Dining and Drinking around the Loop: Monorail Crawl Tips and Tricks Part 3
Welcome back for our third and final Monorail Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is true elegance with Victorian Style and modern touches; this resort can make any guest feel like royalty just by walking through the doors. Home to many signature dining options, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa knows how to treat its guests like royalty as well. When getting off the Monorail, you will enter the resort on the second floor.
If you have not already read the first two blogs of this series, I recommend taking the time to read them now if you are unfamiliar with the Monorail Crawl. It is not required to read the blogs in order, but the first blog does provide context to what the Monorail Crawl is and how to participate. The first two blogs will cover the other two Monorail Resorts resorts and their dining options.
I have compiled a list of some of the restaurants, cafes, and lounges available at the resorts with descriptions of the food and drinks offered, price ranges, operating hours, and personally recommended times to visit. Dining locations at each resort are divided into three categories: snacks, meals, and lounges.
Let’s dive into the dining options at our final resort!
Snacks
Currently, open between 6 am – 12 am
Suggested Visiting Time: Any time!
Price Range $
Located on the main floor of the resort, Gasparilla Island Grill can be found off of the outdoor path by the marina.
Gasparilla Island Grill will be your quick service option at the Grand Floridian. Offering snacks, such as baked goods, yogurt, fruit, ice cream, cereal, bars, chips, and pretzels. There are also grab-and-go meals throughout the day, like burgers, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, platters, macaroni and cheese, and bowls. Hot beverages such as coffee and tea can be found here, in addition to specialty and non-specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
This is the perfect option to grab something small for breakfast or a late-night cupcake to enjoy while watching the fireworks. You can also split treats and meals among your group to try new things.
Meals
Currently, open between 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: Dinner
Price Range $$$
*Reservations are required
**Guests are expected to dress accordingly
Cítricos can be found on the second floor of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Recently re-opened with a Mary Poppins Returns theme, Cítricos offers Florida cuisine with a Mediterranean infusion for a signature dining experience.
Guests can choose from many options to start their dining experience with, such as a Strawberry or Cítricos House Salad, Sweet Corn Bisque, Wild Mushroom Arancini, Smoked Duck Breast, Cirtus-cured Hamachi, Berkshire Pork Belly, and Siberian Sturgeon or Royal Osetra Caviar.
For your main meal, choose from Domestic Golden Tilefish, Guava Barbecued Short Ribs, Butter-poached Mahi Mahi, House Made Rigatoni, Roulade of Chicken, and Oak-grilled Prime New York Strip or Filet Mignon. Cítricos also offers enhancements like Truffle Macaroni and Cheese, Grilled Mashed Potatoes, and Smoked Cauliflower.
Pick from a selection of options for dessert, like the Orange Bloom Flan, Apple Rose, Blackberry Tartelette, and Chocolate Torte.
Kids will have the choice of Garden Salad, Chicken Noodle Soup, or Cheese and Grapes as an appetizer and Shrimp, Sirloin Steak, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Pasta with Marinara, Grilled Chicken Breast, Macaroni and Cheese, and Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza for an entree. Entrees will come with two sides or desserts, Broccolini, Carolina Gold Rice, Roasted Carrots, Fresh Fruit, Mashed Potatoes, and Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae.
Cítricos will offer specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for guests to purchase.
This is an excellent option if you are looking for an elegant way to end the night without being too fancy. Cítricos offers the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or helps turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. I would recommend this option if you are traveling with little ones but want a refined dining experience.
Currently, open between 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: Dinner
Price Range $$$
*Reservations are required
**Guests are expected to dress accordingly
Narcoossee’s is a short walk from the Grand Floridian’s main building and is next to the shuttle boat dock.
Narcoossee’s offers a predominantly seafood-based menu but does offer some non-seafood items.
To start your evening, choose from appetizers like Shrimp and Grits, Crispy Rhode Island Calamari, Barbecued Egg Plant, Shrimp and Crab Cake, and Artisanal Cheeses, or stick with classics like Lobster Bisque, Caesar Salad, or Endive and Pear Salad.
Entrees include Blackened Salmon, Pan-seared Georges Bank Day Boat Scallops, Surf & Turf with a choice of Lobster Tail or Pan-seared Scallops, Surf & Turf with a choice of Blackened Salmon or Grilled Shrimp, Filet Mignon, Milk-brined Duroc Pork Chops, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Mahi Mahi, and Shrimp Scampi. Enhancements include Grilled Asparagus, Narcoossee’s Signature Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts.
For dessert, choose from several selections, like the Almond-crusted Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Strawberry “Trifle,” Lemon Bar, Mocha, and Artisanal Cheeses.
Kids can start their evening with a Chopped Romaine Salad or Fried Calamari Rings or head straight for the entrees, like Grilled Chicken Breast, Seasonal Fish, Grilled Flat Iron Steak, and Crispy-fried Chicken Strips. Each entree comes with two selections, Grapes and Strawberries, Haricot Verts, Brown Basmati Rice, Mac & Cheese, Bruce’s Raspberry Sorbet, and Nemo Cupcake.
Like Cítricos, Narcoossee’s is a great selection for a celebration or a classy meal. I would suggest this option over Cítricos if you or any member of your party is more of a fan of sea-food based dishes. As every party differs, I would strongly recommend looking at both menus before making your decision because there may be that one must-have item at one of these restaurants.
