Restaurant Advice, Please!

[Butler_chic07]

Hi! First off I want to thank you in advance...

There are a few things I should "explain" first before I ask for your help.
1. I know that this is a late post, because our trip is in 16 days! So I know that there are many restaurants that will be full.
2. I am going with my DF to celebrate our engagement, so it was kind of a last minute trip. We are also taking my mother along. She will not be with us most of the time, but might join us for a meal or two.
3. I know that there is a lot of controversy over wheter or not the DDP is worth it; however we do have it for our trip. My mother does not. We decided we wanted it, partly because it is convienent for us. We don't really want any stress. We just want to relax and celebrate!
4. My DF for the most part is a simple eater. His favorite food is pizza. He will try new things, but only if it contains a main ingredient he likes. For example he likes shrimp, so he would likely try a new shrimp dish.
5. Even though we are two adults, I am a total Disney fanatic, and love Disney stuff, so we are even open to character meals or dinner shows, which would have to be the Spirt of Aloha because DF hates country!
6. Last time I went was in 2005 for a national dance competiton, and last time he went was even before that.

So here is the favor what restaurants might you suggest? Which ones are YOUR favorites that you cannot pass up? Just any advice would help. I know there are so many posts related to this out there, but I just don't have the time to read through them all... because as soon as I read through one I am addicted and cannot stop.

Even if you know that there is no way we will be able to eat at that restaurant because of the short notice, that is fine. I will keep it in mind for another time. I just really don't know where to start. I do know that there is still actually quite a few ADR's still open because I look about everyday, but I just can't decide. I have looked at the menus online, but think I really just need to hear what you all have to say!

Thank you again!

 

[mickeystoontown]

My son is one of the pickiest eaters I know so I can sympathize with you! We aren't super adventurous eaters either. We try to stick with basic fare where we know there will be foods that we will all like.

Here are our favorite table service restaurants:

Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom
The Plaza at the Magic Kingdom
Sci-Fi at Hollywood Studios
50s Prime Time at Hollywood Studios
Coral Reef at Epcot
Liberty Tree Tavern at Epcot
Garden Grill at Epcot
LeCellier at Epcot
Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge
Hoop Dee Doo Review at Fort Wilderness (I know you said it's a no-no.)
Spirit of Aloha at Polynesian
Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian

Have you tried booking any ADRs on the Disney website yet? It's super easy and it let's you play around with the times.

Hope this helps,

Lisa

 

[MrsLS]

If you want a nice dinner to celebrate your engagement I would suggest Narcoosees or Cali Grill but these are 2 credit places. A lot of the places in Epcot would be nice for dinner - Tutto, Chefs de France.
To start decide on where you will be - park or at the resort, to see what you want to do at night for dinner - thats what we do.
For other ADR suggestions that I really recommend are: Yak & Yeti, le Cellier, Liberty Tree Tavern (for lunch), & Kona Cafe,

 

[Nadjalu]

San Angel Inn in Mexico at Epcot.

This restaurant is 1 TS and is the most romantic place to dine. It is in the Mexican Pavillion that has a boat ride in it. The ambience is devine, mood lighting, sitting by the water's edge, it creates the best feeling.

And you can almost bet you can get in on short notice. There are a lot of people who pass up this gem because others say they don't like the food, which is very good. I will warn you that it is mostly traditional and not Tex Mex, so with DF's pickyness I say look at the menu and see if it is something he could do. If it is, I HIGHLY recommend it. Especially since you are celebrating such a lovely time in your life.

An fyi, if there is something on the menu he likes but it has a sauce or something, ask for it on the side, that way if he doesn't like it, it doesn't ruin the meal.

 

[OhThePain]

At 16 days out you really need to just play around with dates, times and restaurants. Odds are most of the popular places people are going to say (Le Cellier, 'Ohana) are going to be booked solid. Your better off going to allears or a site like that and looking at menus. When you see something you like cross your fingers that it might be available, and don't be picky about what time you eat. You may only be able to get odd times to eat.

Also, I would not consider HDDR country. It is not like a country music show or anything like that. It is a cheeky, silly and funny show. The food is great and worse comes to worse the beer and wine is unlimited so if he doesn't like it he can keep drinking till he does.

 

[Butler_chic07]

Thank you all for your advice. We are really taking this trip relaxed. We are just going to go with the flow and whatever we feel like doing that day we are going to do. We just want to relax, have fun, and celebrate, and there is no where better to celebrate than DISNEY!

 

[OhThePain]

I agree that the DP doesn't save a whole lot and we use it just because it is makes life easier. However, this time around, if you can, I would cancel it since you don't plan to make many if any ADR's.

 

[Tweedle]

Since you are late making ADRs lots will be full, but last minute openings do occur when people cancel their ADRs while at the park. Program the ressie # in your phone and call while in the park and you might be surprised by an opening.

At DHS my kids really wanted to eat at Sci-Fi but we could only get an ADR for 50s PC. We walked up to Sci-Fi right when it opened to see if they had any openings. The told us if we ate right then that they could seat us. I then went to 50s PC and cancelled our late afternoon ressie for that day. The CM at 50s told me I was going to make someone very happy that day!

 

[5Parks]

Chef Mickey
Crystal Palace

 

[wdwbride2005]

I'll make some suggestions based on how late it is.

The Wave at the CR has a nice setting. Check the menu to make sure there is something you'd like-the menu is pretty limited.

You could go to Coral Reef at Epcot-also nice with the underwater setting and much less popular than Le Cellier.

Crystal Palace for breakfast is always a lot of fun and their food is great!

For one nice dinner, you could try Yachtsman Steakhouse or Narcoossee's.

Have fun and congrats on your engagement!

 

[MomRN]

We will also be in Disney in 16 days! I just called today for ADR. (I know, I know, but better late then never). Here was my experience:

Wanted a lunch at Crystal Palace on 3/7. Two spots open, one at 11ish, and the other at 1:05. We are late eaters, so opted for the 1:05. No problems.

Wanted the Fantasmic dinner package at Hollywood and Vine. No go. There was another restaurant available (name?), but we didn't want it.

Wanted Chef Mickeys for dinner on 3/9. Earliest time available was 8:55. Too late of a dinner for us to eat, but we were able to get into the restaurant at the Swan ( Garden ?) for 6:00.

Lol.. you can tell this is so my first time, but just wanted to let you know things are available, but I would make your reservations ASAP.

 

[Butler_chic07]

Thanks, everyone! I have actually made a few ADR's already, and was actually surprised at the availability left. Granted not all of them are available, but since we are flexible on times and our "park" schedule, it has actually worked out well for us. We still have a few left to make, so we will see.

The few we have are:
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's
Tony's Town Square
Donald's Safari Breakfast

My mother who is also going is taking us out for dinner one night to Fulton's too... just as something special.

The next two weeks, just can't go by fast enough...

 

[okie from muskogee]

Boma breakfast buffet is great. Beaches and Cream for sundaes, worth the wait! Nice dinner would be either Artists Point or California Grill. Spoodles is pretty good for dinner.

 

[williamson_ja]

our family loves Biergarten which is really easy to get into at the last minute. We also really liked the Sci-Fi dine in, which is really american food that I'm sure he'd like (also really easy to score reservations at)

 

[Butler_chic07]

Thank everyone, we actually now have all of our ADRs. Thanks for your suggestions. They really helped. There are just so many restaurants to choose from it is really hard to find a place to start!

I really appreciate it. This board is just amazing, everyone is so wonderful and helpful!