Coral Reef Restaurant - Diver/menu - Discontinued for 2009

[shadowryter]

Since this thread is over a year old I didn't go through the whole thing, so this may have been answered already...but... with the menu, do you only get to pick a few things off the regular CR menu, or will you get to eat anything?
I saw one pic posted early in the thread and it looked as tho there were only 2 entree's listed...is that the case?


Thanks!!

Are you referring to the personalized menu vs. the regular menu?
The personalized one has the basic lunch/dinner printed on it, front and back. It's mostly for looks and a keepsake. You still order off the regular menu. Hope this helps.

 

[StaceyA]

Are you referring to the personalized menu vs. the regular menu?
The personalized one has the basic lunch/dinner printed on it, front and back. It's mostly for looks and a keepsake. You still order off the regular menu. Hope this helps.

Yes! it helps! I wanted to see if i could do this for my friend and I that are going, but didn't want to limit what he could order off the menu

 

[shadowryter]

Hi,
We've got the diver and the menu set for our upcoming trip. Do I need to say anything about this to the host/hostess when we are seated? Or will they know by our ressie?

You don't have to say a word. When we checked in I gave the host my name and saw him discreetly reach into a little file. The menues are printed and ready as soon as you send your pics. Just sit back, relax and let the magic happen.

 

[DisneyToddlers]

You don't have to say a word. When we checked in I gave the host my name and saw him discreetly reach into a little file. The menues are printed and ready as soon as you send your pics. Just sit back, relax and let the magic happen.

Great to know-Thanks!!!!!!

I'm sooooooo excited for the surprise!

 

[ShhhQ]

We just got back from our trip and the Diver/Menu went off without a hitch... my only complaint was that they seated us in the top row and to take a pic of the tanks we had to run up to it or we only got black tanks.....

Here are the pics....

I chose to have Pooh on the sign and menu as my friend is a big Pooh Freak!

 

[shadowryter]

Our lunch at the Coral Reef couldn't have been more perfect. For the first time ever we got seated in front of the tank. It was a special birthday surprise. Here's some pic's.

 

[pmama]

Thanks for the pics. I'm so excited for our diver/menu this Thurs. Hope we don't get seated in 3rd row though.

 

[Mom3girls]

Just be careful and do NOT go to the bathroom as soon as you get to your table!!! My daughter has been having issues with milk products and found it hard to deny her ice cream on our trip. Well her stomach hurt, and I took her to the bathroom and when I came back to the table I had missed the diver with the sign . My husband said people around him started to say "Who is Kevin?" After looking around, someone pointed to the diver and he couldn't believe it!!! I had missed it! The diver did come back after I returned to the table, but it wasn't the same. They also brought us champagne to our table.

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Thanks for the pics. I'm so excited for our diver/menu this Thurs. Hope we don't get seated in 3rd row though.

Most of the time they will make an effort to seat you in the tier closest to the tank, but it probably wouldn't hurt to request it when you check in. Tell them you are willing to wait a little bit longer for a closer table.

We had lunch at Coral Reef on Saturday (no menu or diver this time) we checked in early and told them we were willing to wait a little longer for any table on the lowest level. We probably waited 15-20 minutes before being seated in a booth on the lowest tier.

 

[eeyoresnr]

Most of the time they will make an effort to seat you in the tier closest to the tank, but it probably wouldn't hurt to request it when you check in. Tell them you are willing to wait a little bit longer for a closer table.

We had lunch at Coral Reef on Saturday (no menu or diver this time) we checked in early and told them we were willing to wait a little longer for any table on the lowest level. We probably waited 15-20 minutes before being seated in a booth on the lowest tier.

the problem with that might be the timing of the diver....if you don't get seated close to you ADR time it may mess up the timing for the diver since they only schedule a certain amount.

 

[beautifultomorrow]

the problem with that might be the timing of the diver....if you don't get seated close to you ADR time it may mess up the timing for the diver since they only schedule a certain amount.

Well unless they have changed things since we had the diver last year it seems like they wait until you are seated to send the diver in -- at least he/she seems to know exactly where you are sitting and comes right to the correct window panel. That is why I think you can not miss the diver, because they wait until they know where you are sitting to have them take the sign in. I could be wrong about that but that is what we observed. Also, sometimes the diver comes early in the meal, sometimes not till near the end.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

We had lunch at Coral Reef on 8/28 and I was actually able to keep the menu & diver a secret from my son! I am so not good at secrets!

When they called us to be seated, the host asked my son where he wanted to sit. Even without knowing that there would be any kind of surprise, my son said 'by the tank if possible'. The host then told him to choose his table. There was a table for two right by the tank. It was perfect!

