Fancy Eats and Tasty Treats: All of the Dining Options at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is one of my favorite Walt Disney World resorts to visit and stay at! If I weren’t staying at the resort, I would make sure to stop by on my way to Magic Kingdom. As soon as I step into the lobby, I feel like I am about to walk into a Bridgerton Ball, and I should be wearing a ball gown, ready to dance the night away. The lobby looks stunning with white and gold details and has an elegant atmosphere.
One thing I love to do when visiting Grand Floridian is to dine at the restaurants found around the resort and try new items on the menus. I cannot imagine going on vacation and not treating myself to as many restaurants as I can. You never know if a restaurant might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience or not.
At Disney’s Grand Floridian, you can find numerous dining options. Guests can stop at one of the Quick Service restaurants: Gasparilla Island Grill, Beach Pool Bar, or Courtyard Pool Bar. Visit one of the two Table Service restaurants: Grand Floridian Café or 1900 Park Fare. Dress up and dine at one of the Signature Dining restaurants: Narcoossee’s, Citricos, and Victoria and Albert’s. Or relax and enjoy one of the Lounges: Enchanted Rose or Cítricos Lounge.
First, let’s talk about the Quick Service options, starting with a stop at Gasparilla Island Grill. At Gasparilla Island Grill, you can either sit inside at one of the booths and tables, dine at one of the tables outside with a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Cinderella Castle in the distance, or order your meal to go. Why not start your day with Disney’s famous Mickey Waffles for breakfast? For lunch and dinner, guests can enjoy artisan burgers, flatbread, and sandwiches with bread from the Grand Floridian Bakery that is made daily. I have a sweet tooth and always have to order a decadent dessert to start my day. If you like cinnamon rolls, I highly suggest trying one from Gasparilla Island Grill.
If you are like me, you like to spend a sunny day at your resort by the pool with a book. Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian are able to use the Courtyard Pool and the Beach Pool found at the resort. Each pool has an outdoor Bar & Grill for guests to enjoy. At both the Beaches Pool Bar and Grill and Courtyard Pool Bar, you can find a menu with options for both adults and children to munch on without having to leave the pool areas. The menus include sandwiches, burgers, salads, and desserts that are easy to eat while walking around or sitting on a lawn chair. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also available to enjoy.
Next, let’s talk a little bit about Table Service restaurants. Grand Floridian Café is a Victorian-themed restaurant where you are able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner while you take in the view of rose gardens and the courtyard pool outside the restaurant’s windows. I have not been to the Grand Floridian Café, but I have talked to friends who have visited the Café, and they have given it high praise. One friend said the dining room was stunning, and it made him think of a high-class British atmosphere because of the elegant design. Another friend said she couldn’t go to the Grand Floridian without stopping by the Café and having the seasonal soup. The menu includes tasty meals for guests to order, such as a Lobster ‘Thermidor’ Burger, Roasted Tomato and Feta Quiche, and The Grand Breakfast. The menus also include plant-based and allergy-friendly items.
1900 Park Fare is one of my favorite Character Dining restaurants. It has Character Dining for both breakfast and dinner. At Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, you can meet Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh. While at Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner, guests can meet Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella. From my experience, I have to say Anastasia and Drizella are two of the best characters guests should meet when visiting Walt Disney World. Both meals you can have at 1900 Park Fare are buffet style. For breakfast, guests have options such as Made-to-Order Omelets and Eggs, Pancakes, Assorted Doughnuts, Bacon or Sausage, and of course, Mickey Waffles. At dinner, guests can choose from a variety of salads, an assortment of cheeses, and tasty pasta options. Why not try a ratatouille even Remy would be proud of? At the time of this blog being posted, 1900 Park Fare has still not reopened to the public, but I am very excited for it to reopen!
My favorite restaurants to dine at would have to be restaurants with signature dining! I enjoy dressing up and trying dishes I would not normally get at home. Did you know The Grand Floridian’s three signature restaurants, Narcoossee’s, Cítricos, and Victoria and Albert’s, all have a dress code guests are asked to follow? All three restaurants are perfect for date night and offer exquisite menu items. They are also in high demand, so I suggest trying to make a reservation once your 60-day booking window opens!
