Is Coral Reef really what it's made out to be?

[SunshineSneezy]

So excited for our trip(s) this summer!!

Well, I wanted to know if anyone had thoughts on Coral Reef. We have never, ever been before, but we made an ADR for it. What's it like? I've heard mixed opinions about it. I was also wondering if it's really worth it if you don't get one of the seats next to the tank with the fishies. I've read elsewhere on this board that those with regular seating crowd around your table and breath down your neck to see the fishies if you have a seat next to them. Is that true? So, are there some drawbacks as to where you sit? And, also, how's the food overall? Please, all opinions are welcome!

Thanks and happy DIS'ing!

 

[Kae]

We sat on the 2nd tier & we could see very well. And we felt sorry for the ones by the tank because, yes people were crowding them to get to the tank.

Kae

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we ate there in April and loved it.

 

[MICKEY1024]

we were just there in may and had seats right next to the tank. We had a great time, i guess it depends who you talk to because we werent crowded by people at all. I definately think that it is worth the money.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

It was okay, but I'm in no hurry to go back. It was something different and I'm glad we tried it once. The food IMO was on par with most of the other TS, although I cannot recall anything memorable that we ate there. Our kids enjoyed it, particularly DD. We were not right up against the tank and honestly I feel our seats were better because of it. I really could not see any BAD seating there, so if we went back I wouldn't be all crazed to be right up against the tank. If you haven't been there then I'd say definitely give it a shot, but I wouldn't be hung up on getting a seat next to the tank. I think you see more being a little further back.

 

[daannzzz]

I had lunch here in May. It was my first time at Coral Reef after 10 trips to WDW. I had a ADR for opening time and was seated near the windows. The atmosphere is great in the room and I enjoyed being near the window but I think it would still be nice if you are on the third row. No one came down and crowded around the windows while I was there. Service was excellent and the food was fine but nothing spectacular...particularly for the price.

 

[debilovesmickey]

I LOVE this restaurant.
We ate here in 2001 and in April, 2008.
The view was great as was the service and the food.
I am a seafood lover and this food is good!

Debi

 

[DisneyGirl@Heart]

We went for lunch last year during free dining, and we're seated right by the tank.. I don't remember anyone coming near us to get a closer look at the tank.

 

[snowdrift7]

We ate there in May - sat at the top tier and didn't have a great view. But still we loved the atmosphere. The food however, was another story. No one enjoyed the food. We will be back in Oct but only because we have a diver and a cake coming for DS birthday. Otherwise we'd pass this trip.

 

[SunshineSneezy]

Thanks! But I was just thinking... did anyone who had a pretty clear view of

the fish get a little queezy looking at the fish while eating it? I wanted to know if that may be a problem. I can get stomhaches easily. Ohh, I'm so embarrassed! Would this be a factor? Any experiences somewhat

like this?



Thanks for all the input, everyone!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Thanks! But I was just thinking... did anyone who had a pretty clear view of

the fish get a little queezy looking at the fish while eating it? I wanted to know if that may be a problem. I can get stomhaches easily. Ohh, I'm so embarrassed! Would this be a factor? Any experiences somewhat

like this?



Thanks for all the input, everyone!

We sat on the 2nd tier and had an excellent view. And no...no issues about eating little Nemo while watching his family swim by.

 

[TigerKat]

The ambiance is great, not a bad seat in the house. The food was nothing special.

 

[meriann]

We just ate there this past Thur. We had floor level seats but in the booths so no crowds. I liked sitting back a bit to see all the tanks. The food was AMAZING and we had fun. The one thing that surprised me was the noise level of the resturant. It was LOUD. I don't know why I was surprised but I just was.

Overall we loved it and if you want floor level I say ask for the booths not the tables. people were crowding a few tables.

 

[Lyra17]

I've never been, I always thought my kids would love it though

 

[Tink888]

We've been there for lunch and dinner and both times we had great meals. I was really pleased with the selection for the kids meals. The service was very good and both times we were seated in the back of the restuarant and still had nice views of the aquarium. I think it's just a neat place to eat. Seeing the fish didn't bother us while we were eating, once the food arrived the aquarium kind of became an afterthought. It was loud but that didn't bother us and I did see small kids crowded around the tables in front both times. We had nice meals here - I would definately recommend it if you haven't been there before and I would eat here again.

 

[Pirate Me]

We are going there this trip because we have never tried it before. I know the atmosphere is fantastic!

 

[AnnetteF]

Beautiful atmosphere! If you think eating fish while watching them swim by might bother you, try the steak! DH and I had it last September and it was wonderful. Better than the steak at Le Cellier in my opinion.

I would agree that sitting back from the tank allows you to see more of it, as sitting right up against it only lets you see a small part of it, but then the fish are right in front of you. We sat next to the tank in Oct 2006 with my DD who was 2 1/2 at the time. When we went back last year and she was 3 1/2, she was VERY disappointed that we were not seated next to the tank again.

Also, we had no issues with anyone crowding our table when we sat next to the tank.

I would caution you that this is a popular place and they do overbook, so if you hope to do anything after, make an earlier ADR. Last year ours was for 6:00 and we just made it out in time for Illuminations!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

The place was beautiful. We had excellent seats right by the aquarium but the server was a witch! She was so bad we actually left! I stayed there long enough to make her lose out on two tables worth of gratuity (while mngt called and got us a new ADR). She begged us to try another server but after that woman and the food runner were soooooooooooooo awful I was ready to go. Apps had been thrown at us and did not look very good at all. Never saw the food and never ate the apps either. I thought about giving it another shot since we're doing Dlx this year but DH said never again! I'm sure she's no longer there. That was her third strike and we also left a nasty comment about her at Guest Services on the way out too. The personalized menus and divers sound like a lot of fun though! Worth checking out if you like the menu!

 

[Suzimom]

We went for the first time a few weeks ago. As a PP mentioned...VERY loud! Fun atmosphere, though. We ate on the 2nd tier & loved our view. Probably won't be in a hurry to go back, though. DS and DH are rather picky eaters & the menu wasn't quite up their alley. DH would read an entree description & be bummed about some sauce/accompaniment combinations. He ended up ordering a grilled fish entree sans sauce for (in our opinion) a small fortune. We enjoy eating out & are willing to pay for a good meal; if it hadn't been Disney with an ADR booked long in advance, we probably would have walked away and found something else. We felt like we should give it a try, though; I'm glad we did, but as I said, probably won't be back.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Glad most of the reviews here have been positive thus far. We have an ADR this Oct. and it will be our first time trying CR! Should I request a table by the window or on the top level. We are a mid 20's couple! Also are there tables for two by the tank?