Is Disney dining really limited?

[RChurchLI]

Hi All,

I am going to Disney the first time in February with my family. I am somewhat of a picky eater, I like a burger or a grilled cheese or some pasta. My kids like chicken nuggets or grilled cheese. I signed up for a dining plan and as I am looking through I only see three restaurants that have what I would consider normal American fare - the Plaza, Rainforest Grill and Planet Hollywood, where I can get a burger and the kids can get chicken and grilled cheese. Am I missing something, or are all the rest of the restaurants geared towards people who like more upscale food? I am not talking about quick dining by the way, I am talking about table service meals.

Here's an example - the "50's cafe" - a cafe and I can't get a burger or a BLT or something?

Cousin Eric's Char-grilled Chicken Sandwich - marinated chicken breast topped with cheddar, grilled onions, barbeque sauce, lettuce and tomato on a Kaiser roll, with a house salad or french fries $13.49

Grandma's Chicken Pot Pie - creamy mixture of chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, peas, and onions topped with a flaky pastry $16.99

Mom's Old-Fashioned Pot Roast - slow-cooked until fork tender served with mashed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions $16.99

Uncle Dana's Artichoke and Ricotta Agnolotti - Pearl Pasta with Roasted Zucchini and Crookneck Squash with spicy Tomato Broth $16.99

Fish Sandwich - beer-battered haddock on a crusty roll, with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce, served with a house salad or french fries $12.49

Dad's Traditional Meatloaf - a blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze, served with mashed potatoes, and green beans $14.99

Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken - served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and southern greens $15.99

Caesar Salad with Chicken - Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons topped with sliced grilled chicken $12.99; Also available with salmon $13.99

Stacked Sandwich - Your choice of smoked turkey or ham on seven grain bread, lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise, served with a house

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Restaurants board...

 

[Chelley00]

Have you tried allears.net? They have menus for every restaurant. You can get pasta at Tony's or Mama Melrose, Sci Fi has burgers and fries (not on the menu but you can order it there) 50's Prime Time has meatloaf and fried chicken.

You might be happier at buffets, especially those with characters, because they will have kid type food and not "gourmet".

 

[RMulieri]

I think the dining plan may not be for you.Most of the restaurants have simple foods, but not many serve things like Burgers or grilled cheese for adults.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

1) The Rainforest Cafe is NOT on the dining plan.

2) There are definitely TS locations that have more variety than you prefer. All buffets will have mac n cheese, chicken tenders, pizza etc. for the kids (and adults). Almost all TS kids meals include at least one of the above.

Some table suggestions to find normal American fare:
50s Prime Time (no burgers, but meatloaf, pot pies, pot roast)
Sci-Fi Diner (lunch has a burger)
Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch has a burger)
Beaches N Cream (at the Beach Club resort just outside of Epcot/DHS)
Big River Grill (at the Boardwalk resort just outside of Epcot/DHS)


If you really only want to eat burgers and chicken nuggets during your trip, I'd stick with quick service. Or maybe use your TS at breakfast (not the best value, but also an option).

 

[RChurchLI]

Thanks all, sounds like I should have just gone for the quick service dining plan. I really am surprised that a place that is geared towards young people has restaurants that lean so heavily towards Manhattan-esque cuisine. Looks like we'll be at Planet Hollywood every night unless I change to all quick service.

Next question, is it going to be a giant pain to get from, let's say, Animal Kingdom to Downtown Disney for dinner? We are relying on trams/buses/etc, I am not renting a car. Also it looks like even though I am a month out I can only get 5pm reservations each day. Does that mean if I am on the dining plan my only option is to eat at 5 pm? And if I get there at 6 I'm done, no dinner?

 

[DisneyKira]

Thanks all, sounds like I should have just gone for the quick service dining plan. I really am surprised that a place that is geared towards young people has restaurants that lean so heavily towards Manhattan-esque cuisine. Looks like we'll be at Planet Hollywood every night unless I change to all quick service.

Next question, is it going to be a giant pain to get from, let's say, Animal Kingdom to Downtown Disney for dinner? We are relying on trams/buses/etc, I am not renting a car. Also it looks like even though I am a month out I can only get 5pm reservations each day. Does that mean if I am on the dining plan my only option is to eat at 5 pm? And if I get there at 6 I'm done, no dinner?

That's weird. You should be able to get ADRs for dinner much later than that...even if you are a month out. Did you accidentally put in 5pm in your search?

 

[Babes317]

Hi All,

I am going to Disney the first time in February with my family. I am somewhat of a picky eater, I like a burger or a grilled cheese or some pasta. My kids like chicken nuggets or grilled cheese. I signed up for a dining plan and as I am looking through I only see three restaurants that have what I would consider normal American fare - the Plaza, Rainforest Grill and Planet Hollywood, where I can get a burger and the kids can get chicken and grilled cheese. Am I missing something, or are all the rest of the restaurants geared towards people who like more upscale food? I am not talking about quick dining by the way, I am talking about table service meals.

Here's an example - the "50's cafe" - a cafe and I can't get a burger or a BLT or something?

