Many opinions wanted

[wishuponastar617]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast

Les Chefs at France- Dinner

O'hana- Dinner

Yak & Yeti- Lunch

Crystal Palace- Breakfast

Mama Melrose's- Dinner

LeCellier- Lunch

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

 

[Duke&Tree]

Looks good to me! One thought on the Crystal Palace is we usually schedule it really early (before park opening) so the streets are clear for great pics of the Castle

On your list, we've done LTT, Les Chefs, CP, and LeCellier...enjoyed all of them. The only real 'must do' for us is 50s Prime Time Cafe at DHS.

We really enjoyed Jiko (sig), and unless you REALLY like the characters at CP, I could see skipping that and LTT to get Jiko. LTT was nice, but nothing really special or anything, kwim? And, CP is just a buffet. Again the characters are a draw for lots of people, but the food isn't great.

Just my two cents...

Have a great time!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner - sorry never been

Liberty Tree Tavern - Dinner - dinner was less than average for us, but lunch was great..

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway - Breakfast - DD17 loves this one, she is graduating this year also. Definetely a good fit

Les Chefs at France - Dinner - on my to do list

O'hana - Dinner - this was our all time worse dinner ever, but we are in the minority

Yak & Yeti - Lunch excellent choice, great food, very fresh and tasty!!

Crystal Palace- Breakfast - great food, great fun with characters, try to get your reservation before the park opens

Mama Melrose's - Dinner - we also love this meal and we have been to the other restaurants in MGM, but this would be our favorite. Real food, less salt!

LeCellier - Lunch - also, very very good. Neither kid will let me take it off our annual list.

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

I asked my daughter who is graduating her feelings on doing a signature dining.. She said, only if it is the Hoop De Doo review. I think all your choices are good, and the only suggestion I would make is if you are keeping Liberty Tree Tavern, adjust it to the latest lunch reservation and skip dinner.

Have a great trip!!

 

[disneydreamer98]

Nine Dragons- DinnerOkay, but prefer Chinese at home

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner miss the characters

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast not a fan of the menu

Les Chefs at France- Dinner Like it, but would try for an early lunch so you might get the chance to see Remy!

O'hana- Dinner love it

Yak & Yeti- Lunch double love it! One of our favorites!

Crystal Palace- Breakfast Love the restaurant and the characters, but prefer lunch.

Mama Melrose's- Dinner Love the fun interaction and the PB&J shake!

LeCellier- Lunch Yummmmmmm

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for?? I love, love, love Artist Point at WL and would cancel Askershus and Liberty Tree in a heartbeat for it.

My answers are above in red!

 

[jakenjess]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner Never been

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner I would either drop or switch to lunch. IMO dinner was only worth it when they had the characters. The food was just average.

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- BreakfastIt's a great place to see the princesses!

Les Chefs at France- DinnerWe enjoyed our lunch here very much.

O'hana- Dinner We really didn't enjoy this much. It was okay, but I think I may have built it up too much in my mind with all the good reviews. I found it just average, and would much prefer Kona for dinner.

Yak & Yeti- Lunch We had an excellent dinner here! Would definitely return.

Crystal Palace- Breakfast My favorite character meal!

Mama Melrose's- Dinner Haven't been in a while but had good meals here.

LeCellier- LunchYum, cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread!

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

I love Cali Grill for a signature dinner. It's such a great location! Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We've done 5 of the places on your list:

Yak and Yeti- one of our favorite meals last time. Everything we ate was good.

Akershus Breakfast-I like this one pretty good. It is a great way to see the princesses without the lines or paying for CRT. The food is pretty good. The cold bar is kind of limited.

Les Chefs- We were disappointed here. DH loved his steak and apple crepe but the rest of us were not impressed with our food. Go early so you can see Remy. He was a lot of fun.

CP breakfast- Another one of our favs. Love the food and characters.

Mama Melrose- The one place I will never eat at again at WDW. The food was not good and the service was terrible.

Hope this has been helpful. Congrats to your friend on her graduation!

 

[PoohsFan1]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast

Les Chefs at France- Dinner

O'hana- Dinner

Yak & Yeti- Lunch

Crystal Palace- Breakfast

Mama Melrose's- Dinner

LeCellier- Lunch

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

We only have been to a few of these and the rest we have never done before or we are going to try out when we are there in September, so.....

Liberty Tree Tavern - haven't been since they got rid of the character meal there, but when we were there we thought the food was good. It is a Thanksgiving type fair, who doesn't love that ....we are actually going to try out the lunch menu in September.

Akershus Breakfast - awesome, awesome, awesome ...this is my family's favorite character meal. The princess interaction is outstanding and the food is always delicious (absolutely love the cheesy potatoes ). If you can get an early ADR (before the park opens on a non EMH day) you will be setting yourself up for some awesome park pictures with hardly anyone in them.

Le Cellier Lunch - Just like Akershus, we absolutely love this restaurant. The filet with mushroom risotto is outstanding, love love love the cheddar cheese soup, and the Chocolate Moose is ...you won't go wrong here.

