Restaurant and Dining Plan questions

[AMonir]

Hi everyone!

My good friend and I are traveling to Disney World for my 20th birthday this June. I was wondering if you guys could give me some feedback on the restaurants I've made reservations at? That way, if I've chosen a bad restaurant, or if there are better ones than what I've chosen, I can get a different restaurant reservation before it's too late. Thank you soo much!!

June 16th (Arrival day): My b-day dinner at Bongo's Cuban Cafe in Downtown Disney. (We chose this place b/c we love salsa music and the Cuban culture. However I know it's a moderate restaurant, is it special enough for a 20th birthday dinner?)

June 17th: Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table in MK. Dinner at Crystal Palace in MK.

June 18th: Lunch at Alfredo's in Epcot. Dinner at Teppenyaki in Epcot.

June 19th: Thinking of booking dinner at Rainforest Cafe in AK, what do you think?

June 20th: Lunch at '50s Prime Time in MGM, dinner is the Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! package.

June 21st: Nothing reserved yet. Open to a character breakfast at a MK resort or a lunch at MK.

Also, my other question is, I didn't know about the Dining Plan when I got my hotel reservation and when I bought my park tickets. Now that I'm hearing about it, it sounds awesome, esp. for a big eater who likes nice restaurants like me. However, since Disney Dining has to come w/a theme park package and I already bought my tickets separately, the only way I can get on the plan is to buy another 1-day base ticket, which I will not be using, since I already got a 5-day park hopper ticket and I don't have a sixth day to spend the extra ticket on. Do you think it's worth it for me to waste $67 in addition to spending the $38/day so I can get the dining plan? Or should I go without? I'd really love your advice on that.

Thank you sooo, so much for your advice!!

All The Best,
Alexandra

 

[webray]

Best place for a great lunch in MK is Liberty Tree Tavern. They have a wonderful lunch menu.

 

[bicker]

I personally wouldn't have chosen some the restaurants you have chosen, especially for two adults. You did start with a very good choice: Bongo's.

However, Cinderella's is incredibly expensive for what you get -- it is mostly all about the experience of eating in the castle, and unless you're with a young girl, I don't see that being a worthwhile choice. Crystal Palace isn't as expensive, but you're still principally paying for the privilege of being greeted by characters while having your meal. While I can see doing one character meal during a trip, you have two scheduled for the same day.

As someone else suggested, Liberty Tree Tavern might be a better choice overall, especially for two adults. Furthermore, many people find that doing two table-service meals in the same day, especially in the near-summer, to be just too much food, so you may want to aim for counter-service for your other meal that day.

The best restaurants in WDW theme parks, IMHO, are at Epcot, but you've chosen the two I'd put at the bottom of my list of recommendations. Alfredo's has gotten such consistently bad reviews that it remains the only Epcot restaurant I've never visited. Teppenyaki is good, but not as good as our local Japanese Steakhouse, so I wouldn't waste the opportunity to eat at one of the truly marvelous restaurants that are there at WDW to spend a meal at Teppenyaki. I recommend Chefs de France or Coral Reef instead. If you like exotic food, then try Marrakesh or Biergarten.

Similarly, the Rainforest Cafe here in Burlington MA is better than the one at Animal Kingdom, and the Joe's American Bar and Grill is even better, so again I wouldn't spend at meal at Rainforest Cafe at WDW when there are so many better choices available there. I would do counter-service, either Tusker House or Flame Tree Barbecue, while at Animal Kingdom.

Another bright spot in your list is '50s Prime Time in MGM. It is the quintessential Disney dining experience. Definitely don't miss that. Having dinner with the Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! package does make good sense as well.

You asked for some suggestions about where to have breakfast or lunch at the Magic Kingdom. The reality is that the Magic Kingdom is a pretty bad place to eat meals. The best choices in the theme parks are at Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios, so I would recommend aiming to plan out your trip so that you have your more significant meals while at one of those two parks. In that case, you'd have time to catch some of the other Epcot restaurants I mentioned earlier.

Barring that, keep in mind that Disney's best restaurants are actually at their resort hotels. I recommend Artist Point, Citricos, Narcoossee, and Flying Fish for fine dining, and Whispering Canyon, Spoodles and Kona Cafe for more casual dining.

We're saving about $6 per person per day using the Dining Plan, plus we can order appetizers and desserts for everyone at every meal at no additional cost (which we would not have done if we weren't on the Dining Plan) so that's what the Dining Plan is worth to us. (You can seem my financial analysis here: http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm)

 

[penguin69]

We had breakfast one morning at the Steak House in the Contempory Hotel. We really enjoyed it, good breakfast for a great price (3 adults avg cost $7.00 - $15.00pp). Then we hoped back on the monorail and headed to Epcot.

Only one restaurant that I would not visit again is Hollywood and Vine (MGM) - their buffet was just not worth the price/or a meal ticket. Very limited in their food supply, food wasn't that good. We even had to see what was in the kids section to try and fill the void of the adults menu. There just wasn't enough selection to choose from.

