I forgot how to Disney...

[KateMW]

We haven't been to Disney since before Covid, a little over 4 years now. Also we've always used a planner in the past. Well, I'm completely lost and I missed my ADR date for our trip next month. So here I am...winging it.

Remind me what restaurants we like? Any new ones worth trying? It's my husband, my 9 year old son and myself. We don't need character meals probably but open to all suggestions.

 

[RoseGold]

You can pay for a tracker app and get what pops up. It depends on what your goals are.

You could do the whole trip with just mobile order on your phone as you go. This has improved a whole lot since Covid. You can go to the app and pretend like you're in a park to order right now. You'll see there are so many options now.

 

[KateMW]

Oh thank you, I will look into mobile orders.

I've been using Mouse Dining to find ADRs and have had some decent luck but I'm just so out of the loop with what's good. I guess I'll be reading all day. Somehow this trip snuck up on me.

 

[holden]

Sometimes we don't book ADRs and instead start looking 24hrs ahead of time (keep checking frequently, even day of). People often cancel those hard-to-get restaurants.

Another option is to just do counter service. This allows more flexibility because you won't be tied to a dining reservation.

Some of our favorites are:

AK - Nomad Lounge (no reservations taken - we get in line before it opens and eat/drink lunch there)
MK - Nothing outstanding here. Liberty Tree Tavern is usually decent.
EP - Eat at food booths if you are there during a festival. Otherwise we like Les Halles (France).
DHS - Hollywood Brown Derby is our go to for a sit-down meal.

Others (sit down):
Homecomin
Grand Floridian Cafe
Boma
Shula's

Others (counter service):
Regal Eagle
Contempo Cafe
Sunshine Seasons (we haven't been in a while but they used to be decent)

 

[_19disnA]

People often cancel those hard-to-get restaurants.

That is often mentioned on here, so even if something appears sold out when doing your planning, you might be able to find an opening while there on vacation. The main thing that has changed since you were last there is the menu at various places as well as more of those pricey fixed menus at certain restaurants. I would start by reviewing the current menus on the Disney website for places you enjoyed in the past. Mobile ordering seemed a bigger deal when Disney first reopened after the covid shutdown. I think it was mostly intended to encourage social distancing and avoid having people crowded together waiting to order.

 

[kristennn]

How many days are you going? Where are you staying? What parks do you like to go to? do you have any non park days? In the past I have mostly used the dining plan - so I would try and eat at places that were good value for dining plan prices. Now ... I look at menus and prices and think about value in that way. Also - ive been to disney enough times, and ate at many places and I know we will go again, so I am not willing to go far out of our way to eat someplace specific. I want our dining to be convenient for our plans. I would consider where you will be - and what time around you want to eat - and then see whats available - and then look at the menu and see if it suits your family. If yopu;re not sure about a place - ask here! We are going in a couple of weeks and here is what we decided on .... on our arrival day we are going to disney springs at night and I am hoping we can get a table at homecoming if we get there early and are willing to wait. if not we will eat at earl of sandwich or d-luxe burgers or something like that. On Saturday our animal kingdom day, I will bring banana bread from home and then we will snack - and then are eating at yak and yeti table service at around 2 ish. For dinner we will either eat back at the condo or grab something or whatever. I have never ate yak and yeti table service before - so I am excited to try it. On sunday our epcott day we are eating at via napoli at around 4ish - i think we might just do pizzas and apps - and then before and after we will snack at epcott on whatever. we will likely be at the park open to close. I thought about not booking any meals - but it is nice to have a space to sit down and relax and get out of the sun. Monday we are going magic kingdom and have reservations at Ohanas around 345. we will go back to magic kingdom after. Ohanas is $60 each plus drinks plus tax and tip - and honestly I am thinking it is NOT a good value especially after recent reviews - but we have enjoyed it in the past and we love going to the poly to hang out and shop - so this will be a good time to do that. Afterwards we will go back to magic kingdom til park close.

