Top restaurants that take one table service credit

[hawaiilife]

We have a 8 year old, 4 year old, and an infant. We are going to WDW in September and are on the DDP and have booked 1900 Park Fare, Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package, and I am struggling to figure out where to book the rest of our other table service meals. I don't want any signature/fine dining experiences as I don't want to pay 2 credits for any meals (the airfare from Hawaii has kept us on a tight budget). We also don't want to eat at anymore buffets (my husband prefers to be waited on but the children want characters so we are of course compromising). With that said, what do you recommend? We have a rental car so travelling around WDW will be fairly easy. We are open to all types of food. We dont have park hoppers so its maximum one place in Epcot. Thank you!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Garden Grill would be a great option in Epcot. It has characters (Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale) and is served family style (so not a buffet) for your husband. And the food is really good!

 

[madalex]

The Wave (Contemporary)
Ale & Compass (Yacht Club)
Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

 

[gharter]

AK- Tusker House, buffet, but great characters.
EPCOT Chef de France
EPCOT - Garden Grill
MK - Liberty Tree Tavern no characters, family style served at your table.
Ohana at Polynesian
The Wave at Contemporary

 

[NYCgrrl]

We have a 8 year old, 4 year old, and an infant. We are going to WDW in September and are on the DDP and have booked 1900 Park Fare, Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package, and I am struggling to figure out where to book the rest of our other table service meals. I don't want any signature/fine dining experiences as I don't want to pay 2 credits for any meals (the airfare from Hawaii has kept us on a tight budget). We also don't want to eat at anymore buffets (my husband prefers to be waited on but the children want characters so we are of course compromising). With that said, what do you recommend? We have a rental car so travelling around WDW will be fairly easy. We are open to all types of food. We dont have park hoppers so its maximum one place in Epcot. Thank you!

At Epcot you have the beauty of choosing from so many worthy 1 TS credit meals and I'll just touch the surface.

Japan Pavilion

Tokyo Dining should you want an adult like meal in a beautiful air conditioned atmosphere with food all ages will like. My kiddos are perfectly fine with the tempura and a soup. Or a chicky dish.

Teppan Edo is a nice show with food and caters to families in particular.

Katsuri Grill is a hybrid quick service(you put your order in at the counter and it's brought to you by a server) with food as nice as that found at TD and TE but a more limited menu. Great for children who enjoy noodles.


Germany Pavilion

Since you are tired of buffets (no issue from my POV) you might want to give Sommerfest a try. Again limited menu as expected with a QS but what they do they do well. One pretzel (they are GIANT) can feed the four of you with a German style frankfurter or bratwurst. No need to fold up the assumed stroller as seating is outdoors.

United Kingdom Pavilion

Yorkshire County Fish Shop, is QS with one entree: fish and chips and they do them very nicely. Seating is outdoors under umbrella shaded tables facing the lake.

Pretty sure the Rose and Crown is a 1 TS and it offers many choices in Brit food. Haven't eaten here yet but I hear well of it.

Italy Pavilion

My traveling children clamour for the pizza and dessert from Via Napoli.

 

[piratepride]

Ohana, Teppan Edo, Liberty Tree Tavern and Tusker House are all one table credit and VERY good! All are well worth it if you are on the dining plan.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I second Garden Grill, the Wave, and Sanaa!

 

[Kaleidodad]

At Epcot, we were a bit surprised how much our girls (8 and 5 at the time) liked the food at Coral Reef, and the ambience at lunch was really nice. We also really love Japanese steakhouse restaurants, and Teppan Edo was one of the best we have had!

 

[ErinTwinmom]

I’d tell your husband to suck it up and eat with characters. It is one of the best values for the dining plan. I would definitely get the Tusker house rivers of light dining package. I love Garden Grill and it is family style, as is O’hana breakfast. I like the Noraway restaurant whose name I can’t spell for princesses and we would normally eat with Pooh at the magic kingdom but it’s never great so next trip we are trying 1900 park fair breakfast because it still has Pooh with a different group of other Disney British characters which I’m hoping will be good.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We have a 8 year old, 4 year old, and an infant. We are going to WDW in September and are on the DDP and have booked 1900 Park Fare, Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package, and I am struggling to figure out where to book the rest of our other table service meals. I don't want any signature/fine dining experiences as I don't want to pay 2 credits for any meals (the airfare from Hawaii has kept us on a tight budget). We also don't want to eat at anymore buffets (my husband prefers to be waited on but the children want characters so we are of course compromising). With that said, what do you recommend? We have a rental car so travelling around WDW will be fairly easy. We are open to all types of food. We dont have park hoppers so its maximum one place in Epcot. Thank you!

