Best TS Restaurants we haven't tried yet?!

[Melissa Sheridan]

Hi!
So our first trip (Nov. 2015) was a great success and now we're planning another - Yay! We're looking to go early in 2019 likely, so I have LOADS of time to plan, (I know I'm insane to be daydream planning already, I realize this.)

Just thinking about what TS restaurants we should try to hit this time we go.

Here's what we did last time:
DHS: Sci Fi Diner (loved)
EPCOT: Coral Reef (loved), Garden Grill (disliked a LOT)
MK: Chrystal Palace (liked), The Plaza (ok)
AK: Rainforest Cafe (it was a MUST for our kids!)

A couple things to note:
- we aren't too concerned about the character dining as we do the Disney cruise after our time in the parks and get to meet a bunch of characters then
- hoping to do dining plan this time around but haven't decided on that forsure
- we are a group of 3 adults (we travel with my Dad) and two kids (will be 10 & 8 by the time we go)
- we rope drop (fo sho!) and only take a afternoon break if we're doing a show/fireworks later on, other wise we tend to power through until an early-ish supper and then head back to our resort for the night
- we like one table service meal a day, maybe two but otherwise quick service/snacks works for us

So, what are our can't miss restaurants for trip #2????
I'm thinking we'd like O'hana and BOG (couldn't get these ADRs last time though I tried and TRIED!!!!) Also, maybe Hoop Dee Doo?
Also, hoping to do a dessert party (either Star Wars or the one with Frozen Ever After, depending what's offered by the time we go!)
TIA for your advice!!!!

 

[VillainFavs]

'Ohana for dinner, definitely!!!

BOG--I might try for breakfast or lunch. If you're on the dining plan, they're a great use of a QS credit. And it's sort of in between a QS and TS--yes, you get your own drinks and utensils. But food is delivered to your table and you use real plates and silverware. If you don't mind an even earlier morning, get a pre-park opening and have a jump on the rides. Usually you can get in a ride on Mine Train before the masses arrive!

Via Napoli in Epcot is great pizza.

If your kids like Rainforest, you might try to talk them into T-Rex at Disney Springs instead. It's the same chain, but we found the food and service better than we've had previously at other Rainforest locations. It's the same kind of fun atmosphere, but VERY loud! At least it would be a little different!

Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom is also very good.

'50s Prime Time at DHS is fun--as long as you're all willing to go along with the "shtick"! Food is quite good and HUGE portions.

Sounds like your touring style is very much like ours. And you're one of the few other people I've seen who didn't care for Garden Grill--our family said "never again"!!! These are some of our favorites so maybe they'l appeal to you guys as well!

 

[danikoski]

Love Tusker House...I recognize it's a character meal, but the buffet is good and unique. Or, there is Boma at AKL, which is similar without characters.

I also love Spice Road Table in Epcot. Tasty, tasty, and excellent service and location.

BOG is good, but if you aren't interested in meeting the Beast, go for breakfast or lunch, with a PPO breakfast the best use of that breakfast.

Hoop Dee Do is one of our favorites, but if for some reason it doesn't work, next best is Whispering Canyon at WL. Very similar food and it's a good time.

50s Prime Time is also good, and the portions are big enough to split. We don't do DDP so that factors into some of our meals.

 

[rstevens333]

I've only done BOG for breakfast. The combination of early entry, good food, no characters, and excellent use of a QS credit make it a big win.

I was able to snag an 8am on the app the night before last January. It might be the kind of thing that if you miss it in advance, maybe you scoop up someone's cancellation.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

Ohana is a must for our family every year!! Some of our other favorites are Be our Guest, Yak and Yeti, California Grill, and Hollywood and Vine!

 

[robl45]

Be our guest I like as its a decent meal and doesn't waste a lot of travel time. The kids love Trex we usually hit that eat trip and whipering canyon is a favorite for the kids. Probably as much as any character meal.

 

[Harambe]

Biergarten would be fun and the food is very tasty. We tend to only do a couple of TS a trip, and may even cancel some if we decide to do other things, but if you do the full day of parks, you probably would appreciate a nice TS break for lunch in the middle of the day. Just be careful here at Biergarten - a couple of those huge beers and you may find yourself a bit sleepy for the afternoon - hahaha!

