Best TS with 2 Year Old

[erinbee]

We are doing the QSDP, as we know that TS with our daughter will be few and far between. We are doing Donald's Breakfast Safari one morning... but we would like to do another TS dinner another evening.

What would you recommend?

Another character meal? Rainforest Cafe? A hidden gem I'm not thinking of?

 

[RysMomma]

I love Chef Mickey's. We're going to go there with our 20 month old this summer. It's a pretty good buffet with great character interaction!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

If you are doing a character meal already, do you want to do another.. I like Spoodles on the Boardwalk, it is a bustling Mediterranean style restaurant and while not character, I see lots of children there. I also like Cape May at the Beach and Yacht club... they do a character breakfast, but at night there is an all you can American buffet....lots of children there too.

 

[septbaby]

I would actually go with Coral Reef. Good food, it is served and brought to you and there is full wall of floor to ceiling aquarium to keep the little one entertained.

We did it for lunch and it was a really nice break on a hot park day. The three of us 2 Adults and a 5yo eat everything put in front of us. The 5yo and I both had the make your own sundaes, fun and tasty. Since you are paying OOP lunch will also save you a few bucks vs dinner. For example the Blackened Catfish is $20.99 at Dinner, but $17.99 at Lunch.

I think some of the best CS meals are at the resort food courts, so having a really nice lunch, even a later one and then dinner "at home" could be a good thing wth a 2yo. A break in the park to avoid a meltdown and a comfy dinner "at home".

 

[miksilver]

My vote is for Crystal Palace. That age is normally great for Pooh and friends and those characters love to hug! The food is good and there is a whole section for kids. It's loud, but a classic!

 

[candykisses]

Another vote for the Crystal Palace. There are enough food choices for everyone and he character interaction is great.

Maybe you can even join in on the parade. A great way to get some memorable pictures.

 

[nikkers]

My DS 2 really enjoyed Akershus and Coral Reef. The princesses were so sweet and really took their time with her at Akershus. The tank at the Coral Reef kept her entertained throughout the entire dinner.

 

[Suellen]

DD's enjoyed all of the above and 1900 Park Fare as well.

The only thing we didn't like is Boma.

Hollywood and Vine for breakfast also has the Disney Channel characters.

 

[Binnie]

I to Cok DD when she was 2. She really enjoyed Crystal Palace and Whispering Canyon. Both were very active.

WC is not a character dining, but it's fun, and a little different. If your munchkin is a shrinking violet, WC may not be a great place, in that the most fun my DD has was doing pony races.

CP was good, but there wasn't a ton of character interaction--they had sooooo many people to talk to that they were quick when they finally got to us.

The food was OK in both places, and we're doing both again, so I would suggest either one.

 

[natnelliesmom]

I actually preferred TS rest. over CS with a little one. I hate waiting in line with a fussy child and looking for a seat.
I have never had trouble eating at a TS with a toddler. You can sit down and put your child in a high chair- the table is ready when you get there- the server can bring your child crayons, or customize a meal for them.
Just having someone wait on me- when I've been chasing a toddler all day is worth it!
I've taken a toddler into Chefs De France, La Cellier, Coral Reef, Akershus, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Faire, Boma, Whispering Canyon and many many more.
My vote- do as many TS as you can afford- the break is worth it!
-Sarah

 

[brad3640]

My kids loved chef mickeys and crystal palace both character buffets. It kept them well entertained. It took my little one a while to warm up but he did

 

[quadsthen1]

I actually preferred TS rest. over CS with a little one. I hate waiting in line with a fussy child and looking for a seat.
I have never had trouble eating at a TS with a toddler. You can sit down and put your child in a high chair- the table is ready when you get there- the server can bring your child crayons, or customize a meal for them.
Just having someone wait on me- when I've been chasing a toddler all day is worth it!
I've taken a toddler into Chefs De France, La Cellier, Coral Reef, Akershus, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Faire, Boma, Whispering Canyon and many many more.
My vote- do as many TS as you can afford- the break is worth it!
-Sarah

I completely agree. We took our then 2 year old DD to WDW last January and she did better at the TS restaurants than the QS. We chose TS places that would entertain her...character meals, Whispering Canyon, 50's Prime Time, etc. If you are already on the QSDP, it's really not that much more to upgrage to the DDP.

