There is a story that goes with that of course, but I don't feel like getting writers cramp at the moment.
) so I hate to pay that money and have them not completely jazzed.
. Maybe they have alternative options though. I'll look into it.
So I'm planning our next Disney trip (booked for Dec 3-9) and am hoping to reserve a real sit down dining experience this time around. The ONLY times we've done this on past trips is at Rainforest Cafe once and Minnie's for breakfast (don't think those count...). I'd love for my kids to enjoy a "real" meal this time. Problem is, I have no idea which one to splurge on and I want to pick the right one as it's a good chunk of change. I know many of you like Blue Bayou, but is it good for kids too? How about Carthay Circle or Carnation Cafe or any others? My girls are 12 and 7 and not terribly picky eaters, if that helps. Oh and of course, angels, when bribed (no, of course there is no parental bias involved
). I'm hoping to hear which fancy options are family friendly and which ones YOUR kids love. Thanks!
Do you not want to do a character meal? We have been to all of the table service places except for BB and CC numerous times (just dessert/lounge when we visit BB/CC) and I don't think any of it tastes any more like "real" food than the counter service; it just takes more time and costs more! DH likes the table service restaurants so we do them regularly, but the kids just tolerate them; there's not any more atmosphere at any (except BB of course!) than at counter service. For the same amount of money you could get more of an experience with the characters. Maybe we just order a lot! I'm always annoyed when the bill comes at table service that we didn't just go to Goofy's Kitchen!
], Carnation Café, and Café Orleans. With the exception of the burger at Storyteller's which is very tasty (and I am not a burger fan), I have not been impressed by anything any one of us has ordered at table service. The food is fine - as fine as counter service, hence my reluctance to recommend a restaurant to the OP just based on it being table service. Cocktails at DCA locations certainly add to the experience 
At DL table service it costs a little less than character meals for us because we can't order drinks, but at DCA table service prices are definitely on par with a character meal for us!Do you not want to do a character meal? We have been to all of the table service places except for BB and CC numerous times (just dessert/lounge when we visit BB/CC) and I don't think any of it tastes any more like "real" food than the counter service; it just takes more time and costs more!
DH likes the table service restaurants so we do them regularly, but the kids just tolerate them; there's not any more atmosphere at any (except BB of course!) than at counter service. For the same amount of money you could get more of an experience with the characters. Maybe we just order a lot! I'm always annoyed when the bill comes at table service that we didn't just go to Goofy's Kitchen!
I think Golden Horseshoe offers a great Disney experience and it's super inexpensive! Tomorrowland Terrace is cool because you can watch the Jedi Training Academy during the day, or a live band at night. Eating a corn dog while watching the parade screams Disneyland to me! Burgers at Hungry Bear are inexpensive and you get to watch the Columbia/Mark Twain/canoes/Pirate Island raft go by!
I'm just thinking that there are more counter service restaurants/areas to eat your counter service food that offer more of an experience than most of the table service restaurants do.
The ones we go to most often are Storyteller's, Wine Country Trattoria, Cove Bar [limited menu but they do take your order at the table
We aren't opposed to drinking, it just wasn't something that was happening that day. I think one of my kids may have ordered soup - and maybe my mom did as well, as their entree, but the meals are about 1/2 the cost per person than Goofy's. The biggest difference is honestly in the difference in price between the kids' meals at CC and paying for them at Goofy's.
To start with, we didn't order drinks - and I can understand how having some can double your bill
I agree with you that TS are subjective. There are places I love that other people don't and places I hated that others rave about (Tortilla Jo's). We like Storyteller's, half of us like Cafe Orleans, we've eaten at Carnation once and it was ok, disliked Wine Country.
because I ordered just a shredded beef taco a la carte for me and ground beef tacos a la carte for DD (after she devoured the tiny kid's meal tacos and was still hungry!) Those are only $5.50 each. DS refuses to eat there even though he loves Mexican food - so we grabbed him a double cheeseburger at Jazz Kitchen Express after we were done. For some reason DH loves TJ's though...so it's even subjective within families! 
