Dinner 1st Night

[Terk-1]

Need a 1 TS credit restaurant for 4 adults for dinner outside of a park and have narrowed it down to one of the following:

Kona Cafe
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Raglan Road
Wolfgang Pucks

Which would you choose & why?

 

[mullysisters]

My first dinner is always Cape May Clam Bake.
Then I walk over to EPCOT.

 

[cslittle999]

Kona is a great choice. Make sure you're ADR is early enough that you can go out on the beach and watch Wishes after dinner.

 

[OhThePain]

If you are staying at POFQ I would go with either RR or WP. The boatride from the POR/POFQ area to DTD is really nice and relaxing, especially after a day of traveling. You could also check out WPE (most bang for your buck when it comes to CS credits), save whatever you choose for your dessert for a snack in your room at another time and go to Ghirardelli's for ice cream.

Where do you plan on being that day? Are you avoiding parks all together?

 

[Terk-1]

Where do you plan on being that day? Are you avoiding parks all together?

I plan on being at one of the parks during the day, but my family is avoiding the parks, as their arrival won't be until later in the day. This is when my sister & brother are arriving (with one of them coming from California), so we have just a room only for the first night, then the package starts the next day.

As it is my brother's first time to WDW, wanted something special for dinner the first night.

 

[Quin]

As it is my brother's first time to WDW, wanted something special for dinner the first night.

Kona, then walk down to the beach and watch the Electric Light Pageant and/or the fireworks from the MK.

Raglan Road would be my second choice for an adult dinner, but there's nothing about it that specifically says "Disney" to me. It's a chain restaurant; there's one in an upscale shopping/entertainment district right here where I live too. Kona and the Poly give you that Disney magic.

Ohana would do the same, and if your table is in the main dining room you can also see some of the MK fireworks while you eat. If your group is not likely to want to wander down to the beach then Ohana might be a better option for that night and is still less expensive than a Signature like Cali Grill, since you are paying OOP.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

Kona is a great choice. Make sure you're ADR is early enough that you can go out on the beach and watch Wishes after dinner.

If you have never been to - or don't have OTHER ressies at O'Hana later in your vacation --- you really MUST see the Polynesian Resort.....
I recommend Kona as well. YES -- go to the beach and watch Wishes... there is also the electric parade that floats down the lagoon right before the fireworks (unless they don't do that anymore)

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

DUH!! I see now in your signature that you've stayed at the POLY --- sorry...

 

[goofyintoronto]

Raglan Road has yummy food and the entertainment is wonderful! They have an irish band and celtic dancers. A lot of fun to watch!! Of course if your looking for a quiet dinner, this might not be the place. haha!!
Afterwards you can stroll around and go shopping!

 

[AlisaMom]

If you have never been to - or don't have OTHER ressies at O'Hana later in your vacation --- you really MUST see the Polynesian Resort.....
I recommend Kona as well. YES -- go to the beach and watch Wishes... there is also the electric parade that floats down the lagoon right before the fireworks (unless they don't do that anymore)

My vote for O'hana with Wishes from the beach

 

[OhThePain]

I plan on being at one of the parks during the day, but my family is avoiding the parks, as their arrival won't be until later in the day. This is when my sister & brother are arriving (with one of them coming from California), so we have just a room only for the first night, then the package starts the next day.

As it is my brother's first time to WDW, wanted something special for dinner the first night.

Given all the traveling your family is doing, my opinion of going to DTD that first night is only strengthened. Between the boatride from the resort to DTD and the ability to just relax and walk and hang out or stop off somewhere for a drink or 2 seems like a homerun for all. IMO, there is nothing fantastic about any of the restaurants at DTD (except maybe the bread pudding at RR), and some of the other restaurants that have been suggested are better food wise. I just think that given the situation with family arriving at different times from maybe different parts of the country, the lack of extra travel needed to get to DTD opposed to, say, Kona, is what seals the deal for me, personally.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

Kona is one of my favorite restaurants on site - I just love the food there!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I too vote for Kona...the food and ambiance are great and then as PP said, you can go down to the beach for Wishes and/or the Electric Water Pageant. It's a great first night, IMO!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Raglan Road. It is our favorite place to dine at WDW. There bread pudding is fantastic along with everything else.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I've done Kona on arrival day and recommend it. For those of you who will be visiting a park beforehand, I think that the Magic Kingdom is the way to start a Disney vacation. Also, Kona has a good variety of food and drink at very reasonable prices. One can make a meal of their excellent appetizers, or enjoy an entrée. Lastly, the restaurant is casual enough that nobody visiting from far away will feel uncomfortable if they're a little tired, disheveled, weary or otherwise out-of-sorts after spending the day traveling.

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Given all the traveling your family is doing, my opinion of going to DTD that first night is only strengthened. Between the boatride from the resort to DTD and the ability to just relax and walk and hang out or stop off somewhere for a drink or 2 seems like a homerun for all. IMO, there is nothing fantastic about any of the restaurants at DTD (except maybe the bread pudding at RR), and some of the other restaurants that have been suggested are better food wise. I just think that given the situation with family arriving at different times from maybe different parts of the country, the lack of extra travel needed to get to DTD opposed to, say, Kona, is what seals the deal for me, personally.

I completely agree! They will be traveling for 8 -9 HOURS! Trust me I know. Don't forget the 3 hours time different! I've stayed at POR before too. I think taking the boat to DTD would be the most relaxing dinner. I had dinner at RR last time I was in DTD, I was pretty good. I’ve always wanted to try Fulton's Crab House. That place looks amazing. (Too bad they don’t except the dinning plan.

One more thing: Chances are they will be hungry! Airlines don’t feed you anymore!! The first thing we have to do is EAT! We usually don’t make it past the food court at the resort before eating. My son just wants to eat at the airport.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I would recommend dining at either your resort or at a restaurant at the park you will be at.

 

[wdwpirates]

We don't have a traditional first night restaurant. Where we eat dinner always depends how we've planned out the rest of our day.

On our upcoming trip we're spending the first day in Magic Kingdom and for our first night's dinner we'll head over to 'Ohana! We unfortunately got a really late reservation (9:40 PM) but, that's okay!! More time to spend in the park!

 

[Pugmalion1]

I picked Kona, as it's probably the easiest one TS restaurant to get to outside of any of the parks, and the food for dinner is quite good.

You could also try Kouzzina outside of the International Gateway in Epcot or Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (it's not right outside of the park, of course, but the bus ride from the park to the resort is no worse than taking the monorail to the Polynesian for Kona).

Of those three suggestions, Sanaa is my personal favorite.

 

[wezee]

Voted for RR always good food. Other options might be HOB or Fultons.