Must-do reservations help!

[calvanese4]

My family of four is taking advantage of the free dining offer at the end of Aug. We have never done the DP and have never been able to eat in any of the sit down restaurants, so this is a first for us. We are traveling with our children (5,7) and I was wondering if anyone had a MUST DO list of restaurants. We will be there for 9 nights/10 days, staying at the Poly. Thanks for your help (we have no idea!!).

 

[KatMark]

My family of four is taking advantage of the free dining offer at the end of Aug. We have never done the DP and have never been able to eat in any of the sit down restaurants, so this is a first for us. We are traveling with our children (5,7) and I was wondering if anyone had a MUST DO list of restaurants. We will be there for 9 nights/10 days, staying at the Poly. Thanks for your help (we have no idea!!).

Here is our must-do:

Crystal Palace for breakfast with Pooh and friends at MK
LeCellier at Epcot
Biergarten at Epcot (a German buffet with something for everyone)
Plaza Restaurant at MK (a change of pace from all the heavy meals--just salads and sandwiches, with delicioius shakes and scrumptious desserts)
Yak & Yeti at AK

For kids your ages, I might also suggest:

Sci-Fi Dine at the Studios for lunch -- you sit in cars like you are at a drive
in)
Cape May Cafe for breakfast with Minnie, Goofy & Donald (Beach Club)
Chef Mickey's (we prefer breakfast over dinner)

Don't know if you have a girl--you might want to do one of the Princess meals

 

[Hootch]

opinions on restaurants, you'll have a tough time finding any type of consensus. People have varying preferences on taste and have different family combinations, etc. You have a couple of months before you can make your ADRs, and you do need to make your ADRs, so take some time to look at the menus and reviews and decide on your own.

Having now criticized personal reviews, I'll give some of my favorites:

Crystal Palace for any meal. I think kids five and seven will still like Pooh and friends. I like them at a rather more advanced age.

Cinderella's Royal Table, Askerhus or 1900 Park Fare if one of the kids is into princesses.

Biergarten because I like it and my kids like it.

Ohana because your kids are probably of the age that they will like it.

Hoop Dee Review - it's two credits (as is CRT mentioned above) but it's one of the best times for kids and adults.

 

[peggyjean123]

I know many people will disagree , but Mama Melrose and if you can get fantasmic package it is wonderful.
also in Epcot the princess dinner, loads of interaction with princesses without the wait and chef Mcikey the same thing.
We are trying O'Hana most people rav about this place.

 

[marypoppins]

Cinderellas Royal Table- We have ony done the dinner.
1900 park fare for dinner or breakfast
Le cellier
Ohanas
Tutto Italia

We are tying Teppendeos for the first time.

 

[hannahryan]

Kona Cafe at the Poly has wonderful food. Your kids would probably love the character dinner at Chef Mickeys. Cape May is good for a character breakfast or you can have the New England clambake there for dinner. We loved the Rose & Crown at Epcot. We had a 7:50pm priority seating and had an amazing outside waterview table with fabulous views of Illuminations. Our only terrible meal this last trip was the Sci-Fi Diner.

 

[SPOERLX3]

EACH TRIP TO DISNEY, WE TAKE OUR YOUNGEST (WHICH IS NOW 19) AND ONE OF OUR 8 GRANDCHILDREN. THIS TIME IT IS OUR 11 AND 12 YR OLD. HERE ARE A LIST OF OUR MUST DO RESTARAUNTS:

WHISPERING CANYON CAFE @ FORT WILDERNESS. GREAT FOOD AND GREAT ATMOSPHERE. THE KIDS LOVE IT! ALL YOU CARE TO EAT OR ORDER OFF THE MENU, UNLIMITED REFILLS ON ALL THE YUMMY SHAKES. THE WAITERS ARE A HOOT AND MAKE SURE THE KIDS ASK FOR KETCHUP AND ASK WHERE THE RESTROOMS- EXPECT A SURPRISE!

OHANA! WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. ALL YOU CARE TO EAT SKEWERS OF MEAT CARVED TABLE SIDE AT YOUR TABLE. AND THE BREAD PUDDING IS TO DIE FOR!

