Suggestions for dining on Christmas day and week

[earstomickey]

After waking up Christmas Day and surprising our kids, we are flying down and should arrive around 11am so with check-in etc figuring 1-2pm arrival in a park. Have heard MK is impossible for Christmas Day. Was thinking Epcot. Is this our best option? We DO NOT want a turkey or traditional meal. We can start booking dining res next Tuesday...any park/dining suggestions would be appreciated!! Cannot wait!

 

[earstomickey]

I am shocked at how many have looked at my post and not bothered to answer???? Really? I thought this was a community to turn to for advice and yet here I am 24 hours later with no suggestions...I guess I will go to Dadsguidetodisney since I have received answers from Dad himself....thought this sight was supposed to be helpful but apparently not. It's bad enough when you are ignored in real life but to be completely ignored on a forum is just the last blow....

 

[adibenedetto]

Definitely avoid MK on Christmas Day, its usually wall to wall people. Epcot is a good alternative, depending on the type of food you want to eat, check restaurants in World Showcase. I've only eaten at a few there (I tend to eat quick service and not full sit down meals). But I would recommend Le Cellier in Canada (best cheddar soup ever), Rose and Crown in the UK Pavillion, Tutto Italia in Italy or Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway. The Akershus is a character dining restaurant that includes the Princesses, I'm not sure if this suits you, but I've heard great things from it (I've only eaten there for lunch).

Hollywood Studios is also a good bet because they have the Spectacle of Lights. I spent Christmas there last year and we dined at Mama Melrose (being Italian and having a lasagna christmas dinner tradition, it was almost a no brainer to eat there). Hollywood Studios was not unreasonably crowded, but there were a lot of people near the Spectacle of Lights. I would prefer this park over Epcot just because of the feel of Christmas you get when listening to the music and walking through the lights.

Whichever park you choose, make sure you allocate extra time to get there (if using WDW transportation) and make sure to get to you designated restaurant a few minutes early.

 

[saskdw]

I am shocked at how many have looked at my post and not bothered to answer???? Really? I thought this was a community to turn to for advice and yet here I am 24 hours later with no suggestions...I guess I will go to Dadsguidetodisney since I have received answers from Dad himself....thought this sight was supposed to be helpful but apparently not. It's bad enough when you are ignored in real life but to be completely ignored on a forum is just the last blow....

 

[habg1]

Try a resort restaurant. Avoid MK like the plague. We ate at 1900 Park Fare @ the GF on Christmas day in 2009. We are going back this Christmas and have yet to decide where I want to try. I guess it depends on whats available.

Maya Grill is good, at Coronado Springs, as is Captains Grille @ Yacht Club.

I would suggest maybe something on the Monorail, ie. The Wave, O'Hana or Grand Floridian Cafe. Those are 3 very good places to try.

Good luck!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I agree with a resort restaurant.

I booked 'Ohana for Christmas morning. We're avoiding MK and heading to Epcot and have Christmas dinner at Via Napoli.

Good luck!

 

[donutday]

Two years ago we "came home" for Christmas Day by eating at the 50s Prime Time Cafe and had a great time. Our girls posed for our annual Christmas portrait in front of the aluminum tree wearing holiday ears. We brought a small box of candy for our "cousin" server, and sent one back to "mom" in the kitchen--and ended up with a Magic Moment certificate. It wasn't the traditional turkey meal but it was fun playing up the back-home theme and made it really feel like a holiday reunion instead of just another dinner out. Truly a Christmas dinner we will never forget with our Prime Time "Family"!

 

[ms mouse]

Trying to get into MK Christmas day is impossible, it will probably be closed by the time you get there. You have probably already made reservations by now but Epcot is what we do but one of the resorts might be your best bet. Grand Floridian is beautiful at Christmas and there is a character dinner there. The counter services are crazy, so if you want a real meal make reservations. Have fun, our plan was to do it one year at Christmas, we loved it so much we have gone every year since.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL

 

[ArcEntropy]

Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL

I agree.

 

[disneycruising]

We are also going to be there on Christmas Day.

This will be our first time at WDW for Christmas day. Because of comments I had seen here, about how crowded it would be, I decided not to book an ADR in a park for Christmas day. I ended up booking Kona for brunch and Captains grill for dinner.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Yep we are having dinner at 1900 and avoiding trying to get into any park on xmas day.

 

[DisneyGayl]

I have an ADR for my family on Christmas Day at Les Chefs de France at 5:40 pm. We have always wanted to eat there!

I read that even Epcot is crowded on Christmas Day, but we're planning to go there only for our dinner reservation. Hopefully we can fight our way through the crowds to get to France in time!

After dinner, we're planning to go to DHS to hopefully see Fantasmic! and the Osborne Family Lights.

If everything works out like I hope it does, we will have a very special Christmas!

Gayl

 

[canadianmom2three]

So, what did you end up booking???

We are also there Christmas week, and booked 1900 Park Fare for brunch on Christmas Day, and Whispering Canyon for Christmas dinner (but we ARE hoping for traditional dinner, which I heard they serve??) We are at Garden Grill for Christmas Eve, with the CP package.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I did not find Christmas Day to be too crowded in Epcot last year. We had a dinner reservation at Les Chefs de France followed by Candlelight Processional. It made for a very lovely way to spend Christmas.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I am braving MK on Christmas day. Crystal Palace for breakfast and Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner. Just DS (11) and I.

 

[DisneyGayl]

Jennifer,

I am happy to read that you didn't find Epcot to be too crowded on Christmas day! We are having dinner at Les Chefs de France that evening, and I read in other posts that Epcot might be closed due to the crowds, and that we wouldn't be allowed in the park to enjoy our Christmas dinner! That wouldn't make our Christmas very merry!

Gayl

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

We will be there at Christmas too for the first time. YAY.
I was too scared to try the CP on Christmas Day - worried that we wouldn't get in the parks if we didn't get there by late morning since we're doing Christmas in our RV at Fort Wilderness...so I did CP on 12/20. We are doing Liberty Tree Tavern for our Christmas Eve Dinner and HDDR for Christmas Dinner. SO EXCITED!!!

 

[Jen12573]

We are eating at Narcoossees on Christmas night and avoiding the parks like the plague. This is our first trip at the holidays and we were really surprised to get all the ADRs we wanted and I only booked them on Wednesday! We'll get to see the 10pm Wishes from Narcoossees. It's our favorite restaurant. DH shot down eating at Hoop Dee Doo Review on Christmas night, so we're eating there on 12/30. Hey, my post below has only one comment feel free to comment on my ADRs too!