Cruise Pre-night dinner reservations at the park?

[kritters4]

We are staying 2 nights pre-cruise at the Coronado Springs and would love to eat dinner at one of the parks nicer restaurants (Epcot or MK) with reservations but aren't planning to buy tickets. Our days are going to be spent at Blizzard Beach(weather permitting) or just at the hotel enjoying the pool. Has anyone ever done this and How?? Thanks!

[TnRobin]

It is my understanding that if you are dining at one of the resturants inside the parks, you will need to purchase admission to that park.

There are quite a few nice choices at the boardwalk and inside the deluxe hotels. (We really enjoy the Clam Bake at the Beach Club Resort)

[Casey's mom]

Yup -- If you want to eat in a park restaurant you have to buy tickets. We are flying on 3/22 for our 3/34 Magic cruise and staying at AKL on the 22nd. We have a PS for Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary. Its a fun place to eat -- gets the kids in the Disney "mood" -- they get to see Mickey and Minnie and the food isn't bad. The night we get off the ship, we are staying at the Poly and have a PS for O'hana -- that is also a fun family restaurant.

Have a great trip! :)

[Steve H.]

You could always try the RFC at AK -- it's outside the park gates and thus you wouldn't need admission there. :)

[Horace Horsecollar]

Consider the Flying Fish or Spoodles at the Boardwalk. Of the two, Flying Fish is the more upscale, but I've enjoyed the food at both. (Spoodles can get loud because it has hard surfaces and attracts families with kids.) Before or after dinner you can wander around the Boardwalk. There, you can visit the shops, catch a street entertainer, and enjoy a walk all the way around Crescent Lake past the Yacht and Beach Club resorts.

I woudn't pay around $50 per person for theme park admission just to have dinner at a theme park restaurant.

[inkkognito]

I highly recommend Ohana at the Poly, Chef Mickey's (buffet) at the Contemporary, or Jiko at the AK Lodge (as a bonus, you will see the animals too). You can find the menus for those and any other WDW restaurant at Deb's site: www.wdwig.com
I also recommend Puck's at Downtown Disney. We went there for lunch after one cruise when we had a later flight.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[MiaSRN62]

We recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Animal Kingdom Lodge's Boma restaurant. Great food and relaxing atmosphere. The menu changes constantly, but is geared toward traditional African cuisine. There is plenty of recognizable dishes also. It is buffet style. There are several different food stations and all the chefs are out in the open. You can ask questions about any of the dishes right at the station. The prime rib was melt-in-your-mouth.
Maria

[Amzey]

My personal favorites are Boma and Jiko at the AKL, Flying Fish at the Boardwalk, and best of all is the California Grill at the Contemporary. We plan on eating there the night before our cruise in June. :)

[txtara]

We are going to Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary the night before our 3/9 cruise...I would also recommend the food at the
AKL....we stayed there last summer and thoroughly enjoyed the
food...the atmosphere is awesome and the lodge is beautiful...
I think any food you choose in one of the deluxe resorts wont
disapoint you....

[tchrmom]

Try to get in at the Whoop-ti-doo (sp?) review. That is in Ft. Wilderness and is very enjoyable! The mexican place in Coronado Springs is nice too. You do not need tickets to get into Rainforest Cafe, outside Animal Kingdom, and that might be an option too. Good Luck!