Christmas Eve Dinner Advice??

[minniebride]

We are trying to figure out where we might want to eat for Christmas Eve in WDW. We are a couple (no kids) and we will be on our honeymoon at the WL (our first stay there!). We do not necessarily need to be someplace romantic, as we will be splurging on the California Grill the next night for Christmas. We tend to gravitate more toward "themy" restaurants instead

Here are the choices we have narrowed down:
-Whispering Canyon Cafe: right at our resort, never eaten here before.
-Garden Grill: Looks fun, we've always been intrigued by this place
-Tony's Town Square: Would we be nuts to go to MK for dinner on Christmas Eve??Would we even get into MK on Christmas Eve for dinner??? We ate at this restaurant last year a few hours before we got engaged
-Liberty Tree Tavern: Haven't eaten here since the character meals in 2008.
-Somewhere else you might suggest??

For the rest of the trip we are eating at:
1900 Park Fare, Artist's Point, San Angel Inn, 50's PTC, Yak & Yeti, The Plaza.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[JacksLilWench]

If it were me, I would make a reservation for a resort restaurant. I wouldn't want to have to be in a park at 8am on Christmas Eve just to make sure I could make my dinner ADR at 8pm that night, lol. Maybe WCC like you suggested, or Kona? I've never been that close to Christmas, but I do hear it gets WILD and the parks close at 10am because of capacity. HTH, I'm sure your wedding will be beautiful!!

 

[minniebride]

If it were me, I would make a reservation for a resort restaurant. I wouldn't want to have to be in a park at 8am on Christmas Eve just to make sure I could make my dinner ADR at 8pm that night, lol. Maybe WCC like you suggested, or Kona? I've never been that close to Christmas, but I do hear it gets WILD and the parks close at 10am because of capacity. HTH, I'm sure your wedding will be beautiful!!

Thank you!! We were not sure if MK closes to capacity on Christmas Eve or just Christmas Day. I guess it would be nutty to try and get into that madhouse, huh?

At the same time though we started thinking maybe we should try and get into a park on one of those days just to experience the chaos!

We were also looking into Rose & Crown (never been there), but for some reason it is the only Epcot restaurant with no times available on Christmas Eve-?? Wonder why it's so popular....

 

[minniebride]

Thank you for the poll results so far! I noticed a few chose LTT-is it realistic that we would be able to get into MK for LTT on Christmas Eve? I'm not sure if it closes to capacity on that day, like it does on Christmas Day. We are not yet sure which park we are spending Christmas Eve in, but we are definitely sure that we are are not planning to spend all day in one park.

 

[DisneySarah80]

If it were me, I would chose somewhere on the Boardwalk, maybe Flying Fish. That way, when your done with your dinner, you could walk over to Epcot (if they are not full that is).

 

[minniebride]

We are not interested in a big fancy meal like Flying Fish for Christmas Eve, since we are going to have a signature meal the next night at CA Grill. We are looking for more them-y, fun, and "home-y" I wish there were more options to eat at DHS because we are interested in heading over there on Christmas Eve to check out the OFL, but cannot seem to find a great option for dinner there. We love 50's PTC, but we are already eating there a different night on our trip.

I like your idea of checking out the BW area. I looked a little into the other BW restaurants though, and we are not interested in a buffet that night, sports bars and breweries are not our idea of Christmas Eve dinner, not looking for anything too fancy, and Kouzzina just doesn't look appealing to us....Also, we are on the DDP so S/D restaurants will not work.

 

[sbprincess]

What about Raglan Road at DTD or Ohana? I was trying to think of places outside the parks for you. Although we haven't been to either yet, we have ADRs for both in October. They're both pretty heavy on theme but I also hear good things about the food. Good luck!

Oh, and let me add: I thought WCC was pretty good. It's a LOT of food but most of it was tasty. We do NOT like Tony's, but you've already been there so you must like it (but it's in the parks, like you said). LTT's menu doesn't appeal to us at all (again, in MK though). And Garden Grill seems fun, but again is in a theme park.

 

[DisneySarah80]

What about here...

http://allears.net/menu/menu_brg.htm

 

[mamaprincess]

I would have voted for Liberty Tree Tavern except if Mk is really crowded, you may not get in to mk to make it to your dinner, so I voted for WCC instead even though LTT would be my 1st choice.

 

[minnie mum]

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ADR's are really tricky. You almost have to have your park plans cast in concrete to plan a TS meal inside either MK or Epcot. MK will probably be at capacity, so entering the park just for dinner may be problematic. If you're already there, then you're OK.

Eating at Epcot poses another problem. Doubt that it will be at capacity, but getting an ADR at a lot of places is hard right now because they're holding back dinner ADRs because of the Candlelight Processional packages.

