BACKLOT EXPRESS RESTAURANT

BACKLOT EXPRESS RESTAURANT does the basics right — an A grade, 93/100, at its most recent inspection on March 3, 2026.

It pulls 4.2 stars across 1,872 reviews and ranks safer than 53% of Orange County restaurants we grade. Look for american in Bay Lake. Menus here flag options for vegan, vegetarian, organic, and healthy diners.

Get directions Call (407) 939-5277

Restaurant details

Health grade
A (93/100)
Violations
3 total — 2 intermediate, 1 basic
Address
DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, Bay Lake, FL
Cuisine
American
Categories
American restaurant, Buffet restaurant, Restaurant
Price
$$
Rating
4.2 stars (1872 reviews)
Seats
600
Phone
(407) 939-5277
Website
Official website
Photo of BACKLOT EXPRESS RESTAURANT
Photo: Backlot Express

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.2 Community-sourced rating 1,872 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

An average alone would undersell where this place is now. Speed of service cuts both ways here, averaging 3.1 among the reviews that raise it. Freshness follows at 20% of reviews, where ratings average 2.6.

More reviewers landed on 5 stars than any other score — 10 of 25. Front-of-house shows up in 20% of reviews as well, averaging 4.6. The split is 12 positive to 9 negative across 25 rated reviews, with 4 in the middle.

The health record runs ahead of the reviews. The last DBPR inspection returned an A (93/100) with 2 intermediate and 1 basic violations. That result dates from March 3, 2026. That puts it ahead of 53% of graded kitchens in Orange County. What the inspector actually wrote up: food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized and nonfood-contact surfaces clean.

If plate size is what you care about, the reviews are the better guide here; if it is the kitchen, the grade is. Full reviews follow below in the order they were left.

Our own analysis of 25 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 25, 2026

    Loved the backlot express because of this amazing worker named Will, he made my whole day better and we talked about Star Wars and our interests, if Disney sees this review, give Will a pay raise, this guy is the best waiter or worker I’ve ever met, I will be coming back to Disney to see Will again 10/10.

  • June 23, 2026

    Buena comida

  • June 19, 2026

    Mi experiencia no fue la mejor. Las Buffalo Fries estaban demasiado, demasiado saladas, al punto de que no se podían disfrutar. Por otro lado, las hamburguesas estaban prácticamente sin sabor; incluso agregando aderezos no mejoraron mucho. En general, la comida no fue nada “wow”, especialmente considerando los precios, que no me parecieron acordes a la calidad.

  • June 15, 2026

    Wookie Cookie is amazing. Burgers are great salads are great. Chicken fingers glazed in buffalo zing sauce is great.

  • June 14, 2026

    The good is fine however if you have to sit outside in this summer heat, why are the large overhead fans off?? Couldn't finish our meal in that humid overheated area.

  • June 7, 2026

    Did not enjoy the food or the atmosphere. It felt like a punishment to eat here.

  • June 5, 2026

    Good food and great atmosphere. While waiting on my teenagers to order/pickup food. I had the sweetest interactions with cast member, Rae. She was so nice and I enjoyed chatting with her! 10/10 on customer service!

  • May 31, 2026

    Got the wookie cookie. Have been eyeing it for years and finally got one. It was outstanding. Looks like a regular cookie but is a giant oatmeal cream pie. 10/10.

  • May 16, 2026

    The honey buffalo chicken tenders were great! A nice new addition to the menu to keep it fresh. I enjoy eating here even though it’s just your basic park food. One of the few places in a park where you can get your own soda (free refills) and if you mobile order the service is lightning fast.

  • May 12, 2026

    This is my favorite stop at Hollywood Studios. Reasonably priced food that is delicious.

  • May 10, 2026

    Backlot Express is the perfect example of what it's like when dining at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's mediocre, low quality fast food that's designed to feed the masses. First, the sticker shock is real. Prices here are high, and unlike at Disneyland Park, there's no annual passholder discount for quick service in Florida. If you're used to that easy 10% off out West, it's a rude awakening. (Yes, I have an annual pass at both Disneyland and Disney World). In search of a quick snack and a place to rest our feet, hubby and I shared a kid's meal that cost around $10, and it felt pretty underwhelming. It consisted of two small chicken strips, a tiny portion of fries, a small bag of sliced apples, and a mini bottle of Dasani. For what you get, it's hard not to feel like Disney is pushing things too far with the pricing. There are a few redeeming qualities. The fried food itself was actually really good. The tenders and fries were crispy, hot, and satisfying, and the apples have always been a favorite of mine. But the reason we always stop here, and one of THE best perks in the park, is the self-serve soda fountain. Being able to refill your drink while you sit and eat feels almost unheard of at Disney these days, and it's a nice little win. The space itself is huge, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which makes it easier to find a spot even during busy times. Still, if you're visiting during peak hours, definitely use the Disney app mobile ordering feature. It'll save…

  • May 4, 2026

    The line is outrageous. You are better off ordering in the mobile app. The cast members at the register are not efficient at all. Only good thing is the food is food and the location has plenty of tables to sit. Also you can refill your own drink.

