more overlooked dining options for kids?

[oscarboy]

Hi all:

As many have already posted, we are finding for our short trip the end of September that we just booked that the dining options are limited. Fortunately, we booked some character dining and now I am looking for some fun places to eat for three little boys--5, 4 and 2. I had wanted to try Coral Reef or Sci Fi, but both are completed booked for dinner the entire trip. They are not picky eaters, I am looking for the experience more than the type of food since this will be their first time going to Disney.

Thanks for any insights!
Stacey

 

[disneymom2twins]

I would stick with Character Meals. Crystal Palace for B, L or D, Chef Mickey's for B, L, or D, or Liberty Tree Tavern for Dinner.

You can always do Ohana for Breakfast...

Non-character they might like Japan with the chef's cooking in front of them. Whispering Canyon does a lot of interactive games while eating.

For the ones you mentioned, have you thought of doing lunch instead. Eat a lighter breakfast, have a full lunch, then a light dinner. It is a great way to break up the day

 

[oscarboy]

Thanks--we have CP for lunch and CM for breakfast and we could not get Liberty Tavern for dinner (I think, now we have tried so many things I am starting to get confused--LOL!).

I had really hoped to get reservations for early, early dinner someplaces at 4:00 because that is when my boys are still "good" (relatively speaking). I am finding even those ADRs are taken.

What happens if you don't have an ADR--you just wait longer, right? I think we might try to get in some places at 4 or 4:30 on the off chance the wait is not that long. Is that just a completely hairbrained scheme?

Thanks, Stacey

 

[Tam1067]

For another character option, you could try Garden Grill which doesn't fill up as quickly as the other places.

My kids liked 'Ohana for dinner, Kona (for anything), Boma and Mama Melrose. They're all kid friendly. Also, many people like Biergarten (it's not our favorite but decent) and Marrakesh (which has belly dancers). Good luck!

 

[blueangel]

You basically have to have an ADR during free dining. We always go off season and have seen people turned away. Many times in March/May/October we've seen them put out a sign at City Hall saying that the TS restaurants are full for the day.

If your kids are adventurous eaters you could try Boma at the AKL. The hotel has lots to see and they can go look at the animals on the savannah while you wait, or after dinner.

The San Angel Inn always occupied me as a kid. I could have watched the boats and the volcano all night long.

Warning about Marrakesh - if you are counting on the entertainment check times first. The belly dancer doesn't come out very often. I think its something like only five times all day...

Have you thought about a dinner show? The luau can be fascinating - fire...ooh, aah. I always preferred the Hoop-Dee-Doo, but my sense of humor definitely edges on corny. There's also the Backyard BBQ, but I've never done that so I can't recommend it.

The HDD and BBQ are all at Fort Wilderness, and there is a buffet there called Trail's End if you aren't into a show. Sometimes they show movies and do s'mores outside, but I don't know the schedule. That could be a fun evening to wind them down after dinner.

 

[LisaBi]

I've always been able to get into Sci-Fi same day. (September, November, April, Feb.) You have to be a bit flexible on time, but if you call in the morning, or even stop at the 'booth' at MGM, you may have luck.

Of course, there are only 2 of us, so they can always put us in the 3rd row of a car with a family of 4.

 

[oscarboy]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and information! I think I am only having a hard time because we just booked this trip (so just making ADRs) and we cannot dine very late with our boys being so young. For instance, I can still get reservations at Ohanas, Sci Fi and BOMA, but not until 8:40 or 9. It is tempting, but picturing my three in a restaurant 1.5 hours past bedtime gives me chills--LOL!!

I think I'll just keep checking back with them and then when we get there and hope for some cancellations.

Stacey

 

[Dizneydaz]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and information! I think I am only having a hard time because we just booked this trip (so just making ADRs) and we cannot dine very late with our boys being so young. For instance, I can still get reservations at Ohanas, Sci Fi and BOMA, but not until 8:40 or 9. It is tempting, but picturing my three in a restaurant 1.5 hours past bedtime gives me chills--LOL!!

I think I'll just keep checking back with them and then when we get there and hope for some cancellations.

Stacey

I would definitely keep checking. Also, once you are there, check with Disney Dining, even on the same day you want to eat somewhere. On our last trip I had ADRs for everyday but due to not keeping to a rigid schedule (11 days/10 nights) and going off property for a few days, we actually only kept a little over 1/2 of our original ADRs. However, I was able to get ADRs for other choices, while there. ( I did cancel all of our unused ADRs by the morning of, at the latest) But I should tell you that we tend to eat late anyway (7-8 p.m.) and being for the West Coast, the 3 hr. time difference works in our favor, other than 1 restaurant, I was able to get new ADRs for the times we wanted. The one I couldn't get (Narcoossee's) I had them check for a few days and was able to get Mon. instead of Sat/Sun.

One place that might be fun for your kids, and has good food, is Raglan Road, in DTD. I made our ADRs for RR the afternoon of the night we ate there.

This year we are going Sept. 6-16th and I made a few of the hard to come by ADRs a few months back-LTT, CG, & PSB. I guess I should make a few more before much more time passes!

