Best Place to eat for a Duel Birthday celebration!

[daisygirl902]

Give me advice please! My best friend and I are celebrating our birthdays at DL in May - where should we eat? Any suggestion is welcome, as I have never been to DL!

 

[Sherry E]

Give me advice please! My best friend and I are celebrating our birthdays at DL in May - where should we eat? Any suggestion is welcome, as I have never been to DL!

Welllllll.....let's narrow it down. Do you think you and your friend would enjoy a character meal with yummy buffet food (either breakfast or dinner), where the characters come to see you at your table and usually bring over cupcakes and the servers sing an embarrassing song of some kind? (I love character meals.) There are 5 characters meals to choose from - Goofy's Kitchen, Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast w/ Chip and Dale, Lilo and Stitch, Minnie and Friends and Ariel's Grotto (featuring all the Princesses).

.....OR, would the two of you be interested in more of a fine dining experience like Napa Rose in the GCH? The Blue Bayou inside the POTC ride has a great ambience and the food closer to fine dining prices but Creole/Bayou-influenced.

.....Or how about a good steakhouse? There is Steakhouse 55 in the DLH, which is a bit pricy but people say it's great.

...OR how about a nice Japanese meal? There is Yamabuki in the PPH to cover that area. PPH also houses the PCH Grill.

...Do you prefer table service or are you okay with counter service/order your food and find a table sort of thing? The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is re-opening for the What Will You Celebrate year, and is focusing on birthdays, it seems. SO if you want to get messy and have some good BBQ, that would be the place.

Otherwise, the nice table service places that won't break the bank include Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans and Wine Country Trattoria.

In Downtown Disney, Rainforest Cafe has good food and a great atmosphere. Naples has good authentic Italian food and generously-sized pizza. ESPN Zone is loud and busy but there are games on the TV's and the food is good. There's also Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, La Brea Bakery, House of Blues, Catal....on and on....

What do you prefer?

 

[daisygirl902]

Oh MY! Thanks for the great response. I am looking for a TS that won't totally break the bank, but don't mind spending more money if it's truly worth the extra $$. I'm not really looking to do a character meal for this one, as although I am a MASSIVE dis fan, my best friend is only moderatly so...so I don't want to overwhelm her too much.

This is so hard, as I am kind of an expert with WDW dining, but don't know where to start at DL!

 

[Sherry E]

Oh MY! Thanks for the great response. I am looking for a TS that won't totally break the bank, but don't mind spending more money if it's truly worth the extra $$. I'm not really looking to do a character meal for this one, as although I am a MASSIVE dis fan, my best friend is only moderatly so...so I don't want to overwhelm her too much.

This is so hard, as I am kind of an expert with WDW dining, but don't know where to start at DL!

Ok, so we are narrowing it down even more. Let's cut out all the character meals. If you are a fine dining kind of person and want something 'nice', most folks would say go to Napa Rose or Blue Bayou. I am NOT a fine dining person, so Napa Rose is not for me (I am happy with a greasy pizza or a good burger!), but Blue Bayou has great atmosphere since it is inside the POTC ride. Trouble is, it is not cheap. (Neither is Napa Rose.) You have to A) like that kind of Creole-influenced food and B) want that moody/swampy ambience to make it worth the money. I am not a huge Blue Bayou fan, but I am in the minority. Most folks on DIS love BB, so I would say stick with what the popular vote is. Yamabuki gets high marks too, if you like that kind of food.

My favorites of the table service places that won't break the bank (not counting character meals) are Carnation Cafe, Wine Country Trattoria, Storytellers Cafe (during the non-character hours), Naples, ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe. I have not yet tried Steakhouse 55, but I really want to.

 

[darph nader]

Just curious. Are you going to use epees or broad-swords for the duel?

 

[daisygirl902]

HAHAHA - that's great - would it not be super hilarious to see a 32 and 31 year old dueling for thier birthdays?

BTW Sherry E Thanks for helping me to narrow it down - I could never have gotten my choices narrowed down to this - now all I have to do is examine the menus of all your choices and pick one! Or 2...lol

 

[Sherry E]

HAHAHA - that's great - would it not be super hilarious to see a 32 and 31 year old dueling for thier birthdays?

BTW Sherry E Thanks for helping me to narrow it down - I could never have gotten my choices narrowed down to this - now all I have to do is examine the menus of all your choices and pick one! Or 2...lol

You're welcome! No problem. Even though I have not been to WDW yet, I get overwhelmed when I have to decide on restaurants just for DLR, so I know I would be stressed over the choices at WDW!

Yes, examine the menus for the table service picks and see if it all looks good to you and if not, then we will go back to the drawing board and find you something else. But those are pretty good places to eat (my picks) for most people, both carnivore and vegetarians.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'd go with Blue Bayou myself...In fact, I think I will....LOL My bday is in May, I will be making myself a PS for lunch at BB with the fam that Monday. And maybe for dinner.....Wine Country Trattatoria.

 

[Pooh'sTwin]

I'll throw in a vote for Ralph Brennan's for a few reasons. I had dinner there with some friends last week and it definitely felt like a special occasion. Their red room up stairs feels very cozy, elegant, and old school new Orleans with the artwork and high ceilings. They can set up some pretty big tables in there if you have a big group. Also, the food is amazing. Not sure if they do this every month but right now they have a three course meal for $28. Wonderful! My partner keeps insisting we go back right away. It looked like they might offer a different one each month.

