July 4th restaurants?

[maznorm]

Does anyone have any suggestions for where we can eat on July 4th? It will be our last night at Disney so it needs to be somewhere nice. DH and I are both foodies. We are going with relatives so we want to impress. We have 2 small and very lively children (DS3 & DD2) so it needs to be somewhere that is child friendly. We are hoping for somewhere we can watch fireworks from. I don't really mind whether it is Wishes or Illuminations, although I've never seen Wishes so would probably prefer that. We would also prefer somewhere that is NOT in a park as we don't want to be stuck in a boiling hot overcrowded park all day just so we can give up around 3pm and not see any fireworks at all.

We don't have much experience at dining on property so any suggestions would be really helpful.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest that at the very beginning of January you check to see if the Pirate Wishes Cruise will run July 4th. That starts with a dessert party at the Contemporary with meeting Captiain Hook and Mr Smee, getting on a fairly large boat with a Pirate who leads activites, seeing the Electric Water Pageant from near the Wilderness Lodge and then sailing into the Seven Seas Lagoon where the boat will anchor on the extended centerline of Main Street and the fireworks music and narration will be piped into the boat. And after the fireworks the boat will return to the Contemporary dock and be met by Peter Pan.

If this is available then you could have dinner at any of the monorail resort restaurants as long as you can get to the Contemporary by the start of the desert party. Or actually have dinner at any of the Resorts and take a bus to the MK bus station, which is about a five minute walk to the Contemporary.

 

[MidgeD79]

For 7/4/09, we ate at the Polynesian luau and they took a break so everyone could go to the beach and watch the fireworks. We loved the food and the entertainment.

 

[Mickey_Man]

Does anyone have any suggestions for where we can eat on July 4th? It will be our last night at Disney so it needs to be somewhere nice. DH and I are both foodies. We are going with relatives so we want to impress. We have 2 small and very lively children (DS3 & DD2) so it needs to be somewhere that is child friendly. We are hoping for somewhere we can watch fireworks from. I don't really mind whether it is Wishes or Illuminations, although I've never seen Wishes so would probably prefer that. We would also prefer somewhere that is NOT in a park as we don't want to be stuck in a boiling hot overcrowded park all day just so we can give up around 3pm and not see any fireworks at all.

We don't have much experience at dining on property so any suggestions would be really helpful.

Sounds like a perfect match for California Grill. The place is loud enough to take on lively children, you can take them for walks if they get too antsy, you have a unique view for Wishes and they pipe in the music (although on 4th of July they normally play something other than Wishes - concert in the sky, i think), and it not in a park so you won't be overwhelmed and boiling hot.

Another great places for foodies with fireworks views would be Narcoossee's.

 

[Mickey_Man]

One other thought is to go to the Hollywood Brown Derby at the Studios. Granted it is in a park, but DHS is MUCH less crowded than EPCOT or MK on the 4th of July (at least it has been the past two years - we attempted EPCOT 2 years ago and enjoyed ourselves much more at DHS last year). HBD is a great meal, although a little quieter so it may not be as lively kid friendly, but i think it will be fine for them and then you'll be right there to watch Fantasy in the Sky. This is of course predicated on the fact that the Disney Company continues to do fireworks at DHS on the 4thh, but if so I would recommend it because it is a unique experience to get to watch fireworks at this park.

 

[maznorm]

Thanks for the advice so far. All really different suggestions which really helps.

I was originally considering Cali Grill but I read somewhere that the charge on July 4th was $220 per all persons aged 3 and up. My son is 3 and would not eat enough or enjoy the entertainment enough to warrant paying $220 for the experience. Is that something that the Cali Grill do every July 4th or was it a one off last year. Maybe we will eat there July 3rd and catch the special MK fireworks since they are on 3rd and 4th.

Then, we were considering Ohana's and then watching the EWP and fireworks from the beach. Has anyone done this before? I would love to see some pictures. The Luau sounds good too. How's the food?

Narcoosee's really takes my fancy as well, but I'm not sure how the kids will get on with it. The food wouldn't be an issue for them but they are VERY lively kids and I wouldn't want to spoil the enjoyment of a special night for other guests.

I guess if we did something in that area and the kids didn't handle it well then I could take them to the beach or something.

Hmmm, lots to think about.....

 

[TDC Nala]

California Grill generally has a special event on July 4th that costs quite a lot (over $200) per person. I do not know if they close the whole restaurant or just use the private room but you ought to have a backup if you intend to choose that restaurant.

I haven't tried the Ca. Grill event. I'd have paid for it if I thought the food was going to be unusual or especially upscale but they described it in the past as "a barbecue" which makes me think you're really paying for the view of the fireworks.

 

[maznorm]

So now we are considering doing Ohana or Poly Luau on the 3rd and catching the EWP and fireworks on the beach.

Then, on the 4th we are thinking of doing the Yachstman or FLying Fish and watching Illuminations from the Boardwalk (our favourite resort).

We are staying of site so, how feasible will this be? Will getting ADR's be too difficult?

 

[maznorm]

So now, we are thinking of doing something at the Poly on the 4th. Not sure whether to do Ohana's, Spirit of Aloha or Kona Cafe. We want something that the kids will enjoy but we want to be able to watch the fireworks and EWP from the beach either before or after the meal. We also want it to be a nice meal with a good atmosphere as this will be our last night there.

 

[Mickey_Man]

So now, we are thinking of doing something at the Poly on the 4th. Not sure whether to do Ohana's, Spirit of Aloha or Kona Cafe. We want something that the kids will enjoy but we want to be able to watch the fireworks and EWP from the beach either before or after the meal. We also want it to be a nice meal with a good atmosphere as this will be our last night there.

I am a big fan of Kona Cafe, and I think it would be a good place for kids on the 4th as well.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

California Grill is the Best Place to eat in Orlando on 4th of July. Not only will you be able to view the fireworks from the best place on Disney Property, but the food is Amazing.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We weree in Disney a few years ago for July 4th. At that time they did the July 4th fireworks at the MK on July 3rd and 4th and the July 4th Illuminations only on July 4th.

I would suggest 'Ohana at the Poly for July 3rd and on July 4th if you do not want to be in a park then somewhere on The Boardwalk. The July 3rd fireworks at the MK at that time were the "around the park" fireworks so watching them at the Poly would be perfect. 'Ohana does not always get the best reviews but it is our favorite place to eat. We have always loved it and always get a great meal. The July 4th IllumiNations are the regular IllumiNations with a special ending fireworks from behind America. The best place is really in the park but if you do not want to go into a park then anyplace on The Boardwalk. Also check the time for IllumiNaitons. A few years ago even though IllumiNations is always at 9:00 on July 4th it was at 9:30.

Linda

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I remember people posting that the CM's checked Resort ID's on the Poly Beach for the 3rd and 4th of July. Only guest of the Polynesian were allowed access to the beach that night.

I would suggest eating at the California Grille on the 3rd of July (regular menu then) and going to the Rose and Crown on the 4th. We ate at R&C last 4th of July and had a fantastic view of the fireworks from our patio table. It is very kid friendly.