The Plaza Restaurant: Where Casual Collides With Elegant

by WDW Kingdom Contributor Lyndsey Burns

Located on Main Street USA in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, The Plaza Restaurant is the perfect spot for lunch, dinner, or dessert! Referred to as the “hidden gem” of Magic Kingdom, their menu features a variety of items ranging from the Chicken-Strawberry Salad (my personal favorite) to Home-Style Meatloaf, to hand-dipped, creamy milkshakes.

So what will you see when you enter this fantastic restaurant? As noted on the Walt Disney World website, the décor is “inspired by turn of the century soda shops”; you will feel as if you just stepped back in time a few decades as you take in the charming atmosphere and are served some of the best food in the Kingdom. Not to mention the incredible view from the restaurant! The Plaza is conveniently located directly across from Cinderella’s castle, so you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the castle and of Main Street USA while you dine.

While character dining is not an option at The Plaza, you are likely to be greeted by the Mayor of Main Street during your meal. In my opinion, this adds so much to the dining experience, and you are left feeling like you are a citizen of Main Street USA. In addition, the Mayor awards one lucky diner a Golden Fast Pass, which can be used to go directly to the front of the line at any attraction in Magic Kingdom!

So, I’m sure most of you looking for places to dine would love to hear some reviews of the food. Before I get to that, I will say that it is very important to get a reservation for The Plaza, as the wait times can get up to 90 minutes very quickly! And with good reason, as no matter what you select for meal, you will be left craving more! For your beverage choice, you can get a traditional water or soda; no alcoholic beverages are available, as Magic Kingdom is still a dry park. Or, you could order a creamy and delicious milkshake, available in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and mint chocolate chip. The milkshakes can be a single serving, or they can be served “All-You-Care-To-Enjoy.” I don’t know about you, but on a hot sunny Florida day, a milkshake (or 6) sounds perfect!

As for the menu items, I’ll admit that I haven’t tried everything, as I am a creature of habit, but I would love to share my thoughts on the items I have tried. The Plaza Club is the perfect combination of ham, turkey and bacon and is paired with Texas Toast for a filling, satisfying meal. I am also a huge fan of the Tuna Salad Sandwich; this classic has a new twist, served on a delicious croissant. Both of these sandwiches are served with vegetables, homemade chips, French fries. My personal favorite goes to the homemade chips, they are a heaping serving of crunchy, salty (but not too salty) goodness! Lastly, as mentioned in my introduction, the restaurant serves a Chicken-Strawberry Salad. Here’s a fun fact about me: I can be a health nut at times, and I am always on the lookout for some healthy options when I am on vacation, and this salad tops my list! Served with fresh greens, grilled chicken, fresh strawberries, and gorgonzola cheese, this salad will leave you feeling full and refreshed.

Photo: Disney

Once you finish your meal, I highly recommend either ordering dessert at your table or heading next door to The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. I usually opt to eat my ice cream in the restaurant, and my dessert of choice is a mint chocolate chip ice cream sundae topped with whipped cream and a cherry. All in all, you can’t go wrong when you choose The Plaza for lunch or dinner during your day at Magic Kingdom!

Thanks for reading, have a magical day!

You can find more information on The Plaza Restaurant including menus here as well as chat about it on our all new WDW Kingdom Forums.