The Grand Floridian Café – A Quiet, Hidden Gem

My most recent trip to Walt Disney World was not my typical visit.  I mostly travel with the family, so it was rather exciting to be traveling with my husband – just the two of us!  Since he was attending a conference during the day, we decided to not buy park tickets.  Normally, we are park commandos, so it was a fun new challenge to find things to do that we might otherwise overlook.

We decided to chose the Grand Floridian Café for lunch and it was fantastic! Here are five reasons why we loved this hidden gem.

Location

It is easily accessible.  We were staying at Disney’s Polynesian resort and it was a pleasant walk over, allowing us time to explore both resorts on the way to the restaurant.  Otherwise, it is a quick ride on the highway in the sky from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot or any of the monorail resorts.

Seating

Although we had a reservation, others were able to walk up and get seated, even if they didn’t have an ADR.  It felt like a quiet little tucked away escape that is overlooked by many. We didn’t feel rushed, so we could sit back and enjoy our meal without feeling guilty about taking our time.

Service

We had a fantastic server.  Yes, I know, generally the cast members are fantastic, but our server really did go above and beyond.  She provided descriptions of entrees and made recommendations that were spot on. Best of all, she made great conversation with us.  She asked us about our trip and told us about other Disney positions she has held.  She genuinely loved what she was doing and you could tell that she loved meeting everyone.  To me  and many others– this is so much of the Disney experience that I love.

The food

Yum – just yum.  Since it was just the two of us, we relaxed and enjoyed everything.  Our appetizers (shrimp cocktail and the house-breaded mozzarella) were tasty enough I could have made a meal of them on their own.  Our entrees did not disappoint either. The spinach-ricotta ravioli with kale was a flavorful vegetarian option. The lobster “thermidor” burger was a pleasant surprise – unique and one of the best burgers we have tasted on property.

Dessert and drinks

It’s hard to believe that with the size of our meal that we were able to make room for desserts and drinks.  While we enjoyed dessert, we didn’t find it anything that we would go out of our way for.  Although, both the Key Lime Pie and the Apple Crisp were a great way to top off the meal, neither was showstopper.  We did however enjoy our drinks. The Cold Brew XO and the Grand Mimosas were a perfect end to the meal.

Overall, this was a great experience – very relaxing and comfortable.  I will definitely be returning to the Grand Floridian Café when I feel the need to get away from the crowds.

Do you have a favorite restaurant you would consider a hidden gem?  What’s your goto quiet meal?  Tell me about it below or on Facebook.