need advice where to book reservation

[michelle06]

We have only eaten at 1900 Park Fare once with the Cinderella meal and loved it! We've not eaten at any other table restaurants, so I need some advice. I have been reading several threads and other sites and the Unofficial Disney Guide. All in all, it seems many restaurants are over-priced for mediocre food and a very rushed character experience. So, I am hesitant. We are on a tight budget, will likely only book one "expensive" meal (table service or character dining) and want to get it right. Spending that kind of money is a big deal for us and don't want to regret it.

My daughter's first choice is something with Winnie the Pooh, though CP seemed to have the worst reviews of all that I read. Her second choice is something with Mickey and Minnie and third choice is princesses. The castle is out due to price.

I am interested in Sanaa, but no characters, but maybe we could scrape together money for 2 table meals.

Anyway, what are your suggestions? We are getting close to the 180 day mark and I want to make sure we know what to reserve.

Thanks so much for your help, Disers!

 

[MainMom]

We love CP breakfast. Try to get am 8am if the park opens at 9am. This trip we are trying CP lunch.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I have enjoyed seeing Pooh and eating Piglet at the CP breakfast--but I personally liked our breakfast at Tusker House at AK. We had like an 8:15 ADR and got in early. It was nice being at AK that early for Safari ride right after breakfast and then EE. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy were there.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

CP, Cape May bkfst @ Beach Club, Garden Grill @ Epcot, CM gets hit or miss reviews for dinner, but you might try bkfst, Tusker House @ AK.

 

[coltsfanatic]

We loved Crystal Palace lunch. It had everything-delicious food, great atmosphere, good service, nice character interaction...

 

[dr&momto2boys]

CP breakfast is great! 1st ADR of the day is great--walk into an empty park and get out in time for park to open.
Chef Mickey's is a good character experience. We've done it several times.
Tusker house is my third choice of this bunch.

Cape May is the most relaxed experience (in my experience.) But personally I would only go if I were staying close by or possibly before going to Epcot or DHS in the morning.

 

[waynesgirl]

Garden Grill @ EPCOT. Can't say enough good things about it.

We took DS there for his bday last November and the food was outstandingly good to be as busy as it was. The character interaction was really good. They took their time and the food had lots of servings. We were stuffed to the gills!

It is a bit more expensive, as it is only a dinner service I think. (They used to do lunch.) But I do recommend it for the food quality, the service wasn't rushed, and the interactions are great.

Overall, most TS, if you eat lunch (we go like 2:45ish or so), then you get the best of both worlds. Big portions but a cheaper price. Same dishes usually. We like late lunches because it is less crowded, and we generally get our money's worth as well as not being hungry most of the day. Then, we get some small CS meals to split and a delicious snack (or adult beverage).

 

[michelle06]

Thank you, everyone for the help.

 

[millerjudi]

My kids have always loved Chef Mickey's for breakfast--the food is good and you always get lots of character interaction. Didn't like Cape May nearly as much. We got the first reservation of the day at CRT one time and my DD got to me the princess of the day, which was fabulous, but I don't think the character experience is any better than at Chef Mickeys, and it is so much more expensive. We had lunch at Akershus one time, and the food was good (though not for picky eaters). I also really like Garden Grill for dinner--the food is good and the character experience is great. If you are going to splurge on a non-character meal and your kids are under 12, go to Ohana--the food is great and it is a really fun place for the kids (the kids get up and play games and dance--its great).