Is coral reef worth it?

[tacomaranch]

We would have to leave AK to get to Epcot for a 4:40 dinner and then back to AK for EMH evening until 9 pm. Is it worth it or should we find reservations so where else?

Thanks, April

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Pesonly my family didnt think it was all it was cracked up to be! I wouldnt go there again but i know alot of ppl love it so mayb its just us! I would book anthoer ressi thats less of hastle but thats just me!!

 

[Princess Amy]

Try Boma or Jiko at the AKL. It is relatively close and you can head back to AK for EMH. I do think Coral Reef is worth visiting, but I wouldn't leave AK to go eat there to then go back to AK. But of course it is up to you and your family.

 

[cabanafrau]

If you really want to do Coral Reef -- (used to love it, but don't want to go back again, completely subjective preference) -- plug it into your schedule somewhere else where it makes logistics easier. That alone will improve any dining experience.

 

[jetsetter90]

I wouldn't waste travel time to go back and forth just for Coral Reef. Boma or Jiko would be my choice.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Coral Reef was our favorite dining experience on our last trip. We will be going back.

 

[Wingedheart]

We really enjoyed the Coral Reef. I would definitely go back. But, for your situation with all the traveling you'd be doing just to get there, it doesn't seem worth it no. Guess it depends on how much time you want to spend getting back and forth vs. in the parks.

 

[newholidayx2]

I ordered the lobster salad lunch. It was expensive and seemed small. I did finish with the chocolate wave dessert so that filled me up.

 

[casaazul]

By taking the time to bus over to Epcot, walk casually to Coral Reef, have a great meal and then back to AK. I know we were so tired by 4pm at AK that we left to go hang out at AKL for an hour before dinner at Boma.

We loved Coral Reef. Food was good (mahi mahi was best of our entrees) and the atmosphere was awesome!

Have fun!

 

[Dawson'sMom]

We LOVE the Coral Reef and plan on eating there 2 times on our next trip. If this is the only way to fit it in then I say go for it. If you can place it on your Epcot Day or Magic Kingdom day then do it then and try Boma on the AK day.

 

[MissionMouse]

We would have to leave AK to get to Epcot for a 4:40 dinner and then back to AK for EMH evening until 9 pm. Is it worth it or should we find reservations so where else?...

Personally, we align our dining to be either in the park park or close proxmity. If your meal is at 4:40 your meal will be between 1 1-1/2...then add bus, walking and security time and you will most likely have between 2-3 hours at the AK. The question isn't so much worth, but does this meet your or your groups expectation.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

The travel time may be a pain but ADRs at the Coral Reef are difficult to come by so if you plan to eat there that reservation may be your only bet.

We ate there last year and everyone loved the atmosphere. I had the salmon and it was beoynd good (by far the best meal I had the entire trip) my wife and mother thought the food was just slightly above avg. but we all loved the atmosphere. The aquarium wall is second to none. Best experience we had dining last year.

 

[frannn]

I would 1) try to reschedule CR for a more convenient day, or 2) go to Epcot in the AM, then dinner, then PM at AK, or 2) get to AK at opening, maybe no need to take advange of the extra hours. Leave AK & go to Epcot for dinner & the rest of the evening.
We shy away from the late night at AK because we heard the animals are out more during the day, and we don't do the thrill rides.

 

[bigskyernurse]

Coral Reef was one of our favorite meals last January. Kids loved it too! We both had the steak and the chocolate wave (yummy!!). I can't remember what the kids had but they were happy. We were right in front of the tank with a huge sea turtle parked by our table most of the time. I know there are periodic bad reviews about CR here, but we loved it and will definitely return on our next trip!

We tried to line up our ADR's with the parks we were at but a few times traveled because that was the only way to get the place we wanted and it turned out to not be bad at all. I found the bus transportation relatively quick pretty much everywhere (except sometimes at the end of the day when everyone was leaving) and sometimes it was nice after walking all day to have a 15-30 minute break. We made many evening trips to Epcot! Plus maybe you could catch Illuminations one more time after your meal!