First time on Plus Dining - Reviews are scaring me! Any Recommendations?

[finedice]

Hi all,

I'm bring my family to the world for a week at the end of February. We are trying the DDP for the first time. I remember from our last visit in '07, that finding a place to eat was an extreme challenge, and probably the most (and only) stressful part of our stay. While we could just go a la carte, we realized that with the plan we could save some money and be worry free without the stress of picking a restaurant based on what we figured we'd spend.

So - a little background - We are a family of three - me, DDW 38, and DD6. I am a chef and teach culinary school (college level). I do have expectations that are not too lofty, but revolve around value : price ratio. I definitely understand high volume a la carte service and the challenges inherent to it. I won't mind spending extra dollars for appetizers and drinks etcetera. While I know I won't be eating world renowned cuisine, I want to find experiences that are at the very least 'acceptable' given the dollars spent. But all your reviews are scaring the bejeezus out of me!

These are the TS restaurants we have settled on:

Big river grill and brewery - dinner 2nd night (no ressies - might change)
Coral Reef - lunch day 3
Tokyo Dining (not Teppan Edo) - dinner day 3
Tutto Italia - dinner day 4
The Wave - dinner day 5
Chefs de France - dinner day 6
Hollywood and Vine - dinner day 7

Can anyone offer any advice on whether I should change any of these? Will I be sorely disappointed with any of them? Please share - I know nothing will be exquisite, but hope to not be depressed that I have gone ahead with the DDP!

[OurDogCisco]

I've only eaten at 2 of the places you are going to: Coral Reef & Hollywood and Vine. Personally.... I did not like Coral Reef. We've eaten there twice and both times my fish was well cooked (over cooked). This is visiting there over a year apart. Dh's dish was the same. This is a total bummer as the atmosphere is AWESOME.

I did not like Hollywood & Vine but to be fair I really don't like buffets.

However, after saying my opinion... I think you should form your own opinion. Just go and enjoy yourself. Part of Disney Dining is the ATMOSPHERE.

If you are willing I like a lot of the 2 TS restaurants better.

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I would have to agree, I didn't like Hollywood and Vine either. We eat allot of buffets and that one is very low on the list.

We have eaten at Coral Reef before, that was nice.

[D&R love Disney]

DH and I ate at Tutto last summer. We went last minute and got a great outdoor table with a FANTASTIC waiter. The food and wine we had was very good and we were well taken care of by Biago our waiter.

[Wendi2000]

We've been to Coral Reef and I found the food to be mediocre at best. I see a lot of complaints about how long the waits are even with ADRs and showing up early.

Hollywood & Vine seems to be one of the most despised restaurants on property.

We enjoyed our lunch at Chefs de France (we've never had dinner there). I think I liked the service and atmosphere better than the food, but the food was decent.

We haven't been to Tokyo Dining since the change from Tempura Kiku - back then we had the worst service ever and really bad food but I keep seeing really great reviews and I wish we'd gone back on our last trip... we just had sooooo many other restaurants to try so we didn't get to it.

I have also seen a lot of fantastic reviews for Tutto Italia... however, the most recent reviews I've seen have been pretty bad.

Some of our favorites are Kona Cafe, 1900 Park Fare, and Boma.

[mooneyda]

I personally love ohana's if you get a late enough seating you can watch the fireworks over the magic kingdom

[blanq]

Hi all,

I'm bring my family to the world for a week at the end of February. We are trying the DDP for the first time. I remember from our last visit in '07, that finding a place to eat was an extreme challenge, and probably the most (and only) stressful part of our stay. While we could just go a la carte, we realized that with the plan we could save some money and be worry free without the stress of picking a restaurant based on what we figured we'd spend.

So - a little background - We are a family of three - me, DDW 38, and DD6. I am a chef and teach culinary school (college level). I do have expectations that are not too lofty, but revolve around value : price ratio. I definitely understand high volume a la carte service and the challenges inherent to it. I won't mind spending extra dollars for appetizers and drinks etcetera. While I know I won't be eating world renowned cuisine, I want to find experiences that are at the very least 'acceptable' given the dollars spent. But all your reviews are scaring the bejeezus out of me!

These are the TS restaurants we have settled on:

Big river grill and brewery - dinner 2nd night (no ressies - might change)
Coral Reef - lunch day 3
Tokyo Dining (not Teppan Edo) - dinner day 3
Tutto Italia - dinner day 4
The Wave - dinner day 5
Chefs de France - dinner day 6
Hollywood and Vine - dinner day 7

Can anyone offer any advice on whether I should change any of these? Will I be sorely disappointed with any of them? Please share - I know nothing will be exquisite, but hope to not be depressed that I have gone ahead with the DDP!

