Disney Dining recommendations wanted

We're headed to Disney later this summer for 7 days and we're getting the Disney Dining plan for free while we're there. It will be 2 adults and our 6 1/2 year old daughter. (Weird, we're taking 2 nice weeklong vacations this year after having two nice longer ones total in the previous five years. We've only really gone away for long weekends in that time.)

I just wanted some ideas for nice places to eat in the various parks, as we get 1 sit-down meal each day with the plan.

So, one place in the Magic Kingdom, one place in Epcot, one in Animal Kingdom and one in Disney Hollywood Studios. Maybe one other place somewhere else - Downtown Disney or some sort of dinner show at a hotel. We went to one princess dinner in Epcot in November of 2006 when our daughter was almost four. The big dinner at Cinderella's castle would "cost" us two sit-down meals and it's likely already booked. However, I think we may spend one day at Sea World, so could do something that costs 2 sit-downs.

I ended up picking the Coronado Springs for a hotel, as it has recently been refurbished and it's like $1,200 cheaper for a week than the Luxury resorts like the Polynesian.

Thanks!

Restaurant at Disney's Polynesian Resort

My family loved it, heres the link if you want any info

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/polynesian-resort/dining/disneys-spirit-of-aloha-dinner-show/

good idea.

Food is very good. My daughter was 5 the last time we ate there, 2 years ago. She loved the macaroni and cheese and also ate part of my beef filet in a wine reduction sauce. If you don't want to do that with a young kid, try the buffet restaurant at AKL, whose name is escaping me at the moment. Their food is good too.

sounds interesting.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite place at Disney World, and Boma is tremendous. Make reservations. If you can't stay at the AKL, spend an hour walking around it in addition to dining there.

Epcot has a lot of pretty good restaurants. Two of the more unique ones are in the Norway section and the Morocco section. I'm vegetarian, so I don't eat at Norway any more, and it's too unique for some. It's a cold buffet, with cold meats and fishes--cooked, and I think some are raw. Morocco is one of the better places for vegetarians, but it's good for meat-eaters, too. The Italian and Chinese are nothing special, but the store inside the Japan pavilion is worth the time. Best selection of Saki you'll find outside a major city.

The Disney Studios park has the Brown Derby Inn, which is good. I've never liked anything I've eaten at the Magic Kingdom--didn't hate it, just didn't like it much. There's a little counter service restaurant around back near the Haunted House that has a decent vegetarian chili in a bread bowl, though.

In the Animal Kingdom, there's a good restaurant back by the Safari ride. Don't remember it's name. It's counter service, though, so I don't know if it works with your plan.

One area people miss is just outside Epcot. I think it's called the Boardwalk, or something like that. There's a lake, and there are ferries across the lake from one hotel to another, and there's a back entrance to the park that not everyone knows about. Along one shore of the lake there are some nice places, and there's an ice cream place called "Beaches and Cream" which is just magical. Don't know why. Samantha Brown once said the same thing, and she never lies.

Downtown Disney has some great small-corporate chains, like House of Blues. Nothing unique unless you can't get those places normally. They have a Ghiradelli's ice cream place that's good, though, if it's still there.

That's my report. Take it or leave it. But try Boma--it's worth a trip by itself. And if you eat meat and are adverturous, try the Norway restaurant.

And make reservations in advance. Except the Norway restaurant--no one understands that place, so it's usually not crowded.

Tastes just like chicken.

Has a sit down all you can eat buffet of foods from around the world that is truly great.

I think it was the Tusker House, here is a link to menu (list of items on buffet)

http://allears.net/menu/menu_tus.htm

have no idea if it is still as good. Lots of other cool eateries, but not all are sit-down.

we'll have to look some of the places up online

watching the belly dancer. :)

For lunches Norway's(?) open-faced sandwiches were quite lovely.

the restaurant in the fake Italy is good (it is the nicest one and I can't remember the name).

The cafe in fake Morocco is good too, it featured belly dancers..etc. I had lunch there with a colleague.

and I do miss the good ol days of smuggling in alcohol and a joint or five

The food isn't the greatest, but if you have young kids, it's the best place for them to meet and interact with characters. You generally have to make reservations well in advance. Breakfast is the way to go here.

As far as food goes, my favorite is the California Grill on top of the Contemporary Resort. Make reservations 30-60 mins or so before the sun goes down. After dinner, go outside on the balcony and you'll get the best views of the fireworks and the boats that light up on the lake.

It's well worth the two meal "price" for the photo op's alone. Food was just Meh...Certainly not the worst. Our best meal was at our hotel "Riverside". Make your reservations early. The best character breakfast is at the big fancy Beachy hotel...I'm forgetting it's name. They have and Alice in Wonderland theme and you get all the Pooh characters as well. I think we also saw the Mary Poppins people there too.

Make sure you spring for an autograph book for the kids when you get into the park. Finding characters and getting autographs was the biggest deal for my kid...even more than the rides.

Do the character dining in the Magic Kingdom at the Crystal Palace, the kids (of all ages) love it and grab the Anandapur Yak and Yeti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom.

