8 Best Restaurants in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

If an authentic Irish pub—actually transported from the Old Country plank by plank—is your thing, Raglan Road is the place. In addition to excellent fish-and-chips and shepherd's pie, the inventive chefs twist Irish cuisine to include dishes like Gulf shrimp and risotto with buffalo mozzarella and fresh peas. The entertainment alone makes this place worth the visit. "Trad" bands play nightly, and a troupe of Irish dancers performs several times every evening and during the Rollicking Raglan Sunday Brunch. Musicians also play outside for guests dining alfresco. A store called Shop for Ireland sells Irish merchandise. Around the corner, the Raglan-affiliated Cooke's of Dublin offers fast-take fish-and-chips, pies, and deep-fried "battered burgers."

Disney characters delight guests throughout the day at this sprawling, though dainty, lobby restaurant. Mary Poppins and friends join guests during the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, posing for pics while cheerful tunes are played on an antique organ called Big Bertha, and the buffet features omelets made to order. Midday, the Mad Hatter reigns at the Wonderland Tea Party, for kids only. "Tea" consists of apple juice and cupcakes served by Alice and a very silly Hatter. Dress-up is encouraged but not required. Games and stories fill the hour for the 25 attendees from 4 to 12, who leave with an autographed photo. Dinner is home to Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner, a buffet of worldly cuisine complete with Cinderella, Prince Charming, and their family (including wicked steps) making the rounds.

The fact that the Disney monorail zooms overhead right through the Contemporary Resort, and that Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy hangs around for breakfast and dinner, would be enough to make it popular, but the food here is surprisingly good. Chef Mickey's is shiny and bright, offering a breakfast and brunch that includes banana bread French toast, potato-cheese casserole, and the "Celebration" Mickey pancake. The family-style dinner doesn't disappoint either with prime rib, roasted salmon, potato gnocchi, and a Mickey Mouse Dome for dessert. A large selection of specialty cocktails is available for the grown-ups.

Nearly 100 beers as well as eight wines on tap provide reasons enough for Disney guests and a fair share of Disney cast members to frequent what's called the "ultimate sports bar." Paired with a global collection of rare, limited, and special brews are meals large enough to share; burgers big enough for one; and bar bites like flatbreads, nachos, and wings to whet your appetite. The 17 high-def televisions make watching live sporting events a natural in this active joint. Happy Hour specials run from 3:30 to 6 on weekdays, and there's a weekend Rock n' Roll Brunch from 10 to 3.

Be prepared for a soundtrack of music that's equal parts groovy, funky, and soulful as you dine on an eclectic menu that offers everything from ribs to shrimp and grits to a tasty chicken Caesar salad. Consider trying the Juicy Lucy, a bacon cheeseburger with jalapeño and chipotle mayo; the pulled-pork sandwiches and the cornbread are also delicious. A worthy dessert is the bourbon-white-chocolate-banana-bread pudding. Consistently popular is the Gospel Sunday Brunch, where an elaborate Southern buffet (chicken and waffles, made-to-order omelets, shrimp and crawfish étouffée, bourbon bread pudding, etc.) is served with a side of live gospel music. For a faster meal, visit the quick-service barbecue counter The Smokehouse.

There is, of course, a sushi bar at this sleek, expansive Masaharu Morimoto establishment, and the Iron Chef himself takes control of it when he's in town (about four times a year), though it's fun to watch any of the chefs at work. There's also an open kitchen and multiple dining spaces and lounges where the menu features pan-Asian favorites like Chinese duck, Korean noodles, ramen and Singaporean laksa. A quarterly omakase (chef's choice) experience, which runs $250 and requires an advance deposit, could be served by Morimoto himself. The bar runs nearly the length of a football field as it snakes from the ground floor to the top floor, where an outdoor terrace overlooks the water. There's late-night munching at the Forbidden lounge, complete with an interesting cocktail menu, a balcony, and an outdoor street food window.

The dining room, with Victorian-style columns, high ceilings, and hardwood floors, is not only a great place seafood and steaks, but also to gaze out at the nightly fireworks over the Seven Seas Lagoon (an announcement is made when fireworks commence, and music is piped in). The menu changes regularly, but typical choices are wild Alaskan halibut and the surf-and-turf centerpiece—a butter-poached lobster tail and a tender, grilled filet mignon. The name of the place, incidentally, was not coined by Disney Imagineers; it's the name of a river and a small Central Florida town, both of which predate Disney. The bar, one of the more intimate in the resorts, specializes in fine whiskeys and spirits.

Under the guidance of James Beard Award–winner and Top Chef master Tony Mantuano, Terralina brings back sophistication and southern Italian cuisine to Disney Springs. Meticulously planned to look like a resort in Italy's Lake District, Terralina's open design and wood-fired grills provide a stylish atmosphere and some of the best recipes Mantuano can create, including wood-fired, hand-tossed pizzas along with salads and sandwiches. The antipasti tower is a starting course eye-opener, and steaks and seafood delight.