I personally love the food at Tutto Italia. The pasta there, especially the bucatini, is quite good. That said, since "value" is a priority for you I would not recommend Tutto to you if you were not on the DDP. Their Caesar salad is $16 and the Cannoli is $12The place is horribly pricey Italian food for what you get.

I am not a fan of H&V.

[skellingtonfreak]

You will love Tokyo Dining. That was our big surprise of our last trip. Everything was amazing, and it is so much bang for the buck and the view is fabulous is if you can get by a window.

We didn't mind hollywood and Vine, but it wasn't one of our favorites. I would try Sci-Fi instead at that park. Much better food.

[TigerKat]

I would consider Spoodles in lieu of Big River Grille, the appetizers alone there are worth a trip for us and you may be able to get an ADR or even possibly a walk up!

[KarenB]

We have been to Mama Melrose's a few times and enjoyed it (ceasar salad and fillet). DH and I area going at the end of February and have ressies for France, where I have wanted to try for years. However, I have been reading mostly negative reviews and we are considering switching to Spoodles that night. We are using our TS for O'Hanas and Artist Point, then probably the last one at Spoodles.

[tinker&belle]

Hi all,

I'm bring my family to the world for a week at the end of February. We are trying the DDP for the first time. I remember from our last visit in '07, that finding a place to eat was an extreme challenge, and probably the most (and only) stressful part of our stay. While we could just go a la carte, we realized that with the plan we could save some money and be worry free without the stress of picking a restaurant based on what we figured we'd spend.

So - a little background - We are a family of three - me, DDW 38, and DD6. I am a chef and teach culinary school (college level). I do have expectations that are not too lofty, but revolve around value : price ratio. I definitely understand high volume a la carte service and the challenges inherent to it. I won't mind spending extra dollars for appetizers and drinks etcetera. While I know I won't be eating world renowned cuisine, I want to find experiences that are at the very least 'acceptable' given the dollars spent. But all your reviews are scaring the bejeezus out of me!

These are the TS restaurants we have settled on:

Big river grill and brewery - dinner 2nd night (no ressies - might change)
Coral Reef - lunch day 3
Tokyo Dining (not Teppan Edo) - dinner day 3
Tutto Italia - dinner day 4
The Wave - dinner day 5
Chefs de France - dinner day 6
Hollywood and Vine - dinner day 7

Can anyone offer any advice on whether I should change any of these? Will I be sorely disappointed with any of them? Please share - I know nothing will be exquisite, but hope to not be depressed that I have gone ahead with the DDP!


Have you considered Le Cellier? It was excellent.

[Luv2Roam]

I would pass on H&V. Although I admit to never eating there. (Generally avoid buffets anyway.) Instead I would go next door to Prime Time Cafe. Although guessing maybe you are going there for a character meal? :confused3 Even with that I would probably choose elsewhere.
We have not eaten at Tokyo Dining or the Wave.
Big River Grill we go to when we are ADR-less. We have gone there at least three times when taking newbies. So far everyone we have taken there has enjoyed it. No complaints yet.
Maya Grill at CSR, Kona Cafe at Poly and Turf Club at SSR are very good too.
Lots of good eats actually in World Showcase too. :wizard:

[alan_renfroe]

We ate at Hollywood & Vine and absolutely hated it. It was, as my son put it, "lunchroom food." Some people really like it, but I wish I had heeded the warnings before we went. In fact, in our week long vacation it was the ONLY meal we didn't like.

I think the 3 best TS credits are Le Cellier, Ohana, and Kona. Le Cellier is about as good as it gets, and it almost feels like it should be "signature" restaurant. Kona and Ohana are both terrific as well.

I have heard great things from reliable sources about the Wave. I think Les Chefs for dinner is probably a good choice also. I think if I had 7 TS credits, I would go with the following:
Le Cellier - Dinner or lunch
Kona - Dinner
Ohana - Dinner
Les Chefs - Dinner
The Wave - Dinner or lunch
Tutto Italia - Dinner
Boma at AK - Dinner

[Luv2Roam]

Hollywood & Vine seems to be one of the most despised restaurants on property.
I would agree with that. Or possibly Tony's in MK.

