1st time- Coral Reef or a WS sitdown at Epcot for kids?

[rikiowich]

First I just want to say thank you so much for all the great info you all have posted on these boards. We're so excited to be planning our first family trip to Disney for this May, and I've learned so much from all of you!

We are on the dining plan and will have two sit-down meals at Epcot. One is definitely Le Cellier, just because the food there sounds too wonderful to miss. That one's mostly for dh and I, so we want our other sitdown to be fun/interesting for the kids (ages 9, 5, and 3). Right now we have a ADR for Coral Reef for that second meal, but now I'm second guessing that, thinking that something in the World Showcase might be better. My kids aren't picky eaters, so that's not a concern.

We just want something that will be memorable for the kids, and good food for us-- maybe Marrakesh? Biergarten? or should we stick with Coral Reef?

 

[angel's momma]

We really enjoyed CR.

 

[wdwrich]

The aquariums views from the tables in Coral Reef are real (kid) crowd-pleasers.

 

[PlutosFriend]

First I just want to say thank you so much for all the great info you all have posted on these boards. We're so excited to be planning our first family trip to Disney for this May, and I've learned so much from all of you!

We are on the dining plan and will have two sit-down meals at Epcot. One is definitely Le Cellier, just because the food there sounds too wonderful to miss. That one's mostly for dh and I, so we want our other sitdown to be fun/interesting for the kids (ages 9, 5, and 3). Right now we have a ADR for Coral Reef for that second meal, but now I'm second guessing that, thinking that something in the World Showcase might be better. My kids aren't picky eaters, so that's not a concern.

We just want something that will be memorable for the kids, and good food for us-- maybe Marrakesh? Biergarten? or should we stick with Coral Reef?

Another option would be a character meal at the Garden Grille We enjoyed that when we were there. The character interaction with the kids was very good.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I would go with Marrakesh or Biergarten...

 

[Deweysgirl]

We are leaving on Friday for WDW - we have an ADR for Coral Reef on Saturday night. We have two children, 11 and 7 and we have never been to CR before. We'll be back on Monday, I'll make a point to look up your thread and give you a review when I return.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Dh and I are going in May (7-11) and we could NOT get any ressies at the Coral Reef at all. I would keep that ressie and enjoy your meal. It's that popular! There must be a reason.

For what it's worth, I've not eaten there myself, but the reviews were good and I wanted to try. So if you don't want your ADR, I'll take it! (if you are going when we are????)

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have ADR's at CR for the 1st time this May 7th (Dinning plan).

We have 2 kids (5 years and 2 months old) Not sure, but wanted to try something new. (and not havw to worry abuot $ with the plan.)

 

[TikiGoddess]

We did CR w/a 2&4 yr old and it was their favorite restaurant including character meals. They gave them a guide that identified all the differnt fish in the aquarium. My 4 yr. old (now 5) still carries that thing around w/him sometimes. We also had some of our best service here and our food was very good.

 

[jj13]

CR is pricey but the atmosphere is just fabulous! We've eaten there 4 times, 3 meals were outstanding and 1 was fair.

The desserts for the kids are the best - peanut butter playdoh or make you own ice cream sundaes are truly inspired and a huge hit with my kids!

I can't speak to the other places but would suggest you try CR!

 

[mom22princesses]

We loved Coral Reef! It was my DDs (7 & 4) favorite meal, I think ... including character meals. We asked for and waited for a table in front of the tank. It was worth it. The sea turtles, sharks and divers came right by the table. The kids enjoyed the food and the desserts were really different and yummy.

Try the chocolate wave for yourself!

 

[rikiowich]

Thanks everyone, you've convinced me to stick with Coral Reef! I really do think the kids will enjoy the tanks quite a bit, and of course we all love dessert so I think we'll be fine.

We can always get counter service from some of the more ethnic-type food stands to get more of that cultural influence in our meals at Epcot.

Thanks!

 

[Deweysgirl]

