Ideal first night restaurant?

[centurythree]

If you could pick any restaurant (with the exception of Victoria and Albert's) for your arrival night dinner, what would it be and why?

 

[BoomNLeon]

Cali Grill.... Hopefully Wishes will be that night and it can be a romantic place. What a wonderful way to unwind and get back into the swing of the World. Another great option is Narcoosee's. Our first night of a trip is usually spent low key so we can sleep well and start the next day with lots of energy.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

oops I didn;t pick one I didn't read close enough I pick 'Ohana

 

[simonkodousek]

We enjoy a low-key restaurant without a ton of screaming toddlers for dinner on our first night in WDW. Kona Cafe works out well, as do most non-character restaurants at the resorts (except Whispering Canyon Cafe)

 

[Aimeedyan]

One either at our hotel or at Downtown Disney. We prefer to keep it low key that first day so we can rest up and hit the ground running the next morning.

Restaurant changes each year. Last year was Raglan Road, this year is Boma since we're staying at AKL.

 

[kldmom2000]

We're just doing Cape May Cafe since we're staying at the BC.... just trying to keep it relaxed and easy

Last year we did LeCellier for dinner on arrival night (Dinner was @ 5:30 that night) My girls were sooooooooooooooo tired from getting up at 3am for the flight and not napping at all on the plane. My younger DD slept all through dinner so we're saving LeCellier for the 4th night and just doing dinner @ our resort

 

[pigletto]

We have a room only ressie for our first night as we will be getting in late and the kids will be tired. So we chose Tusker House character breakfast for the next morning when we move to CSR and our DDP starts.
I figured we'd be refreshed from a god nights sleep and I wanted to start the kids off with something fun.

 

[Chevyscool]

We love Narcoossee's for our first night! We try to time it where we get to enjoy Wishes and the EWP before heading off to bed for a restful night's sleep, so we can be refreshed and ready to go first thing in the morning. Plus we usually do an early character breakfast the next morning. Not to mention, we like to keep it relaxing the first night since traveling wears on everyone...especially the kids, and in my opinion you have all week or so to enjoy the parks anyway, (complete with hectic schedules).

We really try to just ease into "vacation mode" our first night and take it easy.

So my advice, whatever you choose, sit back, relax, unwind, and enjoy it so you can re-charge your batteries for the rest of your vacation.

 

[crisi]

Its depended on the travel day we've had and the ages of the kids.

With our first trip we had young kids (2 and 3), an early travel day (like get up at 5am) and Roaring Forks was the perfect first night meal. Counter service in the hotel could only have been beaten by room service.

The next trip we also had an early flight, but the kids were now 4 and 5. This time we had a late lunch at Beirgarten - staying at the Boardwalk so it was easy to get in and eat. Kids got a few rides in, then we went back to the hotel.

The last two trips have been less successful - we tried to repeat our late lunch success with Beaches and Cream (again, staying at the Boardwalk) - with disasterous results - a really long wait, poor service and food that didn't meet expectations. The next trip we flew in the night before and stayed at the airport, and had intended on Flying Fish the first night - our kids now being old enough to handle signature dining well. But we had friends with us who didn't handle signature dining well (it would have been fine had it been us).

This trip its us again, and we are staying at WL - we aren't catching a plane until 11am (so we will have "slept in") we don't arrive in Orlando until 3pm. So the intent for the day is to check in, maybe swim, have dinner, swim some more. Artist's Point.

I don't like to wander too far from the room on a travel day with kids in tow. For us, expectations for that day need to be fairly low key. So we pick a restaurant within easy distance of the hotel.

 

[DISNEY1975]

If you could pick any restaurant (with the exception of Victoria and Albert's) for your arrival night dinner, what would it be and why?

Every vacation of mine to Disney starts with the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show!

After getting up early (usually 4am), getting to the airport, the flight, getting luggage, waiting in line for car, driving to resort, checking in, unpacking etc.. Im pooped!

The SAO (I still call the Luau!), is in a beautiful outdoor tropical setting, watch a nice show, eat good food, a few glasses of wine (included in price!!) completely relaxing and Im ready for bed to get up bright and early the first full day at Disney!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

oops I didn;t pick one I didn't read close enough I pick 'Ohana

We do 'Ohana each time for our arrival dinner. It is the best place to be surrounded by Disney and to have a great meal with the family. We love it!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Our first night at WDW we are going to dinner at CRT. I picked it b/c I have always wanted to eat in the castle. We picked it for our first night b/c it just fit in our schedule that way.

 

[itchin2go]

I always pick a restaurant at the resort where we're staying. We usually check in around 2:00 - 3:00, so it's nice to relax around the resort and then follow up with a convenient dinner. Then we're ready to hit the ground running the next morning...

 

[Pakey]

We always go to Boma on our first night. After flying across from the left coast with nothing but those airline peanuts, we are starving and like the great choices at the all you can eat buffet.

 

[KPLC]

We arrive in Orlando at 9:30 am so I have picked a late lunch at Chef Mickey to start the trip since we won't be able to check in early and then an early night so that we are fresh for the next morning to start our trip.

 

[RobinHood's merrymen]

For us it's always............ Pizza delivery to the room!
After getting up at 4am and arriving about midnight UK time we're all shattered! We just love that first night feeling.

 

[Merriwind]

Chef Mickey's has always been a first night tradition for us, since DD10 was 2. It just seems to start us off on a Disney note.

We actually didn't do that last trip. DD has turned 10 and paying adult prices for both of us (her tall but skinny, me very petite) didn't appeal to me. When DD said she wanted to just browse the Epcot countries, I was fine with that! So, we did an eat around the world CS evening--Norway, Morrocco and France. That was a lot of fun too.

 

[VolcomStone10]

Out of any restauarant, I would for sure say Le Cellier in Epcot - Awesome service and the steak there literally melts in your mouth!

 

[Jenvenza]

Well, I havent eaten at a lot of nice places at Disney. Our upcoming trip will be the first where we take time to eat at nicer places. On our first day there, we will be eating at Coral Reef!

 

[BigOnDis]

We used to always eat at the Concourse Steakhouse and then ride the monorail and go to the Magic kingdom. For me the monorail is Disney since I was a little kid.

Since The Concourse is no more, we will be doing something different this year. We are going to be more relaxed and go to dinner at the HOB and just walk around Downtown Disney for a bit.