Evening at a resort - Recomendations?

[atilley01]

We're staying offsite and planning a few days away from the parks but we'd like to spend those evenings exploring different resorts. We're looking for a kid-friendly restaurant and a fun activity to do after.

To give you an idea what I'm lookin for, one free night we'll head to the Contemporary and have dinner at Chef Mickey's and then do the Pirates and Pals Voyage. So does anyone have any recommendations for a fun evening at a different resort?

Thanks!

 

[rlovew]

Not sure if you consider Boma a kid friendly meal but if you eat at AKL you can then enjoy looking at the animals and the have various storytelling and such activities through the evening times.

You can also enjoy dining at Trail's End and then enjoy the campfire at Fort Wilderness.

You could eat at Boatwrights or one of the counter service places at POR/POFQ and then take a carriage ride(reserve ahead and pay activity).

 

[Kevin355]

Hoop-de-doo review at Fort Wilderness. Very kid friendly. Then take the boat to MK, walk over to the Contemporary and watch the fireworks.

 

[atilley01]

Not sure if you consider Boma a kid friendly meal but if you eat at AKL you can then enjoy looking at the animals and the have various storytelling and such activities through the evening times.

You can also enjoy dining at Trail's End and then enjoy the campfire at Fort Wilderness.

You could eat at Boatwrights or one of the counter service places at POR/POFQ and then take a carriage ride(reserve ahead and pay activity).

Great ideas! That's exactly what I had in mind. And DD5 does ok at sit down restaurants. I just wanted to stay away from anything formal.

 

[Cee]

Boardwalk! The performers there are great and keep the kids entertained.

 

[LisaCM614]

I would recommend an evening in the Epcot resort area.
Cape May at the BC has a very nice buffet - casual and good but my kids don't like seafood so we haven't gone back.
We also like Captains Grille at YC - regular American sit down restaurant fair in a casual setting - beef kebobs were really good.
You can then stroll over to the Boardwalk and rent surrey bikes enjoy the magicians and other entertainers on the Boardwalk, play Boardwalk games. You could also ride the Friendship Boats around Crescent Lake. They go from YC/BC to Epcot to BWI to Swan/Dolphin and DHS. Very pretty ride at night. You could go over the top and rent a boat to watch the fireworks at Epcot. That is a wonderful experience - we did that for a birthday treat one year.

 

[richmo]

Not sure if you consider Boma a kid friendly meal but if you eat at AKL you can then enjoy looking at the animals and the have various storytelling and such activities through the evening times...

Right...and Boma does have the standard mac and cheese, etc. on the buffet. AKL also has a nightly look at animals with night vision binoculars that is pretty cool. Its not heavily advertised, so you might have to ask a cast member when and exactly where they're doing it. It's a freebie...

 

[jon18uk]

Go over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, take a look at the animals from the viewing area, have dinner at Boma and then go back out to the viewing area for animal watching with night vision goggles

 

[elaine amj]

We had fun when we did the Boma evening meal after our day at AK. Did the night vision thing (a bit gimmicky but great for bragging rights) and then wandered the beautiful resort. We stumbled across the kids club and at that time, they had a Wii outside the club. My kids went and played with that for about a half hour while I chatted with the friendly CMs.

 

[PFopma]

Another vote for Boardwalk. Try Cape May Cafe at Beach Club for a meal. There are plenty of other choices in that area. It's also fun to watch Illuminations from the bridge.

We also liked Boma and exploring the resort and watching the animals.

 

[nalajms]

Another vote for Boardwalk. If the weather's good skip the TS and get a pizza and eat out on the boardwalk. My little ones run around chasing ducks and birds in between bites. Boardwalk bakery also has some nice sandwiches, and our kids' fav mac & cheese.

Rent a surrey bike, watch Illuminations, catch some boardwalk performers. They sometimes have the nightly movies out in the greens area.

 

[atilley01]

So many great ideas. Thanks everybody! I'm off to do some research to decide which to do.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I would go the Beach Club/Yacht Club or Boardwalk
Beaches and Cream is fun and casual for dining and Captains Grille is casual or ESPN club
The Beach Club has nightly movies on the beach for free and you can buy smores kits and make smores by the fire pit
You can walk around the Boardwalk or rent a surrey bike.
I think the better view of the fireworks is from the BC/YC boat dock compared to the bridge closer to Epcot.You will only see the higher fireworks though.

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

Just got back from AKL. Note that Boma is a buffet, breakfast and dinner only. DH and DD preferred the quick serve Mara over Boma. I didn't argue since Boma is pricey if you have picky eaters. The Mara was nice. Limited menu but quiet and well decorated. Watching the animals is fun. Depending on budget and if eaters are picky, there's also Wayamana (spelling?) safari.
We also went to the Boardwalk to check it out. Had dinner at The Flying Fish. While pricey, it's sit down, kid friendly, and the food and service was outstanding. DD was thrilled and wanted two kids meals. Grilled cheese which came with veggies (um, no thank you) and Mickey shaped pasta. Our waiter Bob offered the grilled cheese with Mickey shaped pasta as a side. Perfect - though the side of pasta was probably really a full serving. She ate everything. DH and I were equally pleased with our meals. Bob presented DD with a to go box full of Swedish fish when we were finished. We then watched some performers, checked out the candy store and bakery and planned which Boardwalk area resort we wanted to stay at next trip.
All that being said, we enjoyed the Boardwalk.

 

[Chickp]

I know someone mentioned Trail's End and Fort Wilderness, and that makes a GREAT evening (and is not quite so pricey as the HoopDeDo). After you eat, you can walk or take the bus to the singalong show with Chip and Dale. You can buy or bring stuff for s'mores and make them at the campfire, and then meet Chip and Dale (it's FREE). Then you can watch the movie under the stars on the big screen. We stayed there a month ago and it was one of our favorite things we did!