Restaurant with most bang for the buck???

[Mersmom98]

I am looking for an onsite restaurant that my family (all 9 of us) will enjoy and won't send my husband into cardiac arrest once the bill arrives. We are staying offsite, so no dining plan and we plan on most meals to be eaten at our vacation home. However, I would like to do one lunch or dinner in the park. Any recommendations? I was thinking the restaurant in Germany but not sure. We have only one super-picky eater, but if he can get chicken nuggets or strips then he's good.

 

[JLVermillion]

Cape May Cafe at Beach Club Resort, the buffet there is excellent something for everyone at a great price. It is located right outside of Ecots International Gateway. Have a great trip.

 

[jessrose18]

My first thought was Cape May dinner as well. Also, lots of places have the same items for lunch and dinner but better pricing (le cellier for example).

 

[PictureJumpr]

Howdy neighbor.

When planning on a budget, remember that all of the lunch prices are cheaper than the dinner prices - usually by $8-10 per person.

Biergarten in Epcot is a lot of fun, and while I don't remember chicken nuggets as such, there are things that are not terribly exotic. The kids (then-5 & 18months) we had with us last time we were there with kids they found plenty to eat - mac and cheese, spaetzle, roast chicken, frankfurters, potato salad.

One of my personal favorites is Crystal Palace. This one includes characters, but the food is very good and there is nothing like having lunch with a view of the castle. Food quality-wise, I would put this one in front of Biergarten.

Tusker House in the Animal Kingdom is very reasonably priced, and has pretty good food. Their buffet is a bit more exotic (African and Middle-Eastern influences on much of it), but they do still have the ubiquitous chicken and potatoes, so picky eaters won't starve.

The best value for money is Trail's End at Fort Wilderness (a boat takes you there from the Magic Kingdom). Simple - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, barbecue, salads, sometimes pasta - but the dinner buffet here has the same cost as most lunch buffets (it was $23 for adults in September). We like to go and then follow dinner with the (free) campfire movie with Chip and Dale.

HTH!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'd consider doing a 'brunch' by scheduling a late breakfast at either Crystal Palace or Tusker House. A character meal is a lot of fun, and it's all you can eat. If you want to do lunch (a little more expensive than breakfast, which adds up with 9 people), I'd stick with Crystal Palace over Tusker House for the characters. At Tusker House, the characters are out only at breakfast.

 

[loriandmatt]

The best value for money is Trail's End at Fort Wilderness (a boat takes you there from the Magic Kingdom). Simple - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, barbecue, salads, sometimes pasta - but the dinner buffet here has the same cost as most lunch buffets (it was $23 for adults in September). We like to go and then follow dinner with the (free) campfire movie with Chip and Dale.

Agreed!! if you are ok with not eating in a park, the trails end is really unbeatable as far as value. it also is very non exotic food....great, but not exotic.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

If I was going to pick just one TS restaurant to eat at on my Disney trip & didn't have the dining plan I'd pick Ohana at the Poly. Is a set menu & a set price. But it is served family style...bread, salad, dumpling things, wings, veggie, & meats on skewers..turkey, steak, chicken & shrimp & ends w/ bread pudding w/ ice cream. I love the restaurant & love the food. It is laid back & lots of family fun.
My second choice would be Tusker House Safari breakfast at AK. Buffet with characters. Awesome food & lots of fun.
{on the Ohana menu it states **Note: Alternative selections for children: Chicken nuggets, Macaroni & cheese, Grilled cheese sandwich, PB & J sandwich, Hamburger, or Cheeseburger.}

 

[Kay1]

Trails End is a fantastic idea, though I was going to suggest Tusker House.

 

[SnowWtch]

Trail's End at Ft Wilderness is one of the cheapest but I've never been there. We like Crystal Palace, Biergarten or Tusker House but we only do lunch to keep the cost down. What I can suggest is doing a later lunch and they usually will start putting the dinner choices out while you're dining for lunch prices. That happened to us at Crystal Palace once.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Cape May, Ohana and Trial's End are good choices.
2) Most of the non-character buffets are in roughly the same price range.
3) But, I would go in a different direction.
4) I would do Biergarten in Germany.
. . . you could be visiting the park, and use this as a respite
. . . buffet suitable for all ages
. . . tables that can seat the whole group
. . . entertainment (dinner entertainment is better than lunch entertainment)

 

[Mersmom98]

Thanks for all the replies! I am making a list of all the ones y'all have mentioned so I can check prices & menus. I have taken my dd to WDW three times before and we have only eaten at one of the restaurants mentioned so far (Crystal Palace), so I am looking forward to trying some place new with our new family!

 

[Meredisney]

Another Vote for Trails End from Me!!

 

[Sugardimples]

It's basically a food court, but I think Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavillion in EPCOT is the best buy at Disney. The are lots of choices, the food is excellent and the prices are very good.

I just had a great pork chop with fruit compote and mashed potatoes here, my partner had 1/2 of a chicken with potatioes and a vegetable.

It's not elegant but its worth checking out!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Biergarten! We also stay offsite in a home/condo, and a late lunch at Biergarten is perfect. They have a pretty large children's buffet, but I can't recall if nuggets are on it. I can't imagine they're not. I know they have basically fried chicken strips on the adult buffet. They're called something German, tho.

Besides, even for picky eaters, German food is pretty good. Potatoes and fancy hot dogs, yanno?

 

[BriarRosie]

Keep in mind that if you're travelling in high seasons (like Summer), the buffets will tack on a "holiday surcharge" (usually about $4) to the pricing.