HELP! Kona, Tony's, or The Wave???

[Jetta8300]

We are going to MNSSHP on Friday Oct 22nd, and I am having trouble on deciding between these restaurants now that we have switched to stay at the Poly!!!

We have reservations currently at Tony's Town Square at 5:20, but that place doesn't seem to get the greatest reviews on here. Another option would be to go to Kona or The Wave at 5:00, and then take the monorail over to the party! What do you guys think??? Thanks for your help!

 

[laurainsem]

I honestly don't understand why Tony's gets bad reviews. We avoided it on our first trip due to the reviews but decided to try it on our last. Really, we thought it was great!

The wait staff was wonderful and the food was uber yummy. No, it is not "true italian" like you can get at Epcot, but caters to those of us who just want a delicious plate of spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesean, or the like. I got the Spaghetti and meatballs and it was some of the best i've ever had.

So, if your looking for familiar, tasty, italian, this is the place. They also have wonderful tiramasu! All of us agreed this is a place to visit again!

 

[Nermel9]

I voted for Kona, because that's what I did last year before MVMCP and it worked out great! But Tony's would be just as good because you will already be in the park. I haven't been to Wave so I don't know if it's good or not, but Kona and Tony's are great!

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Kona, all the way!

 

[MHSweb79]

I haven't eaten at the Wave but we've been to Tony's and Kona and we actually had a fabulous meal at Tony's! I was really leery of going there but was proven wrong.

Kona is fine but I voted Tony's because it puts you right in the park. Try to get in the outdoor patio room - it's great.

 

[indyyogi]

the wave bc its different then most places

 

[mousebit]

I think it depends on a couple of things
a) Have you been to any of them before and enjoy them enough to
go again; and
b) Do you want to be inside the park before the party starts?

I'll give you my opinion even tho it's pretty much the opposite of what most DISers recommend for MNSSHP. We're going to Kona
a) because we absolutely love the food; and
b) because we love to arrive by monorail just as the party is starting.
(One year we had an early ADR at LTT and we enjoyed the characters
in costume, BUT we missed walking up to the train station all foggy with
the music playing and the greeters out to welcome us. I know it
sounds silly, but those little changes in the ambiance really put us in
instant party mode!)

That said, I wouldn't be afraid of Tony's either if the menu looks good to you. It's at the front of the park and you'll still come out of the restaurant into the party vibe.

 

[budbeerlady]

We had a good meal at Tony's and would go back. But we had a better meal at the Wave, the food was outstanding!

Tony's was good but the wave was lick your plate clean kinda good!
Look at the menus and see what appeals to you. http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm#mk

 

[disneychic]

I've never eaten at The Wave, but I like Tony's and Kona -- in terms of which has the better meal -- definately Kona. It's consistantly a good dining experience.

 

[Princess_K]

When we went to MVMCP in 2008, we ate at Tony's for dinner. It really was very convenient to be IN the park ready to do go. And honestly, the food wasn't bad at all. Not my favorite, but not bad either.

However, we ate at Kona on our trip in May. It was probably my 2nd favorite meal (behind Cali Grill). So based on that, my vote is for Kona!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I voted for Kona Cafe. Since you are staying at the Poly, there is no transporation needed to get here so you don't have to fret about that. It has great food too.

I have eaten at the Wave and the restaurant is fine but since you are closer to Kona, and I think it has a tad better menu, then that is what I chose.

I have not eaten at Tony's and can not judge their restaurant but I'm not sure I'd want to fight the other ADRs for that night. Just my opinion. Good luck!

 

[DLo]

I voted for kona. we have eaten there for lunch and dinner and really enjoyed both.

 

[Jetta8300]

I think it depends on a couple of things
a) Have you been to any of them before and enjoy them enough to
go again; and
b) Do you want to be inside the park before the party starts?

I'll give you my opinion even tho it's pretty much the opposite of what most DISers recommend for MNSSHP. We're going to Kona
a) because we absolutely love the food; and
b) because we love to arrive by monorail just as the party is starting.
(One year we had an early ADR at LTT and we enjoyed the characters
in costume, BUT we missed walking up to the train station all foggy with
the music playing and the greeters out to welcome us. I know it
sounds silly, but those little changes in the ambiance really put us in
instant party mode!)

That said, I wouldn't be afraid of Tony's either if the menu looks good to you. It's at the front of the park and you'll still come out of the restaurant into the party vibe.

Wow thanks so much everyone for the opinions! To answer these questions,

a) we have never been to WDW before, this is out first trip!!! and

b) It really doesn't matter if we are inside when the party starts. It is just my husband and I, no kids. We are both 28 and staying at the Poly. We really aren't concerned because we will have no problem being at the party until midnight!

We really just want the best meal, and to make sure that it wouldn't be a total disaster entering the park around 7, via monorail, from one of the resorts! looks like KONA is the favorite!!!

 

[kerri0616]

We liked our meal at Kona, but we looooooooooooved our meal at the Wave. The beef tenderloin was to die for. And the service was exceptional.

Kerri

 

[allshookup]

Kona since you're already staying at the Poly, it's convenient, the food is good, and you can have a cocktail at dinner (which you can't have at Tony's). Not a deal breaker, but I like to have a drink w/ dinner when we dine out, but many people don't drink so it may not matter to you. Tony's is okay, I'm not a big fan of their sauce, but I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We had lunch at the Wave on our last day at BLT last trip. The family did NOT want to eat there, they weren't thrilled w/ the menu at all, but I convinced them to try it. It was a hit w/ everybody, but it's not as convenient so I'll go with the majority & vote for Kona.

 

[Jetta8300]

Kona since you're already staying at the Poly, it's convenient, the food is good, and you can have a cocktail at dinner (which you can't have at Tony's). Not a deal breaker, but I like to have a drink w/ dinner when we dine out, but many people don't drink so it may not matter to you. Tony's is okay, I'm not a big fan of their sauce, but I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We had lunch at the Wave on our last day at BLT last trip. The family did NOT want to eat there, they weren't thrilled w/ the menu at all, but I convinced them to try it. It was a hit w/ everybody, but it's not as convenient so I'll go with the majority & vote for Kona.

That's a great point! I would love to have a drink on my last night there, and It looks like Kona has that amazing pineapple thing and The Wave has some good martini's! It looks like Kona is winning though, The Wave lunch menu looks slightly better to me than their dinner menu. But I'm sure it is really amazing, I wish i could go to both!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I voted for the Wave. It was a tough decision as I really like Kona too but then I thought about our last trip where we had a meal at both places and hands down the better meal was the Wave. The service was better there too. Not much but our server at the Wave was definitely more attentive. Not sure if we'll do Kona next Spring when we go back but we will definitely be doing the Wave!