Tell me your favorite dining experiences!

[heehee611]

So we have been to Disney 5 times in the last 5 years, and our trips are getting stale, as much as I hate to say it. we go to the same restaurants every time, and although they are places we really like, we want to change it up a bit when we go again next December. We have 2 boys who will be 6 (almost 7) and 10 at the time of our next trip. The boys and I aren't terribly adventurous eaters, but maybe willing to stretch out of our comfort zone a little Here are the places we typically eat, and the other one we definitely want to keep for next time is dinner at Ohana (it's our favorite place).

HS: Hollywood & Vine (the seasonal dine the last 2 times)
Epcot: Did Biergarten on our first trip, not opposed to doing it again but open to other ideas. No Akershus, did it twice already. Where else should we try there?
MK: Done Crystal Palace a lot
AK: Do Tusker House every time, love it (we even named our puppy Tusker!) but interested in maybe trying Yak and Yeti? Also have done Rainforest Cafe
Resorts/Other: Done 1900 Park Faire breakfast, Ohana dinner (we love and will do again next time), Whispering Canyon, Hoop Dee Doo (did once, really enjoyed it), Boma dinner, Cape May breakfast and dinner
Disney Springs: Done T Rex


In particular, we are interested in the Sunday brunch at Narcoosee's, and especially any recommendations for Epcot. We are not opposed to Signature dining (2 meals) if it is really outstanding.

Thanks so much!

 

[Disney_traveler]

My recommendations although others may disagree:
HS: I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere of 50s Prime Time
Epcot: this recent trip we did Garden Grill dinner and it is now my favorite meal of anything on Disney property.
MK: out of everything there, I actually prefer Pecks Bill over anything
AK: haven't done any here

If you feel like branching out I'd also recommend: Trails End at Fort Wilderness, Whispering Canyon at Wilderness

 

[heehee611]

My recommendations although others may disagree:
HS: I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere of 50s Prime Time
Epcot: this recent trip we did Garden Grill dinner and it is now my favorite meal of anything on Disney property.
MK: out of everything there, I actually prefer Pecks Bill over anything
AK: haven't done any here

If you feel like branching out I'd also recommend: Trails End at Fort Wilderness, Whispering Canyon at Wilderness

Thanks! we did 50s Prime Time once and enjoyed it. We have had Garden grill booked a couple of times now and have always cancelled it for something else! Maybe we'll try it this time We love Pecos Bills too, just ate there a few weeks ago! I wish MK had more good table service options!.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Thanks! we did 50s Prime Time once and enjoyed it. We have had Garden grill booked a couple of times now and have always cancelled it for something else! Maybe we'll try it this time We love Pecos Bills too, just ate there a few weeks ago! I wish MK had more good table service options!.

With Garden Grill, if your kids like goldfish crackers, they put some on top of the mac n cheese. I'm 32 and was flipping out excited about it!

 

[SA mom]

Here are a few our kids enjoyed around that age:


Mama Melrose
Chef Mickeys
Liberty Tree Tavern
Il Mulino
Marakesh
Hoop De Door Musical Review

Our last trip included Dine with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. I think the age requirement is 14, but definitely something to consider when your kids get a little older.

 

[Buzzster]

The new lounge in AK connected to Tiffins is great. Small plates in a wonderful setting. Try it out for something unique.

 

[aristocatz]

I did not see Hoop Dee Do Revue on your list. This was hands down the most fun dining experience we have ever had at WDW!

 

[heehee611]

I did not see Hoop Dee Do Revue on your list. This was hands down the most fun dining experience we have ever had at WDW!

We did Hoop Dee Doo once and loved it! Not ruling that out, just want to do some different things too

 

[figmentedfollies]

For the Magic Kingdom have you tried Skipper's Canteen? It's been getting some great reviews recently. I went about a year ago and the theming and atmosphere was great. It just didn't accept the dining plan or discounts at the time.

Epcot: Teppan Edo in Japan was a surprise for us the last time we went. We snagged a lst minute ADR and loved the hibachi table. They were wonderful about my mother's shellfish allergy too. Also, we really enjoyed the Rose and Crown Pub.

HS: We did Mama Melrose several trips in a row and loved it. Prime Time Cafe was a great hit as well.

AK: Yak and Yeti (quick service) was quite good and reportedly the fried rice side could serve as an entire meal. Hamrabe Market gets great reviews, but I've not dined there myself.

