Two Disney Restaurants Added to the Michelin Guide in 2023

Get ready to experience the best of Disney’s culinary world, thanks to this exciting news! Two Disney restaurants, Victoria & Albert’s and Toledo, were recognized in today’s announcements from the Michelin guide. These truly exceptional dining destinations have earned some of the highest recognition in the culinary realm, making them must-visit spots for both food enthusiasts and Disney lovers. Let’s talk about the ratings each dining location received, and why you should put Victoria & Albert’s and Toledo, where the magic of Disney meets outstanding culinary artistry, on your schedule for your next Walt Disney World vacation.

Victoria & Albert’s – Recommended Restaurant

With just 14 tables in the main dining room, plus Queen Victoria’s Room with seating for up to 8, and the 8-seat Chef’s Table, this is the top dining experience at Walt Disney World. A consecutive winner of AAA’s Five Diamond Award since 2000—the only restaurant in Central Florida so honored—Victoria & Albert’s is lavish, and expensive. And worth every penny.

The menu changes regularly based on what the excellent chefs having been inventing and enjoying. A meal at Victoria & Albert’s is an event. Like a marathon, it takes many hours but you’ll be talking about it to anyone who will listen for years to come. Legitimately years.

While the restaurant is justifiably famous for its wine pairings, the zero-proof beverage pairing is a true winner whether you are a teetotaler or not. Beverages are engineered from the ground up to pair with dishes and truly enhance the experience. A meal at Victoria & Albert’s also provides the rare chance to quench your thirst with the advice of a water sommelier. You will never fully appreciate the nuances of water taste and feel until you are guided through several courses of water tastings and pairings.

What Michelin has to say

You can read their full impressions in their point of view online, but some important pieces that they called out were:

• Difficulty in getting reservations
• Attention to detail with white-glove service
• Disney touches like music the harpist plays
• Contemporary cooking with global touches

TouringPlans most recent experience

TouringPlans researchers and guests experienced meals at Victoria & Albert’s on each of the very first two nights the restaurant reopened after its long pandemic closure. You can read about all of the details in our blog post about that very first meal, but the highlights were:

• The price increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic closure costs. The base tasting menu is $295 per guest, but additions can take that cost up to $375 per guest. The wine pairing costs $150 per guest, and the zero-proof pairing is $110 per guest. Water pairings will be charged by each bottle that is presented.
• The menu is less focused on specific preparations like molecular gastronomy, and instead really centers on telling a story throughout the meal instead of fussy presentation.
• The specific dishes we had will likely not be on the menu almost 10 months later, but what won’t change is the commitment to high quality ingredients, perfect preparation, and attentive service. The attention to detail is unmatched by any other Disney dining experience (or maybe any Disney experience … at all).
• Your servers will guide you through each dish and beverage, answering any questions you have, telling you about ingredients and preparation, and even telling you how to best enjoy each bite that you take.

Toledo – Recommended Restaurant

High atop Gran Destino Tower, Toledo has to cater to Disney fans and conventioneers alike. It envelops diners in a Cubist cloud heaven, complete with color-changing ceiling and trees reaching to the sky right beside several tables. A showcase bar anchors one side of the restaurant, while an open tapas kitchen greets guests at the far end of the dining room. The real attraction, though, is the massive wall of windows, offering views of some of Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions and nighttime spectaculars.

TouringPlans experience with Toledo varies pretty wildly, with some researchers proclaiming it as one of the most adventurous and unique dining experiences on property, and others who have only been able to rate their meals as big misses. One thing is for sure – Toledo aims high, and if they’re firing on all cylinders, you’ll have an incredible and memorable meal.

What Michelin has to say

You can read their full impressions in their point of view online, but some of the details that they called out were:

• The excellent vibe and views
• Tapas as starters, especially the pan con tomate
• Meat-focused main dishes
• Coffee and desserts that round out the meal
• A price that “packs less of a punch” than other Disney options

TouringPlans most recent experience

Jennifer Heymont and her family dined at Toledo in the late summer of 2022, and you can read about their experience in her review of that meal. Some of their impressions include:

• Excellent and thoughtful tapas that disappeared quickly
• Steak that was well-cooked and celebrated the flavor and texture of each selected cut
• Sides that appropriately balanced adventurous flavor profiles with excellent preparation
• Sweet desserts that wrapped up the meal nicely

Have you eaten at Victoria & Albert’s or Toledo? Will you add either to your must-do list as a result of these new ratings? Let us know in the comments!