Please Help Consolidate ADRs

[calilou]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[nw6675]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

San Angel
Prime Time
CP - misread the choices
Jiko

 

[DWillowBay]

Via Napoli - love the atmosphere and stone oven pizza
Prime Time - love the 50's vibe and the bantering of the servers!
Crystal Palace Breakfast - Pooh and Pals to start the day....yes, please!
Sanaa - Keep it simple. Sanaa has a great menu / food and is in your resort. Enjoy!

 

[Her Dotness]

CP breakfast is an every-trip one for us. Really pretty good food as WDW buffets go.

Pooh and Friends are great fun.

The atmosphere of CP is such a cheery, sunlit way to start your MK day.

Honestly, BOG food quality varies so much, I wouldn't even risk it at the current price. It's SO popular that the noise level is hideous and service often mediocre to slooooow.

Yes, the decor is spectacular, especially during the holiday season when there's snow falling outside the main dining room windows. On the whole, there are far better ADRs to be had at WDW for that price/per.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

You're getting different answers from everyone....

I'm not a huge fan of the food at Via Napoli or San Angel, but I'd choose San Angel for the unique atmosphere. You're probably used to the excellent Mexican food in California... I'd lower my food expectations and just enjoy the scenery.

I like Sci Fi over both, also for very unique atmosphere. Otherwise: If there are kids in your party and you're looking for a fun experience, I'd go with Prime Time. If adults only, or food quality is the main consideration, I'd go with Brown Derby.

Between these two, Crystal Palace, more fun, more food variety, IMHO. But my actual favorite MK restaurant is Skipper Canteen.

Due to better variety, I'd choose Boma for breakfast and dinner, but not the same day. Second choice would be Boma breakfast and Jiko dinner.

 

[calilou]

CP breakfast is an every-trip one for us. Really pretty good food as WDW buffets go.

Pooh and Friends are great fun.

The atmosphere of CP is such a cheery, sunlit way to start your MK day.

Honestly, BOG food quality varies so much, I wouldn't even risk it at the current price. It's SO popular that the noise level is hideous and service often mediocre to slooooow.

Yes, the decor is spectacular, especially during the holiday season when there's snow falling outside the main dining room windows. On the whole, there are far better ADRs to be had at WDW for that price/per.

Thank you! I’m so very torn on BOG. The atmosphere looks amazing, but I don’t want to be disappointed by mediocre food and service for a large price tag. We are doing Cinderella’s that night which I’ve also heard can sometimes disappoint. Two in one day would be a big bummer!

 

[calilou]

San Angel
Prime Time
CP - misread the choices
Jiko

Thank you! I’m only recently hearing about San Angel and don’t know much at all. Can you tell me why you love it?

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Thank you! I’m so very torn on BOG. The atmosphere looks amazing, but I don’t want to be disappointed by mediocre food and service for a large price tag. We are doing Cinderella’s that night which I’ve also heard can sometimes disappoint. Two in one day would be a big bummer!

BOG and CRT in one day would be a heavy dose of castle theming. If you're into that, it might work for you, but if you don't have a strong preference for castle theming, I'd mix it up and choose a non-castle restaurant for one of the meals.

 

[calilou]

You're getting different answers from everyone....

I'm not a huge fan of the food at Via Napoli or San Angel, but I'd choose San Angel for the unique atmosphere. You're probably used to the excellent Mexican food in California... I'd lower my food expectations and just enjoy the scenery.

I like Sci Fi over both, also for very unique atmosphere. Otherwise: If there are kids in your party and you're looking for a fun experience, I'd go with Prime Time. If adults only, or food quality is the main consideration, I'd go with Brown Derby.

Between these two, Crystal Palace, more fun, more food variety, IMHO. But my actual favorite MK restaurant is Skipper Canteen.

Due to better variety, I'd choose Boma for breakfast and dinner, but not the same day. Second choice would be Boma breakfast and Jiko dinner.

Thank you! I like the different answers and feedback. There are so many variables, so it helps prioritize. Skipper Canteen — a new one to check out!

 

[nw6675]

Thank you! I’m only recently hearing about San Angel and don’t know much at all. Can you tell me why you love it?

We like the atmosphere of being in the pyramid, by the water, the ambiance. The food has always been really good and a step up from many of the other Epcot locations. The Italian is just ho-hum for us.

 

[CynBeth]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

For Epcot have not done either of those. Our favorite lunches or dinners are Chefs de France, Coral Reef, Space 220, Tutto Italia, and Le Cellier.