We really loved LeCellier Steak House, Liberty Tree Tavern (actually went there one night just for dinner), Teppenyaki was very nice, so was Bomo's. I think our favorite places to eat were The Crystal Palace (dinner) and Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner) And yes the three adults loved the Characters and taking pictures with all of them

Have fun and enjoy yourselves

 

[Master Gracie]

Crystal Palace isn't as expensive, but you're still principally paying for the privilege of being greeted by characters while having your meal.

Probably true, but I think it is worth going here for the food. Especially if the OP is on the Free Dining plan...don't remember.

Anywhere you can get good Prime Rib at a Buffet, makes me smile.

 

[Disney Debbie]

With that many sit downs - yes - the dining plan is worth it. You can use the one day ticket you'll have to buy and save a day on your park hopper - assuming it's a non-expiring park hopper - I keep forgetting there's a choice now!

June 16th (Arrival day): Bongo's Cuban Cafe in Downtown Disney. Haven't tried it but as the mother of a 20 year old - think you'll probably enjoy the atmosphere of DD and Bongo's so give it a whirl.

June 17th: Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table in MK. Dinner at Crystal Palace in MK. Agree with Bicker as far as I wouldn't do both of these. But also speaking as a mother of a 20 YO who still likes to see the princesses! I'd keep the CRT (even though it is overpriced) and eat somewhere else for dinner. If you want to stay in the park Liberty Tree is a good choice - another one would be Kona at the Polynesian.

June 18th: Lunch at Alfredo's in Epcot. Dinner at Teppenyaki in Epcot. Everybody talks badly about Alfredo's - but we've always loved it. Always had good service and good food. DD loves Teppenyaki - I'm kind of over it - but if you live somewhere that doesn't have a Japanese Steakhouse - like we do - then you'll probably enjoy it. It is also very overpriced IMO.

June 19th: Thinking of booking dinner at Rainforest Cafe in AK, what do you think? I've never eaten there - but I've never heard anything good about either of these in WDW. They are expensive and the waits are too long. I'm not sure you can even book a reservation there.I'd suggest Boma at the AKL - it's wonderful - I was very hesitant about it because it was unfamiliar food - but trust me - it's very good and I loved the different food. Also think the counter service food at Flame Tree or Tusker House is very good.

June 20th: Lunch at '50s Prime Time in MGM, dinner is the Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! package. I adore Prime Time - it's so much fun - be sure and put your elbows on the table!! I've never eaten at H&V because I'm not much of a buffet person so no opinion there.


. June 21st: Nothing reserved yet. Open to a character breakfast at a MK resort or a lunch at MK. I personally think you would be charactered out by now! And stuffed!

 

[pugcrazy]

June 16th (Arrival day): My b-day dinner at Bongo's Cuban Cafe in Downtown Disney. (We chose this place b/c we love salsa music and the Cuban culture. However I know it's a moderate restaurant, is it special enough for a 20th birthday dinner?)

June 17th: Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table in MK. Dinner at Crystal Palace in MK. I agree that this may be a lot of food considering the heat. Consider doing Crystal Palace for lunch on your last day. We LOVE Crystal Palace & would not skip, just move to another time.

June 18th: Lunch at Alfredo's in Epcot. Dinner at Teppenyaki in Epcot.
I would suggest Le Cellier for lunch. Great place to cool off & relax. If you don't have a Japanese steak house near you then Teppenyaki is not a bad choice.
June 19th: Thinking of booking dinner at Rainforest Cafe in AK, what do you think? I agree with everyone else on Rainforest. The service is slow & you will probably enjoy another restaurant ALOT more.

June 20th: Lunch at '50s Prime Time in MGM, dinner is the Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! package. Good choices in my opinion.

June 21st: Nothing reserved yet. Open to a character breakfast at a MK resort or a lunch at MK. Consider Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare @ Grand Floridian

Hope you have a Magical time. Here's wishing you tons of Pixie Dust Moments!

 

[AMonir]

Thanks so much for the great advice! I appreciate it so much. Glad to hear '50's Prime-Time gets such good reviews, as I'm really looking forward to that one. I also switched our dinner at the Magic Kingdom to Liberty Tree Tavern, since that got such positive reviews. The reason I'm doing two sit-down meals a day is mainly because we love the atmosphere of nice restaurants, but also because I've learned from many trips to Disneyland that waiting in line for counter-service can be a nightmare, especially when you're really hungry. This way, I don't have to eat a lot if I'm not really hungry, but at least we're guaranteed a table and not too much waiting. And also, even though I'm turning 20 next month, I still love character meals! Hehe. I am obsessed with all things Disney, especially the characters, so it's just fun to see them strolling around and take pictures.

Anyway, thanks again and I'll keep all your recommendations and suggestions in mind!