Current ADRs + Where else should we go?

[mcbutler23]

We are planning for September 7-14 and have the DDP. It's me, DH and DD4. DD4 is a much better eater than DH. DH is the picky one! As of right now, I have ADRs for:

Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast)
Akershus (breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Chef Mickey's (dinner)
Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch)

DD4 LOVES the princesses so the 3 princess meals seems like overkill, but I know she will be excited. My questions are:

1. I've been reading not so great reviews about Chef Mickey's - should I cancel that ADR and try something else?

2. What are some other recommendations? I am trying to get an ADR for BOG lunch. Other places we've thought about are Beaches and Cream and 50's PT. If you had to rank your top 5 must eat places, which ones would they be?

TIA!

 

[kevgraub]

We enjoy Tusker House breakfast and Ohana breakfast. Have enjoyed the food and the character interactions at both. Another place we try to go is Crystal Palace for dinner.

(Yes, we tend to load up on character meals to avoid standing in line to get autographs and pictures in the parks)

 

[honeybunches]

I think you're going to love the 3 princess meals. Dinner is the best at 1900PF because of the stepsisters, too. They're hilarious! Your DD will love it!
Keep trying for BOG, you have plenty of time. They might open up some tables closer to your trip. Crystal Palace is also a good one. Coral Reef is cool for kids because it's inside a big aquarium. Fish swim all around while you eat.

My top 5 must eat places -- based on food more than experience:
The Wave
Kona
Cape May (only because I like crab legs)
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
Yak & Yeti
and a 6th -- must get a Dole Whip float!!

We haven't tried Chef Mickey's. I have read that it's rather dirty, so we booked a breakfast ADR the past 2 trips, and I've cancelled it each time. My kids don't care at all about seeing characters, so I don't see the point of going there (for us). I think you just have to decide what works for your family. Your DD will love it no matter what!

 

[quietly]

If you're heading to Animal Kingdom and like westernised asian food - Yak and Yeti was sooo good. We loved it! We made it as a last minute ADR and it was one of our favourites! We also went to Beaches & Cream but we went late at night (at 10pm) and used it as a dessert only sort of ADR. We loved it! I probably wouldn't use the dining plan for beaches & cream though as we found lots of the things to be quite good value and you could definitely share a sundae between at least 2 people! Beaches & Cream is also good for your DH as it has standard burger/hot dog/fries sort of menu if you end up going for dinner. We also enjoyed Tusker House (which we did for lunch but caught the end of breakfast too which was great!). Tusker house was good because there was a great blend of more adventurous options as well as all round favourites. Have a great trip!

 

[Disneypapa]

Top five are (in no particular order):

Ohana @ Polynesian
Cape May
Boma
Whispering Canyon
House of Blues

 

[Mich123]

My girls like Akershaus so much that they are still requesting it even though they're 17 and 20! I'd recommend San Angel Inn (atmosphere is great, it's in a pyramid and next to the Three Caballeros ride), Ohana (breakfast and dinner), Tusker House, and Biergarten (good choices for picky eaters and a fun Oompah Band plus beer!). You might consider paying OOP for some of the buffets if you don't have enough TS credits, we've done that in the past with the less expensive buffets.

 

[Just1Princess]

I'll agree with the others who suggested Ohana breakfast, also check out the Plaza in MK, Mama Melrose, in DHS and Garden Grill in Epcot. Those have food that my picky DH has enjoyed in the past.

 

[Southernswthrt]

Akershus Breakfast and 1900 PF Dinner is always on our must do list. You can never have enough princess meals! Personally I don't find CRT good for the picky eater and it's a bit overrated. That said, there is just something about dining in the castle! I always have flashbacks to my childhood sitting next to the windows
We also usually do Ohana for dinner.
We enjoy CM but don't do it on each trip.

LeCellier used to be a fave but we haven't been there in a while.
50's PT is good and lots of food. We've been going there instead of HBD with DD5. H&V is okay - standard buffet fare but good if kids are big Disney Jr. fans.
We usually make our way to RFC either at DS or AK for the atmosphere - food is sub par tho - OK for burger or salad.
We really enjoy WP Express at DS. I've always been pleasantly surprised by my meals here!
We were also pleasantly surprised by our meal at Splitsville a couple years ago.

We hope to try 1900 PF & Ohana for breakfast next trip. Raglan Road is also on my wish list.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Your line-up looks great! If I were bringing a 4 year old girl on her first trip, I would make the same choices! We have always had great experiences at Chef Mickey's, and I would keep it for the fun and characters. If you really need to swap something out...maybe LTT? It is a wonderful meal, but doesn't hold much for kids, IMO.

It's hard to pick top 5 favorites since all are so unique, but like others, I would recommend 'Ohana for dinner and Crystal Palace for breakfast/brunch. Our very favorite meal of all time is Hoop Dee Doo Review dinner show. It's 2 credits on the DDP, when on the plan we pay OOP and save the credits for a different meal. 50's Prime Time is also good, if your instincts are drawing you in that direction, you really can't go wrong. I have never been to Beaches & Cream but people love it...

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Ohana breakfast is awesome and we also really like Kona (but solidly based on the food) there is no real theming at Kona. If u are looking for theming I would look into:

Ohana breakfast
Whispering canyon
50s prime time
Sci fi dine in
Tusker house (way better than chef mickeys and u still get the fab 5)
Garden grill
Teppen Edo
Crystal palace (for characters)

I think all these places have awesome theming that a 4yr old would love! These are some of our favorite places as well!

 

[DJFan88]

The only thing I would do different is swap the Chef Mickeys with Tusker House to meet the Gang. Theirs more room to move around, just a nicer environment, IMO. Better food.

 

[DJFan88]

Another thought: Trails end buffet (dinner), lunch is alacarte. You get to take the boat over from MK, plenty of good kid food (no characters though). But, they have ponys and like animals to walk around and look at.

 

[Mich123]

You might also check out Garden Grill--I think both a 4 year old and a picky eater could be happy there!