Mama Melrose - We went here for the first time in March for a late lunch (walked right in) and it was really really good. I had a cheese flatbread which was good, but then tasted my DH's chicken parm and....OMG I know what I am getting the next time we eat there . Our kids loved their food too, but it is typical Italian fare so what kid doesn't like spaghetti

Have a great trip

 

[JoePa4Ever]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner never been

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner used to be a favorite when characters were there, food on its own however doesn't seem worth it

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast good, not a favorite, hot plate of food was good but didn't care for cold buffet, good interaction with princesses

Les Chefs at France- Dinner never been

O'hana- Dinner a favorite of ours, love the polynesian atmosphere and good food

Yak & Yeti- Lunch never been

Crystal Palace- Breakfast our favorite breakfast, love the 8:05 am adr on a non-emh day, enjoy bright/open atmosphere of CP, good breakfast buffet featuring puffed french toast

Mama Melrose's- Dinner never been

LeCellier- Lunch have done dinner, not overly impressed but am looking forward to returning for another try this Sept

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

guess I'll stick with the theme - my answers are in red also

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Nine Dragons- never tried it.
Liberty Tree Tavern- It's okay. I haven't been in a while, and there really is no great choice in MK, so as far as MK goes, it's as goodas anything really.
Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- never tried it. The menu and CC deposit are my concerns. I'm not that hot onthe menu.
Les Chefs at France- pretty good. The green beans are very good. AS is typical of French food, the desserts are a true highlight of the meal.
'Ohana- I really like this place. Expect LOTS of meat! Nice inthat it comes wil salad and VEGGIES. If you aren't huge eaters, consider asking for half portions. We always end up throwing food away.
Yak & Yeti- I've only done the quick serve side, which is among the best in AK. AK is also a little lacking in dining choices.
Crystal Palace- As I said, MK is lacking. This is probably the best choice in MK, but it's not fantastic. It's one of the better character meals offered.
Mama Melrose's- I haven't been in quite a few years, but this was among our worst dining experiences anywhere. I have read many positive reviews since, but it IS one of few Italian places on property. It wasn't the food that was bad, it was the service!
LeCellier- a great place.


There arenot MUST do's when it comes to WDW dining. You can't dine everywhere on any given trip. The best, I say is always to mix it up. The only must I woudl say, is maybe your home resort (See below).

One thing I notice is that nearly all of your ADR's are in the parks. Much of the best dining is at the various resorts. Resort dining also gives you some flexibilty, as any resort can be paired with any park. You also don't say where you are staying. If you are staying at a deluxe, I would strongly encourage dining at your home resort, or near your home resort, depending on where it is.

If I was going to change anything, I'd sub a dinner inthe BWK/BC/YC area for Mama Melrose.

A Signature dinner works well if you think you won't take advantage of your arrival and departure day dining.
Another way to cover it with DDP credits, you can pay for ONE inexpensive TS meal along the way with cash: say one person uses DDP credits for the meal and one peson gets an inexpensive entree and you share...then another night, you reverse. OR one person gets an expensive meal at the signature dining, and one person gets a less expensive entree, and you use the DDP to pay for only one person's dinner. You can easily make the swap work at some of the a la carte type menu places. Take Mama Melrose; one person might just FEEL like having a pizza that night. Or maybe just a salad. On DDP, I typically reach apoint during the trip where I feel like I've had one too many desserts. Also higher priced entrees tend to be steak and seafood....for me, I periodically PREFER one of the inexpensive entrees.

 

[floydfamily4]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast

Les Chefs at France- Dinner

O'hana- Dinner

Yak & Yeti- Lunch

Crystal Palace- Breakfast

Mama Melrose's- Dinner

LeCellier- Lunch

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

I've been to breakfast at Akershus and Crystal Palace and loved them both! It all looks good to me!!

 

[xipetotec]

My friend and I are going to WDW in September to celebrate her high school graduation-- we have made our ADR's but want some opinions on our choices.


Nine Dragons- Dinner

Liberty Tree Tavern- Dinner

Akhershus Storybook Princess Norway- Breakfast

Les Chefs at France- Dinner

O'hana- Dinner

Yak & Yeti- Lunch

Crystal Palace- Breakfast

Mama Melrose's- Dinner

LeCellier- Lunch

Anything you think we should drop/cancel?? Would a signature dining experience be worth dropping 2 of these for??

Is there something I'm missing that is a *must do*?

This kind of post will get responses from all ranges imho. For example, our whole groupe hated Yak and Yeti, except there seems to be lots of people who love it here. We were also underwhelmed with the food at Crystal Palace.

Personally, I would go to Biergarten and 50's Prime Time in there for a fun experience. The only problem with 50's Prime Time is if you're a VERY big group. you may get separated. ( we were 25 and weren't even all in the same room, but when we were 15, we were. )

 

[Pugmalion1]

I absolutely think it's worth dropping two of those for a signature restaurant. Maybe drop Yak & Yeti for lunch and something else in favor of going over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Jiko.

You and your friend could take will have to take a bus from there to Downtown Disney when you're done to get back to your resort, but it's well worth it. We usually use that time to wander around the Marketplace and do some souvenir shopping, anyway.

 

[wishuponastar617]

THANK YOU all for your wonderful feedback and critiques. Its great being able to share this with people who care! I guess I should have given you a little bit more background on what we like to eat/what our plan is, etc.

We will be staying at Pop Century, so not many dining options there. Although I have heard the CS is very good there.

Neither one of us are too too picky, although we do not like seafood at all. I was trying to switch the meals up a bit between places we will order a steak dinner vs. Italian/Chinese also.

I do know most of our ADR's are in the park and this does concern me because I have a feeling I might get frustrated with having to get back to a certain park all the time. I just didn't feel the resorts had as good of dining to offer.
I looked at The Wave & Grand Floridian Cafe to substitue LTT. Any thoughts on that?

Also how is Tokyo Dining/Teppan Edo compared to Nine Dragons? I like the thought of Tokyon Dining or Nine Dragons better because we wouldn't have to sit with other ppl (no offense! ) But Id love some feedback on that as well.

thanks!