Good Dinner Table Service Options for Toddlers

[junebug21981]

I have been looking all over for a good restaurant for our family which includes a 2 1/2 year old. All of the character meals have better breakfast reviews than lunch or dinner.

So far I have already made ADR's for:

Kona Cafe @ Poly.
Mama Melrose
Teppan Edo
Crystal Palace (only breakfast ADR I am going to make)
Whispering Canyon Cafe @ WL
Cape May Cafe @ BC
Ohana @ Poly.
Sci-Fi Dine-In

I wanted Be Our Guest for dinner, but can't get an ADR. I will keep trying, but I did make an ADR for lunch We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge Villa's so that is why I am not making ADR's for breakfast bc we will have a kitchen and plan to get Groceries delivered.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would actually reconsider Sci-Fi based on the seating configurations, unless you have a really angelic toddler.

Garden Grill is, IMO, one of the best character dinners. Lunch at Tusker House is also quite good, if you plan to go to Animal Kingdom.

 

[JessNewt]

Where is Garden Grill?

 

[jknewberry]

You might look into Chef Mickey's. We went there in 2011 with my inlaws and my 2.5 and 4.5 year olds and it was one of the best meals we had all week. I liked buffets since the youngest wasn't on a dining plan but could still get his own plate. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and took the boat over to Contemporary. Garden Grill was nice too, we did the earliest dinner res we could and it worked out well for us.

We are going back next year (staying at WL Villas also) and starting to plan our meals now, and plan to go to Chef Mickey's again- my daughter will be almost 3 and my boys will be 7 & 9. We had also gone to Whispering Canyon and Ohana, not sure if we will do those again or not.

Kelly

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Where is Garden Grill?

Epcot. It's in a revolving restaurant overlooking The Land, and features Chip, Dale, Farmer Mickey and Pluto. The food is good, and also served family style -- it is brought to the table, all you care to eat.

Buffets with toddlers can be a struggle. Having people bring all the food? Golden.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Sci Fi is difficult with a toddler, great food and great atmosphere but they only have a certain amount of tables that will allow high chairs. We got a table for the highchair but it was awkward the way we had to watch the big screen and not the same feeling as being in the cars that you would expect to have. I would try Hollywood and Vine instead. For dinner they have Minnie's seasonal dining where characters wear clothes to represent the time of year, very cool IMHO and their breakfast has the Disney Jr Characters. 50s Prime Time Cafe is also another 1 thats pretty fun instead of Sci Fi.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

With DS - almost 2, we really enjoyed both Garden Grill (had dinner) and Tusker House (late breakfast - so you can also sample some of the lunch offerings as they come out).

Another HUGE hit with him was Biergarten at Epcot. It's a buffet (so under 3 is free), and they have a band that plays periodically. All of the kids can go down on the floor in front of the stage to dance, and there is a lot to look at (it looks like you are seated outside - even though you are inside - in a German town square). We thought the food has really improved from several years ago and were surprised how much of a healthy meal it became for our son (green beans, roasted root veggies, etc. on top of traditional German food).

The tables are long and shared though, so your group will most likely end up sitting next to another group, but it really is not a big deal. We usually say a quick "hi" to be polite, but most parties seem to keep to themselves (and not in a rude or uncomfortable manner at all).

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We took DD to 1900 park fare dinner when she was 23 months old and she loved it. The food was good, the characters and atmosphere were great for a toddler. It was my favorite character meal.

 

[Candycane83]

I'm planning to take my will be 2 1/2 DS in Dec and considered Hollywood and Vine... I know it's not really known to have good food but I think my little one would love the Disney Jr characters. I've also looked at almost the same restaurants as you, mostly buffets and character meals. Coral Reef and T-Rex are other ones I am considering for dinner.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'm planning to take my will be 2 1/2 DS in Dec and considered Hollywood and Vine... I know it's not really known to have good food but I think my little one would love the Disney Jr characters. I've also looked at almost the same restaurants as you, mostly buffets and character meals. Coral Reef and T-Rex are other ones I am considering for dinner.

