Need suggestion on first day at Disney WOW factor dining..

[Jblust524]

We are traveling with a another family of 5 who have never been to Disney and are trying to plan where to eat the first day to provide the maximum 'wow' factor for dinner. We won't be in the parks yet, so it will have to be outside the parks. Kids are 8, 6 and 4, any suggestions? Needs to set the tone, be disneyish, and be good food to boot.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Chef Mickeys. You can't get any more Disney outside the parks than that.

After dinner, hop on the monorail to the ttc and then on the Epcot monorail. I think your friends will love 'going around' Spaceship Earth.

 

[Jblust524]

Great idea about monorail ride but ideally we'd like to go without a buffet.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Then I'll tell you that the majority here will recommend O'Hana.

I, personally, would not go back there, but I'm clearly in the minority!

I haven't been but The Wave at the CR is also getting some great reviews. Not sure how the kids would enjoy that.

Oh hey - how about the new T-Rex restaurant in DTD? Again, I haven't been but the pictures look awesome.

 

[Kae]

We are not huge buffet people but Chef Mickeys is Disney all the way. We love to start our vacation at Chef Mickeys & we ride the monorail Epcot loop is the best see if your can get up front.

Kae

 

[donaldndaisy]

I'm not sure of your budget, but I would go for Narcoossee's. If you time your seating right, you could have great seats for the MK Fireworks, the Water Pageant (sp?) and all the scenery of a breathtakingly, beautiful resort and view of the castle. As another option, the adults could dine at Citrico's, then watch the fireworks from the beach or pier

I know this will be great for the adults. However, the kids may enjoy being able to unwind and have a blast at the Mousketeer Clubhouse, at the GF, while the adults dine. After dinner, get the kids and you could all enjoy the view of the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant, from the beach or pier.

 

[Wendi2000]

How about California Grill during the fireworks?

Hoop Dee Doo Revue?

Jiko or Boma along with a view of the Savannas (you can go before dinner while it's still light out, and then again after dark to use the night vision scopes - it's very cool!)

T-Rex Cafe in DTD - not necessarily "Disney" wow, but it would probably wow them nonetheless.

'Ohana is fun for the kids, but the food isn't as great as it used to be... it is nice to watch fireworks if you time it right though.

 

[catho72]

My vote would be for Chef Mickey's. As previous posters stated, you can't get more Disney than CM's. If you don't want a buffet, I'd recommend 'Ohana. I can't comment on their dinner menu but we loved their breakfast. You can explore the resort before or after (or both) your meal. It's a beautiful place!

 

[daisyduck123]

Chef Mickey's all the way!!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

If the kids are girls, you could consider 1900 Park Fare for Cinderella.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We took a 3 and 10 year old girls to Chef Mickeys on their first day, the food was terrible but they loved the characters

 

[TLPL]

Another vote for 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella. I know it is a buffet, but it is a Character Buffet! You can see Cindy without going into the park.

 

[webray]

You said good food, so that pretty much rules out Chef Mickey's.

AKL Boma or Jiko is a great suggestion. I totally agree with that one.
While Boma is a buffet, it is fabulous. The AKL lobby and side area is like a little museum, plus you get to see the animals. Definately a lot of WOW factor for someone who has never been.

A ride on the monorail would also be fun, but since you are spending the week, you will probably ride it a lot anyway.

T-Rex is very cool if the kids are into dinosaurs. The food is pretty good, huge portions and nice cocktails for the adults.

Flying Fish is very good, also IL Mulino...you could spend some time on the boardwalk afterward. Nice area to walk around.

 

[queenmum2]

Spoodles has pretty tasty food - or if you want something more upscale, the Flying Fish gets good press. I'd not heard of Il Mulino (had to google it!) - but it would also put you at the BW area. BW is so pretty at night, and is Disney theming without the characters. There's also plenty of fun entertainment and if you time it right you can watch the fireworks at Epcot.

Tracie

 

[SSRJen]

I second California Grill. It is great eating with a view of the Magic Kingdom and surrounding hotels. You don't even have to go during the fireworks time and it is still very magical. The food is also pretty darn good and you could ride the monorail after your meal.

 

[larklynn]

Mickey's backyard bbq was awsome when we went!!!

 

[Dina]

Although I love Chef Mickey's for the first night, Whispering Canyon Cafe is fun for the first night if you really don't want a buffet---- gets you in the Disney mood. Although I'm not sure if service/food is as good as it used to be.

I'd say 'Ohana, but the last time we ate there, food was not good, meat was all dried out.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I know that you didn't want buffet, but CM's is the way to go. Dine w/ Mickey and Minnie, then go out to the 4th floor observation deck and watch the fireworks (with the music piped in). Then do a monorail loop, get off at TTC and take it to EPCOT as well. Now that's what I call Disney.

You can even get off at MK, and watch the fireworks from outside the gates of MK. We've done that too.

 

[eagillinois]

Although I love Chef Mickey's for the first night, Whispering Canyon Cafe is fun for the first night if you really don't want a buffet---- gets you in the Disney mood.

I agree! Chef Mickeys or WCC.

 

[Disney Ron]

HDDR !!!!!! This is where we start our vacations. It puts us right into WDW mood and both adults and kids enjoy.

Mrs. Disney Ron