Disney World has always been on the cutting edge of technology, and that was never more apparent to guests than with the release of the My Disney Experience app back in 2012.

From showing interactive maps, to booking FastPasses, to making Advance Dining Reservations — this app can do it all. But we are Disney Food Blog, so you know one of our fave features is all about getting us that FOOD! Yep, we’re talking Mobile Ordering, and this is a game-changer, you guys. Right now, we are talking through some of our favorite secrets and tips to make you a Mobile Ordering PRO!

So What IS Mobile Order?

For those uninitiated into the Wonderful World of Mobile Order, this part of My Disney Experience (also available at Disneyland inside the Disneyland app) is your way to essentially skip lines while ordering food from a variety of quick, fast-food style locations in the parks.

You can view menus and order from any spot that accepts Mobile Order. You’ll pay online with the card tied to your account or with Disney Dining Plan credits, then simply alert them in the app once you’re there and they’ll start preparing your food.

You get in a separate (often MUCH shorter) line to grab your food and GO! While everyone else is sweating in the Florida heat waiting in never-ending lines to order, you’ll walk right up and get your food like a BOSS!

So let’s now look at some of the next-level, BEST uses for Mobile Order so you too can be a “Mobile Order Master” on your next Disney World trip.

Secrets and Tips To Achieve Pro Status!

Secret Menu Items

Mobile Ordering is also a great way to find out about top-secret menu items! That’s how we found the crazy Pork Belly Burger and Bah Humbug Burger from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.

In the past, these “secret” items have been listed under “Specialty Items,” but they are secret and only available via mobile order, so they can come and go with no notice! You can always do some snooping to see if you can find any more! We’re ALWAYS on the lookout for the latest and greatest secret menu goodies!

Look at Menus Ahead of Time

We used to find ourselves ducking and diving through crowds of people craning to see the tiny print on some of the Disney World menu boards OR trying to wrangle our squirmy families while we glance through a menu — only to find out there’s nothing the kids will eat. That is NOT how you want to spend your precious time in Disney World…trust us.

The My Disney Experience App lets you plan ahead (before you walk all the way over there) to make sure the food at a restaurant fits your taste and budget.

For instance, say it’s lunchtime, and your kids are HANGRY…but you’re stuck in the middle of the line for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. WHAT TO DO?! Peruse the menu for Flame Tree Barbecue or Restaurantosaurus in the comfort of that air-conditioned queue so you KNOW if your fam will ALL enjoy the food there. You can even place your order before boarding and be chowing within minutes of saving that Iguanodon!

Find Allergy-Friendly Options

If you or someone in your crew has specific dietary restrictions, Mobile Ordering can be super helpful! Many restaurants have an entire “allergy-friendly” section to help you narrow down your choices.

So if you are sensitive to any of the top eight allergens, including wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy, Mobile Ordering may be your new best friend!

It’s NOT Just For Meals!

Mobile Ordering ain’t just for meals, folks! Want a Dole Whip, but don’t want to wait in that mondo line? Mobile Order! You can even get that decadent pineapple upside-down cake (*swoon*)!

Maybe you REALLY want that new cupcake at Restaurantosaurus as you’re walking by but don’t want to wait in the long line? With Mobile Order it can be in your mouth before you can SPELL Restaurantosaurus (which shouldn’t be as hard as it looks! 😉 ).

When in doubt, whip out your phone and see if a spot accepts Mobile Order (and see what snacks or drinks they have that pique your interest!). You never know what goodies you might find you’d otherwise walk right past! After all, if you eat enough snacks, that counts as a meal, right??

Check out the FULL list of Mobile Order locations here!

Make It Your Own

Now comes the fun part! You’ve picked a restaurant and you’re ready to load up on some of Disney World’s finest! For us, Mobile Ordering hits somewhere between putting in an online grocery order and building our own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. Get it YOUR way.

When it comes to Mobile Ordering, you’ve got the power. You can often customize items just the way you like them, swap out sides, and (one of our favorites) ADD SIDE OF PLASTIC CHEESE at many locations.

Get that burger exactly how YOU want it. You want only mustard, lettuce, and onions? YOU DO YOU, boo! Plus you can reduce food waste (and maybe get a price break!) by omitting things you wouldn’t eat anyway — you go, Glen Coco!

Bring Some Chill Into Meal Time

We make mistakes at Disney World so you don’t have to! If you’ve ever tried to corral the aforementioned children through a quick service line, tried to make sense of the menu the moment you make it to the cashier, AND you have no idea what your Disney Dining Plan credits cover, you NEED Mobile Order in your life.

You can order from a nice shady bench while your family rides the teacups if you want! And not to worry, once you place your order, you’ll receive a window of time you can make your way to the restaurant before you let them know “I’m here!” Take advantage of how the app lets you go at your own pace and eliminate that extra stress that often comes with the formal line and ordering system.

We don’t know about you but that stress of waiting in line and ordering at the cashier is NOT OUR JAM! You better know EXACTLY what your giant party ALL want to eat, including drink, sides, and extras when you step up to the plate. Did Timmy want BBQ sauce with his nuggs or ranch? Wait, did Grandma want fries or to sub in onion rings?!? Didn’t someone want a slush instead of a Coke?!? AHH! Learn from us — just do it calmly with Mobile Order. 😉

Check out that time our lives were changed when Mobile Ordering started accepting the Disney Dining Plan here!

We encourage you to give Mobile Ordering a chance at least once because it really may change how you do Disney World food. It has saved us SO MUCH time, stress, and tears (whoops) compared to our trips without it and we love these top tips to get the MOST out of the service!

Happen to be on the other coast? Check out all the restaurants that offer Mobile Ordering in Disneyland HERE!

What do you like most about Mobile Ordering? Let us know in the comments below!