Restaurant suggestions for a 5 & 2 yo

[Geistmeister]

Hello all -- new to the forums here, but wanted to ask a question.

Monday will be our pivotal 180 days out for a trip this December. I have a son and a daughter who will be 5 and 2 (almost 3) and this will be their first trip to WDW. We're planning on doing Hoop Dee Doo and Chef Mickey's, but I was thinking that it would be nice to do at least one (non-character/dinner show) table service dinner while we're there as well. Given the excitement of the parks, we don't expect the kids to be very patient with dinner and I was hoping to find a restaurant with an atmosphere that would keep them entertained (at least until the food comes). My first thought was the Coral Reef restaurant in Epcot for fish/shark/turtle watching.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ahill004]

My girls will be the same age when we go (the same week as you)! We will actually be there for 2 weeks and since we are traveling with the grandparents as well we had to pick some places the adults would enjoy too. One of the places I thought would be good for my girls and the adults is Teppan Edo in Epcot because thy cook the meal at your table. I know both will be fascinated with this and I've read they do it far enough back that little fingers cannot get burned.

 

[Steelersfan]

One place we like to go is Whispering Canyon Cafe over in The Wilderness lodge. If you go for dinner they have pony races (with stick ponies), etc. It is very good food for adults and our daughter who was 3 the last time we went loved it.

She's put it on the list as somewhere we have to go next time.

If you like BBQ type food, the all you can eat skillet is a must. Check out the menu and see if it would interest you.

Like I said, our daughter and my niece (10 yrs old) both loved it and we have dined there the other 3 times we went before our daughter was born.

I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

 

[abc999]

Ohana might also be a good choice, they have the hula, limbo and coconut races there.. great for young kids.

 

[mejkjj97]

I am unsure for dinner and also willing to take suggestions. We are going in August for my DD 3rd birthday.
As for Breakfast, Everyone I have talked recently with young kids said the breakfast at Hollywood & Vine was the best. The characters (Little Einstein and JoJo) get the kids up to dance and do activities.
My sister kids did not want to leave. We are going done at the end of August and have also made reservations, I cannot wait.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I will list some from resorts & parks.......

WCC ~ I think the 5 year old would love it!
Sci Fi ~ Who doesn't love cartoons while they eat
Garden Gill ~ Fun as it turns and you can peek into The Land & watch the boats pass


Of course Chef Mickey's!

 

[MJMcBride]

Buffets and family style is probably the best bet such as Whispering Canyon Cafe, 'ohana, and chef mickeys. Other good choices maybe the Sci-Fi for entertainment purposes and perhaps the San Angel Inn with its nighttime volcano view, plus if there are several adults one can take the kids for a quick ride at the adjacent Three Caballeros while everyone else waits

 

[Geistmeister]

Thanks all for the suggestions!

Whispering Canyon sounds good, but I'm not sure that I want to take the time to head to a different resort for dinner (we're staying at Beach Club).

And I really like the San Angel idea of taking them on the ride if they get restless (we'll be going with my parents as well, so one of us could easily take them). However, my sister had a really bad experience there on her honeymoon a couple of years ago. So I don't know that I can book that one...

Anyway, thanks again for the ideas -- I'll have to mull them over and come up with a final decision.

 

[F1Julie]

WCC and 'Ohana are great non-character kid-friendly choices. Biergarten would be good as well.

 

[mskayjay]

I know you said non-character but I have to put in a vote for dinner at Libery Tree Tavern. That was always the favorite of my kids for the food and the character interaction.

 

[seeking pixie dust]

Biergarden is another good choice. My four year old loved dancing on the floor to the band's music. We're hope to do Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Princess Norway lunch, Liberty Tree Tavern and Mama Melrose. I tried to pick as many buffet choices as possible so my almot 2 year old can get enough food.

 

[danielle782001]

Whispering Canyon sounds good, but I'm not sure that I want to take the time to head to a different resort for dinner (we're staying at Beach Club).

You should make an ADR at the Cape May Cafe for breakfast...It is at the Beach Club...It is a character meal but it is very calm and relaxing...Minnie, Goofy, Chip/Dale come in their beach clothes...The character interaction there is excellent...The food selection is very large and very good...This might be a great place to go before you check-out or on a day that you don't have big plans in the AM...

We also like:
50s Prime Time for lunch or dinner in DHS
Sci-Fi for lunch or dinner in DHS
Tusker House for breakfast (character meal)
Garden Grill in Epcot (character meal)
Rainforest Cafe at AK or DTD

We really did not like Coral Reef for the family...The menu was not great for our kids and the atmosphere does not allow for the extra noise that comes with little ones...We like to pick places that we don't feel forced to keep the kids very quiet...Coral Reef felt that way to us (but that just may be us).

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Thanks all for the suggestions!

Whispering Canyon sounds good, but I'm not sure that I want to take the time to head to a different resort for dinner (we're staying at Beach Club).

And I really like the San Angel idea of taking them on the ride if they get restless (we'll be going with my parents as well, so one of us could easily take them). However, my sister had a really bad experience there on her honeymoon a couple of years ago. So I don't know that I can book that one...

Anyway, thanks again for the ideas -- I'll have to mull them over and come up with a final decision.

If you don't want to eat in another resort, I wished that was mentioned......you really just have a few to pick from in that case.

 

[septbaby]

We did Coral Reef for lunch and it was awesome for our 5yo and for us. He ate his entire meal: apple slices, pizza and make your own sundae. The aquarium is great not so in your face entertainment. The give the kids an activity sheet, it has a game to mark off the various sea life. It worked to occupy him a bit so we were able to enjoy our meals.

I give to this kind of a park break with little ones and when its hot. I had no idea how nice it would be. This next trip I've booked CP lunch(MK day) as well as H&V lunch(Epcot AM, DHS in PM). I've booked Boma breakfast before heading into AK and Chef Mickey's for after the park.

How many nights are you staying? You already have 4TS credits planned is the DP an option? It would cost $85.97 per night for your family. If Holiday pricing is in effect it could be an even better deal. You have to buy the plan for the full length of you stay. You must stay at a WDW hotel and buy park tickets from disney.

 

[mrzrich]

Please reconsider the not wanting to travel to another resort. Its not that big a deal to get to any of the resorts around MK. (GF, Poly, CR, WL or FW) They are easily accessible by monorail or boat

And since you are at the BC you will be adjacent to the Boardwalk, not to mention Epcots World Showcase!