Dinner ideas for 1st timers

[Stef♥Tigger]

We are going to Disney for the first time July 22-July 27 with my husband, 13 yr old daughter, 10 yr old daughter and I would really like to make everything special. My 10 yr olds birthday is July 26th so im looking for ideas on where to eat. I think I want to get reservations for Liberty Tree and Le Cellier-maybe Mama Melrose's Restorante and Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic dinner package. Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[annie1995]

We love

LeCellier
Crystal Palace
Ohana
Planet Hollywood(DTD)
Garden Grill
Coral Reef

Make sure you get your ARD's ASAP!!! Don't wait LeCellier is soooo very hard to get into and it will fill up fast!!!! My 180 is up, and I just squeaked into a decent LeCellier time

 

[fakereadhed]

I think that a lot of first timers miss out on some of the Disney charm by missing out on the resorts. Dining there gives you a chance to check them out. Some not to be missed are Boma at AKL(you can also view the animals outside the lobby), Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary, and 1900 Park Faire at Grand Floridian. If you can fit it in, Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge and Ohana at the Poly are great too. A restaurant at the Boardwalk area would be great too- maybe Beaches and Cream or Spoodles.

 

[mommy22pumpkins]

Hi Don't forget California Grill. We've been to Disney for the past 3 years with the free dining plan and this is our favorite restaurant so far. If you can try to time it your ressie an hour from Wishes and request a window seat. Spectacular view whether you watch the fireworks or even the sunset. Amazing food too. Enjoy your trip

Danielle

 

[Stef♥Tigger]

Where is California Grill located? What type of food? My hubby doesn't like trying new foods What time is Wishes? Sorry but this is my 1st time

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

I just wanted to second the votes for:

Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdon - we eat there every year for breakfast (this is a Winnie the Pooh character breakfast buffet)

Other Character breakfast options include:

Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort - we ate there for the first time last year but I wasn't that impressed. Characters include Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Donald.

Ohana's at the Polynesian Resort - this is a family style meal (they bring you platters and plates and you serve yourself just like you would at home) The characters here are Lilo and Stitch related but I'm not sure if you get both Lilo and Stitch. They also do a lot of fun things in the restaurant like a hula hoop contest and a coconut rolling contest.

As for lunch and dinner: I would recommend Garden Grill and Coral Reef in Epcot. Tony's and Liberty Tree in Magic Kingdom. and Definitely Prime Time in Disney Hollywood Studios. If you really want to get into the magic and have an interactive dining experience you should definitely eat at Prime Time, the restaurant is fashioned after a typical 50's eat in kitchen, the wait staff is histerical and the dessert menu is in one of those viewmaster toys.

I would also have to second the notion that there are a lot of great restaurants at the resorts. Even if you aren't staying there you can park there for up to 3 hours. I reccomend factoring in some extra time for exploring the resorts. They are so elagantly themed. If your husband isn't into different types of foods I would stay away from Boma's (a buffet in the Animal Kingdom Lodge) great food but the do have some very different stuff there. The Hollywood and Vine buffet at Disney Hollywood Studios or the Crystal Palace Buffet at Magic Kingdom serve more mainstream things for lunch and dinner. Almost all of the breakfast buffets serve the same standard buffet food.

For some help in sorting all of this out check out www.AllEarsnet.com, this is a great resource and all of the menus for all the restaurants, counter service meals and carts are listed.

Wow, sorry this post is so long. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Mamu]

Liberty Tree Tavern use to be a favorite, last time it was not that good. We will be trying it again this September after staying away for 5 years.

Hollywood and Vine once was enough, will never return. I would go to "50" Prime time instead, lots of fun antics for the girls.

Mama Melrose food can be spicy but I like it.

LeCellier, typical steakhouse food.

Some of my Grandchildren's favorites. 1900 Park Fare, best buffet at Disney Plus Cindy and Prince Charming. Ohana's good food and lots of fun. Crystal Palace good food and Pooh Characters. Another one my GC like is Mexico.

They like the counter serve places much better then the restaurants. Although we always do a few table serve meals, and a few character meals.

 

[Harambe]

We have DD(14) and DS(13) and some of their favorites:

Sci-Fi - food is okay but the whole drive-in atmosphere it perfect for teen/tweens.

Garden Grill - best character meal, it has Mickey! and great food. Plus, restaurant revolves slowly (youdon't feel it) and the scenery changes. Very cool.