You know your toddler best, so do what works best for your family. For mine, the DDP is the only way to go.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Crystal Palace for dinner is amazing! 1900 Park Fare is great too! Those would be my votes for character dinners.

For non-character but an entertaining meal I would highly recommend Biergarten at Epcot. Delicious German food (something for everyone), kids' choices, and wonderful entertainment during dinner. Children seem to love the band and there is a dance floor, thought not many people were up there. My boys (3 and 1 when we went) loved this place!

If you do not want a buffet, you could try something like Garden Grill in Epcot, which has characters but food is brought to you family style so you do not have to leave the table. Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge seems to be great for kids too. We have yet to eat at either of these but the are both on our list for our 2010 trip!

 

[teach22180]

My vote is for Crystal Palace. That age is normally great for Pooh and friends and those characters love to hug! The food is good and there is a whole section for kids. It's loud, but a classic!

Ditto! This was my first thought when I read your OP. While Chef Mickey's is fun, it would be some of the same characters as Tusker House, I think. I agree that 2 years old usually love Pooh!

 

[annie1995]

My vote is for Crystal Palace. That age is normally great for Pooh and friends and those characters love to hug! The food is good and there is a whole section for kids. It's loud, but a classic!

My 2 year old LOVED CP. Good Food, fun all around!!!

 

[Bell30012]

I know you are looking for dinner but consider the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus in Norway (EPCOT). It really can't be beat for character interaction especially for little girls plus you get a photo package included! That is the only meal that we repeat yearly.

There is also the Winnie the Pooh and Crew over at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom.

 

[katie111]

Just a thumbs down for the Rainforest Cafe. We have one at our local mall and my DS hated it until he turned about 5. My DD loved it so we tried it a couple times and my DS always ended up on my lap the whole time. We just took our DS 22 months and he was also very scared. He cried every time they did the thunderstorm. Its just very loud & dark in there.

Personally, I would just look at the menus and go whereever you and Dh want to eat. A two year old isn't really going to care that much or remember it anyways. We're going in 2 weeks with our 5, 6 and 22 month olds on the DDP and we picked one character meal, one "fun" meal (sci-fi dine in) and then just other places that we (the adults) want to eat at. CP & Chef Mickey's are both good, but sometime buffets can be difficult with little ones because as soon as they see Mom or Dad getting out of their seat, they want "out" too.

 

[Tiger926]

We have eaten pretty much everywhere as we only eat TS meals, and so our kids have been in restaurants since birth. It really is much more convenient to take kids into TS meals as it's air conditioned, cleaner and restrooms - we've only eaten at CS meals a handful of times, and didn't enjoy fighting for tables, sweating while eating and the rushed feeling.

Character meals - I would recommend Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare as well as they are great for kids. Chef Mickey's is yucky - dirty, noisy and subpar food/service - sorry! Don't care for Norway either - yucky food!

Non-Character meals - Coral Reef has been mentioned, but it's big, dark and very noisy. Have eaten here many times to screaming kids and babies who are afraid, plus, the food and service aren't that great either. I would recommend Marrakesh in Morocco @ Epcot, Plaza Restaurant @ Mk or Kona Cafe @ Polynesian. They are all pretty consistent in terms of service, they offer varying food options and they aren't usually too busy or noisy.

Happy eating and have lots of fun with that baby! Tiger

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Hands down Crystal Palace with Pooh and the gang. My son loves this place he has been 4 times since he was 18 months old and he is now 4 and asked to go back this trip too.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No ? Chef Mickey's id the best