Restaurants that are "experiences"?

[Lee from WV]

Not wanting to threadjack the post about being leery of the jokes at the Skipper Canteen.....

I like the restaurants that are more than food the best. 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi, etc. Even if the food is bad (lookin' at you, Sci Fi). It doesn't have to be cast interaction, it could be immersive decor, or a show like the Biergarten.

We haven't been to WDW for seven years or so--our kids went to college and got jobs. Now we are doing it again this summer the four of us as adults! I will definitely like the Skipper Canteen, I can tell. The 220 looks like it will be cool whenever it opens.

What are other restaurants that are more than food?

Thanks!

 

[SteveH]

While not exactly a restaurant but Trader Sam's fits that bill and they do have a pretty decent bar menu for food and of course drinks.

 

[chalee94]

Coral Reef.

(worse food rep than Sci Fi, though.)

 

[Ismo]

I use to love going to Be Our Guest for breakfast. It got me into MK early and I loved the theming, especially in the West Wing. I know a lot of people hate on the breakfast, but I always really enjoyed the experience.

I also really like San Angel Inn, Coral Reef, Tusker House, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Yak & Yeti. We don't have kids, so this is completely from an adults' (but kid at heart) perspective. I am also super excited for Space220!

EDIT: To add, those are my fave restaurants purely based on theming/experience. As Chalee94 mentioned, Coral Reef isn't the best, but it's fun. But I do love the food at San Angel Inn and Yak & Yeti. To be honest, I'm happy anywhere I eat at Disney as long as I'm in Disney.

 

[Dug720]

I know a lot of people hate on the breakfast, but I always really enjoyed the experience.

I think what people "hated on" was people using it to book an ADR for their entire party and ordering one cup of coffee simply to get into the park early, taking the slots from people who legit wanted to eat.

 

[imbatman]

Hoop Dee Doo! My family loves it and it's a must-do even after the kids are adults.

Be Our Guest at lunch, in the Master's chambers (to the left of the main room). Crystal Palace for early breakfast because it is magical to walk down a vacant Main Street. We've never had bad food at Sci-Fi.

 

[TikiRob]

If you want a break from the parks, Sanaa at Kidani Village is an immersive experience and you can visit the animal viewing areas before or after.

 

[cruisin5]

Whispering Canyon at WL, Tappan Edo, Raglan Road.

 

[Tawney]

I also really like San Angel Inn, Coral Reef, Tusker House, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Yak & Yeti. We don't have kids, so this is completely from an adults' (but kid at heart) perspective. I am also super excited for Space220!

San Angel Inn is one of my favorites! The entire Mexico pavilion is themed perfection (to me), and I could just spend so much time there. Having the restaurant right by the pyramid and volcano is just a great experience.

 

[Grabnar]

If you want a break from the parks, Sanaa at Kidani Village is an immersive experience and you can visit the animal viewing areas before or after.

This is the way.

California Grill for the MK fireworks is also a great choice if you're willing to shell out for it. Easily the highlight of my last trip there in 2019.

 

[Ismo]

I think what people "hated on" was people using it to book an ADR for their entire party and ordering one cup of coffee simply to get into the park early, taking the slots from people who legit wanted to eat.

I never even thought of that! Makes sense. I totally used the ADR to get in the park early, but I also ordered enough breakfast for two people and loved looking at everything. I actually thought the breakfast there was pretty good, I hope they bring it back.

 

[lnR_Texas]

We love Tiffins in AK. Great food and beautiful theming about travel and exploring. We are headed back next week—my 12 year old explicitly asked to make sure we were going again to Tiffins because she loved our first visit there in 2019. And she’s usually a picky eater!

 

[CynBeth]

WCC, BOG, 50’s PTC, Tony’s, and Coral Reef. We are adults but love the character breakfasts when they had them at Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Cape May.

 

[loves to dive]

I second Tiffins, it might our favorite TS in all of DW and we have eaten at most of them (Nomad Lounge there is also worth a visit). If it's open and you want to shell out a month's mortgage, V&A's is a great fine dining experience. If it's open (which it's not right now) we also love BD lounge outside for small plates and a refreshing adult beverage. You can sit and people watch, watch the Star Wars show when it happens all the while eating a Cobb Salad with a glass of wine. Marakesh in the Morocco Pav. in Epcot used to have a belly dancer who was fun to watch, they are open right now. While the food isn't the best in the world, Garden Grill is a little fun if they have it moving, it rotates very slowly so part of the time you get to see The Land ride below you, we don't do it any more since it's a character experience and we aren't fans.

