Taking first timers...

[DramaGeek]

I'm taking 3 friends (all of us are in our early 20's) to WDW next July.

What do you think of the restaurants I have picked out for us? Are there any places you can think of that I've missed that would be perfect for first timers in terms of atmosphere or food?

BoG - Dinner
Tusker House - Breakfast
CRT - Lunch
Beaches and Cream - Lunch
'Ohana - Dinner

I've been to 'Ohana for dinner on both my previous trips so I feel like it's a must and I've done lunch at BoG and breakfast at CRT so those are new meals but old restaurants for me.

Also, one of my friends is a ceoliac so if anyone has had any particularity good or bad experiences eating gluten free at these places I'd love to hear about it!

 

[Irish_Mike]

Pick the best of the best from each park so that they get a taste of the world, and then add in some at the resorts that are must dos.

Maybe swap CRT (Expensive, but lovely decor) with one of the world showcase options

 

[401Disney]

Personally I think you would have fun at the restaurants with a more fun atmosphere. So id throw in places like Prime Time, Sci-Fi, or Whispering Canyon just for a few examples. To me these places have always been a reliably good time. Maybe you guys would also like to try HDDR for a fun dinner show.

Are you guys going to be on the Dining Plan or paying out of pocket because I'm sure that will definitely play into your decision as well.

 

[shortnsassy730]

If I were picking places at each park, Raglan Road at Disney Springs, Via Napoli at Epcot, BOG at Magic Kingdom, 50's PrimeTime (I like their potpie gluten free) at DHS, and Tusker House at AK (this may be hard for celiac, I would ask on the Disabilities board, they will know for sure). Sanaa is good for Celiac and an early dinner with a view of the animals on the Savannah would be amazing! I am recently new to a wheat allergy so I haven't tried options at lots of places yet.

 

[JZCubed]

I'm taking 3 friends (all of us are in our early 20's) to WDW next July.

What do you think of the restaurants I have picked out for us? Are there any places you can think of that I've missed that would be perfect for first timers in terms of atmosphere or food?

BoG - Dinner
Tusker House - Breakfast
CRT - Lunch
Beaches and Cream - Lunch
'Ohana - Dinner

I've been to 'Ohana for dinner on both my previous trips so I feel like it's a must and I've done lunch at BoG and breakfast at CRT so those are new meals but old restaurants for me.

Also, one of my friends is a ceoliac so if anyone has had any particularity good or bad experiences eating gluten free at these places I'd love to hear about it!

-- BOG Dinner - this is our preference since this is when you can be photographed with The Beast. Also, we like to food/value ratio.
-- Tusker House Breakfast - unless you are finished with your meal before 'Rope Drop', I never recommend breakfast. We prefer lunch timed for when Lion King Show is over.
-- CRT Lunch - this is our preference. Rides are too important during breakfast hours (see: Tusker House). Also, the $$premium$$ for dinner, IMHO, is not worth it.
-- Beaches & Cream - why? Burgers & Ice cream are nothing special. The room is a bit kitschy, but I recommend Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time, assuming you're going to Hollywood Studios.
-- O'hana - not my favorite, but it seems to be a favored choice of yours. Dinner comes with a show. I'd recommend any sit-down at Grand Floridian, because the hotel lobby is far more adult than anything else at Disney; includes Mizner's Lounge & live jazz music.

 

[Disney Kidd]

I think BOG and Ohana are great choices. I agree with a previous poster that you should have at least one meal in the World Showcase. I always have fun at Biergarten in Germany, and also love the food. Teppan Edo is also fun, but not really different than a Benihanas. Raglan Road in Downtown Disney is also a favorite and very fun with Irish dancers, and sometimes a live band!

 

[DramaGeek]

-- BOG Dinner - this is our preference since this is when you can be photographed with The Beast. Also, we like to food/value ratio.
-- Tusker House Breakfast - unless you are finished with your meal before 'Rope Drop', I never recommend breakfast. We prefer lunch timed for when Lion King Show is over.
-- CRT Lunch - this is our preference. Rides are too important during breakfast hours (see: Tusker House). Also, the $$premium$$ for dinner, IMHO, is not worth it.
-- Beaches & Cream - why? Burgers & Ice cream are nothing special. The room is a bit kitschy, but I recommend Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time, assuming you're going to Hollywood Studios.
-- O'hana - not my favorite, but it seems to be a favored choice of yours. Dinner comes with a show. I'd recommend any sit-down at Grand Floridian, because the hotel lobby is far more adult than anything else at Disney; includes Mizner's Lounge & live jazz music.

- Tusker House - My plan was to book a late breakfast and cross over into lunch - that way we can hit a few things a rope drop then use our FP's for the rest and see shows after we eat - does that seem doable?
-Beaches and Cream - not being American we like to have "American" food and we want to try the Kitchen Sink. Sci-fi the only thing we would eat is burgers anyway and we don't care for "audience participation" so I feel like 50's is out (unless I can tell them to be "normal"? lol)

 

[DramaGeek]

Personally I think you would have fun at the restaurants with a more fun atmosphere. So id throw in places like Prime Time, Sci-Fi, or Whispering Canyon just for a few examples. To me these places have always been a reliably good time. Maybe you guys would also like to try HDDR for a fun dinner show.

Are you guys going to be on the Dining Plan or paying out of pocket because I'm sure that will definitely play into your decision as well.

