Best restaurants for first timers???

[MingMingsMom]

We will be a party of four in July/August...It will be my neice and her 6 year old daughters' first time in the world ever! Any recomendations for first timer restaurants? They truely have no idea what to expect from Disney at all(It's going to be so exciting!) The six year old LOVES Pirates way more than princesses..but, I think she would be happy with them too. There's so many choices as far as character meals
What would you reccomend for first timers??? It doesn't just have to be character meals either...This will be only be my 4th time in the world and I'm sure I'd like something new too!
Thanks too all who reply!

 

[Nadjalu]

What I recommed is that you look at all the menus and restaurants in WDW and see what sounds good to you. Everyone's tastes are so different, to food and atmosphere. Also there isn't one restaurant that has everyone's blessing or cursing, so it is up to you if you like it or not.

With that said I will say that Crystal Palace (it is a buffet character meal)......is Disney in a nut shell. With Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore it shouldn't be missed. Also the atmosphere is very "Mary Poppins" style and very cute. Another positive aspect of this place is it is in MK.....don't have to leave the park to enjoy it. And the food is very good for both breakfast and dinner. (we prefer dinner though)

But with so many places to choose from you should choose what fits your family food wise and location wise, book those.

Have fun picking out and learning about all the wonderful places WDW has to offer you!

 

[jemgumby]

They are going to have so much fun!!!! I second researching the menus to find out what appeals to your group the most. Go to www.allearsnet.com to see all the menus for disney dining. As far as fun places to eat for first timers Crystal Palace would be good and I also would suggest Ohanas for breakfast. It has Mickey, Stitch, Pluto, Goofy. I like this character experience because they bring the food to your table and so you don't have to worry about missing the characters to go up to a buffet. Also it is a little more low key but still alot of fun! Kids also seem to like eating at Coral Reef because they can watch the fish swimming around while eating. Sci-Fi has a really cool atmosphere too!!!! Have fun planning and enjoy your trip!

 

[KAA1972]

Here are my absolute favorites... (with kids). I have another set of favorites without kids.

Crystal Palace - I prefer dinner to breakfast but both are good.
Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK would be my first choice for breakfast
Chef Mickey's is a VERY close second.
Sci Fi Drive In -- not impressed by the food but the atmosphere is so cute and unique.
Biergarten - Epcot -- fun and lively atmosphere
Coral Reef -- unique but service tends to be slower
Cinderella's Royal Table -- because it is an awesome experience to eat in the castle. I prefer breakfast or dinner.
Mickey's Backyard Bar-b-que
1900 Park Fare -- Breakfast or dinner

I did not enjoy Ohana or Whispering Canyon but they are both very popular so I would say that we just had an "off" night. I know plenty of people who love both restaurants.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

You will have a Fabulous Time!


I recommend:

'Ohana Breakfast (Characters) Great interaction, good food...

CRT Dinner (or lunch...but with 2TS...get your $ worth with Dinner) The CASTLE! Don't miss the Castle for your first WDW MEAL !!!

Teppan Edo Lunch or Dinner (Epcot / Japan Hibachi Show at World Showcase) Great Show...BOYS ! (and Girls) LOVE it...Great place to relax and enjoy

Those are my TOP THREE....

Have a magical visit !

Mary

 

[goofy4mykids]

If she loves Pirates I would recomend the Pirate cruise from the GF, it is only a for kiddo's but serves them lunch while the adults get alittle break. Also at 1900 Park fare is Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner. We had a blast here cause my DD got to dance with prince Charming and my DS enjoyed the step sisters picking on everyone. we laughed soo hard , the step sisters stay true to character and yell and pull each other's hair, Good times

 

[topmonkeygirl]

Here are my favs. Sci Fi dine in theater you sit in cars and it's like you at the drive in theater. There are stars overhead and a giant screen that they show trailers of old movies and concesion ads on, really neat. Stick with the burger and onion rings they are awesome.

Breakfast Tuskar House (AK) Crystal Palace (MK) Chef Mickey characters and good food.

I like Columbia Harbour House (MK) for quick service lunch. They have fish chicken and salads.

Rainforest Cafe' is and indoor forest with animated animals and thunderstorms every 20 minutes. Food is really good and the kids will have so much to look at. TRex is one I plan on trying my next trip, it wasn't open yet last time we were there. Sounds interesting.

I love San Angels Inn (Epcot) authentic Mexican food, not the stuff we're used to getting, and romantic I didn't see if you were bringing a hubby or boyfriend.

