Cape May Clam Bake or 1900 Park Fare?

[Wendy31]

You know how it is... you get the go ahead to start planning a trip, so, even though it's 1 1/2 months before you can start making your ADRs, you start planning... and planning... and planning.

I've currently got 4 different ADR scenarios for our trip!

Which brings me to my current question...

Cape May Clam Bake or 1900 Park Fare?

Just so you'll have all the other info...

The other restaurants at which we'll mostly liking be eating are as follows: breakfasts - Chef Mickey's & Grand Floridian Cafe (maybe); lunches/dinners - Boma, Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, Mama Melrose's (or Brown Derby - can't decide!), 'Ohana, Teppan Edo, Tutto Italia (if we don't eat at Mama Melrose's), & Whispering Canyon Cafe.

So, for character meals, we've got - Chef Mickey's (breakfast), CRT (dinner), & Crystal Palace (lunch).

We're going in September, staying at the WL, & will probably have the Deluxe Dining Plan (if not the deluxe, then the basic, which, of course, would mean less TS than I've got listed!).

On the day in question, my plans are to tour Future World at EPCOT -

Breakfast: Roaring Forks
Lunch: Sunshine Seasons
Dinner: Cape May Clam Bake or 1900 Park Fare

My thinking -

Cape May Clam Bake is a boatride away from EPCOT, & we've never been to the Beach Club. 1900 Park Fare is a monorail ride away, & we've also never been to the Grand Floridian. Plus, getting back to the WL from the Grand Floridian would be easy - monorail to MK & then boat to WL. Getting back to the WL from the Beach Club, however, would be longer/not as easy.

Food is important. Which has better food - Cape May or 1900 Park Fare? We do like seafood.

I love the beach! (My whole house is decorated like a beach cottage.) So I think I'll love the Beach Club & Cape May for decor/theme alone!

The 1900 Park Fare dinner has always tempted me - simply because of the characters which you don't get at other restaurants or, really, even in the parks (Prince Charming). I think, smy DD (age 11) & DS (age 10) would enjoy these characters. Additionally, we've never been to the GF & we (at least I) have always wanted to! (If we do 1900 Park Fare, we probably wouldn't do GF Cafe breakfast.)

However, buffets are NOT my favorite thing at all! And we're already doing Boma, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace. I really dislike the rushed/crowded feeling of getting up & down to fill my plates & the kids' plates & not missing any of the characters... so the food on the buffet needs to be really good (which is why we do Chef Mickey's breakfast & NOT lunch/dinner). I know Cape May & 1900 Park Fare are both buffets... but, since Cape May doesn't have characers, is it more of a "calm" scene?

Again, I think, for me on this one (since we're already doing CRT), it may go back to the food - which has better food - Cape May Clam Bake or 1900 Park Fare dinner?

Thanks!!

 

[Rebecca924]

I personally prefer the Cape May Cafe. 1900 was nice, but we enjoy the food at Cape May much better. If you are at Epcot, you can go out the back entrance (World Showcase) and walk to the Beach Club. It's that close. It's a nice walk and definitely how I would get there. Have fun!

 

[boldlyreal]

Well which meal...are characters important? We have had both at dinner and I prefer the food at cape May...however Lady Tremaine was the best charcter interaction we had last spring on our trip. She flirted with my husband and inquired about his finances lol I told her she could have him if she thought she could lure him away but since i have his children his money stays with me and she was like I love step children we will keep them as well! The actress who played her was truly a lovely fun young lady! We had the best time with her and the sisters!

 

[luvdumbo]

Since you would already be at EPCOT I would suggest Cape May as it is just a short walk out the International Gateway. For 1900 Park Fare you would have to switch from the EPCOT monorail to the resort monorail at TTC, so it is more like two monorail rides away.

I ate at both of these on my last trip and if you are big seafood lovers I would highly suggest Cape May! There is plenty there for non sea food lovers to fill up on too. Although the character interaction is great at 1900 Park Fare I found the buffet to be lacking and it was in need of attention.

 

[windi622]

I would also suggest Cape May. We have eaten at both, and 1900 was okay. Nothing spectacular, but nothing bad either. The selection of food at 1900 did not really thrill us (my husband's favorite part was the Smuckers Uncrustable sandwiches on the children's buffet). The ambiance at 1900 also seemed to lack a little. To me it felt kind put off in the corner and closed in...where at Cape May it feels more open and airy. If that makes sense. Cape May is repeat meal for us. The atmosphere was great, and the food quality and selection were both very good. And if you haven't visited Beach Club, you'll love it! The walk over from Epcot is wonderful. Just walked around the Beach Club/Boardwalk area is wonderful. My vote would be Cape May, although I doubt you'd be disappointed either way. Hope it's a grea trip!

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Cape May is so much better!! We had a lot of fun at 1900 PF because of the characters, but the food was horrible. Cape Mays food is really good. The oreo bon bons for dessert are the best!!

 

[JerseyJanice]

The food at Cape May is far better than what they serve at 1900 Park Fare.

