When you work at Disney World, you learn a thing or two about the parks. You meet Cast Members from different attractions, who teach you how to be a Galactic Hero on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. You talk to quick-service Cast Members who give you the inside scoop on what to eat (and what to avoid). You might even get a sneak peek at the newest merchandise coming to the parks and resorts. One thing’s for sure: Cast Members know what’s up.

After working anywhere for a few months, you learn the ins and outs of your workplace. The Disney Food Blog team is full of former Disney World Cast Members, and we know what kinds of foods you should ALWAYS order, and what you should…well, AVOID. Let’s talk about it!

There is one restaurant in Magic Kingdom that is simultaneously one of the most POPULAR places to eat and also one of the most BORING places to eat. The decorations? Kooky. A little boring, if we’re being honest. (No offense, Sonny Eclipse.) The food? Average. The crowds? BIG! Yeah, we’re talking about Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.

We’re not here to totally bash this place. It has some redeeming qualities. But, if we’re being honest, it’s not the best place to eat in Magic Kingdom. If you decide to stop in during your trip to Disney World, here’s what we think you should know before you go.

AVOID:

1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger

The 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger isn’t the worst burger we’ve ever had. It’s a flame-broiled 1/3 lb Angus Burger topped with bacon, American cheese, and Sonny Eclipse Signature Sauce on a brioche bun served with French fries.

It costs $13.29. A McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese is roughly $5.99, and while we know we’re not comparing apples and oranges here, we also know Disney has some inflated theme park pricing going on here.

The Sonny Eclipse sauce is a nice addition here, but honestly, there are better burgers (and better sauces) elsewhere in Disney World. In a pinch, this is an OK option, but we can think of a loooot of ways to better spend that $13 in Magic Kingdom. (Don’t worry, we’ve got some suggestions we’ll talk about later.) All you burger lovers out there, don’t go expecting a 10/10 burger from Cosmic Ray’s. The ingredients just don’t taste as fresh and high-quality here as in other quick-service restaurants around the parks.

See our review of the burger HERE!

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Sorry to say it, but the Grilled Chicken Sandwich isn’t much better.

To be fair, it’s hard to REALLY mess up a chicken sandwich. This one is made with grilled chicken, bacon, cheddar spread, crispy onions, and Coca-Cola cherry barbecue sauce, served on a brioche bun with french fries. You can get it for $12.79. Should you get it for $12.79? Probably not.

Why? Well, for one thing, we found the bun a little dry. And while the chicken was juicy, that chicken breast was NOT pounded out, so we were forced to take awkwardly big bites of the sandwich. Pound your chicken, people. It makes for a better chicken, we promise.

See our review HERE!

Instead, try:

Cheeseburger Spring Rolls 

Craving a cheeseburger but don’t want a heavy meal in the middle of a hot summer day? Try the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls from the Adventureland Spring Roll Cart. This isn’t breaking news, we know. But these spring rolls are popular for a reason! (They’re even celebrity-approved!)

What can we say that hasn’t been said by every Disney fan? It’s a cheeseburger wrapped up in a crispy spring roll shell with creamy special sauce and a hearty meat filling. Get the picture? It’s got all our favorite classic cheeseburger flavors done BETTER than a regular Magic Kingdom cheeseburger.

The BEST Burgers In Disney World

 Boston Cream Pie

Columbia Harbour House has some of the BEST quick-service options in Magic Kingdom. One of our newest favorites is the  Boston Cream Pie, but really, we recommend most things on the menu here over the options at Cosmic Ray’s.

At $5.99, the Boston Cream pie is an excellent example of quick-service food done RIGHT in Magic Kingdom. It’s a vanilla cake layered with vanilla cream, chocolate popping candies, and crisp pearls topped with fudge icing and a cherry. The cake is light and fluffy, and the cool vanilla flavor of the cake and cream balanced the chocolate quite nicely. Do yourself a favor and go HERE instead.

See our full review HERE!

What we DO recommend at Cosmic Ray’s:

Chicken Strips

OK, picky eaters, this is for you. Chicken Strips (4 strips total) are a theme park classic. Sometimes, you just crave something easy. Something you don’t have to think about. That’s when Cosmic Ray’s comes in handy. They’ve got easy, inoffensive menu options like the Greek Salad with Chicken or a plate of Chicken Strips. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that!

We can’t complain about the Chicken Strips. We’ve eaten them and enjoyed it — we have no shame in admitting it! If you don’t want to fuss around and can’t walk one more step without eating some food, stop by Cosmic Ray’s and eat some fried chicken.

See a full review of the restaurant HERE!

Take it from a former Cast Member. There are better foods out there in Magic Kingdom! Unless you’re looking for a simple, basic meal in the air conditioning, we say head to Columbia Harbour House. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

I Was a Disney World Cast Member. These Are the Things I NEVER Do in the Parks.

What do you avoid eating in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!