Best Resturants at Disney?

[teddygurlkeekee]

Good Mornin all

First, if this is in the wrong section on the boards, please let me know so I can move it.

The hubby and I are both military and planning our first trip/honeymoon to Disney with the new deals they having and also before my husband leaves for a year tour in Korea, in June. We have our trip booked for April 6-12 and we are staying at the All-Stars Movies Resort.

We are trying to book one character meal and one dinner for us to go too. We plan on doing all other meals in the hotel room or outside the park (as we will have our car). My question is, what meals and restaurants do yall suggest for us to put in a reservation for? Also, any suggestions on how to keep our food (like sandwich meats and milks) to stay at the correct temperature without having to pay all that extra for a fridge? Any help would be soooooo appriciated! Thank you!!


PS Any other tips would be awesome too: ways to plan (I am a HUGE planner), places to go, must do rides etc etc.

Thanks!

 

[blum74]

I haven't been, but I have heard a lot of great things about California Grille at the Contemporary.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Also, any suggestions on how to keep our food (like sandwich meats and milks) to stay at the correct temperature without having to pay all that extra for a fridge? Any help would be soooooo appriciated! Thank you!!


We brought a soft sided cooler with us - the size of a large lunch bag. We packed ice into ziploc bags and put our milk in it every day and night. We placed the cooler into the tub and wrapped it with a bath towel. This kept everything cool.

As far as restaurants, I guess it would depend on which parks you'll be visiting. Our favourite is le cellier in epcot

 

[teddygurlkeekee]

What kind of food is La Cellier?

Thank you for your help!

 

[MustangMike]

What kind of food is La Cellier?

Thank you for your help!

Steak house. You can see thier menu here: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

 

[jillybeanuwp]

My fav. Res. is Ohana' at the Polynesian Resort go hungry! DO NOT miss Illuminations! California Grille is the most romantic!

 

[Lori1960]

Are you driving or fly.You can bring a ice chest or small coole bags.If flying bring to cooler bags

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

You mention you are military family. I am too (Fort Knox, KY). Did you book your room at ASMo under the 40% off room rate for military personnel? Also, are you aware that you can go to your base MWR to get a free 5 day base ticket for your husband as well as for yourself since you are both military? Are you both active duty military? If you are then you both qualify for the free 5 day ticket. Since you are going for 6 days that would leave a day, check in or out day to hang out by the pools or explore at Downtown Disney. The food court at the ASMo is adequate with 3 different food stations offering a variety of choices. You can get burger with fries for around $7.49 or the make your own salad with choice of chicken/salmon/steak with toppings like golden raisins, sunflower seed, tomatoes, craisins, walnuts, cucumber etc...plus choice of various salad dressings for around $8. They make it right there with you choosing what you like. If you only can do one character meal try Chef Mickeys (they serve breakfast and dinner) located at the Contemporary Resort. You can get there by monorail, from the TTC, or if you have a car you can drive to the hotel and park there. If you really want a character meal at the parks there are lots to choose from. At Epcot, the Garden Grill has a dinner (they no longer serve lunch) with Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom has Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger. If you want to meet Cinderella and Prince charming try the 1900 Park Fare, in the Grand Floridian hotel, for dinner. They have Mary Poppins and friends for breakfast. Keep in mind that it is cheaper to do breakfast or lunch for character meals. You can call 407-WDW-DINE to try and book something 90 days prior to your trip. Another note for you, since you are staying at the All Stars there is a McDonalds about 1/4-1/2 mile outside the entrance. You will see it when you pull in. You mention you will have a car so that is really close. I do not think you need to spend that much time finding meals off Disney property. If you stick to the counter service meals at the parks and the food courts at the value resorts you will do fine. Since you will have a car, you can bring, or shop for, food items at the grocery store. There are ice machines located on each floor of your resort just off the hallway by the elevators. Also, purchase the refillable drink mugs. They cost $12.49 and you can drink all the soda/lemonade/hot chocolate or whatever right at your food court. I believe all of the resorts have the same refillable mugs so if you were eating say at Pop Century food court.....bring them with you. Look at the web site for a complete list of restaurants around the World if you have not already done so. I hope some of this helps. Have a magical first trip. Best wishes for your husbands upcoming deployment. My DH has been to Korea before. It is a long deployment, but not as long as his 16 month deployment to Afghanistan. Thanks to you and your husband for your service to our great country.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