Narcoossee’s is right on the water. Guests dining here will have an incredible panoramic view of Seven Seas Lagoon, and you can even see the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks show later in the night. If you are a seafood fan, this is a great restaurant to visit. The menu focuses on lobster, shrimp, scallops, or salmon. I have never had lobster before, but if I go to Narcoossee’s in the future, I will definitely try it! If you are not a seafood fan, that is not a problem. There are other great dishes on the menu for guests to order, such as steak, salads, and gnocchi. After dinner and watching the fireworks, why not go on a nice night stroll taking in Disney’s Grand Floridian lit up? At the time of this blog being posted, Narcoossee’s is closed for refurbishments, but I am very excited for it to reopen!
At Cítricos, the menu is a mashup of Florida Cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. You can find dishes such as Smoked Duck Breast, Domestic Golden Tilefish, Butter-poached Mahi Mahi, Truffle Macaroni & Cheese, and many other unique dishes on the menu. Guests can order an Orange Blossom Flan for dessert, but it is not a dessert you will want to share. Guests are able to watch their meals be prepared in the restaurant’s open kitchen. The restaurant’s decor is themed around Mary Poppins Returns and will make you feel like you are dining at a restaurant in London. Why not pair your meal with wine from Cítricos Award-Winning Wine List? Guests can order a glass of wine for themselves or a bottle of wine for the table. I enjoy a nice glass of wine every now and then with my meal, but I am not the best at matching dishes with wine. If you are like me and are unsure what would be a good wine to enjoy with your dinner, you are able to talk to one of the sommeliers, and they would be happy to recommend a couple of wine options. Cítricos also has a lounge where guests can relax, enjoy international wines and cocktails, and even choose to order off the Cítricos dinner menu.
Victoria and Albert’s is at the top of my Walt Disney World restaurants bucket list. It is an elegant restaurant that embraces the Victorian decor you can find throughout Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Did you know Victoria & Albert’s is an award-winning restaurant that has received AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards and is Disney’s crown jewel of dining? The restaurant does have an age requirement because of the top-notch service. For guests to dine in the restaurant, they must be ten years old or older. Because of the limited seating, guests must make a reservation to dine at the restaurant. Victoria and Albert’s might be a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience because of the prices. The prix-fixe menu begins at $295.00 per guest, optional wine pairings start at $150.00 per guest, and zero-proof pairings start at $110.00 per guest. Victoria & Albert’s has three small dining areas: the dining room, the Queen Victoria room, and the chef’s table. Each dining area is a unique and magical experience. The menu is perfect for guests who like to try extravagant dishes that include Japanese beef, Alaskan King Crab, and caviar, and the restaurant has a diverse collection of over 500 wines from 35 regions.
Lastly, let’s cool down at one of the lounges. Enchanted Rose is the perfect lounge for Beauty and the Beast fans. You can find the Enchanted Rose on the second floor of the Grand Floridian’s main building. Guests visiting the lounge will be able to experience four stunning spaces inspired by Beauty and the Beast. Sit under a gorgeous golden chandelier inspired by Belle’s golden gown at the bar, take in the view of the Polynesian in the distance and Magic Kingdom from the outdoor patio, feel like you are wandering through the enchanted forest in the garden room, and pull out a book in the formal library. In my opinion, the best scene from the Beauty and the Beast movie is when the Beast shows Belle his library and tells Belle it is hers. I believe every book lover has dreamed of having their own library. If my future house doesn’t have a library, I don’t want it. All jokes aside, the Enchanted Rose’s formal library is the perfect location for guests to relax while they enjoy a floral-inspired cocktail.
Disney’s Grand Floridian has so many incredible dining locations to choose from. If you get the chance to stop by the resort, I recommend trying a couple of them. Which Disney’s Grand Floridian Restaurant would you like to try on your next trip to Walt Disney World?
~ Mya
