Any of these choices poor?

[crostorfer]

This place sounds like a miserable hot mess! My wife has it in her head that we MUST visit this restaurant for the characters.... what would be a good alternative?

A miserable hot mess is the best way to put it. My suggestion is to go to Tusker House to get Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy with MUCH better food and you picture with ACTUAL Donald and not a half sized crappy plastic statue. If your little ones want to see Minnie there is always Cape May for breakfast which is very relaxed and decent food wise, and if they have their hearts set on Pluto for some reason, go to Ohana.

At our Chef Mickey's dinner we didn't even get to meet Mickey. He stayed on the opposite side of the dining room the whole time, and I wasn't about to wait another hour packed like a sardine with that horrid food to wait for him. Never, ever, ever again. There are just so many BETTER choices.

 

[MicheinMA]

Here are my thoughts on the ones we've been to which is about half.

Chef Mickey's - Dinner-No-worst meal of our trip & bad character interaction
Cinderella Royal Table - Lunch-haven't been
Tusker House - Breakfast-haven't been on the list for our next trip
Kona Cafe - Dinner-excellent
Hollywood & Vine - Breakfast-it was good but that was about 5 years ago
Crystal Palace - Dinner-good
Tony's Town Square - Lunch-haven't been
Shutters at Old Port Royal - Dinner -haven't been

If you are looking for a replacement for CM I suggest Garden Grill, great atmosphere, awesome character interaction and good food. Hollywood & Vine was pretty goot when we went, our kids were little 2.5 & 4 and the characters were Playhouse Disney so they were really into it. We enjoyed it but I've heard alot of negative in recent times. If you are looking for another breakfast I would suggest O'hana. It was awesome both times we have been. Food was fantastic and the characters were great. Plus any reason for me to go to the Poly works!

 

[KTJAY]

Noticed you have quite a few MK or around MK meals-you may want to consider one for an Epcot day-kids really like Coral Reef there's a huge aquarium there. The food is good-I just find the menu a little lacking (I don't like seafood) Via Napoli is good too-pizza and pasta.

Have a great trip!!

 

[busydaddy]

OK, change of plans

Hollywood & Vine - Breakfast out
Cape May - Breakfast added

 

[busydaddy]

Noticed you have quite a few MK or around MK meals-you may want to consider one for an Epcot day-kids really like Coral Reef there's a huge aquarium there. The food is good-I just find the menu a little lacking (I don't like seafood) Via Napoli is good too-pizza and pasta.

Have a great trip!!

We're planning on hitting the MK 3x ... because the kids have never been and DW and I haven't been since kids, we figured we'd want lots of time there.

I was thinking the same thing about Epcot - not a seafood fan at all. Was it still worth going there or should I hunt down a different table service?

 

[crostorfer]

We're planning on hitting the MK 3x ... because the kids have never been and DW and I haven't been since kids, we figured we'd want lots of time there.

I was thinking the same thing about Epcot - not a seafood fan at all. Was it still worth going there or should I hunt down a different table service?

Not a Coral Reef fan myself. Don't be afraid to try something around the WS, almost every place has a pretty generic kids menu with the more exotic adult one. Nearly everywhere has chicken strips or a hot dog/hamburger. Kids seem to love Biergarten with the Ziggy Zaggy music. My daughter like Marrakesh where she had chicken strips and danced with the belly dancer. If you have girls, there is always Akershus which is expensive but the princesses are great. Or you can have lunch at Le Chefs de France with Remy from Ratatoulle.

 

[busydaddy]

edited the OP

 

[crostorfer]

How old are your kids and do you have boys or girls? If you are going to DTD, try T-REX. Its a little too loud and in your face for me, but kids love it. I had one of the best meals of my entire life at Paradisio 37 at DTD. They have a large kids menu with lots of different stuff on it and the appetizers alone make the trip worth it. The Central American Crazy Corn is FANTASTIC! Make a reservation for around sunset, show up early, and ask for an outside seat, you won't regret it.

If you need a place on the Dining Plan there is always Raglan Road or Wolfgang Puck as well.

 

[busydaddy]

How old are your kids and do you have boys or girls? If you are going to DTD, try T-REX. Its a little too loud and in your face for me, but kids love it. I had one of the best meals of my entire life at Paradisio 37 at DTD. They have a large kids menu with lots of different stuff on it and the appetizers alone make the trip worth it. The Central American Crazy Corn is FANTASTIC! Make a reservation for around sunset, show up early, and ask for an outside seat, you won't regret it.