Fair warning: T-REX is LOUD. If your child does not do well with loud, T-REX is a tricky place.

 

[junebug21981]

MY thoughts are "I am not spending money just for characters, the food has to be good too." Too many reviews I have read say that places like Chef Mickey's and other character meals for lunch and dinner with not the best reviews and I'm just not sure on it.

Thanks for the Sci-Fi suggestions. I will probably switch to 50's Prime Time.

Any other thoughts, please keep coming!!!

 

[pumba]

we have always enjoyed Crystal palace dinner...many good options for adults and kids too...Biergarten is good...kids loved it..Hollywood and vine also..these are dinner options..I am thinking that sometimes a child of this age...does not want to wait to order the food and then wait for it to come...that is why we did mostly buffets or family style serving...so they could eat food that was good and not have to wait to long...hope you have fun planning

 

[Jgeauxmo]

My son really enjoyed hoop Dee do last time when he was just over a year. The food was great and he loved the singing and dancing!! We booked it again for our February trip.

 

[AspenLL]

My DS loved 'Ohana, Be Our Guest and Crystal Palace. Not so much of a fan of Whispering Canyon.

 

[tabistar]

My husband and I are pretty big foodies, so it's hard to find food that lIves up to that. As far as buffets, we really like Tusker House lunch and Boma dinner. For non-buffet, The Wave was pretty good, and Captain's Grille was great (both for dinner). My picky kids were able to find something they'd eat at all of the above.

 

[Quellman]

I have been looking all over for a good restaurant for our family which includes a 2 1/2 year old. All of the character meals have better breakfast reviews than lunch or dinner.

So far I have already made ADR's for:

Kona Cafe @ Poly.
Mama Melrose
Teppan Edo
Crystal Palace (only breakfast ADR I am going to make)
Whispering Canyon Cafe @ WL
Cape May Cafe @ BC
Ohana @ Poly.
Sci-Fi Dine-In

We did Disney in December with a 2 year and 5 month old.
We did Ohana Dinner, Tony's Town Square Lunch, Garden Grille, Cape May Breakfast, Brown Derby Lunch, Be Our Guest Lunch.
When he was 1.5 we did Mama Melrose, Kona Cafe, Chef Mickey, Ohana, Boma, Rose and Crown.

Never have had much of an issue, and he generally hangs out in the chair, not a booster or high chair. We will bring cars and an iPhone if needed. Characters are awesome at this age, but only if you know in advance that your kid won't be frightened. Of those on your list I would shy away from Teppan Edo at that age, simply because of the show aspect, fire, heat, and hot surfaces. Just about any restaurant will accommodate a toddler without reserve. Have a great time you picked some fun ones.

 

[Dreamin192]

We went last year when our kids were 3, 1, and 1. We did Crystal Palace breakfast, H&V Breakfast, Coral Reef dinner, CRT dinner, BOG lunch and dinner, Chef Mickey breakfast, 1900 breakfast, and Ohana breakfast. We didn't have any trouble at any of the places. I will say that CRT was probably the least favorite just because the whole thing felt rushed but as far as the kids being entertained it was all fine. We prefer to do character meals because it's one less thing to wait in line for. This year we are adding in some signatures at Narcossees and California Grill to break it up a bit but the rest are all character meals.

 

[Minnesota!]

My kids loved Sci Fi at that age - the movies hold their interest, the atmosphere is cool, and the cars wowed them.

Also, Ohana...they enjoyed being able to get up and move, and Biergarten for the comfort food, easy to navigate buffet, and, again, the ability to get up and move!

 

[Lisa F]

you don't seem to have AK plans but tusker house is a godsend for picky little ones with adults who like something more than standard american fare buffet offerings. Boma is even better on that front, but no characters.

but honestly at that young age you can probably take them anywhere you want to go that seems appealing. It's only later that they start having real strong opinions about stuff!

 

[Misha72683]

My boys (4 and 2.5) loved Biergarten. Lots for them to eat and they loved the atmosphere. My oldest asks to go back. We really liked the food too.