So that kind of leaves you with eating at a resort. Understand your reasons for sticking with a non-signature place. But finding a "homey" restaurant at a resort is more difficult. I think I would stick with WCC, since it is at your home resort. I do have one kind of off the wall suggestion though: if you want something a little quieter and 'honeymoony' for Christmas Eve: What about dinner over at Boatwrights at POR followed by an evening carriage ride with a steaming mug of hot chocolate?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I was going to say Artist Point, but I see you're already eating there later in the trip. I'd pick somewhere at one of the monorail resorts. I really like Kona, GF Cafe, the Wave, Citricos, Narcoossees, and CA Grill. Lots of choices around there.

 

[DVCconvert]

OP:

We are looking for more them-y, fun, and "home-y"

Have you thought about Hoop Dee Doo Review?

 

[JenKatt]

Parks do hit capacity on Christmas time, there are levels of capacity, resort guests are the last to get locked it... i.e. if you can get to the front of the park as a resort guests, you'd be the last to get turned away (DH drives monorails, he's an expert at capacity). Level 4 capacity is when resort guests are turned away at the gates, but level 2 capacity is when transportation to the parks stops (does this make sense yet?) So yes, you risk getting turned away at MK for capacity, but it's unlikely. DH tells me during holiday week, level 2 happens a bit at MK, but not often and it's brief (level 1 is closing the parking lots - that usually alleviates enough of the congestion).
Having said all that, I'd go for Ohana. It's themey and fun and not stuffy at all. Plus the Poly at christmas is wonderful. I've done WCC a bunch and it's just not as fun as it use to be! But the convienence factor can't be over looked.

 

[Quin]

If you want to try for MK, then personally I think Tony's would be fun.

In DHS - eh, not much to recommend there.

At a resort - I like the suggestion of Boatwrights. Or for a homey/casual restaurant with a Florida theme, how about Olivia's? Make the ADR reasonably early so you can then take the bus to DHS for the lights, then from DHS to your own resort.

 

[sydneysmom]

if it were me, I think I'd make a reservation at the GF Cafe. (or Narcoosee's if you want to spend the money) Because from what I understand, the Grand Floridian is spectacular at Christmas. and the food at both the GF cafe and Narcoosee's is wonderful !!!

 

[minniebride]

What about here...

http://allears.net/menu/menu_brg.htm

Does that place still exist? I never hear anything about it.... Is it on DDP?

 

[minniebride]

OP:


Have you thought about Hoop Dee Doo Review?

That was actually our original #1 choice for this night!!! But we are having an awful time getting ADR's. Our WL concierge is trying to book it, but I actually started this thread to have a back up plan so we are not stuck eating burgers on Christmas Eve.

Well, I went ahead and booked WCC just to have something before all of the ADR's run out. If we happen to get lucky with HDDR, I will cancel WCC.

Thank you for the advice!!!

 

[si-am]

WCC will be really pretty since it overlooks the lobby of the WL.

 

[tikimimi]

Thank you!! We were not sure if MK closes to capacity on Christmas Eve or just Christmas Day. I guess it would be nutty to try and get into that madhouse, huh?

At the same time though we started thinking maybe we should try and get into a park on one of those days just to experience the chaos!

We were also looking into Rose & Crown (never been there), but for some reason it is the only Epcot restaurant with no times available on Christmas Eve-?? Wonder why it's so popular....

Since you like theme-y and mentioned 50s PTC as a choice, I think you would like WCC. It is at your resort; that is a big plus for Christmas time. The decorations at the resort are beautiful, and it will be easy to spend a wonderful part of your day (or all day since you're on your honeymoon) hanging out there. WCC is similar to 50s PTC in that the wait staff "picks on" people. Don't ask for ketchup in potatoes or wear a shirt of a theme park other than WDW - unless you want merciless picking. Finding out you're on your honeymoon might give them some fun too. Since your concierge knows it isn't your first choice (and HDD would be great!!!) he or she may even do something a little special for you there. I love WL and at Christmas, it is especially nice. I think WCC would be a great first night meal! (I read your post wrong - you said the first time you've stayed at WL not your first night - still I think it would be a great choice)

 

[donutday]

These are all great ideas and thoughts, but the dreamer in me says that Tony's is very special to you, and you may want to spend your first Christmas Eve together in a romantic --but not too formal--atmosphere. Risk being able to get in. Go to MK early enough and give it a try. Since Tony's is at the front of the park you don't have to fight too much of the crowd. Share the spaghetti ! If it isn't too cold, eat on the porch so you can enjoy the Christmas tree, Town Square decorations and holiday music, or ask to be seated by the inside back window with Lady and Tramp's silhouettes. Buon Natale and Bella Notte!