Trying all new restaurants need some advice

[FSU Girl]

We are going back in June (dreading how hot it’s going to be) but we decided we are going to try all new restaurants since we go a lot. Need some advice my reservation day is in a few days.

Animal Kingdom day - booking Rainforest Cafe. Good new pick? Not sure what time to do it at. We arrive this day and getting our strollers delivered at 2:30 to the hotel so we can’t get to the park until probably 3. I know it closes early so was thinking we’d go straight to the safari ride which is my daughter’s favorite. Should I book it for dinner time? Usually we do a late lunch for our arrival days but I don’t want it to be too late to get on rides after if we eat at 3?

Magic Kingdom day - going to try the Plaza restaurant for lunch. Not sure what we’ll do for dinner. Thinking either quick service at the hotel or Beaches and Cream.

Epcot day - Akershus for a breakfast. If we have a later time breakfast is it like other places where you can have some lunch items too? What time do they switch to lunch? Looking in the app I’m not seeing restaurant hours.

Going home day - probably will do topolinos again. The kids love this place

Are these good options for branching out to new restaurants? My baby has an egg allergy so that’s been a challenge in picking new places. I haven’t been in June in forever, is it a busy time? Was thinking of picking up dinners day of since kid schedules can be unpredictable.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

My DD 13 and I had lunch at both Rainforest Cafe and the Plaza back in February during our girls trip. Both were fine. People will say nasty things about both, but honestly if you're good with American style chain-restaurant food (Friday's, Applebee's, etc., it will be fine.)

At Rainforest Cafe, we had mozzarella sticks (they were good and disappeared fast) and I had some kind of seasonal meal that involved grilled chicken and rice. It was fine. Very big portions. Don't remember what my daughter ordered, probably a salad, bowl or a kids meal. The waiter was great, very attentive and the atmosphere is fun. I'm a big fan of Landry's restaurants, BTW.

At the Plaza, we had salads and ice cream. The salads are awesome. I had a Shrimp Louie Salad, it was amazing! And I think we shared a brownie sundae. All very good. Nice cold AC. Not too expensive for a WDW sit down.

 

[Skippyboo]

Have you eaten all of the other AK TS?

 

[FSU Girl]

My DD 13 and I had lunch at both Rainforest Cafe and the Plaza back in February during our girls trip. Both were fine. People will say nasty things about both, but honestly if you're good with American style chain-restaurant food (Friday's, Applebee's, etc., it will be fine.)

At Rainforest Cafe, we had mozzarella sticks (they were good and disappeared fast) and I had some kind of seasonal meal that involved grilled chicken and rice. It was fine. Very big portions. Don't remember what my daughter ordered, probably a salad, bowl or a kids meal. The waiter was great, very attentive and the atmosphere is fun. I'm a big fan of Landry's restaurants, BTW.

At the Plaza, we had salads and ice cream. The salads are awesome. I had a Shrimp Louie Salad, it was amazing! And I think we shared a brownie sundae. All very good. Nice cold AC. Not too expensive for a WDW sit down.

Both sound nice!

 

[FSU Girl]

Have you eaten all of the other AK TS?

We’ve eaten a lot at Yak and Yeti it’s our usual go to. Haven’t tried Tiffans yet but seems more fancy. Not sure if there’s another one I’m missing

 

[Skippyboo]

We’ve eaten a lot at Yak and Yeti it’s our usual go to. Haven’t tried Tiffans yet but seems more fancy. Not sure if there’s another one I’m missing

Tusker House - it’s sort of Boma w characters. Tiffins has a burger deal with n/a drink and dessert for $39 . It’s a beautiful restaurant inside.

 

[sponica]

We’ve eaten a lot at Yak and Yeti it’s our usual go to. Haven’t tried Tiffans yet but seems more fancy. Not sure if there’s another one I’m missing

I'd honestly do Tiffins over RFC, mainly because my kids don't like loud spaces. We went to Tiffins with a 4 year old and a 20 month old for lunch. The Rainforest Cafe in DS served me undercooked shrimp so I've never been back (even though I know it's irrational to permanently avoid it)

 

[Pyxie]

Have you eaten at a Rainforest anywhere before? They aren't bad, but they are a chain so something you can do in other areas (even DS). I kinda like the food there but we actually have a Rainforest 10 minutes from my house so I don't go at Disney. With the timing, I would probably just do QS, but it's not a terrible option if you need TS.

