Restaurant help for a newbie

[NCLinda]

Hi - First post on this board:

We will be at WDW November 27, 28 and 29. Going with our two kids: dd (12), ds (11).

Could someone please tell me some good restaurants to eat dinner? We will spend a day at MK, a day at Epcot and a day at MGM. We are staying at Beach Club.

Also, is Hoop Dee Doo worth the money? It sounds similar to Dixie Stampede - is that true? Also, the only reservation we could get for it are at 9:30 - is that too late?

Thanks for your help,
Linda

 

[Strikeapose8558]

Well if you're staying at the Beach Club then you have access to the Boardwalk. You could try Spoodles or Flying Fish which are both really good. If you want a little nicer restaurant you could try Yaghtsman Steakhouse at the Yaght Club (delicious & understated elegance). At Epcot we have really liked Le Cellier and Coral Reef. HOPE THAT HELPS!

 

[Pooh67_68]

The kids might like Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney.
Also you might want to try 50's Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi both are in MGM.
Cosmic Ray's in MK is a good place to go for lunch.
Can't help with Epcot, we never eat there.
I almost forgot Rainforest Cafe in DD.

 

[MinnieGi]

Have you looked at the menu's on Deb Wills site? It's at www.wdwig.com. It's a great way to see if you'll like a particular restaurant. Being at the Beach Club gives you easy entry into World Showcase for dinner or the Boardwalk has lots of great places in addition to the BC/YC restaurants. It's a great place to be for easy access to lots of great restaurants.

As far as HDDR - we love it and for us its worth the price! We're taking both sets of grandparents to see it with us for our upcoming trip and in February we're taking our friends to see it. Now I've never seen Dixie Stampede so I can't compare.

Oh and welcome to the boards!!!

 

[AspiringCindy]

In MK, I recommend Cinderella's Castle for dinner. It is not a character meal, but it is really beautiful to be in the castle at night and view the fireworks looking out through stain-glass windows. The food is excellent too!

In MGM, Sci Fi and 50's Primetime are the best! A little campy, but sooo much fun! 50's Primetime food is really worth the $!!!

Epcot has so many good places, but our Favorites are LeCellier and Coral Reef!

 

[kayeandjim00]

At Downtown Disney we really love House of Blues - cool atmosphere and fabulous food. At the Magic Kingdom we always make a visit to Crystal Palace (for breakfast but I have heard good things about dinner there as well). When we are at MGM we prefer to leave for dinner and take the boat over to the Boardwalk. Our favorite place there is the ESPN Club -it's a fun atmosphere especially if there are sports fans in your group. Another vote for checking out wdwig.com it's fun and informative to look over the menus and see what will work best for your family and your budget. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Spoodles on the Boardwalk is a great place to eat. Chef Mickey's at the Contemperary would be a great place to eat after a long day in the MK park. 50's Primetime Cafe at Disney/MGM is a great place to eat with your kids also.

 

[Vlahakis2001]

Definetly try to get to 50's Prime Time.

 

[Vlahakis2001]

Definetly try to get to 50's Prime Time.

 

[Aunt Jo]

Hi Linda,
We have seen both HDDR and Dixie Stampede in Branson Mo. They are nothing alike and IMHO, HDDR is much better.

 

[Terk-1]

Here's some suggestions:

Magic Kingdom:
1. Cindy's (breakfast is with characters & lunch is less expensive than dinner)
2. Crystal Palace (this is a buffet & all 3 meals are with characters)
3. Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner is served family style and has characters)
4. Plaza Restaurant

EPCOT:
1. Garden Grill (lunch is less expensive than dinner, this is served family style and has characters)
2. Le Cellier (lunch is less expensive than dinner)
3. Rose & Crown
4. Sunshine Season Food Fair

MGM:
1. 50's Primetime Cafe
2. Sci Fi Theater

Animal Kingdom:
1. Tusker House

Resorts:
1. 1900 Park Fare (this is a buffet & are with characters)
2. O'Hanas (dinner is served family style and breakfast has characters)
3. Concourse Steakhouse
4. Yachtsman Steakhouse
5. Spoodle's
6. Chef Mickey's (breakfast is good, but dinner is awful -- just my opinion)

 

[halfway there]

My DD (12) gives these recommendations:

MK: Cosmic Ray's (counter service) and Liberty Tree Tavern

MGM: 50's Prime Time Cafe

Epcot: Alfredo's in Italy

Also, Spoodles at the BWI, even tho' we've never eaten there, it's next on her list!

 

[adamak]

Here is my list -

MGM -
Brown Derby. Yes, it's more expensive, but it's a great setting & a real 1st class restaurant. I still can't find a better cobb salad than this place. (I always pack it to go to have it by the pool).

Epcot -
Anywhere in French / Canada (great staek place) / Norwegian. Coral Reef is also very good for the vibe and the food. Actually if you wanna save money, I'll just pop by each country's fast food restaurants or do a drink-around-the-world thing. QUite an experience to eat fish & chips then German dog next min.

