Where can you ride while you dine, meet Mickey and friends, and find garden fresh home cookin’ at Walt Disney World? …Epcot’s Future World, The Land Pavilion. In addition to the Sunshine Season Food Fair, the newly renovated food court, The Land is home to one of the most unique dining experiences at Walt Disney World, The Garden Grill Restaurant.

The Garden Grill features a rotating dining room, with a full 360 degree trip overviewing the Living With the Land attraction. Don’t worry. It’s not fast enough for the average person to even feel, but the changing views of farm houses, deserts, fields and more featured in the attraction are fascinating.

As if that’s not enough, or if nature isn’t your favorite venue, Mickey and friends, Pluto, Chip and Dale visit while you dine. As you (the restaurant) circle, so do the characters. Dressed in farming clothes, the gang visit and play, making sure that you’re enjoying the all-you-can eat family style skillet feast.

Standard fare includes flank steak, catfish, and juicy pork served with multiple vegetables, many grown in The Land’s own greenhouse. The all-you-can eat skillets are so tempting, that many guests forget that dessert’s still comin’. Alternatives for the kids, like chicken fingers, mac and cheese, and a special dessert of Worms and Dirt (pudding with Gummy Worms) make this a very appealing reservation for family dining. The general fare and atmosphere generate an “adult” atmosphere for character dining, but “it’s all good” at The Garden Grill. We’ve dined with extended family members, couples, teens, and young children. We all love The Garden Grill Restaurant. We celebrated a three-year-old’s birthday complete with a complimentary cake (with Mickey Mouse on it), singing by the cast members, and celebration with the characters. It made the toddler’s (and our) day!

Prices are $19.99 for adults and $10.99 for children (ages 3 to 9) for Lunch and $24.99 and $10.99 respectively for Dinner. I have to say that it really is worth it though, when the budget allows. We’ve paid similar or higher prices for dining on and off Disney property that weren’t nearly as satisfying as The Garden Grill. It is all-you-can eat, with a LOT of various meats, veggies and desserts, rotating with a great view of the Living With the Land attraction, AND character dining. Throw in superb service and friendly cast members, and it’s a true winner in my book.

Another drawback or caution is that The Garden Grill is very popular, so advanced dining reservations are highly recommended. By the time the restaurant opens for lunch or dinner, all seats may already be taken Walk-up seating requests are taken, and we’ve dined at The Garden Grill on a whim before, but that was during a slow season; don’t be surprised if you’re told there aren’t anymore seats available.

Plan ahead and call for those seats (all in half circle style facing the attraction views). It’s a unique dining experience you won’t forget. Advanced reservations for The Garden Grill Restaurant can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling (407)WDW-DINE.

Editor's Note: I would like to thank Sherry Snider (cdclocks on the Disney Echo) for volunteering to do this PS Spotlight.