first time not on dining plan...

[gigi1313]

so we will be going outside our "comfort zone" of disney restaurants... because we can!!!

staying at BWI/Innkeepers' Club so we won't be needing b'fast most days... thinking about some of the following, and i know there are things to "learn" about them (like get a membership for rainforest to get priority seating? i read it somewhere here, would love add'l info):

• big river brewing co... anything special i should know? ADRs necessary?
  
• espn restaurant... best to avoid on monday nights (football and all that, although i'm sure ds would prefer we be there!)?
  
• rainforest cafe... any difference in dtd vs AK locations? also, about that "club" thing...
  
• t-rex...
  
• planet hollywood...
  
• house of blues... sunday brunch recommendations vs dinner?
  
• swan/dolphin restaurants
  

also hoping to try a few disney restaurants that we've not visited in a long time (or ever)...

• nine dragons...
  
• the plaza...
  
• brown derby (never willing to part w/two credits)...

also, do any of these restaurants offer online (or print) coupons? available on restaurant.com? etc... any hints, tips, info, insider scoop, etc appreciated!

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

We just ate at Big River Grill a few days ago. They do not take reservations. We waited about 30 minutes. Played a game and walked around a bit on the Boardwalk near the restaurant. Food was great.
When we went to Rainforest Cafe back in September I had found coupons online for it.
Not sure about coupons for other restaurants.

 

[Pakey]

Restaurants.com has coupons for Swan/Dolphin.

Also you can get complimentary childcare while dining at the upscale eateries at Swan/Dolphin. You can google Camp Dolphin for info.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

[

• nine dragons...
  
• the plaza...
  
• brown derby (never willing to part w/two credits)...

also, do any of these restaurants offer online (or print) coupons? available on restaurant.com? etc... any hints, tips, info, insider scoop, etc appreciated![/QUOTE]

When we stay club level - if we use it to take advantage of appetizers or evening desserts) especially, then you REALLY don't need DDP too. BWI was among the best food-wise.

We dined last summer at the brewpub. No wait, but it was around 2pm. No ADR's taken. If you go at a peak time, you may have to wait for table. That's about it.One of the best places to dine on your list of places.

I'm no expert on ESPN, but I don't think there's ever much of a wait. Then again, the food's not that great either. I recall mostly heavy, American-type food. Lots of fried. Hard to find something light or healthy-ish.

I have a RC membership. It cost me $15 some time ago. We rarely use it. The food is not horrible, but the portions are very large, and it is, IMO, more highly processed food than some places. It suffers from the same problem that so many chain restaurants have. Go to be a tourist and enjoy the fun atmosphere, not for great food. T-rex is run by the same company , and seems to suffer the same fate.

Also, judging from the faces we saw last time we visited the T-Rex gift shop (did not dine), their faces told the same story. Appeared service was not overly quick. Most kids appeared to enjoy, but you can take a look via the gift shop and save yourself soem $$, then walk over to Wofgang Puck's quick serve place and get much better food for half the price.

I think PH is about the same, more tourist trap than quality.

While HoB kind of suffers some of the same, this one is probaly more worth while. We dined there alst trip with a coupon from Restaurant.com. Even still, was not worth what we paid. The other problme I had there was that it was COLD. I really dislike having cold air blowing on me all through dinner. The place was freezing with cold air blowing on us. Granted it was a cool rainy night. Manyother folks also looked cold; eating with their jackets on. Too bad. Perhaps it was unusual though since it was a slightly unseasonably cool evening in FL.

It's been a bit since I've dined directly at teh Swan or Dolphin, but in the apst we stayed there many times. Of your list, I'd say many are pretty good, if a again - a bit pricey for what you get. You can get Restaurant.com coupons often for several places there. WE were going to go to the sushi place last summer, but never quite made it over that way. In the past the sushi there was quite good, but that was some time ago. We didn't go mostly because we had las minute guests with us that were not huge sushi lovers.

If I were you- and I'm not - but if I was - I'd go with a few of the places on your list, but not all of them. If you start to get tired of the touristy places, then - in your neck of the woods - consider The Captain's Grille in BC. Flying Fish is also quite good for the money.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks for the great feedback so far

just tried to join RF club... have to join in person... DRAT! we don't have one near us... can you join at DTD and use it right then and there?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think you can join in person, but if you aren't going to use more than once, then's it's probably not worth it. It costs $15 to join (or maybe more now?), and usually gives you 10% discount. If you don't use it at least once a year, it goes dormant.

I used mine a bit when it was new, that's it. It used to also be good at Joe's Crab shack - supposedly - but they never wanted to give us the piority seating or the discount there. It was embarrassing to have to argue with the manager, and Joe's food is not that great.

Rainforest was better about giving us a little priority in seating, but it doesn't work quite as one might hope. They don't give you the VERY next available table -they just shorten your wait a little, if there's a wait. Think about it, other folks who had been waiting the full time would get upset if you walked up and got truly the very next table. They kind of mix you into the crowd, so to speak, if they even give you priority at all.

Chances are there won't be much wait when you go. I'd only join if there's a long wait for a table, your party is big enough that you think 10% will cover most of that joining fee, or you plan on buying LOTS of merchandise.

If you decide to try and get the appetizer discount- you have to ASK carefully BEFORE you order. It's only one (inexpensive) appetizer that qualifies usually - and it may not be one to your liking. Then it's still a gamble - as they could co back to you,like they did to us more than once to say, "Oops! No, you don't get the discount. We goofed. Your appetizer doesn't qualify, you had to order XXXX." (When you have already been given the bill)

 

[jlhay]

Restaurant.com has house of blues too. Was a promo code for extra savings not sure when it ends but try DINE in promo box

 

[gigi1313]

wow mickeyluv'r that sounds like it could be more of a pita than it's worth... however, it's my understanding that trex and rainforest cafe both qualify and there's a good chance we will be eating at both... so it might be worth it for us...

as far as not being busy, i expect it will be since it's the week leading up to thanksgiving...

can the membership (which i thought i read online was only $10) be purchased at either restaurant?

 

[Seahunt]

When you get a little closer you can sign up at Big River online for some email specials, like discounts on your meal, free appetizers, etc. Don't sign up too far in advance, because you might get a "Welcome to Big River" deal that expires before you can use it

http://bigriver.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W

Choose the "Lake Buena Vista" for favorite location so you get the specials for the Boardwalk Big River

Menu
http://www.bigrivergrille.com/index.php?pg=location&sub=loc&location_id=23

 

[gigi1313]

awesome, thanks seahunt!