"This or that" dining opinions needed...

[DisneyDame]

This will be our first time using the dining plan for our trip in September. We just booked our trip in the last week, so I'm really feeling the "ADR stress" since I know I need to book my ADR's as soon as possible. I've made a few, but am having trouble deciding on the rest. I'm looking for "this or that" opinions on the restaurants below. I realize some of my choices are like night and day, so what I'm hoping for are opinions on the best overall experience of two: Here it goes:

Crystal Palace for breakfast or 1900 Park Fare for dinner?
Spirit of Aloha dinner show or Ohana for dinner?
Chef Mickeys or Tonys Town square for dinner?
Kona Cafe or Concouse Steakhouse for dinner?
Coral Reef for dinner or Spirit of Aloha dinner show?
Big River Grill at the Boardwalk or Nine Dragons at Epcot for dinner?

Thanks!

 

[cocodog]

The only one I can help with is the Chef Mickey's dinner vs. Tony's Town Square dinner. We did both in late spring. I would choose Tony's. [We will not eat dinner at Chef Mickey's again-- it was a huge disappointment and waste of money.]

Tony's was not perfect, but the manager handled my problem (repeatedly undercooked steak) very well. The theming is so cute, and dh's food (chicken something) was excellent. We requested an outside table and watched Spectromagic from there )

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Crystal Palace for breakfast or 1900 Park Fare for dinner?
* Crystal Palace for lunch or dinner - or 1900 Park Fare for dinner *
Personally, I think character lunches and dinners are better use of time and better for the price. We haven't been to 1900 Park Fare, but I've read good reviews. We've had some nice meals (lunch and dinner) at the Crystal Palace.
I don't think you can go wrong with either one. What's more convenient?

Spirit of Aloha dinner show or Ohana for dinner?
* Haven't been to either...

Chef Mickeys or Tonys Town square for dinner?
* Chef Mickey's. Nice buffet, and the characters are fun. You also have the option to purchase a nice group photo. Cute. I love Tony's because I love Lady and the Tramp for sentimental reasons, but Chef Mickey's is more likely to please others.

Kona Cafe or Concouse Steakhouse for dinner?
* Kona Cafe.

Coral Reef for dinner or Spirit of Aloha dinner show?
Big River Grill at the Boardwalk or Nine Dragons at Epcot for dinner?
* Haven't been to any of these....

Hope that helps a bit. It'll be interesting to see what others have to say.

 

[marathonmommy]

Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Kona
Coral Reef - Love this place!
9 Dragons

 

[CLEO Z]

Crystal Palace for breakfast or 1900 Park Fare for dinner? hard one, either is okay, but I'd go with CP
Spirit of Aloha dinner show or Ohana for dinner? Ohana is GREAT and I've seen some poor reviews of the Aloha dinner show.
Chef Mickeys or Tonys Town square for dinner? Hmm, not much for buffet. If you've got little ones pick CM, adults Tonys.
Kona Cafe or Concouse Steakhouse for dinner? Kona is awesome.
Coral Reef for dinner or Spirit of Aloha dinner show? Dunno.
Big River Grill at the Boardwalk or Nine Dragons at Epcot for dinner? Dunno.

 

[TheBeast]

The only one I can comment on in DON'T DO Big River Grill. We went there a few years ago and were disappointed. We tried again in April cause we didn't remember details and had a coupon - this time we were even more disappointed. Food not that good, service slow (even though it wasn't crowded), etc. It doesn't meet Disney standards (cause I don't think it's part of Disney).

 

[mom2dea]

Well my guys and little princess loves CP and chief mickeys these are the two places they asked for agian ! I however am not inlove wih chief mickeys but cause they love it sooooooo much we are doing it agian .

Because I now have my princess we are doing 1900 fare as well so I can't say if its good or not .

Ohana was very very yummy !!!!! My mom the most pickest eater of all times LOVED it there . try it atleast once .