[mjf2wdw]

No one who answered you up to this point has eaten in the Wave. I will tell you that it is a very good restaurant and worth keeping the reservation. Ohannas is very good as was previously mentioned. I personally like Hollywood and Vine so I guess its personal preference. Another great buffet is Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Dont let the reviews scare you too much, I go to Disney twice a year and have been to most of the restaurants. Most of my dining experiences have been very good but occasionally something could go wrong. Enjoy your picks and enjoy your trip:thumbsup2

[eandesmom]

I can't speak to the rest. It was ok. Not great, not horrible, better than the average (for Disney lol) microbrew selection which was a big part of the reason we went there. For us it wasn't what we are used to with brewpub food so a bit heavier than we wanted which I think was part of the drawback but, nothing people didn't like. We had a very large group, ended up at 2-3 tables not close together, without ressies and had to wait at least an hour, probably closer to 90 minutes and this was in Nov at a "slow" time.

I would eat there again but am not going out of our way to do so on this trip as we have plenty of good brewpubs around home and are hoping to expand the kids horizon's a little! But, as everyone says, you should go where you want and what appeals to you!

[maggiew]

I think you should throw in something fun for your DD6. Most of the restaurants you have picked out will be kind of boring for a 6 yo. I think Coral Reef will be fun for her because of the fish tanks. But, maybe throw in a Chef Mickeys or 1900 Park Fare dinner for the characters. The food might not be as good as a Le Cellier, etc., but the kids are only young once and 6 yo is nearly the perfect age to be taken in by the magic of Disney. I sure wish my teens were little again!

Instead of Hollywood and Vine, I would do Sci Fi. Your DD will think its fun to sit in the cars and watch old movies.

Also, have you already made your ADRs for these places? It sounds like you might not have done that last time since you had such a stressful time trying to find places to eat. Remove the stress by making your ADRs ASAP.

Maggie

[finedice]

Thank you to all of you for your great ideas and tips. H&V is looking like a goner - and I'm bummed that the brew pub is a walk up only. I was also looking at the WDW site, and don't think I saw a DDP link by Spoodles. I'm wondering if they moved off the plan for this year?

I was looking at Ohana, but have heard very differing things about it. I'm pretty sure The Wave will be a winner - I teach sustainable, local cooking and food sourcing- and it seems that this is their goal.

My Daughter is 6, yes, but is awfully shy at times with strangers, and when we were there in 07, it was like pulling teeth to get her to say hi to Mulan (Her totally fav princess). So really, she isn't so psyched about the character dining :( - believe me, I'd love to see her get excited about it, and get a few photos! (We weren't doing H&V for the characters). I liked Boma too - My Wife was a tad scared of it for some reason.

So aside from the 2TS restaurants, what's the best place inside MGM? We were planning on spending the whole day there with the ESPN thing all that day, and then pushing our way into Fantasmic! (I really hope Disney realizes that this show should be every night! - It makes the closing of HS seem so anticlimactic without it!) We thought about both Mama's and Sci Fi - but thought they were all about theme and not so much the food. We're probably having Italian a few nights earlier. But maybe Sci Fi would be good for the little one.

I still might just splurge one night and hit up Citrico's or Cali Grill out of pocket!

[septbaby]

You work in the industry so you have a basis for your judgment, I wouldn't doubt my hunches. No need to be afraid of reviews, every place has bad ones and every place has avid fans, yes even H&V has avid fans.

The one piece of advice I'd give pick something in addition to Coral Reef simply for your 6yo DD and have your camera ready. You will not be able to get those moments back so make sure to make the most of them at the most magical place on earth. :thumbsup2 Even if your DD is a foodie she is a kid first, give her chance to eat with Mickey, Pooh or the Princesses.

[finedice]

No DD is not a foodie - she likes the same stuff every kid likes - It's been tough to fight the influences of her friends at school and day care earlier on!

[maggiew]

If you are into sustainable food, you should eat at Garden Grill in EPCOT. I think all the vegetables and the fish are grown right there. You can take the boat tour (Living with the Land) and then go up and eat the food!

The only problem is I think there are characters for all meals (Mickey, etc.). So if your DD is afraid, that might not be good. Although, 2 years does make a difference and maybe she will like them this year.

Maggie

[queenmum2]

So aside from the 2TS restaurants, what's the best place inside MGM? We were planning on spending the whole day there with the ESPN thing all that day, and then pushing our way into Fantasmic!

I'd recommend you avoid TS in MGM altogether. The Boardwalk is such a short jaunt by boat and the options there are ever so much better. I missed what the ESPN thing is...are you planning on eating at the ESPN Zone?