I did a restaurant review for our last trip (Sept. 9-19th) available on link in signature.

 

[becka]

You might also check out Rainforest Cafe. My kids love the place. There is one at AK and another at DTD.

 

[casaazul]

Biergarten in Epcot is great!! The buffet had kid food as well as good German food, we had a German at our table and he gave the food a thumbs up. We sat right by the dance floor and when the band started, kids were dancing!! Great fun. This was one of our highlights!!

 

[dspads]

I would try and book anything. You can always change if something opens up. We are trying Raglan Rd in DTD. How about Mexico in Epcot? Its cool there because it looks like you are outside at night. And the boat ride runs through or alongside the restaurant. Does ESPN cafe take ddp? Not sure. But that may be a good option. How about the Plaza if you need a MK dinner? Not "fun" but quicker type foods so you won't be there as long.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[scammermom]

I made ressies for the Coral Reef for lunch. It's cheaper and easier to make! I plan that day to be an Epcot day anyway.

I like TS for lunch anyway since we usually have a light breakfast at the hotel.

 

[Gerweniel]

Have you investigated any of the resort hotel's restaurants? What I was thinking is maybe Boatwrights restaurant in Port Orleans Riverside. You can take a boat ride from Downtown Disney that is about 20 minutes and is really, really enjoyable. In the evening when you go back towards DTD, the lights are beautiful. POR is a nice resort and if you want, you can take a horse and carriage ride. They may have more time slots available to you.

 

[oscarboy]

Wow--more good suggestions! We already have Biergarten booked. I have read mixed reviews on it, but we have been there and enjoyed it. My boys will think the atmosphere is a hoot. We have Tony's booked, too. Again I read mixed reviews. But I think we will give it a whirl, if I cannot get any of my other first choices either at lunch or a cancellation. We are willing to try most things once and this trip is really about the boys having fun. Since they will probably order kid food everywhere and don't even know that Coral Reef or Ohanas or Sci Fi exist, it really doesn't matter--you know what I mean? I am just excited to take them!

Stacey

 

[kj2mom]

I was going to suggest a lunch at Coral Reef but I see it has already been suggested so I will second that. Lunch there was our fav meal of our trip last fall.

 

[2Pirates_1Princess]

Just an idea, but why not try booking Coral Reef for lunch and then eat CS for dinner. My three kids loved the Coral Reef. They also like Sci-Fi and the lunch menu if better then the dinner menu anyway.

All three of my kids loved Chef Micky's. The character interaction is great. We sat in Donald Duck's section and he was a riot.

 

[knovak]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and information! I think I am only having a hard time because we just booked this trip (so just making ADRs) and we cannot dine very late with our boys being so young. For instance, I can still get reservations at Ohanas, Sci Fi and BOMA, but not until 8:40 or 9. It is tempting, but picturing my three in a restaurant 1.5 hours past bedtime gives me chills--LOL!!

I think I'll just keep checking back with them and then when we get there and hope for some cancellations.

Stacey

I've gone with my DD's the past 2 years and this year will be the 3rd. The 1st year they were 5 and 2 years old. I've found that "Bedtime" at home doesn't = bedtime at Disney. We get up and tour for awhile then head back to the hotel for a nap then go back out. I never had a problem with them acting up at dinner - however we didn't eat past 7 either. I've found that when I've had early times to eat - sometimes we weren't even hungry yet. Just a thought for you! My girls loved Ohana (both for dinner and breakfast), Biergarten, Whispering Canyon, 50's Prime Time, Hoop De Doo and Le Cellier. Have a magical trip.

 

[scubamouse]

My kids adored Flying Fish and DD5 already knows what she'll order this time. They were wonderful there in taking some special requests like mixed berries instead of salad as an appetizer and french fries instead of potatoes with the best grilled cheese I've ever had.

They also love:
Ohana
Boma
WCC
Coral Reef
Garden Grill
San Angel
Tusker house
Pecos

 

[luv2nascar]

my kids like Ohana but at this point I don't think you'll get in there. You could try. There is entertainment there too. Biergarten my kids loved. The food was awesome and they enjoyed the singing/dancing/etc at the Biergarten. My DD was 2 at the time and still talks about the pretzie bread and soup (pretzel bread and chicken spaetle soup).

 

[dzorn]

Thanks--we have CP for lunch and CM for breakfast and we could not get Liberty Tavern for dinner (I think, now we have tried so many things I am starting to get confused--LOL!).

I had really hoped to get reservations for early, early dinner someplaces at 4:00 because that is when my boys are still "good" (relatively speaking). I am finding even those ADRs are taken.

What happens if you don't have an ADR--you just wait longer, right? I think we might try to get in some places at 4 or 4:30 on the off chance the wait is not that long. Is that just a completely hairbrained scheme?

Thanks, Stacey

They can and do turn away people without ADR's. When we were at coral reef in may 2006 they were turning a lot a folks away.
Did you try Cape May for a late breakfast. The kids loved the interaction there. Chip & Dale, Goofy & MInnie as I recall.

Denise in MI