First time at WDW - what restaurants to go to?

[starry_solo]

I am going to WDW for my first time (maybe my only time) in May 2012 with a few friends to celebrate all our birthdays

What meals, character or otherwise, would you recommend?

We are staying at AKV for 3 nights (so 2 days to visit AKL and the water park), BCV for 7 nights (for Epcot and surrounding areas) and finishing it off with 4 nights at BLT.

I was thinking the Princess breakfast at Norway in Epcot, Hoop Dee Doo Revue (don't know where that is but my friend who has been to WDW 15 times recommends it), and Cinderella's Royal Table at MK for lunch. Is that enough? I read about Park Fare and other places too.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

 

[jrsmom]

We like the buffet at cape may at the beach club for both breakfast and dinner. Ohana, is good for both as well. We enjoyed the turf club at saratoga springs.

 

[DisneyMamato4]

We loved 'Ohana and is must do for us now. I don't know if they were just having a really good night but everything was just amazing.

If you are staying at AKL for a few days I would definitely give Sanaa a try, it was one of our best meals of the trip.

 

[Gina35]

I second the 'Ohana suggestion (Polynesian). It's a fun meal with a GREAT view of the MK castle. Cape May Cafe (BC) is a great & convenient character breakfast. The character interaction there is some of the best around; seems like they spend more time visiting each table.
Are you a group of young adults?

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

If you are staying at AKL for a few days I would definitely give Sanaa a try, it was one of our best meals of the trip.

I wholeheartedly agree. When we stayed at AKL we ate at Sanaa one night and then ordered room service (same menu as Sanaa) later in the trip. I wasn't sure if I would be able to find anything to eat when I first looked at the menu. I was VERY wrong. It is now one of my favorite restaurants at WDW.

If I were to ask my family, my daughters (8, 5, and 3) would choose Teppan Edo in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot. My husband would choose California Grill at the Contemporary.

Our favorite character meal is breakfast at Tusker House in AK.

Have a great trip! Happy Birthday (to all of you)!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Cape May Cafe is a great one for while you're at BCV, Boma and Sanaa for AKV, and Ohana at the Poly for while you're at BLT. Some other good choices are the 50's Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios, Liberty Tree Tavern and Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom, and Coral Reef and Les Chefs de France at Epcot.

 

[minnie mum]

If you get enough responses to your OP, you will probably get recommendations for almost every restaurant in WDW. Everyone has their favourites.
Have you taken a look at the Dining tab at the top of the page? I can also recommend the menu listings over on allears. Read over the menus and pick what appeals to YOU the most. If you ask for opinions of specifici restaurants you will usually get a lot of raves and an equal amount of nays. Totally understandable, since everyone's tastes are different, but not much help when you're trying to decide if you want to eat someplace you've never been before.

 

[saradela]

For me in this order:

1.- Ohana

2.- Cape May

3.- Boma

 

[wyonative78]

You'll definitely want to check out photos and menus. Here are some sites that have helped me tremendously!

Disney Food Blog
AllEars Menus
DIS Menus

Since you'll be at AKV, definitely stop by Boma. It's a buffet with traditional and African-influenced foods. I've only had dinner there, but have heard breakfast is wonderful. We'll be trying the breakfast in December.

California Grill would be a great spot for a special dinner. It's located at the top of the Contemporary and has amazing views of MK. Jiko at AKL is really nice, too.

It would also be fun for you to stop by Beaches and Cream at the BC/YC and try one of their Kitchen Sink Sundaes! Definitely a meal on it's own! Kitchen Sink YouTube Video!

Have Fun!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you like dining at Napa Rose, you have to go to Victoria and Albert's in the Grand Floridian. It definitely makes NR into a second class restaurant. It has it's own web site.

 

[Sugarlumples]

'Ohana and Boma are must-do's for us.

We also like:
Crystal Palace (breakfast - this is a Winnie the Pooh character meal)
50's Prime Time Cafe (the interactions with the servers = awesome!)
Sci-fi Dine in is also fun with the B movies playing in the background
Biergarten (you can meet new people because you are seated family style, meaning you sit with strangers )
Tangierine Cafe (this is a quick service place at Epcot, but it is soooo good)
Tusker House (breakfast and lunch are both good)

That's a few good ones in the Parks anyway. There are so many great restaurants you have a lot of wonderful options to choose from!

 

[Gina35]

The character breakfast at Crystal Palace in MK is also great. It's the Winnie the Pooh characters. The restaurant is lovely and if you can make an early enough ADR, you have all of Main Street just about to yourselves as you walk in. After you eat, you can head out to the most popular rides/attractions.
Have only been to CRT when my children were young, so I can't compare the 2 restaurants at this point.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I agree that you should hit Cape May cafe while on that side...We tried Sanaa for the first time (we have picky eaters who weren't willing until this trip) and everyone loved the food there!!! Boma also would be great while you are at AKV's... Also, we went to Via Napoli and the food was the best! My daughter is a very picky pizza eater and she said it was the best pizza she EVER tasted... a friend of mine said she has had pizza while in Italy and it is the closest you can get to actually being there Enjoy!

 

[Pirate Me]

Since you're at AKL, Boma and Sanaa are both great choices. I also love Kouzzina on the Boardwalk, which is walking distance to BCV. 'Ohana is great as well.

 

[GoGoBeans]

We love Boma and Jiko. Boma has so many wonderful things to eat. And eat, and eat. Jiko is very good too and we hit them both when we stay there. And it's one of the reasons we pick that resort.