DS was really surprised and thankfully not embarrassed when the restaurant clapped!

Debbie Rocks!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

DS was really surprised and thankfully not embarrassed when the restaurant clapped!

Debbie Rocks!

Those are wonderful pictures!! You have a very handsome and lucky boy there!

I can't wait to surprise my family soon!

 

[disneyin2008]

Does anyone know where I could find a seating chart of Coral Reef? I'm curious about how all these tiers are set up. I have eaten twice in a restaurant where the entire wall is an aquarium (New Mexico). The first time we of course asked to be seated right at the window......and realized that it wasn't as great as we thought.....the window was sooo high and sooo wide that it was like looking at the ocean from binoculars....we could really only see what was right there near us. The next time we asked to be seated back a little ways and we were maybe 2/3 of the way back and we could see everything that was going on, including watching the large sharks swim back and forth and back and forth.

I'm thinking that Coral Reef could be the same thing, that while it might appear that right at the glass is optimal....it's not quite as good as you think. Debbi told me that I shouldn't worry if I'm not right up front, and I'm actually wondering if I want to specifically ask NOT to be.

Having never been there, of course I can't be sure that my thoughts are accurate......would love to hear from those who have been there.

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Does anyone know where I could find a seating chart of Coral Reef? I'm curious about how all these tiers are set up. I have eaten twice in a restaurant where the entire wall is an aquarium (New Mexico). The first time we of course asked to be seated right at the window......and realized that it wasn't as great as we thought.....the window was sooo high and sooo wide that it was like looking at the ocean from binoculars....we could really only see what was right there near us. The next time we asked to be seated back a little ways and we were maybe 2/3 of the way back and we could see everything that was going on, including watching the large sharks swim back and forth and back and forth.

I'm thinking that Coral Reef could be the same thing, that while it might appear that right at the glass is optimal....it's not quite as good as you think. Debbi told me that I shouldn't worry if I'm not right up front, and I'm actually wondering if I want to specifically ask NOT to be.

Having never been there, of course I can't be sure that my thoughts are accurate......would love to hear from those who have been there.

I don't have a seating chart but I can kind of explain how the seating is set up. There are three tiers of seating running parallel to the tank, on each tier there are tables along the front of the tier (closest to the tank) and booths along the back. On the first level closest to the tank the tables can be pushed together to make seating for four or two separate tables of two. Most of the booths seat four and some seat six. On the second tier the tables at the front of the tier can be pushed together to make seating for six. The rest of the restaurant is set up similarly.

I have sat in the tables right up against the tank, the booths on the tier closest to the tank and the tables at the front of the second tier. By far I prefer the booths on the closest level. It's close enough to see even the small fish well and far enough away to get a good view of all the action.

I really wouldn't worry about being "too close" though, as I still enjoyed the very closest seats. I could definitely imagine the top tier being too far away to catch all the details. There are a lot of "smaller" fish in the tank.

 

[hippsmom]

It finally happened! I got my email from Debbi and she was able to request a diver for my daughter's birthday. I am beyond thrilled. It took alot of patience on my part and I am so thankful for all of the advice found here. You all are the best. Now I can't wait to see the look on her face...I'm gonna keep this a secret, I'm gonna keep this a secret, I'm gonna keep this a secret...

 

[hippsmom]

I need another favor from you all. I have unsuccessfully twice tried to email my pictures to Debbi at the CR. Each time Disney sends it back to me as undeliverable. I am replying to an email Debbi sent to me so the address is not the problem. Anyone else have problems getting the pictures to Debbi? Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[StaceyA]

I need another favor from you all. I have unsuccessfully twice tried to email my pictures to Debbi at the CR. Each time Disney sends it back to me as undeliverable. I am replying to an email Debbi sent to me so the address is not the problem. Anyone else have problems getting the pictures to Debbi? Any suggestions? Thanks.

here is the main email addy that is listed on the voicemail when you call:
WDW.Epcot.Coral.Reef.Restaurant@disney.com
it's the one i used to request a menu and debbi responded to me from it.
Try using that one and explain the issue.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Just want to say we JUST got back tonight, and our ressies with diver and menu for my parents 50th anniversary on Fri night went perfectly! They were so surprised and delighted! The whole restaurant went AWWW, and applauded! Also, the restaurant brought a beautiful dessert for them to share. It was a chocolate wine glass with strawberries, etc. It took up a whole platter and was very elegant. I wish we would have taken a pic of it, but we didn't. Just an FYI! Thanks all for all of your information, this was the best meal we had! Food was delicious too!!

 

[eeyoresnr]

sounds like you all had a great meal and a great time...thanks for letting us know it all went without a hitch