Help us pick our one dinner at Disney!

[myhoney]

We are going on our first family trip with our girls, ages 6 & 4. We are staying offsite, and plan to eat most dinners at home. However, we would like one special meal at Disney, preferably not a character meal (DH and I are not spending $150 for breakfast with the princesses).

Beside Ohana and the Hoopdedoo review, are there any other places we should consider?

Thanks!

 

[Cafeen]

While you said preferably not character meals, I'd look into the Tusker House breakfast. It's got Mickey, Daisy, Goofy, and Donald (who sometimes roams and sometimes just takes pictures in front). It's one of the least expensive character meals on property (and it's quite good). (As of March 2011, it's ~$25 adult, ~$11 child)

Some other alternatives for "different" types of meals would be 50s Prime Time or Sci-Fi Dine-in (both at DHS), Liberty Tree Tavern (Lunch) at Magic Kingdom, or Whispering Canyon Cafe over at Wilderness Lodge. Boma for breakfast would also be a good choice. (As a note, of the above I have only been to Sci-Fi and Liberty Tree, the others are 2nd hand info).

Just trying to think of places that are more than just "a restaurant" that are a little more reasonable.

The Plaza (also at MK) is also a good choice for a relatively inexpensive meal. The decor is nice and the food is good, just not as heavily themed as the others above.

 

[disneymomma2]

I have eaten at Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios and had a very good experience there. The waitresses act like your mom and the kitchen you are sat in is right out of Leave it to Beaver. The Sci Fi one is a fun one too although it seemed to take along time for you to get seated(even with reservations) and then a long time for your food to come. Just from my own experience though.

 

[alice99]

We are eating at the Sci Fi Dine in Theater for Lunch as our one special Disney meal this year.
It is burgers and sandwiches, but the decor and experience is fun and funky. My kids love it and always want to eat there.

The second place they like is the Cape May for breakfast, though it pains me to spend over 100$ on breakfast.

Avoid Chef Mickey's , the food is NASTY!!... it is also LOUD and un-magical! I've had dinner there, not breakfast.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'd consider Germany in Epcot. It's fun and there's something for everyone to eat.

I know you said no character meals but I also like the Crystal Palace for a late breakfast (will hold you for lunch as well).

 

[Cafeen]

Avoid Chef Mickey's , the food is NASTY!!... it is also LOUD and un-magical! I've had dinner there, not breakfast.

I (well, it was "we" at the time), did CM for breakfast in 2009. The food was pretty good, but it's expensive. I think (without looking the prices up) that it's the 2nd most expensive character meal on property (the first being CRT).

I do hear that breakfast is typically better than dinner there, so that would also be a big point of difference.

 

[gerk77]

The Whispering Canyon Cafe over at Wilderness Lodge is a fun place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The meal is served family style. It is brought to you in a big skillet. If I remember correctly the skillet is refillable. We enjoy the food. They serve chicken, ribs, brisket, potatoes, and barbeque beans for dinner. We were there 8 years ago so I can't quote you a price. We are going back in 10 days and planning to eat there again The waitstaff has fun inter-reaction with the patrons. If you really want to have fun, make sure someone ask for ketchup. They brought my son cases from the kitchen along with everyone in the restaurant bringing him some. It was quite funny.

 

[jennabcassell]

Crystal Palace at MK is one of my favorites!! I know it is a character breakfast with Pooh and Friends but it is an all you can eat buffet and the food is amazing.
Tonys Town Square is good at MK, I think everything else at MK is really not worth it.

For non-character dining-Epcot, Coral Reef is amazing, and you can never find adr's a Le Cellier so I would assume its good if you can get one! Askerhaus Banquet is amazing for the girls- while it is princess dining, its not expensive as Cinderellas Royal Banquet and you get photos included with the price of the meal!

As mentioned before 50's prime time or Sci-fi is awesome at HS. Stay away from Mama Melrose, it was like an Olive Garden to me.

Yak and Yeti and Rainforest Cafe were great at AK. The girls would probably love Rainforest Cafe with all the animals!! There is also one at Downtown Disney. And at Downtown Disney Raglan Road is amazing!!! Try the bread pudding! Ive been dying to go to Bongos! The menu and atmosphere looks fun!

 

[jimmytammy]

50s PTC immerses you into more than the meal. WCC also does the same, though the food is hit or miss, IMO. Ohana for dinner is also good but pricey. LTT in MK is good.

I would go 50s for the total experience plus food is good.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

My 3 year old DD loves Raglan Road in DTD for dinner. The Irish dancers and band really make it a very fun experience. The food is great, too.

 

[Linda T.]

We also like Raglan Road at DTD and we like Teppen Edo at Epcot.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

I would also recommend Crystal Palace for Breakfast- try to get an 8am reservation when Magic Kingdom opens at 9am- that way you can get in the park before most. Seeing Main Street, and the Castle that way is amazing, and one of my favorite memories from our first trip! (lunch prices arent too bad there either)

For Disney-like atmosphere I would recommend Coral Reef at Epcot (huge aquarium for the WOW factor). There is also Garden Grill in Epcot- a character meal with Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto (or goofy- or someone lol) and isn't too pricey.

Ohana is a great choice- we went there on our first trip and had fun. Try to get a 5pm reservation so you arent waiting too long for your reservation- You will have to book it at 180 days, and by then the ressies may be gone- don't worry though, keep trying at different times and you may be able to snag one.

 

[RFrank9504]

my kids LOVED Bierngarten in Germany. Its a fun dinner buffet with German music performers and a dance flror. they invite kids and families up to polka dance and such. The food is GREAT. Its a little pricey-but so is every sit down dinner in Disney. Its one of our favs.

I'm not a fan of the character meals. I agree with other Chef mickey's dinner is gross, and over priced.

50's Prime Time is fun. Another great place is the Rainforest Cafe or TRex.
We heard rave reviews on Whispering Canyon-so many that we booked it the first night of our upcoming trip.

Good Luck