I almost forgot, utilize the early magic hours in the morning and if you like to be out in the evening, use the extra magic hours in the evening. You can print out the park hours from this web site once they post the hours for June, which should be out soon. You must get to the parks when they open if you want to ride certain rides. Most specifically, Toy Story Mania, the newest ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Go there directly. Get to the park at least 30-45 minutes prior to opening. They will let you in before opening, then they have an official opening with a little skit/show and the CM's will WALK you quickly to the ride. Just follow the crowd. Go directly to the Fast Pass kiosk and get your Fast Passes to ride a second time. Then get in the line and you will have about a 30 minute wait or so to start. It is worth it to go through the line to see what they have inside! Then when you come back to use your Fast Passes you will be ushered into a different door and will not see all of those cool things in there as you kind of go along the side to the front of the line. At Epcot, do the same thing for Soarin. Do not miss this ride, it is phenomenal. Make sure you go to the Amerca Pavillion in World Showcase and see the voices of Liberty as well as the show there. Both are really great. World Showcase has a lot to offer so look at the guide map for show times. At Magic Kingdom, my favorite ride is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a fast ride and a blast too. Space Mountain and the Hall of Presidents will be closed for refurbishment when you are there. You must also be sure to see the Haunted Mansion and Mickey's Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom. At Animal Kingdom go directly to the Safari, then see the Legend of the Lion King (my favorite show). Another must see is the Finding Nemo: The Musical at Animal Kingdom. For evening entertainment you must not miss the Spectromagic Parade and Wishes Fireworks at Magic Kingdom. The parade only shows a couple of times a week so check the park hours for June when it comes out and it will list what nights you can see the parade. At Disney Hollywood Studios you must see Fantasmic! It is a spectacular, not to be missed show. It also only shows a few times per week so plan ahead according to park hours. Also, the fireworks show at Epcot is wonderful. You will not see your hotel very much and if you do not have park hoppers (you can add this feature for $25 per ticket if you use the free military tickets offered to you) and you just are using base tickets, plan accordingly. Go back to your hotel for lunch, a rest and/or a swim in the middle of the day to break it up. If you want to see fireworks that night, and you have a base ticket, you can only go to one park to you will have to plan to go to the same park in the morning that you will want to attend in the evening. Okay, let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Kevenswife2]

I vote for Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

If you do some looking on here you may be able to find a FREE fridge swap during your stay.

 

[thepwa]

Character Meal: Depends on who you like? Mickey? Chef Mickeys. Pooh? Crystal Palace...etc etc..

Restaurant: California Grill, around the time of Wishes so you can go outside on the roof and watch the show!

 

[teddygurlkeekee]

I really appriciate yalls replies. To answer some of hte questions, we are driving from Mississippi so we will bring some coolers. We are staying on the resort so that we can utilize the extra magic hours and we are planning on this trip BECAUSE of the deal they are giving military members

I have been searching and I was thinking the Donald's Safari Breakfast - mainly because its the main characters and its actually on one of hte parks.. any objections?

 

[Kevenswife2]

Off topic, I know, but you said you're a HUGE planner. Here's some of the places I look, other than the Disboards of course, when I'm planning our WDW vacations.

www.AllEarsNet.com for all kinds of info. Even has restaurant menus with prices.

www.mousesavers.com for money saving ideas.

And I like the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (it's a book) for unbiased advice on everything.

Hope this helps, and congrats on the upcoming honeymoon!

 

[katiebelle21]

For your dinner I vote for either Jiko or the California Grill.

Jiko is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge-it's beautiful and the food is amazing. The California Grill is on the top of the Contemporary Resort. You can time it so that you watch Wishes (the MK fireworks) from the balcony there. It is so romantic!

Have fun!

 

[brekin67]

We enjoy LeCellier and Ohana's. Our favorite character breakfast is Chef Mickey's because our kids enjoy it.
Also, since you are in the military, wanted to make sure you knew about Shades of Green military resort at Disney. The cost is based on your grade. ( I think that is what it is called....Grade??)

 

[Mickey Buffet]

Just came over me and had to say it....

Thank you !

..both for your service ! Hope you have a well deserved rest in WDW!

 

[teddygurlkeekee]

Just came over me and had to say it....

Thank you !

..both for your service ! Hope you have a well deserved rest in WDW!

Awww thank you. You're too sweet!

 

[pakhowe]

Have you checked into any of the fridge swaps? My swap is full during your dates but there are many out there. You can find them on the budget board and many of them are free. At the beginning of the thread there is a 'sticky' thread listing many active swaps.

I'm glad you started this thread. My family was just looking through the restaurants trying to pick some out for our trip in August. It's nice to get some input from people who've eaten there.

Have a great time and THANK YOU for your service!

 

[BC1836]

The best restaurant is at its best when its best chef and most efficient staff are working. When the best aren't working, the quality of its second-echelon staff can make or break a restaurant's reputation. Restaurants with consistently high marks from diners and reviewers maintain first and second-echelon chefs and staffs that are essentially interchangeable. That being said, if you are celebrating an anniversary, make it special by dining someplace that is better than the rest. There are a few restaurants at WDW that will fulfill your expectations. We recommend the California Grill. Why? Qualitative consistency.

Happy anniversary!

 

[Grandmouse]

My favorite character breakfasts in the MK are Cinderella's Royal Table at the Castle and Pooh and Friends at the Crystal Palace, or the Princesses at Aukershus in Epcot. I think the Crystal Palace is beautiful and the Castle is really special. Food is very good at all, with CP being my favorite.