Coral Reef or San Angel?

[TiggerTrigger]

Not sure if this really helps, but we've been to both and they're both on our 'never again' list.

 

[2neverland]

I will not return to coral reef. Views are not that impressive neither the food. Seating is very tight. We had a booth type and we were sitting right next to another family-literally. I did not realize we would be seated with others. Felt we had no personal space. My son is on the autism spectrum-meal times are daunting but doable. Sometimes this means I actually still need to feed him or do more coaxing. I really would of preferred more space between families. We go to many restaurants and this is the first place I felt I was eating at a stranger's house at their dinner table.(more like sitting with them on a sofa!) #1 place of no return for us.

 

[lubob]

San Angel

 

[OhThePain]

So do you think our 7:00 at LH is too late, then, to eat and then find a spot outside the restaurant? Assuming we don't get a window seat inside. If that is the case we may just eat QS somewhere for supper a bit earlier instead and then try to find a spot to watch from, since we already have a TS booked that same day for breakfast. I just hate the thought of having to find a spot to camp out for an hour or two when we could be doing other things!

I see your point about Coral Reef. I wonder if this is the case inside BoG also, as I really would like to explore all the rooms and take some pictures of the interior, but I don't want to encroach on anyone trying to enjoy their meals!

Too late depends on a lot. Part of it will depend on how long you wait for a table and how long it takes your party to eat. If you are sat right away and don't like to spend a lot of time eating you could be out by 7:45. If you have to wait 30 minutes and aren't the types who like to rush you could be out at 8:45. It also depends on the time of year you are going. If you are going at what is generally a slower time of year, you'll still be able to find a spot 15-20 minutes before it starts. If you are going Christmas or New Years, it's doubtful you'd find many spots after 8. It also depends on what kind of spot you are looking for. If you want a spot that has a clear view of the globe, fire/low pyrotechnics and the higher fireworks, the earlier you hunt for a spot the better you'll be. If you don't care that you have an obstructed view of some kind, you can wait longer to get a spot. It's really all about preferences. My wife and I ate at Spice Road Table at about 6:15 a week and a half ago. We finished at about 7:15 and started to walk around a little bit. We found a spot we liked in Japan at about 7:45 and we stayed. We probably could have walked around longer, but by that time there wasn't anything else we wanted to see and do, so it worked for us. What works for us is not going to work for everyone.

BoG does have this issue a bit. We have found that the West Wing is a popular place that gets visited because there are some pretty cool effects in there. The problem is that it is a dimly lit room, so it can be bothersome when people take pictures using their flash. We like sitting in the West Wing because it is dim and it's not near as crowded as the other rooms, but the 2 times we ate lunch there we sat on the other side of the room from the rose.

 

[any name you wish]

Thanks for the information - we are trying La Hacienda de San Angel on our next visit so this was helpful

 

[Grumpy92]

Food is average at Coral Reef, but the view of the tank is enjoyable. I also hate that the dining room smells like a locker room. San Angel, terrible food and no guarantees that you will be seated by the waters edge to watch the boats.
I want to throw in another restaurant that is great with kids, the Biergarten. They have a fun show and a decent buffet.

 

[jv3cv1]

We had always ate at the coral reef. That being said it was the worse meal we had at our 12 day Christmas trip last year. Will not be going back our food was not good and the service was bad.

 

[Huff]

Food is average at Coral Reef, but the view of the tank is enjoyable. I also hate that the dining room smells like a locker room. San Angel, terrible food and no guarantees that you will be seated by the waters edge to watch the boats.
I want to throw in another restaurant that is great with kids, the Biergarten. They have a fun show and a decent buffet.

Everyone has their likes and dislikes. I'm the exact opposite. We have had excellent food and service at both San Angel and Coral Reef. Many who dislike San Angel Inn aren't used to more authentic Mexican food (Have not tried La Hacienda San Angel). They are used to Tex-Mex Americanized versions. We ate at Biergarten once. Service was great but food so-so at a high price. Too many other better choices for the money but again, everyone has their likes and dislikes. That is why every single Disney restaurant has numerous good and bad reviews.

 

[Huff]

I really would of preferred more space between families. We go to many restaurants and this is the first place I felt I was eating at a stranger's house at their dinner table.(more like sitting with them on a sofa!) #1 place of no return for us.

I find nearly all of the Disney restaurants to be tightly packed. Its what happens when 1000's of people are there nightly!

