Poor Planning Leads to Limited Choices...

[mickey0216]

Okay... as a Disney veteran I know better, but the DW delayed far too long in providing input on where she wanted to eat for our Sit Down Meals and now the selection of ADR's is less than ideal.

Based on availability, eliminating locations that we've dined at previously, etc... we are down to:
Meal #1 (DHS): Hollywood and Vine or The Hollywood Brown Derby
Meal #2 (EC): La Hacienda de San Angel, San Angel Inn and Via Napoli

Which one would you select or avoid from Meal #1 and Meal #2?

Thanks!

 

[ragtopday]

Okay... as a Disney veteran I know better, but the DW delayed far too long in providing input on where she wanted to eat for our Sit Down Meals and now the selection of ADR's is less than ideal.

Based on availability, eliminating locations that we've dined at previously, etc... we are down to:
Meal #1 (DHS): Hollywood and Vine or The Hollywood Brown Derby
Meal #2 (EC): La Hacienda de San Angel, San Angel Inn and Via Napoli

Which one would you select or avoid from Meal #1 and Meal #2?

Thanks!

I am not a H&V fan, so I would definitely go with HBD. It's a signature restaurant, so everything will be more expensive, but there is no comparison with your overall experience.

I love Mexican and have been anxious to try La Hacienda, so that's what I'd go with, with Via Napoli being second choice. I've heard too many negative things about San Angel to go there unless I had no other choice.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[budbeerlady]

#1 brown derby
#2 Via Napoli

Keep checking, people cancel if you want something else.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

#1 Brown Derby
#2 Via Napoli

 

[ccgirl]

Okay... as a Disney veteran I know better, but the DW delayed far too long in providing input on where she wanted to eat for our Sit Down Meals and now the selection of ADR's is less than ideal.

Based on availability, eliminating locations that we've dined at previously, etc... we are down to:
Meal #1 (DHS): Hollywood and Vine or The Hollywood Brown Derby
Meal #2 (EC): La Hacienda de San Angel, San Angel Inn and Via Napoli

Which one would you select or avoid from Meal #1 and Meal #2?

Thanks!

I would go with Hollywood Brown Derby. Not because I don't like H&V. I just have not yet tried Hollywood Brown Derby.

For #2, I would go with San Angel Inn. We are trying that for our first time in December. Our kids have always wanted to eat there. Love the atmosphere there.

Those aren't bad choices.

 

[Nadjalu]

Brown Derby and San Angel Inn.

I wouldn't do Via Napoli, to me it is still to new to go yet. Let's see how this restaurant stacks up next year.

SAI is a wonderful place. Full of charm, atmosphere and good food, you can't go wrong as long as you like the menu.

 

[pianoronni37]

Could you maybe venture outside of the parks on either day? The EPCOT/DHS area resorts have some great restaurants that should have availability.

Think:
Flying Fish, Yachtsman for 2 credit meals
Beaches & Cream, Kouzzina, Captain's Grille, Kouzzina for 1 credit meals

Both of your original selections look a bit less than ideal, but if I had to choose, I'd go with Brown Derby and Via Napoli.

 

[enyaj40]

Okay... as a Disney veteran I know better, but the DW delayed far too long in providing input on where she wanted to eat for our Sit Down Meals and now the selection of ADR's is less than ideal.

Based on availability, eliminating locations that we've dined at previously, etc... we are down to:
Meal #1 (DHS): Hollywood and Vine or The Hollywood Brown Derby
Meal #2 (EC): La Hacienda de San Angel, San Angel Inn and Via Napoli

Which one would you select or avoid from Meal #1 and Meal #2?

Thanks!

Brown Derby and Via Napoli

 

[princessmom29]

Definitely Brown Derby. We LOVE the food there. WE are not picky people by any means, but H&V is the ONLY restaurant at Dsiney I have said never agian to.
On the other, I have never dined at any of them, but hear good and bad about all of them. We have a ressie at La Haciendia this trip to try to catch the fireworks.

 

[ccgirl]

Definitely Brown Derby. We LOVE the food there. WE are not picky people by any means, but H&V is the ONLY restaurant at Dsiney I have said never agian to.
On the other, I have never dined at any of them, but hear good and bad about all of them. We have a ressie at La Haciendia this trip to try to catch the fireworks.

Not sure how true this is. I was hoping for the same thing then read you can catch the fireworkds from the QS Hacienda but not the TS side. Just thought I would share in case it's true.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

#1 Brown Derby
#2 Via Napoli

I would stay away from both Hollywood and Vine and San Angel. In our experience they were two of the worse restaurants we ever ate at in Disney.

 

[rapunzels]

I've read too many bad reviews about Via Napoli on allears.net.. so I recently cancelled my ressie for Nov. 22.. I would pick one of the others from #2. For us... time is too precious at WDW to go to a crummy TS and not be happy with the food or service.

 

[dormouse72]

I was VERY DISAPPOINTED in the Brown Derby when I went there a few years back. Uninspired menu for the price. The kicker was my mother was unimpressed as well and she had been to the real one in years past (she won't tell me how many). I had only booked it for her as a treat. I've never eaten at H & V but I'd choose that in a heartbeat.

I LOVE San Angel Inn though. It is traditional Mexican - not Tex-Mex - which does put many people off if they are not aware of the differences. The biggest critic of Mexican food is BF. His XW is Mexican from Veracruz State so he is very well acquainted with it (having eaten it for years). He loved the food (especially the queso blanco which they use rather than cheddar or monterey jack). The kids liked it as well.

Lots of people like Via Napoli so I'm sure that's good.

 

[rkrushing4]

1. Hollywood and Vine
2. Via Napoli

We have tried all these places but the new La Hacienda. Hollywood and Vine had gone down hill but we didn't know where to go in September when we had no ADR's and gave it another chance. It was very good and had a lot of selections. I wasn't happy with the Brown Derby at all. With all the hype I was very disappointed. We also tried Via Napoli in September and will definitly be going back. The Pizza was very good.

 

[Donaldswife]

#1 brown derby
#2 Via Napoli

Keep checking, people cancel if you want something else.

I second everything above. Keep checking even while you are there. Things open up. I cancelled a same day reservation for LE CELLIER last month! We also were able to walk up and get immediate seating for Brown derby lunch and Via Napoli dinner last month even though there were no reservations available. Sometimes you can get lucky!

 

[Jitzy]

Brown Derby and Via Napoli!

We were at Via Napoli last month and it was totally delicious!!! Great friendly service as well...

 

[purpliequeen]

DHS dining choices are not good at all. If you HAD to choose between the 2, def BD. H&V is one of the worst restaurants in terms of value at WDW, IMHO. That being said, BD isn't that great either- it's over priced and really, nothing special. If possible, I would pick a restaurant outside of the parks to eat at on your DHS day or eat at a counter/quick service place.

 

[disneychic2]

Like others have said, keep trying if there are restaurants you would like to eat in, but couldn't get a ressie. I was told by the dining reservation people that the computer resets each night, so the best time to get an online ressie is first thing in the morning when the previous day's cancellations are back in the system.

Failing that, I would choose Brown Derby and San Angelo. Good luck!

 

[mickey0216]

Thank you to everyone for your input. Looks like we will go with HBD and Via Napoli.

We will be staying at BC so the option of Flying Fish and etc on the Boardwalk was a good option, that I overlooked. As far as picking up an ADR while onsite it is unlikely as I will be setting parks by day based on ADRs.

Again, thanks everyone.