Fave restuarant on monorail?Traveling with senior parent

[reneesam]

I'm traveling in May with my 79 yr old mom (just the 2 of us) staying at BWV. I was going to plan dinner at one of the MK hotels that would be easy to get to from the monorail. Any suggestions? I was thinking of tea at GF, also. Any thoughts on this?

I'd also greatly appreciate any advice on restuarants that are well liked and easily accessible for seniors. Thanks...this is a very different look at restuarants for me as we usually travel with little ones!

Renee

 

[MHopkins2]

Renee - what kind of food do you and your DM like? And what's your budget (ish)?

 

[reneesam]

We like all kinds of food, although mom is less adventerous than I am and might appreciate some traditional selections. This might be my only trip to WDW with mom, so I'll plan to splurge for her!

 

[cindy_k]

'Ohanas is my favorite Monorail restaurant! At the lovely Polynesian hotel.

They have a friendly atmosphere.

Here's a link to the menu: http://wdwig.com/menu/menu_oh.htm
Its an all you care to eat restaurant.

Enjoy your trip!!
Cindy in NY

 

[barbeml]

I think you might both enjoy California Grille at the Contemporary. Incredible views, great service and wonderful food. We shared a flatbread appetizer, I had the free-range chicken (melts in your mouth), hubby had salmon (he said it was excellent). Chocolate Hazelnut Pyramid for dessert was to die for. This was a better bargain than our lunch at Coral Reef! Plus, we got to see the fireworks.

Hope you both have a fabulous trip.

 

[MHopkins2]

Since $$ aren't a big concern and you don't have any particular food preferences, I'd recommend either California Grill (Contemporary) or Citrico's (Grand Floridian). If $$ becomes NO concern, then go to Victoria & Albert's!!

 

[ducklite]

The California Grill, Citrico's and Narcooses are all fabulous.

That said, keep in mind that it is a LONG walk from the BWV to the monorail--over a mile through Epcot, so if that is how you plan on getting there, you might want to rethink it depending on your mom's stamina.

As far as the GF tea goes, ABSOLUTELY! It is simply one of my very favorite things at WDW.

Anne

 

[MHopkins2]

Ugh, Anne, you're right about the walk. I had it in my head that the OP mentioned "on Magic Kingdom day," but on re-reading, it isn't there. (Duh. ) My recommendation in that case is to get a cab - should be ~ $15 with tip; well worth it IMO to save either a big walk or two bus rides (BWV --> DTD --> MK Resort).

 

[reneesam]

Thanks all...

I was planning to do this on MK day (sorry I wasn't clear.) I also think mom will need a wheelchair for all but the very shortest walks.

 

[ducklite]

The only problem with doing many of the restaurants suggested on the MK day is that some have requested dress "codes" of business casual, and a lot of theme park attire would be too casual for dining in an upscale resort restaurant IMHO.

Here's a thought--book for an Epcot or MGM day. Take the bus to the MK from the BWV, then hop the monorail to the restaurant. The MK never closes before 7:00pm, so you'll be able to catch a bus anytime before then. I would plan on about an hour to get from the BW to any of those resorts this way--it could take as little as 25 minutes if you make all the connections, but especially at the GF, the atmosphere is so lovely that you'll want to spend a little time looking around, so getting there early isn't a bad thing.

You might also want to rent a wheelchair for your DM from one of the local medical supply places--they'll deliver it right to the resort for you and then pick it up. That way you'll have it--even around the BWV the walks can be long.

Anne

 

[reneesam]

Thank you all sooooo much! Maybe we can do the tea on our MK day...or would we be dressed too casually? Do we need PS for tea? Which "level" of tea do you prefer? I was thinking "tea for two"?

Please keep giving your wonderful advice. I want to make it very special!

Renee

 

[ducklite]

On my last WDW trip I went to tea in nice shorts and a nice blouse, and felt underdressed--I was definitely the least dressed up person in the room.

The time before that I was in a sundress and felt "just right".

I do believe that they request "no cut off, no tank tops", but for the most part people seem to dress for tea--a lot of ladies wear sun dresses.

I've seen a lot of hats there too

Anne

 

[AmyA]

Hi! I totally agree with everyone's suggestions about making your "nice" monorail dinner on a non-MK day.

However, if you want a nice table service meal after your MK day, I suggest the Kona Cafe at the Poly. It casual enough where you won't feel out of place in your park attire, and the food is awesome! Plus, the atmosphere of the Poly is so relaxing.

 

[crisi]

Narcoosee's is wonderful, but too far away from the central resort to be reached easily by someone who can only do short walks.

I think you'd be more comfortable in "dressy" park attire at a restaurant than tea. There are certainly a lot of people at any of these restaurants in long shorts or a summer skirt and a polo shirt or summer blouse. If your idea of park attire for you and your mother is short shorts and a halter or a twenty year old Grateful Dead t-shirt - or you are planning on getting sweaty in the parks (if your mom is 70, I can't imagine either of you in a halter top - or pacing yourselves in the parks to be "wrung out" at dinner), you won't be comfortable. (Certainly, you won't want shorts at all at V&As, but "business casual" at my place of work includes long shorts/summer skirts/skorts and collared short sleeve shirts - which is often my park attire).

 

[Marla Hellwig]

California Grill or if the budget will allow how about Victoria & Albert's for a very special dinner

 

[BCV23]

I think you'd be fine at any monorail restaurant in neat park attire with the exception of V&A. We've dined at Narcoossee, Citrico and CG many times and have always seen people in "park clothes" as well as others who have dressed up a bit. Given your mother's mobility issues, I think you should make life as easy as possible for both of you and not worry about your dress.

My DD who has cp uses a wheelchair at WDW. I don't think you need to worry about any monorail restaurant for access. As crisi mentionned Narcoossee is a bit of a walk but if your Mom is in a chair it should be no problem. It's perhaps a 3 minute walk from the main building. All the other monorail restaurants are very handy. In fact the monorail resorts in general are wheelchair friendly. The biggest problems we've encountered in all of WDW are at Y&B Club where some ground level exits lead directly to stairs with no ramp in sight.

BTW I would second CG or V&A.

 

[TDC Nala]

I did the tea in shorts and Disney 2000 tee shirt. Didn't see anyone dressed much better except the folks actually wearing long pants.

I'd pick Kona Cafe. Right inside from the monorail.

Narcoosee's would be nice too but you'd have to push the wheelchair a good ways to get there from the monorail.

I definitely wouldn't do V&A coming from a park because you've got to dress to the nines for that (always loved that expression).

 

[jaysue]

Narcoosee's has very good food and a great view over the lagoon back towards the MK and the monorail and the Contemporary. However, I would concur with some of the other posts above that it is a bit of a hike. From the Monorail station at the GF, you basically have to traverse the full length of the grounds back to the lagoon side - however another option for this restaurant:

Take the boat launch from the MK to the GF dock which is very close to the restaurant

We were quite comfortable in our reasonably decent park outfits in the restaurant

Good Luck

Thanks
Jason

 

[BCV23]

Much as we love taking the launch to the GF or the Polynesian it is not very easy in a wheelchair. You have to fold up the chair, hoist it in and help the individual into the boat down a good size step. My husband can lift our daughter in but I could never do it myself.

 

[jaysue]

Thanks for sharing the insight on the viability of the boat launch - good info to have

Thanks
Jason