First Timer! Please help!!

[kermittheturtle]

We will be going to Disney World for the first time ever in January with my 3 children ages 11,9,and 6. Any suggestions on which resturaunts we should go? I am on somewhat of a budget so we won't be eating out as much as I would like so I guess I'm looking for something my kids will think is totally "COOL". Any help would be appreciated. Thanks~

P.S. I have been lurking on these boards since March. It's finally hitting me that I will be going to DW in 134 days!!! This board has been so helpful in my trip planning. Thanks all.

 

[Tina]

I think kids generally have fun at 50's Prime Time at Disney Studios. The portions are quite large and you could easily share a couple of entrees. That should help the budget while still taking in all of the Disney fun.

 

[GoodFairies]

Depending on the meal you would like to do:

Chef Mickey's for breakfast

Garden Grill for lunch

or 50's Prime Time Cafe for dinner

 

[Eeyore1954]

kermittheturtle, welcome to the DISboards!

If you want to give the kids a real treat, make a Priority Seating (PS) for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. It's a little pricey, but it's a buffet, so they can stock up and maybe do a lite counter service lunch at the park.

Chef Mickey's is a fast-paced, dare I say frentic, character breakfast. I don't care for the food, but many people love it. You can get a family picture taken (I think this costs extra, but I am not sure).

At the Disney Studios, Sci-Fi Drive-In is loads of fun. You sit in cars facing a drive-in movie screen showing campy, 50's B-movie clips. Lunch or dinner is fun there or as an alternative, stop in in the afternoon for a sundae, shake and some onion rings or fries.

The BEST burgers at WDW (JMO): Cosmic Rays counter service at MK. Cool place to stop for lunch and it's not too expensive (considering it's Disney!).

a really fun place for an ice cream treat: Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club resort. Go mid-afternoon from Epcot (exit the International Gateway & get your hands stamped). Yum!

 

[Peter Pirate]

I would recommend 'Ohana at the Poly. Lots of food choices and games that your 6 & maybe 9 year old would enjoy (my daughter is now 10 and just starting to feel awkward with them) plus an entertaining atmosphere (ukelele player and singer). Plus the food is great!

Also, Teppenyaki at Epcot. The Chef's almost always make it fun for the kids with their cooking style and shenanigans...Plus the food is very good.

 

[ColetteN]

I was also going to post Eeyore1954's suggestions.....

Sci-Fi at MGM is great for lunch - is cheaper than dinner. The burger with fries and a shake was rather large - I didn't finish mine, so one may be able to be shared by two of your children. (The shakes and onion rings afternoon snack is a great idea Eeyore1954!) Oh, they also have the cute light up ice cubes you can purchase for in the kids drinks.

Chef Mickey's is a great character meal for breakfast or dinner. Breakfast would be the cheaper option. Perhaps make the PS for later in the morning, and then you can skip "lunch" having an earlier dinner somewhere.

Hope that helps!

Colette

 

[daannzzz]

Aside from all those mentioned above (which are great places for kids) there are a few counter service places that would be okay too. These are a bit more economical. than the full service places.
Cosmic Rays has burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. It has an animatronic entertainer who will be fun for the kids to watch.
Pizzafari at the Animal Kingdom has a few different rooms with seating. Each room is decorated with animals and bugs that are fun to look at. Some of them are murals and some are carved wood ( or plastic) and glued onto the wall and beams.
Also at AK is Restaurantasaurus wich has Hamburgers and is a supposed paleantology students camp and there are some fun rooms to explore here.
At The Norway pavilion there is a bakery that serves sandwiches,with a shaded seating area that is right next to the Viking Boat play area.

 

[Bethel]

Definately go to the 50's Diner at MGM. My children were 12 and 9 and along with my mom and DH it was the most memorable event of that trip. Loads of fun. Loads of food. Can share an entree or if you can get your kids to order off the children's menu not too bad.

We love every thing in Japan at Epcot. This may be because I was an exchange student in Japan. The kids enjoy the fast food restaurant there but we always go to lunch at the Tempura Kiku. They have a kid's meal and the entrees are very filling for about $10 - 12. We either don't eat breakfast and have early lunch or eat cheap breakfast in our room and get the late lunch. I was willing to skip this next trip but the kids and DH insisted.

The "coolest" is to get Micky toppers for water/pop. We got Sorcerer Mickey at MGM and Safari Mickey at AK. I still bring these out for kids visitors at home.

 

[Bethel]

The Tempura Kiku is Japanese food that nearly all "American-style" eaters will like. Deep-fried seafood, veggies, etc. Very light batter that you can see thru. YUM.

 

[kermittheturtle]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. They all sound so great! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Wish we could eat every meal there, but.........
Is a PS a must for Chef Mickeys?
We live in a very small town so even McDonalds is a special treat for them. So anywhere is going to be so special. Thanks again~

 

[wilderness01]

Yes you should have a ps for Chef Mickey's. In January you would probably be ok with just "walking up" and making a reservation but a ps is just as easy to make with a shorter wait.

Chef Mickey's is a blast for the kid's. Food is so-so. The Crystal Palace (Pooh and Friends) in the MK is nice as well. They are both buffets so you can eat maybe a breakfast bar/fruit/juice for the am, the buffet for lunch (make it for the last lunch slot so it really counts for dinner) and then a light snack for dinner. Again maybe a fruit, granola bar, etc. Whenever we go to the buffets they are so filling that we definately don't do 3 or even 2 big meals that day.

Beaches n Cream at the BC is also fun. It really isn't too expensive there. I suggest that you check out the menu portion of this site and look at the prices. That will help you budget. Have fun.

 

[lwestwise]

Kermirttheturtle, I have been before without PS and gotten seated at CHef Mickey's after a little wait, but If you know you are going there, I would suggest PS. Your kids are at the age that you will just have to take the boat from Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary to Fort Wilderness and have Breakfast/Lunch or dinner at the Trails End (very reasonable) and until about 4:00 the petting zoo is open and its free. Real Neat. Also, there are pony rides for $3.00 for the little ones. At about 7pm there is a marshmellow roast and movies that they will love, Free. You can bring your own marshmellows. They do sell them for those that don't bring theirs and hot dogs, if you like. The campground itself is something that the kids will think is "cool".
Have a great time.
Linda