Please help me with ADRs for Jan 09!

[disneywifey]

Ok, this is my first plea for help. My DH and I will be going to the World from Jan 24/25-Jan 30, 2009. We have been to WDW twice together since our Honeymoon in 05. We're going again for our 4th anniversary and are using the Dining Plan. We used it in Jan of this year and really liked it. As you can see from my ticker, we're really close to the 180 day mark!

Now, we want to try some different restaurants that we've never been to before and we'd like some advice. Any would be greatly appreciated!

About us:
Me (Diana): I'm currently a vegetarian (not fully I guess since I'll eat fresh caught seafood). I'll probably be willing to eat meat in Disney since I have in the past. (I'm only a vegetarian at the moment to see if I feel better without meat in my system. I'm not die-hard by any means but I haven't eaten meat in over 6 months now. It's worked well for me but Disney is our happy place and I don't want to limit myself if I see something I like.) I like just about any kind of food, anything except for duck, calamari or eel! I love veggies and trying new things!

DH (Jason): He is strictly a meat eater! He WILL not eat any green things other than green beans. Only other dinner type veggies he will eat are potatoes and corn. No salads, nothing but those 3 items. He LOVES le Cellier and really likes Hoop Dee Doo. We didnt do this last trip and promised ourselves we would this trip.

We have currently have no children but do enjoy character dining as you will see from below but it is not a must for this trip. We don't like going to places that we be over-run with children. Not to be rude but we did Chef Mickey's for Breakfast and I think we've decided we won't be back UNLESS we have children of our own, if you get our drift.

Now...Where we've been before and enjoyed: (so you know our tastes)
Nine Dragons
Le Cellier
San Angel Inn
Liberty Tree Tavern (CD-which it will no longer be when we go )
Crystal Palace Buffet (CD for late lunch)
Cinderellas Royal Table for Breakfast-liked but that's not something we're wanting to do again for awhile
Sci-Fi Dine in Theater

Places we've been and NOT enjoyed: (So you know what our tastes AREN'T)
Raglan Road-food was ok, but service was HORRENDOUS
previously stated Chef Mickeys

As you can see, we like most of what we've done. I'm not concerned with CS meals as much as making ADRs for our TS meals. Below are our choices that we need to whittle down. We will have, at most, 7 TS credits. I don't want to do more than two different Signature Dining options so we can still have some regular TS dining credits for the rest of our trip. We would be willing to pay out of pocket for one SD restaurant if need be. Depending on cost and reviews given here, we may bump up to the Dining Deluxe Plan. Please provide any experiences or suggestions you'd be willing to give!

NBT-Never Been There/If NBT not noted, then we've been there done that, want to go back!
Hoop Dee Doo vs. Spirit of Aloha-NBT....One or the other
California Grill for Wishes-NBT
Narcoossee's-NBT
Boma-NBT
Jiko-NBT
Spoodles-NBT
O'hana-NBT
Whispering Canyon Cafe-NBT
Artist Point-NBT
Coral Reef-NBT
Le Cellier
Nine Dragons
Rose & Crown-NBT
Brown Derby-NBT
Yak & Yeti-NBT
The Wave-NBT

Thanks again for any help you may give! I love the DIS and all the fun stories and advice I've gotten since I joined a couple of months ago!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Why don't you try the Wave. It's new ck the menu out. I think you might like it. My DH eat's the veggie way sometimes so were checking out the Wave in Aug. They have steak so that works for me but they also have some veggie meals .

 

[disneywifey]

sounds good. where's the wave located?

 

[disneywifey]

nevermind, i found it at the Contemporary. Great now one more to add to the list!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I'll let you know in Sep. how it was.

 

[disneywifey]

thanks but I dunno if there'll be adrs available that late .. when you called was it pretty easy to get an ADR for there? Normally January doesn't fill up as fast as some times of the year for ADRs but I'm a worry wort!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I had no problem getting ress.

