Arrival night Dinner?

[choirchic]

We have a family of 9 (3 young boys included) that are looking for a place to have dinner our first night in Orlando...we had an ADR at Whispering Canyon but it seemed a bit too pricy. Would anyone have a suggestion for a reasonably priced Restaurant (outide the parks) to have dinner...I appreciate the help!

 

[Belleandtinker]

Check out DTD. Plus after you eat, you can get your first Disney fix.

For cheap, fast and good, Sandwich of Earl. We go there at least once each trip.

 

[pooh98378]

We always love eating at the T-Rex Cafe at Downtown Disney! (The portions are large enough to share for us.)

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/t-rex/

 

[B-Ride]

Wolfgang Puck Express at the DTD Market Place serves good sized reasonably priced meals. We ate there twice on our last trip.

 

[aenelson]

I second the Wolfgang Puck.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Never been there, but Trail's End at Ft. Wilderness seems less pricey than other WDW restaurants. It's buffet, and they serve similar food to Whispering Canyon (to my understanding, ribs are on the buffet).

Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village has excellent food at reasonable prices. It's African food with an Indian flair to it.

Earl of Sandwich in DTD is excellent, if you don't mind eating counter service. The sandwiches are made fresh to order, they make their own bread, and everyone in our party of 10 was very happy with their lunch there (same menu at dinner). Kids' meals are cheap there too (only $3.95 when we went in July!).

You could also try one of the food courts at a Value Resort. Some of them have excellent choices at dinner time!

 

[mkarizona]

We always go to Earl of Sandwich on our first night

 

[MarkyMouse]

I agree with previous advice re Wolfgang Puck Express and Earl of Sandwich as great options. Both have good food and can't beat DTD. We will be going to Wolfgang Puck Express on our arrival night ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT!!!

But here is another option - since you have kids in your party, what about eating at a CS restaurant in a resort where you are not staying. We used to take our children to the CS restaurant in Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner on arrival night -- food not too special but they love the lodge and seeing the animals behind the hotel. Our kids (10, 14, 16) still love the CS restaurant in Polynesian and then you could ride the Monorail around MK and EPCOT - our kids were always thrilled to just ride the monorail on arrival nights when they were younger.

IMO, you can't go wrong with any of the above.

 

[EastonCat]

Assuming that you have a car, Miller's Ale House is very affordable, has good food, and the servers are really good with families. There is one very close to the end of Hotel Plaza Boulevard which will take you to DTD after you eat if you'd like to have a little Disney fix before bed.

http://www.millersalehouse.com/

Prices come in about half of T-Rex.

 

[EastonCat]

Assuming that you have a car, Miller's Ale House is very affordable, has good food, and the servers are really good with families. There is one very close to the end of Hotel Plaza Boulevard which will take you to DTD after you eat if you'd like to have a little Disney fix before bed.

http://www.millersalehouse.com/

Prices come in about half of T-Rex.

 

[choirchic]

Great Ideas everyone...I appreciate the suggestions. I'm thinking we're either going to end up at DTD or take a trip to the Beach Club and let the kids experience the Kitchen Sink!

 

[ThreeKMom]

Have you thought of exploring the Boardwalk?

There are lots of options for a quick bite there. They have a pizza window (not on the dining plan) and the kiosk where you can get lots of different boardwalk type food (hot dog, chicken fingers, meatball subs etc). You can get a sandwich at the Boardwalk bakery or you can go to the ESPN Zone - they don't take ressies. Big River Grill is also on the Boardwalk - you might be able to do a walk up.

The Boardwalk area is fun at night, your boys will probably love the games and entertainment! You can also rent a surrey bike - this is one of our traditions! Best of all you will be able to see the fireworks at Epcot from there!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have a family of 9 (3 young boys included) that are looking for a place to have dinner our first night in Orlando...we had an ADR at Whispering Canyon but it seemed a bit too pricy. Would anyone have a suggestion for a reasonably priced Restaurant (outide the parks) to have dinner...I appreciate the help!

You could get something from Roaring Forks at WL - that the counter service restaurant.

Any of the moderate food courts would be good - Coronado Springs has a big variety of choices. POR has some good choices as well as does Caribbean Springs Resort.

 

[choirchic]

Have you thought of exploring the Boardwalk?

There are lots of options for a quick bite there. They have a pizza window (not on the dining plan) and the kiosk where you can get lots of different boardwalk type food (hot dog, chicken fingers, meatball subs etc). You can get a sandwich at the Boardwalk bakery or you can go to the ESPN Zone - they don't take ressies. Big River Grill is also on the Boardwalk - you might be able to do a walk up.

The Boardwalk area is fun at night, your boys will probably love the games and entertainment! You can also rent a surrey bike - this is one of our traditions! Best of all you will be able to see the fireworks at Epcot from there!

I'm thinking this is where we're going to end up...

 

[ThreeKMom]

I'm thinking this is where we're going to end up...

Where are you staying?
Are you on the dining plan?

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

We have a family of 9 (3 young boys included) that are looking for a place to have dinner our first night in Orlando...we had an ADR at Whispering Canyon but it seemed a bit too pricy. Would anyone have a suggestion for a reasonably priced Restaurant (outide the parks) to have dinner...I appreciate the help!

I don't want to sound rude but if you think Whispering Canyon is pricey your in for "sticker shock". Whispering Canyon is probably middle of the road prices when it comes to table service restaraunts at WDW. I'm not sure if you are staying only at WDW or going other places in Orlando, and staying off site. Of course there are cheaper places but it's not the same type of restaraunt.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Are you staying at the Wilderness Lodge? If so, you can take a boat trip to the Poly and eat at Capt Cooks. They have some really good sandwiches (specifically the Aloha Pulled Pork sandwich, YUM), and you can sit on the beach and watch fireworks.

 

[choirchic]

I don't want to sound rude but if you think Whispering Canyon is pricey your in for "sticker shock". Whispering Canyon is probably middle of the road prices when it comes to table service restaraunts at WDW. I'm not sure if you are staying only at WDW or going other places in Orlando, and staying off site. Of course there are cheaper places but it's not the same type of restaraunt.

You're not being rude...I've been to Disney a bazillion times and know the prices.

What I neglected to say is that we already have a ton of other nicer table service meals planned throughout the week (like O'Hana and Tusker House) so the decision was made to save money on the first evening and opt for someplace "cheaper" and "simpler" since we're out of pocket and not on the dining plan.

I appreciate your honesty though...

 

[disneystick]

Great Ideas everyone...I appreciate the suggestions. I'm thinking we're either going to end up at DTD or take a trip to the Beach Club and let the kids experience the Kitchen Sink!

Burgers then Kitchen Sink!!!

 

[smidgy]

with 3 young boys, I have to agree with Trex! they boys will LOVE it when the dinosuars "come alive, every 15-20 minutes, when there is a meteor shower!!

I also like the idea of a CS at one of the monorail resorts. you can experience the monorail, and watch wishes and the Electrical water pagaent!