Good luck with your planning daisygirl902, where ever you end up I am sure it will be a blast!

 

[daisygirl902]

OMG - we have a winner! After poring over the menus for the past hour - I am soooo happy with the last choice (Ralph Brennan's)! Thanks "Pooh's Twin" - I would not have even thought to look at the menu there, but man does it ever look amazing! I'll be calling to book tonight!

I wonder how long in advance you have to book - it's just a table of 3 so hopefully I can get in...I know that's the worst part about WDW - you have to book way in advance for any of the really good places!

 

[daisygirl902]

Follow up question - how long does it take to get to Ralph Brennan's and then back to the park if we want to catch the fireworks? Is it even possible?

 

[fairycat]

I was going to suggest Jazz Kitchen its really good and one of my favorites.

As for the walk back it is a really easy walk, JK is about half way down DTD, you do have to go back through bag security and then through the turnstyle. I would say to give your self enough time to get in and in front of the castle I would say 20 minutes that is to be safe, because of the bag check and entrance lines.

BTW are you at the parks more then on day?? I ask, because on most Summer nights they have the patio open and you can actually watch the fireworks portion of the show right from the balcony at JK. You can't see the castle though so if you have only one day at the park, eat earlier and get over and see the show in front of the castle!

 

[daisygirl902]

We only have 2 days total - I am so stressed out about that! I have been to WDW many many times in my life, and always said if I can't go for 10 days or more then I'm not interested....

However you have to take opportunity when it comes...and I decided to take a trip to the west coast to see a friend....I happen to have 2 days to spare, so I figured I HAD to go to DL Can't go all the way from Nova Scotia to California and NOT see DL!!! But I don't know HOW I am going to fit everything in!

I know WDW so well it's easy to plan the trip - my sister and I make the color coded schedule and everything, which I'm a true believer in...but for DL I have to play it by ear and just try to see as much as possible in the 2 days...fireworks are mandatory for me though, have to have a good spot. At WDW it's just not the same if I don't see them from the front of the castle, so I'm assuming I will feel the same way about DL.

 

[Sherry E]

We only have 2 days total - I am so stressed out about that! I have been to WDW many many times in my life, and always said if I can't go for 10 days or more then I'm not interested....

However you have to take opportunity when it comes...and I decided to take a trip to the west coast to see a friend....I happen to have 2 days to spare, so I figured I HAD to go to DL Can't go all the way from Nova Scotia to California and NOT see DL!!! But I don't know HOW I am going to fit everything in!

I know WDW so well it's easy to plan the trip - my sister and I make the color coded schedule and everything, which I'm a true believer in...but for DL I have to play it by ear and just try to see as much as possible in the 2 days...fireworks are mandatory for me though, have to have a good spot. At WDW it's just not the same if I don't see them from the front of the castle, so I'm assuming I will feel the same way about DL.

You will be able to see a lot of DLR in 2 days - most of it if you plan well. DLR is much smaller and more manageable than WDW, and you don't have to worry about buses and boats and other means of transportation once you are there. Just make sure you kind of have an agenda (even a loose one) before you go, so you know what to do when you are in each area, and what not to miss in your limited time there. It is even possible to have a really rewarding one-day trip if that's all time allows, but you can definitely get a lot done in 2 days. Try to take advantage of all the time-saving measures available like Fast Passes and Priority Seating for the meals. A lot of time can be wasted standing in line for meals without a PS.

 

[fairycat]

First don't stress! DLR is soooooooooooo much easier, the size makes for a much easier pace.

For the fireworks, at DL it is way more important to see their fireworks in front of the castle because the fireworks show is not just about the stuff they shoot into the sky, they also have a full display that the castle features into. I actually like to be a bit further back from the castle about half way down MS for the show personally, because MS also features into the show. It's an amazing show and this is from some one who is not a big fireworks fan.

If you haven't read Hydroguys tips threads I would so start there. Know that park hopping is sooooooooooo easy! Don't expect a HUGE castle, expect a pretty, detailed castle and a HUGE mountain!!! Look at the ride lists and focus on those that are specifically in DL or are very different at DL (POTC and SM are said to be better at DL, HM is just different which makes it fun, I think both are cool).

Don't worry if you go expecting a great trip, without comparing the two you will have an amazing time!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

The JK is good!!!! We don't eat there a lot but we have loved it every time.

We just did the weekend at DL, it was busy but we did everything we wanted to. We skipped shows, parades and yes, even fireworks but we got all our rides in and that's what the kids wanted to do. It worked out great!! We even did Nemo with about a 10 min. wait. You can do it, you just need to pick what's important and use the Fast Pass system, then you will be fine!

 

[daisygirl902]

I love fastpasses! So much so that I am forgoing the "free admission on my birthday" for the birthday fastpasses...hopefully they include the rides I want to go on Thanks for the advice everyone - I am less stressed now about the time limit I am on

 

[fairycat]

Personally I would skip the Birthday FP's. You don't get that many and they are not for the better rides.

Remember that if you do opening you will get in a lot of rides as the crowds do not tend to really build until the afternoon when locals begin to show. Because of the longer hours you can also get a lot in.

Personally I think with a good plan and following a lot of the tips here you can get on just about everything without using the Birthday FP's.

 

[pixiewings71]

I am definitely taking the fun card over the fast passes, they just don't seem to be a very good deal to me....

 

[goofycathy]

Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen gets my vote...