I second Spoodles. It is not "outstanding" but it beats anything at MGM. We didn't much like the Big River when we were there in 07 -- it had a fast-food vibe - maybe because of the noise and there was something about the tables and chairs...napkins littering the floor....just bleck. The beer was really good - tasted several that night and that was the only upside. The food was just ok, bordering on fair. OH - and the funny thing about the beer was that they had this Belgian-style wheat brew that was just SCREAMING for a wedge of orange, but they didn't have oranges. Hello! They are in Florida for goodness sakes!

Sorry - didn't mean to get carried away. As for your other choices, I've only tried Tutto Italia and Le Chefs - both of which were outstanding. Not sure you'd find them "best values" -- but we thoroughly enjoyed the food we had in both restaurants (last visited 12/07). They are both on my list for June.

Good luck!

Tracie

[finedice]

Thanks Tracie,

ESPN The Weekend is what I was referring to. Do you know if Spoodles is on the dining plan?

I just want to make sure we can eat dinner and make it to Fantasmic! on time - we won't the chance on either of the other two nights it is being shown :(

[princessgirl2238]

Thank you to all of you for your great ideas and tips. H&V is looking like a goner - and I'm bummed that the brew pub is a walk up only. I was also looking at the WDW site, and don't think I saw a DDP link by Spoodles. I'm wondering if they moved off the plan for this year?

I was looking at Ohana, but have heard very differing things about it. I'm pretty sure The Wave will be a winner - I teach sustainable, local cooking and food sourcing- and it seems that this is their goal.

My Daughter is 6, yes, but is awfully shy at times with strangers, and when we were there in 07, it was like pulling teeth to get her to say hi to Mulan (Her totally fav princess). So really, she isn't so psyched about the character dining :( - believe me, I'd love to see her get excited about it, and get a few photos! (We weren't doing H&V for the characters). I liked Boma too - My Wife was a tad scared of it for some reason.

So aside from the 2TS restaurants, what's the best place inside MGM? We were planning on spending the whole day there with the ESPN thing all that day, and then pushing our way into Fantasmic! (I really hope Disney realizes that this show should be every night! - It makes the closing of HS seem so anticlimactic without it!) We thought about both Mama's and Sci Fi - but thought they were all about theme and not so much the food. We're probably having Italian a few nights earlier. But maybe Sci Fi would be good for the little one.

I still might just splurge one night and hit up Citrico's or Cali Grill out of pocket!

for MGM i'd suggest Sci Fi, my family eats there everytime they come down to visit me (i work for disney) and we love it- they visit atleast twice a year and that is one place we always go.

kona is good if you go at dinner. i ate there for a lunch on dec 18 and i ate dinner there back in nov and dinner was SO much better. my family was rather disappointed in the lunch.

same goes for chef de france- we had a "late lunch" at 4:30 (so it was the dinner menu) and it became one of my top favs at epcot (up there with le cellier).

i love o'hana's but it really depends on how much you like hawaiian themed food.
boma has great food if you're willing to go more out of the normal- i don't think there is anything on that buffet that i didn't like.
but if you are willing to go off the dining plan for one night, i would HIGHLY recommend Jiko's- we've eaten there for christmas day every year for several years now and it's so wonderful- i actually eat off of the child's menu (because i don't eat much) and they have normal food and for children who don't want to experiment with abnormal seasonings and stuff.

pretty much most of the places you've picked shouldn't be bad (i've never been to Big River Grill)- hollywood and vine is a nice buffet but the atmosphere is just ok- chef mickey's and o'hana's are much better than that and if you really don't want the characters to come to close to the table, you can ask the wait staff/ character attendents that are there to keep them a little farther away.

[blanq]

Thanks Tracie,

ESPN The Weekend is what I was referring to. Do you know if Spoodles is on the dining plan?

I just want to make sure we can eat dinner and make it to Fantasmic! on time - we won't the chance on either of the other two nights it is being shown :(

Spoodles is on the DDP, and I would recommend it.

[DaveStroem]

I know what you mean about being scared by reviews. I am planning my first trip in 18 years. I have 8 nights of ADRs but and now wondering about changing several of them.

Dave

[Uncleromulus]

Unless there are an overwhelming # of bad reviews about a place, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that sort of thing. Every restaurant at WDW has gotten bad reviews--and they all have gotten good reviews.

[hoosll]

As pp asked, do you have any ADRs yet?!? You can dream about all the places you would like to eat but you will be very frustrated without an ADR.

Yes it can be a pain to be in a certain park or area at a certain time but i know i WANT to sit down and have a good meal. On our last trip, it rained so we canceled our ADR at Prime Time, then we were stuck to find someplace else to eat ... there is very little flexibility without ADRs, too.

So call. With children who need a meal schedule you may be accepting your 3rd and 4th choices....