The Best Disney World Restaurants for Adults

Something my husband and I get asked a lot is how we do Disney as a couple. For us, one of the biggest things is making time to go to a nice dinner. The food on Disney property is some of the best in the world, and I feel like a lot of people don’t know that! I’d love to walk you through our picks for the best Disney World restaurants for adults. These are nice, sit down restaurants for a romantic dinner for two. I’ll also pair it with a bar, so you can make the most of your experience and enjoy a drink before dinner if you’d like. As always, I’d suggest making a reservation if there is a place you want to try.

In no particular order, let’s jump right in!

1. Cocktail Hour: Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom

Dinner: Jiko - The Cooking Place at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Nomad Lounge is a short drive or bus ride over to Animal Kingdom Lodge, and one of the best bars for a good cocktail. It’s easier to get in with two people, and sunset is always the perfect time of day. If you’re there late enough, the Avatar forest will come alive. It’s really freaking cool! The Green Shimmering Margarita is one of the best drinks ever, almost like a rum punch married a margarita. Plus, it has glitter in it, so it’s a no-brainer!

The meals are always amazing at Jiko! We love the Boar Tenderloin as an appetizer. For entrees, their fish is really good, and Andre likes the lamb shank. They’re also known for their mac and cheese, so it’s a must-have if you go!

2. Cocktail Hour: AbracadaBar at Disney's BoardWalk

Dinner: Flying Fish at Disney's BoardWalk

AbracadaBar is the most vibey bar ever! It’s been our watering hole for years. The Pepper’s Ghost cocktail is my fave.

There’s a lot of competition, but we’ve been to Flying Fish so many times and have never had a bad experience there (knock on wood). They always have great service and great food!

3. Cocktail Hour: Cocktails around the world at EPCOT

Dinner: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in the Japan Pavilion at EPCOT

If you go to EPCOT, you’ve got to do cocktails around the world! Stop at a few different Pavillions at World Showcase and sample some different drinks from all over the world. You can get a great marg in Mexico, and you can’t go wrong with limoncello in Italy!

The food at Izakaya is some of the best! The sushi is amazing, and I also recommend the Kobe beef.

4. Cocktail Hour: Dahlia Lounge at Coronado Springs Resort

Dinner: Toledo - Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Coronado Springs Resort

I don’t know what kind of bourbon or whisky they use at Dahlia’s, but it tastes like maple syrup. It might sound weird, but it’s really good. It’s Andre’s favorite! He recommends their Manhattan.

Toledo is another spot we have yet to have a bad experience at. It’s always amazing, and the food is outstanding. The vibe of the restaurant is so beautiful. You can also catch the fireworks from there if you sit by a window!

5. Cocktail Hour: Crew's Cup Lounge at Yacht Club Resort or Martha's Vineyard at Beach Club Resort

Dinner: Yachtsman Steakhouse at Yacht Club Resort

The Yachtsman is one of our favorite steakhouses. Ask for Barry from Bermuda; he’s amazing!

6. Cocktail Hour: Lobby Bar at Four Seasons Resort

Dinner: Capa at Four Seasons Resort

Technically, the Four Seasons is not on Disney property, but Capa is one of our favorite restaurants. It’s very special to us because it’s where we went the first time we toured our new neighborhood and came here for drinks after, so we have some amazing memories here. If you’re eating outside, that makes it even cooler because of the view. You can see the fireworks from all of the parks!

Honorable mentions:

EPCOT:

San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico Pavilion

Coral Reef Restaurant

Disney Springs:

Wine Bar George

The Boathouse

Frontera Cocina

Hopefully this helps you if you want to go out and have a nice dinner at Disney World. Like I said, it’s some of the best food ever, so have at it. Enjoy being a Disney foodie! If you find a hidden gem I didn’t mention here, leave it in the comments so I can check it out!

The Best Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch in Disney World

A request I get all the time is to share the best spots to eat in Disney World. Today I’m going to share with you how my husband and I do Disney as adults by going through our top picks for breakfast, brunch and lunch! We prefer to forgo character dining as it’s overpriced and awkward, in our opinions. Instead, we’re sharing the underdogs; the places where you can always get a reservation, and they’re always super good. As a heads up, even though these places are underrated, I recommend making a reservation. Of course, you can try your luck at the walk-up list, but I wouldn’t suggest leaving it up to chance if there is a place you’d really like to try.