Pizzafari - this is CS, but it is decorated beautifully and the kids like the food, it is in AK and gives you that African feel.

Any of the World Showcase restaurants - kids like to see the different cultures. This year we are trying Germany.

 

[minniekissedme]

I'm a big Kona Cafe fan. The food is great and being in the Polynesian is another reason to go...easy trip on the monorail from MK and the Poly is spectacular, too!

It has a new name (Teppan Edo?) but the restaurant in Japan is probably another good bet...cooking at the table, etc...

 

[septbaby]

I was kind of a 1st timer on our Sept 2007 trip. It was my first time staying on site, first multi day trip to Disney, first time on the Dining Plan and first time visiting the Animal Kingdom. We were two adult women (Grandma and Auntie) with a 5/6yo boy.

Before I forget check the Disney Calendar for the time for Wishes. I think it would typically be 10pm that time of year. So you would make a late dinner reservations if you are trying to watch it from a restaurant. Something like 8:30 or later.

Coral Reef is a don't miss for your girls and the food is wonderful too.

Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Hotel fun for the whole family and good food at breakfast or dinner. Characters include Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck. They will take a family photo before seating you. Unlike the other photos at character meals, this one is an optional purchase. I bought ours with no regrets. As a first trip you too might want this momento. We took our resort bus to MK then walked back to the Contemporary.

Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. Fantastic food (steak and lobster too). You can see both Wishes and the Electric water parade from the deck there. We did this on our arrival night; a very nice start for a trip to Disney. We took our resort bus to the Magic Kingdom then took a boat over to the hotel; a very pleasant ride. The boat let's you off right at Narcoossee's. If you have time be sure to roam the hotel. It is the Grand Dame of Disney and worth the time. It is the site of the Gingerbread House during Christmas. Like California Grill it will require you to use 2 Table Service credits. It was our best meal and meal experience of the trip. All of our TS meals were good. Just make sure some one orders the Year of A Million Dreams dessert. It will take your breath away to see and make your eyes roll back in your head when you taste it. I'm am not a big fan of cheese cake and it did those things for me.

Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic package. I think this is a good choice. You'll see a lot of negative comments on this place. It was a good meal, more ordinary than others we had at Disney. But for your family and plain eating DH it should be perfect. It worked for us. The food was fine and Brenda our server was great. We were late for our ADR (more than a few minutes ) and they sat us anyway. We underestimated the travel time from MK to the Studios. They were turning away walk ups while we waited for our seating. So for all the complaints, many, many people eat dinner at H&V. I wouldn't spend 2TS for the Fantasmic seating (so no Brown Derby for us) and the Mama Melrose menu seemed too limiting, though others love it.

Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge This is a favorite of many posters on these boards, including my family. We ate dinner there and might try breakfast next time. Though there are lots of different foods there are basics as well. The kids area is full of them (mac & cheese, nuggets, plain veggie) an the full buffet has them too. Breakfast has the basics and made to order omelettes (probably would do over easy, etc. as well). There is a very unique soup bar there too. The breakfast is one of the least expensive Table Service meals so if you're on the dining plan and over spend your credits on too many 2TS meals this would be a good choice of one to pay for off the dining plan. Plan to visit the Lodge while you're there. The girls and hubby will likely enjoy the decor as well as the animal viewing there.

I think your DH will just have to put up with one Princess meal at Disney. He lives with 3 girls so somehow I think he's used to these sacrifices. We enjoyed 1900 Park Fare years ago for dinner. It now includes the step sisters who I hear are a riot, so DH might also have fun here. Cinderella's Royal Table is in the castle itself which is probably the most Disney experience you could have. We have not done that one, but it will be a nice treat some day. This is one of those photo included meals and requires 2TS credits as well.

The best advice I received before my trip: You cannot do it all, so don't try!

Pick some places. Make the ADRs and just go and enjoy. Hopefully you'll love it all. If not you'll cross it off the list for next time.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Some of our favorites are:

Crystal Palace MK
Ohana at the Poly
Chef Mickeys is said to be very good at CR
Coral Reef or Le Cellar in Epcot
Boma at the AKL

 

[rangermom]

I second 1900 Park Faire at the GF. Great character experience and great food. Le Cellier was great.The Hoop De Doo Review was entertaining and served home-style cooking. Have a great time!