 

[disneywifey]

Thanks, I added it to the above list! How far in advance did you make your reservation? Plus, your dog with the mickey ears is so cute! I'm a dog lover and anyone with a dog photo on their avatar or signature catches my attention!

 

[ToddyLu]

Didn't like Rose and Crown. We got fish and chips. DH liked it more than me and the only veg he eats is broccoli. It was like Mrs. Pauls and french fries. Spend your TS somewhere else.

For extra special meals we always book ADRs at Fulton's and CA Grill.

Everyone raves about the cobb salad at Brown Derby....too chopped up, almost a slaw..yuk! But their other choices are very good and desserts are delicious IMO.

Have a great time planning and eating your way thru the World

 

[Eventer98]

Here is what we have done off your list and what I think!

Hoop Dee Doo vs. Spirit of Aloha-NBT....One or the other
-we have done both of these. We definitely prefer HDDR more, the food and show was better, but SOA was also well done.


Boma-NBT
-Been for breakfast. It was alright, not a huge selection when we were there, probably won't hurry to do again.

O'hana-NBT
-Our favorite TS!! We try to make a tradition of making an ADR for 30m before the MK fireworks start and requesting a window seat when we get there. They will pipe in the music from the show and it's a great view!! Haven't been since they changed the menu though.

Whispering Canyon Cafe-NBT
-The food here was also good..the all you can eat was similar to HDDR's but not as good. The antics might be too much for you though.

Glad to see you are going to LTT..also one of our favs. We also never miss Cape May Cafe for the clambake and Garden Grill (although there are characters at GG)

Hope that helps!

 

[disneywifey]

Thanks so much for you suggestions! Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure we won't be going to LTT now that the CD has been removed for 09. It's a shame because we really enjoyed it with the characters. Was whispering canyon more geared for the atmosphere than the food? My DH likes the food at HDDR so i'm sure he'd like it at WC. Which was more fun entertainment wise? Sorry to ask so many questions!

 

[VandyFan10]

Hey saw your request on Dawn's TR

Now...Where we've been before and enjoyed: (so you know our tastes)
Nine Dragons
Le Cellier - This is one you will want to get 180 out for sure!! And I think it's the best meal out there!
San Angel Inn
Liberty Tree Tavern (CD-which it will no longer be when we go )
Crystal Palace Buffet (CD for late lunch) - We were there in Dec....WONDERFUL buffet!!!
Cinderellas Royal Table for Breakfast-liked but that's not something we're wanting to do again for awhile - I've heard that the dinner is AWESOME!
Sci-Fi Dine in Theater

Places we've been and NOT enjoyed: (So you know what our tastes AREN'T)
Raglan Road-food was ok, but service was HORRENDOUS
previously stated Chef Mickeys


Hoop Dee Doo vs. Spirit of Aloha-NBT....One or the other
Narcoossee's-NBT - I would definitely recommend as a 2TS spot
Boma-NBT - Dawn and I can let you know after our Sept trip what we think about Boma.....should not be difficult at all for you to get a ressie at that point
Jiko-NBT
Spoodles-NBT
O'hana-NBT - from reviews I've heard I'm VERY interested in this place now!!!
Whispering Canyon Cafe-NBT - I wasn't very thrilled with this dinner, but I was just happy to be at the Wilderness Lodge
Artist Point-NBT
Coral Reef-NBT - we had a great dinner here in December
Le Cellier - you brought it up again
Nine Dragons
Rose & Crown-NBT
Brown Derby-NBT
Yak & Yeti-NBT - this was our first TS in Dec....it was AWESOME also!! I would definitely go back!!
The Wave-NBT

Thanks again for any help you may give! I love the DIS and all the fun stories and advice I've gotten since I joined a couple of months ago!