 

[NYCgrrl]

If you enjoy the Rainforest Cafe in your hometown you’ll enjoy either of the ones in WDW. The chain is known for the consistency of their menu from one locale to another.

 

[FSU Girl]

I'd honestly do Tiffins over RFC, mainly because my kids don't like loud spaces. We went to Tiffins with a 4 year old and a 20 month old for lunch. The Rainforest Cafe in DS served me undercooked shrimp so I've never been back (even though I know it's irrational to permanently avoid it)

I had thought the animals might be fun for the kids but idk if they’d like it being really loud. Also undercooked food doesn’t sound good and makes me nervous since my baby has an allergy so that doesn’t seem like they are very attentive to the food?

 

[FSU Girl]

Have you eaten at a Rainforest anywhere before? They aren't bad, but they are a chain so something you can do in other areas (even DS). I kinda like the food there but we actually have a Rainforest 10 minutes from my house so I don't go at Disney. With the timing, I would probably just do QS, but it's not a terrible option if you need TS.

I don’t think I’ve ever been. I ate at the T-Rex that’s like the same but with dinosaurs about 15 years ago lol. We have one somewhat nearby but never gone

 

[FSU Girl]

If you enjoy the Rainforest Cafe in your hometown you’ll enjoy either of the ones in WDW. The chain is known for the consistency of their menu from one locale to another.

It’ll be first time going I think I’ve never been to the one near my house before.

 

[Dug720]

I believe Akershus is plated, right? So I would not expect crossover being allowed between breakfast and lunch.

 

[FSU Girl]

I believe Akershus is plated, right? So I would not expect crossover being allowed between breakfast and lunch.

From reading reviews online it looked like they had hot food brought to the table and cold food you got yourself. Not sure if I was looking at an old review though

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Have you tried Tusker House at AK? It’s a character meal so it’s expensive but the foods really good. Way better than Rainforedt Cafe. Our meal there in late January was the worst one of our trip. We’ve eaten there several times before though and it was ok, so maybe this last time was just a one off thing. We’ve always loved the Plaza and the prices are good for Disney. I can’t speak to Akershus because it’s been a few years since we ate there and we did dinner, but at dinner there was like a cold buffet and then family style food to the table.

 

[sponica]

From reading reviews online it looked like they had hot food brought to the table and cold food you got yourself. Not sure if I was looking at an old review though

The description in the app makes me think it's still plated family style. We did dinner back in 2023 and it was family style (breakfast hadn't returned yet).

 

[Miffy]

Tusker House, as a PP said, and I agree. Way better than RFC. Yes, TH is pricey, but you get the characters and there's a huge variety of food. And it's near the safari, so perhaps that's a selling point for the OP.

 

[FSU Girl]

Have you tried Tusker House at AK? It’s a character meal so it’s expensive but the foods really good. Way better than Rainforedt Cafe. Our meal there in late January was the worst one of our trip. We’ve eaten there several times before though and it was ok, so maybe this last time was just a one off thing. We’ve always loved the Plaza and the prices are good for Disney. I can’t speak to Akershus because it’s been a few years since we ate there and we did dinner, but at dinner there was like a cold buffet and then family style food to the table.

We haven’t eaten at Tusker House. I know it’s a buffet and we did Crystal Palace on our last trip and I think we are going to hold off on buffets until the kids are older. Was chaotic and I think where they bring us the food works better with the baby.

 

[smile145]

I wouldn't do the Plaza and Beaches and Cream both in the same day as they are very similiar in type of atmosphere and both specialize in sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. I love Beaches and Cream so I would personally pick that one and try something else at MK but that's just a personal preference.

 

[FSU Girl]

I wouldn't do the Plaza and Beaches and Cream both in the same day as they are very similiar in type of atmosphere and both specialize in sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. I love Beaches and Cream so I would personally pick that one and try something else at MK but that's just a personal preference.

That’s a good point. We could always move Beaches and Cream to the following night since we are doing a sit down breakfast we’ll have a longer break between food.