Beaches and Cream or Cape May Cafe for a dinner with young kids?

[kboo]

Hi! It'll be our first time staying at BCV this August, and I'm trying to decide between B&C or Cape May for an early (5-5:30 ADR time) dinner with our 2 girls, who'll be almost 6 and almost 2. Both are pretty good at behaving nicely in restaurants, so I'm just trying to get a sense which one would be a better experience/more fun/better food. Thanks!

 

[IrishNYC]

B&C is burgers, fries, grilled cheese - that sort of thing. Cape May is a buffet featuring seafood. I personally wouldn't do dinner/any meal at B&C, I'd just go for the ice cream in lieu of a meal.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It really depends on what type of food and experience you are looking for. Beaches and Cream is a very, small soda fountain with burgers, ice cream sundaes, etc. IMHO, the food is not very good, but it's a bright, fun atmosphere. Cape May is a seafood buffet which I've found to be very chaotic. I'm personally not a fan of doing buffets with young children. I don't find them very relaxing! But the food is definitely better here if you like seafood. I wouldn't say, though, that Cape May is a "fun" dinner. It's really just a big, seafood buffet in a beach-themed atmophere.

If you want a casual, sit-down meal with good food, I would suggest also looking at Capt. Grille at YC, just next door to BC. IMHO, the food certainly better than B&C and it's not chaotic like Cape May. I would also consider walking over to the Boardwalk for Trattoria al Forno. Good food, casual, nice atmosphere.

 

[Jules76126]

I have eaten at both many times and both are quite good. It just really depends on what type of food you are looking for. Beaches and Cream is based on a soda fountain and has that type of vibe and food. The cheeseburgers and fries are really good and my people go there for their sundaes. It is a very laid back atmosphere. Beaches and Cream is a very tiny restaurant so you will definitely need an ADR should you go that route. I feel that their sundaes are okay. They use Edy’s ice cream, which I love but I can get Edy’s from my local grocery store so I prefer to get ice cream from a place like Ample Hills Creamery (which I can’t get here). Cape May is very good if you like seafood. The buffet is very tasty and they do offer things besides seafood if that is not your or the kids thing. And if I remember correctly the tables come with crayons and paper tablecloths so the kids can entertain themselves while they eat (it’s been a few years so not sure if they still do that). Either way, I love the BC and think either restaurant will be a yummy choice.

 

[JZCubed]

Hi! It'll be our first time staying at BCV this August, and I'm trying to decide between B&C or Cape May for an early (5-5:30 ADR time) dinner with our 2 girls, who'll be almost 6 and almost 2. Both are pretty good at behaving nicely in restaurants, so I'm just trying to get a sense which one would be a better experience/more fun/better food. Thanks!

When on vacation, particularly at Disney, it's OK to break the parenting rules - you have my permission.

So here we are....at Beaches & Cream.....ice cream sodas, sundaes, and shakes being served at most every table.....

"Kid's, what would you like for dinner?"

Why bother - go straight to the ice cream.

However, if the adults really want the seafood at Cape May - I'd go here. It's your vacation, not the kids.

Personally, I'm with PP - maybe go someplace less consuming than Cape May (and then grab ice cream someplace else).

Not only is there Beaches & Cream, there is Ample Hill on the Boardwalk, and Fountain inside the nearby Dolphin.

And if you need the kids to behave so that you can enjoy the buffet at Cape May - you can 'bribe' them with the promise of ice cream after dinner.

 

[IrishNYC]

I agree that buffets aren't great with kids, but I've come to accept them at Disney because if you want a character meal, most of them involve buffets. At home, no way - I prefer my food breathed on only by kitchen staff, where I can't see those things happening. Issues. I have them.

And I also give you permission to have ice cream as a meal - we did at Disney, and we almost always do at least once on our big vacation every year.

 

[Beer Me]

Besides the differences others have pointed out they are pretty far apart budget-wise. Cape may will probably come in triple the price of B&C of that makes a difference to you.

 

[JZCubed]

I agree that buffets aren't great with kids, but I've come to accept them at Disney because if you want a character meal, most of them involve buffets. At home, no way - I prefer my food breathed on only by kitchen staff, where I can't see those things happening. Issues. I have them.

And I also give you permission to have ice cream as a meal - we did at Disney, and we almost always do at least once on our big vacation every year.

According to the USDA: Mickey Bars are an acceptable Food Group if sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

And everyone knows you can only get Pixie Dust at Disney.


We all have issues.


By the way - in another life, I was the last person to breathe on your food before it left the kitchen (in the days before rubber gloves were used).

 

[IrishNYC]

If I didn't see it, it didn't happen!

 

[happymommy]

If you are set on a table service meal at the BCV, then here is my take.

We did carry out years ago from Beaches and Cream. We were staying at the BWV. It was getting towards dinner time for the kids, so we called and ordered some burgers and things. Husband walked over and picked it up. VERY underwhelming. Like, yuck, greasy burgers. Not worth it at all. This was over 15 years ago, and after seeing many reviews, still not interested in ever going back.

Cape May, a few years ago we did breakfast (we're not big breakfast eaters usually but were on free dining and it was our last day, and we had extra meals to use up). It was very, very clean, nice variety of food offered, and just overall nice!

I did the dinner back a million years ago at Cape May with my husband, before we had kids. It was very nice and fun from what I recall!

 

[kboo]

Thank you! Especially with the permission to have ice cream for a meal! LOL. Further question - do we need an ADR if we are going to just go to B&C for ice cream? I hadn't considered Capt's Grille but will take a look at the menu. Funny, we do "enjoy" (in some form) buffets with the kids in part because we can get them their food quickly - staves off hangry meltdowns. But I agree, they're not generally where you go for "good" food - I'm looking at you, Chef Mickey's, with Boma and Tusker House being the exceptions.

 

[kboo]

According to the USDA: Mickey Bars are an acceptable Food Group if sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

And everyone knows you can only get Pixie Dust at Disney.


We all have issues.


By the way - in another life, I was the last person to breathe on your food before it left the kitchen (in the days before rubber gloves were used).

LOL. By the way, I wholeheartedly agree with you on the restaurant ratings in your signature, at least the ones I've tried. We are going to V&A in August as well. Can't wait!

 

[happymommy]

The food quality at Cape May was excellent. I've seen reviews of Chef Mickey - not so good. Boma was good as well as Tusker House (both overseen by the same chef and very similar, but Tusker House is a character meal).

On the dining plan, those are good (Boma, Tusker House, and Cape May). No way I'd use a credit at B&C, nor would I eat there. You can get ice cream anywhere. It's Edy's I think anyway. Go across the lake at the new place by the Boardwalk for ice cream.

You can't sit at B&C without an ADR regardless.

 

[IrishNYC]

Yes, you still need an adr for just ice cream unless you want it from the limited walk up counter - no big sundaes. There aren't a lot tables, so even an ice cream meal needs a reservation.

 

[JZCubed]

LOL. By the way, I wholeheartedly agree with you on the restaurant ratings in your signature, at least the ones I've tried. We are going to V&A in August as well. Can't wait!

Thank you.

We very much enjoy V & A.

Word of caution - the wine pairing is a great value, but it can be too much wine.