Recommendations for restaurants with outdoor dining

[FireflyTrance]

Hello! We are planning a trip to WDW in Feb with my mom who is turning 70. I was discussing it with her today and due to her concerns around covid she stated she would be more comfortable with outdoor dining during the trip. We plan to go to all 4 parks so please recommend any restaurants at the parks that offer outdoor dining. We are also staying at Riviera for the first time. Is there any outdoor seating at the restaurants there? Are any of the dessert parties outdoors? Thanks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There aren't many.

Topolinos has an outdoor patio. Not sure you can order full meals. It is closed in inclement weather.

Bar Riva is open-air (has a roof but is open toward the pool.)

I did not see outdoor seating for Primo Piatto but their offerings are easily carried out.

Parks - MK, Tony's has a patio, but otherwise only quick service is outdoors.
Epcot - Outdoor seating (limited) at Rose & Crown, Spice Road Table, Tutto Italia, Via Napoli. Lots of QS with outdoor seating. Takeout menu for crepes in France as of 10/1.
HS - I cannot think of any restaurants with outdoor seating. Brown Derby has a small patio that does not currently serve the full menu and is first come, first served.
AK - I do not think the TS restaurants have any sort of outdoor seating. Plenty of QS.
Disney Springs has multiple options.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Topolino's does not have outdoor seating, just a bar terrace. Primo has lots of tables scattered around outside - we love eating right by the water.

Unfortunately, the parks have very little outdoor seating outside of quick service spots. Epcot has the most but it's incredibly limited as well. PP mention Via Napoli but there was not an outdoor option when we went last week for dinner.

Disney Springs has tons of options but is definitely not convenient unless you're already there. Nearly all TS spots there have outdoor options.

You could take the Skyliner to Boardwalk area for Big River - they have outdoor seating. Be sure and note it on your reservation (use open table) or be prepared to wait. I was told an hour wait for outdoor because they had all been reserved/requested by open table reservations. Trattoria often seats outdoors, too, and it's in that same area.

 

[Simba's Mom]

At DHS, the Hollywood Brown Derby outdoor location is now serving food again, including a full size of their Cobb Salad.

 

[loves to dive]

AK has QS and Nomad Lounge which serves small plates. We love it there.

Epcot has Rose and Crown and Spice Roads, which we love and it's never full.

As others have pointed out, unless you want QS at MK you are limited to Tony's.

HS other have mention HBD is serving food at the lounge now. You can get your name on a list there.

Just a warning, the weather in Feb. can be all over the place. The last time we were there in Feb. (2020) it was colder than heck and rained part of the time. Outdoor dining would have been out of the question, especially at QS as most don't have the little heaters. The week before we went it was in the 60s and sunshine. We had to wear gloves, hats, scarves and coats. Some of the resort restaurants do allow you to order and take it back to your room so that might be an option.

 

[hou2009]

You read my mind with this question. Going mid-January. I think we'll make ADRs for each day and when it gets closer, depending on weather and covid#s, may cancel some or all. In the past would do at least one TS each day, sometimes 2, but this trip might rely more heavily on QS. Like the flexibility of QS to select restaurants in the moment if less crowded, more opportunities to eat outside, ability to get up and walk out if feeling uncomfortable, etc.

 

[ChanaC]

I've been using this guide for outdoor dining. Looks like it was last updated last year so it may not be 100% accurate, and I know some restaurants have opened since. Source: Disney Food Blog
Edit: The image in this thread is a little blurry and hard to read, if you click on the link you will be a better quality image and a downloadable/printable option.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We really enjoyed outdoor dining at Via Napoli in past years (and won't eat inside there--too loud) but sounds like that may not be an option. Some of the resort pool bars offer outdoor dining so that might be an option for the MK/Epcot trips, but I personally wouldn't travel for a QS meal.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

BD Lounge does not serve the full menu (although they do have the cobb salad) and you can't make a reservation to sit there. It is first come, first served only, so plan to walk up. I heard they may be using callbacks so you get a text to return when you can sit.

Via Napoli does, at times, have some outdoor tables, but not many, and you probably aren't guaranteed one. As noted, they don't always have them, so you can't count on those. Might depend on staffing or the weather whether they have them out or not.

 

[honeymo78]

BD Lounge does not serve the full menu (although they do have the cobb salad) and you can't make a reservation to sit there. It is first come, first served only, so plan to walk up. I heard they may be using callbacks so you get a text to return when you can sit.

As of last Thursday, BD Lounge was serving both a small lounge menu and the full restaurant menu. Obviously no guarantee that is what will still be offered next year. They are also currently using a waitlist for the lounge via MDE. We used that last week and were notified a table was ready about 5 min after joining (party of 2).

 

[MakiraMarlena]

interesting, the beginning of this month they were adamant about not serving the full restaurant menu.

 

[FireflyTrance]

Thanks for your feedback everyone! I’ve never been to Tony’s at MK. Is it worth getting a reservation there or would be better off with QS?

 

[FireflyTrance]

I hear you, we’ve gone in February a few times, and one year it was hot and we went swimming, but in 2020 I remember it being cold. Hoping for warm weather on this trip.

AK has QS and Nomad Lounge which serves small plates. We love it there.

Epcot has Rose and Crown and Spice Roads, which we love and it's never full.

As others have pointed out, unless you want QS at MK you are limited to Tony's.

HS other have mention HBD is serving food at the lounge now. You can get your name on a list there.

Just a warning, the weather in Feb. can be all over the place. The last time we were there in Feb. (2020) it was colder than heck and rained part of the time. Outdoor dining would have been out of the question, especially at QS as most don't have the little heaters. The week before we went it was in the 60s and sunshine. We had to wear gloves, hats, scarves and coats. Some of the resort restaurants do allow you to order and take it back to your room so that might be an option.