One more TS... PLEASE help us decide!!!

[VickieMouse]

We were able to extend our vacation by a few days, so now we need 1 or 2 more TS restaurants. We are a family of 5, with 3 DD (ages 8, 6, and 2). We are looking for great meal experiences (in an attempt to engage our 2 year old) as well as good food. The places we already have ADRs:

Ohana
Teppan Edo
Biergarten
Crystal Palace (deciding between lunch & dinner -we did bfast last year)
Tusker House Breakfast
Whispering Canyon
Kona - they really want that Kona Kone!
Via Napoli

We have no idea where else to go. We did Chef Mickey's, CRT, Akershus, and Ohana last year, as well as CP breakfast. We loved them all, but in order to try new things, we only have decided to repeat Ohana, which we REALLY loved!!!

We are going to be at HS the day we don't have a meal planned, so a restaurant there or near there would be convenient, but we are flexible and would be willing to rearrange our ADR's for any great suggestion! Epcot is also a great option because we love it there :love

ETA: We are considering H&V breakfast or lunch or 1900 PF for Dinner. Which do you recommend?
And on a separate note, Tusker House Breakfast or Garden Grill? WWYD?

Although I would love to try for Cape May, there are no times available.

Please help!!!

 

[Dopey4Life]

What about Garden Grill at Epcot? You have Chip and Dale for Character entertainment and I believe the restaurant slowly revolves/rotates.

 

[sharonabe]

I second Garden Grill.

The antics at 50s Prime Time over at HS may engage your 2 yr old, or they might confuse her. Check out some reviews on that one.

 

[kollerbear]

Either the Garden Grill or the Coral Reef Restaurant... the food reviews at Coral Reef generally seem to be mixed, but a lot of kids think it's really cool to eat inside an aquarium!

The 50s Prime Time Cafe is really fun--menus on Viewfinders!--but some of the kitsch will probably be lost on them. (Not that the servers' antics aren't great!) They might also enjoy the novelty of eating dinner in a car at the Sci-Fi Drive-In, depending on whether or not they would get scared by the old-time monster movies. Because of the non-traditional set-up I'd usually say that for most kids that age Sci-Fi Drive-In wouldn't be a good fit, but hey, each family is different--my sisters and I loved eating there when we were little and we still talk about it now as young adults! We loved the idea of eating "outside" in a car, when we were really inside. So it always depends on your family's preferences.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Millie12591]

Kona - they really want that Kona Kone!

Not to be a kill joy, but the Kona Kones aren't given to the kids as a kids dessert. It's only for the 10 and older on the adult meal plan. If you and hubby plan on getting them for the kiddos instead of getting your own dessert, your all set then!
That really is an option since they are a lot to eat, the kids may not be able to finish them.

You won't be disappointed with Kona's, the food is very good. I'll go back and read again so I can see if I can help you out here.....

One that hasn't been discussed is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian for dinner or breakfast! Breakfast has Pooh, Tigger, Mad Hatter, Alice and Mary Poppins. The Mad hatter alone is worth it! And the dinner is Cindy and her Prince, the Wicked Step Mother, and the wicked step sisters. They are a hoot!! Be sure to call them the Wicked Step Sisters and see what happens. I think the kids would love this and you would get to see some of the Grand Floridian too, such a beautiful Resort. If you happen to be at the Magic Kingdom you can take the boat to the resort and see it coming in from the backside and then get to walk a bit of the resort, that alone is worth eating there.

 

[VickieMouse]

Thank you for your responses so far. I do know about the Kona Kone. Either we will pay OOP or the adults will order them, depending on how full we are.

I have considered 1900 Park Fare, but I wasn't sure if the step-sisters antics would actually scare my 2 year old. Thoughts? Plus, I have heard good and bad about the food, but my bigger concern is the step-sisters.

And Sci-Fi my older 2 really want to go to, but I am afraid the novelty of the car would wear off for my 2 year old in about 5 minutes, and then she might be even more crazy than she would have been otherwise. I will definitely consider it though.

For some reason the menus at Garden Grill or Coral Reef didn't appeal to us, but I think I will go give the Coral Reef one a second look.

Any other thoughts?

 

[disneybliss2]

Regarding 1900 PF, the stepsisters are hilarious, so don't let that be a concern. My youngest DD was 3 last year when she went, and they interacted well with her and made her laugh. My 8 year old thought they were a complete riot! The food was also very fresh, had a large variety, and was delicious. This meal turned out to be one of our favorites.

 

[OhThePain]

Why not head over to Cape May for dinner at BC. After dinner you can spend some time walking around the Boardwalk and look at some of the entertainers that may be out. Even if there are no entertainers that night, it is still a really nice walk.

 

[KSL]

I agree that 1900 Parc Fare is a great choice. We've done the dinner three times and I don't think the step-mother/stepsisters will be too scary, though they are definitely in character. The step-mother is cold and condescending, and the step-sisters are loud and obnoxious (so great!) - none of them are actually scary.

