Best value dining

[Ariel'sMom]

I should have asked this question sooner since we are leaving tomorrow! We are a party of six (all 14 or over) and my husband hyperventilates if the menu prices seem exorbitant or unreasonable. I like to do one sit down meal a day--usually lunch or dinner and we spend almost all of our time at WDW at the parks.

I have been looking at this board and the restaurant board and here are some of the ideas I have for sit down meals:

Animal Kingdom: Tusker House (we've done the Flame Tree before and my husband liked it very much but I thought we should try something new--mistake?)
MGM: 50's Prime Time
Epcot: Garden Grille
MK: Liberty Tree Tavern

The rest of our meals we'll be at counter service places (turkey legs, etc.). Any suggestions for sit down or counter service would be appreciated. I'll post this on the restaurant board, too. Thanks.

 

[mad4themouse]

At AK's Tusker House, ask for the "Meal Plus" meal vouchers. They're $11.99/adult and $5.99/child. You get:

• counter service meal with small drink (non-alcoholic)
• coupon for a box of popcorn or an ice cream
• coupon for a bottle of water

Even if you only purchase the adult vouchers and pay à la carte for the childrens' meals, the bottled water and ice cream can be split later between the adults and kids.

This deal is also offered at the Pizzafari, Restaurantsaurus and Flame Tree, but you have to ask for it.

 

[disneysteve]

Just to clarify - Tusker House is not a sit-down meal. It is counter-service.

Also, keep in mind that serving sizes at most Disney restaurants are huge and easily shared, so the initial price shock isn't as bad as it seems. For a group of 6 teens/adults, you may only need 4 entrees and maybe a couple of extra appetizers/sides.

Steve

 

[disynut]

We ate breakfast at Tusker House last July. It was excellent, though it is counter service, but I would recommend it. I enjoyed it better than FLame Tree, but that is just personal preference over the type of food(I didn't care for their b-b-q seasonings--I'm from KY, where we take our b-b-q VERY seriously, lol) The servings are large here, too. I think we may try the "meal Plus" vouchers next time we are here. That sounds like an excellent deal.

We also ate at Liberty Tree Tavern, which was very good as well(even though we all got burgers, lol). I would recommend this one, too.

We ate at 50's Prime Time, but it's been a long time ago, so I'm not sure about this one, but I read good reviews about it all the time.

Not sure about Garden Grill, I've never eaten there!

Have a great time!!!

Jen

 

[pumpkinboy]

I can also speak form experience on the first two, but not the latter two.

Tusker House, tho it is counter service, is Excellent. Very well-prepared flavorful and interesting; a very good value for money. By far our favorite counter-service in WDW. It does get busy so go at odd times, or on the early side of lunch time (11:30ish? if you can).

Liberty Tree is one of the two best restaurants in the MK (the other being Crystal Palace, in my experience). Dining in the MK is generally a chancy proposition, but Liberty Tree is a very good choice there. Get your PS well ahead as it fills up in busy times; you can get your character meal fix at this one too.

Again, I cannot speak to the 50s prime time; never had any interest, and generally go back to the BW area for lunch when at MGM anyway.

As for Garden Grill, again, never made it there. Too many interesting places to dine in the World Showcase (home to most of the best restaurants in WDW, IMO). Our favorite Epcot restaurant is Akershus over in Norway , with a bunch of others coming a close second (Marrakesh @Morocco, Biergarten @Germany, Teppanyaki @Japan, Bistro de France, Rose & Crown @UK all good).

Enjoy! and Bon Appetit

PS and Lunch is almost always a better deal than Dinner with usually the same food. We like to have breakfast in the room (if not a character breakfast), our main meal at mid-day (usually a PS, or else we go early or late to beat the crowds), a light snack in the afternoon, then a light supper. It's both cost-effective for nice food, and it's better for you anyway.

 

[Ariel'sMom]

Is the "Meal Plus" offered at eateries in the other WDW parks? Thanks for all the info.

 

[garnet73]

I have eaten at the Garden Grill for the Character Lunch.. and i liked it very much!!! I have been there several times.. this coming trip i have decided just to do the ice cream social there.. and try some place new.. but i do LOVE the food at this one.. and the characters are in farm attire.. and the restaurant slowly turns.. its all you can eat.. but they bring it to the table.. and the dessert was great that they gave you too!

Love the catfish fingers.. (like fish sticks.. ) and the flank steak.. am now making myself hungry!

Have a great trip!

K

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by Ariel'sMom
Is the "Meal Plus" offered at eateries in the other WDW parks? Thanks for all the info.

The Meal Plus vouchers are only available in DAK. And you cannot use the "coupons" for the popcorn/ice cream or the bottled water at any of the other parks. It would be nice if they did. Then it would eliminate the need to purchase meal vouchers from places like Connections.