Dining advice for a newbie..

[Kitzka]

Hi everyone:

My family and I are big disney lovers but are very new to the whole ADR and evn going to Disney thing. We went last year for the first time with DD8. we spent 3 days there (which was not long enough) and 1 day for her was spent dancing in the park as well as taking a workshop where she and her dance group learned some of the Disney dances...

Anyway, we had a few ADRs last time we went, dinner at the resturant in mexico, ohana and lunch at liberty tavern. And these were made very last minute and we were lucky to get what we got.

before this the last time DH was at Disney he was 10 and I was 12 the last time I went.

We will be going with DD9 and her best friend (also 9). We will be there for 6 days and 5 nights. We do ahve the dining plan but where would you eat? Not sure we are going to go again for a bit so we want to make this memorable.

Thoughts? places we HAVE to go to? Places we can avoid all together? We ahve no issues paying for a meal or two outside of the dining plan.

Also, I think we want to do 1 character meal as DD is a teeny bit afraid of the people in the costumes.

forgot to add. DD will be turning 10 over the trip as it's her birthday while we are there and her best friend turns 10 a few weeks after we get back. SO i wuold like 1 special meal. both kids are slightly picky eaters...

Thanks in advance

Lara

 

[KatMark]

Hi everyone:

My family and I are big disney lovers but are very new to the whole ADR and evn going to Disney thing. We went last year for the first time with DD8. we spent 3 days there (which was not long enough) and 1 day for her was spent dancing in the park as well as taking a workshop where she and her dance group learned some of the Disney dances...

Anyway, we had a few ADRs last time we went, dinner at the resturant in mexico, ohana and lunch at liberty tavern. And these were made very last minute and we were lucky to get what we got.

before this the last time DH was at Disney he was 10 and I was 12 the last time I went.

We will be going with DD9 and her best friend (also 9). We will be there for 6 days and 5 nights. We do ahve the dining plan but where would you eat? Not sure we are going to go again for a bit so we want to make this memorable.

Thoughts? places we HAVE to go to? Places we can avoid all together? We ahve no issues paying for a meal or two outside of the dining plan.

Also, I think we want to do 1 character meal as DD is a teeny bit afraid of the people in the costumes.

Thanks in advance

Lara

Lara:

Here are some ideas:

For a character meal, our favorites are Crystal Palace for breakfast with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet or Chef Mickey's with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald (we hear the one at Cape May Cafe is very good too but we are just trying it this year so I can't give you thoughts).

Table service meals that we enjoy are: LeCellier in Canada at Epcot (although this may change when we are there in September with the new menu), Biergarten in Germany at Epcot, Rose & Crown in England at Epcot. We also have been hearing rave reviews of Coral Reef in Future World at Epcot. For Hollywood Studios, the kids would enjoy 50's Prime Time or the Sci-Fi Diner (the first has pretty good food, the second has your standard burgers, etc.). We love the Plaza Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom and always go for a table service meal. It is not your "typical" table service meal as they serve salads, sandwiches (burgers, reubens, club), etc., plus shakes and terrific sundaes (it is a nice change of pace from all the "heavier" sit down meals. We have not had any sit down meals at Animal Kingdom, but we are trying Yak & Yeti this year. I hope this helps. Enjoy planning!

 

[belleatheart]

What about 1900 Park Fare for the Princess Experience with Cinderella and it is a buffet so being a picky eater she can get something. Also great for B-Days and maybe she will get a dance with prince charming....Table services elsewhere...hm Tony's, 50's primetime, Kona, Le Cellier, Liberty Tree Tavern, Whispering Canyon, Spoodles, Cape May,

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I think 1900 for dinner is a good idea. Your girls would have a good time seeing the crazy step-sisters since they are a little older (My 5 yr old would be afraid of the step mother!). And since they are "face" characters it might be better for someone that is leery of costumed people.

 

[tlriv5]

I have three dd's twins that will be 10 this year and one that will be 13. We went on our first big trip two years ago. There favorite meals last trip were 50's Primetime (they thought it was fun that the waitresses got after their dad for putting his elbows on the table, this was a fun place), they loved the aquarium at Coral Reef and their favorite was Whispering Canyon Cafe (when they asked for ketchup twenty bottles were brought to us! Loads of fun and good food!) They enjoyed Ohana character breakfast and Crystal Palace for character meals.

This year they can't wait to try 1900 Park Fare, because they've hear Cinderella's step sisters are a hoot! We are also going to do Ohana dinner and Chef Mickey's is one they couldn't wait to try. Oh, and they insisted we go back to Whispering Canyon.

 

[Kitzka]

Thanks everyone! Keep the suggestions coming. These are great and you guys are so so helpful!

Lara

 

[AppleSister1]

Are they too old for the princesses? They may be less scary as they are not costumes that cover their faces. If that would work, try for Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle...not great food, but a fun experience (and a hard ADR to get, btw.) Or the Askerhaus in Norway in Epcot which also has princess dining.

For the birthday, you could try the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian, perhaps?

Other great restaurants for us with the kids include Coral Reef (the fish tank is fun) They may also enjoy Ohanas at the Poly. Spoodles has a fun atmosphere and is kid friendly. This time we are trying the Biergarten.