Help with ADR Selection - Suggestions/Must Dos

[LeeLee'sMom]

Beaches and Cream is our must do, decent food and even better desserts. Grand Floridian cafe is another lunch stop when at MK as we don't love any of MK sit down restaurants. Also dying to try Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary, it gets really good reviews.

 

[Her Dotness]

Thanks...yeah probably avoid the fine dining extra fancy places. Will keep GF Cafe in mind. We almost stayed there so might be good so we can at least see it. (Selected Contemporary instead for the walk to MK). <snip!>

Ohhhhh, too bad you didn't book the GF. That new walkway to MK is gorgeous--wide, nicely paved and landscaped. Yes, rather longer than the CR to MK walk but no crosswalks with loony drivers to wonder about.

The CR sidewalk can be a bit spooky at busier times of day, I find.

Good to know...When I do a spot check, Chef Mickey's is always fully booked....so hoping 60+7 won't be an issue to get a reservation (our departure morning). it definitely seems like a challenge to book what you want these days,

No great loss not getting Chef Mickey's. It's terribly noisy and food only edible, sometimes barely that.

Steakhouse 71 has a really pretty good breakfast. I suggest trying for that instead. You can meet Mickey lots of other places in much more peaceful atmospheres.

 

[Ta.Ham1989]

Staying at the Contemporary, I would say California Grill should be a no brainer.
I haven't been to any Epcot restaurants since COVID but I really Like the Beirgarten for dinner(hubby Hates it), Chef's De France, Rose and Crown and Teppan Edo. Garden Grill is not bad, it's cute if you have younger kids, the rotation makes me nauseous.
MK- My favorites are Be Our Guest and Skipper Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern is not bad as well but seems more like a Thanksgiving Meal to me.
AK- My absolute favorite is Sanaa! Yak and Yet in the park is also good!
I have friends who say Cape May has a great seafood buffet, but we have never been.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Steakhouse71 at Contemporary is incredible! Capt'n Cooks at Poly. LeCellier at Canada/EPCOT. Boma is a great choice. Creperie QS at France is delicious. Japan has some good choices our son and DIL like (we're not big on seafood).

I got sick at O'Hana in October. Chef's de France was a close second...

 

[dachsie]

We can make our ADRs end of next month so am trying to figure out what to (try and) book and need help. Warning...sorry I'm very detailed so long post ...lol.

I'm definitely going to try to book the following but need help on other suggestions (if any):

• Boma breakfast (60+4 days)
• Chef Mickey's breakfast (60+7 days)

A few notes as it may help suggestions

1. Staying at Contemporary with 2 teenagers
2. Coming end of August (so hot!!!)
3. Not going to a park on arrival day (may head over to Disney Springs)
4. DH and I don't eat meat, but do eat fish. Kids eat meat. Our older one is not adventurous and quite picky.
5. We have 2 park days at Epcot, with the first day hopefully having extended hours, so am thinking this may be a good day to add a sit down ADR. But this is day 60+2 so not sure if hard to book
6. We also have 2 park days as Magic Kingdom so option to book on one of these days too

Ok....so for opinions...

1. Do you have any "must do" ADRs that are Disney special?
2. For Epcot, I'm thinking maybe Via Napoli as food looks good, but it doesn't seem like it's anything Disney special (e.g. no special theming or unique)
3. What about Space 220 or Garden Grill? Both are $55 pp (more for us as we're Canadian) so expensive. I've heard Space is cool theming but not good food. For Garden Grill, not sure we want another buffet.
4. Suggestions for arrival day? Not sure if we should book ADR or just stick to quick service. Our flight should arrive 1pm or so shouldn't be an issue.
5. Or...should we just stick with Quick Service for the rest?

If you are going to Disney Springs, consider the Boathouse. The kids would love the filet mignon sliders and there are plenty of fish options. In Epcot try looking at Rose & Crown or Chefs or San Angel Inn. Grand Floridian Cafe is excellent and I like Plaza when trying to keep costs down. And Steakhouse 71 is great too!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you...these are all great suggestions.