Last but not least Whispering Canyon Cafe' (Wilderness Lodge) It's a boat ride from Disney. Stayed in the Lodge last trip and ate breakfast there twice, it was awesome. We never did eat there for dinner so don't know how that is. The servers are playful and the resturant gets pretty loud. Ask for ketchup!!!!!!! http://allears.net/menu/menu_wcb.htm Check out the bottom of this page if you decide to go, servers do different things when you ask for differnt things. It's a hoot.

 

[bitohoney]

Our favs are Coral Reef, 50s Prime Time Cafe, Sci-Fi, Yak & Yeti and Liberty Tree Tavern. Those are my votes!

 

[Heidijs]

Here are my absolute favorites... (with kids). I have another set of favorites without kids.

Crystal Palace - I prefer dinner to breakfast but both are good.
Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK would be my first choice for breakfast
Chef Mickey's is a VERY close second.
Sci Fi Drive In -- not impressed by the food but the atmosphere is so cute and unique.
Biergarten - Epcot -- fun and lively atmosphere
Coral Reef -- unique but service tends to be slower
Cinderella's Royal Table -- because it is an awesome experience to eat in the castle. I prefer breakfast or dinner.
Mickey's Backyard Bar-b-que
1900 Park Fare -- Breakfast or dinner

I did not enjoy Ohana or Whispering Canyon but they are both very popular so I would say that we just had an "off" night. I know plenty of people who love both restaurants.

I agree with most of these except Biergarten...we just got back and ate lunch there and the food was very drab...nothing special...

50s Prime Tyme Cafe in HS was AWESOME!!! It was one of favorite places! Whispering Canyon Cafe was great for kids! Even DH got in on the action! Donalds Safari was awesome, Cinderella's Royal Table was very good and Chef Mickey was so so but she LOVED seeing all the characters, food wasn't that great but it was a neat experience.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Our favorites are:

Pretty much any character meal. Breakfast is always cheaper than lunch or dinner if you are paying out of pocket. We have done all of them but one (Garden Grill) and always had a great time! Chef Mickey's (love eating inside the Contemporary and seeing the monorail overhead), Crystal Palace and Cape May's breakfast are our favorites but we love and enjoy all of them.

O'Hana dinner: We enjoy the food, the setting and my husband gets his fill of meat! My kids get a kick out of the entertainment even now that they are teenagers.

Sci Fi Dine In: Love the cars, the corny movie clips, the burgers, fries and shakes are great and its always a very relaxing lunch. This one is always a must do for us.

Hoop Dee Doo Review: Its a corny but fun show and the all you can eat food is great for my teen son and dh and I must say, the all you can drink beer isn't too bad! Its pricey for fried chicken and ribs but we really had a ball when we went.

Prime Time: Enjoy the comfort food, the fun waiters/waitresses and the old time decor takes me back to my mom and grandma's kitchen

Coral Reef: Love the aquarium and the food is generally excellent.

Rainforest Cafe: We don't have one near us and we enjoy the setting and the food (we usually get appetizers) and dh and I love their cocktails

Tokyo Dining: We enjoy Japanese food (not sushi though, we don't eat that) and we find the setting and the waitstaff do an excellent job of portraying Japanese culture. Its reasonable by WDW standards and many of the tables have great views of the World Showcase.

San Angel Inn: We love the setting (reminds us of Blue Bayou at Disneyland) and we enjoy the non Tex Mex food.

Boma; Love going over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the food is a good mix of the unusual with enough standard fare thrown in to not frighten my picky dd!

Note: Many of these are about the overal experience. For sure I might be able to find better food at home, but the setting and theme of many of them (Sci Fi and San Angel come to mind) are pure Disney.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

For first time I would say definitely these if you can get ADR's:

* Sci-Fi for lunch
* Ohana's for breakfast or dinner
* Crystal Palace
* Garden Grill at Epcot (ate here when I was 11 and thought it was the coolest thing ever that the restaurant rotated and that some of the food is the same food I saw on the Living with the Land ride [the food was just ok though])
*Hoop Dee Doo (we've done this every trip, as well as Ohana's, and it's always a good time)
* Maybe Coral Reef or CRT (I didn't care for either when I was a kid, didn't like princesses and could take or leave fish/aquariums)

 

[DisCopper]

I always take first-timers to 50s Prime Time Cafe. The food is good, but the atmophere is soooo warped. Everyone I've brought there has always loved it.