Disney Springs offers a dizzying number of dining options — everything from national chains to polished, sit-down restaurants — and picking the right one can feel like its own adventure. One useful shortcut? Ask someone who worked there. The Disney Food Blog tapped former cast members on their team for their personal go-to spots, and three names rose to the top.
First up is Polite Pig, a barbecue restaurant whose menu draws on Florida's seasonal flavors. Guests can build a meal around smoked meats like jalapeño cheese sausage, brisket, chicken, ribs, and pork, pairing them with sides like grilled street corn and mac and cheese. The kitchen also ventures into less expected territory with dishes like smoked cedar-plank salmon and duck wings finished with a sweet tea glaze and pecans — all washed down with a generous selection of beers on tap.
Summer House on the Lake earns its reputation with a California-casual atmosphere right on the water, serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menus built around seasonal Florida ingredients. The salads, sandwiches, and pizzas draw regulars, but the real draw for many is the Summer House Cookie Bar — a separate spot offering freshly baked cookies in flavors ranging from Snickerdoodle to German Chocolate to Red Velvet, alongside La Colombe coffee drinks, fresh-churned soft-serve, and Cookie Shakes.
Rounding out the trio is The BOATHOUSE, one of Disney Springs' most recognized restaurants. Its extensive menu covers seafood (including a raw bar), steaks, chops, pasta, burgers, lobster rolls, and vegetarian choices, with three outdoor bars and dining rooms connected by a boardwalk creating an authentically nautical setting. The BOATHOUSE is also the departure point for the Dreamboat Experience, a 20-minute guided tour of Lake Buena Vista aboard a vintage Amphicar — part boat, part automobile.
Planning Your Trip
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Whether you're planning a non-park day or just want a reliable meal before heading back to the resort, these cast member picks offer a solid place to start. This roundup originally appeared on the Disney Food Blog.