I didn't see mentioned any of the Disney Spring restaurants. I love Raglan Road and chose that as my birthday dinner location.

 

[plutosbuddie]

I love Tiffins! WOW, it is a beautiful setting with great food.
The service was excellent. PLEASE get the bread!

Also, a PP recommended the lounge. YES! Get there early, enjoy the room and drinks before dinner. Such a relaxing way to start dinner.

Hakuna matata!!!

 

[BigAlsGal]

Love Sci-fi. Love LTT. Love Sunshine Seasons. Love Trails End. Love Rainforest Cafe.

 

[LSLS]

Our best experience was on our last trip in September at the Wave. The food was unreal (I told the manager the food was better than when we went to California Grill, including the steak which I have had at both places), and the server was incredible. They did a lot of little things right, including getting my daughter a desert off the main menu cause she didn't want ice cream (we were on the dining plan). It has easily worked it's way into our trips. Boardwalk Bakery for QS has also never been anything but outstanding.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Italian food is always a go for my picky eaters. We really enjoy Mama Melrose and Via Napoli. We might try Trattoria al Forno next trip.

1900 Park Fare dinner is also really fun. You may also want to give BOG a shot (we love PPO breakfast).

 

[nikjd68]

The new lounge in AK connected to Tiffins is great. Small plates in a wonderful setting. Try it out for something unique.

I love Tiffins! WOW, it is a beautiful setting with great food.
The service was excellent. PLEASE get the bread!

Also, a PP recommended the lounge. YES! Get there early, enjoy the room and drinks before dinner. Such a relaxing way to start dinner.

Um, OP has a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old--who are not "terribly adventurous eaters." Tiffins and Nomad Lounge??? Did you read the question?

 

[loves to dive]

You will get a hundred different opinions since it's all subjective. My son was always willing to eat anything so the more exotic the better for him when he was little. At Epcot, the WS is a great place to spread your wings, any of the QS locations would be good and you could share a meal so if it doesn't suit you, you won't have wasted a whole lot.

Kids usually love both SciFi and 50s Prime Time at HS (we aren't fans but love HBD). For QS Backlot Express is cute.

We love Skipper's Canteen at MK but that might be a bit too exotic for your kids so Pecos Bills is always a good option.

There is the whole new marketplace at AK for QS, lots of choices there. We ate at Tiffins last week and loved it but again, might not be for the boys.

The resorts all have great restaurants, we ate at Flying Fish last week and there were loads of kids there, it's a tad on the expensive side though. There is a cute soda fountain at the Dolphin, a lot less crowded than Beaches and Cream at BC and the food is good.

 

[AshClan]

I have a few picky eaters, too. Our favorites include:
MK: Be Our Guest for dinner, believe it or not. The steak is great, though I get it with mac & cheese instead of fries. Atmosphere (especially in the West Wing) is magical.
Epcot: Via Napoli. Pizza and pasta are always a safe bet, and the food is great. Service can seem a bit rushed, but quick in and out isn't always a bad thing.
AK: Yak & Yeti. Plenty of choices, even for picky eaters (including ribs and even a burger). It is consistently outstanding.
DHS: Eh. Our least favorite eating park. We are revisiting 50's Prime Time this round, but it's been years. I love Brown Derby on my girls' trips, but not as much with picky eaters.

 

[rosiebean]

MK: Outside of Crystal Palace, my family likes Tony's. We don't expect 'authentic' Italian and are pretty happy with what we've had so far. We don't go there every year, but when we do go, we like it. We also really enjoyed The Plaza last year, but (IIRC), it's no longer something you can reserve... Sometimes, we skip out of MK for a late afternoon meal at a monorail hotel, so you have that option as well. We have really enjoyed our counter service meals at GF.

Epcot: We haven't been, but my kids want to go to Teppan Edo. My SiL went this past December and LOVED it. I really enjoy both sit down places in Mexico, and I really think San Angel Inn would appeal to kids (good kids menu, great 'view' of the pyramid and erupting volcano). Via Napoli is also a sit down option everyone in my family enjoys.

AK: My new favorite is Yak and Yeti. Lots and lots of options for everyone's tastes. The 'side' of fried rice is under $10 and can easily feed three people. We plan on making that our regular AK sit down place. It was really really good this past year.

