My advice on picking restaurants for your WDW trip

[disneydreamer781]

I have never tried BOG. I don't enjoy noisy restaurants! So even though I was kind of excited when I actually found an ADR, I looked at the menu and there wasn't really anything there I was excited to eat. Since I got the news that it was switching to a Signature this July I thought I would wait and try it on our December trip. As far as park hopping for a ADR, with an AP it doesn't faze me.

 

[KellyHonos]

This is good advice. I like a lot of restaurants at Disney World. I am among the people that really like BOG, CRT, etc. Even though I say I really like those restaurants, I would *never* think of park hopping to go there. I don't think there is any restaurant in a park worth the travel really. BOG is a good option if you are at MK anyway, not if you are at AK or a resort and need to travel to get there.

Exactly. It's really just too time consuming and a lot more energy than it's worth.

 

[KellyHonos]

I agree too wth the location. Eat at or by the park you’re at. Resort to resort travel by bus takes a long time, unless you’re driving or taking Uber/Lyft might not be worth it. Always take reviews with a grain of salt. Unless they are consistently bad, I don’t worry about them too much. People seem to complain more than give positive reviews. If something sounds good to you, go for it. I know food is expensive at DW, but don’t let a bad meal ruin your trip. If there is a problem, deal with it then, you’ll have a much better chance of getting it resolved.

Exactly! So often we put so much pressure on ourselves to make everything picture perfect, but in the midst of this effort, we end up almost ruining the magic by expecting so much...Just ride the wave and enjoy your time!

 

[JerseyJanice]

Like @DISNEY1975 said, location is key.

My other deciding factor is the menu. If I read a menu on MDE and 2 or 3 dishes stand out as something I and members of my party would like, then I want to go there. If a menu doesn’t appeal to me, then I’ll look elsewhere.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Sometimes a "rule" is made to be broken.

Almost all the restaurants we like to eat at are in Epcot or Disney Springs so we decided to stay in an area hotel for the bulk of our next trip. Nice that it coincides with our park preferences as well.

Trying to schedule three of our MK area restaurants when we stay in a monorail hotel but it's getting problematic and I might go against the grain and reschedule some for times during our Epcot area stay or even give one up.

We are staying at the Contemporary from July 4th and checking out the 6th so going with conventional thinking our ressies at HDDR, CG, and 'Ohana should happen during that stay. Problem is 2 of them are heavy meals and the other is a Sunday brunch by which time we'll already be staying closer to Epcot. Since we tend to only eat one heavy meal daily and that's in the evening, think I'm going to switch the HDDR meal to the first seating on the 4th and leave the 9:45 PM reservation on the 5th for 'Ohana. I'm sure anyone who is hungry before or after either meal can nosh at the Atrium and course we'll have our regular light breakfast and lunch in between.

Still doesn't solve the CG brunch but I've still time to evaluate and reevaluate that, LOL.

 

[loves to dive]

Exactly. It's really just too time consuming and a lot more energy than it's worth.

We do sometimes go to a park just to eat and then leave and go elsewhere. It goes with our seats of the pants vacation style. We are never in a hurry to do anything and really don't worry about missing out on things. For us, it's just being some place that is the fun. I can't tell you how many times we have been somewhere and sort of kind of maybe had plans to do something and didn't do it but did something else instead and had a great time. That includes somewhere that we think we will only be at once in our life time.

 

[KenHutch]

I like all of your recommendations especially #5. If I review any kind of seafood I point out that I am from Kansas City and in all likelihood I would not know great seafood if it walked up and smacked me in the face. On the other hand coming from where I do I do judge steaks and barbeque on a higher standard ( I know these foods).

 

[KellyHonos]

I like all of your recommendations especially #5. If I review any kind of seafood I point out that I am from Kansas City and in all likelihood I would not know great seafood if it walked up and smacked me in the face. On the other hand coming from where I do I do judge steaks and barbeque on a higher standard ( I know these foods).

SEE! I wish more reviews stated what kind of food the reviewer preferred, because then I would have more context to base my opinion off of. Like I for one, do not like BBQ at all. I really can't stand it at all. So I would probably be more bias in a BBQ review because I really would prefer not to eat it. Whereas if someone who loves BBQ goes to a bbq restaurant, they will probably have a more reliable opinion.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I always take reviews with a hefty dose of salt.

 

[KellyHonos]

I always take reviews with a hefty dose of salt.

