Choices for 1st Night, need a WOW!

maddiesmommie

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Jan 17, 2003
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156
We are getting in at 11:50 on 10/22. Will be at condo by 1:30 I hope. I'm planning to take the family to downtown disney around 4:30, walk around for awhile and then head for a dinner around 7. I'd like dinner to have a real wow atmosphere for my DH, and kids, dd 10 and ds 8. Here are my choices:

Boma
The Flying Fish
Fulton's



Tell me which I should choose or what else I should consider...
We'll be at the Magic Kingdom most of the next day for park and MNSSHP
 
Everyone defines "wow" differently - but, of your list I'd focus on either Boma or Flying fish for the follow reasons;

Boma - get there ahead of time to 'wow' the fam with the Animal Kingdom Lodge - many food choices for varied tastes - opportunity to participate in some of the Lodge activities after dinner.

Flying Fish - very good food, the boardwalk at night is wonderful with the entertainment, some of illuminations can be seen
 
With children in tow, I'd strike FF from your list. Its a great restaurant, but doesn't really have much to appeal to children.

Boma would be a good choice for a couple of reasons. Its in AKL, which is a visual feast - get there early and wander around the lobby and outside. The food choices are vast so that there will be something for everybody.

Fulton's just doesn't impress. Is certainly acceptable, but not a "wow".
 
Is there a reason why you are only considering those three restaraunts? Based upon your list I would grab the Flying Fish. It is a wonderful restaraunt and it is in a great location. After dinner you can enjoy the Boardwalk or walk over to Epcot to catch Illuminations.
 

I totally agree that for your whole family, Boma would provide the WOW that you want. This is our favourite buffet in the World, and try to get there every visit. Go early and explore the public areas and see the animals out in the savannahs. There are all kinds of things to do for the kids, including stories around the fire and using night vision goggles to see some of the animals.

Fultons just isn't all that IMO, and while Flying Fish is a great restaurant, Idon't think your kids would necessarily enjoy it all that much.
 
I'd reccommend Whispering canyon with kids... they have an all you can eat skillet for the adults and fun games for the kids. I also was very impressed with the all you can drink shakes there. Fun flavors like bubble gum and cotton candy for the kids! We practically had to be rolled out of there!

Wishes fireworks are at 9pm you may jusy have enough time to see some from the wilderness lodge beach.\

Another option is to do dinner at Kona at the Poly then watch fireworks from the beach afterwards! They pipe in the audio there.
 
Out of all your choices, I would recommend Boma for the same reasons as the OP's. It's a family favorite and a must-do for us.

Also, Raglan Road in DTD has a great atmosphere and amazing food. Definitely a great choice for arrival night.
 
Thanks all! My kids are pretty used to eating out. The one thing I don't want to do is have to buy park admit tickets this day; we'll be there 7 days and have tix for 6. Can you see illuminations from FF?
 
Thanks all! My kids are pretty used to eating out. The one thing I don't want to do is have to buy park admit tickets this day; we'll be there 7 days and have tix for 6. Can you see illuminations from FF?

No. But if you walk to the end of the Boardwalk you can see some of the high fireworks.
 
What about Jiko? Is it better than Boma?

Two totally different dining experiences. Boma is a buffet with all the good, and bad points that go with that. No doubt you'll find something to eat, but the quality isn't high. Jiko is a fine dining experience with a good menu and wonderful service.
 
I have never eaten at the Flying Fish, so I can't comment on that one. Boma is great for atmosphere and for exploring the Savannah, but most of the foods have curry in them and my DSs ages 6 and 9 do not like the food there. My DH and I were not impressed with Fulton's when we dined there in March 2011. The service was bad and the food was average, we were quite disappointed, although it could have been a bad day. My 9 year old recommends in order of preference Chef Mickey's, T Rex, Whispering Canyon, and the 50's Prime Time Cafe. You wouldn't need park tickets for Whispering, Chef Mickey's or T Rex.
 
I agree with OKW lover. If you want to see fireworks then why not do California Grill at the Contemporary on your arrival night?
 
Boma is a wow in that you get to go to the AKL the restaurant itself is crowded and it felt for a free for all because there were so many people there. I don't think the atmosphere of the restaurant is anything special. Jiko however......my favorite restaurant in all of Disney. I love it for the atmosphere and the food.

Fultons is a Wow because of the food but for theming it's your typical high end steak and seafood place. No theming at all.

I have never been to the Flying Fish so can't help ya there.
 
I'd take a different approach to the first night dinner and go to a restaurant that is convenient to the activities that you have planned. Arrival day can be exhausting because of travel hassles, checking in and getting set up in the condo, and the sheer excitement of being at Disney on that first day. I think that Downtown Disney is a great choice for a 1st day, and Fulton's, which is on your list, is right there without extra travel. I've never been there, but my parents-in-law rave about it. A 'wow' restaurant for your kids would be the Rainforest Cafe, and I am dying to try Raglan Road and Wolfgang Puck's.
 
Thanks for all the great comments. I'm actually not loking for fireworks since we'll bet at MNSSHP the next night. Just wanting something to start the mood, which I'm sure Downtown Disney will do. We want a good dining experience not necessarily a buffet---we'll have plenty of that throughout the week! I'm going to look closer at Raglans menu; we love Irish music!
 
I love Hoop-Dee-Doo... great "wow" factor for a first night, but it may not be what you are looking for!
 
Raglan Road is really good especially the "Forkful of Scallops" and the dark bread with the Guiness dipping sauce. Has alot of atmosphere and a really nice menu selection. You may also want to look at the TRex restaurant opposite RR and Fultons. Something different that the kids might enjoy.
 
We usually start off our WDW trips with a special night. It depends on what your trying to do, budget etc.

Some ideas

- Cali grill and then Wishes viewing
- Chef Mickeys (kids love this)
- Narcosse's then a wishes cruise
- Poly meal (Kona or Ohana) - Wishes viewing
- Downtown disney meal - Cirque show after

I've been to all the places you mentioned and Boma/Jiko with a tour of the AK lobby / outside is a nice preview but I'm not sure WOW. Dining on Boardwalk is nice due to you can walk around the waterfront before / after.

Fultons is not as good as it's been, back in the Disney village days when it was the Empress Lilly it had a wow factor.
 
Thanks all. I've been deliberating and trying to get the right ADR for a few weeks and thought I'd let you know where I ended up....after several attempts at trying to Ohana, I landed a Narcoosees 7:10 pm ADR. Hopefully, my picky eater children will like this better than the AKL restaurants and we can catch a glimpse of the fireworks, too. What do ya think? Anyone been to Narcoosees?
 












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