Suggestions on alternatives?

[mchelle77]

Going last week of February - I love trying new restaurants, but I'll be with a picky almost-11 year old and a picky 62 year old first-timer. ADRs I have so far (bolded are new for me):

Raglan (D)
Via Napoli (L)
Chefs (D)
BoG (B)
LTT (L)
Ohana (D)
50s Prime Time (L)
Chef Mickey's (D)
Kona (B)

My two iffy ADRs:

Chef Mickey's - I think that the picky ladies I'm with will love it (daughter has been there before and liked it) but I really would love to try a new place so I'm second guessing this choice. We'll be at AK that day with no park hoppers, so only options are AK and out of parks. Also tricky is the fact that there aren't many places that I haven't tried that don't have an overly adventurous menu (which would be good for me, not so good for my mother and daughter)

50s Prime Time - I went on my honeymoon and really liked it, and think my mother would like the idea of it, but not so sure about the menu ... I know she'll find something, but I can't help but wonder if Mama Melrose's Fantasmic package would be a better idea. (but again ... I've been before. I've been to every TS at DHS other than HBD)

Any input?

 

[Baklava]

Tusker House for the AK day, maybe? They seem to have a lot of standard fare.

 

[JZCubed]

Going last week of February - I love trying new restaurants, but I'll be with a picky almost-11 year old and a picky 62 year old first-timer. ADRs I have so far (bolded are new for me):

Raglan (D)
Via Napoli (L)
Chefs (D)
BoG (B)
LTT (L)
Ohana (D)
50s Prime Time (L)
Chef Mickey's (D)
Kona (B)
Any input?

We prefer Swan & Dolphin for Signature seafood/Italian dinners (blueZoo & Il Mulino) when visiting Boardwalk vicinity.

Big River Grille & ESPN are fine too if you don't want to make too many ADR's; arrive early to avoid long waits.

Your options:
-- Raglan Road - it's OK, but we prefer Chef's for dinner.
-- Via Napoli is fun and reasonable value, particularly if you order an oversized pizza. Save room for dessert in France or Norway....Wine at nearby Tutto Gusto.
-- BoG - some 11 y.o. prefer sleeping-in and/or not feeling rushed for breakfast; same can be said for some Grandparents. Only reason to go to in-Park breakfast is if your ADR is before 'rope drop' (a/k/a Park Opening). Even then, we prefer BoG for dinner - better food/cost value and you may also be photographed with The Beast.
-- Liberty Tree Tavern - can't go wrong here.
-- O'hana - may be too loud for Grandma. How about something inside Grand Floridian - the shops are lovely and the live jazz in the evenings is charming.
-- 50's Prime Time - Grandma might love this, 11 y.o. might prefer Sci-Fi Theater. Neither place is about the food. A 'kitschy' alternative is Whispering Canyon inside Wilderness Lodge.
-- Chef Mickey's - No. If you had a little child - maybe. Otherwise - No. Anything else in Monorail Loop is better. Characters at 1900 Park Fare even makes more sense.
-- Kona - if staying at Poly, I'd have at least one breakfast, lunch and/or dinner here. Best 3-meal menu at Disney World.

Fantasmic! - No matter how you try, with or without a Dining Package - you wait for Fantasmic! If you've planned a long day leading into the showtime, and/or you have plans for an early start for long following day, Fantasmic! can take a bit of energy. Then, add into the equation - transportation back to your Resort. Great show! We really enjoy it. But sometimes, it take take it's toll. Plan wisely.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I wouldn't do Chef Mickey's, especially for dinner. If you aren't going for the characters, I just think that's a massive waste of money for very mediocre food. If you want to dine with characters and since you are already in AK, why not try Tusker House? Yes, the food is a bit more adventurous, but I've been there multiple times with my picky DS8 and we always find him something to eat!

You could also head over to the Boardwalk area after AK and eat there. There are TONS of options. If you want a buffet, there's Garden Grove at Swan/Dolphin, blue zoo and Il Mulino are excellent. Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk is good and more reasonably priced than Il Mulino. Capt. Grille is also very good and not that adventurous. Cape May Cafe if you like seafood. May not have the fun factor like Chef Mickey's, but you could combine it with the entertainment on the Boardwalk, some of the Boardwalk games, mini-golf at Fantasia, etc., to make it a fun evening. You could also do this instead of 50's Prime Time if you feel like leaving DHS.

