Dinner first night?

[iloveeeyore]

We have eaten at Chef Mickey's on our first night and find it really puts us in the mood for the whole Disney adventure (esp. the napkin dance). But the food is sort of so-so, so I don't feel a NEED to eat there again if I can find a great alternative.

Tell me what YOU would do (we have UPHs this time for the first time, so we can go into a park). It will be a Thursday.

I was considering the following:

Mickey's Backyard BBQ (we will also be doing HDDR and SofA during the week)
Liberty Tree Tavern
Garden Grill

TIA!!

 

[s&k'smom]

We are staying at the Poly so I think we will be going to Kona Kafe for our first night meal. Maybe one of the restaurants at your hotel would be good. Had dinner at Liberty Tree and Garden Grill and recommend both. You can get their menu's on www.allearsnet.com.

Buttttttttttt if I had to choose one Garden Grill (the way it revolves around is very cool)

 

[tinkerbell1fan]

I would go to Crystal Palace for the Character Buffet Dinnner. You can see Eeyore.... We have never had a bad meal there and really like the atmosphere. My DS 8th grade social studies teacher use to call him Eeyore because he whined all the time.

 

[abbyndrewmom]

In the past we have also gone to chef Mickeys but also were not crazy about the food. This year we are going to OHana'a which is one of our all time favortie restaurants. Even though there are no charachters I find the atmosphere to be similiar to Chef Mickeys. Lots of singing and dancing, activites for the kids and the food is great!!!! We are still going to Chef Mickey's but this time for breakfast later in the week.

Allison

 

[JodyLynC]

I have to second O'hana's. If you are there late enough, you can see the boat parade in the lagoon and the fireworks from MK.

 

[GaryWT]

We are going to the Liberty Tree for the Charactor dinner. We enjoyed it on our last trip so hopefully an all you can eat family style meal will get us going after our long trip.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

I would also vote for 'Ohana. We usually try to go there our first night. Try to get PS for about an hour to an hour and a half before Wishes is supposed to start. When you check in ask for a window table in the main dining room. We did this this past October and December. We were able to watch Wishes while enjoying desert and coffee. They dim the lights and pipe in the music and naration. Really puts you in the mood for a great Disney experiene. The food is great, they do have entertainment - although not characters - and they do coconut races for the kids. This is our favorite place to eat.
Linda

 

[Gem85]

I also agree with all the Ohana votes. We are eating at Ohana our first night too because I didn't want to have to deal with the crowds right after our flight.

 

[NjRon]

One more vote for O'hana's.

 

[TSTEWARTFAN]

Last trip we did the Hoop-de-doo review for your first meal. What a way to start the trip!
We all had a hootin' hollerin' good time and it certainly set the mood for the
rest of our Disney Experience! I think its the thing my kids remember the most!! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[iloveeeyore]

...and it looks like it will HAVE to be Chef Mickey's again! Oh, well. Maybe we'll try something different next time.

Thanks for all your responses. Yes, we ARE doing HDDR (never miss it), but not the first night, AND 'Ohana (DH's and my favorite) the last night.

Now we just have to figure out what to do that afternoon...

 

[Daisie]

We always do Chef Mickey's for the first night......I tried to change it and came up with other options, but, those kids, they have to be a chef mickey's on the first night....no matter what!!
Hoop-dee-doo would also be a great started, I'll have to remember that for our next trip!

 

[slo]

This restaurant is one of our all time favorites. The restaurant revolves very slowly and it very calming after a busy day. You will be character dining with Mickey, Chip and Dale, and sometimes Pluto and they are all dressed like they are on a farm.

The food is really good and it is served family style. They have a different food for children if they do not want the main courses which are flank steak, breaded catfish, chicken, corn on the cob and other things of which I don't recall (cast member will tell you over the phone when calling to make priority seating). The food is all you can eat and they will ask you what you want more of so they bring only your favorites - they have dessert too.

We have so much fun there and we are returning in Sept. for our 3rd meal there. We didn't go last year because we felt that maybe we should try something new since Epcot has so many restaurants and we regreted it.

Have a lot of fun!!!

 

[tiggergirl31]

My vote is also for O'hana. My bf and I will be going there on our first night and I can't wait. I have never been but so many people on this board have said to go there!

 

[airhead]

.....we're beat from travelling. By the time we're all checked in,it will be 2pm. Time for a tour of AKL,and a swim!!We'll be eating at our Hotel our 1st nite. I can't wait to try the drinks at the bar!!!!
The next morning ,up early and off !!!!!!!!!!!


airhead(...gettin' so psyched!)

 

[marksor]

I think the key to getting the vacation off to a great start is to dine somewhere close to your resort the first night so that you aren't doing a long drive/bus ride, etc. right off the bat. Most of us will have spent a great deal of time just getting to WDW that day. For example, if I'm staying at the Beach Club I'm probably going to go to the buffet dinner at Cape May right there or maybe stroll over to the Boardwalk to Spoodles or Big River Grille. If I'm at the Contemporary, I would go to one of its restaurants or to one at another monorail resort.