fun for kids, tasty for grown-ups

[FairestOfThemAll]

My 180 day ADR date is two weeks from today. Basically, I'd just like to float my plan out there and see if I missed anything obvious. I'm the one who loves to plan and organize, but I'm also the only vegetarian of the group... so I might not be the best judge.

The criteria:

1. Has to be distinctively Disney (for example, I know Le Cellier is ranked very high, but would you know you were eating at a restaurant in WDW?)
2. Very kid friendly (we have an almost 4-year-old and a 14-year-old)
3. Scrumptious food (several in our group are Disney virgins and I'd like to encourage revisits)

Non-negotiable choices:

• Crystal Palace pre-RD breakfast
• Tusker House breakfast
• Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner

Our most likely candidates for the rest (7 TS credits to use):

• T-Rex Cafe - the food & themeing look amazing here (I love dinosaurs and onion rings) and now that it's on the dining plan, I'd like to try it
• Chef Mickey's - kind of obligatory; we have to see Mickey & friends, don't we? I've never been here, but everyone here on DIS seems to sing its praises
• Coral Reef - where else can you eat with a shark looking over your shoulder? if we do go here, I'll probably book us as smaller groups, in order to try for better tables
• Akershus - we'll have an almost 4-year-old girl with us... do I need to give any more rationale? I know most people aren't impressed with the food, but the fact that the place is overrun with princesses makes up for it, I think

And the ones that didn't quite make the list:

• 'Ohana - I ate here several menu changes ago. Granted, I'm a veggie... but I just don't understand what the big deal is about
• 50's Prime Time Cafe - people here on DIS say their kids love it but that the food is only mediocre... I think we need a horde of princesses to make up for food that is just average (and last I checked, there weren't any princesses in attendance)

So that's my current plan. If you were planning for a group of 10 (three of us go yearly, four haven't been in about 20 years, and other adult plus the two kids have never visited), what would you do differently? ... we're converging from different areas of the country and I don't know everyone's taste preferences - I've been told that they trust my judgement and to book whatever I think would be the best fit. Help!

 

[Huff]

Coral Reef is an excellent one of a kind dining experience. Some say the food or service isn't good but everything has been perfect each time we've been there, most recently last month. My 9yr old DN loved watching the sharks and sea turtle swim by.

Ohana would make no sense to any vegetarian as its a meat lovers restaurant. Its family friendly, kids games etc. but sounds like its not for you.

Character meals are great for the kids and seem to fit your needs the best. Your 4yr old will love it, but 14yr old may not. Food at most character buffets is so-so. To me, its either great food, or fun characters for kids and not both.

Boma is a great buffet but its not the meal itself thats good for kids. Its the animals you can see before or after dinner just outside the lobby area. CM's there have night vision goggles to borrow for fun night viewing of the animals.

What about Hoop Dee Doo? Great show and pretty good food, fun for all!

 

[FairestOfThemAll]

Night vision goggles?! How did I never know about this?? We've eaten there for breakfast and dinner (I actually enjoy it so much that I've joked that I'll name my firstborn child 'Boma'). It's the hassle of getting to AKL that made me decide not to put it on my list. I think it is absolutely worth the bus transfer to get there, but I don't know if the rest of the group would agree.

Is Hoop Dee Doo worth using two TS credits?

 

[c&m]

Check out:

- Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for B/L/D. Lots of options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The resort is gorgeous with lots to see.

- Sci-Fi Dine-In at Hollywood Studios. I know you're looking for scrumptious food, and the food here is merely OK - just a burgers/shake joint. But the ambiance is unique. You sit in cars like a drive-in, and you watch old sci-fi clips.

 

[shoney]

How about Raglan Road for the Irish dancers?


Maybe lunch at Chefs de France when Remy is around?

 

[FairestOfThemAll]

Boma just made it onto my short list. I can't put into words how happy I am to have just written that.

I still want to have breakfast at Tusker House, so maybe Boma could be on our DHS day, since DHS is the closest of the parks to AK. I wonder how long of a bus ride it would be -- can't be too long; I just ran the Wine & Dine Half Marathon this past October and we covered that distance on foot...

 

[FairestOfThemAll]

Is Remy still in Epcot?? I thought he was just on loan from one of the other parks!

... if he is definitely still there, Chefs was just added to my short list, too. Man, I love their macaroni!

 

[shoney]

Yes, Remy is still around. He takes Sunday's off. People have posted the times...I believe the last one was 5:20.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Check out:

- Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for B/L/D. Lots of options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The resort is gorgeous with lots to see.

- Sci-Fi Dine-In at Hollywood Studios. I know you're looking for scrumptious food, and the food here is merely OK - just a burgers/shake joint. But the ambiance is unique. You sit in cars like a drive-in, and you watch old sci-fi clips.

How about Raglan Road for the Irish dancers?


Maybe lunch at Chefs de France when Remy is around?

Is Remy still in Epcot?? I thought he was just on loan from one of the other parks!

... if he is definitely still there, Chefs was just added to my short list, too. Man, I love their macaroni!

As the PP said, Remy's last visit is at 520pm. His schedule is as follows: 12:30, 1:40, 2:50 & 5:20 p.m.

I would also recommend the following places:

Sci Fi drive in. The atmosphere is very unique and so much fun. They revamped their menu recently....while its not outstanding food, its still quite good considering its just burgers. Their shakes & onion rings are yummy too!

Raglan road is fun, step dancers and irish band with good food. How can you go wrong?

TRex is a good choice. It has a fun and unique atmosphere....and theyre now on the dining plan (just started in 2012). Their food is good, they have a good menu, and their portions are pretty big.

Chef Mickeys has pretty disappointing food IMHO. I wouldnt even bother with this place, esp since your already seeing most of the characters at Tusker House.

 

[Huff]

Night vision goggles?! How did I never know about this?? We've eaten there for breakfast and dinner (I actually enjoy it so much that I've joked that I'll name my firstborn child 'Boma'). It's the hassle of getting to AKL that made me decide not to put it on my list. I think it is absolutely worth the bus transfer to get there, but I don't know if the rest of the group would agree.

Is Hoop Dee Doo worth using two TS credits?

We get park hoppers. That allows us to go from one park to Boma then from Boma to whichever park is open late. Never a problem for us. Otherwise transfer at DTD.

 

[DEA]

I'm a big fan of Akershus. My DDs love the princess attention there, and the cost is lower (OOP or DDP) than CRT.

I would also recommend Sanaa out at AKL-Kidani Village as a very good restaurant with the unique view of the Savannah outside. It's L/D only, but they do some inventive things with food. They actually added dishes that were spicier than the current offerings last year, which goes against the usual trend for Disney restaurants.

EPCOT has a lot of good restaurants. They may not have too many character meals, so are not very "in-your-face" Disney-ish, but you have CMs from the home countries, which can make for a very unusual and educational Disney experience.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Our group really enjoyed Hoop Dee Doo. Since it includes beer and tip we found it to be a good value (especially since our Cat 3 reservation was bumped up to Cat 1).