First night in WDW...WHICH RESTAURANT??

[jenjersnap]

We too try to choose the upbeat places to get our vacay started on a fun note ... some of our favorite first night options have been mentioned: HDDR, 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's and WCC. We sat next to a lovely group of adults at 1900 PF last November who were having a great time, LOL.

I love both the Brown Derby and Jiko but I don't find them as "fun" though the food is worth seeking out, much more so than the options mentioned above.

 

[jimmytammy]

Ohana IMO is a wonderful start to any WDW trip, especially if you can time it around Wishes. It is a relaxing meal, you dont waste a park ticket just to eat and it is good. WCC is fun, but after traveling, a bit wavering on the nerves. Try it a bit later in the trip.

 

[followme2disney]

My vote is for 'Ohana in this situation. It is fun, without being over the top. It is very Disney to me. The food is really pretty good. It is a nice, but casual atmosphere. And I always enjoy walking down to the beach after my meal and relaxing while we wait to watch the fireworks and the water pageant.

 

[MamaJen]

If you want a fun dinning experience the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is the way to go. My DH and I love it! It is so much fun, you get to laugh and have dinner too! If you do want to do the Brown Derby and Fantasmic experience than that is a good way to go. The show is absolutely amazing and you get to sit in an exclusive part of the show... very cool. The Brown Derby itself is good, I definitely liked the Cobb salad (although I could have done without the Blue Cheese...EEWWW!) After thinking about what I had had at the Brown Derby I remembered that I had the steak which was okay but not as good as the steak I had had at the Coral Reef. I think this is a wonderful suggestion. The Coral Reef is amazing... You get to see all these wonderful fish swimming by and the atmosphere is great. I didn't think it was a too upscale and I thought it had good food. I'm not a seafood person, so I had the steak and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it, best I have ever had. My DH had the rueben sandwich and he thought it was good.

Just thought I would throw my two cents in too Hope I helped

 

[alldiz]

Food at the Brown Derby is good...
I like the fantasmic idea....

Cali Grill is always great....time it with wishes....

OR Flying Fish....then you guys can walk around the boardwalk.
Enjoy
Kerri

 

[wiserabbit]

If you want somewhere you can carry on a conversation then the Brown Derby with Fantasmic is a great choice - food was very good and with the dinner package, you get a good selection of menu options....

If you want pure atmosphere and don't want to use park ticket - our family always enjoys Rainforest Cafe at DTD....try the crab dip it is really yummy...

Or Raglan Road - great show- great music - but very loud!!!!!

Have a great trip

 

[Lzylitnin]

I would have to go with Kona Cafe. The food and service has always been wonderful for us. Nice, casual atmosphere.

After dinner you could walk around the Polynesian grounds, enjoying the tiki torches, maybe buy a couple of drinks from the shop upstairs and sit on the beach to watch MK fireworks.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I always liked to do Kona on our first day when we would go for vacation. The atmosphere of the Poly really says "you're on vacation!!!!!" and it's a short and very scenic monorail trip to (or from) MK (which of course has to be the first park!).