DHS: While I really enjoyed the meal at Prime Time, my extended family (including kids) love the atmosphere at Sci Fi so much that we put up with food that's not quite as good as at PT. The old Sci Fi clips that play during the meal are a HOOT. We love it, even though it is hard to see the menu and your food (as many will tell you), and even though some food options are better than others...but even the 'not quite as good' meals I've had here weren't bad at all, just not items I'd order again.

Edited to add:

Resorts:

We love Citricos, Artist Point, and California Grill. Not necessarily places for all kids, but mine are at the age (pre-teens, older, mostly well behaved adventurous eaters) where they'd enjoy the experience.

We also really enjoyed Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club during our last trip. OK atmosphere, but the service and food was outstanding. We also really enjoy Boatwright's at POR Riverside. My extended family rave about all offerings at AKL.

 

[Ava]

MK: BOG dinner. Lovely atmosphere, really good food, and you get to meet the Beast after dinner. (We did last year and I'm assuming that's still part of the experience since I haven't read otherwise.)

Epcot: Via Napoli for a TS. We love the Boulangerie Patisserie in France for a QS. There's a good variety of sandwiches, quiches, soups, etc for entrees and a wide assortment of delicious desserts. One of my 6-year-old's favorite things last trip was getting to choose any dessert she wanted out of their case.

DHS: We did Mama Melrose a couple years ago and really enjoyed it.

 

[DizDaD7]

So we have been to Disney 5 times in the last 5 years, and our trips are getting stale, as much as I hate to say it. we go to the same restaurants every time, and although they are places we really like, we want to change it up a bit when we go again next December. We have 2 boys who will be 6 (almost 7) and 10 at the time of our next trip. The boys and I aren't terribly adventurous eaters, but maybe willing to stretch out of our comfort zone a little Here are the places we typically eat, and the other one we definitely want to keep for next time is dinner at Ohana (it's our favorite place).

HS: Hollywood & Vine (the seasonal dine the last 2 times)
Epcot: Did Biergarten on our first trip, not opposed to doing it again but open to other ideas. No Akershus, did it twice already. Where else should we try there?
MK: Done Crystal Palace a lot
AK: Do Tusker House every time, love it (we even named our puppy Tusker!) but interested in maybe trying Yak and Yeti? Also have done Rainforest Cafe
Resorts/Other: Done 1900 Park Faire breakfast, Ohana dinner (we love and will do again next time), Whispering Canyon, Hoop Dee Doo (did once, really enjoyed it), Boma dinner, Cape May breakfast and dinner
Disney Springs: Done T Rex


In particular, we are interested in the Sunday brunch at Narcoosee's, and especially any recommendations for Epcot. We are not opposed to Signature dining (2 meals) if it is really outstanding.

Thanks so much!

Judging by you previous choices, it's safe to say you guys prefer the buffets. Here are some other suggestions for ya.

HS: I'd definitely try 50's P/T cafe..The food is quite good comfort food..Plenty of it to, and the antics are great...Also PB&J milkshake..YUMM
HS: Sci fi theatre dine in....Cute.. run of the mill stuff to order for the not so picky.

Epcot: I'd say San angel Inn @ Mexico great to eat down by the ride. If you don't have any Hibachi places near where you live, I'd say give Teppon edo a shot @ JAPAN, and for sure Via Napoli in Italy.

MK: The immediate one that jumps out is...BOG. Dinner. We've found this to be a memorable meal each of the 3 times we've eaten here. Lunch was pretty good, but not as good as dinner. We tried CG this past trip, and although mine was great the rest of the party had terrible experiences, along with the 65 minute wait prior to us being seated (WITH ADR's)

AK: Yak & Yeti for sure. & Boma's ( which you've tried ) That's one of the best if not the best, Buffets.

DS: I personally love Bongo's, but also like RR, and what was the old Fulton crab house (soon to be Paddlefish)

 

[JJsmama]

FYI: Our trips were starting to get stale too, so we skipped a year. They are more eager to go back now.
I have to admit, we have not 'loved' 'many wdw dining experiences in the past few trips But..

My boys looong favorite has been Garden Grill. Even the teens love it.
we also enjoyed the different pace of going to Trails End for dinner.
Everyone really enjoyed Chefs de france.
We always like LTT but prefer life lunch to dinner, as it is a nice break from the heat and usually we dont go back to Mk for dinner.