restaurant recomendations

[DisneyObsessedTeen]

next summer[yes i have plenty of time but we want to clear up everything as we start planning this trip] my friends and i [6 people total] plan to come to disney to celebrate our high school graduation. we've agreed to do a package and get the disney dining plan, just because it would be easier to have the set dining budget of 38.99 a day rather than have to bring so much extra money for our meals and should we spend too much on souvenirs, we wont have enough for our meals, and vice versa. we plan on it being a nine night trip, so we will obviously have 9 table service meals. we will all decide on 5-1 credit ea. restaurants, and 2-2 credit ea. restaurants. we're not so much concerned about what 1 credit restaurants to choose, but what recomendations would you have as to what to pick? we're 17 going on 18 and dont mind the dressing up;in fact, we enjoy it. so what ones would you pick for a group of 18 year olds and why? we're very mature, not rowdy and not picky, so we could handle a nice place with good food. thank you so much in advance for your imput!!

 

[laceemouse]

Two questions:
1- What type of food do you guys like (seafood, steak, etc.) ????
2- Can you list all of the two credit meals here? That might help people answer, I can't think of all of them off the top of my head.

 

[DisneyObsessedTeen]

its gonna be a big group of people, so chances are we'll find something to eat; we aren't worried about food offered
-jiko
-flying fish
-california grill
-citricos
-narcoossees
-artist point
-yachtmans steakhouse
-hollywood brown derby
-cindarellas royal table
-hoop dee doo
-mickeys backyard bbq
-spirit of aloha dinner show
thankyou!

 

[illiniowl]

If your group sees TS dining at several different locations throughout the World being an important part of your adventure (and it sounds like you do), then I think the DDP makes perfect *economic* sense for you. But just make sure everyone is on board with the plan ahead of time. Remembering back to when I planned a two-week (non-Disney) road trip for my college graduation with a bunch of friends, strict schedules "while on vacation" and some people's personalities just don't mix very well. (A phenomenon not limited to teens of course.) Just keep the following in mind and talk about it all beforehand:
1. You will want to leave the park 2-3 hours before your ADR to go back to the hotel and freshen up. Want to swim, too? Add another hour at least.
2. Because you'll be taking 4-5 hour (possibly more) chunks out of several days to do a TS, that means you have less time to tour the parks. So you'll end up needing to get up early and stay out late to see all that you want to see. When I was 18, the staying up late part was easy but the getting up early part...not so much.
3. Make it easier on yourselves by planning your ADRs so they're convenient to the park/area where you want to spend the rest of the evening after dinner - that way you'll minimize the time spent simply getting around. Staying til midnight at MK? Make your ADR for a TS at MK, Poly, CR or GF. Staying 'til midnight at Studios? Make your ADR at Studios, BW/YC/BC or the half of World Showcase closer to the International Gateway. No parks open late? Go for DTD or an off-the-main-path resort like WL or AKL.

With all that out of the way, if I had to pick 2, think about these for your 2-credit meals (of course, check the menus too):

California Grill: the rule in the real world tends to be "the better the view, the worse the food" but this isn't the real world, is it? Make your ADRs well in advance esp. if you want to time it so you're up there during MK fireworks.

Jiko: I haven't tried Jiko yet but Boma is awesome and AKL is stunning - IMO the whole AKL experience transports you to another world like no other place at WDW. Allow time before or after your ADR to look around and view the animals on the savannah.

Hope you have a wonderful time!