 

[MommaOfTwoMice]

We were there over April school vacation and ate at both places. The food was excellent at both restaurants. Service was far superior at Coral Reef for us. Our waiter at La Hacienda was rude. I was really disappointed because we had chosen La Hacienda as my birthday dinner without the kids, who had a fantastic time at Lilo's Playhouse that evening.

 

[SGMCO]

We eat a San Angel Inn (TS restaurant inside Pyramid) every trip, it is our favorite TS restaurant and is the only one my Family request.
We have only had excellent meals at San Angel Inn. It is not Tex-Mex style food and I think most people expect it to be.
We've only had good service. We love the atmosphere also.
We've never eaten at Coral Reef, so I can't commit on it, we have a restaurant with large wall of Fish in our city, we've eaten there so that does not appeal to us.

 

[gmboy95]

If i am forced at gunpoint...then coral reef...but both are low on the list

 

[ShannyG]

La Hacienda de San Angel. The whole family loves it. The World Showcase is so large it should not be hard to find a spot to watch Illuminations. Just bring your earplugs. They are the loudest fireworks around!

 

[SGMCO]

I think OP is talking about San Angel Inn (the TS inside Pyramid) not La Hacienda de San Angel (TS next to water).

 

[clayj41]

I was contemplating trying Coral Reef at the expense of canceling my Yachtsman Steakhouse ADR on the same evening, but everything I've read on here has made that an easy non-decision. I love the Yachtsman, and the only reason I was even considering the change was to appeal to my 13-year-old cousin who I thought would better appreciate the atmosphere at Coral Reef. Sounds like even the atmosphere is overstated. Le Cellier and the Yachtsman are the only two dining experiences that are focused on me. He's getting everything else he wants (B, L, and D at BOG, CRT, 'Ohana, Akershus, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare, etc.). He'll just have to deal.

 

[HuskieJohn]

My party of 3 adults and 3 kids (4, 4 & 6) went to Coral Reef for lunch March of 15. We did get to seat in one of the big booths in the first row but that was about the only good thing. The food was fair at best and I am really being kind. The damp/musty smell was understandable but still turned me off. If we were planning on returning to EPCOT for our next trip (we are not) we would not return here unless there was an rush of outstanding reviews right before booking.

 

[amym2]

Why is sitting by the tank a nightmare? I was also thinking about San Angel Inn, but the menu at La Hacienda looks a little better for us, even though now I'm wondering if ANY TS will be a good choice for us at all since my 10 year old picky eater will most likely be forced to order from the regular menu -_- Also I thought La Hacienda may allow us to get a closer spot to watch IllumiNations from after we eat, is that the case?



Have you watched IllumiNations from here before? Can you actually watch FROM the restaurant or from outside it after you eat? Our ADR is at 7, would that time work?

We haven't eaten at La Hacienda, so I can't help there, but we did eat at San Angel Inn when our kids were 10 and 12. The 12yo shared a meal with DH, but the 10yo asked about ordering a kids' meal and they said she could, but she would receive and be charged for an adult portion. She got cheese quesadillas, which for $14 was a rip-off, but she was happy so it was all good.

We've eaten at Coral Reef as well and it's okay, but we don't love it. Actually our kids loved the atmosphere at San Angel Inn more because we were seated right by the railing with the boats going by.

 

[Delphinidae]

Food is average at Coral Reef, but the view of the tank is enjoyable. I also hate that the dining room smells like a locker room. San Angel, terrible food and no guarantees that you will be seated by the waters edge to watch the boats.
I want to throw in another restaurant that is great with kids, the Biergarten. They have a fun show and a decent buffet.

Lots of people seem to enjoy Biergarten, but we are just not fans of German food.

I think OP is talking about San Angel Inn (the TS inside Pyramid) not La Hacienda de San Angel (TS next to water).

I actually was asking about La Hacienda, but I'm also interested in San Angel Inn. Both menus do look good and we do enjoy authentic Mexican food. I just thought the waterfront location would be nice but honestly we could go either way. I think it's safe to say we've ruled Coral Reef out for this trip. My kiddos are kind of wanting to do Akershus again, or Garden Grill, so I'm trying to make decisions. Don't think I want to do 2 TS in one day but dang it there are too many places we want to try in Epcot!

Thanks for all the replies

 

[SunnieRN]

This trip the two places my grandmunchkins have requested to eat meals are Coral Reef and Tusker House. Fish and Mickey lol. They are 8 and 10.