Gimme your top 5 restaurants on the DDP!!

[Grendalynn]

Ok, so we have decided to go ahead with the DDP for our upcoming April visit to WDW!! Now,my next question is where to go? Not sure if we will make officily ADR's or just go on a whim with a few days or hours notice (yes, I do know the advantages of ADR's , just not sure if i want to be so structured on vacation). We have 3 boys - at the time they will be almost 9, a fresh (and i mean that in many ways ) 5 and 18 month old. They do well in a restaurant on most days and know what expected of them while there.

With that being said, I am interested to know what your favorite, top 5, places to dine with the DDP are (with 3 kids)! We ae still trying to get our itinerary ironed out and hope that a snowday tomorrow ((**fingers crossed**)) and today will let me have some much needed time here on The Dis to help wth that!! What else is there to do with no place to go? Besides the Patriots Game, here I will sit!! Thanks so much, I look forward toyour posts!!

Go Pats HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

 

[SmallWorld71]

This may not exactly answer your question, but we like to pick the restaurants based on what would be most fun for the kids and the family as a whole. I've never done a cost comparison with the DDP but some of my kids favorites include 'Ohana, Biergarten, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, and for DD4 - dining with the princesses. When we plan a trip - we look over the menus/ entertainment and try to let everyone pick a restaurant that would really make them happy. We're already thinking about the ones for our next trip - whenever that may be. Have fun choosing.

 

[Desnik]

1. Le Cellier
2. Tuto Italia
3. 50's PTC
4. WPE(it's not a TS but very close and our favorite CS place!)
5. Turf Club

We also loved our lunch at CP at the MK. I should say we have never eaten at signature restaurants because we are not very adventurous eaters and I am very picky. We have 2 kids ages 4 and 9 and they do pretty well at restaurants as long as they aren't over tired. I know you don't want to make ADR's but if you want hard to come by ressies like at Le Cellier you have to make the ADR. Also keep in mind you are going in April which is spring break for most people and it will be crowded and ressies might be hard to come by. What if you make ressies for 1 sit down dinner per day and if on that day it doesn't work for you then you could just cancel? We did that when we were there this past April. Sometimes we just weren't hungy at the time the ADR was or we wanted to just take it easy and we just canceled. It was sometimes hard to get a later ressie at the same restaurant but we just dealt with it. I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[Ashley80]

I would recommend:

Ohana-Dinner
Kona-Dinner
Boma-Breakfast
Chef Mickey's-Breakfast
Crystal Palace-Either breakfast or dinner
Coral Reef-Dinner

Oops, thats 6

Have a wonderful time!

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

O'hana's
Le Cellier
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickeys
Garden Grill

(...but we try to do as many character meals as possible...)

The food was pretty much the same (in terms of taste) throughout. There really wasn't any food that stood out as YUMMY!!! except O'Hana's!! YUMMY!

And there really wasn't any restaurant that made me say, "GROSS!" - except Boma! YUCK!

 

[monami7]

We Love Boma (I find it interesting the different oppinions!)

Anyway ours are
Boma
Kona Cafe (Breakfast and Dinner)
Le Cellier
Holleywood and Vine Breakfast
Cali Grill

By the way, we are going April 19 - 26th and I booked ADR's at the 6 month mark. I already had to change our Le Cellier day to 2 days later and couldn't get into Chef Mickeys at all. I would not go on the DDP without ADR's. If you don't get into as many places as you want the credits will be wasted ie. your money will be wasted. Just make them for 1 place a day and then if you are there and want to change give it a shot. At least you will know where you can eat if all else fails.

 

[FFXDSNADDICT]

Here are the top 5 dining places from both my hubby and I!

