If you could just pick ONE place to eat dinner at WDW parks...

[Gamegrl1]

Yes, mum and I have looked at some of the menus and descriptions at all the parks and particularly had our eyes on the San Angel Inn and Restaurant Marrakech at Epcot. If we can't make it to another recommendation for dinner we may try it for lunch - some places people are describing sound so good! The 50's cafe sounded super-neat from the brochure but some people said the food was iffy.

Both of us like our big meal of the day at dinner (if I eat a large lunch I just fall asleep!) and are willing to pay for it and understand it costs more.

Lots of posters are blessed to come to WDW often and/or stay longer than we're able to but since I'm treating her to this trip and paying for the whole thing we're just trying to make the most of our time and to me that means staying in the parks. It'd be great if we had the bucks to stay a couple weeks because then we could be a tad more leisurely and check out the resorts, etc. too but funds only permit so much. We're blessed and excited just to do what we can.

 

[OhThePain]

There are a lot of good dining options inside the parks, so I don't personally think you are limiting yourself by excluding resort restaurants.

MK- I am not too much of a fan of any of the restaurants for a dinner. LTT is the only one I would recommend. If you want an experience (although a bit expensive) I think everyone should try CRT at some point. The Plaza is probably the most inexpensive TS restaurant on property and costs just a little more than a CS restaurant, so you could eat there and not let it count as your TS meal.

EC- There is a lot to choose from. You could try either of the Mexican restaurants if that is up your ally. My girlfriend and I have always had a decent meal at Les Chef's. If you were looking for a buffet Biergarten is good, but if choosing only 1 TS I personally wouldn't pick a buffet.

AK- I personally wouldn't choose any of the TS restaurants here. It's the one thing, IMO, that this park lacks. Donald's Breakfast Safari at TH is the only TS meal we would have there. Flame Tree BBQ is the CS restaurant that we choose to eat most often while in AK. Also, if you don't have park hoppers AK tends to close the earliest and would consider looking into a resort restaurant on this/these days since you wouldn't be missing out on any park time.

 

[ShuisFan584]

This will be hard since most of my favorite restaurants are outside of the parks.

AK: You really only have 3 choices at this park for dinner - Rainforest Cafe (technically outside of the park), Tusker House, and Yak & Yeti. Out of those 3, I'd say Yak & Yeti. I've never been there, but my sister has and she liked it.

Epcot: I would jump to say Le Cellier....but that's only for lunch. I wouldn't do dinner there now since it's too expensive. And since you said you're only looking at dinner, I would say nevermind to Le Cellier. I would say your best choice of restaurants inside the parks is at Epcot, since there's so many. You can't go wrong with many of them. But if I had to choose, I would say Chefs de France.

MK: MK only has 5 sit downs to choose from. Cinderella's Royal Table, Crystal Palace, and Liberty Tree Tavern are all per person prices and expensive. I would probably never eat at Plaza Restaurant since I've heard so many bad things about it. So that basically leaves Tony's Town Square. I ate here once and enjoyed my meal here, so I would recommend it.

 

[ktlm]

If you like the atmosphere of the Blue Bayou (I've been there too), you will probably love the Atmosphere of the San Angel Inn. It is the same concept, making you feel like you are outside-- just switched from New Orleans to Mexico. We have eaten diinner there several times. We have found the food to sometimes be inconsistent. I usually order the same thing, and I have had trips where it is absolutely fantasic, and trips where it is just so so (never bad). I guess it depends on the chef/cook on duty at the time. Even on the occasions when the food is so so, the atmosphere makes up for it.


My other choice for you would be Biergarten. The atmosphere/decor is fun there as well. Plus, you have the added benefit of the band and their show. The food is good too (I would love a piece of that Bavarian cheesecake right now!) That is a must for us on every trip. DD ranks it up there with Princess meals, and it is DH's one absolute place he does not want to miss. It is great for either lunch or dinner.

We have been to Restaurant Marrakesh. It is fun too. Our last time the food seemed bland. I'm guessing they tamed down the spices normally found in Moroccan food for the masses. Personally, I would pick San Angel and Biergaren over this one, but I like this one as well.

I would not pick Chef's De France. The food is good, but there is no atmosphere there. It just felt like any other restaurant to us (and a crowded one with tables practically on top of each other- at least where we were sitting). Nothing wrong with it, it's a nice place with an "upscale" type feel, but it definitely won't give you any feeling like Blue Bayou. We like it, but we will always pick the three above over it.

If you are only going to do one Table service meal, I would definitely stick with someplace in Epcot!

 

[kathi]

We love to eat at Disney, but usually eat at the Resorts because, in general, the restaurants are higher quality (in our opinion). I understand your limitation on time - but keep in mind that some resorts are very close to Magic Kingdom (Poly, Contemporary and Grand Floridian are a quick monorail trip) and Epcot (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin are a quick walk).

If I had to pick one place in the park it would either be Coral Reef at the Living Seas in Epcot (the food is good, service can be sketcy but the restaurant is pretty and the fish tanks are awesome) or San Angel inside the Mexico Pavillion, also in Epcot - good food, excellent service and lovely atmosphere.

If you were willing to travel a short distance I would pick either the California Grill at the Contemporary (just minutes from the Magic Kingdom either by monorail or foot) or the Flying Fish on the Boardwalk (short walk from Epcot).

Enjoy your trip!

Kathi

 

[Dumbo Mad]

Epcot - Coral Reef
Animal Kingdom - Yak and Yeti, Rainforest Cafe or Flame Tree BBQ
Hollywood Studios - Sci Fi
Magic Kingdom - The Plaza or Crystal Palace

 

[Snurk71]

But I remember how special it's been to eat at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland and what a memorable experience that was.

Solely based on this criteria, I think the best "memorable experience" places in the parks are:

MK - Castle (haven't been in years)
EP - Coral Reef (we didn't particularly care for the food)

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

One dinner, inside parks, no problem.

I too would skip AK for my 1 TS meal.

If choosing MK, I would vote for the castle (CRT) for the experience. Budget might be a bit of an issue, and it's not your best food, but it IS the castle and it IS the princesses. If that is too pricey, I would vote Crystal Palace. Characters are a bonus there.

If EPCOT, we really like Via Napoli (Italy TS pizza) and La Hacienda de San Angel (much better than San Angel, but not the same atmosphere as eating inside the pyramid).

 

[Lumiere Lover]

MK-Crystal Palace
EPCOT-Biergarten or Chefs de France
AK-Tusker House
HS-50's Prime Time or Sci Fi Drive in

If I had to pick one, Chefs de France. I am a big Remi fan!!