  • April 21, 2026

    By that time, we were well past meltdown mode, so we went to the Backlot Express restaurant, which was right next to Indiana Jones. The food was great, but I recommend not going to it right after the Indiana Jones show because it took forever to get through the line. I got the Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Burger (at the very reasonable price of $15.99) with fries and a Pineapple-Citrus Margarita (at the very unreasonable price of $18.50) but everything was delicious. They had the kids’ staples so everyone was happy. The decor was a shabby backlot with a bunch of paint cans so not the most inspiring ambiance, but everyone loved the food. I was definitely eyeing the Wookiee Cookie, which looked like a giant cream pie but it wasn't included in the meal plan, so we didn't get one.

  • April 21, 2026

    Very mediocre and overpriced food, but giving an extra star because they at least had a Cuban Sandwich with plantain chips, which is better than most things that are fast-casual at Hollywood Studios. It's a good place to hide in the rain too.

  • April 11, 2026

    Thanks Benita for the excellent customer service!

  • April 2, 2026

    Buena comida, fresca. La carne de la hamburguesa 🍔 un poco seca. En general es una buena opción

  • March 18, 2026

    One of the better eateries at Hollywood studios. The bbq burger is great, and we like having the burger topping bar. Good food all around.

  • March 7, 2026

    Thirty minute wait is ridiculous

  • March 2, 2026

    Don't order the burger, unless you like really dry, overcooked burgers. Pickles would have helped mask it, but they didn't have pickles. The BBQ pork burger my husband got was a bit better. The fries were good. Lots of shade was nice. You are right behind the Indiana Jones theatre, so loud booms and bosses if you're there during a show. Not necessarily bad, just an FYI.

  • February 17, 2026

    Not for the food. They just allow people to sit and hog the tables, even when they aren’t eating. DO NOT mobile order from here. You likely won’t get a seat. People hover around, fighting over a few tables. Come on Disney. Do better!

  • February 12, 2026

    They have 4 on-line registers and 4 "pay" registers. No one is at any on-line, but the lines for the pay registers are out the door. The menu must be confusing because literally every customer stops to ask endless questions slowing the excessive line even further. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST!! It is an exercise in frustration.

  • February 8, 2026

    My wife and I had a hamburger, fries, and a coke here. It was $40.00. The fries are the small short fries. Even worse than McDonalds. They said the patty was Angus beef, they will never convince me. The bun was cold and hard. My wife ate three bites and I ate most of the “meat”. It if packed because of the limited places to eat. I’ll go hungry before I eat there again.

  • February 3, 2026

    Worst hamburger I have ever eaten, cold fries. Bacon was rubbery and looked uncooked. You can't expect much from these over priced park places I guess though, expected 🥴

  • January 29, 2026

    Il est 19h : Le burger est froid, le pulled pork est quasi inexistant 🕳️ le pain est sec, les frites sont froides ❄️ pour ce prix là nous pourrions espérer beaucoup mieux... Comment est-il possible de rater un burger... 🍔 En sachant qu'il y a de quoi bien manger dans ce parc d'attraction par exemple du côté de star wars 👀 Il manque le mot food à fast food 👎

  • January 26, 2026

    Jaiolivia is fantastic

Overall Score

74 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 40/40
    Grade A
  • Dietary transparency 13/20
    4 options listed
  • Community rating 17/20
    4.2★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 4/10
    Stable, 0% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
11 AM to 8 PM
Tuesday
11 AM to 9 PM
Wednesday
11 AM to 8 PM
Thursday
11 AM to 9 PM
Friday
11 AM to 9 PM
Saturday
11 AM to 9 PM
Sunday
11 AM to 8 PM

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. March 3, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    0 high-priority · 2 intermediate · 1 basic

    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
  2. July 14, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    0 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 3 basic

    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 21 — Wiping cloths; clean & soiled linens; laundry
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: March 3, 2026