First night nicer QS recommendation?

[DisneyDreams15]

I'm just going to go ahead and assume I won't get the 'Ohana reservation I am longing for, so I'm looking for NON-PARK QS recommendations for our first night. The only non-park QS we've experienced are: Captain Cooks, Wolfgang Puck Express, and Landscape of Flavors (just my parents did that one). I would have no problem doing WPE on the first night but am hoping for more "nicer" QS suggestions to look into as far as both atmosphere (could be the atmosphere of the general area as well) and food.

Get me excited in spite of my likely disappointment about the 'Ohana rez!

 

[Nancyg56]

Okay, it is not one of the "nicer" QS, but I would think about Beaches and Cream, pay OOP and then enjoy the Boadwalk. I like to resort hop, and I enjoy teh shops and evening on the Boardwalk, so I would think about heading over to that area. I would not waste a TS credit here, but woudl pay OOP. It is reasonable.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

In our opinion . . .
Parks:
. . . EP: Sunshine Seasons
. . . MK: Columbia Harbour House (BoG a close second, for some people)
. . . AK: Flame Tree (good ribs)
. . . HS: Backlot Epress
. . . BB: Lottawatta Lodge
. . . TL:. Typhoon Tilly's
. . . DTD:Earl of Sandwich
Resorts:
. . . DEL: Capt Cook's at Poly
. . . MOD:Sassagoula Flatworks at POFQ
. . . VAL: Landscapes of Flavor at AoA
. . . DVC: Artist Pallette at SSR

 

[BalooFan]

I recommend Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian. Go there in the evening, sit at an outside table, walk around the grounds, and head to the dock for the Electrical Water Pageant. The Boardwalk area is also nice in the evening, but I think the seating at the Boardwalk Bakery is limited. However, if you get something portable, you can eat it at one of the many benches around the lagoon. There is also nighttime entertainment and you can see the fireworks from Illuminations from the bridge between the Boardwalk and Epcot.

 

[Nancyg56]

I recommend Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian. Go there in the evening, sit at an outside table, walk around the grounds, and head to the dock for the Electrical Water Pageant. The Boardwalk area is also nice in the evening, but I think the seating at the Boardwalk Bakery is limited. However, if you get something portable, you can eat it at one of the many benches around the lagoon. There is also nighttime entertainment and you can see the fireworks from Illuminations from the bridge between the Boardwalk and Epcot.

This is a good one I think. The tables out on the patio give a nice view of the Marina. The food is good as well!

 

[GreatLakes]

Boma is my normal arrival day meal. I get into Disney, check in, and then head over to AKL. I'll spend some time looking around the resort and savannas and then have dinner.

 

[Dis703]

I've yet to experience a QS location that I'd make a special trip for, so I'd first try and figure out where you'd like to be that evening. I like the suggestion of the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk bakery for me would be an ideal QS location. It has some good food options, but more of a draw is the ambiance of eating on the Boardwalk and the evening entertainment.

If there is a specific resort you'd like to explore most have decent options for QS.

 

[sunflare]

I've heard The Fountain at the Swolphin is very good.

 

[tluvstink]

I really like the QS at POR however it may not be the most convenient option. They have a create your own pasta that's amazing. After dinner you can go to the lounge and listen to Yee-Haw Bob or take a carriage ride around the resort.

Going to Ft. Wilderness might be fun too. There is a To go place where you can get food and, I believe, you would eat outside at picnic tables. After dinner you could go to the camp fire with Chip-N-Dale and I think there are carriage rides there also.

 

[LJSquishy]

How early will you arrive on your first night? I was thinking that if you arrive during daylight, you could visit AKL and eat at The Mara and then walk around the resort and look at the animals out on the savanna. I've heard it's one of the best quick service places to eat (we'll be there for the first time next week!). Even if you arrive after dark, they do offer night vision goggles to view the animals at night (for free, you just have to take turns). That might make for a magical first night.

My other suggestion would be maybe Gasparilla Grill at The Grand Floridian...again, I haven't eaten there yet, but it gets high reviews in terms of food. I wouldn't say the restaurant area itself is beautiful, but GF would be nice to walk around and explore.

Or, even POR...then do a horse carriage ride (it's POR that does that, right??).

 

[christianweecare]

Wolfgang Puck Cafe Express at Disney Springs always has good food, as well. Then you can visit Disney Springs.

 

[christianweecare]

This is a good one I think. The tables out on the patio give a nice view of the Marina. The food is good as well!

We have been going to WDW for 40 years and I never knew that there was a 24 hour counter service at the Grand Floridian! See what you can learn on the Disboards! I am assuming by your description that it close to the marina??

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Is the Boardwalk pizza window still
there? When I was younger, we thought it was so fun, on our first night, to get pizza on the Boardwalk and hang out. The pizza isn't out of this world or anything, but the Boardwalk just feels so Disney.
Seating can be an issue, though, so this is really weather-dependent.

Artist's Palette at SSR is one of our fave resort QS. Others on the board don't love it but we do, and it's good proximity to Disney Springs if you want to hang out there after.

 

[Nancyg56]

We have been going to WDW for 40 years and I never knew that there was a 24 hour counter service at the Grand Floridian! See what you can learn on the Disboards! I am assuming by your description that it close to the marina??

Is it 24 hour? I had no idea!!

It's close to the marina to see the water iirc. It was closed this August when we were there do my memory is foggy