Dinner with teens... not in park... where?

[disney dumbo]

I'd like some suggestions on where to take several teenagers to eat dinner, on a day off from the parks. Of course, I rather it not be hugely expensive. I'd like it to be fun.

I know WC is fun... but we've done that just recently... so I'd rather go somewhere else.

I was thinking about Rainforest Cafe Downtown Disney.

You all are soooo great with ideas...
where else?

 

[Mike N Kathy]

How about Ohana or Hoop dee doo

 

[Dizneydaz]

Will you have a car or are you looking for something still on-property?

On property, the teenagers would probably enjoy Raglan Road at DTD. They have a band and a dancer as well as good food. Enjoy.

 

[GatorLady]

If it's a day off from the parks, there's a Planet Hollywood. I also think there is a House of Blues and an ESPN Zone. Don't know how good any are, but I think they would have teen appeal, especially if they are older teens.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Eh, not ESPN zone. Not Rainforest Cafe. I was a teenager last year (hehe) and my girlfriends and I did a spring break trip to Disney. We did Boma and LOVED it and also did Ohana and that was everyones favorite. Chef Mickey is something I have always done on the first night with family so I took my friends there as well and we had fun. Sure it is geared toward younger kids but we had fun watching the younger kids interact and the character interaction with us was very good. We got our picture with Mickey and Minnie out of the way so we didn't have to wait in line for them at the parks! But I think if I had to choose just one for teens I would choose Ohana.

 

[jx3smom]

My DS loves Planet Hollywood.

 

[disneyfan719]

I'd check the menu at Raglan Road before you go. My dad took myself and all of my siblings there when we went and my siblings (all early 20's) had a hard time finding something to each because the menu is very Irish. Some of them ended up ordering off the kid's menu.

 

[disney dumbo]

GREAT ideas... keep them coming!
yes... we will have a car.

I'm thinking at least 1 of them is sort of a picky eater... ???

Ohana's looks good to me... but would picky eater be okay???
Hoop dee doo... probably $ adds up too fast
Raglan... from menu, might be too much for picky eater???
Planet Hollywood... I think I've been to one... isn't it sort of like Hard Rock except movies?
House of Blues... saw the menu... but what's it like?
Chef Mickey's... wouldn't mind character meal... true Disney and force them to be kids a little longer is okay for me! But need a different one... cause several have done this one together... and want this dinner to be memory of it's own!
Boma... looks good to me... none of us have eaten there... would a picky teen find enough to eat?

So what else?
or thoughts on Boma's, Ohana's, Planet Hollywood, house of Blues or different character meal???

Thanks for your help!

 

[galnar]

If your kids are over 13, they will probably think Hoop dee doo is lame.

Planet Hollywood or House of Blues would be my vote for teens. You've got Planet Hollywood pegged, it's like Hard Rock Cafe except with movies. It is pretty loud in there - tons of people and they play music videos on the TVs. There are some cool memorabilia displays.

House of Blues is really intricately themed in a kind of neat folk art/cajun fashion. I know they have live music there some nights and it can also get really loud from the music and videos. The food is good.

O'hanas is also great, you can have your kid read the menu and decide if there's anything they would like. 'Picky' is such a subjective term.

Boma is a little trickier since it's a buffet. I haven't ever done it for dinner, but if it's like the breakfast buffet, there is plenty of 'tame' stuff to try. Again, it depends on how picky he/she is.

 

[Dizneydaz]

If you want to go off-property, we've had a few good meals at Bahama Breeze. Not too far from WDW and good food. Here's their link if you want to check out the menu, location, etc.

http://www.bahamabreeze.com/default.asp

Also, as to RR, I didn't think about the menu being tough for picky eaters. My DSis (picky eater) was fine there last Sept, but she likes fish. I do think they would enjoy the show. Oh, and they have Fish 'n Chips. But, if they don't like fish, you might want to skip it. If you go, I loved the It's Not Bleedin' Chowder ( It is potatoes, mussels, prawns, scallops and fresh seafood infused with white wine and finished with cream) and Ger's Bread & Butter Pudding is worth the trip alone!


Enjoy!

 

[AshleyMWC]

What about the Cape May clam bake dinner buffet? They have more than just seafood on the buffet, and the kids buffet might please the picky eaters among you. Then, after dinner you could hang out around the Boardwalk or watch Illuminations from the bridge over to Epcot, without having to enter the park. Eating here would also allow you to tour the Boardwalk resorts, which are very nice!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[PixyDusted]

House of Blues and Planet Hollywood are both chains. I am guessing they have a pretty extensive website.

I am 24 and not too far out of my teens! (Oh man....am I?) I like House of Blues much better.

Are they older teens? Younger? Mature for their age? That would help us readers know how to better direct you.

I prefer House of Blues. Just cooler...I always think Planet Hollywood is just overpriced burgers. I really enjoy HOB's menu and their desserts are awesome! Just an overall better experience there and it doesn't seem like there are tons of 5 year olds all over the place. At Planet Hollywood the families seem to have a ton of young kids...you won't get that as much as HOB.

