Free Dining Restaurants

[iamgrumpy]

We have decided to go to Disney Dec 13-20 for free dining...We have always eating at the food courts in our hotels or counter service at the parks...

We would like to try some table service meals....Anybody want to share their favorite restaurants/meals ...? Can you list what hotel or parks these are located in or near? We need to make ressies quick so TYIA..

 

[wifey1220]

If you have kids definatly book a charcater meal. They are alot of fun!! And the best part is you get pictures w/ the characters but you don't have to stand in the lines at the parks. Chef mickey, Garden Grill and Liberty town tavern are our favorites.

 

[englishrose47]

I love Crystal Place at MK! The buffet is great(supper) and then ther's Pooh! I also like Chefs de Franc for adults , Le Cellier,Raglan Road too!!

 

[Suz D]

Just a bit of advice. Call immediately for ressies. We made the last minute decision to go December 13-18th for free dining as well. I've been calling for 3 days trying to get into Chef Mickey's for any of the nights. They have nothing available except one of the nights for a 9:15 ressie. Le Cellier was sold out as well (which didn't surprise me).

We are eating at Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Pooh breakfast and Coral Reef in Epcot. We're still hoping to get Chef M's.

One more tiny thing (and if I'm telling you things you alreayd know, please forgive my intrusion...I always feel the need to share when it comes to Disney). Anyway, the free dining doesn't start until the 14th so be sure to make your room reservation on the 13th for room only. You will not be able to get your park tickets until the 14th if you do it that way, but if you don't, you won't qualify for free dining.

Where are you staying? We're staying at All Star Movies but I'm hoping that we can get into Pop Century at the last minute.

Suz D

 

[dissydebb]

Tell me more about the free dining. When did you gave to book by and what are the dates? Thanks

 

[antmaril]

Just a bit of advice. Call immediately for ressies. We made the last minute decision to go December 13-18th for free dining as well. I've been calling for 3 days trying to get into Chef Mickey's for any of the nights. They have nothing available except one of the nights for a 9:15 ressie. Le Cellier was sold out as well (which didn't surprise me).

We are eating at Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Pooh breakfast and Coral Reef in Epcot. We're still hoping to get Chef M's.

One more tiny thing (and if I'm telling you things you alreayd know, please forgive my intrusion...I always feel the need to share when it comes to Disney). Anyway, the free dining doesn't start until the 14th so be sure to make your room reservation on the 13th for room only. You will not be able to get your park tickets until the 14th if you do it that way, but if you don't, you won't qualify for free dining.

Where are you staying? We're staying at All Star Movies but I'm hoping that we can get into Pop Century at the last minute.

Suz D

I totally agree with Suz D. You should call immediately for dining reservations (ADR) as it will be almost impossible for you to use your Table Service Credits at any of the more popular restaurants without an ADR.

Also, as Suz D states, Free Dining doesn't start until December 14th, so you will have to have a split reservation. Room only on the 13th with Free Dining starting on the 14th.

My sister and I are going December 13-18th staying at the Yacht Club. We don't have Free Dining because I didn't want to split the reservation, but I did get a very good deal using the UWI code.

Have fun!

 

[antmaril]

Tell me more about the free dining. When did you gave to book by and what are the dates? Thanks

If you have a Disney Visa credit card, Disney is offering Free Dining when you book a full price Walt Disney World vacation package for check-ins most nights 9/28/08-10/11/08, 11/9/08-11/22/08, 12/14/08-12/20/08.

If you go to the Resort Boards (Codes & Rates), there are many threads on this subject.

 

[joy@disney]

We made our first trip with the dinning plan last October. Here were our favorites.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - we had the most fun here, it was tough to get reservations for though. Order the all you can eat meal. We decided not to because we weren't all that hungry, however, it is paid for either way, so just go for it.

Don't know if you have kids, or what ages, but my kids DD 12 DS 9 loved the Sci-Fi Diner.

We did a Character breakfast in AK, I think it was called Donalds Breakfastasauras (sp). This was fun, just be sure to set your alarm, we almost missed breakfast by oversleeping.

Coral Reef Cafe (Epcot) was beautiful and actually had my favorite food - lobster bisque. It is very fancy if you have young kids, but the fish are awesome for kids of all ages.

50's Prime Time Cafe - This was fun, but be prepared to be embarrassed by your server. They like to kid around. The pot roast is to die for.

If you go to the Kona Cafe, eat the sticky wings. Beware here though if you have kids ordering off the kids menu. They will count french fries as a side. They don't come with the hamburger like they do at every other restaurant.

Hope this helps. Have fun.

 

[englishrose47]

Did you have to pay extra for fries for the kid's meal !!?? Also if I don'thavea Disney Visa does that mean I can't get the deal, if so where do I apply?????

