10 Universally Despised Disney World Restaurants

Some Disney World restaurants are truly spectacular and beloved by many…but today we’re not talking about those!

Nope, today we’re talking about the restaurants that people HATE. Despise. Loathe entirely. The restaurants that constantly get a bad rap and continually make the “worst restaurants” lists. Let’s dive in!

Coral Reef Restaurant

First up, we’re heading to Coral Reef at EPCOT! This spot is known for its seafood menu and its giant aquarium — a little bit morbid of a combination if you ask us.

While the vibes are pretty fun and the “under the sea” theme is neat, there isn’t usually anything on the menu here that stands out. We’ve often found the food to be bland and boring, even after visiting several times.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

For a quick service option that’s pretty often hated, we’ve got Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. Whether you love Sonny Eclipse or not, you might admit that his menu leaves a lot to be desired.

The restaurant is mostly home to the basics — burgers, fries, chicken tenders, and mediocre salads. It’s fine for picky eaters, but the food here isn’t usually revolutionary and sometimes it’s downright difficult to eat. (I’ve definitely had one or two hockey puck-like burgers here in my time.)

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

Another spot that people love to hate in Magic Kingdom is Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. This Lady and the Tramp-themed restaurant is the first dining location you come to when you enter the park, and its Italian fare has been criticized by many over the years. But there’s a catch!

Tony’s actually changed its menu a few months back and during our last visit, we LOVED it. We think it’s starting to climb back onto the list of restaurants we recommend, especially with those appetizers — foot-long mozzarella sticks and garlic bread with parmesan fondue. Count us in!

Rainforest Cafe

The only restaurant that has two locations in Disney World is Rainforest Cafe, and if you ask us how…we have NO idea. Seriously, how does Disney World support not one, but TWO of these places?

Yes, the atmosphere is fun and the animatronics are cool, but the food is typically quite disappointing — either too boring and flavorless or trying too hard. Also, it’s fairly pricey for what you get. The gift shop is pretty cool though!

T-REX

We couldn’t mention Rainforest Cafe without talking about its dino-themed cousin, T-REX. This spot in Disney Springs is very similar to Rainforest Cafe, except with a prehistoric atmosphere instead.

Maybe great for your dino-loving kids, but definitely not for foodies. It falls to the same menu traps as Rainforest Cafe. Alas, such a cool idea and such a disappointing execution.

Planet Hollywood

Planet Hollywood definitely draws people in at Disney Springs with its movie memorabilia, sing-along videos, and funky burger menu, but we’ve heard a lot of mixed experiences here over the years.

Some people love it, some people hate it, and they’re certainly not doing anything truly outside-the-box culinarily speaking.

The Lunching Pad

The poor, poor Lunching Pad. This spot in Magic Kingdom has a top-tier name (we love the pun!) but the menu of hot dogs and pretzels isn’t really reinventing the wheel. Add in the fact that there’s no air conditioning, and people typically avoid this spot for a midday meal.

Also, the tables out front are almost always full! People love to sit here even when they’re not eating at The Lunching Pad, so it’s one of those spots where it’s hard to find a seat.

Rosie’s All-American Cafe

Heading over to Hollywood Studios, let’s chat about the options in Sunset Ranch Market. First, there’s Rosie’s All-American Cafe, which is another restaurant with the basic burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders-style menu.

But what makes this spot worse than the others is the fact that it’s outside and there aren’t many tables that offer full protection from the sun and rain. It’s just generally not a must-do.

Catalina Eddie’s

Rosie’s next-door neighbor is Catalina Eddie’s, which serves “puffy” pizza and salad — a pretty small menu. Disney’s “puffy” pizzas (the round ones with lots of crust) are pretty universally disliked.

Add to that the fact that this restaurant is also outside, and it’s a pretty unpopular choice for longtime fans.

PizzeRizzo

PizzeRizzo has excellent theming, but the same puffy pizza menu problem! The pizzas here are often a little undercooked and the sauce is weirdly sweet.

There are definitely better places to find pizza in Disney World, but it’s a shame — the Muppet-themed restaurant deserves better!

So there you go, that’s the list of despised restaurants in Disney World! Stay tuned to AllEars for more tips on where to eat (and where not to eat) during your Disney World vacay.

Only Disney World Experts Eat at These 9 Restaurants — Click Here!

Which restaurant from this list do you dislike? Tell us in the comments!

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