 

[KateMW]

How many days are you going? Where are you staying? What parks do you like to go to? do you have any non park days? In the past I have mostly used the dining plan - so I would try and eat at places that were good value for dining plan prices. Now ... I look at menus and prices and think about value in that way. Also - ive been to disney enough times, and ate at many places and I know we will go again, so I am not willing to go far out of our way to eat someplace specific. I want our dining to be convenient for our plans. I would consider where you will be - and what time around you want to eat - and then see whats available - and then look at the menu and see if it suits your family. If yopu;re not sure about a place - ask here! We are going in a couple of weeks and here is what we decided on .... on our arrival day we are going to disney springs at night and I am hoping we can get a table at homecoming if we get there early and are willing to wait. if not we will eat at earl of sandwich or d-luxe burgers or something like that. On Saturday our animal kingdom day, I will bring banana bread from home and then we will snack - and then are eating at yak and yeti table service at around 2 ish. For dinner we will either eat back at the condo or grab something or whatever. I have never ate yak and yeti table service before - so I am excited to try it. On sunday our epcott day we are eating at via napoli at around 4ish - i think we might just do pizzas and apps - and then before and after we will snack at epcott on whatever. we will likely be at the park open to close. I thought about not booking any meals - but it is nice to have a space to sit down and relax and get out of the sun. Monday we are going magic kingdom and have reservations at Ohanas around 345. we will go back to magic kingdom after. Ohanas is $60 each plus drinks plus tax and tip - and honestly I am thinking it is NOT a good value especially after recent reviews - but we have enjoyed it in the past and we love going to the poly to hang out and shop - so this will be a good time to do that. Afterwards we will go back to magic kingdom til park close.

We will be there for 6 days, staying at The Riviera. We do all the parks, usually two days at Epcot now. We don't have any non-park days.

 

[kristennn]

We will be there for 6 days, staying at The Riviera. We do all the parks, usually two days at Epcot now. We don't have any non-park days.

I have not been to the Riviera - but I think topalino's is there which is one of the hardest to get reservations right now - you could keep an eye out for last minute cancellations. I think they have a good quick service place at the Riviera too. I cant remember what else Riviera is close to but the sky glider things drop off there right? and I think they go to epcott and hollywood studios but I havent looked into it, because this time and last time we are staying off site (my parents rented a condo nearby for 3 weeks so we are visiting) they do this every year now, so staying onsite makes less sense - but I prefer it.
I would do some research and see what's close to "home" and think about if there are good times you might want to have a meal at the resort
- epcott - I tyhink they have tons of good quick service food but its also nice to have a sit down meal, although a lot of the best options there are pricey. I would look and see whats available fopr your days and consider doing a table service - esp if you will be there on a busy park day and will just need a place to sit for awhile.
Magic kingdom - maybe you have favorites there? I used to love be our guest when it was quick service and on the dining plan. Now it is expensive fixed price. I have been wanting to try Skipper Canteen. Or take the monorail to a resort restaurant. I have always wanted to eat at Kona at Poly and it just reopened.
animal kingdom - Maybe consider going to one of the animal kingdom resorts for dinner. We were going to eat at Sanaa but couldnt get reservations for 6 for the night we wanted Last trip we ate there and it was awesome - and the safari viewing area right outside the door is super cool. We also considered Boma - but I have ate there on the dining plan several times and its just not worth $60 plus tax , tip and drinks for me. Not with 6 of us anyway.

If you're going to be going to Disney springs at all there are lots of good restaurants - and there is a new restaurant at Caribbean beach club I have been reading really good reviews about. I wanted to try it but my friend veto-ed.

 

[kristennn]

Also I see you said youve always used a planner in the past - DO you know how to make ADR's? what are your dates and how many do you have in your group?

 

[kristennn]

Also - do you know you need to make park reservations? If you havent made them yet - do that asap. Also spend some time reading about Genie plus the new fast pass system

 

[morrik5]

An experience might be to take the boat over to Wilderness Lodge from Magic Kingdom and eat at Whispering Canyon. Our then 7 and 11 yr old grandchildren enjoyed seeing the Cast Member "Miss M" making fun of the adults calling our son "Bubbles" and my husband "Stud" but treating the kids like they really mattered. Food was great as was the surroundings of the Lodge itself.