For HS - 50’s PTC first choice and then HBD. We are not crazy about Sci Fi.

MK - I would keep both if you can CP is a great character breakfast and BOG has great theming and we have always found this a wonderful pre fixe meal.
I have not been to Cinderella in years so can’t comment. We also enjoy Liberty Tree Tavern it is a family style meal of salad, rolls, different meats and sides, and dessert but can make changes for allergies. We also like Tony’s.

AKL - we love Boma breakfast and dinner.

 

[wabbott]

San Angel Inn - the atmosphere with the boats passing by and the pyramid and volcano background is great. Maybe a little bit like Blue Bayou in Disneyland.

The three choices at Hollywood all have different themes. Brown Derby is "Old Hollywood." The Escargot Casino there is delicious. Prime Time has really good food, especially the meat loaf. Sci-Fi has movies playing in the background, and you sit in booths that are fashioned like cars. I would give the nod to Brown Derby, as it is a little bit like the Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney's California Adventure.

At Magic Kingdom, the Crystal Palace. The characters make it work. We did Be Our Guest for dinner last month for the first time. Probably won't do it again. Other places are better, imo.

DO NOT MISS Boma for dinner. The bobotie is delicious and the Zebra Domes are out of this world.

 

[Aela]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

Via Napoli.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

Brown Derby over both

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

BOG

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

Jiko is one of the the best restaurant meals we have had at Disney. I’d you are staying at AKL, I would do a boma breakfast, Sanaa lunch one day, and Jiko for dinner. I like all three.

 

[Her Dotness]

Thank you! I’m so very torn on BOG. The atmosphere looks amazing, but I don’t want to be disappointed by mediocre food and service for a large price tag. We are doing Cinderella’s that night which I’ve also heard can sometimes disappoint. Two in one day would be a big bummer!

It's too bad BOG no longer offers a QS lunch. That was a much less expensive meal and not so annoying if the food wasn't very good.

Ten or twelve years ago, CRT food was mediocre and got almost uniformly bad reviews, not very imaginative dishes, indifferently served. We've actually booked both breakfast and dinner there most trips since our first CRT. It's much better than it once was, we think. Our raves go to Cali Grill and Victoria & Albert's to give you a sense of what agrees with us.

So, I'd suggest that if you think it may be some time until you return to WDW (if ever), BOG is like WDW character meals in general. You go for the atmosphere and experience, and consider it an oh-well if the food is not that good. The atmosphere there really is stunning.

 

[calilou]

San Angel Inn - the atmosphere with the boats passing by and the pyramid and volcano background is great. Maybe a little bit like Blue Bayou in Disneyland.

The three choices at Hollywood all have different themes. Brown Derby is "Old Hollywood." The Escargot Casino there is delicious. Prime Time has really good food, especially the meat loaf. Sci-Fi has movies playing in the background, and you sit in booths that are fashioned like cars. I would give the nod to Brown Derby, as it is a little bit like the Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney's California Adventure.

At Magic Kingdom, the Crystal Palace. The characters make it work. We did Be Our Guest for dinner last month for the first time. Probably won't do it again. Other places are better, imo.

DO NOT MISS Boma for dinner. The bobotie is delicious and the Zebra Domes are out of this world.

Thank you! And thank you for the comparisons to Disneyland favorites… that helps!

 

[wabbott]

Thank you! And thank you for the comparisons to Disneyland favorites… that helps!

That reminded me. Crystal Palace in WDW is similar in atmosphere to Plaza Inn in DLR.

 

[sipnride]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

I'm going to assume money is not the biggest factor:

San Angel - I'm Mexican and the food is better than people make it out. I've had nopales there that were on point. And as others have said atmosphere is really cool.

Sci Fi is so hard to get that you need to grab it and experience it if you can get it. Prime Time is fun just easier to get. Briwn Derby has the best food of the three but getting a reservation is not hard and even if you can't land it you can grab a seat at their outdoor bar and get their food that way.

I love Crystal Palace. I like the food better, the atmosphere is better, the character experience is excellent. BOG is a consolation prize of you can't get Cinderella, but otherwise it's not really a must do. And as others have said Skippers Canteen is excellent, though I wouldn't do that instead of Crystal Palace.

