The Seafood Buffet at Garden Grove
For some families, a trip to Walt Disney World is not complete without at least one meal at a buffet restaurant. Walt Disney World has a staggering number of buffets, and it might be hard to choose from all the varied choices! These are my personal favorites:
TUSKER HOUSE
Located in Animal Kingdom, Tusker House is a great choice for those who want to try a more adventurous, unfamiliar cuisine without the risk of ordering a plate of something they don’t like. Guests here can select small portions of African dishes and try a little bit of everything, and then go back to get larger helpings of their favorites. Plus, this is a fun way to meet Disney characters, led by Donald Duck, dressed in their safari clothes!
This character buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but my favorite meal is dinner. The chutney, curries, and Peri Peri salmon are all delicious, and there are traditional kids favorites such as corn dogs and mashed potatoes in case none of the exotic fare interests them.
BOMA
This might be my favorite Walt Disney World restaurant across the entire property. For some, it might be out of the way, but if you happen to be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, do not miss an opportunity to eat here!
There are no characters, but the variety of choices is greater than that at Tusker House. Buffets are open at breakfast and dinner, and I prefer to head here for dinner. The Ghanian Oxtail Stew, Mulligatawny Soup, watermelon rind salad, chermoula shrimp, pap, chakalaka, spiced sweet potatoes, couscous and Zulu cabbage are so good that you might wonder how on earth you could find room for dessert. But find it! Although some people go wild for the Zebra Domes, my favorite desserts are the African apple cake and the bread pudding.
GARDEN GROVE
This one might come as a surprise to Walt Disney World regulars, since it is not on the Dining Plan and is at the Swan Hotel. The menu here changes depending on what day of the week it is. But our family recently had dinner at the Thursday through Sunday night seafood buffet, and were blown away by the variety of seafood and the wonderful character interaction.
This buffet features soups, salads, and kids’ favorites, but the main event here is seafood. Not only are there many options at the buffet, but each table receives a basket of fried seafood, cheddar biscuits, and French fries!
AKERSHUS ROYAL BANQUET HALL
This Epcot restaurant is a fabulous choice for Princess lovers in your party. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, each meal is accompanied by Disney princesses who will come to your table to pose for photos and sign autographs.
Breakfast is a buffet and features both Norwegian specialties and traditional American breakfast items. Lunch and dinner begin with the Taste of Norway, which is a smorgasbord of traditional Norwegian appetizers. Then each guest can chose an entrée. The Laks (grilled salmon) is truly tasty, and some guests love the Kjottkake (Norwegian meatballs) although my father says they don’t taste as good as the ones his grandmother used to make!
CRYSTAL PALACE
Located in a beautiful Victorian-style building in the Magic Kingdom, this is the best place to meet Winnie the Pooh and all his friends. The buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and some of the tables have lovely views of the passing parade and Cinderella Castle. My Aunt, who is vegetarian, was very impressed with the amount of vegetarian offerings here. In fact, when she asked our server about it, she sent a chef to our table to speak with my Aunt and then walk her through the buffets to point out all the meatless options.
Besides many salads and vegetables, the dinner buffet features peel-and-eat shrimp and a carving station. The traditional fare is sure to please any picky eaters in your party.
Which buffets are your favorite at the Walt Disney World Resort? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter!
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