I frequently get asked when the best time to visit Orlando is, and my answer is always September. The parks are less crowded, it’s not quite as hot (it’s still hot, but it’s not July hot), and there’s all the fun fall activities like Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween Party, and Halloween Horror Nights. One of Orlando’s less famous fall events is Magical Dining Month. While I’ve heard of it for years, I’ve never actually been able to take advantage of it due to my birthday being at the end of August and hours being harder to come by (less crowds in the parks means less staffing). This year I am bound and determined, and really everyone should go at least once because it is a phenomenal deal.
Originally Magical Dining Month was limited to just September, but each year it grows a little bit more. This year it runs from August 25th to October 1st. Orlando’s top restaurants offer three course, pre fixe dinners for $35 each, plus tax and tip. While that might still be a bit much for some budgets, it’s worth it. Many places offering Magical Dining are on Orlando’s famous Restaurant Row. I can personally vouch I’ve never run up a bill less than $140 at Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, my favorite place in all of Orlando and my number one choice for Magical Dining. There’s even a few Disney restaurants on the list, though none are in the parks. Plus, every time someone dines on the Magical Dining menu a dollar gets donated to charity! This year there are two charities for Magical Dining Month: Freedom Ride, an organization dedicated to therapeutic horseback riding for disabled individuals (fun fact, I used to volunteer at one of those for several years), and BASE Camp, which provides support for families and children facing cancer.
In addition to Magical Dining, the Talk of the Town Restaurant Group is doing their own promotion of three courses for $30 from August 1st-September 30th.
While how much I get to participate in Magical Dining will depend on how my wallet feels after my birthday this year, I am bound and determined to at least get back to Big Fin. I hope to also visit the Melting Pot and Vines, but we’ll see what happens. Regardless, if you can swing the splurge without stressing your wallet, I highly recommend checking out the list of more than one hundred restaurants offering this special.
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