 

[sandrews0608]

I agree with Raglan Road, Sanaa if you get a window seat, Coral Reef (I actually love the calamari and shrimp and grits), Biergaten, Tepan Edo (normal Tepenyaki though), Sci Fi (don't hate the food). I have never tried 50's as the food just sounds very unappealing for us.

 

[Lee from WV]

Thanks for all the answers! We have been to Be Our Guest (decor), Restaurant Marrakesh (atmosphere and bellydancing), San Angel Inn (atmosphere), Yak & Yeti (decor AND good food), Crystal Palace (decor), Tappan Edo (atmosphere), Raglan Road (singing, as I recall?). Also the Rose and Crown Pub for fireworks and atmosphere. V&A's a LOOOOng time ago

We have NOT been to Coral Reef (is it just the aquarium? what makes it fun?), Trader Sam's (atmosphere?), Tusker House (?), Whispering Canyon, California Grill (fireworks if they come back), Garden Grill (rotating?), Tiffins (?). Sorry I don't know what WCC is. What is the BD Lounge? If you care to, please expound on what makes these great--I want to go to different places before I start repeating.

Sanaa sounds amazing! We have done Boma and Jiko before, super cool.

My fave spot is the bar with a martini at 50's Prime Time Cafe. Nomad Lounge and Oga's Cantina are on the list for this year for sure. Any other themed bars you recommend? (Insert dramatic sigh for the death of the Adventurer's Club here. I'm never going to get over it.)

My daughter is celiac which makes everything more complicated. She and I are very excited about Disney's new (since we've been there) allergy menus.

 

[Scubadaddy32]

The Edison is an experience as well that I didn't see mentioned. We had a very good Prime Rib there and later in the evening they have live adult themed entertainment.

 

[tstein12]

Thanks for all the answers! We have been to Be Our Guest (decor), Restaurant Marrakesh (atmosphere and bellydancing), San Angel Inn (atmosphere), Yak & Yeti (decor AND good food), Crystal Palace (decor), Tappan Edo (atmosphere), Raglan Road (singing, as I recall?). Also the Rose and Crown Pub for fireworks and atmosphere. V&A's a LOOOOng time ago

We have NOT been to Coral Reef (is it just the aquarium? what makes it fun?), Trader Sam's (atmosphere?), Tusker House (?), Whispering Canyon, California Grill (fireworks if they come back), Garden Grill (rotating?), Tiffins (?). Sorry I don't know what WCC is. What is the BD Lounge? If you care to, please expound on what makes these great--I want to go to different places before I start repeating.

Sanaa sounds amazing! We have done Boma and Jiko before, super cool.

My fave spot is the bar with a martini at 50's Prime Time Cafe. Nomad Lounge and Oga's Cantina are on the list for this year for sure. Any other themed bars you recommend? (Insert dramatic sigh for the death of the Adventurer's Club here. I'm never going to get over it.)

My daughter is celiac which makes everything more complicated. She and I are very excited about Disney's new (since we've been there) allergy menus.

WCC = Whispering Canyon Cafe
BD Lounge = Brown Derby Lounge

One place I like to eat and have a drink at when I'm solo is the Nomad Lounge at AK - it has both indoor and outdoor seating (I prefer outside so I can see the characters going by in boats). You can't make an ADR, but when you're in the park, you can put you name on the virtual wait list online via MDE or by swinging by the lounge.

 

[CynBeth]

WCC is Whispering Canyon Cafe. We have only been for breakfast where they had a few antics but there are a lot more from what I understand at lunch and dinner. Coral Reef is just the aquarium but we feel it has great theming and food and some people have fun trying to spot the different fish, rays, and sharks. Tusker House had some different types of exotic food along with the regular breakfast items and I believe they had kids come and dance with the characters if I am not mistaken.

 

[Stargazer65]

Raglan Road (singing, as I recall?)

and dancing: