What to Order at Bourbon Steak Before the Bill Gets Wild

Published August 11, 2026 · Updated September 9, 2026

Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is the kind of Disney World dinner where the smartest move is not ordering the most food. It is ordering the right food in the right order.

This steakhouse at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is built for a splurge, but it can turn expensive fast if you treat the menu like a checklist. The better play: take the complimentary duck fat fries seriously, split your starters, and make the steak the center of the meal instead of burying it under too many extras.

Here is the practical read: if you are eating at Bourbon Steak, do not arrive half-full from park snacks, do not over-order appetizers, and do not let the free fries trick you into wrecking your appetite before the steak shows up.

The Move Is Steak First, Everything Else Second

Bourbon Steak is not where you need to prove you can order every flashy thing on the menu. The reason to go is the steakhouse experience: a slower, more polished dinner with a serious main course, not a chaotic parade of plates.

That matters because Walt Disney World meals can blur together when you are stacking snacks, lounges, character meals, and festival booths. Bourbon Steak works best when it has space in your day. If you spend the afternoon grazing around EPCOT, then show up expecting a giant steak dinner, you are setting yourself up to enjoy the most expensive part of the meal the least.

The smart plan is simple: keep lunch lighter, skip the late-afternoon snack spiral, and let dinner be the event. If you want a steakhouse splurge on a resort day, arrival night, or an EPCOT-area evening, this is a much cleaner fit than wedging it between heavy park meals.

Do Not Sleep on the Duck Fat Fries

The most important ordering tip at Bourbon Steak is also the easiest one to miss: a trio of duck fat fries arrives complimentary near the start of the meal.

You do not order them. They just show up. And yes, they are legitimately part of the strategy.

They are rich, crisp, savory, and paired with dipping sauces, which makes them feel more like a real starter than a throwaway bread basket. For a Disney World steakhouse meal, that matters. This is the rare free table bite that can actually change what you should order next.

The trap is that they are filling. If everyone at the table starts casually demolishing fries while chatting through cocktails and menus, the main event gets smaller fast. Treat them like a bonus appetizer, not bottomless park fuel.

The practical move: have a few, enjoy them, then stop. Two or three rounds of mindless grabbing can turn a great steak dinner into a meal where everyone is full before the plates that actually drove the reservation.

Split the Openers Unless You Came Hungry

Because the fries already cover that salty, shareable, first-20-minutes-of-dinner lane, you probably do not need multiple appetizers.

If your group wants to explore the menu, split one opener or a raw bar plate rather than letting every person order a full starter. That keeps the meal interesting without turning it into a marathon. Bourbon Steak is a better experience when the table still has appetite left for the steaks, sides, and any dessert you genuinely want.

This is especially true for families or mixed groups where not everyone eats the same way. One person may want the full steakhouse blowout; another may just want a nice entree and a few bites around the table. Shared openers keep the bill and the appetite under control.

If you are comparing Bourbon Steak against a signature meal inside a park, this is one of its advantages: you can make it feel more adult and polished without needing everyone to order identically. But the menu rewards restraint. Over-order early and the value drops.

Pick the Steak You Actually Want, Not the Most Expensive Flex

The best steak to order first is the one you will still be excited to eat after fries, a shared starter, and sides hit the table. That sounds obvious, but it is where a lot of Disney splurge meals go sideways.

At a steakhouse, it is tempting to chase the biggest or most premium cut because you are already spending. But the smarter question is: what cut fits your appetite, your table, and the rest of the meal?

If you like a richer steak and you are not loading up on starters, a ribeye-style order makes sense because the fat is part of the payoff. If you prefer something leaner or you are sharing several sides, a more restrained cut can be the better choice. The goal is not to win the menu. The goal is to leave feeling like the meal was worth the time, money, and appetite.

For most Disney World guests, the winning order is built around one excellent steak, one or two shared sides, and a very controlled approach to everything before it.

Who Bourbon Steak Is Best For

Bourbon Steak is best for adults, couples, steak lovers, and groups that want a polished resort dinner away from the park rush. It is also a strong pick if you are staying near the EPCOT resort area or want a non-park meal that still feels like a real vacation splurge.

It is not the most practical choice for a rushed meal, picky younger kids, or anyone who wants maximum Disney theming. This is not a character meal, and that is the point. You are paying for the steakhouse setting, food quality, and slower pace.

If your group has been running hard through Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios all day, be honest about whether you want a long dinner. A great steakhouse meal can feel perfect on a lower-pressure evening and exhausting after a rope-drop-to-fireworks day.

The Reservation Strategy

Advance Dining Reservations at Disney World open 60 days before arrival at 6:00 AM Eastern in My Disney Experience. For popular meals, it is smart to check early, but dining availability can move as other guests cancel.

That is where SupaPark can help without pretending to book anything for you. SupaPark watches for dining drops and pings you when a hard-to-get table opens, then you grab it yourself in My Disney Experience. For a restaurant like Bourbon Steak, that is useful if your preferred time is not available or you are trying to fit it around EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or a resort evening.

The best dinner time depends on your day. If you are coming from a park, avoid cutting it too close after a major ride window, show, or transportation move. A steakhouse reservation is more enjoyable when you are not sprinting in sweaty and annoyed because your last attraction ran long.

The Smart Order Formula

Here is the Bourbon Steak formula that makes the most sense for a Disney World planner:

Start with the complimentary duck fat fries, but pace yourself. Split one appetizer or raw bar item if the table really wants one. Choose the steak you actually want to eat, not the one that sounds most impressive. Add shared sides only if they support the meal instead of turning it into a food dare.

That is the difference between a satisfying splurge and a check that feels like it got away from you.

The one thing to remember: Bourbon Steak is a steakhouse, not a sampler platter. Let the free fries be the bonus, keep the early courses tight, and save your appetite for the reason you booked it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina at Disney World?

Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is located at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, making it convenient for guests staying near the EPCOT resort area or planning a resort dinner outside the parks.

What should you order first at Bourbon Steak?

Start with the complimentary duck fat fries trio when it arrives, then keep appetizers limited so you still have room for steak. The smartest order is built around the main course, not too many starters.

Are the duck fat fries at Bourbon Steak free?

Yes, the duck fat fries trio is complimentary and arrives near the start of the meal. They are rich and filling, so enjoy them but do not let them ruin your appetite for the steak.

Is Bourbon Steak good for families?

Bourbon Steak can work for families who want a quieter, more upscale resort dinner, but it is best for groups that appreciate a steakhouse meal. It is not the strongest choice if your priority is character dining, heavy Disney theming, or a very quick meal.

How do you get a Bourbon Steak reservation if nothing is available?

Check My Disney Experience for cancellations, especially as your trip gets closer. SupaPark can watch for dining drops and alert you when a table opens, then you book it directly in My Disney Experience.

Go deeper — the full guides: The Insider’s Guide to EPCOT’s Regal Eagle Smokehouse: What to Eat, Skip, and Share · The Insider’s Menu and Booking Guide to California Grill · The Insider Guide to Vegetarian Dining in EPCOT’s World Showcase

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.

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