If you need a place on the Dining Plan there is always Raglan Road or Wolfgang Puck as well.

yes, need a place on dining plan .. daughter is 7 and and is 4 .. was just checking out Raglan Road

 

[KTJAY]

OK, change of plans

Hollywood & Vine - Breakfast out
Cape May - Breakfast added

I think you will like it. It's very low key and food is good.

I wouldn't go to Coral Reef if not a seafood lover. Like a pp said I would pick something you would enjoy-kids meals are pretty standard around Epcot.Or lots of great CS options-Mexico CS is good and if you time it right has a good view of illuminations. I like the bakery in France too.

 

[DisneySarah80]

Ok, I've been lurking for a few days and I've found all sorts of helpful information... thanks!

I'm wondering if anyone thinks I should avoid one of these meal choices... this is all new to us since we haven't been since we were kids ourselves.

Day 1 - Hotel/Downtown Disney
Chef Mickey's - Dinner canceled
I need a first night replacement here - dinner added

Day 2 - MK
Cinderella Royal Table - Lunch

Day 3 - Animal Kingdom
Tusker House - Breakfast

Day 4 - Typhoon Lagoon
Kona Cafe - Dinner

Day 5 - Hollywood Studios
Hollywood & Vine - Breakfast canceled
Cape May - Breakfast added

Day 6 - Epcot
Le Chefs de France - Lunch added

Day 7 - Magic Kingdom
Crystal Palace - Dinner

Day 8 - Magic Kingdom
Tony's Town Square - Lunch canceled
I need a Table Service replacement here - b/l/d added

Day 9 - Hotel
Shutters at Old Port Royal - Dinner

Personally, I think your making a mistake getting rid of Chef Mickeys and Tonys. I have eaten at both several times, and never had a problem with either of them - infact the entire party enjoyed every meal there very much. If I had to choose between the two, my MUST KEEP would be CM. If you really don't want to do Tonys, you can do something on the monorail loop like Kona or the Grand Floridian Cafe.

 

[busydaddy]

edited the OP yet again - just in case someone is keeping score this was about the 1000th time I've changed plans(;

 

[KTJAY]

Ok, I've been lurking for a few days and I've found all sorts of helpful information... thanks!

I'm wondering if anyone thinks I should avoid one of these meal choices... this is all new to us since we haven't been since we were kids ourselves.

Day 1 - Hotel/Downtown Disney
Chef Mickey's - Dinner canceled
Shutters at Old Port Royal - Dinner added

Day 2 - MK
Cinderella Royal Table - Lunch

Day 3 - Animal Kingdom
Tusker House - Breakfast

Day 4 - Typhoon Lagoon
Kona Cafe - Dinner

Day 5 - Hollywood Studios
Hollywood & Vine - Breakfast canceled
Cape May - Breakfast added

Day 6 - Epcot
Le Chefs de France - Lunch added

Day 7 - Magic Kingdom
Crystal Palace - Dinner

Day 8 - Magic Kingdom
Tony's Town Square - Lunch canceled
I need a Table Service replacement here - b/l/d added

Day 9 - Hotel/Downtown Disney
Raglan Road Irish Pub - Dinner added

Good choice on Le Chefs-trying to convince my family to go our next trip. We haven't been in years and I've heard good things lately. Plus your kids will probably like Remy.

If your kids like Cinderella-you may want to check out 1900 Park Fare @ Grand Floridan. I think its the best character interaction. Cinderella and PC are very cute and the step-sisters/mother are hilarious. The food was okay but I think we hit a bad night and not everything was out? Its worth it for characters and to see the GF.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Day 8 - Magic Kingdom
Tony's Town Square - Lunch canceled
I need a Table Service replacement here - b/l/d added

Great choice on canceling Tony's! That has to be the most disgusting meal we've ever had at WDW, and the service was horrible.

What about Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch? They have a good variety on the lunch menu, and I'd go there for the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake alone. Yum!

Lunch Menu

Kids' Menu

 

[ses1230]

Suggestions for your Day 8 - MK Day

In the park we always do The Plaza for lunch or dinner. Good burgers/sandwiches/fries and ice cream!! It is TS but is much shorter than other TS meals.

Also, we like the selections at dinner at CP

Out of the park, the Grand Floridian Cafe is nice, as is strolling around the beautiful grounds. Also 1900 Park Fare dinner - the stepsisters are a hoot!

 

[busydaddy]

had no idea subscribing wasn't the default setting .. would make sense that I track my own thread, eh(;