MK -
Cindy. Nothing else worth it.

Others -
Boardwalk : Flying Fish is good. So is the Tapas place next door.
Downtown : Captain Jacks or Fulton Crab (I normally sit at the bar to save time & money).
Wilderness Lodge : Artist point. Or even just go visit.
CA Grill. Have a drink at the lounge, or dinner. It's now slightly overrated, but still good. Service is going downhill though cause it's so packed all the time.

 

[DeniseD]

We did the HDR on our first night and we loved it . Definetly worth the money and it really got us in the Disney spirit.

We did breakfast at Chef Mickey's that was also great. The characters were at our table constantly and it really warmed up DD2 to all the Disney pals.

We did dinner at the Crystal Palace. Food was good but the character interaction wasn't the best. We actually had to wait 15 minutes after we were finished eating for Tigger to visit.

We ate at Bongos at DTD it was great and there was no wait. DD6 loved the grilled chicken on the kids meal and it was a nice change from mac and cheese burgers and hotdogs. We also ate at Wolfgangpuck Express. That was also very good food for not a lot of money.

 

[Grumpy92]

If you havent already made a PS for Thanks. dinner you need to do that immediately. I know the selections are getting more and more limited with each day.
You will be going on a busy weekend so call asap and go ahead and set up all your dinners.
Suggestions:
RESORTS:Boatwrights, Trails End, Whispering Canyon, Beaches & Cream, Yachtsmans St, Cape May Cafe, Konas, Flying Fish, Cal Grill, Narcoossees

PARKS: Le Cellier, Mitsokoshi Teppanyaki, Biergarten, Morroco, Mama Melrose, Sci Fi

Sorry to say the only sit down restaurant at MK we care for is LTT for lunch.

 

[Laura]

In Epcot, my family and I have always liked Restaurant Akershus. It's a Scandinavian smorgasbord in the Norway pavilion. Very nice.

Also, another vote for Spoodles. Yummy.

And while in MK, a good fast-food spot is Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. It's near the Haunted Mansion. It has stuff other than the usual burgers-n-dogs fare, and it's much less hectic than Fantasyland.

 

[shelsy]

We loved the Rose and Crown at Epcot. I would say the Hoop-de-doo is not worth it.

 

[Disneycamper5]

The one thing not lacking at any of the parks are good places to eat at. When you are in MGM I highly recommend Prime Time Cafe. We ate there and had a great time. The chicken sandwiches are big and taste great. My wife tattled and one of our cousins ( other diners that are not in our party but eating in the same kitchen as us) and had to stand up and sing I'm a Little Tea Pot with Auntie Claire. This was a very enjoyable place to eat.

I would also suggest the Biergarten in Germany. Very good food, great beer and FANTASTIC root beer. They have a dinner show going on during dinner which is alot of fun also. My Wife and Kids went down on the floor and did the chicken dance. It was alot of fun. Liberty Tree Tavarn was good. I would not be in a big hurry to go back. The food was not great and the service was a little slow. Boma's in the Animal Kingdom Lodge was very good. It took and little bit of experimenting to find what I liked but that was even good.

Columbia Harbor House was an excellent place to get a sandwich and soup. This is one place that I will go back to in the Magic Kingdom. We got there special and it was very good. My wife got the soup in a bread bowl and that was great. Casey's corner was a great stop on the way out of the park. We got some fries and brownies and waited for the park to empty. The hot dogs looked good and they had a bar with all the different fixing to go on top.

 

[disney_ac]

Definately try Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki for Lunch or Dinner on your day at Epcot. You and your kids will love it. Excellent Japanese cuisine, the best I have ever had, and I love Japanese food, and the show the chefs put on at the table is wonderful. Children will be amazed. If price is an issue at all, go for lunch, same size portions as dinner, but about $4-7 cheaper per person. This is one of the better deals at Disney for lunch though. $12.50 for a salad, shrimp, rice, vegetables, and ice cream. Not bad. One note though, you will be seated with other guests unless you have a party of 7 or 8. However, this is not always a bad thing. They will often try to seat families that have kids together with another family with kids, and groups of adults with other adults, so that everyone can still have a good conversation.

 

[dzneelvr]

In EPCOT, the Biergarten buffet in Germany can't be beat. Our kids are somewhat picky eaters but have enjoyed the food here for several years. When they were younger, my DH and I would just act "dumb" when they asked what something was....instead we said--just try it and they like it! Now as teenagers, they ask to go here each trip.
LeCellier has a yummy steak on the kids menu if you are in the area for evening dinner.
Avoid Norway's buffet for lunch unless your kids are into cold meats, fish, etc.
Mexico is another safe bet and the atmosphere is fun.

In the American pavilliion, there's the burger and fry route. If you can coordinate with the entertainment held in the bandshell in front, it is a wonderful experience.

Have a great time!!

WDW in 2004