IMHO, I think you will be happy with not booking any more buffets. I found them to be very difficult with young children as I (or DH) was always up at the buffet getting more stuff for kids and I never had the chance to actually sit and eat with my family.

Our favorite 1 TS credit non-buffet meals include:

EP Resort Area
Ale & Compass
Trattoria al Forno

MK Resort Area
GF Cafe
The Wave

MK
Skipper Canteen

EP
Spice Road Table

AK
Yak & Yeti

DHS
50's Prime Time (if you need something in addition to H&V)

Also, if you would prefer character meals that are not buffets, consider switching to Garden Grill, O'hana breakfast and/or Akershus. The servers bring the food to your table at these restaurants and it's a much more relaxing experience, IMHO.

 

[leebee]

What about Boma? It's our favorite restaurant of all, just about anywhere, and there are lots of "African" options as well as more traditional "American" food. Yes, it's a buffet, but SO worth the trip to Animal Kingdom Lodge so your kids can see the animals on the savanna, sit around the fire pit listening to stories, etc.

We also like 50s Prime Time at Disney Studios, Olivia's at Old Key West, The Wave at the Contemporary, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

What about Boma? It's our favorite restaurant of all, just about anywhere, and there are lots of "African" options as well as more traditional "American" food. Yes, it's a buffet, but SO worth the trip to Animal Kingdom Lodge so your kids can see the animals on the savanna, sit around the fire pit listening to stories, etc.

We also like 50s Prime Time at Disney Studios, Olivia's at Old Key West, The Wave at the Contemporary, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian.

Boma is awesome. Gets my vote here.

 

[epcotobsessed]

Akershus, Boma, Cape May Cafe all give excellent value for 1 credit, especially for dinner. Your girls would love the character interaction as well.

 

[dachsie]

To add, Biergarten is fun and the kids could go dance with the performers. A quiet, pretty setting is Grand Floridian Café. Crystal Palace has Pooh and gang

 

[TJA]

Epcot: Chefs de France or Teppan Edo or Tutto/Italy

MK: Skipper Canteen

AK: Rainforest Café or Yak & Yeti

Resorts:

Poly: Ohana dinner

AKL: Boma breakfast or dinner and also Sanaa dinner

 

[hawaiilife]

We have a 8 year old, 4 year old, and an infant. We are going to WDW in September and are on the DDP and have booked 1900 Park Fare, Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package, and I am struggling to figure out where to book the rest of our other table service meals. I don't want any signature/fine dining experiences as I don't want to pay 2 credits for any meals (the airfare from Hawaii has kept us on a tight budget). We also don't want to eat at anymore buffets (my husband prefers to be waited on but the children want characters so we are of course compromising). With that said, what do you recommend? We have a rental car so travelling around WDW will be fairly easy. We are open to all types of food. We dont have park hoppers so its maximum one place in Epcot. Thank you!

Y'all are awesome! Thank you all for your replies!

My next question is, do you recommend Sanaa or Trattoria al Forno? We have tried Sanaa a couple of years ago and we loved it but wondering if we should stick with what we know or switch it up?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Keep in mind that you don't have to pay extra for character interaction at restaurants.

Just look at the calendar for the time you'll be there and you'll find various free character visits at different parks. For instance, I've seen various princesses behind the castle @ MK, "Brer" characters walking in Liberty Square and near the Splash mountain ride and Russell can frequently be seen at AK's Discovery Island. Nice way to learn if a child actually enjoys meeting Disney characters off the pages or videos.

 

[goofyintoronto]

The Wave - one of my faves. Amazing food for both breakfast and dinner
Your DH wants to be served and your kids want characters....Garden Grill is the perfect compromise. I've had breakfast there and its really delicious! Everything is prepared well and really fresh. I highly recommend it.

 

[Huff]

Are you staying onsite? If so, you may not need the rental car and can ease up on your budget with parking fees as well. We've never rented a car. So easy to get around for free at WDW!

Our favorite 1TS restaurants are:
Coral Reef for its unique experience of viewing the huge aquarium while dining.

Ohana's is a lot of fun and if you time your reservation right, you can view the MK's fireworks on the beach at Poly before or after dinner. They play the soundtrack during the show.

San Angel has very good Mexican food, unique moonlit atmosphere and a small boat ride to enjoy before or after dinner.

The Wave has always had some of the best meals on our trip.

For Ohana's or The Wave take the monorail or boat ride from MK to add some fun.