Forensicmom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2011
- Messages
- 370
We just got back from our first Disney trip EVER, last night. It was truly a magical experience and we are so glad we went. We took our only son (17) and 3 daughters (12, 10, and 7).
Luckily, we were on the free dining plan and we definately learned a few things by the end of the trip. Not all restaurants are created equal. In our experience, some were awful, while others were fantastic. We couldn't understand why a $150 meal was on the same level as a $350+ meal. Also, the quality of food was very different, depending on where you go.
Our restaurants and experiences were as follows:
DAY 1 (Wed) arrival.
QS LUNCH at the Roaring Fork at the Wilderness Lodge (our hotel). The food was OK, just OK. It was cafeteria style sandwiches and salad.
TS DINNER was at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom with characters. The buffet was OK (our best park meal) but the experience was more fun then the food.
DAY 2 (Thur)
QS lUNCH @ Studio Catering Co. in Hollywood Studios. The food was OK, but again, it was much like cafeteria style food. Not terrible but not great. TS DINNER was at the Sci-Fi. Sorry, but this was our worst dinner of the entire trip. I knew going in (from the pictures and the web) that the booths were like cars at a drive in. I had no idea that they would put us in a 6 seater (3 rows of 2). I was unable to help my kids figure out their orders without getting up and walking back to them. It was VERY awkward since we were not able to talk to the rest of our group. The lighting was so bad in there that we were unable to read the menu OR see our food. That was probably on purpose since the quality of food was very poor. Hubby got steak and was feeling sick about an hour after dinner and all the next day.
DAY 3 (Fri)
QS LUNCH - Peco's Bill Cafe in Magic Kingdom - Again, the food was mediocre. Nothing special and as usual, WAY too much for the normal person to eat.
TS DINNER - The Wave @ The contemporary. Best meal of the entire trip. We really liked that it felt like a classy restuarant since we needed a break from the park style restaurants. We ordered a local special with swordfish and local veggies. Fantastic and everyone enjoyed their meals. Much better food for the price then compared to inside the parks.
DAY 4 (Sat) -
QS Lunch @ Tamu Tamu in Animal Kingdom - This was NOT a a favorite. Same old cafeteria style food except with birds swooping down on your plates and leaves falling from the trees into your hair and food.
TS DINNER - We were supposed to eat at the Tusker House in animal Kingdom but after we had such a bad lunch, we were not willing to try this, so we cancelled and went to Whispering Canyon @ The Wilderness Lodge. Food was good. We got a quiet table in the back, which was much more quiet then the main dining room.
DAY 5 (Sun)
QS LUNCH - Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. Great lunch.
TS DINNER - Akershus in Norway (Epcot). Good food and good atmosphere. The girls loved the princesses. I wish there was a larger variety for kids meals. The youngest 2 girls didn't eat more then bread and dessert.
DAY 6 (Mon)
QS Lunch - Contempo Cafe @ The Contemporary Hotel (Fantastic)
TS Dinner - Whispering Canyon @ Wilderness Lodge - Good food but a little loud.
DAY 7 - (Tue) Last Day
QS Lunch at Wolfgang Pucks Express in Downtown Disney - VERY good.
Luckily, we were on the free dining plan and we definately learned a few things by the end of the trip. Not all restaurants are created equal. In our experience, some were awful, while others were fantastic. We couldn't understand why a $150 meal was on the same level as a $350+ meal. Also, the quality of food was very different, depending on where you go.
Our restaurants and experiences were as follows:
DAY 1 (Wed) arrival.
QS LUNCH at the Roaring Fork at the Wilderness Lodge (our hotel). The food was OK, just OK. It was cafeteria style sandwiches and salad.
TS DINNER was at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom with characters. The buffet was OK (our best park meal) but the experience was more fun then the food.
DAY 2 (Thur)
QS lUNCH @ Studio Catering Co. in Hollywood Studios. The food was OK, but again, it was much like cafeteria style food. Not terrible but not great. TS DINNER was at the Sci-Fi. Sorry, but this was our worst dinner of the entire trip. I knew going in (from the pictures and the web) that the booths were like cars at a drive in. I had no idea that they would put us in a 6 seater (3 rows of 2). I was unable to help my kids figure out their orders without getting up and walking back to them. It was VERY awkward since we were not able to talk to the rest of our group. The lighting was so bad in there that we were unable to read the menu OR see our food. That was probably on purpose since the quality of food was very poor. Hubby got steak and was feeling sick about an hour after dinner and all the next day.
DAY 3 (Fri)
QS LUNCH - Peco's Bill Cafe in Magic Kingdom - Again, the food was mediocre. Nothing special and as usual, WAY too much for the normal person to eat.
TS DINNER - The Wave @ The contemporary. Best meal of the entire trip. We really liked that it felt like a classy restuarant since we needed a break from the park style restaurants. We ordered a local special with swordfish and local veggies. Fantastic and everyone enjoyed their meals. Much better food for the price then compared to inside the parks.
DAY 4 (Sat) -
QS Lunch @ Tamu Tamu in Animal Kingdom - This was NOT a a favorite. Same old cafeteria style food except with birds swooping down on your plates and leaves falling from the trees into your hair and food.
TS DINNER - We were supposed to eat at the Tusker House in animal Kingdom but after we had such a bad lunch, we were not willing to try this, so we cancelled and went to Whispering Canyon @ The Wilderness Lodge. Food was good. We got a quiet table in the back, which was much more quiet then the main dining room.
DAY 5 (Sun)
QS LUNCH - Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. Great lunch.
TS DINNER - Akershus in Norway (Epcot). Good food and good atmosphere. The girls loved the princesses. I wish there was a larger variety for kids meals. The youngest 2 girls didn't eat more then bread and dessert.
DAY 6 (Mon)
QS Lunch - Contempo Cafe @ The Contemporary Hotel (Fantastic)
TS Dinner - Whispering Canyon @ Wilderness Lodge - Good food but a little loud.
DAY 7 - (Tue) Last Day
QS Lunch at Wolfgang Pucks Express in Downtown Disney - VERY good.
