Lunch close to MK?

StefDisney

New Member
Original Poster
Looking for a lunch option close to MK that we can eat at without killing too much time during the day. Managed to book Ohana for dinner so probably looking at a quick service but open to all options.

Not really a fan of any of the food in MK, so I was thinking somewhere on the monorail resorts/ Wilderness Lodge? Only eaten at GF Cafe so I'm interested in hearing what people think of the other spots to grab lunch.
 

StefDisney

New Member
Original Poster
Gasparilla Grill at the Floridian has some "nicer" QS food.
Boat to Trails End.
Kona Cafe for "Brunch" during their breakfast hours at 11am
AS other have stated Whispering Canyon or Kona Café, Grand Floridian Café is also a great choice.
For quick service Contempo Café, Gasparilla Grill or Captain Cooks.
Yep, Kona is also another really good option. Always good stuff there.
Thanks everyone for your input, going to have a hard time choosing now!
 

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
Whispering Canyon Café over at WL is a fun time with good food. Nice boat ride as well.
That's waaay too much food on a day that also has Ohana.
Not really. Much like other non-buffets, you're free to order as much or as little food as you'd like. And Whispering Canyon is a great option, especially being that close to MK.
To the OP - I don't know how early or late your dinner reservations are, but @CaptainAmerica has a potentially good point. The portions at Whispering Canyon Cafe are pretty big, even if you're not getting the AYCTE skillet and/or a bottomless milkshake. If your dinner reservations are early, I don't know how hungry you'll be if you had WCC for lunch unless you've got a pretty big appetite or plan to split an entree or something

Plus, it sounds like your plan is to go to MK in the morning, leave for lunch, go back to MK, go to Ohana for dinner. So I don't know how much time you want to spend in transit (though if you were spending time in transit, a nice boat ride to WL is a nice way to spend that time). But going to WL could easily be a 2 hour diversion at a minimum. Just be aware in case you were thinking about going back for the 3pm parade or if you have fastpasses.

My advice, grain of salt, is when you decide it's lunch time, gauge how hungry you are, what you've done in the day, what you still want to try to do. Then walk or monorail to Contemporary. If you don't want to take your time, or you're not that hungry, grab a little something at Contempo Cafe, then head back to MK. If you want a leisurely lunch, or if you're really hungry and want a whole sit down dining experience, go to The Wave, it's one of the underappreciated jewels of WDW. We make a point of going at least once every trip, but it's rarely if ever busy. While we usually have reservations, we've gone twice on a spur of the moment, and there was not a problem finding a table either time. But either way, when you're ready to go back to MK, it's a 10 minute walk, you don't necessarily have to wait for a monorail or a boat or a bus or anything, just go on back.
 

StefDisney

New Member
Original Poster
To the OP - I don't know how early or late your dinner reservations are, but @CaptainAmerica has a potentially good point. The portions at Whispering Canyon Cafe are pretty big, even if you're not getting the AYCTE skillet and/or a bottomless milkshake. If your dinner reservations are early, I don't know how hungry you'll be if you had WCC for lunch unless you've got a pretty big appetite or plan to split an entree or something

Plus, it sounds like your plan is to go to MK in the morning, leave for lunch, go back to MK, go to Ohana for dinner. So I don't know how much time you want to spend in transit (though if you were spending time in transit, a nice boat ride to WL is a nice way to spend that time). But going to WL could easily be a 2 hour diversion at a minimum. Just be aware in case you were thinking about going back for the 3pm parade or if you have fastpasses.

My advice, grain of salt, is when you decide it's lunch time, gauge how hungry you are, what you've done in the day, what you still want to try to do. Then walk or monorail to Contemporary. If you don't want to take your time, or you're not that hungry, grab a little something at Contempo Cafe, then head back to MK. If you want a leisurely lunch, or if you're really hungry and want a whole sit down dining experience, go to The Wave, it's one of the underappreciated jewels of WDW. We make a point of going at least once every trip, but it's rarely if ever busy. While we usually have reservations, we've gone twice on a spur of the moment, and there was not a problem finding a table either time. But either way, when you're ready to go back to MK, it's a 10 minute walk, you don't necessarily have to wait for a monorail or a boat or a bus or anything, just go on back.
Thanks for the advice, we aren't big eaters so we are mostly likely going to do a QS and save Whispering Canyon for another day.
Totally agree with you on the Contemporary, can't beat the convenience
 

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the advice, we aren't big eaters so we are mostly likely going to do a QS and save Whispering Canyon for another day.
Totally agree with you on the Contemporary, can't beat the convenience
Happy to help. Between you and me...and everyone else reading...I know a lot of people really love Ohana for dinner but the last 2 times we went it was a bit of a disappointment. I certainly hope you like it, but if this were my decision, I'd take a boat to WL for dinner, either Whispering Canyon or Artist Point which is IMO outstanding, one of the best meals I ever had, not just at WDW but anywhere. The only reason we haven't gone back lately is we only ever went before kids, and it seems like a form of child abuse to go past all the fun of Whispering Canyon to a quieter (somewhat) stuffier atmosphere. But if we ever stay at Wilderness again, we'd definitely hit Artist Point.
 

StefDisney

New Member
Original Poster
Happy to help. Between you and me...and everyone else reading...I know a lot of people really love Ohana for dinner but the last 2 times we went it was a bit of a disappointment. I certainly hope you like it, but if this were my decision, I'd take a boat to WL for dinner, either Whispering Canyon or Artist Point which is IMO outstanding, one of the best meals I ever had, not just at WDW but anywhere. The only reason we haven't gone back lately is we only ever went before kids, and it seems like a form of child abuse to go past all the fun of Whispering Canyon to a quieter (somewhat) stuffier atmosphere. But if we ever stay at Wilderness again, we'd definitely hit Artist Point.
I hope so too, as I've never eaten there before and I've heard all the reports of the service going downhill- hopefully by December it will have improved. If not then at least I could say I went once and I don't have to go back.
I will definitely consider the WL restaurants for different nights, thanks for all your help!
 

DisneyFreak

Well-Known Member
With a big Ohana later in the day I would do a QS for lunch. Captain Cook's has always been one of our favorites.

Contempo Cafe is another good choice and a great place to sit and enjoy the Concourse and Monorail riding by.
 

pvtim

Active Member
I second Captain Cook's. The Thai Coconut Meatballs, Pulled Pork (Nachos or Sandwich) or the Hot Beef and Cheese are family favorites. It doesn't hurt that you can then grab a dole whip on the way back up to the resort monorail back to Magic Kingdom!
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
I hope so too, as I've never eaten there before and I've heard all the reports of the service going downhill- hopefully by December it will have improved. If not then at least I could say I went once and I don't have to go back.
I will definitely consider the WL restaurants for different nights, thanks for all your help!

Is it your plan to be in MK in the morning then hop out for lunch? Sometimes taking a quick break from MK with a lunch at one of the monorail resorts or WL is a good option.

If you're having dinner at 'Ohana, not sure you want to have lunch at Captain Cook's also. But lunch at WL might make for a nice break. If Whispering Canyon is too much food, then other choices are Geyser Point and Roaring Fork. Plus you can browse the gift shop. Not to be missed: Purchase a Mickey-Goofy-Donald-Humphrey totem pole. As soon as I saw it, it was an impulse buy.
 
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