Relaxing and having lunch or dinner while the characters take turns visiting your table is *much* better than waiting in line in the hot sun for an autograph or picture.

Your choices will depend on what characters your daughter likes. If she likes Winnie the Pooh, go to the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom- a very enjoyable all-you-can-eat buffet with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore visiting your table. If she prefers the princesses, go to Cinderella's Royal Table.

If your daughter (or you) like the "classic" Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto) go to Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort. (Very handy for dinner after the Magic Kingdom- only 1 monorail stop).

In Epcot, my kids' favorite is the Garden Grill. It rotates (slowly) so the view changes, and Mickey, Chip and Dale will visit your table. Another good choice if your daughter likes princesses is the Akershus in Norway, where all the princesses will come to your table. (This is an excellent alternative if Cinderella's Royal Table is fully booked). For good food (as opposed to characters) all of the full-service World Showcase restaurants are good.

In the Animal Kingdom I like the Yak and Yeti. No characters but good food and beer, a good place to recharge your batteries at lunch.

In Hollywood Studios my kids like the Play 'n' Dine at the Hollywood and Vine- here you will meet the Playhouse Disney characters like the Little Einsteins, Jo-jo and Goliath. Also the Sci-Fi dine-in theater is fun- you can eat in a car while watching 50s drive-in movie clips.

Another excellent place for a character dinner is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. While you are waiting to be seated you can walk around the spectacular lobby. Here the characters rotate- we have seen Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, as well as the Pooh characters.

Have a great trip!

that was very helpful

pavillion. I'm looking at a photo of her with Belle in the yellow dress (apparently a big deal) as I type. Princess time during breakfast was pretty good too. "Mulan" stayed quite a while with us, but then my daughter is from China.

is the main attraction of this dining spot. The food was also pretty good from what I remember.

sounds like an option.

It's even served with a little sailor suit.

Ce repas est merveilleux!

:spank: :rofl:

maybe we could request it be prepared like Beijing Duck?

Just trust. The last time I went we stayed at one of Disney's budget resorts and actually you can get a lot of good food right at the resort. It's ala cart dining (and it's not ridiculously marked up like you see at other theme parks)

I can advise to be sure to make friends with the golf-cart drivers at Coronado Springs. That phker is HUGE and mooching a ride once in a while will be a godsend.

Oh--come to think of it--the buffet "market" restaurant at Coronado Springs is pretty good--lots of variety, also does takeout (snacks--or full meals--to take back to the room). It's great for a decent breakfast before heading out to the day's adventures, and you can always get some fruit or drinks to take with you. The fine dining restaurant there (the name escapes me) is really good if your daughter can handle it (MG Jr., who had just turned 4 when we stayed there, did fine with the fried shrimp). Not sure what the mid-priced pub-like place is like; it was closed for renovation when we were there.

Marrakesh restaurant in the Morocco pavillion in EPCOT. The food is good and the belly dancers aren't bad either. The cafe there, Tangarine I think it's called, was very nice as well for a quick bite. Marrakesh used to be 'walk right in, sit right down', but now people have discovered it, so it's best to make reservations.

Chefs de France, not the pricier one uphill from it. We've been to Paris twice, and our meal at EPCOT still remains one of our favorites.

seems like a lot of good choices in Epcot.

The Mexican is not like American Tex-Mex IIRC (it's been a few years, but they weren't like any dishes I'd had before), and very good. Kind of romantic, since the "boat-on-the-river" ride is nearby, and "starry sky" overhead (not as cheesy as I make it sound, actually very enjoyable).

The Moroccan wasn't particularly memorable, but great decor. France was the best food by far. Unbelievably fresh, and all the staff (including the chef) are from France, and unfailingly polite.

Haven't tried Italy or China, but heck, you can get those at home. You're on vacation, try something different!

I'll have to let you know.

One of the nicest things about Chefs de France is that they offer something a little different on their kids' menu besides the typical burgers and chicken nuggets fare. We splurged a little, and bought a nice bottle of French wine, too. It was divine. :thumbsup:

1. Get The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Excellent reviews of all rides and restaurants. I've used it for years. Plus tips on when to get there (AS EARLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE) to save time in line. In fact it recommends that after your morning swing through the rides, you leave the park for lunch, rest in your hotel or pool in the heat of the day (the biggest crowds are 11am-4pm), then return for more rides, dinner, then stay late with your Magic Hours.

2. My former manager used ridemax.com ($18.95), and swore by it when he took his family. Saves you hours in line, and when you're spending hundreds a day just for admission, it pays for itself if it saves you one hour standing in line.

2a. The Unofficial Guide folks have touringplans.com for $8.95, but I don't think it's as customized as ridemax.

I don't think you can do better than the Liberty Tree Tavern, which offers a family-style character dinner. All the Disney characters visited our table, and the food was simple, but quite good.

You might want to check out Fantasia Gardens mini-golf while you're there, too...It's a great course!

But there is a rumor that they may be coming back....

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1577519/disney_rumour_liberty_tree_tavern_resumes.html

I hope this is true as this was a very enjoyable character meal.

They were there when we visited in October of 2007. I hope they'll bring them back.
Even so, I think the food there was better than most of the MK restaurants.