First trip in a while: what's new in dining?

[megs1313]

Just booked this week. We haven't been since June of 2012 and are headed back this April. Here is where we have dined before:

Character:
Akershus (breakfast, didn't care for it)
Tusker House (breakfast, loved it)
CRT (breakfast, loved it)
Chef Mickey's (breakfast, loved it)
Disney Jr @H&V (lunch, this was a long time ago, though so the characters are totally different)
1900 PF (dinner, it was just OK)

TS:
Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner, did not like, but has this restaurant been updated since 2012?)
Tony's Town Square (lunch, absolutely hated)
Coral Reef (with the CP package, it was just OK)
California Grill (this was one of our all time favorites, but not sure with the refurb)
Kona Cafe (just OK, we were staying at the poly so it was easy)
Whispering canyon cafe (love)

I'm needing to make ADRs ASAP since we didn't book until after the 6 month window....I'd like to try places we haven't been, but we're probably limited to 5 TS meals total and we MUST do at least one character meal because this is DD2's first trip. She's little, so really any characters will do. I'm not sure if we should try for BOG. I love going to resort TSs so we can scope out other resorts we may want to stay at on future trips. We will have a car so transportation isn't a huge issue.

I'd also love QS recs for each of the parks since we haven't done much in terms of QS dining in the past and I'm sure a lot has changed. We'll spend two days each at MK and Epcot, not sure whether or not we'll go to AK. One day at DHS. TIA!

 

[TotesByDN]

My fiancé and I went in 2013, again for nine days this past October, and we're headed back for our honeymoon this August.

These are our "OMG WE CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS PLACE" restaurants:

-Ohana Breakfast! We've decided to make it a tradition to make this our "see you real soon" breakfast the last day of our trip every year. You can't help but smile there (I'm always so sad the morning we leave you'd think I was a toddler lol), and the food is so good!

-the Luau at Poly... This year was our first time doing this. It was super nice for just the two of us, but there was tons of families with kiddos having a ball too. Something for everyone. The food is all you care to enjoy and HOLY CANNOLI ITS OUT OF THIS WORLD. Love love love.

-Cape May Cafe: fiancé LOVES seafood. I'm not a big fan of it. We both loved this restaurant. While it wasn't the highlight of my trip, it WAS the highlight of his, so I enjoyed watching him enjoy it. I mostly filled up on Mac and cheese and chicken from the little kids section lol, but no one looked at me funny or cared lmao. (and their dessert bar was excellent!)

-we love Olivia's just because we stayed at old key west our first trip together and OKW feels like "home" to us. The food is nothing special, but the service is excellent and it's a quiet little escape from the parks. Nice for a break if you're starting to feel burnt out

-Via Napoli. I wasn't very hungry when we went here so I just ordered an appetizer of arancini... And I've been dreaming about those damn things ever since. SO GOOD! I don't even remember what fiancé had but he loved it too! Rave rave raved about it.

Everything we've eaten at Disney was good, but those are our top 5. I always say there's no food like Disney food. You really can't go wrong!

(And for the love of all things good PLEASE be sure to go to ghiradelli and get a dark chocolate sundae!!! Ecstasy!)

 

[LinderInWonderland]

DH and I were all about the salads for our CS meals on our last trip, but there are so many places we didn't go (only because one can only eat so much).

On our next trip, we are trying places we have never been with a few repeats:

New:
BOG for dinner on our last night
Raglan Road at Disney Springs (dinner)
Spice Road Table (have a late reservation, maybe we can get IllumiNations view)
The Plaza
We might try Skippers Canteen, but I am the only one excited about the menu.
Boardwalk Bakery on arrival day
Either Flame Tree BBQ or Harambe Market
Hopefully there will still be Star Wars themed foods when we go
Boma for breakfast

Repeats
'Ohana for breakfast: Love it. I prefer all you care to eat over buffets, but for me it's all about those tasty breakfast sausages.
Biergarten: DH and DSIL's favorite place as they are both of German descent. I enjoyed it, but buffets are kind of wasted on me.
Chefs de France: I am obsessed with this place, but we're only going for apps this time. DH and I dream about their escargot.

 

[PatsGirl]

At two years old, both my son and my daughter loved the Crystal Palace (Winnie, Piglet, Eyeore, Tigger) for breakfast. It was also super easy before a day at MK. We didn't do many character buffets but we did enjoy this one. We also did the obligatory Chef Mickeys a few times but they liked it better when they were older and preferred CP when younger.

 

[PatsGirl]

You didn't mention the ages of other kids? At Epcot, we find Sunshine Seasons works best for us and a great bang for your buck on the dining plan for QS. Easy to share a lunch there if you have young teens or adults who don't eat alot. We especially like the rotisserie chicken for a shared plate, plenty for two small eaters. I like the salmon and the asian dishes. This year we're planning to try the kiosk/fish shop at the UK but we won't have the dining plan.

 

[rcraw45425]

Just booked this week. We haven't been since June of 2012 and are headed back this April. Here is where we have dined before:

Character:
Akershus (breakfast, didn't care for it)
Tusker House (breakfast, loved it)
CRT (breakfast, loved it)
Chef Mickey's (breakfast, loved it)
Disney Jr @H&V (lunch, this was a long time ago, though so the characters are totally different)
1900 PF (dinner, it was just OK)

TS:
Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner, did not like, but has this restaurant been updated since 2012?)
Tony's Town Square (lunch, absolutely hated)
Coral Reef (with the CP package, it was just OK)
California Grill (this was one of our all time favorites, but not sure with the refurb)
Kona Cafe (just OK, we were staying at the poly so it was easy)
Whispering canyon cafe (love)

I'm needing to make ADRs ASAP since we didn't book until after the 6 month window....I'd like to try places we haven't been, but we're probably limited to 5 TS meals total and we MUST do at least one character meal because this is DD2's first trip. She's little, so really any characters will do. I'm not sure if we should try for BOG. I love going to resort TSs so we can scope out other resorts we may want to stay at on future trips. We will have a car so transportation isn't a huge issue.

I'd also love QS recs for each of the parks since we haven't done much in terms of QS dining in the past and I'm sure a lot has changed. We'll spend two days each at MK and Epcot, not sure whether or not we'll go to AK. One day at DHS. TIA!

Be Our Guest QS at lunch is great. You need an ADr, but you can also preorder your meal online saving time once you get in. The theming of the castle is wonderful. Cupcakes are to die for, my 18 year old daughter and I shared the roast pork, each had a cup of soup and a cupcake. Still too much food. We also enjoyed the Plaza Restaurant this time, portions there are huge as well. (We're big on sharing food). Also shared at Yak & Yeti TS, but portions a CS there are large as well. Colombia Harbour House in MK is pretty good and the fish and nugget platter is shareable.

Sanaa at AKV is very good, you can get a table facing the savannah and watch the animals. The food there is Indian inspired. At the Polynesian (our favorite resort) we enjoy getting a Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai, and 'Ohana is good for breakfast and dinner. 1900 Park Faire is very good for a character buffet and Lady Tremayne and the stepsisters are a hoot at dinner. Breakfast is good as well and the Mad Hatter is usually in attendance.