1. Kona Cafe- We were so suprised by this place. Its in the Poly so you don't have to deal with park crowding, and for some reason it seems to be a hidden treasure. It has AMAZING food for both adults and kids and its an awesome resort to explore.
2. Boma- Awesome Food, amazing resort. It does get really crowded but its worth the wait!
3. Sci Fi Dine In- If you have kids this place is awesome.... If you don't its still awesome. The food is rally good classic american stuff like burgers and fries but they also have an insane shrimp pasta. While the movies are playing I sware you could hear a pin drop. All the kids watch the screen so its very calm and relaxing.
4. Marrakesh- Most people are really reluctant to try new things but they really tone down the food for more american tastes. If you can get a reservation during hte belly dancing they try to bring the kids up and have tham dance too. Can you really go wrong with a place that serves beef rolls with cinniamon and sugar on top though?!
5. 50's Prime Time Cafe- The food here is also very classic american (Pot Roast, Meatloaf, Fried Chicken) but the wait staff wil keep you rolling. They play your aunts and uncles and your kids will love them picking on Mom and Dad as well as them.

* I hope this helps you a bit. Its hard to narrow it down to 5 DDP places! Ill be honest you really can never go wrong with any of the places at WDW

 

[becka]

We have found that meals go better for us if there is plenty of noise and entertainment to keep the kids occupied. They are happier and DH and I actually get to eat without suffering too much brain damage.

My kids typically are better behaved at lunch time than they are at dinner after long days in the parks so we often did character lunches when available. We are also not huge breakfast eaters so we tend to stick with lunches. Our top 5 would probably be:

1. 'Ohana breakfast - always a family favorite
2. Hollywood & Vine lunch - great character interaction
3. Garden Grill lunch - a quieter character meal option
4. Norway lunch - with boys this is probably not a priority but for someone with a little princess of their own it was a huge hit. DS even enjoyed himself a little.
5. Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner - The exception to our no dinner rule. This place was so much fun and the food was quite good.

 

[nklooz]

Oh, fun post!

We always do our TS meals at dinner. Don't want to miss out on park time or go too early for breakfast, and, would rather just do CS for lunch, in btwn. attractions, whereas we like to go out and sit down and relax for dinner, after our pool/nap break back at the resort in the afternoon.

1.) Le Cellier
2.) CRT (even though it is two meals, SO worth it imo). We trade this out by doing CS the night we do MGM F!
3.) Chef Mickey's (great character dining experience and fun buffet for kids)
4.) 1900 Park Fare (love the ambience and the GF and the princesses)
5.) Biergarten (lots of yummy food that is very traditional German food w/fun entertainment - band)

Ones we really want to try but haven't (until Sept '08):

-'Ohana (Have heard SUCH wonderful things about the food and entertainment and are excited to check out the Poly)
-Boma (Have heard you can go early and check out the animals on the savannah??)
-Whispering Canyon Cafe (Just sounds very fun and interactive)
-Akershus Princess Meal @ Norway (Like the idea that you don't just meet Cinderella here but a wide range of princesses).

 

[annie1995]

1. LeCellier
2. Crystal palace (breakfast or dinner)
3. Garden Grill
4. Ohana (character breakfast or dinner)
5. Coral Reef

Crystal palace is good at both meals!!! Breakfast was neat because we had one of the first seatings so we were in the park before it officially opened. I have a couple of castle pics with no one around!! Coral reef was neat with the fish tank, plus we all loved the food! What more can I say about Le Cellier except Mushroom Filet Garden Grill was good food, and great character interaction, plus the resturant very slowly rotates around the ride Living with the land(which is down below).

 

[Grendalynn]

I know you don't want to make ADR's but if you want hard to come by ressies like at Le Cellier you have to make the ADR. Also keep in mind you are going in April which is spring break for most people and it will be crowded and ressies might be hard to come by. What if you make ressies for 1 sit down dinner per day and if on that day it doesn't work for you then you could just cancel? We did that when we were there this past April. Sometimes we just weren't hungy at the time the ADR was or we wanted to just take it easy and we just canceled. It was sometimes hard to get a later ressie at the same restaurant but we just dealt with it. I'm sure you will have a great time!

I know, I have considered this as well and will probably do this as a safety. Thanks for the nudge! Its stll snowing here, so HOPEFULLy I will be ere again tomorrow!!??

I would recommend:

Ohana-Dinner
Kona-Dinner
Boma-Breakfast
Chef Mickey's-Breakfast
Crystal Palace-Either breakfast or dinner
Coral Reef-Dinner

Oops, thats 6

Have a wonderful time!

