GentleOceanWind
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2008
- Messages
- 35
Just had to share and recommend this wonderful experience after we had such a fantastic Thanksgiving there last week! 
We were visiting HS on Thanksgiving and had planned to leave before lunch but were having such a good time with reasonable crowds (thanks TGM
) that we decided to stay after all. We saw the Hollywood & Vine restaurant just outside the Indiana Jones show and even though there was a line outside just for securing a table, waited it out for a few minutes and were able to get a table for 8 within 30 minutes.
The Play & Dine buffet was $29 per adult...I can't remember the kids prices but believe it was $16 for kids over 3? My 2.5 yo ate free. Everything was included, drinks, dessert, coffee, etc, and we were happily surprised to discover the food as the best we'd found in any of the parks thus far!
There were more sophistacated offerings for grown ups, such as baked salmon, lime marinated chicken breast, broccoli slaw with pine nuts, corn souffle' and honey crusted polenta cakes. Littles had PLENTY to choose from, including standard but high quality/wonderfully prepared mac-n-cheese, chicken breast nuggets, mashed potatoes, rotisseri chicken, fresh veggies, fruit salad, cheese and deli slices with fresh whole grain rolls, and a nice dessert spread as well. (Cookies, cake, mini-cupcakes, soft-serve) Our super friendly and fast server brough the grown-ups coffee with real cream and it was so good we would have chosen it over Starbucks any day!
But the BEST part of our meal? The character visits and continuous shows from Playhouse Disney friends! (We enjoyed Jojo and Goliath plus June and Leo from Little Einsteins) The restaurant is thoughtfully laid out for this, with plenty of room and time for every character to visit your table for tickles, pictures, and hugs. Cast members encourage kids to get up from their tables to sing and dance with the shows (which are performed all around the restaurant so everyone has a chance at least once). The setting is small enough so parents can either participate/snap photos nearby or watch from most tables and still keep a safe eye on their little ones. Even the character and kiddie conga line throughout the restaurant stays focused within that dining section.
Disney Playhouse "Play & Dine" at Hollywood & Vine is ALL about kids! Where else are your kids encouraged to play, sing, dance and jump around outside their seats during a meal? Action packed but with food yummy enough to keep the kids getting a full belly, this was well worth every penny and a new Thanksgiving tradition for our family!
We were visiting HS on Thanksgiving and had planned to leave before lunch but were having such a good time with reasonable crowds (thanks TGM
) that we decided to stay after all. We saw the Hollywood & Vine restaurant just outside the Indiana Jones show and even though there was a line outside just for securing a table, waited it out for a few minutes and were able to get a table for 8 within 30 minutes. The Play & Dine buffet was $29 per adult...I can't remember the kids prices but believe it was $16 for kids over 3? My 2.5 yo ate free. Everything was included, drinks, dessert, coffee, etc, and we were happily surprised to discover the food as the best we'd found in any of the parks thus far!
There were more sophistacated offerings for grown ups, such as baked salmon, lime marinated chicken breast, broccoli slaw with pine nuts, corn souffle' and honey crusted polenta cakes. Littles had PLENTY to choose from, including standard but high quality/wonderfully prepared mac-n-cheese, chicken breast nuggets, mashed potatoes, rotisseri chicken, fresh veggies, fruit salad, cheese and deli slices with fresh whole grain rolls, and a nice dessert spread as well. (Cookies, cake, mini-cupcakes, soft-serve) Our super friendly and fast server brough the grown-ups coffee with real cream and it was so good we would have chosen it over Starbucks any day!
But the BEST part of our meal? The character visits and continuous shows from Playhouse Disney friends! (We enjoyed Jojo and Goliath plus June and Leo from Little Einsteins) The restaurant is thoughtfully laid out for this, with plenty of room and time for every character to visit your table for tickles, pictures, and hugs. Cast members encourage kids to get up from their tables to sing and dance with the shows (which are performed all around the restaurant so everyone has a chance at least once). The setting is small enough so parents can either participate/snap photos nearby or watch from most tables and still keep a safe eye on their little ones. Even the character and kiddie conga line throughout the restaurant stays focused within that dining section.
Disney Playhouse "Play & Dine" at Hollywood & Vine is ALL about kids! Where else are your kids encouraged to play, sing, dance and jump around outside their seats during a meal? Action packed but with food yummy enough to keep the kids getting a full belly, this was well worth every penny and a new Thanksgiving tradition for our family!
