Top 5 Places to Eat at WDW?

[CathieArms]

Hi All! I'm a newbie, but I've been reading these message boards for weeks and have found TONS of useful information...thank you!

So, I'm planning a trip to WDW for August of '09 (yes, I'm a planner). I'm wondering if some of you veterans would give me your top 5 list of best "theme" restaurants to eat while we're there. On my list right now is the 50s Diner and Coral Reef.

With us we'll have my husband's parents (mostly "hip" in their early 60); my husband and myself (39 and 40), my brother and his wife (mid-to-late 30s) and our collective 4 children (ages almost 5, 4 1/2, 18 months and 13 1/2).

I'd like to include a character meal (preferably Mickey/Minnie) and then some other "fun" things that you just can't do anywhere but at WDW.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DaveClan]

Going for theme, I'd include some of the following:

Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, Jiko (or Boma), Rainforest Cafe, Biergarten.

Hope that helps!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

50's Prime time cafe
Chef Mickeys
Ohana
Whispering canyon cafe
Boma

 

[CathieArms]

Going for theme, I'd include some of the following:

Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, Jiko (or Boma), Rainforest Cafe, Biergarten.

Hope that helps!

Thank you. Do you know if the Rainforest Cafe at WDW is any different than the Rainforest Cafes elsewhere? We have one near here at the Mall of America and I've just never been impressed with the food or the service. The theme is okay, I guess. Do you know if they're exactly the same, or is there more to the one at WDW that might inspire me to try it?

 

[DaveClan]

Thank you. Do you know if the Rainforest Cafe at WDW is any different than the Rainforest Cafes elsewhere? We have one near here at the Mall of America and I've just never been impressed with the food or the service. The theme is okay, I guess. Do you know if they're exactly the same, or is there more to the one at WDW that might inspire me to try it?

I can't compare it to the Mall of America RC, but we have one in Burlington, MA and they aren't even in the same league. I love the atmosphere in DTD, even though some people may think it's loud. It screams vacation to me.

My 59 year old mother loves it as well as my 26 year old girlfriend and her 5yo DD.

 

[snowmouse]

Thank you. Do you know if the Rainforest Cafe at WDW is any different than the Rainforest Cafes elsewhere? We have one near here at the Mall of America and I've just never been impressed with the food or the service. The theme is okay, I guess. Do you know if they're exactly the same, or is there more to the one at WDW that might inspire me to try it?

I think you would find it very much like MOA.

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

Thank you. Do you know if the Rainforest Cafe at WDW is any different than the Rainforest Cafes elsewhere? We have one near here at the Mall of America and I've just never been impressed with the food or the service. The theme is okay, I guess. Do you know if they're exactly the same, or is there more to the one at WDW that might inspire me to try it?

I have been to the Rain Forest in Nashville and it isn't a cool to me as the one in DIsney. I also like that the one at AK serves a yummy breakfast with a fresh fruit juice bar. YUMO

 

[simonkodousek]

My personal Top 5 restaurants are...

~Kona Cafe (Breakfast -- the Tonga Toast is AMAZING!)
~Whispering Canyon Cafe (Dinner -- this is a really fun restaurant... just ask for ketchup)
~Crystal Palace (Dinner -- we have been going to the Crystal Palace for our first Magic Kingdom dinner of the trip for years. It is a character restaurant, but don't expect great interaction)
~Nine Dragons (Dinner -- Nine Dragons is a Chinese restaurant in the Epcot World Showcase. This is our traditional Epcot dinner restaurant. Unfortunately it will be closed until early next year for renovations, but the food will remain the same)
~Biergarten (Dinner -- another restaurant in the Epcot World Showcase, Biergarten serves excellent German food in a Sommerfest atmosphere. We've been here for both lunch and dinner, and I have found that the food and service is much better at dinner)

Hope that helps! For menus, check out this list on WDWinfo.com... http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

~Simon

 

[BCV2002]

50's Prime time cafe
Chef Mickeys
Ohana
Whispering canyon cafe
Boma

You read my mind. These are definitely the best places for the "theme" and for big families, and IMHO, especially WCC and Ohana.

I couldn't think of a better list than this one!

As for Rainforest, it's amazing, however, those are all over the country. These restaurants above are only at WDW.

 

[Rylee]

Hi All! I'm a newbie, but I've been reading these message boards for weeks and have found TONS of useful information...thank you!

So, I'm planning a trip to WDW for August of '09 (yes, I'm a planner). I'm wondering if some of you veterans would give me your top 5 list of best "theme" restaurants to eat while we're there. On my list right now is the 50s Diner and Coral Reef.