Oh and if the aloha show is outside I am not sure I would want to do it . After being outside in the parks allll day I want to sit in the AC for my food .

Enjoy either way

Sarah

 

[Disneyfan63]

*Crystal Palace for breakfast. Ate there Saturday, October 14, 2000 and thought it excellent.
*'Ohana for dinner. Ate there Thursday, December 4, 2003 and Saturday, December 11, 2004. The food was awesome but I found that my eyes are sometimes bigger than my stomach.
*Probably Chef Mickey's for dinner, though I've never been there. There was only one entree at Tony's, where I ate on Sunday, December 7, 2003, that looked appetizing; but $25 for a NY Strip with a side of mac and cheese is steep.
*Probably Concourse Steakhouse for dinner. I thought that the rib platter I had there on Monday, December 8, 2003, was among my best ever meals at Disney. I've no experience with Kona Cafe, which I hope to rectify in December.
*Coral Reef for dinner. The setting is unbeatable, though the prices are high for the portion size. I went there for the last dinner of my trip last year, on Tuesday, December 14, 2004. The food was good--I had the tilapia (a flaky white fish) with potatoes and asparagus--but without tip or dessert the bill was $35.35. Have not tried the Spirit of Aloha Dinner show.
*Big River Grille and Brewing Company, where I ate dinner on Sunday, October 15, 2000, does not--or did not--take ADR (then known as PS). I had just gotten back from a day at Sea World Orlando but didn't want to eat dinner in the End Zone food court, All Star Sports. The woman at the check-in desk suggested this place. I took a bus to Epcot and then a Friendship Boat to Boardwalk, where I waited about 15 minutes to be seated. The steak was a little tough, but the garlic mashed potatoes were yummy. They might hold their noses at Morton's of Chicago, but it's decent pub food. Never been to Nine Dragons, of which I've read mixed reviews, many of them bad.

Jim

 

[goodferry]

*1900 Park Faire for dinner, it's fun to visit the GF and the dinner and character interaction are awesome

*'Ohana for dinner, one of our favorite meals in the "world"

*Of the Chef Mickey's or Tony's Town Square I would chose Tony's, however I would probably put Crystal Palace in here or Liberty Tree Tavern.

*I haven't been to either Kona or the Concourse, however, if you are visiting the Polynesian for one other meal, I would choose the Concourse Steakhouse

*Of Coral Reef or Spirit of Aloha I would choose Spirit of Aloha. I don't know the ages of your children, though, I think the dinner show can be a little long for really young ones.

*I have never eaten at Big River or Nine Dragons, but would suggest Spoodles or ESPN Club on the Boardwalk.

 

[marathonmommy]

A co-worker of mine told me that a Disney CM told him that Tony's has a new chef and menu. I believe the fare used to be Contadina - I didn't mind the lasagna, though. If you don't have small kids and don't want to bother with CM, give Tony's a try - especially if it's under "new management". You can let us all know how it is!

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

crystal palace
ohanas
chef mickeys
kona
neither coral reef nor Aloha.. i would choose le cellier
9 dragons

 

[DisneyDame]

Thanks everyone for all the replies!!! I knew I could count on you guys for some valuable feedback!

Here's what we've decided on:

Crystal Palace for breakfast or 1900 Park Fare for dinner? CP
Spirit of Aloha dinner show or Ohana for dinner? SOA We've never been to a dinner show, so we've decided to give it a try.
Chef Mickeys or Tonys Town square for dinner? Tonys and Chef Mickeys since they both sound really good.
Kona Cafe or Concouse Steakhouse for dinner? Kona
Big River Grill at the Boardwalk or Nine Dragons at Epcot for dinner? Scrapping both of these in favor of Le Cellier (Couldn't get an ADR for dinner since they're all booked up, so we'll be heading there for lunch.)

Can't wait! I'll be sure to report back on our dining experiences after our trip.

Thanks!

__________
DisneyDame