Mickey Ears, tasty treats, and all the Disney things. If you’ve been around for a while, you know just how much I adore Disney! The family and I just got back from our Christmas Disney World Vacation, and this time my husband joined us! Disney is always super festive and fun during the holidays, but honestly anytime is a blast! Here is a comprehensive guide to all the things we did, saw, and ate!
Where We Stayed
Beach Club Resort
We stayed at the Beach Club Resort, which is walking distance to Epcot. The other hotels at this spot are The Boardwalk and The Yacht Club, which is basically the same as Beach Club with a little bit more “Yacht” vibes. We loved where we stayed! We could walk on the Boardwalk and there were so many cute restaurants and bars there. Being able to walk to Epcot, too was such a perk, especially if you have a Park Hopper. We could just stroll on over there and get a fun treat from the France Pavilion or Norway! Super cool and I highly recommend!
The Beach Club has a super fun waterslide, so great for children or adults who like to have fun haha! They also have a fun pool bar where we got hamburgers one day and super refreshing drinks!
PRO TIP: When staying at a resort hotel, I recommend getting the refillable Mickey cups. They hold a good amount of liquid AND once you purchase one, you get free refills for your entire stay. That’s coffee, any sodas you want, and of course, this is a great way to get water throughout the day. Water is free, but this cup will let you hold more water than the small plastic cups they give you. I would always refill my cup up at night so I had cold water while sleeping! And, since you buy them, you get to take them home with you as a fun souvenir!
Where to Eat:
Yak & Yeti
This restaurant was SO good. We had never tried it before and we loved it! Asian style food that was filling and super tasty. Samantha and I split the lettuce cups, Andrew had the Koren BBQ chicken, my mom had some chicken & rice, and my dad had this super amazing Fried Chicken Tenders Plate! The theming was adorable and we had a really good time. It is right by one of our favorite rides, Mt. Everest, so super convenient location!
Trattoria al Forno
Andrew and I went here for our Date Night. It was super good. If you love pasta and Italian food, you have got to try to get a reservation here! This restaurant is located on The Boardwalk, so if you have a park ticket to Epcot, this would be super convenient! It is the perfect mix of romantic, cozy, and a little get-away from all the crowds in the park. We both had a glass of sparkling rose that was SO good. They also serve this amazing pull-apart bread that is super tasty. Highly recommend!
Grand Floridian Cafe
We love coming here for a magical breakfast! The theming here is SO classy and the food is amazing. I normally just get a Mickey Waffle (it is huge), but this time I go the Grand Breakfast and I am so happy I did! They have lots of options and again, you feel so royal! This restaurant is located inside the Grand Floridian Hotel, which is just a quick monorail trip (or boat ride) to The Magic Kingdom. Plus, during the Holiday Season, the hotel is GORGEOUS. They even have a huge Gingerbread house that is a must-see!
Sci-Fi Dining
A top restaurant for my family is Sci-Fi Dining! Located in Hollywood Studios, this restaurant takes you back to the 1950s in super retro Drive-In movie cars. The entire time you are eating, they play old Shorts and it is soooo adorable. I love splitting a hamburger and milkshake to really get in the mood of the retro dining experience, but they have salads and other fun items, too!
Cheshire Cat
Now this is not really a restaurant, more of a quick service! No reservation required. We had never tried this place before but WOW I am so glad we did. Cheshire Cat is located right next to the Teacup ride in Magic Kingdom. We got a Cheshire Cat Tail (Chocolate Croissant) and a cold brew and I was so happy. Honestly, one of the most underrated places to eat at in my opinion. SUPER good.
Plaza Restaurant
Located on Main Street in The Magic Kingdom, the Plaza restaurant was so yummy and I wasn’t expecting that! They have an assortment of fun food like Monte Cristos, sandwiches, and burgers. I got the seasonal soup, which was this amazing turkey vegetable cream based soup that was super good. We also got the loaded fries for the table and they were the perfect pairing.
Ale & Compass
Ale & Compass is a resort hotel restaurant located in The Yacht Club, which is right next to where we stayed. They have a restaurant where you have to make reservations at and it is usually pretty booked up; however, they also have a gorgeous Lounge located adjacent from the restaurant that is GREAT. A smaller menu, but they have great appetizers that you can make a meal out of when in a pinch. We shared the BBQ Chicken Flatbread, this amazing Lobster Bisque Soup, and spicy cauliflower. Highly recommend when you are exhausted and just want to sit down and enjoy some yummy food! Bonus: They have good drinks!
Snack Breaks!
- Dole Whip: Located in all the parks, this is a great mid-day, getting hot and cranky snack! In Animal Kingdom, they have some amazing RUM Dole Whips which help as well haha!
- Mickey Pretzels: Always super yummy and easy to find. These are tasty, filling, and perfect to share
- School Bread & Kringla: Located in the Norway Pavilion, this is probably my favorite snack! Super good and fun to share
- Potstickers: Okay I’ve been sleeping on these, they’re amazing!! These are located in the China Pavilion and there was NO LINE. Lotus Blossom Cafe. RUN!
Where to Drink
Let’s be honest, Disney has some of the best places to grab a drink! From Star Wars land to Resorts, there are so many places to try!
Enchanted Rose
This has been a bucket list place for me! This Lounge is located in The Grand Floridian Resort (Magic Kingdom area) and it is themed after Beauty and the Beast!! It was soooo cute, romantic, and had amazing appetizers & drinks. Andrew and I went here before the Christmas Party, where we could enter the park starting at 7pm. We were able to enjoy a cocktail and some amazing Crab Macaroni before hitting the park at night! Highly recommend this place.
Oga’s Cantina
If you are a Star Wars fan, then you have to check this place out! It feels like your are truly stepping into the movie! I ordered the Jedi Mind Trick and it was super yummy. Be sure to get a reservation, because this place is a hot spot! They also have a couple light bites that you can order that are super yummy, too!
Epcot World Showcase
Every pavilion has something special, so it is really up to you preference where you go! Mexico has margaritas, Italy has wines, Germany has beer, etc! My favorite place was the France Pavilion (of course) and I got this amazing sparkling rose that was super yummy! Andrew frequented the Germany pavilion for their beer, and the margaritas at Mexico are always a treat!
Abracadabra Lounge
Because we stayed on the Boardwalk, Andrew and I walked over to this bar after a park one day! SUPER adorable theming and a fun atmosphere for a drink! It wasn’t super busy either, so this is a great place to go to relax and get away from the crowds.
Our Trip Recap
Overall, we had a wonderful time at Disney World. We were able to try so many new things, too! Every trip we go on, there is always something new for us to try. That is the beauty of Disney… there is so much you can do you just have to come back! We love doing things like Pin Trading, Resort hopping, and trying new snacks. If you have been contemplating going to Disney World, my answer is YES!
