Perfect 1st night arrival restaurant! ??

[brendaziz]

OK- we're a party of 8 (not grand gathering b/c of an infant)
Me and dh, our 3 ds's ages 5,3, and baby
Plus my MIL, FIL and SIL.

What's a place that gives us a BIG disney kick off for our week.
NOT something 2 credits and it can be in a park or a resort or downtown.

NOT interested in Chef Mickey's for this trip though But ANY other thoughts and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!!!!

 

[photomama]

Our first night was Ohana We had 8:50 reservations, and we were seated near the window for a great view of wishes on our first night. We were staying at the Polynesian so it was great and convenient.

 

[candielips]

We are doing Chef Mickeys for our 1st night but only because this our DD's 1st trip & she is in love w/ Mickey.
Are you looking for a character meal?

 

[dmaz]

I second Ohana. Great to see the castle, great food, a walk out on the beach and we usually follow it up with a spin on the monorail. Always a hit on our first night without doing a park.

 

[Lynn5700]

Ohana!!! Our first night is always Ohana! End it with Wishes on the Poly Beach or hop on the monorail and end with watching Wishes in MK.

 

[JennsAStar]

if your feeling froggy...
eat a decent breakfast and light lunch. book reservations for 930 at ohana...head over at 9pm sit on the poly beach and watch the BEST view of the wishes fireworks, and the water pageant parade! then head up for a wonderful dinner! we were a little annoyed when all we could get was a 930 ressie, but when we arrived and saw the fireworks were happening it was the BEST moment of the vacation! not crowded and very relaxing!

 

[cajunprincess]

We are doing Crystal Palace for dinner on our first night!! CP is always so beautiful and lit up at night, and we wanted to start off our trip in MK. I'm so excited!!

 

[Cinderella94]

I was going to say Chef Mickey's .

Ohanas!

 

[Kimi313]

We have always started our trip with Chef Mickeys but if that is already a no then I would try Crystal Palace. That was going to be our fall back if we couldn't get CM. Then after dinner you could watch Wishes. If a character meal is not what you are looking for then maybe a restaurant at Epcot and then watch illuminations or like the OP have said O'hana and then watch wishes from with either the beach at Poly or catch a ride on the monorail and watch Wishes from Mainstreet. Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

We always do Chef Mickey's. I guess it depends on if you are going to enter a park on arrival day or not as to where you might go. If you don't plan on entering the parks on your arrival day, then you only have the resort restaurants and downtown disney restaurants.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I was going to say Chef Mickey's .

Ohanas!

My thoughts as well.

 

[the Fidge]

DH and DS love to get things started at Whispering Canyon Cafe, I on the otherhand prefer Narcoossee's but.....the boys win out!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think O'Hana is a great place to kick off a Disney trip. Cyrstal Palace would be another good pick in my opinion since its inside the MK and if you time it right, you can see Wishes from right in front of it before or after dinner.

 

[missycj96]

If you're not going to be in the park, I'd also recommend O'hanas with fireworks on the beach and the electric water parade after. You'll certainly feel in the Disney spirit!

 

[MyCathryn]

We always arrive super early so we like to eat at our resort the first night. So we can relax the first night and start the week right. It works well for us.

 

[barbiecruiser]

Ohana!!!!

 

[brendaziz]

Wow- LOTS of Ohanas! I've actually never been there but was hoping too on this trip.
If we go- I think we'd go way earlier than fireworks time cuz of the kiddos- but from what I understand, all the "games" and fun stuff they do ends before the late night crowd anyways so I think early woudl work best for us. Then who knows- maybe we'll pop into MK for a ride or 2.
That sounds like a nice way ot kick off the trip!

 

[DisneyBunny15]

I think the atmosphere at Whispering Canyon...(especially with a big group) would be an awesome starter!

 

[Gina35]

Definitely 'Ohana. When I saw the name of the thread (b4 reading what anyone else wrote), I was going on to say 'Ohana. It's ALWAYS our first night dinner. My kids grew up going to WDW & are now grown (19-27)....they all still love to go to 'Ohana on our first night! You can't go wrong! We always go later b/c of Wishes, but your point (appropriate time for kids) is well taken. Definitely a good idea to hit it early b/c of the games. Although they still do some later on, there is much more activity earlier. You'll love it!