With us we'll have my husband's parents (mostly "hip" in their early 60); my husband and myself (39 and 40), my brother and his wife (mid-to-late 30s) and our collective 4 children (ages almost 5, 4 1/2, 18 months and 13 1/2).

I'd like to include a character meal (preferably Mickey/Minnie) and then some other "fun" things that you just can't do anywhere but at WDW.

Thanks in advance!

Hi

We think the Si-Fi Dine-In @ HS is one of the best themed restaurants at Disney. Sit in cars at the drive-in movies... the kids love it! The food receives mixed reviews but my kids request it every year. Think buger joint, or go for dessert.

For a Mickey character meal, I suggest Chef Mickey's @ the Contemporary Resort. This is very convenient to MK. Our second favorite character meal is Crystal Palace @ MK... Pooh characters. (Any little girls in your party may want to dine in the castle... must call at the 180 mark.)

We also love Coral Reef @ Epcot, Boma @ the AKL and O'Hana @ the Poly.

Another experience you can only get at Disney is watching MK's Wishes from the California Grill @ the Contemporary Resort.

Have fun planning.

 

[ajseagles3]

In no particular order...

Portabello Yacht Club
California Grill
Todd English's bluezoo
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Wolfgang Puck's (dining room)

 

[danielle782001]

We are simple eaters.... Looking for the Disney experience without "fancy" foods...

Top 5:
Tusker House for breakfast
Chef Mickeys for breakfast
Sci-Fi for lunch or dinner
Cape May Cafe for breakfast
Whispering Canyon Cafe for breakfast or dinner

Runners-up:
Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner
Crystal Palace for breakfast
50s Prime Time for lunch or dinner
Garden Grill for lunch or dinner
Trails End for dinner
Rainforest Cafe in DTD

Looking forward to trying:
T-Rex (when it opens)
1900 Park Fare for breakfast

 

[jdcamp]

Our top 5- (for 2 30 yr olds, a 2 1/2 yr old and 11 month old)

Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Mickey's Backyard Barbecue
1900 Park Fare
Donald's Safary Breakfest

 

[kimgof]

Chef Mickey- love breakfast here , its a staple for our trips
If your 5 yr old is a girl, then CRT
Whispering Canyon- heard so many cool things about this place, we are trying it this year.
Crystal Palace- one of the better character buffets. All of the characters are out the whole time and the restaurant itself is very pretty.
50's Prime Time- we are trying this year also based on what other people have told us.
If you are up for a Dinner Show I recommend the HDDR. It is a lot of fun.

 

[embgrl]

The must do's that we book every trip are:
1. Chef Mickey's- breakfast
2. Ohana's- dinner
3. 50's Primetime- dinner
4. Sci-Fi Dine-In- lunch
5. ESPN Club@Boardwalk- dinner (No ADR's, walk-up only)

There are many more that we frequent, but we always book these first.

 

[Figment's Friend]

Here are my favorites, going by theme.

Sci Fi Dine In Theater
50's Prime Time Cafe
Chef Mickey's
Coral Reef
Cinderella's Royal Table

All the food is GREAT, too!

 

[JD3419]

Here is our top 5:
-Boma
-California Grill
-Whispering Canyon Cafe
-50's Prime Time Cafe
-Le Cellier

 

[stopher1]

For us it would be: (in no particular order, but must-do's just the same)

1. O'hana for breakfast
2. Restaurant Marrakesh in Morroco
3. Boma
4. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre
5. Garden Grille in The Land

 

[KatMark]

Crystal Palace for breakfast with Pooh and friends; Chef Mickey's for dinner with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald; LeCellier in Canada at World Showcase at Epcot; Biergarten in Germany at World Showcase at Epcot; Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wildnerness Lodge (although we've not eaten there yet, we are on this trip due to all the great reviews and how much fun everyone says it is); 50's Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios. We've not done any table service at Animal Kingdom yet, but will be trying Yak & Yeti this year. We always do Flame Tree Barbecue for our counter service meal at AK.

 

[tlriv5]

Our last trip we really enjoyed:
50's Cafe (loads of laughs if you'll play along and the food was good)
Coral Reef (good food and the aquarium was neat to look at, it is dark in there though)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (this was loads of fun! some complain about it being loud, but we didn't think it was too bad and the food was really good!)

We are going back this year and just really want fun restaurants and we can't wait to go to Biergarten and Ohana.

The character meals we've enjoyed are Crystal Palace (Pooh and friends) and Ohana breakfast (Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto). We are trying Chef Mickey and 1900 Park Fare this year.

IMO I would skip Rainforest. I've been to the one in DTD and the one in Nashville, TN and I don't see enough of a difference to give up and Disney restaurant that you can't go to anywhere else, plus if you do dining plan I don't remember Rainforest being on it. Hope you all have loads of fun!!