Dining Dilema: To Keep Coral Reef Or Cancel?

[VegasMike21]

Ok, this Saturday we have ADR's for Coral Reef at 6PM, our plan was to go to the AK that day and then at 4:30 leave and head over to Epcot for dinner at Coral Reef. I just learned they don't have the blackened catfish anymore, pretty bummed out as I really wanted to try it. Since we're gonna be at the AK do you think I should just make an ADR at the Tusker House for their lunch buffet or keep my Coral Reef ADR. After AK closes at 5 we would then head over to Epcot for the evening and enjoy the rides and Illuminations. What does everyone think?

 

[williamson_ja]

I would cancel it and try somewhere like Boma or Sanaa. Of course, you might check to see what is available before you try canceling it! With free dining happening, there might not be a lot available. My parents ate at Coral Reef last week and hated it. They are not picky and loved everything else we ate that week, but the food there was apparently so inedible, they had to eat somewhere else when they were done... and it took an hour to get seated. uggh

 

[VegasMike21]

I would cancel it and try somewhere like Boma or Sanaa. Of course, you might check to see what is available before you try canceling it! With free dining happening, there might not be a lot available. My parents ate at Coral Reef last week and hated it. They are not picky and loved everything else we ate that week, but the food there was apparently so inedible, they had to eat somewhere else when they were done... and it took an hour to get seated. uggh

Yeah I did make an ADR for Tusker House at 12:30 PM. I ate at Coral Reef years ago and loved it especially the chocolate wave something I will miss this time around should we decide to go elsewhere. I just don't want to waste time and it seems dining at Coral Reef has been quite an adventure with slow service lately.

 

[TDC Nala]

I had one for December (I loved it last month) and I am planning to cancel it because I was going back for more catfish, which is apparently gone now.

 

[FINFAN]

We are in the same boat, but deciding between Sanaa and Kimonos ( Swan, for Sushi) I think we may go the Sanaa route based on viewing of the animals. We like CR food (and the catfish was our main draw as well) but the tanks are the highlight..so, Sanaa offers the same perk, just not under water. I know it can be hit or miss with the animals, if you do choose Sanaa, book for a time of day you can see them..remember the time change and darkness! I have not eaten there so I do not know if they have lighting etc , but I *think* the animals go back at some time to their "homes" for the night.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I am not a fan of dinner buffets...I would keep Coral Reef...we ate there in January and even though I was the only one that enjoyed it I was the only one that ordered fish...I had the sauteed grouper and it was wonderful

 

[pozey]

Where have you heard that the Blackened Catfish is no longer on the menu? If that is the case, my DS will be very disappointed....he always ordered that.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

If you are planning to spend the evening at Epcot, then it makes sense to just keep the Coral Reef ressie rather than head to AKV and then to Epcot. If not, then I would do one of the AK table service restaurants. I wouldn't want to schlep over to the AK Villas to go to Sanaa and then schlep over to Epcot.

P.s. - SO annoyed about the blackened catfish. I was planning to get that. Sigh. The Coral Reef dinner menu still looks good to me though.

 

[clutter]

We are in the same boat, but deciding between Sanaa and Kimonos ( Swan, for Sushi) I think we may go the Sanaa route based on viewing of the animals. We like CR food (and the catfish was our main draw as well) but the tanks are the highlight..so, Sanaa offers the same perk, just not under water. I know it can be hit or miss with the animals, if you do choose Sanaa, book for a time of day you can see them..remember the time change and darkness! I have not eaten there so I do not know if they have lighting etc , but I *think* the animals go back at some time to their "homes" for the night.

The animals are usually gone during the morning, from maybe around 9 to noon, then they start meandering back to the savanna. AKL is designed for them to stay out overnight for the most part. When we were there, we had the herd of Anakole under our window except in the mornings when the poop truck came.

Sanaa is WONDERFUL. And this is from someone who doesn't really like Indian flavors.

OTOH, to the OP, you might try Yak & Yeti. It's one of our favorites. Some dishes are bleh, but some are wonderful.

