One of the biggest tips that we tell our readers is that you should leave the Magic Kingdom and have lunch elsewhere.

12 PM in the Magic Kingdom is crazy. Mobile Order times fill up, people are fighting to find a table, and the crowds are a bit much. While you could go back to your resort for a mid-day break, we like to hop on the Resort Monorail line and head to a Monorail hotel for lunch.
Emma and Sage recently headed to the Steakhouse 71 Lounge for lunch and they are still not sure how we feel about this newer addition to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Emma has been on a mission to do EVERYTHING in Disney World. She has 100 days to do 1,000 tasks, and she is taking along her friends to help her complete her goal. If she is successful, she, Quincy, and Frybucket will get to go on a trip to Paris! In Episode 25 of this series, Emma and Sage headed to Steakhouse 71’s lounge for lunch. You can watch the episode below or keep scrolling to read about why they are still unsure if Steakhouse 71 is worth it.
Background
Steakhouse 71 was previously The Wave and can be found on the first floor of the Contemporary Resort. It is just a short walk from the Magic Kingdom, or you can take the Resort Monorail over to the Contemporary and head down the escalators in the Grand Canyon Concourse to the first floor.

The restaurant was re-themed for Disney World’s 50th anniversary. The Contemporary is an opening day hotel, and the name Steakhouse 71 is a nod to the year that Disney World opened in 1971. The new version of the restaurant opened in 2021 and has a main dining room as well as a bar and lounge.

The dining room is open for all three meal periods, starting with breakfast from 7:30 AM to 11 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM to 2 PM, and dinner from 5 PM to 9 PM. The lounge is open from 11:30 AM to 11 PM daily. Operating times may change, so make sure to check the My Disney Experience app.
Atmosphere
When you go down the hallway to check in, you will notice pictures of the construction of the resort as well as the Magic Kingdom.

If you have the time, we recommend taking a moment to look at all the cool photos of Disney World’s rich opening day history!

Although Sage and Emma did not eat in the main dining room this time, the dining room is adorned with Mary Blair-style paintings.

Since Emma and Sage opted to eat in the lounge, they did not have to worry about having a reservation. You can choose to sit at the bar or the tables and couches in the waiting area.

Emma and Sage picked a table in the lounge area.

Food & Drinks
The lounge has access to the full-service bar, but the menu is limited when compared to what you can order in the dining room. The menu is inspired by American favorites.

First up, Emma ordered the Espresso Martini, and their waitress actually asked her if she wanted it to be more on the coffee side or a bit sweeter. Emma opted for sweeter and Bailey’s was added to her drink. Emma said that her drink was sweet and creamy.

Sage opted for a Manhattan. There are specialty cocktails on the menu, but since there is a full-service bar, they are able to make almost any drink that you would like. Sage loved his Manhattan (it is one of his favorite drinks!) and said that this one was one of the best ones that he has had on Disney World property.

For food, Sage and Emma tried two things that they had never tried. Emma’s came out first, and she ordered the Lump Crab Cakes with Old Bay rémoulade and corn hash for $16.

Emma said that this dish might be one of her new favorite things. The crab cakes were nice and meaty and did not taste super fishy. She noted that it was precisely what she needed for lunch.

Sage’s food came out a bit later, as they said they were making the cocktail sauce scratch. He ordered the Shrimp Cocktail with citrus-poached shrimp, cocktail sauce, and chive oil for $17.

Sage pointed out that for $17, you only get five shrimp, which is a bit pricey. Both Sage and Emma said they were shocked and were silent when it came out. The good news is that it was really good.

Overall Thoughts
Overall, they had two lounge bites and two non-specialty cocktails. Before the tip, the bill came out to $70, which is a bit steep for lounge bites. Emma mentions that they would typically recommend splitting the burger as it is more filling.

They said that they liked the vibes of the lounge, but they recognized that when you choose to dine here, you are choosing to splurge on such a small meal. Due to this, they are on the fence about whether or not lunch at the Steakhouse 71 Lounge is really worth it. Regardless, they still enjoyed their time there.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative at the Contemporary, you can check out Contempo Cafe, which is in the Grand Canyon Concourse.

Well, there you have it! Sage and Emma not only reviewed Steakhouse 71 Lounge, but they were also able to complete another task to count towards Emma’s EVERYTHING in Disney World in 100 Days Challenge!
Steakhouse 71 Lounge Restaurant
Services: Bar/Lounge
To continue to follow along with Emma’s journey and to see how she is going about the challenge now, you can check out the latest episode below!
The One Time You’ll Regret Staying at a Monorail Hotel in Disney World
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Half of the bill was spent on alcohol!!
All the atmosphere and noise of a high school lunchroom, all the food quality of Golden Corral. Never again!
Wouldn’t go. Too expensive.