If you are willing to head to AKL at the end of your day, you could check out Boma, and then see the animals before heading back to your resort (unless you are staying at AKL, then, hey!!).

As far as the dessert parties go, I just couldn't pull the trigger on one of these because the price just seems ridiculous for what you get. we don't do the DDP, tho, so maybe that makes a difference when booking one of these?

 

[staceymay00]

Hoop Dee Doo is great. It takes time to get there if you are not staying in Ft. Wilderness, and I haven't been able to justify the cost of going again now that our kids are Disney adults (but not actual adults who can enjoy the adult beverages included). Both the food and show were enjoyed by the entire family.

The family favorite we book every trip is 'Ohana - we like that it is served family style rather than buffet style. Another favorite of ours is Teppan Edo at EP. Kids request Sci Fi Diner every trip.

 

[stsomewhere]

Brown Derby and Mama MElrose- HS

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

50's Prime Time Cafe: They have great comfort food (Fried chicken dinner is the best). It's a fun place that would keep the kids entertained as well.
O'hana.
Teppan Edo - Good family place that has some entertainment value as well.
Biergarten
T-Rex- If your kids enjoyed RainForest Cafe, they would like T-Rex as well. They are VERY similar places.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I'm going on a different direction than everyone else. You said two things that actually concern me:

- hoping to do dining plan this time around but haven't decided on that forsure
- we are a group of 3 adults (we travel with my Dad) and two kids (will be 10 & 8 by the time we go)

Your older kid will be 10 on your second trip. Disney will charge the 10 year old as an adult on the DDP, but I will doubt the amount of food consumed will match. That right there may lose a lot of value on the DDP for you.

 

[robl45]

I'm going on a different direction than everyone else. You said two things that actually concern me:



Your older kid will be 10 on your second trip. Disney will charge the 10 year old as an adult on the DDP, but I will doubt the amount of food consumed will match. That right there may lose a lot of value on the DDP for you.

Very good point although if you say the kid is 9, who would know? Will also cause a problem if one kid is eating kids and one is eating adult meals, at least it certainly would in my house.

 

[FelisLachesis]

Very good point although if you say the kid is 9, who would know? Will also cause a problem if one kid is eating kids and one is eating adult meals, at least it certainly would in my house.

Shhhh.. we're not supposed to talk about ways to circumvent Disney rules on these boards.

 

[Krista Joy]

Ohana for D, Tusker House for L or D, Teppan Edo if you don't have a hibatchi restaurant where you live, Visa Napoli is great but not a good value if on DDP. and I consider Marrakech and Captain's Grille for L or D to be hidden gems. I am in love with Morimoto Asia too.

 

[Melissa Sheridan]

Thanks everyone!
I appreciate the opinions and advice! : )

 

[CynBeth]

These are our favorites:

MK - CP breakfast. LTT lunch. BOG or Tony's dinner
Epcot - Tutto Italia lunch. Chefs or Le Cellier dinner. CR lunch or dinner.
DHS - HBD lunch. 50's PTC dinner.
AK - TH breakfast. Rainforest Cafe lunch.

Resorts - WCC breakfast. Cape May breakfast. Trail's End breakfast. Boma breakfast or dinner.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I'll copy for format as the PP. Here are some of my personal favorites.

MK--BOG breakfast or dinner, I also like lunch or dinner at Jungle Navigation--usually do if can't get dinner at BOG.
EP--Chefs de France prix fixe lunch, La Hacienda dinner, but also love a lot of QS at EP, so not always doing TS
HS--Hollywood Brown Derby for sure--lunch is when I always go, but I think dinner menu is essentially the same
AK--prix fixe lunch at Tiffins, but again, love a lot of the QS at AK, so not always doing TS
Hotels--The Wave at the Contemporary, breakfast, lunch or dinner; Sanaa for lunch at AKL; BOMA for breakfast or dinner at AKL; more pricey options would be California Grill at Contemporary, Jiko at AKL, and Narcoosee's at Grand Floridian.

Have fun planning and deciding--that's what it's all about after all!!!