Meal for our first night (non-park!)....

[Disney_1derland]

We are arriving on a Friday in the afternoon and will spend the afternoon napping/swimming at POR. Looking for a place for dinner and I'm SO torn!
1.) It has to be a non-park restaurant.
2) We don't really want a character meal our first night.
3) We are traveling with me, dh, dd (4), dd (2) and my parents and my aunt. Parents and aunt have never been to WDW and they REALLY have no idea what they are in for.
4) We want to spend some shopping time at Downtown Disney that evening as well


Plan 1: Part of me wants to WOW factor them with a ride on both loops of the monorail...."Think about it guys, you can only see two parks from the monorail, see how AMAZING it is???" It will probably make my dad's head pop off! (He's the other disney nut in the family but I grew up outside Disneyland and it NEVER occured to us to go to WDW.) So, after the ride on the monorail, then dinner at a monorail resort restaurant. I have no idea which one!

Plan 2: Beaches and Cream-dying to use those vouchers and the Epcot area has some pretty good WOW itself!

Plan 3: Boatwright's at the resort. This option really lacks the WOW factor I'm looking for though LOL

Plan 4: Something at downtown disney. But there is really nothing there that appeals to ANY of us.

Suggestions? We would probably be looking at a pretty early dinner, like 4:30-5pm or so.

Thanks! Our PS date is coming up so I want to start finalizing these plans.

 

[wisbucky]

We are leaving Wednesday late at night. We arrive in Flordia by flight at 11:00 a.m. Our main goal is to not eat a lot in the heat other wise you feel miserable. So we debated on where to go for something different. Here is our plan for meals on our first day of arrival.

We are going to arrive at SSR and then head over to beaches and cream for a light snack (split a meal). Then we are going to head to MK and then later in the eveing to DTD where we will catch a snack again when we get hungry.

We have eaten at DTD so many times that I know what you mean when you say "nothing really appeals to you".

I would recommend giving SSR's food a try but with all the comments here about how there is not much of a selection maybe give it a try next year.

 

[cjb-nc]

Beaches and Cream at 4:30-5:00 should be easy enough to get in, even with a party of seven. Be aware that they will have to push tables together to accomodate you, it's not a very big place. Great food though! My wife and I like to order one burger plate and an order of onion rings between us. They brought out two plates, each with half the burger and basically a full side of fries. Wow! Have a milkshake with your dinner, its yummy!

 

[stacy6552]

Our favorite way to kicik off a trip is at the hoop dee doo revue!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I like your idea of eating at one of the resorts on the monorail. With little ones in tow, places like the California Grill and Citrico's are most likely out. I'd point you toward 'Ohana, which shows up on our dance card every time we're at WDW. The atmosphere is great, the food just keeps coming, and your munchkins might get a kick out of the coconut races and hula contests, even if they may not be big enough to participate. 'Ohana can easily manage a party of 7. We sure like it!

Then, there's a bus from the Poly to DD, and from there back to POR.

 

[gigi1313]

although it's a character meal, i was going to suggest ohana too... and if you time it right, you might even be able to see the fireworks from MK after dinner! (it's our plan for our first night! LOL!) another thought is 1900 Park Fare at the GF... although that's a character meal too (personally, i think dinner w/some characters is a great kick-off, and would get your kids used to them in a comfortable setting so if they see them later at the parks or wherever, they won't be as surprised by their size among other things)

or, for real WOW power... how 'bout the luau at the poly?

 

[KayleeUK]

I vote for Ohana too You get in the monorail ride with this one

 

[BCV23]

I would consider Kona Cafe or Grand Floridian Cafe with your monorail tour.

Kona has wonderful food, good value and fast service after a long travel day. GFC is great at lunch and has recently reopened for dinner. It's a pretty spot and casual enough for little ones on a travel day.

I think Hoop de Doo is a great idea too. The 5:00 show would fit your requirements. You could park at the TTC and still do the monorail loops before or after dinner. There is a bus from the TTC (MK parking) to Fort Wilderness. Or you could monorail to the MK and catch the boat to FW.

 

[4greatboys]

Originally posted by gigi1313
although it's a character meal, i was going to suggest ohana too... and if you time it right, you might even be able to see the fireworks from MK after dinner! (it's our plan for our first night! LOL!)

The only character meal at Ohana is breakfast. Dinner is all you can eat served to your table.

