recommendation for Downtown Disney restaurant...

[kgulley]

We will be spending the first night of our FIRST trip to WDW in Downtown Disney. We will also have our 2 children, 7 and 4, with us and I am thinking that we will be pretty overwhelmed with everything. Can any of you recommend a restaurant in Downtown Disney that might be appropriate...not too big deal, has a kids menu, casual, so that we are not more overwhlemed than we already will be...just something easy, but still allowing us to know that we are on vacation ( no MCDonalds etc.) If you could let me know if we need to make reservations along with your recommendations I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

 

[cmsnyder77]

DD and I ate at Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney and enjoyed it. I know it doesn't get the greatest reviews from others, but it was a fun atmosphere and the food was good IMO. We are not used to gourmet dining.

It was also my b-day, so we ordered the Chocolate Volcano, which DD loved! You can just call the restaurant directly and make ressies, and we were seated quickly.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

My family and I ate at Planet Hollywood last week and it was AWESOME!!! Our waitor (Vince) was EXCELLENT and the atmosphere was so cool! We also ate at Planet Hollywood in animal kingdom and loved that too, but if you do that you MUST order the brownie volcano. it's to die for!!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

I think the previous poster may also mean Rainforest Cafe as Planet HOllywood doesn't have a restaurant at AK. Also they do the Volcano dessert.

I wouldn't do Planet Hollywood. We took my DD when she was 4 and had to leave as we couldn't even hear our server ask us for our order as it was so loud. Which is a shame as food is very good there.

 

[sue]

This is Epfootballcutie04 under my moms name:


To clarify: in DTD I ate at Planet Hollywood. We loved it and had no problem with the noise or atmosphere. But for younger ones it could be a problem. They had a brownie dessert, but it was not the volcanoe. (Still delicious, though)

In ANIMAL KINGDOM we ate at rainforest cafe. They do have one of those at DTD, but we did not eat at that location. There, they have the volcanoe and it was AMAZING.

 

[Dianewes]

I love to eat at restaurants I can't eat at when I am home, so for me Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe are not places I would go to ... the food is good but I can eat them here at home. So here are the places we love

Portofino Yacht Club.... the food is great and we love the Pizza Appy

Fulton's Crab House ... although I live near Fulton's of Brooklyn, I enjoy eating on the "Empress Lily" and love the atmosphere there... also good food, but pricey

We are trying Raglan Road this trip, we are hoping it is yummy !!

I will let you know when we return !!

 

[annie1995]

Rainforest cafe in DTD yum!!!! FYI, if your kids are scared of thunderstorms, you might want to skip. They have small thunderstorms every 20 minutes or so. They really aren't too loud or anything, but the lights kind of flicker for the lightening, and it does thunder. Oh yeah, they also have animimetronic animals around the place that move and dance a different times too!! Great place though.

 

[MickeyNicki]

WPE, cant go wrong there

 

[Brygida]

We will be spending the first night of our FIRST trip to WDW in Downtown Disney. We will also have our 2 children, 7 and 4, with us and I am thinking that we will be pretty overwhelmed with everything. Can any of you recommend a restaurant in Downtown Disney that might be appropriate...not too big deal, has a kids menu, casual, so that we are not more overwhlemed than we already will be...just something easy, but still allowing us to know that we are on vacation ( no MCDonalds etc.) If you could let me know if we need to make reservations along with your recommendations I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

The Unofficial Guide to WDW rates Raglan Road tops in food quality. It is in Downtown Disney. Great kids menu and since they are newish and not everyone has yet found this hidden gem! you will probably be able to get an ADR and maybe even a walkup to it! If you plan on going late (after 7:30pm, then you will definately need an ADR, as many people reserve to see the Riverdance dancers that come out at night at Raglan Road!

Don't do Planet Hollywood or Rainforest Cafe... they have those everywhere

 

[DisneyJimbo]

I'd vote for the Rainforest Cafe... especially if there is not one close by where you live. I'm not all that impressed with it, but my DD6 absolutely loves it!

Have a wonderful first trip to Disney!!

 

[hildarumpole]

My kids loved Raglan Road. The night we dined, they had a gentleman who made very unusual balloon animals and hats. He told us they had different strolling artists for the kids each night, including a face painter and a temporary tatoo artist. Food is awesome, too.

 

[disneybass]

With kids your age, I would have to say Rainforest Cafe. It's a fun place to go and the food is good. You will enjoy it!

 

[poptoone]

I'll second Rainforest Cafe or Planet Hollywood. My DD (4) liked Planet Hollywood because it was loud which in turn allowed her to be loud and not really bother anyone. She also danced the whole meal to the music they played.

 

[momof2forever]

My kids loved Raglan Road. The night we dined, they had a gentleman who made very unusual balloon animals and hats. He told us they had different strolling artists for the kids each night, including a face painter and a temporary tatoo artist. Food is awesome, too.

Do you know how to find out what they have each night? That sounds like fun for my kids. thanks.

 

[hildarumpole]

Do you know how to find out what they have each night? That sounds like fun for my kids. thanks.

The website www.raglanroadirishpub.com lists the phone number and email address. We visited on a Sunday night, but I don't know if they always have the balloon man on Sundays or if they rotate the artists.

 

[audrey13]

We went to Wolfgang Puck's our first night at Disney last year. Our DS was 4, almost 5. We loved it. The food was excellent. It doesn't have the kind of entertainment that it sounds like some of these other places have. But our DS is used to going to "adult" restaurants with us and he was fine.

We loved walking around DTD after dinner and getting into the Disney spirit before heading to the parks the next day. It was a great way to start the vacation.

 

[BriarRosie]

I love to eat at restaurants I can't eat at when I am home, so for me Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe are not places I would go to ... the food is good but I can eat them here at home. So here are the places we love

Portofino Yacht Club.... the food is great and we love the Pizza Appy

Fulton's Crab House ... although I live near Fulton's of Brooklyn, I enjoy eating on the "Empress Lily" and love the atmosphere there... also good food, but pricey

We are trying Raglan Road this trip, we are hoping it is yummy !!

I will let you know when we return !!

Count me in as someone who won't go to any restaurants at WDW that are chains I can find here, as well! I've never eaten at Rainforest Cafe or Planet Hollywood for that reason, too.

I'm going to try Raglan Road for my first night's dinner on my upcoming trip, mostly because it's a "new to me" restaurant I haven't tried before, and I've heard good reviews of the food.