**HELP** Need some ADR suggestions.

[marvali]

We just had to postpone our vacation by a month and are well within the 180 day window (actually within 60). We don't normally do too much dining out when we are at WDW, at least not onsite sit down meals, but we thought we might like to try a couple this time. We know we will have to be flexible since the more popular restaurants are probably not available, so.......

What are your top three favorite sit down restaurants (doesn't matter if park, resort or DTD) for breakfast, lunch or dinner that typically aren't so crowded and you can still get an ADR on short notice? I know this may be a pipe dream at this point, but we are very flexible with our eating schedule, so we don't necessarily need a certain time of the day.

And are there any character meals we would have a prayer of getting this close to our trip? We have done them before, but not since our youngest DS was born and thought we would let him have that experience this time.

We are thinking about doing the DDE since we would never get enough out of the DDP to justify the cost per day. We just don't eat that way when we go to WDW, especially being DVC members and having use of the full kitchen.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Top 3 breakfasts are

Boma
Cape May
Kona

Top 3 dinners are

Beirgarten
Ohana
Chefs de France

 

[kelleigh1]

We don't have enough trips under our belt to give a full review, but

Breakfast: Chef Mickey's

Dinner: LeCellier

Since you'll probably have a real tough time getting into LeCellier, we also enjoyed dinners at 50's Primetime (despite many negative reviews), Boma and Raglan Road (Irish place at DTD).

However, our best meal was at Narcoossee which on the dining plan is a 2TS meal at the Grand Floridian.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I wouldn't give up right away. You may still have hope with some good ones if you call soon.

That being said, here are my favorites:

Breakfast -
Boma
Kona
Chef mickeys

dinner -
Ohana
Coral Reef
Narcoossee's (a bit expensive)

 

[jenb1023]

It will probably be very difficult to get a Chef Mickeys ADR - I would try for Tusker House breakfast in AK. It has a very similar feel to Chef Mickeys, characters are usually Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy, and the food is very good. Other options that don't seem to fill up as fast for the Fab Five and friends are Cape May and Garden Grill in Epcot. You might get Crystal Palace in MK if you are flexible with the time. They often have off times left like 1:45pm.

Good luck!

 

[tlriv5]

Breakfast:
1. Ohana character breakfast ~ Lilo and Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. Food was very good and we loved the atmosphere!
2. This year we are excited to try Crystal Palace breakfast


Dinner:
1. My dd's favorite is Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. They do a lot of fun things here, it's a fun atmosphere, not a quiet place, but a lot of fun and the food is good too!
2. Coral Reef for atmosphere and we loved the steak! Yum!
3. 50's Prime Time Cafe was fun too and they had good food

We are hoping after our fall trip our favorites may change a little, I don't think you could go wrong with anywhere you choose!

 

[marvali]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Keep them coming.

 

[jacksmom]

Kona for bkfst or dinner!

 

[mickeynut1]

Some of our favorites are:

Breakfast:

Cape May Cafe @ the BC (character meal/buffet)
Ohana @ the Poly (Lilo & Stitch/all you can eat served family style)
Chef Mickey's @ the CR (character meal/buffet)

Dinner:

Kona Cafe @ the Poly
Boma @ the AKL (buffet)
Ohana @ the Poly (all you can eat served family style to your table)

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Narcoossee's
Boma
Jiko
Liberty Tree Tavern

 

[marvali]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. We have been able to secure ADRs for dinner at Boma, a late character breakfast at Crystal Palace, and an early ressie for the Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast. Have not been able to get the one I really wanted yet for the Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK, but will keep trying.

I still need to pick something for a late sitdown lunch or early dinner at Epcot for one of our days. We would probably be happiest with either Japanese or Chinese in World Showcase, or one of the sitdown locations in Future World. Has anyone tried any of these that can give me any feedback on your overall satisfaction?

The other possibility would be somewhere that we could eat around the time of Illuminations and be able to enjoy the show from the restaurant during or immediately after we eat. The only one I probably would rule out for sure is Biergarten since we don't get overly excited about German food.

