It’s no secret that dining is one of the many highlights of a Walt Disney World vacation with a vast variety of restaurants to choose from. With so many options, it can feel overwhelming picking the must-do Disney meals. 2025 brought many new and re-visited dining experiences for the DIS Unlimited team and we had the best time recording a slew of Disney Dining Reviews. It’s hard to narrow down our favorites – from EPCOT festival dining and seasonal menus, to character dining and lounges, there’s a lot to choose from. Here are 4 of the highlights from our 2025 Disney dining adventures we can absolutely recommend on your next visit to Disney World!
1. Tusker House
Tusker House Restaurant is a character buffet located in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and is known for its wide variety of flavorful dishes and the opportunity to see Mickey and friends in their safari gear. Tusker House is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is considered one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
Unique to Tusker House, Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy are outfitted in their safari best. In addition to the characters signing autographs and taking pictures, they also parade through the dining room every hour to a very cute “Jambo” song where guests are encouraged to dance and interact with the characters more.
For such a diverse menu, we were surprised how much we enjoyed everything we had. Tusker House is a great mix of adventurous foods like curry and tandoori spices with very tasty versions of classics like macaroni and cheese and rotisserie chicken. In fact, we agreed the macaroni and cheese is the best we’ve had at Walt Disney World. Other must have items include the green curry shrimp, chicken curry, chermoula salmon, and South African French toast for dessert.
Tusker House is a great fit if you want to meet Mickey and friends while also having a memorable meal. Not only is the menu something unique but the experience feels thoughtful.
2. Summerhouse Happy Hour
Summer House on the Lake is located on the West Side of Disney Springs near AMC and is one of the newest restaurants at Walt Disney World. Even better, Summer House offers a “Martini Hour” with specially priced appetizers, martinis, wine, and beer Monday – Friday from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Martini Hour is one of the BEST values at Disney Springs and its three bars give guests multiple spaces to enjoy this specially priced menu.
The truffle fries are bottomless during Martini Hour and are shareable for up to four people. Best of all, they’re great truffle fries! Crispy shoestring fries with plenty of seasoning and parmesan, plus who can resist an aioli dipping sauce?
The real star of Martini Hour is the Waygu cheeseburger at just $5. This is hands-down one of the best burgers at Disney World and no doubt one of the best deals. The burger is simplistic and always perfect, resembling a smash burger with a special sauce, cheese, and pickles.
3. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue first premiered over 50 years ago at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. This family-friendly, campy dinner show includes live music, familiar songs, and plenty of jokes from the Pioneer Hall Players.
In addition to the musical revue, guests are treated to an all-you-care-to-enjoy, “family style” dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and most importantly, strawberry shortcake. Select non-alcoholic beverages plus a selection of sangria, wine, and draft beer are all included in the price of dinner.
Not only does the fried chicken get a shout-out in one of the songs, but it’s likely just as famous as the show. It’s juicy, fried perfectly, and the breading is just right… my favorite fried chicken at Disney World! The mac and cheese is another stand out menu item that is creamy and flavorful with just the right consistency. However, the undisputed best side at Hoop-Dee-Doo is the mashed potatoes.
The fried chicken may get a line in one of the Hoop-Dee-Doo original songs, but the strawberry shortcake gets its own musical number… and rightfully so. The cake is sweet and moist, plus the addition of the fresh strawberry compote is heavenly. I also have to assume the whipped cream is made in-house because it is so dense and creamy.
4. Yak & Yeti Bar
Yak & Yeti at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a fan-favorite Disney restaurant with a fantastic menu. So it comes as no surprise that the Yak & Yeti Bar has just as exciting of a menu. While you can order the full menu at the bar, there is also a secret menu called “Forbidden Libations.”
You can access the Forbidden Libations menu by asking your bartender or by scanning the QR code under the Buddha vases. This seasonal menu rotates every quarter and is made by the award-winning team of bartenders at Yak & Yeti. Here you’ll find liquor-forward cocktails expertly crafted with unique ingredients you won’t find at other Disney lounges.
We also recommend ordering at least an appetizer at two while at the Yak & Yeti Bar. Be sure not to miss the Ahi Tuna Nachos and Firecracker Shrimp. Check out the portion size of the nachos plus the abundance of fresh ahi tuna!
This list only scratches the surface of the some of the best dining you can experience at Walt Disney World! Be sure to also check out our discussion of best food and drinks and our go-to restaurants. We can confidently guarantee you won’t be disappointed with any of these options!