Since you'll be at DHS, would you consider Hollywood & Vine for a breakfast buffet? We did that last August with our 5 year old and she really enjoyed it. I think this would be good for your younger two - your oldest might find the characters a bit young for her, but hopefully would still enjoy it. The food is fine - nothing extraordinary, but typical breakfast buffet fare and we liked it fine (we are not adventurous at breakfast!). The fun part is that the characters come around often and encourage the kids to come up to the front of the restaurant to dance and do the hokey pokey, etc. It was very cute and the kids who were willing to join in seemed to have a great time. We went for nearly the last seating and it was such a nice mid-morning break and held us way past lunchtime so that we only had one other meal that day.

HTH & Good luck with your decision!

Edited to add: IMO, I would skip the SciFi - Even I didn't care for it as an adult -- too dark to see what I was eating, didn't like the seating configuration (though I understand why it's like that, but I hadn't thought about it ahead and it was awkward for our party of 3 since DH ended up eating by himself!), and some of the old scifi movies were actually kind of yucky to watch while eating (giant bugs, etc.). I don't think it works well for families with young children. This is just my opinion - no flames please!!

 

[Sandy321]

we love 1900 Park Fare - its on the monorail line so before or after MK (eat then see wishes at night - then bus back to your resort) Like a PP said, no worries about the Sisters being mean - they are very good - maybe you can get them to sing!! They really are there for the kids!

I'll also put a shout out for Coral Reef - eating in front of the fishes is fascinating! take a ride on Nemo, then dinner!

also for Ohana - are you doing dinner or breakfast?
the character interaction at breakfast is fabulous- and its all you can eat - but they bring it to you!

(just know that the breakfast seating can be very slow - they wait for an entire section to be cleared, then they seat that section... so the crowds/wait may seem longer than it needs to be! but once you are in, and seated - fabulous!)

 

[smiths02]

I know you already said no to Sci Fi, but we really love it.

We went with my son when he was 2 (but he was almost 3 and there is a big difference between just turned 2 and almost 3, don't know the age of your DD)...we did buy him one of those light up drinks (which could get pricey with 3 kids ) He really loved it. He got to drink a milkshake and eat hamburger and fries (I don't think he ever had a milkshake before...we aren't really healthy eaters but we don't do milkshakes much)

It was also HOT when we went, so getting to eat in a dark place was nice

 

[jamuth]

I really enjoyed sci fi. I liked the experience and I thought the food was good. If you are going to Epcot walk over to the beach club resort. I lovd the cape may buffet.

 

[mdsouth]

One that hasn't been discussed is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian for dinner or breakfast! Breakfast has Pooh, Tigger, Mad Hatter, Alice and Mary Poppins. The Mad hatter alone is worth it! And the dinner is Cindy and her Prince, the Wicked Step Mother, and the wicked step sisters. They are a hoot!! Be sure to call them the Wicked Step Sisters and see what happens. I think the kids would love this and you would get to see some of the Grand Floridian too, such a beautiful Resort. If you happen to be at the Magic Kingdom you can take the boat to the resort and see it coming in from the backside and then get to walk a bit of the resort, that alone is worth eating there.

I would have to say with your three princesses, the dinner at 1900 Park Faire would be a fantastic choice.

 

[Dawson'sMom]

With 3 DD you might want to look at Akershus @ Epcot. I think it would be great for your girls. Now I no that lunch and dinner menu's are not the best, but we have deciced on a late breakfast time of 10:45. You will get to see several different princesses.

We also like the coral reef, watching the fish is great for our DS.

I think if you are looking for something @ HS, I would go with H&V playhouse disney breakfast or lunch.

 

[heartse]

I suggest Cape May Cafe for breakfast. It's easy to get to DHS by boat from there... and it's a great/more relaxed character breakfast.

You already picked the places I would have suggested for dinner... Biergarten and Teppan Edo.

 

[VickieMouse]

Now I am really confused with all these suggestions.

It seems as though the three restaurants that keep being suggested (that we would consider) are Coral Reef, 1900 PF (dinner) and Hollywood and Vine (breakfast or lunch). Which would you recommend and why?

I know there are some pretty bad comments about H & V, but also some recent good reviews. Not sure what to do.

Also, on a separate note, what is better: Tusker House Breakfast or Garden Grill?

Thanks for all your wonderful thoughts so far!!!

 

[KTJAY]

We absolutely loved 1900 Park Fare-even my 15 year old son who "doesn't do" characters loved it. The Step-sisters are so much fun and my cousin's 3 girls loved it too!! I would suggest an early ressie as soon as they switch to dinner. I didn't love the menu but it was good and I would go back just for the step sisters.That being said.....

I love love loved the food at Cape May clambake. GREAT Desserts and food, and I don't eat seafood!! We also love their breakfast....very low key and the characters dressed in beach attire.... so much fun.

Beach Club would be easy to get to or from DHS if that's where you'll be.