OK...Now I'm overwhelmed...

[XYSRUS]

Now that I'm going free dining I can't decide where to eat...EEK...I'v never had so much access to the restaurants because we usually are CS kind of people. Any advice for first timers. Mom and Dad with 2 preteens and 2 toddlers. Thanks.

 

[janets]

I would probably do at least 1 character meal...it's fun, everyone can find something they like and it's noisy so you don't worry about the toddlers. Plus no waiting on line to see characters.

Most sitdown menu driven restaurants will take a bit of time, so you have to decide the type of cuisine you like and plan that way. I think another fun meal could be 'Ohana at the Poly. Food is served family style, skewers of beef, turkey, sausage and pork. Peel and eat shrimp in bowls, salad, veggies. Kids have fun with coconut races and hula hoop contests.

If you like steak, we love LeCellier in Canada at EPCOT. But this is a smaller restaurant and the tables can be closer together so not sure how the little ones would do. Depends on how they are at restaurants at home. If you make an early ressie, they might be great. We also really enjoy Boma at AKL. Great buffet of interesting foods, infused with wonderful spices. Have meats being carved, terrific soups, hummus (I love hummus), great kids area too.

Fun also at Whispering Canyon Cafe at WL. Great all you can eat skillet w/ pulled pork, chicken, cornbread. Fun for the kids (pony races and fun antics by the staff).

Hope this gives you some ideas for your trip.

 

[MaeDaisy]

Not to overwhelm you more, but don't spend too much time planning, or the places you want might fill up. I'd narrow it down to a few must-do's and book those as soon as possible. Then you can be a little more leisurely filling in the rest.

 

[loricandy]

I would suggest Chef Mickey's. Good buffet with something for everyone. Characters are fun for all too. It is at the Contemporary Resort so the kids have fun riding the Monorail. Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom is great for a cool respite from the heat. It is also a buffet with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, etc. We always go to Ohanas at the Poly too. You can ride the boat from the Magic Kingdom area to the Poly, eat at Ohanas and then watch the Wishes fireworks from the beach while the kids play in the sand. Awesome!

 

[LizinSTL]

Now that I'm going free dining I can't decide where to eat...EEK...I'v never had so much access to the restaurants because we usually are CS kind of people. Any advice for first timers. Mom and Dad with 2 preteens and 2 toddlers. Thanks.

Take a deep breath

Look at the list of restaurants on allearnet.com or here on the disboards.

Then choose your top 3 and ask your spouse and pre teens to each pick their top 3. Now look at what days you might want to be at which parks. Get on the phone with disney dining and see if you can get any of your top picks for any of those days.

Since you have free dining, don't worry about "maximizing" the value. If you have to take lunch- take it. If it's a breakfast meal- fine. If your toddler adores mickey- make sure you get a meal with the mouse. If one of your kiddos is more like Stitch, then don't miss the breakfast w/ Stitch at the Poly. If princesses are a must-do- make sure you pick a meal with them. If steak is what you all crave- then load up on steak houses. If fish is your favorite- find restaurants that feature seafood.

Buffets are great for families with varied tastes. My 9 year old would think she'd found heaven on earth if she could have 3 all you can eat buffets a day So decide what works for you and call up disney. Don't worry if you need to call them back in a week or a month and make changes. It's no big deal!

 

[dizcrazed]

Good luck. I have never gone before but reading reviews and picking restaurants that look good, here is what I made adr's for:
Ohana ---it seems everyone likes this one--food looks real good too
Hollywood and Vine--fantasmic package
Boma--akl everyone raves about this one too
Crt--never been and can't wait to see inside of the castle
Coral Reef-great reviews and it is like being underwater
San Angel Inn--looks pretty inside and good reviews
Planet Hollywood--well because db never has been to one.
Hope this helps.

 

[minnieandme]

100 restaurants on the dining plan can be overwhelming. Like one of the other posters said, go to allearsnet.com for a list of the menus. That will give you an idea of what you and your family likes to eat. I had a very hard time deciding because my DS8 is a very picky eater, so I had to choose restuarants that serve food I know he'll eat. Most of the kids menus serve mac n cheese, and although he likes it, he only eats mine.

 

[DISNEYNY]

We also have free dining this year and these are our choices:

These we have done before - Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's & 50's Prime Time at MGM. New on our list are Le Cellier, Spoodles, Whispering Canyons, Sci-Fi and the Donald Breakfast at Animal Kingdom.

We have also done the Princess character breakfast at Norway in the Epcot other years. The name of that restaurant is Akershus...my daughter loved it.

 

[luv2nascar]

First do you have your itinerary done. What parks what days?? Plan the ADRs around the parks you will be in. With that amount of people and 2 toddlers I wouldn't travel to much. Epcot day pick restaurant close by. We have ADRs for Biergarten (which we all love) and trying LeCellier this time for first time. We always go to MK on early entry day then have a late breakfast at Chef Mickeys 10:30am. We can just hop the monorail for breakfast.
We also have an ADR for Crystal Palace on night of Halloween party. We plan to get tickets and don't want to be late so early dinner for us in MK where we need to be. We also are trying Kona Cafe and can just hop the monorail again. MGM day (we hate the lines and food at the counterservice here) so he had ADR for lunch at 50's prime time. AK we have a late breakfast at Donald's for early entry day.

Hope that helps

 

[Disney Ron]

The following suggestions are family friendly restaurants with good food.

LeCellier (great food & kids friendly)
Kona (great food & kid friendly)
Spoodles (great food & kid friendly)
Crystal Palace (best CM)
Biergarten (good food and entertainment)
Rose & Crown (for Illuminations)

Mrs. Disney Ron