New Restaurants or old? Help me decide!

[Becky0216]

Hey all, We are visiting DW October 1-8 this year and I have restaurant picks already made but have been trying to get a hold of 2 more. While looking for those 2 yesterday I stumbled on to 2 of the new Disney Springs Restaurants. Would love some help on what the best plan of action is here. Either way they are all new for us, but I must have skipped the older ones every visit for a reason right? We also have an O'hana we do every visit that I am thinking I should skip? Such a mess right now. If any of you can give some insight on these and if they are worth it, that would be wonderful. My travel Party consists of 3 adults and 3 kids. Kids tend to be a bit picky with different foods.

Do I still try to get ressies for: (Never eaten at either before)
Sci-Fi
T-Rex

Or do I stick with new Ressies:
Art Smith's Homecoming
Frontera

 

[Nancyg56]

I always have a mix of tried and true restaurants and new ones that we think we may like.

I have an ADR for 'Ohana but may drop it as I firm my dining plans. For you, I would add Sci Fi if I was in DHS. AS to Disney Springs, if you have picky kids, look at the menus for Homecoming and Frontera to be sure there is food that they will enjoy. I think that both if these are two credit TS restaurants, so if you are on the DDP, that is a consideration as well.

 

[hakepb]

I would agree with the PP.

Eat at Sci-Fi if you are in DHS. It's a very fun theme.

Eat at DS when you are planning on spending time in DS. It's a lot of transportation time for a dinner if you are planning on going back to a park.

 

[Becky0216]

I have never eaten at Disney Springs. We always skip. But figured since we are staying at POR maybe it would be an easier trip there? I also have Raglan Road ressies. Maybe 3 DS ressies are too many? I guess I can hold out hope I will snag some reservations for Sci-fi and something else. I thought the new restaurants were 1 table service credit?

 

[hakepb]

I have never eaten at Disney Springs. We always skip. But figured since we are staying at POR maybe it would be an easier trip there? I also have Raglan Road ressies. Maybe 3 DS ressies are too many? I guess I can hold out hope I will snag some reservations for Sci-fi and something else. I thought the new restaurants were 1 table service credit?

It's helpful when you are going from an afternoon break at your resort to dinner at DS and/or if you will have dinner at DS then head back to your resort...
But there is no direct transportation from DS to a park (or from a park to DS) so it really depends on your park activity schedule.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Frontera is the only one on your list that we haven't tried. I'm all for trying new things. Ex. we enjoy 'Ohana and often have dinner there on an every other trip basis- or something like that -but it gives each trip a whole new vibe when we throw in new things. We also recently stayed at PORS and utilized the boat one night for dinner at DS. It's still a bit less convenient than dining in or near one of the parks. BTW, if you still want to try TRex, call them. Very few reservations for that are actually released on the Disney's site, but the usually have lots of openings if you call.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

The Sci-Fi food is average BUT everyone should eat there at least once. The atmosphere is hard to beat. The appeal of this place is the theme. It is one of the more fun places to eat.

 

[MushuHill]

I'm not a fan of as Sci-Fi. The one time we went was in May and incredibly hot. Then you out me in a dark room (could barely see my food) with short clips running on the screen. I fell asleep sitting in my chair. The food tasted like any quick service. In the other hand I know it was not on your list, but I love 50's prime time. Even when I'm not hungry during my ADR I always clean my plate there. The fried chicken is amazing!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

T-Rex is average strip mall food with dinosaurs. I would keep Art Smith's and as others said SciFi if you are in the neighborhood. The POR boat to Disney Springs is a soothing start and end to the day.

 

[alex9179]

There is always the caveat of planning for YOUR family and what they like. Don't make ADRs for the adventure of it if your family won't enjoy it. Now kids, there are menu options for those who can't handle trying something new so check out the the choices on WDW or Allears. If the adults are willing to play around then don't settle for Sci-Fi and T-Rex! Both of these have a bit of a reputation for frightening more sensitive individuals. Darkness, loud noises, etc. The food is OK.

I haven't dined at either of your new choices, but Homecoming's menu is very friendly to the average person. Pricey, maybe, but our family would share some things. I'm very interested in Frontera. I've read meh and yum reviews, but we're prepared to bypass the ridiculous chip/salsa charge and go for apps and a few entrees to share.

'Ohana was a once and done thing for us. If the food had been delicious we would overlook the hurried/distracted service. OK on both fronts won't bring us back. Not every experience is going to be wonderful but I'd rather try something else than try again. Especially when a significant number of reviews match, or are worse than, our visit. If you aren't staying there, don't bother.

