Making the most of Magical Dining Month

Celebrate Orlando’s amazing dining scene by eating out for a fraction of the usual cost during Magical Dining Month. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about this one-of-a-kind culinary celebration.

What exactly is Magical Dining Month?

Magical Dining Month is an annual month-long promotion that gives diners the opportunity to enjoy delicious 3-course meals for around $35 per person. Some of Orlando’s finest restaurants take part, giving guests the chance to sample gourmet cuisine at much lower prices than usual.

Through Visit Orlando, one dollar from every meal sold will benefit the charities Freedom Ride and BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation.

When is Magic Dining Month?

Magic Dining Month takes place in September, but this year’s event actually kicks off on August 25 with a special preview week. The event then runs every night through October 1, 2017.

Which restaurants take part?

An unprecedented number of Orlando-based restaurants – more than 100 – are participating in this year’s Magical Dining Month, including internationally renowned restaurants, theme park diners and a number of new home-grown venues. Whether you want to dine downtown or at Restaurant Row, Winter Park, Lake Buena Vista or the surrounding areas, you’ll find plenty of options for every occasion. You can browse the restaurants and menus here.

What do I get for my money?

The cost includes a delicious 3-course prix fixe meal with the choice of an appetizer, a main course and a dessert from the restaurant’s Magical Dining Month menu (taxes and gratuities are not included). There’s no limit to how many times you can take part either, so you can sample as many new restaurants as you wish, or enjoy your favorites as many times as you like.

Do I need to book?

Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are encouraged as restaurants tend to get much busier during Magical Dining Month. There’s also no need to worry about vouchers, coupons or flyers. All you have to do is ask your server for the Magical Dining Month menu.

Can you recommend any restaurants?

All the restaurants taking part in Magical Dining Month are top-notch, but here are some of our favorites:

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

This popular eatery on Orlando’s Restaurant Row specializes in seafood, aged steaks and live jazz music. Magical Dining Month is a great time to try house delicacies like the fresh Maine lobster, the specially-aged filet mignon and the wild berry sorbet with freshly baked homemade cookies.

Eleven

Head out of Orlando and take a trip to nearby Kissimmee for Eleven’s Magical Dining offerings. Located 11 stories up, on top of Reunion Resort’s Reunion Grande hotel, this upscale venue offers hand-crafted cocktails, a signature steakhouse menu and uninterrupted views of Disney’s nightly fireworks display.

Forte

A Magical Dining menu will also be available at Reunion’s inviting Italian bistro. Warm and family-friendly, the restaurant is set to serve up traditional Italian favorites like homemade meatballs, spaghetti bolognese, grilled fish, and truffle cheesecake. The wine list is pretty impressive too, and if you don’t fancy driving home, there’s plenty of accommodation at Reunion Resort.

Paddlefish

This Disney Springs restaurant, formerly known as Fulton’s Crab House, reopened in April 2017 after a massive renovation. Located aboard an iconic, stationary steamboat, the reimagined restaurant has launched a new menu with dishes like conch chowder, shrimp and grits, and homemade strawberry shortcake.

Amatista Cookhouse

Feast on homemade empanadas, spicy street tacos, chargrilled steak and key lime pie at the signature restaurant for Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Resort. This Caribbean fusion restaurant offers open-kitchen dining and is a newbie to both Orlando and Magical Dining Month.

Tell me about the charities…

Freedom Ride is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with disabilities who live in the Central Florida area. The BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation offers year-round support for children and families who are affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Where should I stay?

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during Magical Dining Month, check out these great luxury Orlando villas deals from August through October.

Our vacation homes are located in the top resorts near Disney World and offer first-class amenities including private swimming pools, home theaters, game rooms and themed kids’ rooms.