My huband says "Let's Dine off Property " :(

[eliza61]

So how do I deal with this. I love 50's Prime Time, Kona Cafe, GF Cafe.
Las time off property, we ate at Perkins over 18 years ago .
So where would be a good place to eat(Casual Dining ). TIA

I'm not happy abut this ,BUT I am at Disney after all

Why not? We enjoy dining off site. First generally the food is better quality and more consistent. one thing that I'm not liking about the world is that, I can have a great meal once year and the next time I go back the meal sucks. ***grrr**

Now you mentioned Perkins, we like Perkins. first its uber close. we can all get pancakes, eggs and juice for 7.99 which at disney would cost me 30 bucks per person. don't even get me started at BOG. 20 dollars for a donuts. Seriously?

Anyhoo we like bahama breeze, cafe tutu tango and since I've got 200 in cheesecake factory gc's well be eating there this year.

I always here about the supposedly traffic but I have to say, in all the years I've been going to Disney I have never gotten stuck in traffic. In fact, I've had a harder time leaving MK at the end of the night that I do getting to a local restaurant.

 

[kathy884]

If you want an inexpensive chain, somewhere that will be about $10 pp, we like Sweet Tomatoes.

If you want something unique with fantastic food, but still that casual atmosphere you are looking for, I agree with the other posters who recommended Café Tu Tu Tango (four of us mentioned that one on this thread). It's my new favorite place in Orlando. It's a small plates place and has a fun atmosphere with visiting artists who are working there who you can talk to, a Taro card reader who is really good that my teens loved, great service (your waitress can recommend what to tip the reader -- they spent a good 1/2 hour with the kids and they were totally mesmerized by the whole experience), and excellent food. Cost wise for us it ran about $25 pp with food, drink, and tips, so it's definitely higher priced than a chain. But in this case a wonderful splurge and worth it IMHO.

Now if I happen to be at Disney Christmas week (five times, but not again for me, it's too insane), I go to Perkins for dinner. It's the only place without a wait.

 

[disneydotlee]

Waffle House for breakfast. I love their waffles and their hash browns are great too. The only restaurant that has gotten off property is Boston Lobster Feast. It's a seafood buffet that has all the whole lobster you can eat. If you go, sign up for their club and you can get coupons, usually for non-alcoholic drinks.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

When we stayed off site a few years ago our best friend was a Papa Johns Pizza which was like right around the corner from where we were staying. After a long days at the parks we were exhausted and didn't want to go out to eat so we just got pizza delivery and we also did Medieval Times 1 night. That was a ton of fun! If we stay off site I can see eating off site bc eating on site is super expensive, but when we stay on site I really can't justify leaving to eat some place off site unless its something like Medieval Times. Anyways I would google the area to see where you are staying...DTD has a lot of places to eat as well and they aren't as expensive as eating at a Disney themed restaurant.

 

[mondragon]

We don't really dine in the parks for dinner. We will get lunch during the day but that's it. I find the food in disney to be like upscale Denny's food. There are plenty of options offsite which are a lot better and cost a lot less $$. If you have a car then why not leave.

 

[LovesTimone]

Universal is charging $30 to park now? Wow! Last I went it was $5 after 6:00, but that was a couple years ago...and a couple years before that it was free after 6.

We have paid 30.00 for parking at Universal during Christmas last year, that was arriving around 9:00 am or so, We have paid anywhere between 5.00 to 15.00 after 6:00 it depends on the time of year.

 

[ajwolfe]

I have never seen so much love for Perkins before, lol!! I'm not knocking it, just think it's funny how many folks have suggested it. We have one where I live and I never even think about eating there aside from maybe like once a year. Every time I drive by there is like only 2 cars in the parking lot.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

I love the Disney bubble but for my family ADRs are not really high on the list of things to do so if we want a sit down meal we go offsite. I love to hit Millers Ale house at least once a trip. They have a broad menu and are typically really fast with the service.

 

[madge]

So how do I deal with this. I love 50's Prime Time, Kona Cafe, GF Cafe.
Las time off property, we ate at Perkins over 18 years ago .
So where would be a good place to eat(Casual Dining ). TIA

I'm not happy abut this ,BUT I am at Disney after all

Flipper's at the Crossroads Plaza (where Gooding's is located) has YUMMY pizza. Also good & affordable (and on property) is Earl of Sandwich

We always go to Publix, and pair that with offsite dining ... we usually get pizza, but have also gone to Outback as well.

 

[missnic]

If you're okay with driving a bit, check out BB King's Blues Club at Pointe Orlando. Good food and drinks, and there's usually a band at night. We also really like Hash House. Their fried chicken benedict is really good as cold leftovers (and you will have leftovers, unless you're splitting it 4 ways)

 

[mondragon]

I have never seen so much love for Perkins before, lol!! I'm not knocking it, just think it's funny how many folks have suggested it. We have one where I live and I never even think about eating there aside from maybe like once a year. Every time I drive by there is like only 2 cars in the parking lot.

