NOT on the DDP, Where would you eat?

[Colleen27]

The title says it all.. I'm in the very early stages of planning our first Disney trip without the DDP, and my ADR date is coming up next week. Odd thing is, I'm having a hard time thinking of which places we've thought "Someday, on a non-DDP trip..." about!

We're only going to be there for 3 nights/4 days, two adults (me & my mom) and two girls (8 & almost-2) staying at the Dolphin unless we luck into a great rate at the Beach Club, so Epcot area either way. Park plans are 1 day at MK, 2 at Epcot, no park on our departure day.

Right now, the only things I have on my list are the Gardenview Tea and Tokyo Dining. Any other can't-miss choices at the Swan/Dolphin, not on the DDP, or just plain fun for 4 girls on a Mother's Day trip?

 

[ppan77]

Plaza at MK
Beaches n Cream
Cape May Character breakfast

 

[wwaleye]

Il Mulino at the Swan gets good reviews on the boards. As does Fresh, Bluezoo and Shula's at the Dolphin.

 

[Pakey]

I would look at the Grand Floridian afternoon tea.

 

[Hazzard101]

Will you have a car? If so, go to one of the Millers Ale house restaurants. thay have a huge menu with something for everyone and the portions are giant and the prices are unbelievably cheap for what you get. Oh, and the food is spectacular. we go at least once every time we go to Disney for the Fried Seafood platter. Maybe someday we will remember to split it seeing we never finish it. $13.99

 

[jemgumby]

On our trip in January we didn't do the dining plan and we ate at Kona Cafe for dinner (pretty reasonable) and the Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner another time. We felt like what we paid was a good value for what we got. The food was very good.

 

[Robert P]

Il Mulino at the Swan gets good reviews on the boards. As does Fresh, Bluezoo and Shula's at the Dolphin.

Had drinks and appetizers at BlueZoo last night, then dinner at Shula's. Breakfast was at Fresh this a.m. Il Mulino is on tap for next week.
So, ITA, there are several good options (both signature restaurants and others) at the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[disney queen]

love the tea! tusker house character breakfast, kona cafe breakfast, flying fish, yachtsman steakhouse

 

[eventamy]

We've never done the DDP so I can tell you where we have enjoyed going that is a pretty good value.

Sci-Fi, some think it's expensive, but last trip we all had burgers, fries, shakes (DDs shared the kids pizza) and my mom had the chili. We loved the food and felt it was a good value for what we got, especially for WDW.

Kona Cafe - my husband and I had a date here. If you go try the Tuna Oscar! YUM!

T-Rex, Yes, it can be expensive, but the servings are humongous! If you're willing to share an entree you'll still have food to bring home with you and the bill would be considerably less. We really enjoyed our meal! I love the Triasic Tuna appetizer, now I want that right now!


This time we are trying all new restaurants, including:
Teppan Edo _prices are comparable to my local hibachi place

The Plaza - very reasonably priced

Crystal Palace breakfast - all you can eat yumminess with Pooh! Can't get better then that!

Flying Fish - I hear it's an unbelievable experience with delicious food, cheaper then some of the other signature meals

Places I would like to try someday:
Il Mulino
Kimonos

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, lots of good ideas!

The tea is a definite, both because it isn't on the DDP and because it fits the whole "girls weekend" theme so well.

Tokyo Dining is my must-do because while it is on the plan, the sushi menu is mostly excluded which makes it kind of pointless for a DDP trip. And I've been drooling over the pics on the DIS site since it first opened under the current name.

Fresh does look good, so I'm thinking that would make a great check-out day breakfast before heading home.

I hadn't planned on any nice dinners, but the suggestion of Flying Fish got me thinking maybe we'll make room for that one. After our Dec trip it'll be the only signature I haven't tried, largely because there's not much on the menu that appeals to my fish-allergic DH. Since he's not coming in May, it will be a perfect time to try it!