Jaleo is a participating restaurant! How would you like to enjoy a three course meal at one of Orlando’s finest restaurants for the set price of $40 or $60? Would it be even better if part of the meal’s price is going to a good cause? If you plan to be in the Orlando area between now and October 1, you can do just that!
It’s called Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, and it’s a popular program with locals. Many tourists don’t know about it, so I thought that I would mention it here. Since your meal would cost more than $40 or $60 if you ordered the items separately, I figured that my Sunday Savings Series would be a good place to mention the program. I’ve also encouraged you to splurge at least once on your Walt Disney World vacation, this could be the opportunity that you are looking for.
Well over 100 restaurants are participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining this year. If you’re visiting Walt Disney World you can dine at Jaleo or Wolfgang Puck’s Bar and Grill at Disney Springs, and a couple of the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin. You can see all of the participating restaurants here. You can sort by dietary preference if you’d like, and there’s an easy to use search feature.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining is also a fundraiser. The main charity this year is The Lifeboat Project. According to the Magical Dining website:
In 2023, donated funds will focus on The Lifeboat Project, an organization that raises awareness on the issue of human trafficking, empowering the lives of survivors through short and long-term aftercare, residential programs and education. Proceeds from this year’s program will provide support for The Lifeboat Project’s mental health counseling and trauma recovery, as well as assist with human trafficking prevention and education.
To ensure this donation has widespread impact throughout our community, Visit Orlando will also award a $2,000 donation to one local nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commission districts that also support this cause. They include:
Mustard Seed of Central Florida
One Heart for Women and Children
If you want more than just a meal, you can book accommodations through Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights. Several hotels are offering discounts, including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Drury Plaza Hotel. You can learn more, including the participating hotels, here.
One thing to remember is that each restaurant will have a specific menu for Magical Dining. Most of the time, you will not be able to just pick an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert off the regular menu.
While you might be able to walk up to some restaurants, reservations are recommended. You can make them through Open Table. I have not used Open Table, so I’m not sure how it works. I think you just make a regular reservation, and ask for Magical Dining when you arrive. You can also make a reservation directly through the restaurant, if reservations are offered.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining is a very popular program. You can enjoy a fantastic meal, and money will go to a good cause. It’s a win win!