FULL REVIEW: This Restaurant in Magic Kingdom Is ICONIC, But Is It Worth the Hassle?

You’ll find some of Disney’s most iconic food in Magic Kingdom.

DOLE Whip, Mickey Waffles, and Cheeseburger Spring Rolls are great if you’re looking for an on-the-go snack, but where should you go if you want a more filling meal? There are a few quick service options around the park, but you’ll only find an alien crooner singing the disco blues in one of them. We recently had lunch at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe — follow along to see how it went!

Background

This quick-service dining location serves fast food from the future! It’s the main restaurant that you’ll find in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, and you’ll find classic theme park fare like chicken tenders, burgers, and sandwiches.

But the main attraction is the audio-animatronic alien, singing songs like “Gravity Blues” to guests in the dining room. Voiced by the late Kal David, Sonny plays the Astro-Organ and was hired to perform at the “First Earth Restaurant Franchise from Outer Space!”

Atmosphere

Aside from a lively alien crooner serenading guests in the main dining room, this spot is full of energy — which could be a draw or setback depending on your group. In the middle of the day, this place gets crowded, so don’t expect a quiet lunch.

Guests can order their food with a Cast Member at two of the three counter “bays.”

Alternatively, you can place a Mobile Order and pick it up at the third bay. This is a great way to avoid some of the crowds and save some time.

Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll find the Toppings Bar behind you where you’ll find most of what you’ll need for your meal.

There are varying sauces, like mustard, barbecue, and ketchup…

…as well as utensils and napkins at this station.

This restaurant has a lot of tables and multiple sections to choose from, but you’ll have more luck finding a table away from the main dining area with Sonny Eclipse.

Let’s take a look at some of the food!

Food & Drinks

Drinks

For our drink, we tried the Lunar Lemonade for $5.99. This is Minute Maid Lemonade with Desert Pear Syrup served over ice.

We thought this was a refreshing option if you’re looking for something a little more unique than soda. It was refreshing but had a strong tartness.

It was a bit heavy on the syrup, however, so if you’re looking for something a little bit lighter, keep that in mind!

Food

We tried a little bit of everything — let’s dive in!

First up, we tried a theme park classic — the Chicken Strips. This meal came with four Chicken Strips and French fries for $10.49. The chicken strips were pretty standard for Disney World — they were a decent size and were pretty tender!

The breading was crispy and delicious, but there was quite a bit of it. That could be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re looking for, but we thought it was a good value overall.

The fries were served hot and fresh — classic Disney World fries!

Next up, we got the Chopped Vegetable and Crispy Noodle Salad with Shrimp for $12.59. This is a Mixed Greens Salad topped with Shrimp, Grilled Pineapple, Peppers, Crispy Noodles and Sesame-Ginger Dressing.

This was very bright and fresh with a fruity flavor throughout. The dressing was sweet and had bits of pineapple, and the mix of greens had a great balance — between the kale and cabbage, this has a nice mix of textures.

The shrimp was prepared well and was tender but substantial. The flavor on them was mild and not much to write home about, but they were a good protein to top the salad nonetheless.

We also tried the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich for $12.59. This is a Crispy Chicken Breast, Pickle Slaw, and Spicy Aïoli on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries.

The chicken in this meal was thick and pretty tender, though it wasn’t particularly juicy. We still thought it had a ton of flavor, however, and it was pretty spicy for Disney standards! The sauce tasted similar to buffalo sauce and had a nice kick.

The slaw added a nice crunchy texture and brightness to the dish that we loved. Overall, this sandwich didn’t blow us away, but we thought it was a decent choice if you’re looking for something on the spicy side.

Next, we ordered the Plant-based Patty Melt for $12.79. This is an Impossible Burger topped with Plant-based Swiss Cheese, Pickle Slaw, and Asteroid Sauce on Toast.

The patty itself was actually a really good substitute for a meat-based burger — it was tender and a little nutty with a good amount of flavor.

We also loved the slaw and Asteroid Sauce combo, which was crunchy, smooth, and a little peppery. However, the plant-based cheese ruined this for us. It was slimy and had an odd flavor that we couldn’t get past. This might still be worth ordering if you’re looking for something plant-based, but you might want to hold the cheese if you are particular about textures.

Lastly, we tried the Kids’ Macaroni and Cheese for $6.99. This was served with a choice of two sides and a choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water.

The Macaroni and Cheese wasn’t bad — it was nice and creamy and the noodles were soft but held up well to all of the cheese.

We did think the flavors could have been a little more pronounced, but this was still a very kid-friendly option.

That’s all we got this time!

Should You Go?

This is a great spot if you are looking for a lively atmosphere with a unique vibe and a quick bite to eat. For Disney standards, the price is relatively reasonable for what you get. The food is served quickly and there is tons of seating, even if it does get pretty busy.

However, it can get very loud and there is a fair amount of commotion in the middle of the day, so you might want to plan your meal here around that — or find somewhere else.

Have you been to Cosmic Rays recently? Make sure you drop a review on our site so that other readers can hear your thoughts!

79% of our readers recommend Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and it currently has a 6.89 rating. Some people say it’s a must when they go and think the food is a good value, but it can be hit or miss. But people seem to like the entertainment. One reader recently wrote that what makes this place unique is the “legendary Sonny Eclipse animatronic who serenades you while you dine.”

While the atmosphere is unique and Sonny Eclipse is something you might want to check out while you’re there, this place can feel pretty loud and busy mid-day, so keep that in mind if you were hoping for a more relaxing meal.

Overall, for quick theme park fare, I think this spot is worth it if you are on a budget and trying to save time. However, you might want to go somewhere else if you’re looking for something a little calmer. For more Disney tips and tricks, be sure to follow us at AllEars.net.

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