TIA

 

[daisy112878]

For Epcot, Tutto Italia, Chefs de France, and Marrakesh are our favorites. We love Nine Dragons but it's closed this year for refurb. IMO, Illuiminations is best viewed from outside a restaurant. There are some great places to stand near Canada and China.

You'll love O'hana breakfast. It's our favorite character meal at WDW. The characters are always good with kids and adults. Plus the food is good for a character meal.

One more thing we love our DDE card. The DDE card is one of the reasons we'll be renewing our AP this next year. It's so worth it to us.

 

[bookbabe626]

The other possibility would be somewhere that we could eat around the time of Illuminations and be able to enjoy the show from the restaurant during or immediately after we eat. The only one I probably would rule out for sure is Biergarten since we don't get overly excited about German food.

Try San Angel Inn (Mexico) or Marrakesh (Morocco) in World Showcase...they're likely the next easiest (after Biergarten) to get dinner ADRs at. Biergarten is our absolute fav, and we never have trouble with ADRs, but if you don't like the German food then it's probably not an option. It's the kind of place you either absolutely love or absolutely can't stand...

You're likely out of luck for the Chinese or Japanese dinners...the Chinese restaurant is closed for refurb, and the Japanese one books up quickly, as far as I can tell.

Garden Grill (Land pavilion) might be an option for a dinner...I think (?) they still have the characters there at dinner, even though they're gone at lunch. I haven't eaten there myself, but the menu seems pretty good and it might be an easier character meal to get.

 

[marvali]

For Epcot, Tutto Italia, Chefs de France, and Marrakesh are our favorites. We love Nine Dragons but it's closed this year for refurb. IMO, Illuiminations is best viewed from outside a restaurant. There are some great places to stand near Canada and China.

You'll love O'hana breakfast. It's our favorite character meal at WDW. The characters are always good with kids and adults. Plus the food is good for a character meal.

One more thing we love our DDE card. The DDE card is one of the reasons we'll be renewing our AP this next year. It's so worth it to us.

This is the first time we will get enough use out of an AP to get one, and we have definitely decided on the DDE card. Sorry to hear about Nine Dragons being closed since this is one we really thought about trying. As for viewing Illuminations, I thought I had read some reviews about one or two restaurants that had outside seating where you could watch the show, or maybe I just dreamed it.

Try San Angel Inn (Mexico) or Marrakesh (Morocco) in World Showcase...they're likely the next easiest (after Biergarten) to get dinner ADRs at. Biergarten is our absolute fav, and we never have trouble with ADRs, but if you don't like the German food then it's probably not an option. It's the kind of place you either absolutely love or absolutely can't stand...

You're likely out of luck for the Chinese or Japanese dinners...the Chinese restaurant is closed for refurb, and the Japanese one books up quickly, as far as I can tell.

Garden Grill (Land pavilion) might be an option for a dinner...I think (?) they still have the characters there at dinner, even though they're gone at lunch. I haven't eaten there myself, but the menu seems pretty good and it might be an easier character meal to get.

I had thought about Garden Grill if we can get an ADR there. Not necessarily interested in another character meal but I think I have read reviews that the characters are really good there. I know Coral Reef is probably a long shot at this late date, but thought that about Crystal Palace too and still got it yesterday.

 

[daisy112878]

You're thinking of Rose and Crown. They do have outdoor seating but it's not guaranteed. In my opinion its not worth it but I know others do go there. Also I think someone mentioned on a food review thread that they do have a small outdoor area where indoor tables and tables with bad views can stand during the show.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'm sad that you ruled out Biergarten. It's so much fun!

In Epcot, I would recommend Restaurant Marrakesh. Time it to be there when the belly dancer is, though. We are trying Garden Grill this trip. The food at the nearby Sunshine Seasons was fantastic and I have a hunch that Garden Grill uses the same food.