Jiko is IMO the best restaurant in terms of food service and wine currently open in WDW (though tbf I haven't been to Victoria & Albert's or Citricos). Sanaa for lunch is my favorite dining experience if you can get a seat by the window to see the animals, but either way never disappoints. Boma is a very good buffet but of the three it's the one I could skip and not be sad about.

 

[Mousetopia]

Thank you! I’m so very torn on BOG. The atmosphere looks amazing, but I don’t want to be disappointed by mediocre food and service for a large price tag. We are doing Cinderella’s that night which I’ve also heard can sometimes disappoint. Two in one day would be a big bummer!

BOG did not live up to the hype for us. The room thems ARE magical. It a very large well themed cafeteria. Soooo loud.
We went for early breakfast to be in the park early. That made it worth the overpriced meal to see the theming and get the access. We went one other time and had dinner. Then it was not pre fix. It was quality food in a loud well themed cafeteria! Now that its prefix and uber expensive not remotely interested.

 

[focusondisney]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

Epcot: do you prefer Mexican or Italian food? We don’t like Mexican food, so have never eaten there. You can get the atmosphere of the restaurant on the Three Caballeros ride and walking around the shops inside the pavilion. We’d pick Via Napoli. We’ve been splitting a small pizza, caprese salad & sometimes the spaghetti. The main room can be a little loud, but we’ve been seated a comfy booth in the smaller back room, quieter & you can enjoy the music a little more.

Studios: these are such different experiences. Hollywood Brown Derby is white tablecloth, upscale food. 50’s Prime Time is home style comfort food. Based on my DH’s food preferences, we’d pick HBD. Prime Time can be fun, but experiences can vary depending on your server. We enjoy the atmosphere as far as the tables & TV clips. But we’re not interested in being “scolded” by a complete stranger. It’s been several years but I remember the food being average diner style food.

MK: We’ve only had breakfast there once about 5 years ago & enjoyed it. Not sure how the food is now since reopening. We do like BOG & would pick that. We’ve had good service & the steaks we’ve gotten have been really good. The main ballroom can be loud & busy but we’ve been seated along the side walls, which has helped cut down on the chaotic atmosphere. Our favorite is the side music box room/ portrait gallery. Quieter & more to lol at while you eat. Although it is a little harder to see the Beast.

We’ve never eaten at any AK restaurant so no help there.

Thank you! I’m so very torn on BOG. The atmosphere looks amazing, but I don’t want to be disappointed by mediocre food and service for a large price tag. We are doing Cinderella’s that night which I’ve also heard can sometimes disappoint. Two in one day would be a big bummer!

This changes my answer above. We actually enjoy signature dining & have no problem with the prix fixe meals. But there’s no way we could do one for lunch & dinner in the same day. If we do a 3 course meal at lunch, we’re never even hungry for dinner. So to me your decision should be between BOG & CRT. I’d probably go with CRT. The food is very good, but the atmosphere is so much nicer than BOG. And won’t be eating in just any castle, but The Actual Cinderella’s Castle. . So in this case, I’d do Crystal Palace breakfast & CRT.

 

[KPeterso]

Sadly, we can’t keep all these! I would love some help deciding. This is our first trip to WDW as DLR regulars, FYI.

EPCOT LUNCH:
Via Napoli or San Angel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Brown Derby or Prime Time (or if a Sci-Fi ressy comes available should I take it over both?)

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Crystal Palace Character Breakfast or Be Our Guest Lunch

Also, which of the three AKL restaurants would you choose for dinner and breakfast, if you could only do one each? Boma, Jiko or Sanna (dinner option only at Jiko, looks like). We’re staying at Kidani Village if that makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your help!

I am also a DL local and frequent visitor. But I love WDW too and go twice a year most years. So lots of visits to both. I will warn you --- the castle is better in their MK, but the DL rides are far superior!

Epcot - neither! Not a fan of either. I would go with Teppan Edo or Chefs De France if you can get reservations at either.

Hollywood Studios - Either are good, but I prefer 50s Prime Time. It is very homestyle cooking (fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf) with great desserts or milk shakes. Yummy. But Brown Derby is also good if you want something more foodie.

Magic Kingdom - Neither! I am not a big fan of any of the dining options in the MK. I had a horrible experience at Crystal Palace and will never ever recommend it. I do enjoy Be our Guest but for the money, it is not the best value. I would go with Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary over either of those choices.

AKL - Boma Dinner - that is one amazing buffet. It is in Jambo House, but you can walk between the 2 buildings or take the little bus.