New to Disney World. Where are the best places to dine? And a few other questions.

[tinkluvr23]

Hi I haven't been to Disney World since I was 10 years old and now I am going back for my 21st birthday in March! We are planning on using the dining plan and currently have these restaurant booked:

Crystal Palace (lunch)
San Angel Inn (dinner)
1900 Park Fare (breakfast)
Sci Fi (dinner)
Yak and Yeti (lunch)

The other two I was considering were Ohana and 50's Prime Time. Should I switch any of my reservations out for these? Or is there another restaurant I am missing? And I am a vegetarian btw although my boyfriend is not.
Are there any counter service restaurants I need to make reservations for?
And I would also like to do something special for my birthday, sadly Cinderellas Royal Table is all booked up, and I heard about a Fantasmic dinner package is there anything else like this? Or anything else not food related that would be fun to do?

 

[tinkluvr23]

Oh and also I am there for my 21 birthday! Any drink recomendations???

 

[minniebeth]

Sounds like it will be a great way to celebrate your 21st birthday!

I know a lot of people like it, and it's great for the atmosphere, but honestly, I would trade out San Angel Inn. We personally don't care for it and had friends that were really looking forward to eating there and were so disappointed. If you like the atmosphere inside the Mexico pavillion, I would go into La Cava de Tequila and have some chips and salsa and a drink and enjoy the cozy, relaxing environment for a while instead.

I would switch it out for 'Ohana...it is a fun dinner and a great way to celebrate a special dinner! They offer a great vegetarian dinner option, so you and your boyfriend can each enjoy what you like. For a special birthday dinner drink there, while you are waiting you can enjoy a pina colada or a lapu lapu in a real pineapple in the Tambu Lounge. Fun and yummy! If you have time after dinner, you can watch Wishes fireworks from the Polynesian beach and the Electric Water Pageant, which makes a really nice evening.

I love your other restaurant choices too, I don't think you will be disappointed. Just make sure you tell them you are celebrating your 21st birthday!

You don't need to make reservations for any of the counter service restaurants.

For your special birthday dinner, it's expensive, but what about California Grill?
It's such a cool location on top of the Contemporary, definitely makes a memorable dinner and they really celebrate special occasions nicely there.

Enjoy your special trip and celebration! No matter what you choose it will be a wonderful time for you!

 

[tinkluvr23]

Thank you for the response. I actually was a little iffy about San Angel Inn. I looked at the menu and it did not seem like the best bang for our buck. Anyone else have an oppinion on wether the atmosphere is worth the ok food?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Dining choices are highly subjective, but you've got some of the more popular ones. Another important consideration for me is always where I am staying. Dining near our resort is always wise. If you are staying at a value, and want TS, consider places/times that are easy tranportation-wise.

I've alwasy enjoyed San Angel. Agreed, the atmosphere is better than the food, but the atmosphere is SO unique!

If you are vegetarian, then I suggest Boma. Oh, and Sanaa is pretty great too! My Dsis is vegetarian, so I can relate. Almost all WDW places have a vegetarian option, with a very few exceptions. The few exceptions tend to be small QS's with very limited menus. (like the stand that only sells turkey legs) Another really good place to dine is Morocco. I haven't been to the TS place in a few years, but the QS place is excellent. When you think about the WS, think about any cuisines that are normally vegetarian friendly, like Japan. Another good QS is the one at the GF. Pizza is more or less always an option, and most places have at least a salad (and french fries) to offer. Another standby my sister relies on is soup. Always check out the soup option, if there is one. In Epcot, the LAnd has several good choices. Overall, WDW is keen to accomodate special needs dining. At almost any TS place, esp buffets, tell your server. Usually a chef will come out and go over all your options on the buffet line. Sometime they can even get you something special. Like if they have a dish that's mostly vegetarian, but has a non-vegetarian sauce - they may be able to give you a portion of that food without the sauce. It usually pays to ask. (You can also have it noted on all your ADR's by calling)

My sister did not like the vegetarian dish at 50's. it's stuffed peppers, and not very good ones. I have to say that of all dining at WDW, that one did not look all that great. Indeed, we've never been huge fans of any dinining In HS. You'll find better optiions inthe deluxe resorts just outside the park - or hop over to Epcot's WS (Epcot's back entrance is about a 15min walk from HS. The Epcot resors are evne closer, and connected via free shuttle boat)

Some places that have been consistently good for vegetarians are the double credit places. For a special birthday meal, that might be a consideration. Usually at the double credit places the veggie option is the least expensive one. (Around $22). So you could have your boyfriend use his credits to get a really nice steak.