We are paying OOP

My only concern with the places you've mention (the food looks great) is the "interactive" portions - are you able to ask them to leave you alone? lol

 

[DramaGeek]

If I were picking places at each park, Raglan Road at Disney Springs, Via Napoli at Epcot, BOG at Magic Kingdom, 50's PrimeTime (I like their potpie gluten free) at DHS, and Tusker House at AK (this may be hard for celiac, I would ask on the Disabilities board, they will know for sure). Sanaa is good for Celiac and an early dinner with a view of the animals on the Savannah would be amazing! I am recently new to a wheat allergy so I haven't tried options at lots of places yet.

Thanks for your recommendations

 

[DramaGeek]

Pick the best of the best from each park so that they get a taste of the world, and then add in some at the resorts that are must dos.

Maybe swap CRT (Expensive, but lovely decor) with one of the world showcase options

We wanted to do CRT for the princesses as well as eating in the castle since its probably their first and last times coming.

With the world showcase our issue is nothing stands out as something we can't get back home for a lot cheaper (living in Sydney all these cuisines are readily available but shockingly hard to get "proper" american food!)

Do you have a stand out World Showcase option?

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The places you have selected are some of our favorites and great places to take first-timers. We plan to visit with some first timers in the spring and I chose most of those, too.

I would add Sanaa, though. It is so special. The food is unusual and interesting, and there aren't many places one earth where you can have a nice meal while watching African animals on the savanna.

 

[401Disney]

We are paying OOP

My only concern with the places you've mention (the food looks great) is the "interactive" portions - are you able to ask them to leave you alone? lol

At whispering canyon they have a coaster type thing on the table that you can flip if your either for or against the shenanigans.

50s prime time isn't as in your face with the antics as whispering canyon but it's definitely fun and I'm sure if it's to much you can ask them to tone it down.

Sci-fi is just a great atmosphere there aren't any antics going on there really.

 

[Gary M]

As 401Disney stated, you can stay away from the "fun" by flipping a coaster at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. We don't enjoy the antics and were left alone by doing that. WCC is in a very impressive resort that you may enjoy. I'm not sure what you eat in Australia, but you might check the menu at WCC to see if that's American for your taste.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=17

 

[smhwalker2011]

I'm also going with first timers! I chose by atmosphere and food choices, kinda mixed the two up! we're doing ohana, sci-fi, via napoli, tusker & be our guest!

 

[Tigger's ally]

Great age for Raglan Road. Great atmosphere for 20 somethings.

 

[Travis B]

I'm taking 3 friends (all of us are in our early 20's) to WDW next July.

What do you think of the restaurants I have picked out for us? Are there any places you can think of that I've missed that would be perfect for first timers in terms of atmosphere or food?

BoG - Dinner
Tusker House - Breakfast
CRT - Lunch
Beaches and Cream - Lunch
'Ohana - Dinner

BoG - Good call. It's pretty cool to be inside Beast's castle, and would be memorable to first-timers. Not overly expensive, for Disney at least.

Tusker - Character buffets are fun, even for adults. I preferred Crystal Palace to Tusker. Might I suggest a lunch or dinner at AKL? Jambo is worth a visit even if you're dining at Kidani.

CRT - I haven't been so I'm not the expert - but I would re-consider. Face characters can be kind of awkward for adults. You know your friends better than I do, but if they're first-timers I would worry it could be too much or weird for them. It's also expensive.

Beaches and Cream - Like PP, I would also do Sci Fi instead of Beaches and Cream for burgers. It's a kitschy drive-in theme with old sci-fi movie footage playing. Service is normal restaurant service. You would get the American food and pop culture history, and save travel time back and forth to Beach Club. Alternately, Casey's could be a great spot to get a similar experience for American food.

'Ohana - Totally on board, I like 'Ohana too. I think it would be a memorable experience for first-timers, and the Poly is gorgeous.

Like some others have mentioned, I would consider a Disney Springs dinner. Raglan Road, Morimoto, Jock Lindsay's Hangar Bar, and whatever else is open there when you visit. Lots of good options for meals or drinks and appetizers. Taking the boat from POR to Springs is always nice.

 

[jimmytammy]

Nothing against Beaches N Cream, but being that close to Epcot or HS, for a more immersive experience, try San Angel Inn, Rose N Crown or Biergarten at Epcot, or 50s PTC at HS. Food is good at all of them and the experience at all of them is wonderful

 

[JZCubed]

- Tusker House - My plan was to book a late breakfast and cross over into lunch - that way we can hit a few things a rope drop then use our FP's for the rest and see shows after we eat - does that seem doable?
That seems like a plan. Ride Everest first. Zip over to Safari and you might then catch the 1st showing of Lion King (right next to Tusker).
-Beaches and Cream - not being American we like to have "American" food and we want to try the Kitchen Sink. Sci-fi the only thing we would eat is burgers anyway and we don't care for "audience participation" so I feel like 50's is out (unless I can tell them to be "normal"? lol)
If Beaches & Cream is not particularly convenient for your days travel, Whispering Canyon is another 'audience participation' place with American food. The antics may be more to your liking. Also, ESPN is an American-style sports pub along Boardwalk with better-than-average American food.

see above

 

[Harambe]

I think you should do the Hoop-de-doo Review! That is great "American" food!! And the show is fun (as is the beer!). You could skip the CRT, since you are having dinner in the Beast's castle with BOG, so your friends would be getting the Disney feel with that, and use the funds to whoop it up at Hoop-de-doo. And you don't need to participate there either (I am with you, I don't like that interaction at restaurants beyond a pleasant server, thank you very much!)

 

[DramaGeek]

Thanks everyone for your advice This is what we've decided on - let me know if there is anything you would change