Trying new restaurants

[Princess_Ariel_5]

I'm going to WDW in October for a short trip (4 days) and we have free dining. We booked this week, so we are already in our ADR window. My sister and I have decided to try new restaurants and this is what we were able to get ADRs for: Tony's in MK, San Angel Restaurante in EPCOT, and Hollywood Brown Derby (we know it costs 2 TS credits) in HS. I've never been to any of these. Any thoughts or recommendations? Are any of these restaurants ones I should run away from? Thanks!

EDIT: Changed Tony's to Crystal Palace!

 

[minnie mum]

Only Tony's. Blech!. Bottom rung on the ladder of Italian restaurants at WDW. If you've already tried all the other MK TS meals, maybe try Skippers Canteen. It's new.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Only Tony's. Blech!. Bottom rung on the ladder of Italian restaurants at WDW. If you've already tried all the other MK TS meals, maybe try Skippers Canteen. It's new.

Thanks! I was actually able to get Crystal Palace (sister loves Pooh!) for 6:10pm. We have tickets for MNSSHP starting at 7pm. Think it'll be a problem?

 

[minnie mum]

It's unlikely you'll be seated on time there, and it would probably take an hour to eat and meet all the characters. We like dinner there though. If you want to meet any of the special characters during the party, you really need to line up early. Maybe keep an eye out for an earlier ADR.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We had read all the awful posts about Tony's. We were afraid to try it, but we decided to give it a try anyway. We went there about 7 months ago. It was very busy and we did have to wait about 20 min before being seated. Other than having to wait, we were surprised to have and enjoy a pretty good meal. With everything we had read, we expected it to be awful, but we enjoyed our meal. We would eat there again. We wondered why it was so busy with all the awful things we had read. To each his own. Not all likes and dislikes are the same. Some times the food may be better on some days than it is on other days. We must have got them on a good day.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Thanks! I was actually able to get Crystal Palace (sister loves Pooh!) for 6:10pm. We have tickets for MNSSHP starting at 7pm. Think it'll be a problem?

If you're not aware, you can enter the park with your party ticket at 4 pm. We've gone to CP with the grands on a MNSSHP night, but at 4 pm ish (maybe 4:10pm?) Anyway, we had a great time and would do it again. We were out in plenty of time for the party. Call wdw Dine and see if you can snag an earlier ADR so you're not wasting "party" time in a restaurant.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Tried calling, no luck we will be spending the day at MK that day anyway. I've been hearing you can enter the park with a party ticket at 4pm, but don't you need a park admission ticket anyway so you can technically be there all day? Just a little confused

 

[kastoney]

If you are going to use 2 credits on a signature restaurant brown derby is the last one id use it on. Not even remotely in the same league as the others. If you need to keep it in or around mgm look into something in the boardwalk area. Alternatively for one credit 50s prime time or SciFi are infinitely better choices

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

If you are going to use 2 credits on a signature restaurant brown derby is the last one id use it on. Not even remotely in the same league as the others. If you need to keep it in or around mgm look into something in the boardwalk area. Alternatively for one credit 50s prime time or SciFi are infinitely better choices

Sadly, for our HS day, only Brown Derby and Hollywood and Vine were available...and I had a terrible experience at Hollywood and Vine last time I went there!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Tried calling, no luck we will be spending the day at MK that day anyway. I've been hearing you can enter the park with a party ticket at 4pm, but don't you need a park admission ticket anyway so you can technically be there all day? Just a little confused

Yes, I guess I didn't realize you were there all day! If you did not wish to use a park ticket, you could just get there at 4 and have 8 hours on your party ticket. Keep in mind that you cannot make any FPs for after 6:30 pm...
Keep trying for an earlier ADR time though, you want to be ready to party by 6:30 or so. You're paying a premium price to enjoy the party stuff!
Also, not sure if Hollywood and Vine will be hosting one of Minnie's special events during your visit there, but we went to the Minnie's Holiday Dine for a buffet last Christmas season. It was only 1 credit TS and was EXCELLENT! Best character interaction ever in all our visits (Donald stole my husband's heart, lol) And the food was Ah-mazing! Especially for a buffet!
Good luck and have fun!

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Yes, I guess I didn't realize you were there all day! If you did not wish to use a park ticket, you could just get there at 4 and have 8 hours on your party ticket. Keep in mind that you cannot make any FPs for after 6:30 pm...
Keep trying for an earlier ADR time though, you want to be ready to party by 6:30 or so. You're paying a premium price to enjoy the party stuff!
Also, not sure if Hollywood and Vine will be hosting one of Minnie's special events during your visit there, but we went to the Minnie's Holiday Dine for a buffet last Christmas season. It was only 1 credit TS and was EXCELLENT! Best character interaction ever in all our visits (Donald stole my husband's heart, lol) And the food was Ah-mazing! Especially for a buffet!
Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the info!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Sadly, for our HS day, only Brown Derby and Hollywood and Vine were available...and I had a terrible experience at Hollywood and Vine last time I went there!

I would disagree with the previous assessment of HBD. We think it holds it's own very well with the other signatures. We actually think the food is better than some of the others. The atmosphere isn't as nice as some, because it's in a park & more casual. IMHO, you've made a great decision.

 

[CynBeth]

We had read all the awful posts about Tony's. We were afraid to try it, but we decided to give it a try anyway. We went there about 7 months ago. It was very busy and we did have to wait about 20 min before being seated. Other than having to wait, we were surprised to have and enjoy a pretty good meal. With everything we had read, we expected it to be awful, but we enjoyed our meal. We would eat there again. We wondered why it was so busy with all the awful things we had read. To each his own. Not all likes and dislikes are the same. Some times the food may be better on some days than it is on other days. We must have got them on a good day.

We have never had a bad meal there and have been 3 times for dinner.

 

[TheLittles]

I actually really like HBD. I have been there twice and never had anything that I did not enjoy.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Not sure if you have eaten there but Sci Fi or 50sPT are great at HS although we love Brown Derby - not sure its worth 2 dining credits. Also if you want to dress up at MNSSHP - I don't think that you can wear costumes before 4pm.

I also agree about getting an earlier reservation at CP on the night of MNSSHP.

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

We had lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby on our last trip and really enjoyed it. The food was good, as was the atmosphere. Service was a little stuffy, but still perfectly acceptable. I don't know that I would go out of my way to eat there again while there are still several other TS restaurants I'd like to try, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to go back if the opportunity presented itself! If you've never been, I'd say go for it.

 

[jackie101]

I'm going to WDW in October for a short trip (4 days) and we have free dining. We booked this week, so we are already in our ADR window. My sister and I have decided to try new restaurants and this is what we were able to get ADRs for: Tony's in MK, San Angel Restaurante in EPCOT, and Hollywood Brown Derby (we know it costs 2 TS credits) in HS. I've never been to any of these. Any thoughts or recommendations? Are any of these restaurants ones I should run away from? Thanks!

EDIT: Changed Tony's to Crystal Palace!

we just got back from a 4 days trip and tried Brown Derby and did not think it was anything special, would not suggest. We went to Grand Floridian Café which was amazing and only 1TS