The Wave or Grand Floridian Cafe???

[lcznc]

Hi everyone!

In an attempt to not pay OOP while on the Dining Plan on our upcoming trip to WDW in September, we will not be eating at any Signature Restaurants. So, we currently have a ressie for The Wave for dinner but based on some sketchy reviews I, of course, am second guessing myself. There is availability at the Grand Floridian Cafe for the same evening and I am thinking about giving it a try. For some background, we will also be dining at:

Kona Cafe
Les Chefs de France
Via Napoli
1900 Park Fare
The Wave (???)

What would you all do? We are really trying to maximize our dining credits AND try some new restuarants. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

 

[rotlex]

Personally, I'd go with the Grand Floridian Cafe. We have eaten there on at least 3 trips, and always had a great time, with great food. We have eaten at the wave once, and swore we would never go back. Food was mediocre at best, the atmosphere very "normal", and the service, at least the waitress we had, was very detached from everything.

 

[mdsd8700]

Not sure which one will maximize your dining credits as we pay OOP, but I am sure someone else can help with that.

The Grand Floridian Cafe was always one of our usual spots as we loved the location and the menu choices were pretty standard the food was good, although not great. We tired of it after awhile and have not been there in our last couple of trips.

The Wave is a bit more contemporary and the portions smaller (at least what we had). Though I will say we enjoyed it very much and would return.

I think it depends on the food/atmosphere you are looking for. The GF Cafe is pretty much a standard resturant that you would find near your home and the Wave is a bit more ususal. Even though they have standard choices (burgers, chicken breast) it definately is a more modern twist.

We went last November for lunch and it was Thanksgiving weekend, we were just about the only people in there.

 

[dpmfloyd]

i ate at both on our last trip. two very different places, however i'd suggest the grand floridian cafe. but it depends on what you want... the wave you could leave hungry. the food is a little skimpy. and the atmosphere looks like you're eating in the brady bunch living room. (dont be fooled by the funky/modern entrance - the moment you pass the bar you're in the 60s)

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I would easily choose the Grand Floridian Café. We've always had great service there, the menu is wonderful and the dining room is quite pretty. I find the Wave utterly charmless. The dining room and the menu are both dull. It's amazing to me how the restaurant itself can lack any semblance of ambiance when the lounge is so interesting.

 

[busymomma123]

I can only comment on the Wave. We ate there two years ago during our December trip. The food was pretty good. The thing we didn't like was the time we spent there. Our table wasn't ready for about twenty minutes. Then the dinner took about an hour and a half. We were there for almost two hours. I am not sure if the kitchen had an off night or what, but that long of dinner with small children is not fun.

I thought maybe we would give it another try, but my DH said he didn't care if we ever went back.

 

[sydneysmom]

GF Cafe hands down!! We ate there kind of "by accident". After riding "Stitch" in MK, my DD decided she didn't want anything to do w/ Stitch. So I had to cancel our breakfast ADR's at Ohana for the Stitch breakfast. I'm SOOOOO glad we did !! We also wound up eating there for lunch on our last day. (the hamburger w/ lobster is AWESOME !!!)

The GF cafe was quiet, pretty, and the food was wonderful !!! We will definately eat there again for sure !!

 

[frannn]

I had booked the Wave for breakfast after reading about the wonderful new buffet. Discussed with DH, and gave him the GF as a second option. He chose GF, so I switched it. I'd much prefer to try a lunch or dinner there, as the menu looks great, but the bfst menu doesn't look too shabby either. We've never tried either place before, but the GF seems to get more favorable reviews. I think we both made a great choice!

 

[mkarizona]

I love the GF Cafe. The service is good, the atmosphere is lovely and the food is great. I had steak and the sauce was so good I wanted to lick the plate!

 

[lcznc]

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I think we will go with the Grand Floridian Cafe! This will be such a different trip for us for many different reasons and we are so looking forward to trying some different restaurants. I really do appreciate everyone's input. Thanks again!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Another vote for the Grand Floridian Cafe!

The atmosphere is GORGEOUS, and the service and food are wonderful.