No great loss not getting Chef Mickey's. It's terribly noisy and food only edible, sometimes barely that.

Steakhouse 71 has a really pretty good breakfast. I suggest trying for that instead. You can meet Mickey lots of other places in much more peaceful atmospheres.

We actually went to Chef Mickey's last trip (we've been to WDW once before) and really enjoyed the buffet. Our kids are older so the character interaction isn't important but we just enjoyed the experience and food (but hey, even teenagers still smile at Mickey).

Am thinking of Steakhouse 71 as well....not sure about dinner though as seems to mostly be just steaks. Lunch menu looks better (and more our budget) but not sure if we want to leave MK park mid day.

 

[Frozen2014]

If you are going to Disney Springs, consider the Boathouse. The kids would love the filet mignon sliders and there are plenty of fish options. In Epcot try looking at Rose & Crown or Chefs or San Angel Inn. Grand Floridian Cafe is excellent and I like Plaza when trying to keep costs down. And Steakhouse 71 is great too!

Thanks...will look at Boathouse. Not 100% sure if we're heading there on arrival day but it's a possiblity.

 

[isabellea]

Thanks...will look at Boathouse. Not 100% sure if we're heading there on arrival day but it's a possiblity.

You can book Boathouse on Open Table which has a same-day cancellation policy (better than WDW, especially good for arrival day).

 

[thebigman65]

Thank you for the feedback. I see that California Grill gets really good reviews but (1) it's a bit above what we'd want to spend (2) don't think it would be a good choice for our DS who is picky (and I'm not a sushi person).

I'm pretty sure that Food & Wine Festival will still be going on when we go (last week in August). Don't know anything about it. Unfortunately it works out that our second Epcot day is a Friday (as I heard bad crowds) but it's just how our days work out.

We've been to DW once before and was able to go to Be Our Guest. Beautiful and the room is truly magical! Probably won't go back this time. Crystal Palace or The Plaza are good?

sorry for the late response. Crystal Palace and The Plaza are Just ok IMO....but with limited choices at MK, they are good and not that expensive. I have not been to Skipper Canteen, but it gets mixed reviews so.... Hope you have an awesome time!

 

[Disturbia]

Topolinos for breakfast (book around 12 and it can double as lunch); CRT for atmosphere and special drinks; Space220 lounge (haven’t tried but dinner took 2.5 hrs and food quality was very low Nov 2021).

For some reason Steakhouse71 dinner missed the mark in April (had a great experience in Nov for lunch). We had ordered a custom cake from the contemporary which we had put a hold on the first day as it took 2 hours without dessert and we were about to miss our SDMT pass. Second day we ordered fish which was better than the triple salted filet. Same thing the second day, extremely slow service, overly salted appetizers (without the cake). would have cancelled if we didn’t have a cake tied to our reservation.

 

[_19disnA]

Where to eat is mostly a matter of budget and personal food preferences. Chef Mickey's is $42/person for breakfast which is pricey unless you are HUGE breakfast eaters and don't mind the price. Small children might enjoy the character interaction but that alone isn't worth that price. I would check the official menus on the Disney site to see what looks appealing to your family. We ate lunch at BOG during a prior trip when it was still a regular menu. I have no idea why people are so impressed at what seemed to use like a mish-mash of CS & TS with very average food. You order from a kiosk at the entrance and then help yourself to silverware & beverage. Someone brings your food to the table when it is ready. Wouldn't choose to eat there again and it is now a fixed price menu of $62/person (lunch or dinner).

We stayed at the Contemporary and preferred breakfast at the more reasonably priced Contempo Cafe or even the Contemporary Grounds (choice of pastries varied daily). Depending on your park schedule, lunch somewhere in one of the parks might be the best use of your time.