Seconding Lamplight Lounge! That is our most favorite and was one we started doing before we were comfortable doing indoor dining. You do have to request outdoor and they will give you the spiel that it’s not guaranteed but every time we’ve requested it, they’ve given it to us.
Carnation cafe also is a favorite but their seating is soo limited (both inside and out) we’ve only done it once since Covid and when we were more comfortable with the possibility of being indoors. And as somewhat expected they weren’t at all visibly happy to accommodate a request but did end up honoring it. I made to sure to let them know we were happy to wait too because I knew they would be a little fussy about a request of where to sit because we aren’t an easy party number (6) and their seating is very limited. But with your party number I wouldn’t hesitate one bit on requesting outside. We love Carnation lunch/dinner.
I think the only obvious indoor dining that Karen didn’t mention is Blue Bayou but I personally feel it’s overrated. I do like combining it with F! dining but I have very little desire to look for the hard to get dining without combining it with a F! reserved section.
(SORRY hit reply to soon so editing to add all the stuff from here on out)
Staying at GCH I would definitely take advantage of being close to Craftsman Bar & Grill as one of your sit down options for dinner. That was an awesome place. And it’s all outdoors by the pool! But that could also be more options on your arrival/departure day. Also, we loved the flatbreads at any of the GCH lounges/restaurants and they are the same ones offered on room service so at least once get flatbread from literally any lounge, restaurant or room service while at GCH.
And as for a fourth possibility for dinner check the menu of Carthay Circle and if that appeals to you it’s a great one. Definitely still have to request outdoors but it’s an awesome ambiance and characters will be passing by on the way to from their meet locations around Carthay Cir fountain and Buena Vista St. If the menu at Carthay isn’t your jam, wine country trattoria is well liked and has plentiful outdoor seating. And New Orleans cafe is also great outdoor ambiance but the only standout food there is the money cristo and it is heavy so we don’t get there as often.
In downtown Disney our fave is Tortilla Jo’s for table side guac (they didnt make it tableside when we last went but they did make it fresh to order at the bar so it was essentially the same delicious taste). One thing we love about the guac there is a) we don’t have to make it ourselves and b) you can customize it how to want, want more cilantro & onion? They’ll do it. Their food is standard as far as Americanized Mexican food goes but they do have a really good mole enchilada and their fajitas are decent. Not the best but far from the worst. Requesting outside is fairly easy here too.
As for quick service, I do believe literally every single place has outdoor or at least the option of outdoor seating. Except Golden Horseshoe BUT it is close to seating options that are outdoors (Stage Door Cafe & Rancho Del Zocalo). Our favorite quick services are: Corn dogs (from anywhere. Some people swear by Little Red wagon but we’ve had amazing fresh ones from all 3 locations that serve them & our favorite is the spicy link at Corn Dog Castle), Bengal BBQ, Pym’s kitchen, Award wieners, plaza inn fried chicken, Harbor Galley, Cozy Cones (both the chili “cone” queso & bacon mac n cheese cone), jolly holiday sandwiches and depending on what they have at the Paradise Garden Grill that may be worth trying (sometimes they’ll have favorites from the festivals become a standard or limited offering there).
And snacks is whole other bunch: Flavored Dole whips and Dole Whip floats from Tropical Hideaway, churros anywhere, bread pudding at what will be called Aunt Cass’s cafe in the new San Fran Sokyo area by the time you come, ice cream at Ghirardelli’s, Gibson Girl, Clarabelles or Schmoozies. And I’m sure there’s more I’m missing. I’ll come back if I think of more tho.