Pick what you think will work for your family. Pick ADRs that are where you'll be. I will go out on a limb and say that only one (Victoria&Albert's) is worth setting aside an evening to enjoy...and they don't allow young children.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

it was not on your list, but I love 50's prime time. Even when I'm not hungry during my ADR I always clean my plate there. The fried chicken is amazing!

I agree 100% with this statement. We eat at 50's Prime Time on every visit and I always get the fried chicken dinner. One of our favorites.

 

[Becky0216]

Thanks for the tips. We are on the dining plan so the cost at the restaurants are not an issue. We have eaten at many locations at DW. Hoping to try some new places. 50's is actually one of our favorites but since we usually do that, we opted to not repeat. Our repeats this year "must do" are Hoop Dee Doo, O'hana, and Crystal Palace Breakfast. Those were my rules given by my family. That leaves me 3 choices for new options. I picked Raglan as a new one. As long as chicken or steak and fries are offered at most of them, my boy is happy. The others will eat a good amount of items. Ages are 11, 9, 5 . WSe saw all the menu items and that works for us at all places we are looking at.

The only reason for wanting Sci-Fi or T-rex is the atmosphere. I am not OVERJOYED by the menu itself. Another new possibility would be Tony's which we keep overlooking based on reviews although it is convenient. This is why I always do a lot of repeats, too much thought in to everything. Ahhhh....

 

[lauraleh]

I have no advice for the decision because we are in the same boat ourselves with old v new. I did look it up though and Frontera and Homecoming are both 1 TS credit restaurants. Just wanted to clarify that!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Just did Raglan Road and enjoyed it!

Our family loves T-Rex, and it is convenient to POR. As PP said, call directly and get a ressie. Or consider the Landry's membership card for preferred seating without a ressie.

We tried to dine at Frontera, but as we were waiting, it really seemed more adult than I thought would work well with our young kids, so we left.

'Ohana always makes our list, but it was missing a little something this past visit. Maybe absence will make the heart grow stronger!

Do try something new! We really liked Whispering Canyon at WL, and that was new for us.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Another new possibility would be Tony's which we keep overlooking based on reviews

I'll say this about Tony's. We avoided Tony's for the same reason (Too many bad reviews). We decided we would finally give it a try. We went there about 10 months ago and we enjoyed our meal and the service. We had a good dining experience and we would go back again. Perhaps they aren't very consistent and we may have caught them on a good day. For us, we had a good meal.

 

[Dean Marino]

All personal opinion - I'm not right, no one else is wrong.....

"New Restaurant Bingo"

Get the menu. Ignore hype, ignore "WE'RE NEW". Ignore the noise....
GET THE MENU. Then CHECK it for portion size, exclusions, and assorted "Gotchas".

I will not mention at least THREE "New" Disney Springs offerings that will leave you starving, have lovely seats, and no food .

Again - All personal opinion - I'm not right, no one else is wrong.....

 

[MagnoliaBend12]

With your group I'd go with TRex and Sci Fi. I've had good food at both and the atmosphere blows the others away.

 

[Becky0216]

Appreciate all the responses. While I am still in limbo since I can't snag the TREX or Sci-Fi yet, I do think I might stick with only Raglan Road in DS this time around. Cancel the New Mexican and Art Smiths. Wish me luck on getting Sci-fi. That's the main one on my radar at this point. That will give me
O'hana
Tony's
Hoop Dee Doo
Sci Fi
Raglan
Crystal Palace Breakfast.

Sure hope it all works out.

 

[MushuHill]

Appreciate all the responses. While I am still in limbo since I can't snag the TREX or Sci-Fi yet, I do think I might stick with only Raglan Road in DS this time around. Cancel the New Mexican and Art Smiths. Wish me luck on getting Sci-fi. That's the main one on my radar at this point. That will give me
O'hana
Tony's
Hoop Dee Doo
Sci Fi
Raglan
Crystal Palace Breakfast.

Sure hope it all works out.

Did you try to call T-Rex? They usually have reservations that are not posted on the Disney website since it is owned by Landrys.

 

[Chant124]

Hey all, We are visiting DW October 1-8 this year and I have restaurant picks already made but have been trying to get a hold of 2 more. While looking for those 2 yesterday I stumbled on to 2 of the new Disney Springs Restaurants. Would love some help on what the best plan of action is here. Either way they are all new for us, but I must have skipped the older ones every visit for a reason right? We also have an O'hana we do every visit that I am thinking I should skip? Such a mess right now. If any of you can give some insight on these and if they are worth it, that would be wonderful. My travel Party consists of 3 adults and 3 kids. Kids tend to be a bit picky with different foods.

Do I still try to get ressies for: (Never eaten at either before)
Sci-Fi
T-Rex

Or do I stick with new Ressies:
Art Smith's Homecoming
Frontera

Sci-fi is one our families favorite places...Cant beat the atmosphere.