ADR help, we've never ate at Disney before...

[dizzydrop]

I know it's a shame but we live in a VERY small town so when we go to FL we like to eat at places that don't exist around here around Orlando. We've never actually realized there were so many dining choices at Disney and I can book my ADR's starting tomorrow so I REALLY need some input. My DH doesn't care for buffets for dinner but he loves steak and burgers, american style food, doesn't like seafood at all. I'm pretty neutral, I can find something anywhere. Our biggest obstical is that we are a party of 7 with 3 adults and 4 children between 2 and 8 years old, so we want something suitable for kids since they do tend to get a bit loud.
I was thinking of doing Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe but I need other suggestions. We are at Disney for 9 nights but going to the parks for 5 days. Any help would be appreciated. TIA!

Wakisha

 

[bjscheel]

Rainforest is good- and loud. I haven't heard great things about Planet Hollywood.

Sci-Fi should be a fun environment for your group. O'Hana or Whispering Canyon Cafe too, at the resorts.

You should try a character meal...Chef Mickey and Crystal Palace are buffets, though. Maybe Garden Grill?

 

[Huff]

Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe are chain restaurants found throughout the country and in my opinion not worth it. They do have decent food just not anything noteworthy. We prefer the more unique restaurants found only at Disney.

The following have been our favorates:

Coral Reef, fun to watch the huge aquarium while dining. For non seafood lovers they do have very good steaks and other entrees.

San Angel, best theming to me. Excellent food but not for everyone as its not your typical Americanized Mexican food. You won't find much in the way of taco's, burritos, enchiladas etc. Very good food for those that enjoy this style of food. Fun ride for kids is inside next to the restaurant.

Ohanas, all you can eat but not a buffet. They bring you skewers of steak, pork, chicken, shrimp plus salad and bread pudding and ice cream for dessert. Fun entertainment and games for kids to take part in.

Konas, some of the best food at Disney! Something for everyone on the menu. Great desserts too!

Le Celliar, excellent steak house but this has now become a signature restaurant with new menu and higher prices. I have not been there since the change.

The only buffet we really enjoy is Boma's at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Food is awesome but different for picky eaters. However, there is always a good selection of more traditional foods such as prime rib. Fun to walk outside the lodge to watch all the animals they have there.

For counter service lunches our favorates are Seasons, Wolfgang Puck Express and Earl of Sandwhich, Flame Tree BBQ.

Unfortunatly I find no decent food at Disney Studios.

At all of the table service restaurants the chefs would make the kids something they liked even if not on the menu. All we had to do was ask our waiter. Even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or macaroni if thats what the kids wanted.

 

[tangled23]

Garden Grill- It's in Epcot and a few characters come to visit. The restaurant actually turns as you are eating, it's pretty cool and the kids can be loud. They serve the food family style.

Chef Mickey's- In Contemporary Resort, it's a buffet, but a really fun place for kids! This is also character dining.

Sci-fi Dine in Theatre- This is my favorite restaurant! It's in DHS, and it's set up like a Drive-in movie theatre. However, the kids won't be able to scream during it, but I think they would like it.

Crystal Palace- It's in MK- another buffet, but it's really good! Tigger, pooh, eeyore, and piglet come to visit! Good place for kids.

Hoop-dee-doo Review- This is a dinner show, pretty expensive but a fun experience for everyone! Food is served family style.

Those are a few of my favorite restaurants, hope I helped. I agree with Rainforest Cafe, I don't have one around me and I love it there! So I would do that too

 

[ChrisHartman]

We loved Teppan Edo in Epcot and it is perfect for a larger group. The kids were entertained and the food was wonderful. Its a japanese hibachi, the food isn't way out there and its very good.

For dinner, we also enjoyed the T-Rex at Downtown Disney, you should call them directly though to make a reservation though.

The only other places we made ADRs at for dinner were at Cinderella's Royal Table (we loved it!!) and Chef Mickey's (its a dinner buffet and we hated it).

You might also want to consider a breakfast buffet at the Crystal Palace before the park opens, they start taking ADRs at 8:05 am and its great to dine and be in the park when it opens. The food is good and its Pooh and friends...how can anyone not like that? LOL

 

[WDW*Dreamer]

Ohanas, all you can eat but not a buffet. They bring you skewers of steak, pork, chicken, shrimp plus salad and bread pudding and ice cream for dessert. Fun entertainment and games for kids to take part in.

We have going to Ohana every trip since my kids were little. They're teenagers now and still love it. Good atmosphere....lots of MEAT!

 

[homedad]

The food at RC and PH may be ok at best. if your at Disney I wouldn't eat a chain restaurant that are not known for food. Consider theh Epcot choices, Morroco, Japan, Italy all have good options.The YSH is great and so is Jiko, which we've taken kids to since 2 and 4 and have had no issues. Don't tottaly discount Boma since its a buffet, it gets great reviews. Also like Ohana and would send you to CM(at least its a character meal) before RC or PH.

 

[lilandvisma]

First off I live in a pretty small town as well and our options stink when it comes to variety of foods available. When we do Disney my first rule is to not get anything there that we can get here. I think your family would love Ohanas. Good food, fun games for the kids and a unique experience that cannot be replicated at home We also enjoy Sci Fi in Hollywood Studios...I'd stay away from Planet Hollywood, I don't hear good things about it and for me it doesn't say "Disney" when I think of it. We enjoy Akershus in Norway for Breakfast. They offer a small selection of cold buffet items but bring your hot food to your table, fresh made. They also offer Dinner and lunch in which you choose your entrees. Garden Grill is nice, we are also trying Ohanas Breakfast this year (also served family style, brought to your table) with stitch and lilo, mickey,etc...

There are SOOo many good options available. Wolfgang puck express in Downtown Disney has INCREDIBLE counter service food but it's more like food that should be served table service, very good. My children vary in age as well and we didn't have a problem during our last visit with keeping them entertained (2 and 7 at the time) . We love Crystal Palace too...however as mentioned, this is a buffet. The food @ lunch is YUMMY though! GL!

 

[kari B.]

Most Disney restaurants are suitable for kids.

We like Rainforest Cafe if you don't have one near you.
T-Rex
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Le Cellier at Epcot.
Ohana's

If you like Ethnic Foods... there are many more you could do...

The counter service meals at Disney are very good compared to other places.

And I agree, you should try a character buffet... Just not Chef Mickey's, lol.