremely immersive, it feels authentic and it is very clean. I would recommend setting upstairs not because of the price reduction, but because you have more room and it is more quiet. Downstairs is closer quarters and a much louder dining experience. Sitting upstairs allows you to Have a great view but also feel like you are having a private dinner.
Our family loved the food and thought every single dish was very flavorful, warm and delicious!”

And boy, are they right! If you’re interested in entertainment in any way, this is going to be a great meal with good ‘ol comfort food. Good thing all three seatings are in the late afternoon/evening, in my opinion, because eating all that heavy food and then going BACK into the parks to run around is pretty hard (doable, but hard!). This way, you can have this dining experience be the last thing you do on your Disney World day, and then can head straight to bed to prepare for the next one.

The main draw here is the style of food (southern comfort) and the show, so if neither of those things interest you, you may want to stay far away. Otherwise, I agree with lots of our other reviewers who said it’s something you have to experience at least once! It’s so unique, there really isn’t another dining experience in Disney World like it, and that’s why a lot of our readers adore it.

Primo Piatto

Now this last one is TRULY tucked away over at Disney’s Riviera Resort. While it’s right on the Skyliner route so it’s fairly easy to get to from Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, or other Skyliner resorts, many of our readers don’t know about this hidden gem. But the ones that do? Oh, they know just how great Primo Piatto is. Reader NikkiBell shared:

“Love this eatery! Many unique options that are far above what you’d typically find in a resort quick service location. I haven’t eaten many meals here and keep going back. The gluten free options are fantastic! Everything is fresh and delicious.”

Yes! GOOD gluten free options are on the menu here, which is a huge win for Disney World goers with allergies AND it’s a quick service location! This means that’s no dining reservation are necessary and you can mobile order your meal from the My Disney Experience App. I also can’t leave out this incredible review by MikeG — I think you’ll be adding this one to the top of your must-do list right after reading it!

“We ate breakfast at Primo Piatto twice during our stay last week. We had the Primo Platter, the Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes, and the Cinnamon Crumble French Toast Bread Pudding. All 3 items were excellent. Dining room area is decent size for a Deluxe resort and was very clean. They had a great beverage bar for your resort refillable mugs with the free style fountains, coffee, and even fresh brewed iced tea versus the Gold Peak machines that Disney typically uses. We were very pleased and we will go again in the future if we are near the area.”

You heard them, friends! The next time you’re heading to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner and you realize you’ll pass by the Riviera, leave a little earlier to allow some extra time to grab breakfast at this spot (which it’s open for other meals as well, but breakfast really is the highlight).

There you have it! Five under-the-radar restaurants to add to your must-try list on your next Disney World vacation. But WAIT! Before you go, we know you have opinions and we want to hear them! Leave a review on Disney rides, restaurants, and more right here on AllEars. Good or bad, let your voice be heard, and be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney World news!

We’ve ranked ALL the table service restaurants in in Walt Disney World to help YOU make your decisions easier!

What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!

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