NY's Eve dinner at EPCOT?

[hart6066]

Hi--we're trying to decide our first choice for NY's Eve meal at Epcot. We go every year at this time, so we know about the crowds, but this is the first year the kids (will be 7 and 10) are old enough to stay out late enough to do dinner there on NY's Eve. We would make the res on the early side and just leave the park when it gets too crazy--we're not planning on staying until midnight. Oh, we're hoping none of them have special menus for that night--hoping to get the regular menu--would love to know anyone's experience with that as well. Here are our choices:

Restaurant Marrakesh
Rose and Crown
Teppan Edo
Le Cellier

Thanks!

 

[OhThePain]

I am personally not too fond of most of those restaurants. My girlfriend and I did NYE dinner at Biergarten a couple of years ago. If you go with a 5:30 or so ADR, you should be done in more than enough time to watch the early IllumiNations thats plays on NYE (I think it starts at 7 or 7:15 and Germany is usually a decent area to watch from). We thought that the atmosphere in Biergarten helped add to the overall NYE atmosphere in EC.

 

[hart6066]

Thanks--we had thought of Biergarten, but I'm not so sure that our kids would eat much there, and our 10 year old would be considered an adult with the buffet, and we're not sure it's the best use of money.

Any other suggestions/ideas? Thanks!

 

[OhThePain]

We have always found that Biergarten offers more than enough for both the picky and adventurous eaters. The band that plays is also very entertaining and on NYE really adds to the whole festive feel of the night. However, buffets are expensive, especially for the young ones that are considered adults but to eat as such. We find it can be tough to eat enough to justify the cost of a buffet (just one of the ways Disney tries to get people to get a dining plan, IMO).

If you are looking to pay OOP, R&C is a pretty good option. My girlfriend and I have really enjoyed our meals at Les Chef's in France. On our trip last May, my girlfriend ordered the beed tenderloin which was more tender and much tastier than either of the steaks we had a Le Cellier (which is now signature for dinner). So Les Chef's might be another option for you.

 

[rk5798]

We have eaten at the Biergarten before on NYE and it was a blast! Wherever you eat, try to time it with what time it turns midnight in the real country and they will have their own countdown. So when we ate in Germany, I believe 6pm here is midnight in Germany (you'll have to double check my time difference). So we made reservations for 5:30 and then we were there right when all the German cast members counted down to midnight and celebrated the new year at the same time as their native country. I hope that makes sense. It was a very fun experience and definitely worth it if you are going to brave the NYE crowds

We will be there at the same time this year but will be staying at our resort that day and evening (basically staying out of the parks that day) as we have very lo's

 

[hart6066]

Thank you--I didn't know they did the countdown at their country's time--that will make up for us leaving way before midnight!! Maybe we should think about giving Biergarten a try--I wish we had done it last year on the DDP!!