First time to Disneyworld!

[KittyCate22]

My husband and I are spending 7 nights at All Star Music in January and it is both our first time to Disneyworld. I am a Disneyland veteran and have been going often for the last 10 years. my husband has been to Disneyland 3 times. This trip is a little last minute for us (booked with less then 100 days to go!) and I am struggling with how big WDW is compared to DL. I have our parks reserved, but am looking for any input on the best places to eat! We are looking for about 3 places to reserve and then will do quick service for the rest. All I know so far is we want to go to Trader Sams (my husband has never been).

Please please please rave me the places not to miss!!

 

[GoingSince1990]

Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom (having dinner in a castle is impossible in DL!)
Sci-Fi Dine in Theater in DHS- absolutely unique, nothing like it in DL
Epcot- all of the World Showcase restaurants are great. If you like British food the Rose and Crown fireworks package gives you an excellent vantage point to see the show.

 

[CynBeth]

Here are our favorites:

MK - Tony’s, Be Our Guest, Liberty Tree Tavern.
Epcot - Chefs de France, Space220, Tutto Italia, Le Cellier.
HS - 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood Brown Derby.
AK - Rainforest Cafe.
Disney Springs - The Boathouse.
Resorts - Boma breakfast and dinner at AKL. Whispering Canyon Cafe breakfast at WL, and Ale & Compass breakfast at YC.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

MK- Cinderella's Castle, Liberty Tree Tavern
HS- Sci Fi Dine In
Epcot - Via Napoli, Space 220
AK- Yak n Yeti
Resorts - Boma breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Topolino's at The Riveria for some character fun!
Disney Springs - Boathouse

 

[GoingSince1990]

MK- Cinderella's Castle, Liberty Tree Tavern
HS- Sci Fi Dine In, Space 220
Epcot - Via Napoli
AK- Yak n Yeti
Resorts - Boma breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Topolino's at The Riveria for some character fun!
Disney Springs - Boathouse

Space 220 is a good suggestion but it is in Epcot!

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

Space 220 is a good suggestion but it is in Epcot!

Yes I knew that!!! Hahaha thanks, I’ll fix!

 

[KittyCate22]

Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom (having dinner in a castle is impossible in DL!)
Sci-Fi Dine in Theater in DHS- absolutely unique, nothing like it in DL
Epcot- all of the World Showcase restaurants are great. If you like British food the Rose and Crown fireworks package gives you an excellent vantage point to see the show.

Thank you so much for the suggestions! We are definitely booking Be Our Guest!

 

[KittyCate22]

MK- Cinderella's Castle, Liberty Tree Tavern
HS- Sci Fi Dine In
Epcot - Via Napoli, Space 220
AK- Yak n Yeti
Resorts - Boma breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Topolino's at The Riveria for some character fun!
Disney Springs - Boathouse

OOh thank you! I had Yak and Yeti and Via Napoli on a list already so I will keep those for sure!

 

[Apiary]

A lot of these have better atmosphere than food.

 

[Her Dotness]

A lot of these have better atmosphere than food.

Definitely the case for BOG, which ranges wildly from good to why-are-we-paying-THIS-much-for-cold-food.

On the other hand, CRT is pretty consistently good anymore though once the high-priced place people hated on. Breakfast and dinner I can vouch for in terms of tastiness. We eat one, sometimes both, every trip.

You might want to post on the DL board, asking those who've been to both what their opinions of WDW restaurants are for a more meaningful perspective. I often see such remark that WDW food in general is nowhere near as good as that at DL. Last time I was at DL, Walt was still alive. (Yes, I'm that old! ) So, I can't offer any comparison.

 

[PrinceRaki]

Trattoria al Forno at the boardwalk just outside epcot - this is my favorite at WDW and must do every trip.
Boma at animal kingdom lodge - favorite breakfast at WDW. Buffet with delicious food and different flavors. Reservations are pretty easy to get
Teppan edo at epcot - food is great and a really nice different dining experience
Storybook dining at wilderness lodge - food is good but is a hard to get reservation, I enjoy going there if I find a open spot but will not die for it. There are characters so is expensive
Tusker house at animal kingdom - prefer Boma but here you can see characters in safari outfits. Not sure if it went back to buffet, after covid it turned into family style and haven't tried it since
Satuli Canteen (quick service) at animal kingdom in Pandora- best quick service on property, next to it is Pongu Pongu where you can find beverages with boba balls so goood!

These are my absolute favs! Other restaurants just find good for the ambiance because food is meh. I find them not worth it (Space 220 was a one and done for us, so expensive and standard quick service food). Toppolinos is good at dinner and breakfast only if you are into characters and willing to pay $60 for eggs and waffles.

I would say check the menus on MDE and choose what you think you will lile the most. I see different opinions for every restaurant all the times

 

[tundra1]

All the food at Animal Kingdom is good... we have never had a bad meal there. We especially like Satuli'i Canteen. Even Harambe Market has good rice bowls and Salad bowls.

 

[_19disnA]

A lot of these have better atmosphere than food.

I agree, it is difficult to suggest Disney restaurants to others without knowing their budget, taste preferences, etc.

We ate at BOG for lunch under the old menu and were totally unimpressed. It was an odd mish/mash of QS & TS and the food very average. With the new pricey fixed menu we would NEVER plan to eat there again.

Disney food is generally expensive because part of what you are paying for is the atmosphere. How much that is worth to each person is very subjective. I would make sure to look on the official Disney website to see the current menus. Many TS places are now pricey fixed menus which we don't think is worth the price regardless of the atmosphere.

 

[holden]

Our favorites are:

Tiffins (AK)
Nomad Lounge (AK) - no reservations accepted
Shula’s (Dolphin)

Other decent places:
Hollywood Brown Derby (DHS)
Boma (AKL)

 

[mjl1993]

From a resorts side if you wanted to spend some time exploring outside the parks:

Yachstmans Steakhouse at the yacht club

Sanaa at Kidani Village (can be done as a table service in the lounge as we just head for the bread service)

Dinner at the whispering canyon at Wilderness lodge is great value for what you get

 

[nicksinger8]

DHS - Mama Melrose. The food was ok, but the atmosphere was incredible. Best Italian I have ever been to for atmosphere.

Epcot - the fish and chips in the UK pavillion were incredible.

MK - I enjoyed the atmosphere at Columbia House enormously, but again food was ok.

Animal Kingdom - we went to the Rainforest Cafe twice. We loved it, but maybe better with kids (mine were 8 and 10). That said my wife and I went in 2004 and adored it (then boyfriend and girlfriend aged 22). Food was good, but again the atmosphere is so much fun.

Disney Springs - Blaze Pizza. Delicious and really good value.

 

[chrisjmoore]

We like Narcosees when it used to be open at the Grand Floridian. Boathouse is great. Also Hollywood Derby. Chef Mickeys is still family style and seems over priced for what you get In my humble opinion.