First Timers - Restaurant Suggestions?

[Des2]

This will be our first trip to WDW. My children are 10 and 11. What are the "must restaurants" if you are on a budget? Thanks!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Depends on if you mind sharing and if you want table service meals or quick-service.

For table service, look for buffets for the best value over all.


Some great values for sharing:

Cosmic ray's counter service at MK...chicken and ribs combo is more than enough to share.
dole whips at aloha island and funnel cakes at sleepy hollow are reasonable treats.
Pecos bills in MK also has a new fried chicken dinner with potatoes and corn and they have a fixin's bar there with sauteed onions and mushrooms and basically a mini salad bar. You can really stretch a meal there with adding from the fixin's bar.

EPCOT-morocco counter service has a chicken platter that is easily shared.
in the back of France there is a pastry shop with reasonable pastries and ham and cheese croisants.
the mexican cantina outdoors also has reasonable combo meals.

At downtown disney, Wolfgang puck express has HUGE meals that are easily shared.
Earl of sandwich has DELICIOUS sandwiches and salads and wraps for about $6.
Goofy's candy company has make your own treats for a couple dollars...fun treat!

There is a list of restaurants with options and prices available here:

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

hope that helps you plan a bit.

Don't worry about any MUST-DO dining unless your kids are interested in a certain character meal. The food at Disney, for the most part, has become mass produced due to the popularity of the dining plan. So, the quality pretty much everywhere is about the same as a T.G.I fridays (with a few exceptions that are better or worse).

Just keep in mind that your best bet is to stick to counter service meals and to share often. Meals at CS are huge. You can always get a snack or something else later if you need it.

 

[sharkman]

I would not miss going to 50's Prime Time Cafe at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This could be a fun treat for the hole family.

 

[chwilk]

Unless your children are really good eaters you can probably share 2-3 CS meals for the 4 of you no matter where you eat.

 

[mmtska]

If you are interested in Character dining, try breakfast buffets! You get Character interaction and the buffets are cheaper at breakfast. Eat enough there and a snack would probably hold over until a small CS dinner.

 

[LMO429]

I would say Ohana because its family style dining. I thought the prices were reasonable for all the food we got.


and I think a 10 and 11 year old would enjoy sci fi at hollywood studios

 

[wwaleye]

When we went to Disney when our children were that age and we did not participate in the dining plan we found that sharing meals at counter service was absolutely doable!

Pop/water is incredibly expensive, we each had a bottle of water that we took to the parks and refilled at water fountains.

For a nice sit down meal, we thought the best bang for the buck was buffets, (although your children may be considered adults which would let that out,) Prime Time, Kona, and other resort restaurants.

The first time we did any kind of dining plan, was QS coupons. As someone that is really frugal, some would say cheap, I liked having some prepaid meals. Saying that, I may consider purchasing the QSDP.

 

[caroline1851]

Is there any Disney food good on a budget?

Large CS servings and good: Flame Tree BBQ and Wolfgang Puck Exp

TS our family enjoyed (all over-priced): Crystal Palace, CRT, Coral Reef, maya Grill, Sci-Fi

 

[wwaleye]

Sorry, I forgot. If you do any sit down meals, lunch is less expensive and just as nice. Also gives you a nice break during the day. If you are OOP, there is no problem splitting meals at sit down places too. A couple of times, my daughter would get the meal, I would get an app because I knew she wouldn't be able to eat everything.

 

[eventamy]

We actually found Sci-Fi fairly reasonable. It's just burgers, fries and shakes for us (veggie burger for me). Plus you can't beat the ambience, it's a fun place!
The Plaza at MK is very reasonably priced and it's a TS.
T-Rex is expensive but the portions are absolutely humongous! And very shareable! So I would just get 2 entrees for 4-5 people and you'd probably still have some left over!

 

[Mouseturtle]

Cape May Cafe was a favorite for DS12 and one of the 1st we're going to book for our next trip. Excellent food, nice clean buffet, and a bright cheery atmosphere.

I also recommend Sci-Fi....I've heard complaints about the food- it's good not gourmet - but the atmosphere alone is worth the trip! And what kids dont like brugers and milkshakes

Have fun....I learned on my first trip every restaurant is kid friendly - after all it's Disney World!