No Lie. You Need to Skip These 4 Disney World Restaurants This Summer.

Disney World is home to numerous iconic restaurants, from heavily themed establishments right out of films to upscale table service eateries that many would think appear “too classy” for a theme park.

Chef Mickey!

However, for guests visiting Walt Disney World this summer, not all of these iconic eateries are created equal, and guests are skipping out on some well-known restaurants for various reasons.

Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s is often a controversial Disney restaurant. On the one hand, the buffet provides basic crowd-pleasing fare, especially for kids, and who doesn’t love seeing Mickey and co. in their chef outfits? On the other hand, the loud environment, the aforementioned basic food, and the general hectic nature of the restaurant make it a skip for many already.

Plus, you have other options to meet these characters. Mickey and Minnie, along with their friends, meet with guests at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and it features different themes, depending on the season). Or you can meet Minnie and her pals at the highly underrated Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. For a more upscale character breakfast, go to Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort. We’re also big fans of Garden Grill’s character dining at EPCOT.

Chef Mickey’s Buffet

On top of all that, guests this summer may further sidestep Chef Mickey’s around brunch hours since it may be more crowded, thanks to the summer-long closure of its neighbor hotel’s Grand Floridian Cafe and its brunch. While the Grand Floridian is offering a replacement brunch at Citricos, it seems likely that more guests would head over to Chef Mickey’s.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffle

Wailulu Bar & Grill

We’re big fans of the Wailulu Bar & Grill at the Polynesian Resort’s Island Tower, so this skip isn’t due to the restaurant itself. Rather, it’s all about construction. As part of a larger series of projects at the Polynesian, for the duration of June, updates are being made to the exterior roofing. The restaurant will remain open during the project, but it’s only offering walk-up service until 5:00 PM, with seating from 5:00 PM until closing.

Wailulu construction

Be Our Guest and The Crystal Palace

We’re grouping these two Magic Kingdom restaurants together because two particular groups should probably skip both for the same reason. During the summer of 2026, Disney is hosting two major events: V.I.Passholder Days for Annual Passholders, which runs from May 1st through July 31st, and Welcome Home Weeks for Disney Vacation Club Members from July 22nd through August 26th.

Be Our Guest

Each event offers a series of benefits to members, including dining discounts. Both Be Our Guest Restaurant (lunch only) and The Crystal Palace offer 20% off to APs and DVC Members. However, other restaurants on the property offer double that!

Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace

During the V.I.Passholder, AP’s can save 40% off at the following restaurants—valid Monday to Thursday only from May 1st through July 31st.

Biergarten Restaurant (lunch only)
Coral Reef Restaurant (dinner only)
Garden Grill Restaurant (lunch and dinner)
Hollywood & Vine (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Tiffins Restaurant (dinner only)
Tusker House Restaurant (lunch and dinner)
Boatwright’s Dining Hall (dinner only)
Cape May Cafe (dinner only)
Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (dinner)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (brunch and dinner)

Disney World Annual Pass

Meanwhile, during Welcome Home Weeks, DVC Members can save 40% off at these eateries from July 22nd to August 26th.

Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (lunch & dinner)
Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT (lunch)
Tiffins Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (dinner)
Coral Reef Restaurant at EPCOT (dinner)
Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT (lunch & dinner)
Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (brunch & dinner)
Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk (breakfast & dinner)

©Disney

BONUS: Forced Skips!

Guests will also be skipping Yachtsman Steakhouse and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace this summer… because these eateries at the Yacht Club Resort and the Polynesian Resort are both CLOSED for refurbishment.

CLOSED.

Due to various reasons, you’re likely best off sidestepping these restaurants during your summer 2026 trip to the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney dining tips!

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