Raglan Road I have mixed feelings about. It's fun to get drinks there but your kids are teenagers so they can't partake in that! I think it's more of a pub atmosphere. I think the most likeable thing on their menu, besides the popular fish and chips, is their Shephard's Pie and I think it has so much nutmeg or soemthing in it it tastes like tea. Am I the only one who thinks so? Also, I think that Raglan Road is a bit more expensive but I can't say that with 100% confidence.

House of Blues is my vote for a moderately priced, teenager friendly place to eat!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

You can head up to the Universal Area and go to CityWalk. I've never been to the one in FL, but the on here in CA is awesome!!

 

[disney dumbo]

More GREAT ideas! Thanks!!!

I love Bahama Breeze!!! but since we do that one away from Disney... I'll save it for then.
Cape May's we have done fairly recently.
(sorry to be so "picky" myself! )
I'll have to check out City Walk.

Called and Ohana's is booked... as is Planet Hollywood. House of Blues is open... and I really liked their menu.

Reservationist suggested Kona Cafe. I've never eaten there. I kind of like not having to find a parking space or doing buses to DTD. (we will be at wilderness lodge) I liked the way the menu looked (except on her menu it didn't show chocolate fondue... and that was sounding really good to me!) Then we could hang out and watch the fireworks. This will be on our first night at Disney.

Since I would like this meal to be a memorable Disney experience, on a special trip. Even if they don't like the food... in years to come, when they monorail past the Polynesian... they will remember a good times when they ate there! What do you think???

 

[Dizneydaz]

I love Kona. It's one of our favorites. The food is good, especially the Sticky Wings appetizer. One of the best. And afterward, if you plan it right, you can catch Wishes from Poly's beach.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Never done Kona for dinner but my friends and I loved the atmosphere at Poly. I am a vegetarian so I would say that is about as picky as you can get, and there is something for me everywhere. Go for Kona!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

15 yo ds loves to have pizza at Wolfgang Puck's Express, wander around the shops, then have a sweet from Goofy's Candy Co. The best kind of evening for him involves a visit to DQ, of course. But he'll settle for a wander through the Virgin Megastore or a movie with the rest of us. It's a nice change from the parks.

 

[BabaGanoush]

I think the House of Blues is an excellent idea for what you are shooting for. It is 'cool' because it does have live music. Try early in the week because they will have blues performers play during the dinner service. As for the food, it ranges from the tame burger to some really good southern/cajun style food. Best thing on the menu may be the ribs though. I ate there last night with some out of towners and had the jambalaya while my guests had the ribs (due to a suggestion by the server) and I felt jipped cuz the ribs were THAT good. Nothing against the jambalaya because it was very good but the ribs were just falling off the bone.

With teens, depending on temperment, I would stay away from character dining because a lot of teens will treat it as a too cool for school (especially guys). You may want to check out Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club. Small little ice cream parlor that serves good burgers and obviously tons of ice cream.

If you are looking into the Rainforest Cafe, I would stay away from the Downtown Disney location and try Animal Kingdom's instead. It is outside the park so you dont need park admission to get to it (though you will have to pay for parking if your not staying onsite). It is not nearly as busy so you wont have the craziness and spotty service like the Downtown Disney location will give you.

 

[laurabelle]

I think the House of Blues is an excellent idea for what you are shooting for. It is 'cool' because it does have live music. Try early in the week because they will have blues performers play during the dinner service. As for the food, it ranges from the tame burger to some really good southern/cajun style food. Best thing on the menu may be the ribs though. I ate there last night with some out of towners and had the jambalaya while my guests had the ribs (due to a suggestion by the server) and I felt jipped cuz the ribs were THAT good. Nothing against the jambalaya because it was very good but the ribs were just falling off the bone.

15 yo ds loves to have pizza at Wolfgang Puck's Express, wander around the shops, then have a sweet from Goofy's Candy Co. The best kind of evening for him involves a visit to DQ, of course. But he'll settle for a wander through the Virgin Megastore or a movie with the rest of us. It's a nice change from the parks.

I was going to post both of these as terrific choices for teens. I haven't eaten at HOB for a couple of years, only because it's not on the DDE or DDP, but we're eating there on Easter. Fun, funky atmosphere. Even with younger kids there is plenty on the menu. They have excellent mac&cheese! Love the voodoo shrimp, shrimp po boy, jambalaya, if you like cornbread, you have to try their rosemary cornbread, yum! If the weather is nice, ask to sit out on the back porch over looking the water.

If you want to do counter service, WPE is my favorite! There are locations at both ends of DTD. Lots to choose from. I've never been disappointed there either.

 

[La2kw]

My teens would rather die than eat a character meal (and I don't blame them, since I hate them also). They enjoy HOB, Earl of Sandwich, or ordering a pizza from room service and hanging out. Probably their favorite non-park activity is going to DQ and eating at the Cheesecake Factory Express and shopping at Virgin Records Megastore. They also enjoy just hanging out in our DVC villa and raiding the fridge while DW and I go out to the parks or to a nice dinner.