My vote would be Ohana also. And you can get in your monorail ride as well.

 

[LAWalz23]

Our first night tradition is Chef Mickey's. Yes it is a character meal but it at the Contemporary so it is on the monorail. And personaly it is one thing that really gets me in the mood. The food is usually pretty good with excellent desserts and you get Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy and sometimes Donald and the gang right off the bat so you don't have to track them down later. Even my parents get a kick out of Chef Mickey's as they enjoy seeing their grandchildren interact with the characters and taking pictures. Just make sure you get autograph books at either your resort or the gift shop at the Contemporary (it is on the same floor as Chef Mickey's).
My sister, her twins (boy, girl, 6yrs old) and I are waiting this year until our third night because that is when mom and dad will be joining us and mom wants to celebrate her 50th anniversary with Mickey. She also enjoys collecting the group picture that they take each year. This will be our fourth year and the pictures remind us of how my sister's kids have grown since their first visit.

 

[gigi1313]

i have read so much about 'ohana and the impromptu conga lines and hula hoops and all kinds of other 'merriment' that i naturally assumed it was a character meal (as in the characters were leading all the brouhaha)... hmmmm... who leads all that or does that only occur at breakfast? is dinner at 'ohana "sedate?" ('cause if so, i think we'll change our plans)

thanks for filling me in... i appreciate it

 

[4greatboys]

Oh no, definately not sedate, lol. When we ate there in June they did have the Hula Hooping, Coconut races and Hula dancng lessons. All lead by the same lady. We had a great time there and the food was very good. Our waitress even let our 4 yr old and my 7 yr old nephew order items off of the menu (one got mac n cheese and the other chicken tenders). We all enjoyed it and plan to eat there next time as well.
Even though our table wasnt right next to the window we could see Wishes very well.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I suggest Ohana's or Chef Mickey's!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by 4greatboys
Oh no, definately not sedate, lol. When we ate there in June they did have the Hula Hooping, Coconut races and Hula dancng lessons. All lead by the same lady. We had a great time there and the food was very good. Our waitress even let our 4 yr old and my 7 yr old nephew order items off of the menu (one got mac n cheese and the other chicken tenders). We all enjoyed it and plan to eat there next time as well.
Even though our table wasnt right next to the window we could see Wishes very well.

The CMs lead all the games and congo lines at Ohana. There are no characters there. It isn't a wild place like Chef Mickeys. Actually it is pretty calm and relaxing unless you are a kid and chasing a coconut all over the room. We love Ohana and make sure to eat there every trip.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I sure wouldn't classify 'Ohana as sedate. But, there's two general dining areas, one behind the fire pit where the cooking happens and one in a much larger space in front. The coconut races, hula contests, etc., take place in the front of the house. If you're in the back, you can hear what's going on, but it's not nearly as lively. I'd insist on being seated up front, if you want a little excitement with your skewer.

 

[4greatboys]

We were in front of the pit where all the action is. That must be the difference in my and skiwee1's experience. Where we were all the fun stuff was going on and it definately was not calm and relaxing. It was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed all the activities (well we did too ).

 

[hookedup]

My 2 cents is also for 'ohanas. Ride the monorail to the Polynesian and you will get a nice overview of the area and enjoy a festive meal (which BTW has no characters at dinner).
Have fun!!!

 

[ahutton]

We've been seated in 3 different areas of 'Ohana... Once in the corner with windows on both sides of us - very near the action. Once in the area near the lounge - the games and things weren't by us but we had a lovely view and it happened that fireworks at MK began as we were finishing up dinner. The first time we were seated right near the hostess station, didn't see the view, the games or anything. Each time was great food, just a little different atmosphere.

Everyone we've taken there has loved it, the Poly is one of the best themed places on the property; where else can you get drinks in carved out pineapples, see coconut races and hula contests and enjoy all around great food!

 

[skiwee1]

Now I know I'm not going crazy! LOL! I have eaten at Ohana 7 times. Three times were behind the firepit and four were in front. Those 4 in front were at at window so kids were not running next to us but it was still very nice and calm. Every once in a while a CM would bang something and introduce a cousin but that was it as far as loudness. My DD always participates in the coconut races but we have never found it noisy. I have yet to see a hula contest though. I've always found Ohana to be nice after a busy day at the parks. It is very relaxing especially comparing it to Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, and Whispering Canyon.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks all for your input... sounds like ohana is our kind of place