Alcohol at WDW is always expensive. Cocktails run about $8 a pop! If you want to stay on budget, consider getting alcohol in the gift shop of your resort. the prices still aren't cheap, but less than gettign drinks at the bar. One of my favorite places to get a fru-fru drink though is the cabana bar at the Dolphin or the tiki bar inthe Poly (outside 'Ohana).

Oh, do a search and you can find WDW menus online. Some change seasonally, but it will give you a very good idea of what's on the menu.

 

[tinkluvr23]

Good to know about 50's Prime time. I really wanted to eat there but now I'm going to pass. I was really considering Boma as well becuase I have heard good things about their vegetarian options!

 

[Kay1]

I think you made some good choices. The tofu dish at Sci-Fi is wonderul, btw. I'm not sure if the atmosphere at San Angel makes it worth the expense, but maybe just once it does.

How about California Grill for your birthday? They offer fairly good food and a nice view of the fireworks.

 

[lilmape]

Thank you for the response. I actually was a little iffy about San Angel Inn. I looked at the menu and it did not seem like the best bang for our buck. Anyone else have an oppinion on wether the atmosphere is worth the ok food?

My husband and I went there during our honeymoon. The food was not good at all, and much too expensive for the portion and we were unable to see our food or hear each other talk. We won't be going back to eat. It really is beautiful inside, but we enjoy viewing it without eating there.

 

[JenSop]

Depending on when people go/ how often, you'll get quite the varied responses when it comes to restaurants, so please take that in to consideration.

For example, I had always been an Ohana fan, but the last time we went, our service was horrible. Absolutely terrible. Then the same horrible service happened to one of my clients just this past December. So I'm kind of "off" from Ohana for awhile. (Although I would recommend Kona Cafe - and if you go to the Poly, you must get a Lapu Lapu - my fave drink!)

On the other hand, we gave San Angel Inn a new chance on this past summer's trip (always liked the atmosphere, but the food had been so-so.) Well, let me tell you, the food was SO MUCH BETTER than it had been! They really stepped it up several notches! So not only was the atmosphere fabulous as usual, but we also had a really great meal on top of that!

As far as other 1 credit places, I LOVE Sanaa. Can't rave about it enough. I've been there three times and every time has been excellent in every way. We've also done lunch twice at Yak and Yeti and enjoyed it.

I also recommend Boma.

We try to never eat in DHS - it's all blah to us.

As far as counter service, we're big fans of Morocco. I also like Japan and France. And over in MK, there's a great vegetarian sandwich at Columbia Harbour House made with hummus and broccoli slaw - so yummy! (And I'm not a vegetarian, I just like the sandwich!)

When it comes to drinks, my "always get" drink is the Grand Marnier slushie in France. mmmmmmm.....

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Jensop makes some great points.

Some time ago, there were threads about the best and worst dining choices in WDW. I took a tally of both lists and guess what? Nearly every place was mentioned on both lists - and there was LOTS of overlap in the places that were mentioned most on both lists!

 

[disneychick06]

My family and I have been to Disney multiple times, and almost everytime we go to Ohanas. We love it, but i wouldnt recommend it for you because you're a vegetarian. The four main foods are steak, shrimp, roast, and chicken. (i think chicken anyway) they also have the appetizers and bread but i'm sure you don't want to eat just that and shrimp, if you even like shrimp. But it is a really nice experience if you would like to try.

 

[disneyred]

Enjoy your birthday at WDW.. its a great way to celebrate !!