Currently, open between 7:30 am – 11:00 am, 11:05 am – 2:00 pm, and 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: Any time!
Price Range $$
Guests can find the Grand Floridian Cafe located on the main floor of the resort.
Guests can enjoy a table service meal overlooking The Rose Gardens and The Courtyard Pool at the Grand Floridian Cafe.
The Breakfast and Lunch menu at the Grand Floridian Cafe offers many different choices. The menu offers more of a brunch-style offering than your traditional breakfast or lunch. You can start your meal with an appetizer like Seasonal Soup, Caramelized Onion Soup, Gratin, Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and Heirloom Apple Salad.
Entrees include Avocado Toast, Quiche, Salad, Bananas Foster-Style Steel-cut Oatmeal, Fruit and Yogurt, Burgers, Salmon, Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle, Steak and Eggs, Reuben Sandwich, The Grand Breakfast, Eggs Benedicts, Pancakes, Mickey-Shaped Waffles, and Brioche French Toast.
Don’t forget about dessert! Offerings include Apple Crisp, Cafe Key Lime Tart, Mickey Dome, and Neopolitan Cheesecake.
For dinner, the menu changes to include more appetizers, like the Grilled Romaine Market Salad and Caesar Salad, as well as the previously mentioned Seasonal Soup, Caramelized Onion Soup Gratin, Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and Heirloom Apple Salad. Entrees now include Buttermilk-fried Chicken, Cafe Meatloaf, Shrimp and Grits, Lobster ‘Thermidor’ Burger, Miso-glazed Salmon, New York Strip Steak, and Impossible Burger.
Dessert options will remain the same for dinner.
Kids’ meals are offered at every meal. Kids can start each meal with a Chopped Romaine or Fruit Salad. Breakfast and Lunch options include Grilled Chicken Breast, Scrambled Eggs, Mickey’s Ears to You Waffles, and Minnie’s Grand Pancakes. For dinner, kids can choose from Miso-glazed Salmon, Grilled Flat Iron Steak, Cheese Flatbread, and Grilled Chicken Breast.
Kids will receive two selections with their entree, which includes Sautéed Green Beans, Sticky Rice, Fruit Salad, and Worms in Dirt.
Specialty and non-specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
This is a great option if you are looking for a table service option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner but don’t want to need to get too fancy about it.
Currently, open between 5:30 pm – 8:05 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: Dinner
Price Range $$$S
*Reservations are required
**Required Semi-Formal or Formal Dress Code
Victoria and Albert’s is a prix fixed menu and has been a AAA Five Diamond Award winner every year since 2000 and the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award winner. This dining option is one of the most highly sophisticated options available on Disney World property and is located on the second floor.
With several menu options, such as the Dining Room, Chef’s Table, and Queen Victoria’s Room, pricing will vary depending on the experience you choose.
The Dining Room will be your common experience with a choice between 2 tasting menus. The Chef’s Table will be more exclusive, with a menu based around the current season, and will be a 3-hour experience. For a more intimate atmosphere, Queen Victoria’s Room will accommodate up to 8 guests and feature seasonal and innovative dishes.
Wine and other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are available at an additional cost.
This experience is suggested for those guests who love food and are looking for a once and lifetime experience. This menu is curated for a premium experience and is reflected not only in the meal, service, and atmosphere but in the price as well. If you want to do this as part of your Monorail Crawl, I would suggest staying at the Grand Floridian so that you can get ready in your room and head straight to the restaurant.
Lounges
Currently, open between 3:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: After Dinner
Price Range $$
Located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian, the Enchanted Rose pays homage to Beauty and the Beast. With beautiful floral decor, pops of yellow, and baroque-inspired details, this lounge is the perfect spot for anyone looking to bring their fairytale dreams to life.
Enjoy snacks like House-made Beef Jerky, Warm Marinated Olives, and Guajillo-spiced Mixed Nuts between 3:30 pm – 10 pm and Appetizers like Charcuterie, Croquettes, Smoked Trout and Crab Dip, House-made Truffle Fries, Artisanal Cheese Selection, Seasonal Flatbread, Caviar, and Hummus between 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
Alcoholic beverages include featured cocktails, grand cocktails, featured martinis, beer, hard cider, and wine. There are also several non-alcoholic beverages offered as well.
As mentioned, this is a great option to end your evening if you want to feel like royalty but keep to a tighter budget or look for some options to share.
Currently, open between 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Suggested Visiting Time: After Dinner
Price Range $$$
Located adjacent to Cítricos, the Cítricos Lounge is available to any guests willing to wait on the walk-up waitlist.
Offering the same options as the Cítricos menu, guests can choose to sample a few starters or enjoy a full entree. This is an excellent option for guests who are looking for a more laid-back experience compared to the formal dining room or who were unable to secure an advance dining reservation. Guests can grab a beverage and a starter and talk about their trip so far, discussing all the fun they’ve had today and exploring all the monorail resorts.
Currently, there are two dining options that have no return date from Disney: 1900 Park Fare, which was a buffet breakfast or dinner character meet and greet meal, and the Garden View Tea Room, where guests could enjoy morning or afternoon tea overlooking the gardens at the Grand Floridian.
All the options provided will also have allergy-friendly menus available. It is best to speak with your server when you arrive to receive the most up-to-date information.
Now that we have seen all of the dining options at all of the Monorail Resorts, have you figured out a plan for your Monorail Crawl?
~Taycee
