Epcot Dining

[badger1518]

Hi all

A quick question or 2. Is the rose and crown in england the best place to watch the illumination show while we have dinner, are there any other good vantage points to eat and watch the show.
We are looking at other places to eat duriny our 2 week stay. We have 2 boys 10 and 11 and have thought of the following resturants.
Boardwalk villas: spoodles resturant
Polynesian resort: kona cafe
Contemporary resort: california grill
Has anyone else eaten at these places and can you eat there if you are not staying at disney.
Any other places to eat that you can recomende would be helpful, we pretty much try anything

Thankyou

 

[Hilary]

If you want to eat and watch Illuminations at the same time then the R&C is your only choice of full-service restaurant with a full view, and then only if you sit on the terrace and not inside the restuarant. You can also sit and eat at the counter-service restaurant in 'Mexico' but it's always very busy here at Illuminations time (lots of other people will have the same idea!) so you may be unlucky. There are lots of excellent viewing spots all around World Showcase, so don't worry that you won't get a good view if you're not sitting in the R&C.

Yes, you can eat at any of the Disney restaurants (parks and resorts) without staying on site. Of the three other restaurants you mention, I have only eaten at Spoodles and we went when our DDs were about 10 and 14 - they loved it! It's a good choice for families as there is a good variety of food on offer. Not cheap, but appetising food in a pleasant (if not riotous) atmosphere.

For good fun you could try the Whispering Canyon cafe at the Wilderness Lodge resort, but you have to be prepared for anything! It's not to everyone's taste, but our family (and extended family on one trip) all love it and enjoy the entertainment as much, if not mre, than the food. It's certainly a meal most people remember .

 

[Cochise]

I was planning one night with a late meal and watching the evening spectacular. So it's the Rose n Crown then.

 

[Camac]

We really enjoyed Boma's at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Plenty of choice to keep DS10 and DD14 happy. Plus you can watch the animals on the savannah.

Also enjoyed Hollywood and Vine which we did as part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package (no extra cost) but a good way to eat and then avoid the queues and long walk to Fantasmic.

We also did Chef Mickey's at Contemporary but were not too impressed by the food.

Undersea Grill at Seaworld is a wonderful setting with the sharks swimming around you and the food was really excellent. Look out for the tropical fish bar counter - you will find Nemo!

Camac

 

[vicky1bfc]

We ate at the rose and crown on our last visit and we were not impressed at all,The food was awful.

 

[UKDEB]

IllumiNations needs (and deserves) your full attention, so you'd have to try to time it so that your entrees weren't arriving at any point during the 15 minute show! I've heard tales of people turning up on the terrace at the Rose and Crown just before showtime and standing in front of the tables. Not sure whether that's still a problem, but I couldn't be doing with the argy bargy. It is a tricky one - unless you're going to try for a table at the Rose and Crown or the Cantina de San Angel, you've got to opt for either an early or very late dinner. You'd also be able to see the fireworks from the Matsu No Ma Lounge, but it's indoors and a little way back from the lagoon so it would be dumbed down. Also, having been in there a couple of times, I don't think you'd get an unobstructed view.

We've eaten at Spoodles many times (although not recently) and we've always enjoyed it. It's Mediterranean fayre and, if you want to, you can just order a selection of starters and eat them tapas-style.

We've been to Kona Cafe twice for lunch. The lunch menu is a bit limited for me, but it makes a nice break from MK. Everyone raves about the breakfast (and the Tonga Toast), but we've never done that. We've also eaten at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. The food is just OK, but as Hilary says, the entertainment is fun. Are your boys still at an age where they will join in at Disney, or do they think some of it's a bit too babyish for them? They'll either think it's great or that it's really naff! The best part, though, is taking the water taxi over to Wilderness Lodge - a lovely break from the crowds at the MK.

As you probably know, California Grill is one of the most popular restaurants at WDW and deservedly so, IMO. We've been several times and we haven't tired of it yet. Are your boys fussy eaters? If so, this could turn out to be an expensive waste of money, unless they'll eat from the children's menu.

There are so many great restaurants at WDW, that it's difficult to know what to recommend. Animal Kingdom Lodge is definitely worth a visit and we like both Boma (buffet) and Jiko (fine dining, so the same logic applies as to CG).

 

[SammieG]

We always have one meal at the rose and crown when at Disney. We have always had a spectacular view of the fireworks (and dont forget if you have kids to volunteer them to start the fireworks) - a child from the R & C is chosen every night to start the fireworks. My son has started them two or three times now. (I always say, "If Mickey is looking for anyone to help start the fireworks tonight, then i know someone who would like to help! - they have ALWAYS taken us up on our offer!)

We have found the food at the R & C to be ok.. its not amazing - but then its amazing sitting down after walking around the lagoon three or four times. And its worth it for that. My husband usually has the prime rib (roast beef to you and me!) and I usually have the roast chicken.. and both are good.. not spectacular but good. The staff there are usually very good at letting us string the meal out.

a word of warning though.. this has never happened before, but in August when we were there, I was bitten by mosquitos really really badly during Illuminations. I would always take mosi spray in future. It really really ruined my last few days as I am intensely allergic to mosi bites and my legs swelled up badly!

If you are not bothered about eating there really are some great places to watch illuminations from - no need to spend a fortune on a meal to do so. However, if youre going to eat anyway.. then its a great place to watch.

No one has ever obscured our view in any way whilst we were there, and the servers keep "serving" to an absolute minimum during the show. We usually eat at around 7.30 and string it out.

I agree with other choices such as Whispering Canyon Cafe (great for a skillet breakfast), Boma's - our 5 yr old loves this food and the restaurant. But our all time favorite is Ohanas at the polynesian. Great for those on the Atkins diet too!! Its a great family restaurant - with lots of family interaction and great food.

Oh and the liberty tree at MK and of course the castle.. just for the experience.

 

[Miffy2003]

We had lunch at the Rose & Crown recently and were pleasantly surprised by the food there. I had heard negative things about it so maybe my expectations were somewhat low, but it was a nice meal.

We loved Kona Cafe! We had breakfast there last month. If you want more detail check out Day Six of my Trip Report.

Cheers

Karen

 

[badger1518]

Thanks for the all the help, now we are spoiled for choice I will comment on the resturants in our trip report
Thanks again

Steve

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
I have eaten at the Rose and Crown on several occasions and went there last NYE and was not impressed. Service was poor and so was the food. The prime rib was no longer on the menu, cost me $75 for two people in total about $70 too much imho. Perhaps they are just trying to make it a more authentic "British" dining experience..!!

Mick.