SCI-FI DINE IN: WE ACTUALLY PAY FOR LUNCH OUT OF POCKET HERE BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE WE GO HERE EVERY TIME WE ARE AT DISNEY. YOU WALK IN AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WOODEN BACK OF A DRIVE IN, YOUR SERVER IS ON ROLLER SKATES AND AS SHE TAKES YOU TO THE BACK YOU ENTER A WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE THAT IS SET UP LIKE A DRIVE IN THEATRE FROM THE 50'S, YOU SIT IN CONVERTABLE CARS UNDER THE STARS AND WATCH CLIPS OF OLD MOVIES. GO FOR THE BURGERS, ONION RINGS AND SHAKES AT LUNCH AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

LE CELLIER. OUTSTANDING! YOU CAN CUT YOUR STEAK WITH A FORK, I RECOMMEND THE MAPLE GLAZED FILET MIGNON (IT IS NOT ON THE MENU BUT THEY WILL STILL MAKE IT FOR YOU. MY DH AND DD LOVE THE NY STRIP. THE APPETIZER OF CHICKEN SAUSAGE AND POLENTA, SOUNDS STRANGE BUT IT IS MAGNIFICENT. I AM GOING THIS YEAR FOR THAT ALONE, NO ENTREE FOR ME.

CRYSTAL PALACE, LOVE, LOVE THE BREAKFAST, ESPECIALLY THE OMELET BAR AND PANCAKE BAR, FRESH MADE AS YOU WAIT, BUT HAVE EATEN THERE FOR LUNCH AND DINNER TOO. FRESH, PLENTY AND GREAT SELECTION JUST DON'T MAKE YOUR RESSIES TOO LATE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ONE MORE SIT DOWN RESTRAUNT TOO.
CONSIDERING 50'S PRIME TIME, LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE, IT IS LIKE YOU ARE WITH THE LEAVE IT TO BEAVER FAMILY AND THE WAITERS PLAY THE PART. MAKE SURE YOU EAT YOUR VEGGIES OR NO DESERT! LOL. WE LOVED IT THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES BUT LAST YEAR IT WASN'T GREAT. BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE WE WENT SO LATE.

I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT BOMA BUT HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET, MAYBE THIS YEAR.

HAVE FUN! WE WILL BE THERE AUGUST 16-22 FOR FREE DINING TOO!!!
LUCKY US!!! DREAD THE HEAT BUT SAVING THE $1200+ DOLLARS FOR 6 OF US IS WORTH IT!!!

 

[saratogadreamin09]

My family of four is taking advantage of the free dining offer at the end of Aug. We have never done the DP and have never been able to eat in any of the sit down restaurants, so this is a first for us. We are traveling with our children (5,7) and I was wondering if anyone had a MUST DO list of restaurants. We will be there for 9 nights/10 days, staying at the Poly. Thanks for your help (we have no idea!!).

Crystal Palace (I prefer lunch or dinner because the food is wonderful and the breakfast food is the same as all the other disney buffets)

Ohana's(since you are staying at the poly)



Thats really it. The rest would depend on what kind of food you like. My family is a group of steak eaters so we always have to go to Shula's and Portobello.

 

[calvanese4]

THanks for all the input. Now I just have to wait until the reservation window opens up. I heard it was 90 days, but then I heard you could book 10 days earlier than that if you are staying at a Disney Resort. I will have to find out for sure so that I don't miss anything!! Thanks again.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

THanks for all the input. Now I just have to wait until the reservation window opens up. I heard it was 90 days, but then I heard you could book 10 days earlier than that if you are staying at a Disney Resort. I will have to find out for sure so that I don't miss anything!! Thanks again.

I called to ask about that. You Cannot book an extra 10 days ahead (ie 100 days in advance). You can only begin on the 90th day before your first day at a resort and add ten days out. For example, if you are staying for 10 days, you can make all your reservations on your 90 day mark, you don't have to call back on every day(because those days would be 91-100). I hope this make sense... I had the same concern. Have fun and good luck

 

[frdeb1999]

Must do's for us every trip are

HDDR
O'hana character breakfast
Coral Reef

 

[SPOERLX3]

must do's for us every trip are

hddr
o'hana character breakfast
coral reef

what is hddr?

