Earlier this week we looked at the highest rated restaurants in the Orlando theme parks to see if Mythos really is the #1 rated restaurant in a theme park. Today we’ll do the opposite and look at the lowest rated restaurants in Orlando theme parks based on the TouringPlans’ user ratings.

Our Methodology

We are look at all our user surveys for the past 5 years, only looking at full table service restaurants in theme parks (a waiter comes to take your order, so no Minions Cafe). Additionally we are only looking at restaurants with over 150 reviews for statistical accuracy, keep this in mind as it might impact some newer restaurants.

Be Our Guest (77% approval)

The lowest rated restaurant in an Orlando theme park is Be Our Guest in New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. Once hailed as the first “E-Ticket Restaurant” at opening, the value and quality of the dining experience has waned over the past decade. Originally designed as a hybrid restaurant, where day service could be quick service and switch to full service at night, to an all-day prix fixe menu. Prices are expensive, $72 per adult plus tax, tables are close together, and service is distressingly speedy. We understand why Disney made these changes, but as the resort’s most profitable restaurant I wish it also had similarly high quality.

Suggested Replacement: Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom), 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian)

Space 220 (80% approval)

Space 220, in World Discovery at Epcot, was cursed from the get-go. Announced before COVID to open in 2019, the opening was originally delayed due to construction delays and a departing executive chef. After two years of delays the restaurant opened in 2021 to promising reviews. Unfortunately shortly after opening the reviews started to fall off, with food quality and consistency taking a dive. Compare these two reviews:

The wonderfully prepared, familiar food in combination with the coolest entry experience and ambiance make this is a real experience. To her, this is the money she would spend over the Droid Depot. You’ll spend less per person and you won’t feel nearly as rushed. – September 2021 

We found the food to be more uneven. Some dishes were good enough to justify their price even in a more “regular” restaurant, some were close but didn’t quite make the bar, and a few were nothing I’d order again off any menu. – August, 2022

Now it is the lowest rated restaurant in Epcot, ouch. The prix fixe menu has remained virtually the same since our last review in August 2022, leaving us to assume it’s starting to suffer from the same Prix Fixe Curse that Be Our Guest suffers from.

Suggested Replacement: Geo-82 (Epcot), Spice Road Table (Epcot)

Nine Dragons Restaurant (80% approval)

Nine Dragons is the Epcot restaurant I was always told never to go to. Not that it was bad, per se, but instead it was uninspired and overpriced for the experience. This was in the 1990s, mind you. Now 30 some odd years later and that reputation persists as the restaurant attempts to balance itself between familiar-to-Americans options and more authentic cuisine. One of the core mistakes is attempting to condense such a large and rich cultural and culinary history into one menu in one restaurant. China deserves another table service dining location to celebrate its food. From our view in 2025:

…the food is clearly adjusted for American palates that are only familiar with the most common Asian flavors. The technique was there. The flavors were fine. But that “fine” is kind of damning with faint praise, because there isn’t a more exciting word that’s really accurate. No dish – with the possible exception of the Sichuan Beef – managed to cross the line to being exceptional or memorable. – January 2025

Suggested Replacement:

Coral Reef (81% approval)

The Coral Reef sounds like an awesome restaurant on paper: eat next to windows looking into the massive aquarium of The Living Seas. The problem is the food doesn’t live up to the gimmick, with lower quality ingredients and poor preparation for the price paid. From our review:

Even if you were guaranteed a table next to the tank, the price tag simply doesn’t justify the view. Why Coral Reef continues to charge outrageous prices for subpar quality and remains one of the worst locations on Disney property is something our team just doesn’t get. It’s like Disney forgot about this restaurant. – June 2022

Suggested Replacement: Garden Grill (Epcot), Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (Epcot), Cape May Cafe (Beach Club Resort)

The Plaza Restaurant (82% approval)

The Plaza Restaurant is one of the few places you can get a beer in the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise the restaurant has mediocre food in a noisy, cramped, and dated atmosphere. The menu is an uninspiring mix of burgers, sandwiches, and burger sides like fries, onion rings and milkshakes. Beer and wine are also on the menu, so consider this an adult step-up from a bacon cheeseburger and Coke at Cosmic Rays. But the question is: why? Go to Steakhouse 71 in the Contemporary for a better burger and beer.

Suggested Replacement: Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom), Steakhouse 71 (Contemporary Resort)

Rainforest Cafe – Disney’s Animal Kingdom (82% approval)

Rainforest Cafe is a national chain of highly themed restaurants based on conservation of the rainforests. Large fishtanks adorn the space while a fake rainstorm goes off roughy every half hour. I’d can’t lie,  I do have some love of the place from my childhood and so do many others. But the food is very mediocre selection of American Faire like burgers, sandwiches, tacos, steaks, chicken, and bright colored cocktails in big plastic mugs. You know the drill by now. This is the sort of place I’d go for a beer and pile of nachos during a midday break if I can’t get into Nomad Lounge.

Suggested Replacement: Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom), Satul’i Canteen (Animal Kingdom)

TouringPlans Touring Tips

• Avoid restaurants with extensive gimmicks. Are you paying for the food or to maintain an expensive aquarium? Are you paying for a good cut of beef or to sit somewhere cool?
• Prix Fixe menus are either be a blessing or a curse. Some of the best restaurants feature a fixed cost menus, while others hide additional costs behind them. Use our reviews to avoid the bad locations.
• If you end up at a lower reviewed restaurant, then stick with the familiar and simple and avoid complex dishes and fish.

Do you like these low rated restaurants? Are there other restaurants you avoid? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!