Suggestions for "Only in Disneyworld" Dining Experience

[CableKC]

It's more then 9 months away...but I am in the planning stages of our next DisneyWorld trip for my family ( this is normal to plan for a DisneyWorld that is 9 months away, right? )...now with my 3 year old DD as well as my 7 year old DS and DW. Because I've been on a "I want to experience something different" kick and are "foodies" at heart....when I plan and go on vacation....I try to figure out where we can eat that would be memorable...not only for the food but the experience.

I have gone to DisneyWorld twice.....first time with DW on our honeymoon...and the 2nd time, about 2 years after that with DS. Both times....we went to Ohana...not only because of the unique food that I can't taste anywhere else....but the whole experience that went along with it. Having dinner at Ohana was one of those "You can only have a dinner like this in DisneyWorld" feelings....something that is really unique and memorable.

I looked on the Disneyworld website...and "lo and behold" there is some "unique" experience filter when you search for restaurants. But I wanted to see what other Dining experiences that many of you always plan to go to whenever you go to DisneyWorld.

Outside of Ohana....the 2nd time we went, we went to the Sci-Fi Dinner Restaurant...which was okay. Because my DD LOVES Disney princesses now...I plan on doing the Cinderella Castle dinner at MK. I'm also looking at Coral Reef at Epcot...cuz my wife and I love seafood.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[mma800]

Have the kiddies stay in kids club and check out Victoria & Alberts for a fancy dinner.
Whispering Canyon has a fun meal with entertaining servers that your kids may love like my kids do.
Dinner show perhaps?
California Grill has a wonderful dinner with a view.
Gospel Sunday Brunch at House of Blues was fun.
afternoon tea at Grand Floridian

Just a few ideas. We are heading there tomorrow and are trying a handful of new to us places this visit. Shula's, bluezoo, Garden Grove, Il Mulino... Then our standards like Cinderella's table, Crystal Palace, Hoop Dee Doo.

Happy Planning!

 

[krb2g]

Coral Reef is definitely a unique atmosphere (we love watching the fish while we dine). Another family favorite is the Garden Grill (sure you can find rotating restaurants elsewhere, but where else do they rotate over the Land boat ride, and come with Mickey & friends dressed like they've just spent a day on the farm?).

 

[ElizabethB]

IMO, being a "foodie" and wanting "only in Disneyworld" experiences, do not necessarily go together.

For example, I would say the following qualify for "only in Disneyworld":

Cinderella's Royal Table
Coral Reef
Sci-Fi Dine In
50s Prime Time Cafe
Chef Mickey's (or any of the character meals, really)
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Hoop De Doo Revue
Garden Grill
Some of the restaurants at World Showcase also might qualify -- the Moroccan restaurant with belly dancer (while not unique to Disney) is fun and the restaurant itself is quite beautiful; the German restaurant (buffet with entertainment)

However, as a "foodie" I would not bother with any of these --foodwise, they are only fair at best.

Restaurants for "foodies" that also have perhaps some aspect of "only in Disneyworld", I would say,
Victoria & Albert's (superior in every way -- no children under 10 allowed)
Jiko (excellent South African wine list)
Narcoosee's for a nice view of the fireworks and water light parade
California Grill (great view of the fireworks, but really uneven and haphazard on food and wine these days)

That's my take.

 

[goofyintoronto]

IMO, being a "foodie" and wanting "only in Disneyworld" experiences, do not necessarily go together.

For example, I would say the following qualify for "only in Disneyworld":

Cinderella's Royal Table
Coral Reef
Sci-Fi Dine In
50s Prime Time Cafe
Chef Mickey's (or any of the character meals, really)
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Hoop De Doo Revue
Garden Grill
Some of the restaurants at World Showcase also might qualify -- the Moroccan restaurant with belly dancer (while not unique to Disney) is fun and the restaurant itself is quite beautiful; the German restaurant (buffet with entertainment)

However, as a "foodie" I would not bother with any of these --foodwise, they are only fair at best.

Restaurants for "foodies" that also have perhaps some aspect of "only in Disneyworld", I would say,
Victoria & Albert's (superior in every way -- no children under 10 allowed)
Jiko (excellent South African wine list)
Narcoosee's for a nice view of the fireworks and water light parade
California Grill (great view of the fireworks, but really uneven and haphazard on food and wine these days)

That's my take.

I agree with you on this. The food at the "unique" resteraunts is just average. Not outstanding. A couple of those places i actually wouldnt even return to. I do agree with you about the signatures, they are kinda unique with amazing food. Only thing I disagree with is Cali Grill, I LOOOOVE that place. Awesome food, the best steak ever.

 

[Hobbes]

It's more then 9 months away...but I am in the planning stages of our next DisneyWorld trip for my family ( this is normal to plan for a DisneyWorld that is 9 months away, right? )...Does anyone have any recommendations?

Oh bless-you are SO in the right place here-we embrace people who plan months in advance-I myself am currently trying to bully my boss into booking a holiday there-I have even offered to do all the planning for him...

If you like mexican the San Angel is pretty much a "only in Disney" experience-I know a lot of people moan about the food but we're British and we eat ANYTHING! Where else can you sit in a moonlit Mexican Plaza at lunchtime?

 

[havoc315]

Nothing wrong with planning 9 months in advance, that's what I do.

It's true that "foodie" experience and "Disney-esque" experience don't necessarily overlap...

Cinderella's Royal Table will give you the most genuine Disney princess experience, with mediocre (at best) food.
I think the atmosphere at Sci Fi Diner and 50's Prime Time Cafe is unique and fun, but again, not exactly anything that impresses a foodie.

A true foodie may very well appreciate Victoria & Alberts (I haven't personally been there), but I don't get the sense that there is anything particularly "Disney" about it, if you have gone to ultra fine dining restaurants elsewhere in the country.

So turning to the question of where you can get a uniquely Disney experience, combined with a foodie experience...
-California Grill --- The food is good enough to impress (but not amaze) a foodie, with a view of the Magic Kingdom and the fireworks show. Can't do that in many places.
-Perhaps Tusker House -- I say perhaps, because I haven't personally eaten there. But the African cuisine is something that a foodie can't get just anywhere, and getting to combine it with Disney characters..... seems pretty uniquely Disney.