What Are the Best DVC Table Service Restaurants

What’s for dinner? Even on the best of days, that question can drive a family to distraction, triggering a civil war among hungry, uncompromising people. During a Disney vacation, it’s that much worse. You’ll often feel inundated with choice, especially as a Disney Vacation Club member.

The DVC program is overflowing with exceptional dining options, all of which are vastly superior to whatever you had for dinner last night. So, which are the best DVC Table Service restaurants? It’s a challenging debate, but I’ll suggest five places virtually everyone loves.

‘Ohana

Courtesy of DVC Fan

First, let’s do a bit of housekeeping. I’ll focus on Walt Disney World offerings today. Not everyone can get to Aulani, and Disneyland isn’t as popular a choice for DVC members. 

So, I’m playing the law of averages by excluding these places as well as Hilton Head and Vero Beach. Also, I’m throwing out the ringer, Victoria & Albert’s, because that’s like comparing any random running back to Derrick Henry. 

In creating a shortlist, I quickly realized that ‘Ohana simply must be a suggestion. No matter how you feel about this Polynesian restaurant, you’re acutely aware of its immense popularity. Snagging a reservation at ‘Ohana is often one of the most challenging parts of a Disney vacation. 

Fans love the multi-course menu featuring wave after wave of delicious cuisine. The Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings are the stuff of myth and legend, and the ‘Ohana Noodles are so good that the one time Disney dropped them from the menu, we rioted. No trip to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would be complete without a visit to ‘Ohana, preferably one ending with Bread Pudding. 

Boma – Flavors of Africa

Courtesy of DVC Fan

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas always comes up in any discussion about the best DVC resorts for dining options. I could have just as easily chosen Jiko – The Cooking Place and/or Sanaa as a worthy entrant.

I’m picking Boma because this All-You-Care-to-Enjoy restaurant serves some of the most unique cuisine in Florida. Where else could you eat Turkey Bobotie, Moroccan Harira, or Tabbouleh? A meal here doubles as a culinary education, and once you pass the class, your reward is a plate full of Zebra Domes. 

California Grill

Since the earliest days of Walt Disney World, California Grill has delighted generations of tourists. Even when this place was more of a dining club with live music, its central selling point remained the same.

Guests dine at California Grill to enjoy the view. This restaurant on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort overlooks Magic Kingdom, the most popular theme park on the planet. So, a meal here provides guests with a rare opportunity to admire the park’s landmarks from an eagle-eyed perspective. 

Once Disney converted the space to California Grill, the menu became more important and also more upscale. Nowadays, this restaurant serves one of the best brunches in Orlando, and its wine list is world-class as well. 

As for the food, a who’s who of culinary masters has crafted the menu. Disney even somewhat haughtily describes one of the courses as a “Chef’s Journey,” driving home the point that your tastebuds will do a little dance when you dine here. 

Olivia’s Café

In the beginning, long before some DVC hotels even existed, Disney’s Old Key West Resort stole all our hearts. It was the original property, so closely identified with the program that its first name was the Disney Vacation Club Resort. 

Since those halcyon days of yore, one of the truisms about Old Key West is that you must dine at Olivia’s. Disney thoughtfully positioned the restaurant across from the hotel lobby, making it one of the anchors of the Hospitality House section.

From the beginning, Disney intended this restaurant to become a member tradition. Management went so far as to put pictures of DVC owners on the walls. Simply stated, Olivia’s Café is an essential part of the DVC program.

To guarantee the restaurant’s legacy, Disney gave Olivia’s the tastiest fried chicken recipe in the world. DVC members know that an order of Conch Fritters, Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken, and Key Lime Pie feels like home. 

To this day, Olivia’s Café provides the most charming dining experience for longtime DVC owners. This is our place.

Whispering Canyon Café

Courtesy of DVC Fan

In the past, I probably would have suggested Artist Point is the best option at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Alas, those days have passed due to the addition of the Snow White character meal. At this point, booking a table at Artist Point is akin to winning the lottery.

Meanwhile, the sounds in the hotel lobby hint that there’s an easier option in the area. You’ll rarely have trouble getting a table at Whispering Canyon Café, which blows me away, given the impeccable quality of the meal.

Disney creates a campfire vibe here, serving bottomless skillets of entrees and veggies that would feel right at home on the range. This place serves the heartiest food at Walt Disney World, and it’s also the silliest place to dine. The servers enrich the vibe by performing hilarious pranks on DVC members. Whispering Canyon Café provides a dining experience unlike anything else in the DVC library, for which we should all be grateful.