 

[annie1995]

Where is California Grill located? What type of food? My hubby doesn't like trying new foods What time is Wishes? Sorry but this is my 1st time

I believe California Grill is in the Contempory which is right on the Monorail from the MK!!!

 

[comicguy]

Places that I would suggest are:

Crystal Palace(MK)
O'hanas(Poly)
Le Cellier(EP)
Coral Reef(EP)
1900 Park Fare(GF)
Chef Mickey's(Cont)
50's Prime Time (DS)
Norway(EP)

 

[mommy22pumpkins]

hello. California Grill is in the Contemporary...right off the monorail that also goes to Magic Kingdom. It is expensive- 2 credits on the dining plan but it does have your traditional steak and potato type meals. But everything is so fresh you can see the chefs cooking it in the open air kitchen. It has great ambience/service and even the kids were happy to sit through a long leisurely meal here with the incredible view.

Hope this helps. Be sure to give an update once you've tried the ones you like!

take care,

Danielle

 

[tlriv5]

My dd's loved Whispering Canyon Cafe our last trip and that was the one place they requested to go back to this year. 2006 was our first multi day, dining plan trip. My girls were 8 and 11 then. This year they want to try
Sci-fi,
Ohana's,
Biergarten,
Chef Mickey's and
Crystal Palace breakfast (because they want to see what the park looks like before everyone gets there) and
of course back to Whispering Canyon.

We have eaten at Coral Reef (very cool) and 50's Primetime was a lot of fun for kids that age. Have fun and enjoy!!

 

[girlblunder]

I am a former cast member who still visits at least once a year and I recomend the following locations.

Beaches and Cream- located at the beach club resort. It is a soda shop which serves burgers and sandwiches and some of the best ice cream sundaes on the property. we usually go there at least once per trip for just desert...if you go ask to see the kitchen sink...it is a riot!

Cape May Cafe- Also at the beach club... they have a fantastic charachter breakfast where the characters are in old style swimsuts and their dinner buffet has food like clams and other seafood to meat and potatos.

50's Prime Time Cafe- At MGM/The Studios... we usually go there for lunch the food is just good home cooking as they say like mom would make. the atmosphere cannot be beat you are served by a person who is a cousin or aunt or some relative and mom and dad are in the kitchen making your meal...all part of the show and the fun.

Chef Mickey's- at the contemporary resort...charachter breakfast or dinner both are good! I go to get chipmunk hugs!! Nothing like being in the middle of a chip and dale sandwich!

There are so many wonderful places to try and I have worked at the MK 10yrs ago and gone back to visit about 8 time since then and have yet to try everywhere...so relax and have fun

 

[monica31671]

1900 Park Fare for breakfast or dinner for girls that age.
(Or my age ) And your husband should be able to find things he likes.

My son is 10 and SciFi is his favorite place. The food is not very good, but it is something to see.

My family likes H&V okay and we also like Liberty Tree Tavern. The grilled pound cake with carmel sauce and pecans is soooo good. That might just be a lunch thing.

 

[DVCRon]

Le Cellier is my favorite place for the food, ambiance and service. My DD 13 and 10 also love it.

California grill is outstanding. Food can be anything from average to excellent depending on what you get and the menu at the time. If you are a sushi fan you'll love it. They will accomodate you there even if it's not on the menu, especially if you want something plain like a steak.

You can request in advance a window table for the fireworks show over MK. They won't guarantee it but if you tell them it's your daughter's birthday they will note it on your reservation. Also it doesn;t hurt to stop by earlier in the evening and ask the people at the reception desk the same thing. The reception desk is downstairs from the restaurant, you need to be escorted up to the top. Even if you can't snag a dinner ressie an the time of the fireworks or a window table. They have 2 large balconies where yo can step outside and view the fireworks. They even have the music pumped in.
Chef Mickeys is a lot of fun but the food is just ok buffet type stuff.

Wheverer you go let the waiter know it's your daughter's birthday and they will do something special.

Also if you are staying onsite let them know at check in and tell them her favorite disney character. They just might leave here a suprise


Ron

 

[Stef♥Tigger]

Well I finally called and got my ressies. I booked Le Cellier,Liberty Tree (daughters bday dinner here), California Grill, Coral Reef, 1900 Park Fare. The lady was really nice and told me I made good choices and that some of them were almost booked solid already. Thanks so much everyone for your help, Im so overwhelmed with planning this vacation. Now all I gotta do is pick out a cute birthday cake.