I have 4 of your 6 on my lst of posibilities!

Ohana - Never been there,hopfully the kids wil like it. I know we did as kids
Chef Mickeys - been there befre and is always a must do when at WDW
Kona - Always a staple - never had a bad meal there any time of the day
Boma - heard lots about it, but not sure if Dh will like the cuisine, but i think the kids would like the ambiance!!??

Thanks so much!

 

[aubeone]

What else is there to do with no place to go? Besides the Patriots Game, here I will sit!! Thanks so much, I look forward toyour posts!!

I was sitting watching the Pats beat the Jets! I waited until the game was over before logging in! Though I now live in upstate NY, I grew up in the White Mts.

Some of favorite Restaurants on the DDP are...

1. Jiko's--the best steak in Disney...not so great for young children
2. Tony's Town Square...great for the entire family
3. Le Cellier
4. Coral Reef...great view...good food
5. 50's Prime Time

We love breakfast at Chef Mickey's but think it is better to pay cash and use Dining Credits.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

We Love Boma (I find it interesting the different oppinions!)

Anyway ours are
Boma
Kona Cafe (Breakfast and Dinner)
Le Cellier
Holleywood and Vine Breakfast
Cali Grill

By the way, we are going April 19 - 26th and I booked ADR's at the 6 month mark. I already had to change our Le Cellier day to 2 days later and couldn't get into Chef Mickeys at all. I would not go on the DDP without ADR's. If you don't get into as many places as you want the credits will be wasted ie. your money will be wasted. Just make them for 1 place a day and then if you are there and want to change give it a shot. At least you will know where you can eat if all else fails.

You couldn't get into Chef Mickeys for ANY day or time for the entire week --- 6 months ahead??!! This worries me just a bit

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We just got back and these are ours based on our recent experience:

Ohana Dinner
Ohana Breakfast
Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner
Le Cellier
1900 Park Faire Breakfast

 

[Tara]

1. California Grill - our favorite by far and we've never felt out of place bringing our now 6yo son there. Takes 2 credits per person, though. Great view of MK and you can see the fireworks from there, either from your table if you are near the window or from the observation deck. The open kitchen is large and the layout makes it lively and a bit noisy, but not in a bad way.
2. Citricos - a new favorite. Best steak I've had on property. Feels more formal and quiet that CA Grill, but our son was not out of place here at all, either. Also 2 credits. It has an open kitchen, too, but is quieter than CA Grill.
3. Le Cellier - for the soup alone, I love it.
4. Boma - excellent buffet, unusual but tasty choices in additional to more traditional fare.
5. Jiko - also excellent, but it seems my favorite item (roasted brentwood corn soup - I'm all about soup) is gone. Also 2 credits. Extensive South African wine selection and good selection of beers you won't find anywhere else.

1900 Park Fare is a good buffet, too. And we've always enjoyed Prime Time Cafe, although the food isn't so great. (Same can be said for Chef Mickey's.)

 

[DonaldTDuck]

With kids,I wouldn't try Le Celliere or any of the Deluxe Resort restaurants except
1. Whispering Canyon Cafe- it's a hoot
2. 50's Prime Time Cafe
3. Liberty Tree Cafe
4. Biergarten
5. (okay, it's breakfast and I'm biased) Donald's Safari Breakfast
All of these are kid friendly with lots for the grownups. In fact, on our Big Guys trip(see link below) we, 4 50ish guys, ate at all of these and they were great.

 

[rentayenta]

My top 5 and we had our 3 children with us; ages 10, 8, and 6.


1. California Grill
2. 'Ohana
3. Tony's
4. Coral Reef
5. Le Cellier. I haven't been there but will on the next trip.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I asked my DS11 what his top 5 are and he came up with most of the same ones I would have suggested ...

Le Cellier although the restaurant is a bit cramped, food is our fav on property
Kona in the Poly ... I echo the other posts about what a find this was last trip
Crystal Palace -- we prefer breakfast over dinner to get into the Park early
Biergarten -- love the entertainment & there is something for everyone
Sci Fi - food is just Ok but the atmosphere for your DS's can't be beat