And that's also fine! Whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I'm just trying to remind people that not all reviews are the end-all be-all of all restaurants. Sometimes its worth it to step out of your comfort zone!

 

[sarahothomas]

Great advice! I'll say that I think very first step in restaurant planning is deciding whether you are paying OOP or with the Dining Plan. I then do a rough "mock-up" of what parks I'm going to on which days and plan/reserve my dining around that. Ultimately, my fast pass selections will determine which parks we are going to be in on which days so I have backup plans ("Plan B" restaurants) just in case.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Great advice! I'll say that I think very first step in restaurant planning is deciding whether you are paying OOP or with the Dining Plan. I then do a rough "mock-up" of what parks I'm going to on which days and plan/reserve my dining around that. Ultimately, my fast pass selections will determine which parks we are going to be in on which days so I have backup plans ("Plan B" restaurants) just in case.

Excellent idea that solves the difference between the 60 and 180 day reservation conundrum.

 

[DISNEY1975]

However, I will NEVER eat the pizza again at Via Napoli. I did not enjoy the pizza there and everyone raves about it. If I went there again, it would not be for pizza. But I am trying different ones every trip. My only repeats have been BOG, Tusker House, CM and Kona Café breakfast. Otherwise, I try to book all new ones.

I am among the people that really like BOG, CRT, etc. Even though I say I really like those restaurants, I would *never* think of park hopping to go there. I don't think there is any restaurant in a park worth the travel really. BOG is a good option if you are at MK anyway, not if you are at AK or a resort and need to travel to get there.

This is sooo funny! I HATED BOG. Went for breakfast and dinner. Dinner was probably 2nd worst of all restaurants Ive been to. Basically not even edible for me.
I dont like Tusker House either. That African sweet seasoning they use on everything is not for me either.
Kona Breakfast YUMMMMM !!

Another Ick for me with RAVE reviews was Trails End. I posted a thread asking about it and got about 70 comments back, all positive. not one negative review. OMG GROSS!!!!

EVERYONE has different tastes. EVERYONE.

Via Napoli Pizza... YUMMMMM!



Trails End...NASTY (But I bet some peoples mouths are watering right now!!!

 

[disneydreamer781]

I usually book lunch ADRs depending on which park I'm in during the day but at times I have booked a dinner reservation at a different park or resort. We are not the kind of people that will stay in MK or another park all day long. We do a few hours and go back to the resort and then may have dinner plans at a resort or in another park later. Besides, we now usually do the Gold Pass. I've also booked a lunch ADR at DHS when doing Epcot during the morning. We would just hop on the boat from the Boardwalk and back. Very relaxing!

 

[NYCgrrl]

EVERYONE has different tastes. EVERYONE.

Via Napoli Pizza... YUMMMMM!

View attachment 307040

Is that the sausage pie?

 

[DISNEY1975]

Is that the sausage pie?

It was this.....

Piccante Signature Pie - tomato sauce, mozzarella, Italian spicy sausage $21-Individual

 

[disneydreamer781]

That pizza looks a bit like a buffet pizza to me. Also, doesn't look to have much cheese. I wanted to try this Piccante on our next trip but from looking at that photo, I just might stick to the White.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I like all of your recommendations especially #5. If I review any kind of seafood I point out that I am from Kansas City and in all likelihood I would not know great seafood if it walked up and smacked me in the face. On the other hand coming from where I do I do judge steaks and barbeque on a higher standard ( I know these foods).

Within the dining plan offerings, what if any is your favorite steakhouse?
I've eaten at Shula's further down state in FL and found it credible but won't eat there if we are on the dining plan and have other choices. So far we've enjoyed the Boathouse and we are considering Yachtman.

 

[KenHutch]

Within the dining plan offerings, what if any is your favorite steakhouse?
I've eaten at Shula's further down state in FL and found it credible but won't eat there if we are on the dining plan and have other choices. So far we've enjoyed the Boathouse and we are considering Yachtman.

Well if this was 2006 I would have said Le Cellier but that was back when they cared. For pure steaks the Yachtsman probably still wins but I have to throw our the restaurant that I think is the best is Disney Jiko's.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Well if this was 2006 I would have said Le Cellier but that was back when they cared. For pure steaks the Yachtsman probably still wins but I have to throw our the restaurant that I think is the best is Disney Jiko's.

We've eaten at Jiko's every trip but probably not this coming one. No reflection at all on the restaurant just our limited time this time out. Still nice to see another Jiko lover out and about.