Where would you take your kids for dinner the first night you arrive?

[abeyst]

Hi everyone,

We'll be arriving in Orlando on Tuesday the 18th (7 days, ya-hoo!), and our plane lands at 10am. I don't plan on going to the parks that day, so I was looking for a good place to eat with the kids (DS5, DD2) to start off their trip in a memorable way.

I can't decide if I want to do a character dinner or just a regular restaurant sit-down meal. I'm sure they'll be tired, since they will be getting up at 5am that day, so I'm not sure if it would be a waste of $$ to do a character dinner that night. Not to mention how they will react if we go to a MK resort to have dinner and they see MK and want to go. That could possibly be a nightmare in itself!

Where would you or have you eaten with your kids on your first night at WDW?

[JoyMouse]

I would try for PS at one of the resorts. The CR has great places and so does Poly. The kids will be so hyped to finally "be there" that being tired won't factor in for at least a couple of days, you on the other hand... :earseek:

[dmaz]

We like O'hana. We enjoy watching the castle change colors and it seems to get us in the mood for a wonderful trip.

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I've taken my kids to Chef Mickey's for a first night dinner now twice. It's fun to spend time with the characters before you really go to the parks.

[The Disney Bunch]

We always start our trips with a meal at Chef Mickey's - the food is good & we get our instant character fix!

[Brina]

We took our not quite 3-year-old twins to Chef Mickey's when we went 2 years ago. it seemed the perfect introduction to Disney magic.

[fam4jc]

Where are you staying? We've done the Hoop De Do Review our first night; taking the boat over from the Poly. It was wonderful! I would suggest doing a character meal to get things geared up. If you think seeing the parks will be a problem, just be sure they know ahead of time that you won't be going until the next morning. My girls do okay with that as long as they know our schedule (ages 5 & 7). Have a great trip!!

[DisneyPete]

I have to 2nd O'Hana's! The food is great, the kids will have fun with the activities, and, if you are lucky, you can get a seat looking across the lagoon to the castle to watch Wishes. If nothing else, you can take a monorail ride around teh lagoon before you go to bed.

[cinderminnie]

Every trip to WDW, the first day we arrive at 4pm. We check into room, unpack and then head to Downtown Disney. We make a 6:30pm PS at Fulton's Crab House. Nice dinner to kick off our family vacation! Then we go shopping at the World of Disney and check out what new things are available like autograph books, coloring books and anything else to help time pass with our 7 and 2 year olds while we are in line for anything at the parks. It is fun for our girls to see Disney stuff and get them worked up for the park the next morning.
I also liked the idea of the Chef Mickey's which we love to do later in our stay.
Then you could ride the monorail around and see the Electrical Parade in the lagoon. If you do the monorail, ask to be in the front with the driver. The kids love this. I would skip the parks too.
My husband just loved Fulton's Crab House and that way we get to kick it off semi-adult way I guess. It is a family tradition for us now.

[aec]

ditto on the chef mickeys. First trip DDs were 2 and 5 second trip DDs were 4 and 7. We went to CHef Mickey's our first night (non-park day). Great way to get seeing mickey "out of the way" so you can hit the rides in the morning without having to hunt down mickey first!

[Taratink]

I think that depends on where you are staying. We will be staying at the WL and we just want to relax there so we have a ps at WCC. You could relax at the hotel for a while, swim (weather permoting) and then head down to DD. We also love to resort hop. You really can't go wrong.
Tara

[2infinityandbeyond]

I always plan on eating close to wherever we're staying, so we can get the kids to sleep on time so they'll have plenty of energy to see Mickey the next morning.

[Kinley'sMom]

Chef Mickey's has become a 1st night tradition for us! :D

[Mom to Jordan]

I too vote for CM. I would check in, get a swim and a nap and then an early PS for CM. If your don't point it out, they will not even know where the MK is. Have a blast.


Jordan's mom

[Grendel]

Another vote for Hoop Dee Doo...we did this our first night and it made for a nice kick off to getting imersed in the whole disney culture. We might try Mickeys Backyard BBQ this time....either way do something with mickey!!

[momof404]

We're doing the Hoop Dee Doo when we get there in December. We're staying at the campgrounds so it will just be a short walk over ( I think).

[disneygoof]

I third (fourth?) Hoop Dee Doo. If there's a 7:00 Wishes, you can watch the fireworks from the beach following the 5:00 HDDR show.

You'll need a PS, so I'd make a fast decision!

[TerriBelle]

One trip we did the buffet at AKL our 1st night. This was a lot of fun! They have a great playground and areas where you can see the animals. We wanted to check out the resort but did not want to take the time later in our stay so we did it the 1st night. We had an early PS.

[TSirgey]

When we go this year, we are going somewhere for dinner with PS. Last year we went to DD and waiting forever for the Rainforest Cafe. My daughter almost fell asleep on her plate from exhaustion! She was so excited that she didn't nap on the plane and barely made it through dinner. We felt it was a huge wast of money. I would have rather went to Chef Mickey's and let her see the Characters.

[K & D Mickey]

Chef Mickey's no1 in our book, or 2, 50's prime time at m g m have to enter the park for this one

[crisi]

We avoid the MK resorts for the same reason you mentioned. Once they SEE the MK, its all over.....

I'm not fond of it, but I'm the exception: Boma? The AKL is VERY cool, you get to check out the animals.

Cape May for their seafood buffet? Spend some time on the Boardwalk?

Whispering Canyon - beautiful resort to visit (and you can't see the castle). Unlike the other two, they bring you food.

[abeyst]

If we decide to do AKL, can you see the animals when it's dark? We probably can't eat there b4 5:00, and it will be getting dark by then.

Second question-do they have normal food at Boma for the kids to eat? Mine are VERY picky.

[crisi]

Sunset is at 6:00. You can't see the animals from the restaurant, you'll want to check them out before your seating. You'll need a PS. But the animals are particularly active in the mornings and evenings - I think your timing with about a 5:45 or 6:00 PS would be great. The AKL has an amazing gift shop and a number of interior (and exterior) fire pits to enjoy as well.

Boma is a buffet - we find it difficult with young kids - but as I said, we seem to be the exception. There are 85 different items on the buffet - including a kids section with chicken fingers and mac n cheese and a large fruit salad.

[isla bonita]

O'Hana's hands down. It is magical for children. They are treated so well and its fun. The best of the best!!!!!!

[abeyst]

Tuesday night is the late night EMH at MK. Do you think that will increase the crowds at Ohana, or any other restaurant around MK?

[judben821]

We always do Chef Mickey's on our first night and have always loved it!! If you don't want a character meal, then I would recommend O'hanas. We always go there as well during our stays - the kids absolutely love it. It is so much fun - just be sure to ask to be seated in the main dining area.

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

Can someone tell me what sort of activities are at o'hana's? There will be three adults and an 8 year old princess: Will she have an opportunity to interact with other children? Is it wishes that you can see from O hana's? What type of
PS would I have to make in order for her to see that? ANY O hana's experiences will be greatly appreciated. :blush: