1900 Park Fare???

[clandoc5803]

Question for the board: I'm heading to the World in December with my DW and DD-6, DS-3, and DD-1 during free dining. I currently have reservations for Chef Mickey's supper, Le Cellier lunch, 1900 Park Fare supper, and Crystal Palace breakfast. We definitely wanted a meal with Mickey, and Crystal Palace is a must-do for my wife. I feel like we may have character-dining overkill. I'd kind of like to swap 1900 Park Fare for something that is non-character and probably not buffet. I'd like something that is more on the kid-friendly side, but with a few more interesting options. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Question for the board: I'm heading to the World in December with my DW and DD-6, DS-3, and DD-1 during free dining. I currently have reservations for Chef Mickey's supper, Le Cellier lunch, 1900 Park Fare supper, and Crystal Palace breakfast. We definitely wanted a meal with Mickey, and Crystal Palace is a must-do for my wife. I feel like we may have character-dining overkill. I'd kind of like to swap 1900 Park Fare for something that is non-character and probably not buffet. I'd like something that is more on the kid-friendly side, but with a few more interesting options. Any advice would be appreciated!

what about whispering canyon? its a sit down and there's tons of shenanigans that would be fun for kids of that age group. One good thing about this place is that your kids wont feel out of place if they decided to run around and be loud. Lol. Check it out youtube.

 

[OhThePain]

Are there any limitations as to where the restaurant can be? Does it have to be in a resort or in the MK area? Or can it be in any park or at any resort? There are a lot of options out there and just saying a kid-friendly, non-character restaurant and is not a buffet is a little vague.

 

[clandoc5803]

We'll be spending the day at the Studios, so either there or one of the resorts. We'll be driving, so transportation is not an issue. We do want something on the dining plan, but not a signature restaurant, as I don't want to use 2 credits for the meal.

 

[sarmat1]

Question for the board: I'm heading to the World in December with my DW and DD-6, DS-3, and DD-1 during free dining. I currently have reservations for Chef Mickey's supper, Le Cellier lunch, 1900 Park Fare supper, and Crystal Palace breakfast. We definitely wanted a meal with Mickey, and Crystal Palace is a must-do for my wife. I feel like we may have character-dining overkill. I'd kind of like to swap 1900 Park Fare for something that is non-character and probably not buffet. I'd like something that is more on the kid-friendly side, but with a few more interesting options. Any advice would be appreciated!

IMO, it's not character overload at all especially since you have no princess dining for DD6 (assuming she's into princesses). 1900 Park Fare gets you Cinderella and Prince Charming along with Lady Tremaine and the stepsisters. My DD6 loved it. If you really don't want characters and you're at DHS, how about Sci-Fi?

 

[OhThePain]

If you are looking for something inside DHS, I would go with 50's Prime Time Cafe, the food is good, the service is fun and the atmosphere may bring back some memories (I think given the size of your party and the ages of those involved, Sci-Fi would not be a good fit for your family).

If you are looking for something at a resort, have you looked into Sanaa at Kidani at all? The food is fantastic if it is something you and DW would eat. It also gives you a chance to check out AKL (Sanaa is at Kidani, but you can head over to Jambo after if you would like). There is a lot to see there and your little ones may love looking out over the savannahs of the resort. If AKL or Sanaa wouldn't interest you, if you want to stay near DHS there is Captain's Grille at the YC. If you don't need to be near the Studios after dinner, The Wave at CR, Kona Cafe at the Poly and Grand Floridian Cafe at GF are all decent, family friendly and non-buffet and non-character options.

If you want to head to DTD for dinner and a nice walk after DHS, I would suggest Raglan Road for dinner.

 

[clandoc5803]

Thanks for the help! I hadn't really thought about Sanaa. DW and I spent our honeymoon at AKL, so I was thinking about Boma earlier. It does violate my buffet comment, but it also provides some more unique options than many of the other buffets. I'll definitely check out the Sanaa menu!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Not overkill. In one trip, I've had as many as 10 or 12 character meals!!!
I would keep 1900 Park Fare -- I like the character meals with "face" characters. The interactions can be fun, especially with the stepsisters.... but not great for photos... I try to get a table against the wall..that way I can get photos without other diners in the background. The best place for princess photos is in the parks. Here's a review of 1900 Park Fare I did with pictures.

How about Crystal Palace for lunch or dinner (in addition to breakfast)? I think the food there is great and it's a mighty convenient location in Magic Kingdom where you are likely to spend most of your time with young children. Another fun place for dinner with Mickey is Garden Grill in Epcot. The bonus is you get Chip and Dale! A very funny duo. (plus Pluto). Cinderella's Royal Table!... ok... still a character meal... but not buffet... and how cool is that to eat in the castle?