If you want go check out my TR....I dont' have food porn but I did put what we had each meal if you are interested

Another Sig Dining I would seriously consider is Cali Grille - Dawn may be able to get you a report on that one since her sister was just there

I will add more as I think of things

 

[disneywifey]

Toddy Lu-Thanks for the info on Rose and Crown. I'll probably just let DH get a beer here if he wants. We're in love with an Irish pub nearby called Mcguires and I hoped it might be better than Raglan Road (which we disliked) but alas it wasn't. So Rose and Crown sounds like it may be a no.

VandyFan-I don't know why I left California Grill off! It was on the top of my list! Duh, I'm editing the first post to add it. We love Wishes and Definitely wanna try seeing it from there if we go there. Thanks for coming over! "Y'all's" trip is so close! I'm jealous!!! "Vandy" I assume means vanderbilt-do you live in the great volunteer state? My parents do and my dad had to go to Vandy for some medical treatments.

 

[punkin413]

the only 2TS place i've been is narcoosee's and we LOVE it! your DH might like it because the filet there is out of this world - my hubby could swim in the peppercorn sauce they put on the filet!!! and they have lots of seafood options for you.

i don't think your hubby would like boma. i've never been there but hear it's VERY different from what americans are used to and is for the adventurous eater.

we ate at whispering canyon for lunch this past trip and it was good. your hubby would like that. and i'm pretty sure they have veggie and seafood options there.

also, we had crystal palace dinner last september and it was really good! i know you've been there for lunch but i think the dinner is just scrumptious! lots of options for both of you!!! and i don't think the atmosphere was too crazy with the kiddos. of course they were there, but not crazy or anything. we did have a kid that sat next to my friend and kept bumping into her and being obnoxious, but i think that was just that one kid.

we ate at rose and crown last trip, too. it was good. i had a pork dish that was good and ray had fish and chips and he said those were really good. nothing spectacular, but decent.

another 2TS place i thought of is the yachtsmen's steakhouse. i haven't been there but i hear their steaks are unbelievable. i'm not sure what veggie or seafood options they have, but i bet they're good.

i think i'm the one person the dis that doesn't like ohana. i think it's WAY overrated! the meat was really dry and the sausage was GROSS. and it was LOUD AND CHAOTIC!!!! the only thing i liked was the salad, chips and dips and the potatoes. i don't think they even have the potatoes anymore though. just my 2 cents on that. go read my september 2007 report on that if you want to know more (purple link in my signature).

and of course i have to recommend my beloved kona cafe. we LOVE this place. your hubby would probably like the filet or the strip steak. both are really good! and you MUST try the tuna oscar......it's out of this world!!!!!!!!!

 

[VandyFan10]

VandyFan-I don't know why I left California Grill off! It was on the top of my list! Duh, I'm editing the first post to add it. We love Wishes and Definitely wanna try seeing it from there if we go there. Thanks for coming over! "Y'all's" trip is so close! I'm jealous!!! "Vandy" I assume means vanderbilt-do you live in the great volunteer state? My parents do and my dad had to go to Vandy for some medical treatments.

Yes mam....I'm a Vanderbilt girl!!! And we live in Nashvegas

I just updated my TR to add links to the next post....so if you want to navigate it you can do it pretty quickly and skip all the extra crap

Ok....and I'm stupid....O'hanas is not what I meant I wanted to try it was KONA!!!! Sorry...at least they are both at the Poly right

And YES I am SO excited about our trip....I CAN'T WAIT....but I guess I'm going to have to

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Hi! I just wanted to give my opinion on some of the restaurants you listed.


Boma- We eat here every trip. There will be plenty for both of you to choose from. There are lots of meats for your DH and all types of veggies, and sides you could eat plus I had salmon last time we went. We always go for supper.

Jiko- We went one time. It was the best scallops I've ever had but about two hours later I was starving because the portions were small on the dish I ordered. It was great food but be ready for a big bill if you pay instead of using credits.

Spoodles-LOVE!! I have a peanut allergy and the head chef personally came to the table to go over the menu with me. So nice, and great great food!

