Need advice/help for ADR's January 2008

[mattsmom2000]

We will be going to Disney World for the first time in 10 years (since our honeymoon). It will be myself, my husband and our 8 year old son. We need help and or advice on the best places to eat at while we are there for a week in January 2008. We are probably going to do the DDP (pending any drastic changes for next year), but not sure where to even start. Other than what is on these boards (which can be overwhelming at times) we are lost. Any help you can give to a "first timer" with kids to Disney would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jess20k]

I would browse the menus that are available under the dining section of this site. See what you think that you might enjoy. We love the DDP! It is definately a value for us. But, it can also not be worth it if it is something that is not for you and your family.

Also, here are our top favorite places that we return to everytime:

Narcoossee's (signature dining, 2 credits)
Le Chefs de France
San Angel Inn

 

[twob4him]

Hi Mattsmom!
Even though I have been to Disney three times in the last two years I kinda feel like you. I am planning a future trip with a friend and all of our girls (that 7 women/girls!). We have to figure out where to eat as well. We both have favorite places and wanted to try some new ones too.

I was going to study the menus and read the reviews and go from there. Personally my favs are O'Hanas, Boma, Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern, Chef Mickey for Breakfast. Not much of a list cause I don't have a lot of personal experience.

Let me know how your plans progress!!!

 

[ktbugsmom]

We have gone the last 3 Januarys and are going again in 2008. Our DD is 7 years old. Here are some restaurants my daughter has enjoyed - Sci Fi Diner, Teppanyaki (now Teppan Edo?), San Angel Inn, Le Cellier and she loves sushi (yes - strange child) - so we always go to the Matsu No Ma lounge. This year we are trying Coral Reef and Ohana for the first time. We also liked Le Cellier last year, so I have booked it again this year - but not sure it was her favorite - but we are doing it for us! My DD has done many character meals and has declared she doesn't want any this year - but we enjoyed Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace and the princess ones (Epcot and Cindy's) in previous years.

If there is something you feel you must have - book it now. I already booked our ADRs for Jan 2008. I just feel better knowing we have some special meals planned. However, we have also found that if we are flexible on meal times, we can find walk ups for January - but not at places like Le Cellier.

We have not done the dining plan in the past - but I hope to try it this year. However, we have found that by the end of the week - we all get tired and sometimes rushing off to an ADR is a pain. I would leave some flexibility in your schedule. I am booking two 2TS meals so that we won't feel like we have to have a sit down each day. Sometimes we just love hanging by the pool and just having a burger and fries. (Yes - even in January)

Have fun. We love going in January!

 

[mackeyapp]

We have been to DW (we are DVC owners) four time in the past three years and we have two boys now 10 and 11. I will give you an idea of what their favorites are. It will give you a boys perspective.

1. Ohana Breakfast (we like to go about 10:45 after an early start at MK) our boys all time favorite.
2. Garden Grill-They love the interaction, the rotating dining room and we usually do this one as part of our Fantastmic Dinner Package which can be done on the Dining Plan.
3. Crystal Palace is Always our Farewell Dinner which we time to finish up in time to do one more fireworks before we say Good Bye to next year.
4. We love LeCellier but we are Canadian and perhaps this is why. We were there a few weeks ago on July 1st (Canada Day) and is was so fun.
5. The boys really enjoyed Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney. DH and I found it a bit loud, maybe we were just tired since it was our first night but the boys loved the music and decor.
6. Chef Mickey's is another favorite. We wouldn't miss it! We have been there for a couple of New Year's Eve dinner and had a lot of fun.
7. The boys and (DH and I )always enjoy the fun time at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge. It's fun to go over on the boat after a day at MK and the interaction there is great.

I hope this helps you some and please feel free to ask me anything else that I may be able to help you. I found disboards and allearsnet.com invaluable when I started doing research for our first trip and still check them out daily.
Good Luck and Have fun with your plans, that's half of the fun for me.
Joan

 

[ilovemyears]

We love California Grill - my two sons loved it as well, my youngest (also named Matthew) loves sushi and theirs is good. They could draw all over the table and they had fun watching the castle change colors. We made ADRs there about 45 minutes before the fireworks at the MK. They let you go out on the roof to watch them if you'd like which thrilled our boys.

We like the breakfast at 'OHana's. It's a character breakfast (Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and another character sorry can't remember who) and is served family style. We went at the earliest seating time and Stitch interacted with them for a long time.

Boma's at AKL is our favorite buffet. Everything on the buffet was tasty! My kids ate from both the children's buffet and the adult buffet.

We are trying some new restaurants on our next trip so can't speak to those yet, but I will say that most restaurants are kid friendly.