But for a non-character meal that is not buffet, and kid friendly... with young children.... my favorites would be Biergarten in Epcot, Teppan Edo (but we have places like that at home), Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch), 50s Prime Time in HS, and Whispering Canyon Cafe (easy, nice boat ride from MK to Wilderness Lodge).

Question for the board: I'm heading to the World in December with my DW and DD-6, DS-3, and DD-1 during free dining. I currently have reservations for Chef Mickey's supper, Le Cellier lunch, 1900 Park Fare supper, and Crystal Palace breakfast. We definitely wanted a meal with Mickey, and Crystal Palace is a must-do for my wife. I feel like we may have character-dining overkill. I'd kind of like to swap 1900 Park Fare for something that is non-character and probably not buffet. I'd like something that is more on the kid-friendly side, but with a few more interesting options. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[dizkrazkate]

We ate at 1900 Park on our most recent trip and I did very much enjoy it. There was a good variety of food, and with kids I prefer the buffets.

That said, what about Mama Melrose's at the Studios? We also ate there on our most recent trip and I really loved it. I have done Sci Fi and 50's as well, and while I find the atmosphere at both places to really be a lot of fun, I find the food at both to be lackluster.

 

[mrtoffee]

I would suggest Ohana's for dinner, our DD's 4 & 2 really enjoyed the coconut races and general fibe of the restaurant. Plus the food is very good

 

[goofyintoronto]

Since you will be at HS, i would also suggest 50's prime. Food is decent and everyone will get a kick out of the atmosphere.

Off the top of my head i cant think of any other restaurant in that area that isnt character or buffet.

I personally thought the food at 1900 PF (dinner) was terrible. So your much better of going some place else.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Question for the board: I'm heading to the World in December with my DW and DD-6, DS-3, and DD-1............. I feel like we may have character-dining overkill. I'd kind of like to swap 1900 Park Fare for something that is non-character and probably not buffet. I'd like something that is more on the kid-friendly side, but with a few more interesting options. Any advice would be appreciated!

Visiting the Grand Floridian lobby in December is very fun for kids and adults.... I suggest keeping 1900 Park Fare or Narcoosees.

Why? The GF Christmas tree is very big and beautiful, the big gingerbread house, a small orchestra and piano player alternate playing throughout the late afternoon and evening, the floral arrangments are very nice, there are images of characters in the floor tiles, there are some nice shops (Basin White - incredible bath fragrances - soaps, salts, etc.). You can take the boat to/from Magic Kingdom and enjoy a monorail ride too.

Now, you could do all this without a dining reservation... but I bet your DD6 will love meeting the princesses and DS3 can have some fun with it too. And I dare you and DW to kid around / tease the step sisters a bit... you thought the characters were just for kids? Go ahead... give them a hard time and see what happens!

Narcoosees is a great restaurant... I don't think it has the absolute best food of the signature restaurants but it is a big step up in quality from buffets. The nice part is you can take a quick break from the meal with kids and walk outside (just a few steps) onto the deck with a view of the castle (can also see the electric boat parade and fireworks if timed right). The boat to/from Magic Kingdom docks right at the restaurant.

The most kid-friendly places seem to be buffets... I would drop Le Cellier. I think it is way overrated. Also... I can get a good steak at home... without traveling all the way to WDW... for us, the dining at WDW should have some fun entertainment built into the dining experience.

However, on the deluxe dining plan (with many credits to use up...), we have dined at many of the signature restaurants (2 credits each) ecause we can take DS to a "finer" dining experience unlike at home where we would need to make child-sitting arrangements... so we get to enjoy a fine meal... and DS gets some exposure to finer dining.

But you're using the free dining plan... so who cares about credits....

 

[miprender]

Another vote to keep 1900 PF. We love eating there and the characters are great. Better interaction than any character meals we have gone too.

 

[clandoc5803]

OK, I've been convinced! I'll keep 1900 Park Fare. This will be a first visit there, so I hope it's as good as advertised. DW is a bit of a picky eater and didn't enjoy 50's last time. I had hoped for Ohana, but no luck on an ADR. Lots of folks have given good reviews for 1900 Park Fare, so we'll go for it!

 

[clandoc5803]

Also, I just realized the error in my original post-- we're visiting in January, not December!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Also, I just realized the error in my original post-- we're visiting in January, not December!

The orchestra and piano player are year round I understand.... but only in the late afternoon and evening. It's a really "grand" place. Have fun!