Free Dining - upgraded - food plan - need input

[Momof4girls]

We're doing the dining deluxe.

Here's what I have so far - caveat - large family, hard to get seats together, so some are divided and I cannot do buffets when we're divided (or kids are left at the table alone).

Greatly prefer TS, where possible and need a couple more recommendations. Not newbies - very much foodies (including the kids) and the kids are very well behaved at nice restaurants so that's not an issue. However, a 9pm reservation at the end of a park day is just dumb with kids

Saturday (arrive around 1 and drop off luggage)

(have hoop dee doo booked, but I think we're going to make this a MK day instead)

Sunday
Chef Mickey's
brown derby

Monday
1900 park fare supercalifragilistic breakfast
CRT

Tuesday
Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine
SCI FI DINE IN
cinderella's royal table

Wednesday
Ohana
Jiko

Thursday
Akershus
Whispering Canyon Cafe

Friday
Food and Wine Festival (we will all eat around the world, using snack credits - never room for anything else)

Saturday
Kona Cafe
lunch - Wolfgang Puck's express ? en route out of town from DTD (7 credits)

 

[heavenleigh412]

We're doing the dining deluxe.

Here's what I have so far - caveat - large family, hard to get seats together, so some are divided and I cannot do buffets when we're divided (or kids are left at the table alone).

Greatly prefer TS, where possible and need a couple more recommendations. Not newbies - very much foodies (including the kids) and the kids are very well behaved at nice restaurants so that's not an issue. However, a 9pm reservation at the end of a park day is just dumb with kids

Saturday (arrive around 1 and drop off luggage)

(have hoop dee doo booked, but I think we're going to make this a MK day instead)

Sunday
Chef Mickey's
brown derby

Monday
1900 park fare supercalifragilistic breakfast
CRT

Tuesday
Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine
SCI FI DINE IN
cinderella's royal table

Wednesday
Ohana
Jiko

Thursday
Akershus
Whispering Canyon Cafe

Friday
Food and Wine Festival (we will all eat around the world, using snack credits - never room for anything else)

Saturday
Kona Cafe
lunch - Wolfgang Puck's express ? en route out of town from DTD (7 credits)

We love California Grill, Le Cellier, The Garden Grill, Coral Reef (I've seen some bad reviews but we have never had bad food)
I liked Wolfgang Puck's Cafe better than express... but that's simply an opinion.
Brown Derby is one of our absolute favorites.
Bistro is also very good
Teppan Edo is tasty if you like Japanese...

 

[Momof4girls]

We love California Grill, Le Cellier, The Garden Grill, Coral Reef (I've seen some bad reviews but we have never had bad food)
I liked Wolfgang Puck's Cafe better than express... but that's simply an opinion.
Brown Derby is one of our absolute favorites.
Bistro is also very good
Teppan Edo is tasty if you like Japanese...

Thanks

We love California Grill, too - we may end up adding that. The fireworks are so late that time of year (we're used to going in December) and the kids will be surely spent by the time the fireworks roll around.

Le Cellier was booked solid. It's good - but I think the reputation has convinced everyone it is THE place to eat and now it's impossible to get there.

I have not been to The Garden Grill. Where is that one? What kind of food?

Coral Reef, my DD got sick at last trip. We didn't end up eating at all. I may add that back in, but we never have trouble finding food at Epcot

Wolfgang Puck's gave DH AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL food poisoning, so he has vetoed that. (I liked the macadamia nut chicken, personally) But, express was our favorite counter service - LOVE that pasta they had. It was actually better than Mama Melrose's, food-wise. I'm sad to see the barbecue chicken pizza is not on the menu anymore. It had a great pop to the sauce and we loved the cilantro on it. It's a tradition (And earl of sandwich sandwiches for the drive home)

We have not been to Brown Derby and I'm really looking forward to that.

 

[heavenleigh412]

Thanks

We love California Grill, too - we may end up adding that. The fireworks are so late that time of year (we're used to going in December) and the kids will be surely spent by the time the fireworks roll around.

Le Cellier was booked solid. It's good - but I think the reputation has convinced everyone it is THE place to eat and now it's impossible to get there.

I have not been to The Garden Grill. Where is that one? What kind of food?

Coral Reef, my DD got sick at last trip. We didn't end up eating at all. I may add that back in, but we never have trouble finding food at Epcot

Wolfgang Puck's gave DH AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL food poisoning, so he has vetoed that. (I liked the macadamia nut chicken, personally) But, express was our favorite counter service - LOVE that pasta they had. It was actually better than Mama Melrose's, food-wise. I'm sad to see the barbecue chicken pizza is not on the menu anymore. It had a great pop to the sauce and we loved the cilantro on it. It's a tradition (And earl of sandwich sandwiches for the drive home)

We have not been to Brown Derby and I'm really looking forward to that.

Why not book California Grill one night to be there when the fireworks go off... we loved seeing it from the top of the Contemporary, and you avoid the crush of trying to get out of the park directly afterwards (we always wait until it clears out, but my daughter is no longer little)

Garden Grill has a very nice little menu... and most of the vegetables there are grown in The Land. The restaurant rotates slowly to give views of the gardens in The Land. The character interaction there is wonderful as well. It is Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto... and they are always very playful and entertaining!
Pluto wore my daughter's ears on his snout... Chip and Dale argued with our server and Mickey came over to break it up... It was hilarious!
Menu:
Typical Characters: Mickey, Pluto, Chip 'n' Dale


Family Style Platter
featuring:

Buttermilk biscuits and Yeast rolls with Honey-Orange Blossom Butter

Flank Steak with Mushroom Cabernet au Jus

Rotisserie Turkey with Cranberry Relish

Fried Catfish

Homestyle Potato Casserole

Selection of Fresh Vegetables

Very Berry Puff Pastry

Young Gardener's Menu
Ages 3 to 9

Choice of:

Chicken Strips

Macaroni and Cheese

Potatoes or French Fries

Fresh Vegetables

Served with a special dessert

Complimentary Non-alcoholic Beverages
Included

Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange Soda, Lemonade Light, Root Beer, Iced Tea, Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Milk and Chocolate Milk

 

[wishtdream]

I vote for the Garden Grill. The food was excellent simple but well prepared and the characters were really interactive. This was one of our favorites last year and we will return next trip also.