In no particular order, let’s get right into our fave breakfast/brunch spots!

1. Kona Café at the Polynesian Hotel

The Polynesian is super cool and the food is always amazing here. I love the Liliko'i Mimosa (their version of POG juice - passion fruit, orange & guava) and their Tonga Toast!

2. Ragland Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Disney Springs

Their French toast is my fave, and they have an amazing strawberry mimosa!

3. Trattoria al Forno at Disney's BoardWalk

They have a really lovely breakfast, and you can choose to not have character dining. Their French toast is really special because it’s Tangled themed!

4. Ale & Compass Restaurant in Disney's Yacht Club Resort

This is one of the few places where you can get legitimately good bacon. My favorite entree is the Blueberry-Bacon Pancakes!

To note: Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' at Disney Springs

We’ve never eaten here, but it comes HIGHLY recommended. It’s on our list of restaurants to visit!

Honorable mention: Plancha at the Four Seasons

Although this is not technically a Disney restaurant, this one ranks very high on our list. If you venture off property, I would definitely suggest giving it a try!

Last, we’re not fans of buffet breakfasts; we’re not big eaters so we never get our money’s worth. However, if you prefer a buffet, Boma - Flavors of Africa at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort are very good.

Now, let’s dive into our top picks for lunch!

1. Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria in the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT

Their spicy sausage pizza and Arancini balls are *chef’s kiss*

Rose & Crown Dining Room in the UK Pavilion at EPCOT

This restaurant is our favorite at EPCOT. Andre likes the Bangers and Mash, and I always get the Shepherd’s Pie with a glass of wine.

2. 50's Prime Time Café at Hollywood Studios

This place is such a vibe with its 50’s inspired decor, and it has the best comfort food. You can get simple meals, like fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, etc. It feels like you’re at Grandma’s house! The servers are actors, and they will razz you a little bit while they’re playing the part. I think some people avoid the restaurant because of this, but it’s actually pretty funny, in my opinion!

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Hollywood Studios

You can catch lunch and a show here, like you’re at a drive-in theater. They have a great burger and cool ambiance, however, the side-by-side seating can be a little awkward.

3. The Boathouse at Disney Springs

If there are only two of you, you can usually walk in and get seats at the bar, no matter what time of day it is. If you have more than two people, I would definitely make a reservation. I love their Chopped Salad, and their fries, sandwiches, burgers and oysters are also outstanding. My favorite cocktail there is the Duck Duck Razz, where a little rubber duckie comes in your drink (but be careful… just have one because they’re strong). The Boathouse is also great for dinner!

4. Geyser Point Bar & Grill in Disney's Wilderness Lodge

There aren’t a lot of people that know about this spot. It’s a real hidden gem! It’s all the way at the back of Fort Wilderness Lodge, right on the water. There’s a nice big bar with tons of TVs, usually playing sports. The best part is that you’re really away from the hustle and bustle of everything; it feels like you’re in the forest! Like your typical sports bar, they have things like burgers, chicken, steak, etc.

Honorable mention: Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom

If you have a big appetite, this restaurant is family style, and the food is so good.

As a note, there are tons of amazing quick service restaurants as well. Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom is one of our faves!

There you have it, our top picks for breakfast, brunch and lunch in Disney World! Do you have any faves I didn’t cover here? I’d love to hear them in the comments so I can give them a try. Looking for dinner? Don’t worry, my recommendations for dinner will be coming soon as well!

How to Fight Seasonal Depression: 12 Ways to Embrace Each Season

Seasonal depression is a REAL thing. If you struggle with it, I completely understand, especially being from a cold climate. I didn’t always recognize it, but I have come to find that I have very much struggled with it. It can get rough, especially during the cold months when you don’t see the sun very often.

Rather than looking forward to things, instead, I try to be present and appreciate the small moments. Life goes by really freaking fast when you’re constantly looking forward to things and not just enjoying where you currently are! To help fight the sadness from creeping in, I like to divide my year into different “themes.” They’re not just seasons, but chunks of time. I’d love to go through the full calendar to give you my tips as to how I do my best to enjoy the “theme” of every single part of the year & fight seasonal depression. I think you’ll find these tips are not only practical, but pretty simple!

January 1st - 25th: Fresh Start Mode

A fresh start is really important to me, and I love the vibe of a January clean slate.