 

[TDC Nala]

Keep in mind that Sanaa only has about four or five tables next to the savanna view windows and it looked to me like all of those were 4-tops. Don't know the odds on a party of 2 getting one if it's busy. If you go at an off-time you'll have better odds.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We are in the same boat, but deciding between Sanaa and Kimonos ( Swan, for Sushi) I think we may go the Sanaa route based on viewing of the animals. We like CR food (and the catfish was our main draw as well) but the tanks are the highlight..so, Sanaa offers the same perk, just not under water. I know it can be hit or miss with the animals, if you do choose Sanaa, book for a time of day you can see them..remember the time change and darkness! I have not eaten there so I do not know if they have lighting etc , but I *think* the animals go back at some time to their "homes" for the night.

I wouldn't go to Sanaa strictly for the view of the animals. There are only a few window-side tables and it will be difficult to see the animals from the other tables at night. I was there for lunch and did see a few from my table (not a window table) but that was midday.

That said, the food at Sanaa is FANTASTIC and it is definitely now on our list of must-do's every time we are at WDW. We are sushi fans as well, but given your two choices I'd go with Sanaa. Just be prepared for the animal viewing to be so-so and you'll be fine.

 

[VegasMike21]

If you are planning to spend the evening at Epcot, then it makes sense to just keep the Coral Reef ressie rather than head to AKV and then to Epcot. If not, then I would do one of the AK table service restaurants. I wouldn't want to schlep over to the AK Villas to go to Sanaa and then schlep over to Epcot.

P.s. - SO annoyed about the blackened catfish. I was planning to get that. Sigh. The Coral Reef dinner menu still looks good to me though.

Yes, we planned on doing AK from opening time till around 4/4:30 then heading to Epcot for our 6PM reservation for Coral Reef. With the catfish being taken off the menu and the reports of slow service not sure I want to go afterall. I planned on being out of the Coral Reef by 7/7:15 so we could enjoy a few rides then watch Illuminations. I don't want to be stuck at Coral Reef past 8 then have to go over to Illuminations and miss the rides we plan on riding that night. Our stay is pretty short as we arrive tomorrow morning in Orlando and we leave Wendesday evening. I want to get in as much as possible. That's why I made an additional ADR at the Tusker House. I guess we'll play it be ear maybe.

 

[VegasMike21]

Where have you heard that the Blackened Catfish is no longer on the menu? If that is the case, my DS will be very disappointed....he always ordered that.

It's not on the menu you can view at DisneyWorld.com anymore. That and I beleive another dish want to say a pork dish have been replaced by two new dishes. I noticed there also has been a change at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch as the Chicken Pasta dish is gone as well as well as the strawberry shortcake. Not sure what others have changed as I haven't looked at every restaurant but those were the two I noticed.

 

[disneylove69]

I think I saw strawberry shortcake on the Liberty menu when I was there last week for lunch. I thought the food at Coral was good but the service was terrible and extremely loud.

 

[VegasMike21]

I think I saw strawberry shortcake on the Liberty menu when I was there last week for lunch. I thought the food at Coral was good but the service was terrible and extremely loud.

I looked at the LLT menu last night and it wasn't on there. Looks like they took it off and replaced it with some sort of fruit crisp. And the Chicken Pasta got replaced with "slippery" chicken dumplings.

 

[deebits]

I know when we start first thing in the morning at AK, we are ususually done and ready to go by 2-2:30.( and yes we did EVERYTHING at AK) If you are heading over to EPCOT, you problably will get there earlier.

 

[VegasMike21]

I know when we start first thing in the morning at AK, we are ususually done and ready to go by 2-2:30.( and yes we did EVERYTHING at AK) If you are heading over to EPCOT, you problably will get there earlier.

Yeah I know AK can be done in a matter of hours, we just don't like to be rushed and plan on riding the major rides like EE, Safari, Dinosaur numerous times especially EE. I haven't been on it yet and I know it's gonna become my favorite ride.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Keep the Coral Reef ressie!

 

[VegasMike21]

Keep the Coral Reef ressie!

I'm not gonna cancel by any means, we're gonna see how much of the AK we can get done on Saturday, hopefully it's not crowded. If it's not crowded and I'm able to do everything we want then I'll be going to Coral Reef, I'm craving that Chocolate Wave right now!