O'hana-We went for breakfast. It was the best character interaction I have had at a Disney restaurant. Stitch spent so much time with DS. Mickey was great too. The breakfast was good. The waitress went out of her way to get a banana for DS. The juice is to die for. It's called POG which stands for passion fruit, orange juice and guava juice. I even got a cup to go and took it to MK.


Coral Reef-We ate here for our honeymoon. We sat at the corner of the tank on the left side. DH and I kidded the whole meal about a little fish friend that was guarding a rock in the corner during the whole meal. The food was good but I forget what I ordered. The chocolate lava cake is so delicious!!

I would also like to suggest a couple of restaurants that we really liked from our last trip.

Tokyo Dining was so good. I loved the sushi. I got Spicy Tuna Philly roll and California roll. DH got Shrimp Tempora. You can get a refill on the rice. If you go for a late ADR, ours was 8:30, ask for a window seat so you can watch illuminations.

Marrakesh was pretty good. We ate the lunch special which was $21 and had an appetizer, entree and dessert. DS loved the belly dancer.

I hope that this helped!! I hope you have an amazing time. DH and I honeymooned there and have spent our first and second anniversary there.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Thanks, I added it to the above list! How far in advance did you make your reservation? Plus, your dog with the mickey ears is so cute! I'm a dog lover and anyone with a dog photo on their avatar or signature catches my attention!

Thank you! That's my baby. I made them 180 days out!

 

[disneywifey]

the only 2TS place i've been is narcoosee's and we LOVE it! Yeah your TR made it look good and if we don't eat there we're gonna at least go and get that raspberry drink you got!

i don't think your hubby would like boma. i've never been there but hear it's VERY different from what americans are used to and is for the adventurous eater. Thanks, that's what I needed to know. I'm really adventurous but since he's not, he'd be miserable!

we ate at whispering canyon for lunch this past trip and it was good. your hubby would like that. and i'm pretty sure they have veggie and seafood options there. Thanks I'd like to try it cause I've heard it's a fun atmosphere

we ate at rose and crown last trip, too. it was good. i had a pork dish that was good and ray had fish and chips and he said those were really good. nothing spectacular, but decent. Thanks for this info. My only worry is that it'll be just ok. since we live on the gulf coast, we eat seafood REALLY often and unless the fish and chips are extraordinary or really different I'm sure I might not be too impressed.

another 2TS place i thought of is the yachtsmen's steakhouse. i haven't been there but i hear their steaks are unbelievable. i'm not sure what veggie or seafood options they have, but i bet they're good. I thought about trying here but I knew le Cellier had more non-red-meat varieties if I didn't want to eat that. Maybe i'll see if i can check out there menu online

i think i'm the one person the dis that doesn't like ohana. i think it's WAY overrated! the meat was really dry and the sausage was GROSS. and it was LOUD AND CHAOTIC!!!! the only thing i liked was the salad, chips and dips and the potatoes. i don't think they even have the potatoes anymore though. just my 2 cents on that. go read my september 2007 report on that if you want to know more (purple link in my signature). Thanks for this info!

and of course i have to recommend my beloved kona cafe. we LOVE this place. your hubby would probably like the filet or the strip steak. both are really good! and you MUST try the tuna oscar......it's out of this world!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'll have to add THIS one to the list too! and thanks for coming over to check out my list!

Yes mam....I'm a Vanderbilt girl!!! And we live in Nashvegas my parents live in memphis but I really enjoyed our trip to nashtown

I just updated my TR to add links to the next post....so if you want to navigate it you can do it pretty quickly and skip all the extra crap thanks, i'm gonna go check it out!

Ok....and I'm stupid....O'hanas is not what I meant I wanted to try it was KONA!!!! Sorry...at least they are both at the Poly right well since i've only been on the monorail thru the poly I don't know the difference yet!

And YES I am SO excited about our trip....I CAN'T WAIT....but I guess I'm going to have to

lucky!!

Hi! I just wanted to give my opinion on some of the restaurants you listed.


