Spending Christmas Day at Disney World means figuring out where you’re going to eat, and that’s not as simple as it sounds. The parks are packed, everyone wants a special meal, and the reservation system becomes a competitive sport on one of the busiest days of the year. Some families are determined to have a traditional turkey dinner that evokes a sense of home. Others see Christmas at Disney as the perfect excuse to try something completely different. Either way, you’re competing with thousands of other guests for limited tables at the most popular restaurants.
Disney World offers a wide range of Christmas dining options across its theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs, including turkey feasts, character buffets, and upscale seafood celebrations. The challenge is making a decision quickly to secure a reservation before all the options fill up.
Knowing which restaurants serve holiday food year-round versus those with Christmas-only menus is key for your planning. Year-round options provide backup plans, while exclusive menus offer unique experiences worth prioritizing. Waiting until the last minute means settling for what’s available, which may not meet your expectations for a Disney Christmas celebration.
The most important advice for Disney Christmas dining: book early. Secure your spot the moment the reservation window opens to avoid losing your preferred restaurant.
Where to Eat Christmas Dinner in Magic Kingdom
Liberty Tree Tavern is the go-to spot for traditional Christmas food in Magic Kingdom, and it’s available for both lunch and dinner throughout the year, not just on December 25. The all-you-care-to-enjoy setup means you can load up on pot roast, roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, vegetables, mac and cheese, and stuffing without worrying about portion sizes. Dessert is Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, which has achieved cult status among Disney food fans.
If Liberty Tree Tavern is completely booked, don’t panic. The Diamond Horseshoe serves the exact same menu in the same all-you-can-eat format. The food is identical. The only difference is the restaurant’s aesthetic and atmosphere. Having two locations serving the same Christmas meal significantly improves your odds of getting that traditional holiday dinner experience in Magic Kingdom.
Credit: Disney
Plaza Restaurant offers a unique Christmas menu by keeping its regular options while adding holiday specials. Enjoy the holiday beef pot roast in puff pastry, accompanied by mashed potatoes, onion rings, and black garlic-truffle aioli, or a turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread crumbles, and cranberry barbecue sauce. Dessert options include pistachio and cherry cheesecake, as well as a holiday cosmopolitan. This menu is perfect for groups with varying tastes in Christmas food.
EPCOT Christmas Dining Experiences
Garden Grill delivers an all-you-can-eat holiday meal featuring salad, grilled beef, roasted chicken, mac and cheese, and additional sides. What makes this location special is the character dining component. You’re celebrating Christmas lunch or dinner with Chip ‘n’ Dale, Mickey, and Pluto. For families with young kids, combining holiday food with Disney character interactions creates the kind of Christmas memory that lasts years.
Credit: Becky Burkett
The EPCOT Candlelight Processional Dining Package needs to be on your radar, even though the actual meals aren’t specifically Christmas-themed. What you’re really paying for is guaranteed seating at the Candlelight Processional, which might be the most authentically Christmas experience Disney World offers. A celebrity narrator retells the Christmas story while backed by a massive live choir and full orchestra. It’s genuinely beautiful and surprisingly moving. Multiple EPCOT restaurants participate in the dining package, so you have flexibility in choosing your meal while locking down your spot at the show.
Hollywood Studios Holiday Character Meal
Hollywood & Vine runs Minnie’s Holiday Dine for both breakfast and dinner on Christmas Day. The character buffet features a spread of carved roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, assorted vegetables, and more. You’re eating alongside Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and other classic characters. This is an extremely popular option because it combines two things families want: traditional Christmas food and Disney character time. Reservations here disappear fast, so this should be one of your first booking priorities if it’s on your list.
Christmas at Disney Resort Restaurants
Ale & Compass at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort switches to a special holiday brunch menu from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Christmas Day, replacing both breakfast and lunch service. The brunch offerings include smoked salmon flatbread, crab cake benedict, yule log, and several other options. This is ideal for guests who want a relaxed late-morning meal that doesn’t lock them into a specific breakfast or lunch time slot.
Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers a prix fixe holiday meal for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day, but here’s the catch: this completely replaces the regular menu. You won’t have access to their normal offerings. The three-course Christmas meal begins with cornbread and house salad, continues with a holiday skillet (a plant-based option is available), and concludes with dessert. The rustic wilderness lodge setting actually fits the holiday vibe really well.
Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge runs a “Celebrate the Season” dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Christmas, available alongside select regular dinner menu items. The special Christmas offering is Spice-Glazed Prime Rib with Jeera Jollof and Saag Cassava Puree, Smoke Indian Curry Reduction, Sauté East African Greens, and Dates Relish. This is completely different from typical American Christmas dinner, which is exactly the point. If you’re tired of turkey and want something with bold flavors and international influence, Sanaa delivers.
The Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort is going all out across its restaurant lineup. Amare has Pan-Seared Florida Snapper and Cabernet Braised Ossobuco. Il Mulino is serving French Pompano, “lasagna,” and slow-cooked lamb. Rosa Mexicano offers Snapper a la Valenciana. Todd English’s Bluezoo features Seared Black Cod. You’ll want to call ahead to these restaurants directly for full Christmas Day menu details and to check availability.
Don’t sleep on the hotel quick-service locations either. Many of them add special Christmas Day options that give you festive food without the time commitment of table service.
Disney Springs Christmas Menus
Raglan Road keeps its regular menu available on Christmas while also offering a complete holiday menu. The full Turkey Dinner is legitimately comprehensive: butter and herb-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, duck fat roasties, honey-glazed carrots, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, sausage meat stuffing, red wine jus, and cranberry sauce. You can order à la carte from the standard menu or commit to the full holiday feast depending on what you’re feeling.
Cookes of Dublin, which is Raglan Road’s quick-service counterpart, has holiday meals available through Christmas Day including items like Thanksgiving Turkey Pie and a Cajun Turkey Sandwich. If you want holiday food but don’t want to commit two hours to a sit-down meal, this gives you a solid middle ground.
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Paddlefish is doing something completely different with its Boiling in a Winter Wonderland feast, available exclusively on Christmas Day. This is a seafood-focused holiday celebration featuring Key West Pink Shrimp, Cedar Key Little Neck Clams, PEI Mussels, cornbread, red potatoes, and sweet corn. For anyone who associates seafood with special occasions or just prefers it over turkey, this is a fantastic alternative to traditional Christmas dinner.
Wine Bar George is adding special Holiday Entrees to its menu on December 25 while keeping its regular Small Plates, Boards, and Dessert menus available. The holiday specials include braised short ribs, Chilean sea bass, braised chicken breast, and additional options. This flexibility works well for groups where different people want different things.
Christmas Day at Disney World restaurants means serious crowds and heavy demand. If there’s a specific restaurant you absolutely want to experience, book it the moment your reservation window opens. Have backup options ready in case your first choice is unavailable. Remember that some of these holiday meals are offered at multiple locations, which improves your chances of getting the experience you’re looking for even if your preferred venue is full.
Dining and Cooking