 

[KateMW]

Also I see you said youve always used a planner in the past - DO you know how to make ADR's? what are your dates and how many do you have in your group?

I do know how to make them and have made a few. Our dates are March 26-Apr 1.

 

[KateMW]

Also - do you know you need to make park reservations? If you havent made them yet - do that asap. Also spend some time reading about Genie plus the new fast pass system

Yes I made park reservations back when I made the plans for the trip, so those are done! And Disney reminds you like 47020583 times on the website Which is helpful, wish they did that with my ADRs!

I have read a million things about Genie+ and now I think I'm even more confused.

 

[xipotec]

We haven't been to Disney since before Covid, a little over 4 years now. Also we've always used a planner in the past. Well, I'm completely lost and I missed my ADR date for our trip next month. So here I am...winging it.

Remind me what restaurants we like? Any new ones worth trying? It's my husband, my 9 year old son and myself. We don't need character meals probably but open to all suggestions.

Skipper Canteen in MK was really good when I went.

 

[xipotec]

Oh something else….used to be you had to cancel an ADR 24 hour in advance..

Now its only 2 hours, so you can be more flexible.

We are big fans of Citricos and Kona cafe at the deluxe resorts. Breaks up the day at MK.

AK: Yak and Yeti
Epcot: Teppan Edo
HS: 50’s Prime time

 

[KateMW]

Ok good to know because I had to put my card down for all of them!

 

[danceintherain]

We were planning a trip for a few weeks from now, and the only ADR I made a point of getting was Space 220. Only because DH insisted.
Otherwise, I wasn't really planning to eat table service much. Our plans change too often during a trip, and I like to stay flexible. I've eaten at almost everywhere inside the parks, except the various options in Epcot.
We rescheduled for December, and I will probably try to get some places in our hotel....and Space 220 again. But, I won't be upset if we end up with nothing.

 

[GoHorns94]

Riviera has two fantastic places we have tried our last two visits:

1. Topolinos Terrace at the top of Riviera is the best character meal and among the best food at WDW. We have enjoyed it twice for a late breakfast and are hoping to do so again in three weeks - highly recommend! I’m a big guy and always leave there very full, so don’t fret over portion sizes.

2. A quick and convenient option with exceptional counter service food is Primo Piatto near the pool. We used mobile order there for a couple of meals and skylined over from Caribbean Beach. Very tasty, fast and easy!

 

[Lovetherodent]

I feel the same way (forgot how to Disney). I go every three years. My last trip (March 2020) was just two weeks before Disney shut down. Well, everything's changed. For me, the biggie is no more dining plans. I'm blanching when I look at prices. Some favorites are gone. ADRs at 60 days? I'm trying some new (Y&Y, Biergarten, Tony's, Creperie) and returning to others (Flying Fish, Chefs de France). What I couldn't or won't do:

le Cellier
Narcoossee's ($87 for surf and turf w/o the ddp! but oh, that almond-crusted cheesecake!)
Via Napoli (because the Ugly but Good sundae is gone)
Marakesh (closed permanently)

 

[jimmymc]

Restaurants that are good and are easy to get a reservation for or you don't need one at all:

Magic Kingdom: Jungle Skipper Canteen, Harbor House, Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary, Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge

Epcot: Chefs du France, Katsura Grill, Le Creperie quick service window, Biergarten, festival booths, Il Mulino, Shula's, or BlueZoo at the Swan and Dolphin

Studios: Woody's Lunchbox, either Galaxy's Edge quick service location, Hollywood Brown Derby lounge

Animal Kingdom: Satuli Canteen (highly recommend just doing this one), Tusker House, Flame Tree BBQ, Yak and Yeti, Sanaa

Disney Springs: Homecomin (walkup list or bar, reservations are tough to get), Chicken Guy, Raglan Road, Morimoto Street Food window, The Polite Pig

Other decent options but not as highly rated: Kona Cafe, Grand Floridian Cafe, ABC Commissary, Sunshine Seasons, Connections Cafe, Lotus Blossom Cafe/Nine Dragons, Casey's Corner