I know. There is one not too far from my home and never once thought of stopping to eat there. Just seems like unhealthy fast cheap food. There are some great places to eat that are very close to disney. One of our favorites is columbias in downtown celebration and there is a good sushi place there.

 

[eliza61]

I know. There is one not too far from my home and never once thought of stopping to eat there. Just seems like unhealthy fast cheap food. There are some great places to eat that are very close to disney. One of our favorites is columbias in downtown celebration and there is a good sushi place there.

Its a pancake house. We go for breakfast. now I've been to disney a number of times so I'm not into this Disney "bubble" everyone talks about, lol. I see nothing magical about overpriced food. 17.00 per person for pancakes onsite?? when I can go less than 2 miles and go to either Perkins or Ihop???

We have breakfast reservations for BOG. I am not excited. call me cheap but seriously 20 dollars for egg whites or a crossaint donut? Yes I know I'm paying for the castle but come on, lumeire can't whip up something for that money. Its a "girls" only meal because my sons and the rest of the men refuse to pay that price for a "puffed pastry" lol

 

[TwoMisfits]

Gotta agree with Eliza...the Disney non-signature restaurants, while they may have been worth their price before, really are no better now that a sit-down Perkins or Applebees...so, I now enthusiastically try all sorts of off-site places every trip. Magical Dining Month (if you go late Aug to early Oct) is awesome for getting spectacular 3 course meals for the price of a Disney table service entree. And pretty much every chain restaurant around gives you fresh "average" food for about 1/2 the Disney table service price. Look at this as an adventure and opportunity and find the places that are unique, or fresh, or hearty, or whatever adjective you want your food to be...and go try them...

 

[marabusybee]

There are so many good restaurants in the surrounding area! One of our favorites is Yellow Dog Eats, a hole-in-the-wall upscale BBQ place. There are also some good (and cheap) restaurants along international drive near the convention center. I was just there in February, a week at the Hyatt at the Convention Center and a week at Disney. The food was better off-site (except for Sanaa). Too much of the Disney food tastes the same. We try not to go to a Disney (table service) restaurant twice unless it was really good.

 

[java]

We ate offsite about half our time this past trip and I loved it. We enjoyed Miller's Ale house(lobster for $14! On lobster night) and in Celebration the town tavern? I think that's what is it called. We ate there twice we liked it so much. Celebration was way closer and cuter than expected. Oh and they have A macaroon shop that has delicious vanilla ones! Oh I wish I had one right now.
And I will second Sanaa. It was our favorite meal all around.

 

[burne99]

Go down to celebration! It's a
Disney town and has nice restaurants and pubs, great place to visit, nice walk after dinner and the homes are
Beautiful!!

 

[mrsabbott]

We ate out at Bahama Breeze and Chuy's and both meals were excellent!! Chuy's is one of my favorite tex mex chains and it is a fun atmosphere! I saw the "Dis The Trip" podcast review of Tin Roof Restaurant that might be a fun place to try!

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

I have a list started and will make a point of telling him - 1 Night of property for dining(My choice) and the next Night off property(His choice).
And if he like this idea it will less stressful (for me). Thanks again guys, your great

I think the next time we visit WDW, we should go on a Drive and Dine trip !!! , you guys are making me hungry .

 

[Monykalyn]

Miller's Ale House is a tradition for us every trip-We can feed the kids cheap with apps during happy hour LOL!. Giordano's has the best deep dish pizza (if you are not actually in Chicago-Chicago's best deep dish is Lou Malnati's). Chili's has online ordering and curbside pickup-so if he really wants offsite can order then do a quick pickup and bring back to resort. Raglan Road in Downtown Disney also has great food.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Miller's Ale House is a tradition for us every trip-We can feed the kids cheap with apps during happy hour LOL!. Giordano's has the best deep dish pizza (if you are not actually in Chicago-Chicago's best deep dish is Lou Malnati's). Chili's has online ordering and curbside pickup-so if he really wants offsite can order then do a quick pickup and bring back to resort. Raglan Road in Downtown Disney also has great food.

Could not agree with you more on the pizza!

I make my parents lug frozen Lou Malnati's with them when they come to visit-even frozen is better than anything else around!

Ale house is great-something for everybody and reasonable middle of the road feel.

I'd rather go to Capital Grille any day of the week than the Disney Sigs that charge the same but IMO are not good.

Lots of places around Dr. Phillips area-Melting pot, Ocean Prime, Seasons 52, Bosphorous Turkish.

There's a whole area called restaurant row.