We know a thing or two about eating our way around Disney World!

Figuring out where and what to eat in Disney World can feel like an overwhelming choice. After all, there are over 400 dining experiences available across property! Sometimes it seems like the restaurants inside the parks get most of the buzz (hi there, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Space 220, Be Our Guest Restaurant, etc., etc.). Since there typically isn’t as much chatter happening around the Disney World Resort restaurants, how are you supposed to know where to start?? Well, don’t worry friends, we’re here to help!

As with most things around Disney World, there’s isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to dining choices. But based on our experience, we have some insight into some options that may work better than others. Here’s our handy “eat this, not that” guide for the Disney World Resorts!

Tonga Toast vs. Tonga Toast

If you’re a Disney dining superfan, you might be familiar with Tonga Toast, the iconic banana-stuffed French toast covered in cinnamon sugar. This breakfast item is a staple at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. In fact, you can regularly find it at TWO different places inside the hotel…and there’s a notable difference between the two spots!

Tonga Toast is served during breakfast at Kona Cafe, a table service restaurant at the Poly. At Kona Cafe, a plate of Tonga Toast with your choice of ham, spiced ham, bacon, or sausage will currently run you $17.

But here’s a pro-tip — you can also get the Tonga Toast at Capt. Cook’s, the counter service restaurant downstairs for $10.49. That’s right, you can get the same delicious breakfast for almost $7 cheaper just a few steps away!

If you want to try this fan-fave breakfast treat at a significantly cheaper price, snag yourself some Tonga Toast from Capt. Cook’s, instead of Kona Cafe!

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‘Ohana Noodles vs. ‘Ohana Feast

Speaking of iconic foods at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, let’s talk ‘Ohana noodles! These noodles are a staple of the dinner skillet served at the family-style dining restaurant.

The noodles have such a following that it stirred up a huge fuss when they didn’t appear right away on ‘Ohana’s reopening menu. But don’t worry, the beloved noodles DID return when the restaurant reopened in July 2021!

But here’s a little secret. If you and your family aren’t big eaters, or the rest of the ‘Ohana menu doesn’t appeal to you, you can just order the noodles at Tambu Lounge in the Poly instead! They aren’t listed on the regular menu, but be sure to ask your server about this hidden gem!

If you want to get a taste of one of the most popular items from the ‘Ohana menu without the massive meal and price tag, head to Tambu Lounge to order these incredible noods!

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Pulled Pork Nachos vs. Aloha Pork Sandwich

We’ve got one more Poly showdown before we head over to another hotel! For this matchup, we’re sticking to the Capt. Cook’s menu for both options.

The lunch and dinner menu currently features two different pork options, the Aloha Pork Sandwich and the Pulled Pork Nachos.

Neither of these options is a “bad” choice since it all comes down to your taste, but our team definitely prefers the Pulled Pork Nachos! They’re topped with cheese, spicy mayonnaise, pico de gallo, and pineapple salsa, which gives them a more unique flavor that you can’t find elsewhere around Disney World.

When we’re really craving a pulled pork sandwich, there are a handful of other places around Disney World we would prefer to grab one instead of Capt. Cook’s. Flame Tree Barbecue, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, and The Polite Pig are a few of our go-to pork sammie spots!

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Peanut Butter Pie vs. Fancy Cupcakes

Let’s head on over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort for some dessert! At Contempo Cafe, you’ll find plenty of sweet treats in the bakery case.

Of course, we’ve seen some awesome and super Instagramable cupcakes make their way through the Contempo Cafe bakery case…

…but if you’re looking for a delicious dessert that’s unique to this Resort, we’ve gotta give the nod to the Peanut Butter Pie! A longtime DFB favorite, this little beauty is a vanilla tart shell with custard and peanut butter filling, drizzled with chocolate ganache, and topped with crispy chocolate pearls. Our sweet tooth is aching just thinking about it!

If a Contempo Cafe cupcake catches your eye, then, by all means, grab it! But if you’re a little cupcaked-out from the countless options around Disney World, give the Peanut Butter Pie a try for a more unique (and DFB-approved) option. Just note that the Peanut Butter Pie looks a little different right now as Contempo is currently serving a 50th anniversary version of the treat.

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Mickey Beignets vs. All The Desserts

When we visit Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, we’ve got one very important item right at the top of our to-do list — get a Mickey Beignet!

This is the quintessential dessert of Port Orleans — French Quarter, served up at Scat Cat’s Club. As if they weren’t epic enough to begin with, you can dress up your Mickey Beignets even more by adding dipping sauces or getting a Mickey Beignet Sundae!

Sure, there are other desserts to be found at Port Orleans — French Quarter. But if you’re looking for THE POFQ experience, you gotta get those Mickey Beignets!

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Enchanted Rose Lounge vs. Citricos

Our next matchup takes us to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, home to both Enchanted Rose Lounge and Citricos. As the name suggests, Enchanted Rose is a lounge that serves up gourmet bites and craft drinks in a gorgeous atmosphere inspired by Beauty and the Beast.

Another swanky choice, Citricos is an upscale table service restaurant with a menu that focuses on fresh, seasonal flavors. We really enjoyed our food the last time we dined at Citricos and it can be a great choice if you’re looking for a special occasion meal.

But it’s worth noting that the food at Enchanted Rose Lounge comes from the same kitchen as Citricos, and there were actually a few small bites from Enchanted Rose that we would prefer over Citricos options — shoutout to those incredible Truffle Fries!

Want a swanky atmosphere with great small bites and drinks without quite as much of a money/time commitment? You may want to opt for Enchanted Rose over Citricos!

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Beaches and Cream vs. Other Ice Cream

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is a staple at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. As the home to the massive Kitchen Sink, it’s definitely earned the title of go-to ice cream spot at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts!

But even if you aren’t ready to tackle the beast that is the Kitchen Sink, Beaches and Cream has plenty of other more manageable ice cream options to choose from. From go-to sundae favorites like the No Way Jose to INCREDIBLE shakes, Beaches and Cream has dessert covered.

They’ve even got a to-go window for quick takeaway treats.

With so many creative and longtime favorite dessert options on the menu at Beaches and Cream, we’ve gotta give the nod to this spot for an ice cream treat over any of the other sweets around Yacht and Beach Club Resorts!

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Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast vs. Chef Mickey’s Characters Breakfast

Are we rounding out this list with the hottest take yet? We’ll let you be the judge! There are several character breakfast options available outside of the parks in Disney World. The most iconic of all might just be breakfast with Mickey and the gang at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Chef Mickey’s is a must-do experience for a lot of guests, and the close proximity to Magic Kingdom makes it a popular choice to start the day. If you want to check breakfast at Chef Mickey’s off of your Disney World bucket list, it might be worth a stop…

…but if you’re open to other character dining experiences, we love the breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort!

We’ve been impressed by the quality of the food at Topolino’s Terrace, plus the atmosphere is more quiet and relaxed than the hectic vibe at Chef Mickey’s. And to top it off, Mickey and his friends are wearing adorable, Riviera-inspired outfits!

We totally understand wanting to experience the quintessential Disney character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. But for us, it’s a one-and-done, while we’ll definitely be back to Topolino’s Terrace to say hello to Mickey again soon!

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It can be overwhelming looking at all of the dining options available in Disney World. Just remember, it’s not about making the “right” choice, it’s about making the best choice for you and your family! These are our tips for which food you may want to seek out — or avoid — in the Disney World Resorts. Happy snacking, Disney fans!

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What are your “eat this, not that” tips for the Disney World Resort? Let us know in the comments!

The post Eat This, Not That at Disney World’s Hotels first appeared on the disney food blog.