Boma- We eat here every trip. There will be plenty for both of you to choose from. There are lots of meats for your DH and all types of veggies, and sides you could eat plus I had salmon last time we went. We always go for supper. Is the meat covered with lots of sauces? since my DH is picky, he likes everything plain. Boring, I know but that's what he likes!

Jiko- We went one time. It was the best scallops I've ever had but about two hours later I was starving because the portions were small on the dish I ordered. It was great food but be ready for a big bill if you pay instead of using credits. not much food for a lot of money isn't really my kind of place! I like to stuff myself when I go to Disney!

Spoodles-LOVE!! I have a peanut allergy and the head chef personally came to the table to go over the menu with me. So nice, and great great food! I think everyone who has been here likes it so that means I'm gonna have to try it. Has anyone done breakfast there?

O'hana-We went for breakfast. It was the best character interaction I have had at a Disney restaurant. Stitch spent so much time with DS. Mickey was great too. The breakfast was good. The waitress went out of her way to get a banana for DS. The juice is to die for. It's called POG which stands for passion fruit, orange juice and guava juice. I even got a cup to go and took it to MK.
i'm not a huge stitch fan, so if I went, I wouldn't care about the characters as much as the food. I'm not sure we'll do many breakfasts this trip since we wanna hit the parks earlier this next trip but we'll keep this one on the list since I've heard a lot about it except for punkin's review!

Coral Reef-We ate here for our honeymoon. We sat at the corner of the tank on the left side. DH and I kidded the whole meal about a little fish friend that was guarding a rock in the corner during the whole meal. The food was good but I forget what I ordered. The chocolate lava cake is so delicious!! Do you know if it costs anything extra for the diver to come to the window with a sign? I think that would be a good surprise for my DH. (If you're reading this, pretend you didn't see this!)

I would also like to suggest a couple of restaurants that we really liked from our last trip.

Tokyo Dining was so good. I loved the sushi. I got Spicy Tuna Philly roll and California roll. DH got Shrimp Tempora. You can get a refill on the rice. If you go for a late ADR, ours was 8:30, ask for a window seat so you can watch illuminations. Is this the new TS in Japan? I went to the old place and I liked it so is it close to the same? Do they still have the hibachis?

Marrakesh was pretty good. We ate the lunch special which was $21 and had an appetizer, entree and dessert. DS loved the belly dancer. I went to the tangeirine cafe and liked it but it may be too out there for DH. we have a meditteranean restaurant in town that i love but it's too weird for him!

I hope that this helped!! I hope you have an amazing time. DH and I honeymooned there and have spent our first and second anniversary there.

Thanks for all your info. Yeah we love it at WDW. we went for our honey moon, 3rd anniversary and now our 4th!

Thank you! That's my baby. I made them 180 days out!

Yeah no kids, just a dog and a cat that thinks she's a dog! thanks for the ADR info again!

 

[Eventer98]

Thanks so much for you suggestions! Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure we won't be going to LTT now that the CD has been removed for 09. It's a shame because we really enjoyed it with the characters. Was whispering canyon more geared for the atmosphere than the food? My DH likes the food at HDDR so i'm sure he'd like it at WC. Which was more fun entertainment wise? Sorry to ask so many questions!

I think the show at HDDR is definitely worth 2 TS credits! WCC is fun but if you are already doing HDDR you could probably skip it..unless you really like BBQ (although WCC has other choices..I just haven't had them)

 

[islangrl]

Hi, Disneywifey, have a great trip! At the luau the only things for your husband to eat would be the ribs and chicken. They serve rice; will he it that? The show is good though! If you like the food at HDDR, they serve the exact same stuff right next door at Trail's End. Then you could check out the camp fire/movie at Fort Wilderness after. I think it's great even without kids! Just like Eventer98 I like the Garden Grill, and also Cape May Cafe, but for breakfast. If you wanted to do a character meal without so much chaos, these two are the way to go. Especially Garden Grill!