January 26th - February 28th/29th: Love/Self-Love

This theme is all about love, self-love, passion, sexiness, and feeling your best.

March 1st - April 15th: Spring/Easter

I LIVE for spring. The weather is getting nicer, flowers are blooming, and you know Peter Rabbit is my homeboy. I’m always excited for spring!

April 16th - May 31st: Summer Prep/Spring Cleaning

This is a great time for a fresh summer reset and cleaning the whole house because it’s warm enough. I’m all about getting ready for summer and working on my summer bod during this time!

June 1st - September 3rd: Full Summer Mode

This season gives me all the feels, especially this year. Since we moved into our new home, I’ll be living at the lake! Why did I choose September 3rd, you ask? It’s my birthday, so I like to include that in summer before switching to the next theme.

September 4th - October 31st: Halloween Mode

As you know, I LOVE Halloween. I’m doing all the things during Halloween Mode, like going to Halloween Horror Nights, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, filming YouTube videos, decorating, etc.!

November 1st - December 31st: Christmas Mode

When midnight strikes on November 1st, Christmas is here. Similar to Halloween Mode, I’m decorating, celebrating, and enjoying all things Christmas for the rest of the year.

Now, I’ll walk you through the 12 steps I take to CRUSH every theme of the year. For each step, pick some things that resonate with you for the current theme. I’ll give you some examples of what I’m doing for February’s Love/Self-Love theme. Before we get started, grab some paper so you can write down your own list. I like using the Lined Paper Insert so I can keep it in the front of my planner!

1. Playlist & Music

Choose some music that gives you the vibe you’re going for. In January, pop hits and upbeat music put me in the right frame of mind for a fresh start. My fave playlist for January is called “Mood Booster” on Spotify. I’m still all about pop in February, but make it sexy. I’ve got the “50 Shades” playlist on repeat!

2. Movies & Shows

Like the Playlist & Music category, pick some things to watch that get you into the feels for your theme. For February, I’m going with Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and Valentine’s Day (the movie).

3. Decor

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I’m ALL about the decor. Pick an area of your house to decorate, even if it’s just a few cool little pieces. For me, I love setting up a tiered tray and bar cart for each season. To get some guidance on building a tiered tray and see the items I picked for February, check out my latest YouTube video.

4. Habits

What are some habits you want to incorporate into your routine? Something I am implementing this month is getting up before the sun to have some me time/quiet time. Making sure I’m getting in some self-love is super important to me.

5. Focus

What do you want to focus on for that month? It can be your routine, something you want to switch, or even a word/phrase of the month. This month, I’m choosing to focus on quality time with myself, my spouse and my fur baby.

6. Movement

What does movement mean for you, and what is your movement goal? It doesn’t have to be a workout plan. In other words, what are you going to do to get off your butt? That’s all it has to be! This month, I’m working on pilates and flexibility daily.

7. Recipes

For me, February is all about steak and chocolate everything (not together, lol). I would love to make some cozy stew or “husband catching” recipes, like the “Catch A Husband Casserole.”

8. Details

What I mean by “details” are the little things like fun cuppies, straws, cocktail picks… things that are on theme and help add to the overall vibe you’re going for. Those little details just help you get excited about the season! No surprise here, my go-to cuppie this season is the Really Pretty tumbler!

9. Outfits & Accessories

For this, I don’t only mean clothing. Don’t skip out on the accessories that add fun little details, like a cute V Day scrunchie, lollipop heart earrings, etc. For every season, I love a good graphic sweater. This month, I’ve been living in my Gal Squad merch and this cute pink jumper!

10. Self-Care

This one is SUPER important. My focus in this category changes throughout the year with the different themes. Right now, my priorities are having a bubble bath every single night, doing face masks, reading, doing my nails, etc.

11. Goals

What are your goals? It’s crazy how much momentum you get when you start checking them off! My goal this month is to make myself proud. There are some big things I want to accomplish this month, and I just want to end the month feeling proud.

12. Books

What are you reading this month? I’m going through My Dream Life Blueprint Workbook. For fun, I’m reading the book Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score.

That’s my list! This felt therapeutic, and I hope it helps you get excited about the season that you’re in. Embrace the vibes, the excitement, and just be all about it! I’d love to hear your suggestions as well. Be sure to tag me in your list and share your ideas in the comments!