As for getting back to your resort after dinner, you could go back to Epcot on the boat to see Illuminations, then take the resort bus back to the WL. Or you can take the Beach Club resort bus to the Magic Kingdom and the boat (or bus) to WL from there.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned! Have a wonderful time.

 

[TinkerBrie]

Well I will be eating at The Cape May cafe next week so I'll let you know then!! But I must say, having eaten at 1900 Park Fare MANY times....we love the food!

 

[Vickis3js]

We've never eaten at Cape May, or atleast not yet, but 1900 PF is on our list of NEVER again. Characters were good and entertaining but the food was horrible. Where we were seated was like a hallway that was open to the waiting area to GF cafe and people were running in to get pics of the characters dancing. We were not happy with it at all.

 

[NMK62303]

Oh my oreo bon bons . . . those are seriously good and I'm looking forward to some next Saturday night!! Cape May is also a calmer meal, very open and airy, crayons for kids/adults to color on the paper tablecovers, and buffet is scrumptious! LOVE the Beach Club! And fun to stroll around the area and check out the decorations (look for a Hidden Mickey in the sandcastles on the wall behind Cape May).
Having done both Cape May would be my preference, especially if you like seafood! Their salads are awesome too!!

 

[kittylady1972]

So great to read these reviews. I am now looking forward to trying out Cape May Buffet much more. We tried it years ago but are going again this June and can't wait!

 

[lupp2217]

My vote is for Cape May. We did both 2 years ago and went back to Cape May last year. 1900 is a never again for us due to the horrible food! IMO it was awful. The characters were entertaining though. We all loved Cape May. 3 adults love seafood and it was wonderful. DDs and MIL don't, and they were pleased with the food also. It was fun to walk over to the Boardwalk afterwards too. Have fun!

 

[asdfghjkl13]

Overall I like 1900 better... the reason is because I'm not a seafood eater. But since you love seafood I would vote for Cape May... also BC is a great resort to walk around in!

 

[robinb]

Cape May all the way.

 

[Wendy31]

Thank you so much for all the replies!!

I think we've decided to go with Cape May! This way, we get to visit the Beach Club & the Boardwalk area, & we're already dining at the Grand Floridian when we have breakfast the GF Cafe. Plus, the good food reviews for Cape May kinda swayed me too!

And I'm so excited about visiting the Beach Club! Our kids' bath decor is "Mickey Beach", so I'm hoping to find some cute new decorations!

I still do want to do dinner at Park Fare at some point just for the character interaction though!

 

[jennyf2]

We went to Cape May for the 1st time in August & we all LOVED it! The food & service were great! Its certainly on our must do list

 

[goofy4prez]

For me, I personally don't think there is anything great about Cape May. It is average at best for seafood. But then again, I really don't care for WDW buffets, and Cape May is no exception for me.

But with that said, Park Fare 1900 does have fun character interaction and it is a unique twist from other character's found in WDW. However, the food IMHO is less than average; it was one of my biggest disappointments as far as food goes.

With that said, based on where your going to be, and that at least Cape May is average in food quality, that would be my pick.

Not trying to sound negative, but both of these places are in my lower tier of ratings. But then again, I am a bit unusual being that I don't like Le'Cellier and find WCC and San Angel Inn enjoyable.

 

[Madhatter266]

Another vote for Cape May! When we went to 1900 the atmosphere was sheer chaos - parents not watching kids, servers having to side-step children rolling in the walkway, kids basically running around crazy hijacking other family pictures - I have never experienced a wackier character meal. We have been to many and I do not believe that we have encountered this type of "wildness" and lack of any control. I felt extremely sorry for all of the servers. I know that all children get excited when characters are near but this behavior - or lack of - seemed to be throughout the entire restaurant. We actually went to take pictures with the characters but we decided that we don't need photographs that badly! Maybe we were there on a bad day and experienced a 'perfect storm" but I don't care to chance it and go back. Sorry if I sound a tad bitter but in really was not a pleasant experience.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I still do want to do dinner at Park Fare at some point just for the character interaction though![/QUOTE]

It is almost worth the cost of the meal just for this. We went in 2008. DD was 12 at the time. DS's were 19 and 21. They also brought a buddy of theirs with them also 19. This made for the most interesting character interaction. Lady Tremaine and the Stepsisters were all over them. I laughed so hard as they all fought over my gugys. A someone at the table next to us were laughing so hard he fell of his chair. Lady Tremaine then scolded him for his manners. If you do this meal don't forget the strawberry soup and you can definatley find something to eat. Maybe we were just there on a good night. We will be going back to Cape May on our trip in May. I do like the food here. Please do not call this a NE Clam Bake. It is not. Serving seafood at a buffet does not make it a clambake.

 

[PiperMickey]

Happy to see these reviews of Cape May as we are going for the first time this April.
Question for those who have been there. Are there enough non-seafood selections for a family member who isn't the biggest fan of our meals from below the waves?