As promised, we have returned from our trip and here is my review for you. I will tell you that CR was the absolute best meal we had while at WDW! We were seated on the first tier and we had a wonderful view of the aquarium. The way the restaurant is designed I think you would be hard-pressed to find a bad seat anywhere. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. My Dad and I had the Lobster soup which was outstanding! My Dad, Mom, and DH all ordered the steak. They raved about how delicious and tender it was. I ordered the chicken breast and pasta dish. The chicken was so tender, I could cut it with a butter knife. It also was very very good. My folks were celebrating their anniversary and for dessert they presented them a plate with a chocolate champagne glass filled with chocolate ice cream, a tart with chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries and raspberries surrounded it with a white chocolate banner with Congratulations written across it in chocolate. It was out of this world! They also ordered the butterscotch creme brulee to share, not realizing they would be given such a fabulous dessert. The creme brulee was delicious with just a mild flavor of butterscotch, not overpowering but just right. I ordered the Chocolate Wave, it was simply delicious, I was forced to share and didn't want to! My oldest DD is 11 and she ordered from the kids menu and they did not have any problem with that. My youngest DD had the childs chicken breast and mashed potatoes, and my oldest ordered the childs steak dinner, served with fries and broccoli which was not on the menu but the waitress mentioned it was available, even though it's not printed on the menu. Both girls ordered the make your own sundae which was presented very nicely with little cups filled with sprinkles, decorations, etc. I think you will enjoy the CR. We sure did, I can't wait to go back.

 

[angel's momma]

Deweysgirl, glad you enjoyed it!

Do you happen to remember if the beef skewer appetizer is still on the menu?

Someone else posted that it's no longer on the lunch menu, and I wondered if that's the same for dinner. It was one of our favorites.

 

[formernyer]

My DD10, DS9 and I ate at CR last Tuesday (OMG has it really been a week already?) and we all LOVED it!

I will start by saying that this restaurant is VERY, VERY pricey. I would never be able to eat in a place like this if not for the DDP. Our bill for LUNCH for one adult and two children (DD was still 9) would have been $120. The price is the last complaint I will make about this restaurant, and I'm certainly not complaining personally since all it cost me was 3 TS credits.

The seats were great, the servers were attentive, the food was wonderful...I can't come up with a single bad thing to say about this place. They even had storage compartments behind the tables to store your fanny packs, water bottles, jackets, etc.

CR is one of the few TS restaurants remaining without a kid's appetizer menu...that means kids get to order a full-sized adult appetizer. Many children won't care for the appetizer selection, but if they won't eat seafood consider ordering the Ceasar Salad with Grilled Chicken as the appetizer. Nobody in my family eats seafood (and the beef kabobs appetizer is no longer available) so we all ordered the salad. The salads arrived with an entire large chicken breast on top. The kids got a full-sized adult serving. It was delicious and a meal in itself.

I ordered the NY Strip steak. It was cooked perfectly. My son ordered the child-sized steak (not on menu, but offered by server). He was brought a huge plate of food. My daughter ordered child's pizza. I can't comment on it, but I was kind of disaapointed that she wasted a meal at CR on pizza. She enjoyed it though...I guess that's what's important.

I had the Chocolate Wave for dessert. It was AMAZING! A work of art which tasted as good as it looked. The kids both ordered the Make Your Own Sundaes...they were THRILLED with this dessert. It came with a chocolate-dipped waffle cup with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. On the side were four smaller cups...one with whipped cream and a cherry, one with chocolate syrup, one with chocolate sprinkles, and one with flat colored sprinkles shaped like Mickey's head/ears. It also came with a chocolate banner which said, "My Sundae" on it. The chocolate banner was almost as big as a full-size Hershey bar!

I didn't even bring up the aquariums yet...it goes without saying that the kids loved it. There were even divers swimming around...at one point there were 6 in there at once!

The amazing thing about this restaurant (in contrast to The Aquarium restaurants nationwide) is that the setting remained quiet and elegant for the adults, yet still fun and entertaining for the kids.

 

[McKelly]

formernyer-did the ceasar salad have anchovies in it? My DD loves ceasar salad, but does not like it when it tastes "fishy". Thanks!

 

[formernyer]

formernyer-did the ceasar salad have anchovies in it? My DD loves ceasar salad, but does not like it when it tastes "fishy". Thanks!

No, it didn't have anchovies. It actually wasn't really a salad at all. It was a large bed of whole romaine lettuce leaves with croutons and an entire warm grilled chicken breast on top (you could have also added shrimp to it with the DDP). I ordered it with no dressing and oil/vinegar on the side.

My daughter hates salad, but she was very happy with the chicken breast and croutons. She didn't even have to pick around the salad part, since the lettuce leaves were whole.

 

[Nancyg56]

WOW!!! Thank you for the reviews. We are going to book CR when we go, and I have been looking for feedback on this restaurant.

 

[Deweysgirl]

Deweysgirl, glad you enjoyed it!

Do you happen to remember if the beef skewer appetizer is still on the menu?

Someone else posted that it's no longer on the lunch menu, and I wondered if that's the same for dinner. It was one of our favorites.

I don't recall seeing it on the dinner menu either.

 

[angel's momma]

I don't recall seeing it on the dinner menu either.

Thanks. That's disappointing, but at least I can tell everyone in our group in advance.