 

[SPOERLX3]

i called to ask about that. You cannot book an extra 10 days ahead (ie 100 days in advance). You can only begin on the 90th day before your first day at a resort and add ten days out. For example, if you are staying for 10 days, you can make all your reservations on your 90 day mark, you don't have to call back on every day(because those days would be 91-100). I hope this make sense... I had the same concern. Have fun and good luck

you can call 1 800 w disney and they will tell you the exact date that you can call in.

 

[vcgirl925]

EACH TRIP TO DISNEY, WE TAKE OUR YOUNGEST (WHICH IS NOW 19) AND ONE OF OUR 8 GRANDCHILDREN. THIS TIME IT IS OUR 11 AND 12 YR OLD. HERE ARE A LIST OF OUR MUST DO RESTARAUNTS:

WHISPERING CANYON CAFE @ FORT WILDERNESS. GREAT FOOD AND GREAT ATMOSPHERE. THE KIDS LOVE IT! ALL YOU CARE TO EAT OR ORDER OFF THE MENU, UNLIMITED REFILLS ON ALL THE YUMMY SHAKES. THE WAITERS ARE A HOOT AND MAKE SURE THE KIDS ASK FOR KETCHUP AND ASK WHERE THE RESTROOMS- EXPECT A SURPRISE!

OHANA! WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. ALL YOU CARE TO EAT SKEWERS OF MEAT CARVED TABLE SIDE AT YOUR TABLE. AND THE BREAD PUDDING IS TO DIE FOR!

SCI-FI DINE IN: WE ACTUALLY PAY FOR LUNCH OUT OF POCKET HERE BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE WE GO HERE EVERY TIME WE ARE AT DISNEY. YOU WALK IN AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WOODEN BACK OF A DRIVE IN, YOUR SERVER IS ON ROLLER SKATES AND AS SHE TAKES YOU TO THE BACK YOU ENTER A WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE THAT IS SET UP LIKE A DRIVE IN THEATRE FROM THE 50'S, YOU SIT IN CONVERTABLE CARS UNDER THE STARS AND WATCH CLIPS OF OLD MOVIES. GO FOR THE BURGERS, ONION RINGS AND SHAKES AT LUNCH AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

LE CELLIER. OUTSTANDING! YOU CAN CUT YOUR STEAK WITH A FORK, I RECOMMEND THE MAPLE GLAZED FILET MIGNON (IT IS NOT ON THE MENU BUT THEY WILL STILL MAKE IT FOR YOU. MY DH AND DD LOVE THE NY STRIP. THE APPETIZER OF CHICKEN SAUSAGE AND POLENTA, SOUNDS STRANGE BUT IT IS MAGNIFICENT. I AM GOING THIS YEAR FOR THAT ALONE, NO ENTREE FOR ME.

CRYSTAL PALACE, LOVE, LOVE THE BREAKFAST, ESPECIALLY THE OMELET BAR AND PANCAKE BAR, FRESH MADE AS YOU WAIT, BUT HAVE EATEN THERE FOR LUNCH AND DINNER TOO. FRESH, PLENTY AND GREAT SELECTION JUST DON'T MAKE YOUR RESSIES TOO LATE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ONE MORE SIT DOWN RESTRAUNT TOO.
CONSIDERING 50'S PRIME TIME, LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE, IT IS LIKE YOU ARE WITH THE LEAVE IT TO BEAVER FAMILY AND THE WAITERS PLAY THE PART. MAKE SURE YOU EAT YOUR VEGGIES OR NO DESERT! LOL. WE LOVED IT THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES BUT LAST YEAR IT WASN'T GREAT. BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE WE WENT SO LATE.

I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT BOMA BUT HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET, MAYBE THIS YEAR.

HAVE FUN! WE WILL BE THERE AUGUST 16-22 FOR FREE DINING TOO!!!
LUCKY US!!! DREAD THE HEAT BUT SAVING THE $1200+ DOLLARS FOR 6 OF US IS WORTH IT!!!

Agree with EVERYTHING here!!! I would also add on Boma! LOVED it!