Looking for Christmas Dining Advice

[BreezysMom]

We are taking a dream trip in December. Arriving 12/24 for 8 days and staying at the Poly. I want to make a Christmas Eve ADR and a Christmas Brunch ADR.

While I am happy to be at the Magical WDW, I will miss our family traditional holiday meals. Since it is just the three of us I would like some type of a more immersive environment.

Christmas Eve we are willing to travel but Christmas Day I would like to stay closer to Poly and MK.

Looking forward to any suggestions!

 

[piratepride]

Ohana on Christmas Eve would be a great reservation if you can get it! Liberty Tree Tavern at MK would be a good choice too! Both are family style sit down meals.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Your wants and thinking follow my own when I booked our December holiday meals in 2017.

We opted for Kona Cafe for Christmas Eve to keep travel time to a minimum (we also stayed at Poly). The setting wasn't similar to our normal holiday gathering but the food fit right in as we only eat fish/seafood dishes on that evening.
On the night before the Eve we ate at Flying Fish to better simulate our regular meals setting and food- fantastic! So much so we booked another reservation to the restaurant later in our trip (we were there from Dec 22- Jan 2).

For Christmas Day we ate at Hollywood Brown Derby since I felt the menu, surroundings, and service would best recreate our normal home Christmas dinner. The menu and atmosphere lived up to my expectations but the service did not this time. They were overbooked which was apparent when we checked in 10 minutes ahead of time and were told to get back in the line, LOL. That attitude continued into service within the restaurant: new courses were placed on the table before the original course was finished. This didn't sit well with me since I know "the bum's rush" when it's happening. Should we opt to eat there again during the holidays I'll be sure to inform the wait staff of my service expectations ahead of time and cut whatever service faux pas management might have ordered for the day.
And yes...the food was good enough for me to return for another holiday.

I really really weally would have liked to have been able to get a ressie for V+A or M. Paul's for Christmas Day but when I booked in late July/early August neither were available.

I've already booked my room stay at Poly for Christmas and T-Day (only one is happening but other guests plans are still in the air) and lets all hope that the Hawaiian holiday music play list is expanded for this coming season. It was brutal last year.

 

[robinb]

I seem to remember that there are special offerings on Christmas Day at some of the buffets. I recall eating at Chef Mickey's once and they had special items on the buffet. It's worth looking into.

If you're OK traveling for Christmas Eve, you could look at booking one of the Candlelight Processional dinners in Epcot.

 

[Nancyg56]

We are taking a dream trip in December. Arriving 12/24 for 8 days and staying at the Poly. I want to make a Christmas Eve ADR and a Christmas Brunch ADR.

While I am happy to be at the Magical WDW, I will miss our family traditional holiday meals. Since it is just the three of us I would like some type of a more immersive environment.

Christmas Eve we are willing to travel but Christmas Day I would like to stay closer to Poly and MK.

Looking forward to any suggestions!

I would want atmosphere for Christmas Eve or Christmas day, so I would book Artist Point.. It is lovely at the Wilderness Lodge, and so darn Holidayish. I have no idea what your traditional meals are, but nothing is like home anyway, so I would opt for the décor and theme.

For the other meal, I think I would choose California Grill or Narcoossee or one of the Epcot resorts. Maybe, as someone upthread suggested, choose a Candlelight processional dinner package and enjoy the show.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I would want atmosphere for Christmas Eve or Christmas day, so I would book Artist Point.. It is lovely at the Wilderness Lodge, and so darn Holidayish. I have no idea what your traditional meals are, but nothing is like home anyway, so I would opt for the décor and theme.

For the other meal, I think I would choose California Grill or Narcoossee or one of the Epcot resorts. Maybe, as someone upthread suggested, choose a Candlelight processional dinner package and enjoy the show.

Wilderness Lodge and it's restaurants were places we anticipated going to last trip to see the holiday decor and eat at but trying to fit FL family members got in the way.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would do one meal at GF and one at WL (Artist Point is our favorite). Take a look at the menus to see what appeals to you. The Christmas decorations at both resorts are off the charts gorgeous.

 

[Nancyg56]

Wilderness Lodge and it's restaurants were places we anticipated going to last trip to see the holiday decor and eat at but trying to fit FL family members got in the way.

This resort is worth making time for. I also like the lobby at Animal Kingdom lodge. It is stunning.