Cousin Eric's Char-grilled Chicken Sandwich - marinated chicken breast topped with cheddar, grilled onions, barbeque sauce, lettuce and tomato on a Kaiser roll, with a house salad or french fries $13.49

Grandma's Chicken Pot Pie - creamy mixture of chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, peas, and onions topped with a flaky pastry $16.99

Mom's Old-Fashioned Pot Roast - slow-cooked until fork tender served with mashed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions $16.99

Uncle Dana's Artichoke and Ricotta Agnolotti - Pearl Pasta with Roasted Zucchini and Crookneck Squash with spicy Tomato Broth $16.99

Fish Sandwich - beer-battered haddock on a crusty roll, with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce, served with a house salad or french fries $12.49

Dad's Traditional Meatloaf - a blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze, served with mashed potatoes, and green beans $14.99

Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken - served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and southern greens $15.99

Caesar Salad with Chicken - Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons topped with sliced grilled chicken $12.99; Also available with salmon $13.99

Stacked Sandwich - Your choice of smoked turkey or ham on seven grain bread, lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise, served with a house

Go to the Crystal Palace at the MK...it is a buffet and has all the items you are looking for and more...plus lots of desserts and ice cream bar. Winnie the Pooh and friends are there.

 

[RChurchLI]

That's weird. You should be able to get ADRs for dinner much later than that...even if you are a month out. Did you accidentally put in 5pm in your search?

I tried searching at 5, 6, 6:30, etc. For example on the 7th from 4-8:30 the only time it shows available is 5 for Planet Hollywood.

 

[RChurchLI]

Go to the Crystal Palace at the MK...it is a buffet and has all the items you are looking for and more...plus lots of desserts and ice cream bar. Winnie the Pooh and friends are there.

Thanks for the tip. I guess we would have to do that the days we're at MK though right?

 

[almburr]

You most likely will nedd ADRs for CP they might not take walk ups. CP is a very popular place. Have you looked at the menus for the resorts reasturants?

 

[almburr]

Call the dining line and talk to the CM. I did that when I wanted to see if there was an earlier time for one of our ADRs. The CM changed our from 8pm to 6pm.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You cannot get directly from any Park to Downtown Disney. You will have to go to a Resort and then change buses.

And at all the Table Service locations you can have your food customized; they will put sauces on the side or give different side dishes (as long as they are on the menu) on request at no adsditional charges.

And why not try real food?

 

[TDC Nala]

Sounds to me like you should either stick to buffets or reconsider the dining plan (maybe go for a quick service plan).

If you show up an hour late for an ADR you may be seated and you might not. You would probably have to wait.

Next question, is it going to be a giant pain to get from, let's say, Animal Kingdom to Downtown Disney for dinner?

There are no buses between any theme park and Downtown Disney. You'd have to go to a resort to get on a bus to Downtown Disney. Some resorts have boat transportation as well (SSR, OKW, POR/POFQ)

Planet Hollywood, not being a Disney restaurant, is not the easiest restaurant to book through the Disney reservation system. I don't know how it would work if you tried to call them directly. Or try calling the Disney dining line instead of booking online.

 

[RChurchLI]

Call the dining line and talk to the CM. I did that when I wanted to see if there was an earlier time for one of our ADRs. The CM changed our from 8pm to 6pm.

Just tried it, no dice, 5 pm is 5 pm. Thanks for the tip though

 

[RChurchLI]

And why not try real food?

Like I tell my wife, if I know I like something and it tastes good, why risk my luck eating something I don't like

 

[RChurchLI]

Sounds to me like you should either stick to buffets or reconsider the dining plan (maybe go for a quick service plan).

That's what I'm thinking, when I hear "quick service" I'm thinking Burger King but I think that quick service may be the food I'm looking for. I'm too simple for the fancy stuff I'm more of a Larry the Cable Guy kind of person. If there's doors on the bathroom stalls it might be too upscale for me

 

[TDC Nala]

There are loads of buffets. You may want to avoid Boma and maybe Tusker House (except breakfast).

 

[Minnie Lor]

Yeah, I'd either switch to the quick service dining plan or pay out of pocket. The quick service plan will make things easier as you can eat when and where you want as long as it's counter service. the regular dining plan isn't a good deal if you're not into buffets or a little more upscale.

We're not foodies either. I like ethnic but DH likes meat and potatoes. We've looked at some of the upscale restaurants and nothing appealed to us. We do like more than burgers though. Definitely check out the menu's and prices on either AllEars or WDWInfo.

 

[FredQc]

Next question, is it going to be a giant pain to get from, let's say, Animal Kingdom to Downtown Disney for dinner? We are relying on trams/buses/etc, I am not renting a car.

As other posters wrote, there's no bus lines from theme parks to Downtown Disney. (The reason is that DD parking is free and Disney wants to avoid people from outside leaving there car at DD and going to the park with a single bus.) So you have to make a connection at a resort to travel from AK to DD with bus.

HOWEVER, another way is to take the bus from AK to Saratoga Spring Resort. SSR is DD next door. There's a nice path connecting SSR to DD West Side area. This should be more efficient than managing a connection.