At DHS, we really like HBD, but if you don't want to spend that kind of $$ and want to stay in the park, I would switch to Mama Melrose. We prefer the food there over 50's.

 

[mchelle77]

Tusker House for the AK day, maybe? They seem to have a lot of standard fare.

I was under the impression that it was sort of on the adventurous side for food, but I'll go check it out. Thanks!

We prefer Swan & Dolphin for Signature seafood/Italian dinners (blueZoo & Il Mulino) when visiting Boardwalk vicinity.

Big River Grille & ESPN are fine too if you don't want to make too many ADR's; arrive early to avoid long waits.

Your options:
-- Raglan Road - it's OK, but we prefer Chef's for dinner.
-- Via Napoli is fun and reasonable value, particularly if you order an oversized pizza. Save room for dessert in France or Norway....Wine at nearby Tutto Gusto.
-- BoG - some 11 y.o. prefer sleeping-in and/or not feeling rushed for breakfast; same can be said for some Grandparents. Only reason to go to in-Park breakfast is if your ADR is before 'rope drop' (a/k/a Park Opening). Even then, we prefer BoG for dinner - better food/cost value and you may also be photographed with The Beast.
-- Liberty Tree Tavern - can't go wrong here.
-- O'hana - may be too loud for Grandma. How about something inside Grand Floridian - the shops are lovely and the live jazz in the evenings is charming.
-- 50's Prime Time - Grandma might love this, 11 y.o. might prefer Sci-Fi Theater. Neither place is about the food. A 'kitschy' alternative is Whispering Canyon inside Wilderness Lodge.
-- Chef Mickey's - No. If you had a little child - maybe. Otherwise - No. Anything else in Monorail Loop is better. Characters at 1900 Park Fare even makes more sense.
-- Kona - if staying at Poly, I'd have at least one breakfast, lunch and/or dinner here. Best 3-meal menu at Disney World.

Fantasmic! - No matter how you try, with or without a Dining Package - you wait for Fantasmic! If you've planned a long day leading into the showtime, and/or you have plans for an early start for long following day, Fantasmic! can take a bit of energy. Then, add into the equation - transportation back to your Resort. Great show! We really enjoy it. But sometimes, it take take it's toll. Plan wisely.

So the only ADRs I was questioning were Chef Mickey's and 50s - the others I'm set on for various reasons (we love Raglan entertainment, Via Napoli is reasonable for OOP, BoG is pre-park at 8am and loved it last time, Ohana is my mother's favorite kind of food - we've done 1900 and Sci-Fi). That's a great point you make about Fantasmic and waiting. I think I'll stick with 50s because of this. As for Chef Mickey's - the point was for the characters. No, I have no little kids, but I have a Disney fan who's going for the first time, and because of how decent the buffet is (and fairly basic as far as food choices go), I thought it was a good choice. But I'm at the point where I'm wondering if most of my decision was based on the value re: the dining plan. I have to separate that.

I wouldn't do Chef Mickey's, especially for dinner. If you aren't going for the characters, I just think that's a massive waste of money for very mediocre food. If you want to dine with characters and since you are already in AK, why not try Tusker House? Yes, the food is a bit more adventurous, but I've been there multiple times with my picky DS8 and we always find him something to eat!

You could also head over to the Boardwalk area after AK and eat there. There are TONS of options. If you want a buffet, there's Garden Grove at Swan/Dolphin, blue zoo and Il Mulino are excellent. Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk is good and more reasonably priced than Il Mulino. Capt. Grille is also very good and not that adventurous. Cape May Cafe if you like seafood. May not have the fun factor like Chef Mickey's, but you could combine it with the entertainment on the Boardwalk, some of the Boardwalk games, mini-golf at Fantasia, etc., to make it a fun evening. You could also do this instead of 50's Prime Time if you feel like leaving DHS.

At DHS, we really like HBD, but if you don't want to spend that kind of $$ and want to stay in the park, I would switch to Mama Melrose. We prefer the food there over 50's.

