Do you go to resorts for dinner on park days?

[ncbyrne]

DH and I (no kids this trip) will be in WDW Oct 15-23. We're staying at CSR and we have the dining plan with our package. I'm going crazy trying to decide where to have dinner each night. We will eat counter service at lunch in whatever park we are in that day. We normally only eat at the resorts on non park days. But this trip we bought hopper tickets for all our days (since they are now the best deal). For the MK days, it would be no problem to hop the monorail for dinner. But what about MGM and especially AK? Since we will be there during the Food and Wine Festival, we will probably not make PS for Epcot days, but rather graze our way around the lake.

 

[CamColt]

We very rarely eat a meal in a park, with Mama Melrose being our 1 regular exception. In general we find most of our favorites are the resort restaurants. Since we usually take a midday break, going to a resort,then on to the park in the envening isnt much of a problem.
Good luck deciding!

 

[Aimeedyan]

For MGM, we usually dine there because we really enjoy several of their restaurants. Unless we're leaving MGM before dinner anyways, since we don't find it to be an allday park anymore. For AK, they close early so you have time to hop to another park or hit a resort restaurant later. They often close as early as 6pm. For MK, we don't care for any of the table service places so we grab the monorail or boat to a resort and eat there =)

Lucky you to go during Food and Wine! Dang class schedules haven't allowed for a visit then yet for us, but we did eat our way around Epcot a few weeks ago and still have things left to do next time... so much good food!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh, MGM is a boat ride from the Boardwalk area and several nice places to dine if you want to leave and go someplace nice =)

 

[oogieboogie]

I'm with CamColt, we love the resort restaurants. Not only are the food better, but it gives us a nice break from the parks.

For AK, nowhere is it better but AKL - 2 great restaurants there - Boma and Jiko.
For MGM, your choice is huge - the whole Boardwalk, S/D has great restaurants, BC/YC... man... so many choices.

 

[goodferry]

We too hit a resort for our dinner, but rarely our own Last trip to the Poly we ate at 'Ohana one night and that was it! We enjoy visiting other resorts and trying their restaurants. Especially loved Beaches and Cream. If you are on the dining plan, try Spoodles!

 

[BigOnDis]

I completely agree about going to a resort on the AK day, maybe a trip over to AKL for Boma's. AK really lakes a good sit down resturaunt. My DW like Rainforest Cafe, I think it's only o.k.

MGM has a couple of nice places to eat, I enjoyed the Brown Derby.

As far as Epcot goes, there are so many good resturants there, LeCellier is my favorite. But if you fill up on the food and wine. Maybe on your MK day you could zip over to Epcot to try one of the resturants then.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Wow. We never eat inside the parks. A CM once told me that the best chefs work in the resort restaurants (which makes the most sense).

At MGM, we take the ferry to Spoodles or Flying Fish. (YUM). Or you can make a ressie in WS (since it is the next stop on the same ferry). You can make a ressie at Rose and Crown, Chef DeFrance or another country.

At AK - JIKO, for sure! My favorite restaurant (CA GRILL is a very close second), try the flatbreads, fire crackers and their desserts. Any of their entrees are superb. If you are afraid of new things, try the filet minion over mac and cheese. (yummy).

Let us know what you do.

 

[Harambe]

We like to eat at resort restaurants, too. Especially if you park hop. For instance, we are planning to go to AK for the day, getting on a bus for the Poly, eating dinner at Kona, then grabbing the monorail to MK for the night.

It is more difficult to go to a resort for dinner and then go directly home to your resort. If you need to do that, I suggest getting a cab.

With the exception of the Epcot restaurants, we don't do many park sit-down meals.