The Picky Eaters’ Guide to Mac & Cheese at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
The dining options at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are EXPANSIVE. From the savory to sweet, salty to sour, there’s so much to try! But, dealing with a picky eater can be…. stressful…. especially if they only seem to eat one food group. For my daughter, it was carbs and cheese.
I don’t know what it is about mac and cheese (I personally do not like it), but picky eaters tend to gravitate towards it like nothing else. My now-20-year-old daughter used to have it for dinner at least twice a week. It’s still her go-to dinner order when she’s not sure what to get and is HAS to be plain… no way she’s eating lobster mac and cheese, it’s “tainted” (don’t tell her I told you that LOL).
On our last Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando vacation (a combo vacation I highly recommend for Disney-loving families with older kids or Harry Potter fans), the mac and cheese queen herself ate PLAIN ol’ mac and cheese almost 10 TIMES!
Need to make sure Mac & Cheese is on that menu to satisfy your mac-and-cheese-loving kid (or adult)?
These are our TOP 5 places to get some mac and cheese at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando plus a few extra recommendations for getting your picky eater their mac and cheese fix.
Each location also offers a delicious array of selections for the rest of the family to enjoy (cause your kid might LOVE burgers and pizza, too, but I’d like a little more variety). Now, without further ado, we’ll start with number 5: Three Broomsticks!
5. Three Broomsticks
in Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Universal Orlando) - quick service, seat yourself
Three Broomsticks mac & cheese served with potato wedges
It was all gone in less than 5 minutes LOL
For just $7.49, order Macaroni & Cheese off of the kids menu at this quick service restaurant in Universal Orlando. While technically only for kids 9 and under, since this is a pay by meal (not per person) restaurant, most of the time, you can get away with ordering this for family members of any age. This mac and cheese is made with softer elbow pasta, with a similar taste to Stouffer’s.
For non-picky eaters, this Harry Potter-inspired restaurant serves British cuisine. I’d recommend trying out the Shepherd’s Pie ($16.49) or Fish & Chips ($16.99). Click here for the full menu.
4. Biergarten
in the Germany Pavilion at Epcot (Walt Disney World) - sit down, buffet style
Biergarten at Epcot’s Germany Pavilion Nudel Gratin - photo from Disney Parks Blog
Served buffet style at $46 per adult and $25 per child, this mac and cheese is actually called Nudel Gratin and is just part of the array of traditional German cuisine. Don’t worry too much about the name, though. Unless your kid ONLY eats Kraft mac and cheese, they won’t be able to tell the difference. It’s a baked mac and cheese using elbow pasta with Swiss and white cheddar cheese.
What else is on the menu? Traditional sausages, schnitzel, potatoes, chicken, and more! Click here for the full menu.
3. Tusker House
in Africa at Animal Kingdom (Walt Disney World) - sit down, buffet style
Rivera family dinner at Tusker House, meeting Mickey Mouse is his cute safari outfit!
Tusker House mac & cheese - photo from AllEars.net
On a menu full of bold, African flavors, the mac and cheese keeps it simple and enjoyable for picky eaters. Like Biergarten, this sit-down restaurant serves its food buffet style for $55 per adult and $36 per child for dinner reservations. The mac and cheese is made with Cavatappi pasta (like a double swirl elbow pasta) and a creamy cheese sauce.
Other full menu highlights include Moroccan-spiced beef, house-made breads served with Chutneys, and Cape Malay green curry shrimp.
2. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
in Disney Springs (Walt Disney World) - full service
Momma’s Mac & Cheese from Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs
Deemed the BEST BAKED mac and cheese in Disney World and Universal Orlando by my daughter, this is a must-try for mac and cheese lovers who can handle baked mac and cheese. The best part? It’s just $8.
Order a side of Momma’s Mac & Cheese for the best little cast iron pot of baked mac and cheese that’s filling, physically and emotionally. Ok, maybe it’s not that deep for your kids, but they’re sure to enjoy!
The main menu also offers delicious Southern homestyle cooking from recipes by the celebrity chef, Art Smith, including: Art’s Famous Fried Chicken and Cuban Sandwich.
1. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
in CityWalk (Universal Orlando) - full service
That smile says it all :)
Vibrant color, delicious taste. Look how creamy!
It was love at first bite.
Not since Macaroni Grill’s old mac and cheese recipe has she had any mac and cheese this delicious. A fun shape (Garganelle) and rich, thick, creamy cheese sauce. Perfection.
It’s not exactly on the main menu or kids menu, but, like at many places, if you just ask for plain mac and cheese, they’ll serve up this deliciousness.
Be sure to try out some of their gourmet milkshakes, too, among other offerings listed on the full menu.
These options may be our favorites, but want to know the best way to see if a restaurant has mac and cheese on the menu?
Just ask! (or look up the menu online!)
The Disney World website has menus for every restaurant available OR you can view menus beforehand on the My Disney Experience app. Universal Orlando also lists their menus on their website or app, Universal FL.
If you don’t see plain mac and cheese, but you see they serve some sort of pasta, chances are they can make mac and cheese! Just ask your server kindly if they would be able to make plain mac and cheese and they may be able to make it happen (no guarantees). Full service dining restaurants can often also make small modifications of dishes to make them palatable for your picky eater if you ask nicely!
Do I need reservations for these restaurants?
For some, but not for all. We’ll probably want to make reservations for Toothsome, Biergarten, and Tusker House, but Three Broomsticks and Homecomin’ are usually open for walk-ins without too much of a wait (but that can depend on crowd levels).
Lucky you, if you book with me, I can make dining reservations for you, when applicable and available, at no extra cost to the cost of your trip! That’s on top of dining and photo packages, Express Passes and/or Genie+, and more!
Traveling with picky eaters doesn’t have to be stressful.
There are more options than you might realize! These top 5 are just the tip of the iceberg.