Didn't necessarily care if it was buffet or not, just that there were some standard options for the pickies Want to avoid the signatures (we're on the DDP, and are already paying OOP for Via Napoli and Kona .. and who else knows what we're going to do off-plan when we're there ... ) We've done Cape May and didn't care for it (we're from New England ... I wasn't impressed, I get better seafood closer to home)

Off to take a closer look at Tusker House - thank you both for that suggestion!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Since you're not sure about 50s, how about Sci-Fi( I see you've been there, but not mom)? My mother feels the nostalgia of her youth at the drive-in there and the food would be good for your non-adventurous eaters. As for Chef Mickey, how about the Wave, Grand Floridian Cafe or 1900 Park Fare?

 

[laughinplace199]

Going last week of February - I love trying new restaurants, but I'll be with a picky almost-11 year old and a picky 62 year old first-timer. ADRs I have so far (bolded are new for me):

Raglan (D)
Via Napoli (L)
Chefs (D)
BoG (B)
LTT (L)
Ohana (D)
50s Prime Time (L)
Chef Mickey's (D)
Kona (B)

My two iffy ADRs:

Chef Mickey's - I think that the picky ladies I'm with will love it (daughter has been there before and liked it) but I really would love to try a new place so I'm second guessing this choice. We'll be at AK that day with no park hoppers, so only options are AK and out of parks. Also tricky is the fact that there aren't many places that I haven't tried that don't have an overly adventurous menu (which would be good for me, not so good for my mother and daughter)

50s Prime Time - I went on my honeymoon and really liked it, and think my mother would like the idea of it, but not so sure about the menu ... I know she'll find something, but I can't help but wonder if Mama Melrose's Fantasmic package would be a better idea. (but again ... I've been before. I've been to every TS at DHS other than HBD)

Any input?

We love Chefs - the food and service have always been great and I like the atmosphere as well. If the menu is ok for your pick eaters, I think you'll enjoy it.

We also really enjoy LTT for lunch (we prefer lunch to dinner so everyone can order what they want). Also, the desserts are great - our favorites are the Ooey Gooey Toffee cake and the Martha Washington cake.

Kona was decent but it really lacks atmosphere. Maybe that's less important at breakfast though (we ate dinner there).

I know CM gets a lot of bad reviews, but we don't mind it. My youngest is 9 and still like characters and I think the food is fine (nothing special) and it's a fun, festive dinner.

We haven't done MM, but we really like 50's PTC. Maybe let your mom see both menus and pick what she likes best?

 

[jacknsally19]

What if you switch out 50s prime time for a brunch at Cape May Cafe? I know you mentioned that you did the seafood buffet and as not impressed but the breakfast is very good. Also, the characters are adorable - they are dressed in their swim gear.

I feel like Chef Mickeys is about as Disney as you can get so I could certainly see keeping it. I feel like the food at Tusker House is kind of adventurous so perhaps it makes sense to do breakfast. Another option is doing Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom.

 

[supersnoop]

The picky eaters can find something at a buffet, and it gives them the opportunity to try something that they may not normally. I would definitely swap Chef Mickeys for either Tusker House or Boma.

 

[mchelle77]

I feel like Chef Mickeys is about as Disney as you can get so I could certainly see keeping it. I feel like the food at Tusker House is kind of adventurous so perhaps it makes sense to do breakfast. Another option is doing Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom.

That was my mindset - it's the ultimate Disney meal with all of the characters. It worked out to be our last dinner in WDW.

No go for Rainforest, there's one nearby and we've all been several times.

 

[mchelle77]

Kona was decent but it really lacks atmosphere. Maybe that's less important at breakfast though (we ate dinner there).

My plan for Kona was the pancakes that I've been drooling/dreaming about since last trip when we had to cancel it - I need those pancakes! LOL

 

[mchelle77]

Since you're not sure about 50s, how about Sci-Fi( I see you've been there, but not mom)? My mother feels the nostalgia of her youth at the drive-in there and the food would be good for your non-adventurous eaters.

Interesting perspective! We've been to Sci-Fi several times (like 3?) so it never occured to me to have that as an option.