 

[Marine Mom]

Did you have to pay extra for fries for the kid's meal !!?? Also if I don'thavea Disney Visa does that mean I can't get the deal, if so where do I apply?????

You can apply at chase.com. You can do this online and I think you get an answer quickly. I am not sure how you would go about getting the free dining but I'm sure others can comment on that. I have had a Disney Visa since Disney did away with the Disney Club Card. I love my Visa and you do get a few extra benefits. Good luck!

 

[KelleyD]

WE just got back last week from our disney trip.

Our favorite 1 credit table service was Dinner at Ohana! Its in the Polynesian. No characters but they have an entertainer and some stuff for the kids. The food was very good - pre set menu all serve family style - so not a buffet. Also a great dollar value when paying out of pocket.

Our favorite 2 credit table service dinner was Yachtsman Steakhouse. My husband said his steak was great! And he would love to go back.

As far as character meals we always felt the food was ehh. Standard buffet food that wasn't great. BUT a must do with the young ones.

Our worst character buffet was Ohana breakfast at the Polynesian. I didn't care for the breakfast food at all. Character interaction was fine though.

 

[joy@disney]

Did you have to pay extra for fries for the kid's meal !!?? Also if I don'thavea Disney Visa does that mean I can't get the deal, if so where do I apply?????

When we went last year, the meal plan included an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. My son ordered a salad as an appetizer, hamburger and fries for an entree, and a ice cream sundae for dessert (the same as he ordered at every other resturant). We ended up having to pay for the dessert, because they told us his appetizer and fries counted as his two sides.

Our travel agent, who works for Small World Travel, said the exact same thing happened to her.

 

[englishrose47]

When we went last year, the meal plan included an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. My son ordered a salad as an appetizer, hamburger and fries for an entree, and a ice cream sundae for dessert (the same as he ordered at every other resturant). We ended up having to pay for the dessert, because they told us his appetizer and fries counted as his two sides.

Our travel agent, who works for Small World Travel, said the exact same thing happened to her.

That's strange !! I thought the kids menus included fries and dessert !!

 

[sunny_]

We just ate a Kona last week and we were confused about the fries. She was so nice and brought us the fries for free, but she didn't have to do that... I just wanted to add our experience.

And, I think Kona has a wonderful steak! YUM!

 

[secretpantssam]

Le Cellier in epcot is fantastic, but the reservations are hard to get. We also like Teppan Edo and Biergarden in epcot, Tony's town square and liberty tree inn in magic kingdom, Tusker House in animal kingdom, and mama melrose in hollywood studios.

Good luck and call right away!! Also check out the december reservation post...I got a few reservations from the board for my last trip.

 

[AJsMommy02]

I had booked a hotel room a few weeks ago for December 16th-20th at the Pop Century with the Florida Residents special, Then I saw the chase special and immediately applied for the card, the card came Monday and I booked our package yesterday. I also was able to make reservations at the Coral Reef, Chef Mickeys, and today I got incredibly lucky and got a reservation on the 20th for Liberty Tavern character dining. I don't know where we are going to make our last reservation but we are deciding.

 

[greenwillow]

We went in Sept. and REALLY enjoyed the Coral Reef, Yak and Yeti, and the San Angel Inn the most. Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo were also nice.

 

[iamgrumpy]

bump

 

[AKADrea]

Biergarten was fun with the band, and it was cool to try the german food (and the big beers - YUM!)

I could have passed on Coral Reef = *I* liked the atmosphere, but my kids were less than impressed and it was loud. The food was good enough, but nothing spectacular for me.

Ohana's was fun, the meat was dry a little on the dry side, but the rest was good, as was the entertainment.

Crystal Palace was a nice buffet for breakfast and the kids liked the characters.

1900 Park Faire Buffet dinner was really good - probably my favorite buffet of the trip. My mom and DH agreed.


I guess that's all we had! Next time I'll have more to report about!

 

[mmmbop]

This is our first FD trip as well! (Actually, our first Christmas season in WDW ) We're going Dec 12-21. I had to do a split reservation as well, which stinks but at least we get to do free dining! I think I am more excited about it than my grandmother, because we usually just do CS as well. I called a few days ago, and the ADRs I have are Tusker House, Crystal Palace, Yak & Yeti, 50's Prime Time, Coral Reef, Liberty Tree and Mama Melrose. The only one I couldn't get that I wanted was Le Cellier, but I'm really happy with my reservations Some of them I'm not too thrilled about - mostly because my grandmother agreed to do the FD under one condition - that we could eat at the parks. She doesn't want to travel all over WDW for food

Looks as if we'll be neighbors as well! (we're staying at ASMu) Have a great time