Trying to decide where to eat?

[jlr9882]

I am trying to decide where to eat with my CM cousin, my mom, and my 4-year old son (20+ food allergies). We will mostly pack our own food and do some CS on our trip, but want to do one good dinner or possibly lunch on my cousin's day off. Our breakfast is included on our hotel package. Our budget is tight, so we don't want to do the most expensive place but we do want a good meal and to enjoy it at the same time. Our last big trip, we did chef mickey's for breakfast and rainforest at dtd. While looking up ADRs online to see what is still available for the first week in Aug, we saw Trails End, Biergarten, boma, and Cape May that interested us. My son can't have pork, chicken, beef, or turkey, so a place with seafood would be great. I also know that they will work with us to make sure there is something for him to eat, Chef Mickey's was great when we went. I orginally posted another post that a character experience would be preferred, but it doesn't really matter now. I was more hoping for something fun, maybe a little entertainment, with good food. We also thought about HDDMR. Depending on the time of our ADR, if we ate at Fort Wilderness we might be able to catch some of Chip and Dale's sing-a-long. what are your opinions on these places and do you have any more suggestions? Anyone with food allergies been to any of these places, what was your experience? I would love pics of these places too.

I have to come up with 4 sit downs now for 3 weeks from now! Top choices: Boma, Biergarten, Coral Reef, Kona Cafe, Maya Grill, and Cape May. I still would love Ohana, but not at 9:40 at night with a 4-year-old. I want to get the most out of this cheap dining plan that our CM cousin got us. We don't eat out at really nice restaurants that often. Our normal places are like Golden Corral, Chili's, Wild Wing Cafe, and Texas Roadhouse and go during late afternoon during the cheaper prices. She got us 50% off of Pop too, which put it cheaper than Seralago's deal that we had a reservation at originally. Never did a dining plan, so suggestions/tips needed to.

 

[tzeitel]

Cape May seems like a great choice since you are looking for characters and seafood. No matter where you decide to go just make sure you call the restaurant and speak to the chef about allergies - they are very accommodating

 

[minnie mum]

I agree that with your child's meat allergies, Cape May would be the logical choice, although I don't think they have characters at night and they are not open for lunch. Coral Reef would be another choice for seafood.

HDDR: a great show, but the meal is chicken and ribs. Don't know if they have a vegetarian alternative. Trail's End has a child's fish platter, so your son might enjoy that. And catching the singalong sounds like a lot of fun.

We have really enjoyed both Biergarten and Boma. Being buffets, I'm sure you would find something for your child, especially if you contacted them ahead of time.

Hope you all have a wonderful time.

 

[Quin]

I think Biergarten for lunch best meets your criteria, with Cape May for dinner a close second and 'Ohana a respectable third.

Biergarten has a wide array of food choices, includes entertainment and great theming, and is much less expensive at lunchtime. Mmm....pretzel bread......

Cape May has the most seafood on its buffet. It is fun and a high-energy experience. Afterwards, take the boat across the lake and stroll the Boardwalk (free sidewalk entertainers).

Ohana would be a wonderful 'special experience'; would DS eat the shrimp? The trouble there is availability.

Personally I love Boma and they do always have some kind of fish but it might not work out for you because they menu choices rotate daily. The first time we went the fish was a pistachio-crusted salmon that was crazy good. This year we hit a night when the fish was marinated/covered with enough spicy peppers to take the roof of your mouth off. Some folks love food like that; others don't. Not a problem when you can eat all the other entree items, but not so good if the fish is your DS's main protein for the evening.

Of course, no matter which restaurant you choose, be sure to tell them about his allergy both when you make the ADR and when you check in; Disney is always good about trying to accomodate people and will bring out separate food for him if necessary.

 

[koolaidmoms]

We were just at Cape May Cafe' a few weeks ago and although my DS is on a GF, Soy free and food coloring free diet they were VERY accommodating with him. There were only about 6 dishes he could not eat and they brought him a few separate things such as seafood not in the butter.

Hope this helps some.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree that with your child's meat allergies, Cape May would be the logical choice, although I don't think they have characters at night and they are not open for lunch.

Correct, there are no characters for dinner at cape may. Characters only at breakfast.

 

[jlr9882]

Thank you for all the great advice! Cape May dinner buffet is still one of our top picks, because of the all the seafood choices for him. And I LOVE seafood! Even if the chef has to prepare it a different way like koolaidmoms said, I will know they have plenty of choices for him. The chef at Chef Mickey's was great, he brought out fresh fruit, eggs, and allergy friendly mickey waffles for my son when we went before. He eats shrimp, fish, crab, and oysters. We will either be at DHS or MK that day. How far is cape may or some of those other places from those parks? We thought about hollywood and vine character lunch at DHS, and just spend the day there. He loves Agent Oso and Handy Manny, are they there everyday during the character lunch? I will check out Coral Reef too.

 

[DisneySarah80]

Wow, growing up I had almost every allergy you could think of, but I never heard of anyone being allergic to chicken and such - that must be so difficult!
I agree that Cape May Cafe is probably your best bet, along with maybe Coral Reef. If you are at MK, you just take the monorail to Epcot, and then walk right over to the Beach Club (or take the ferry) for Cape May Cafe.
Good luck choosing, and have a great time!!!

 

[quinnc19]

Cape May is very convenient from DHS by boat and as a pp said you could walk from EPCOT. You would need park hoppers if you were coming from MK, though.

 

[apicozzi]

I agree with Cape May and Coral Reef - I've always loved Coral Reef!

 

[jlr9882]

Cape May is very convenient from DHS by boat and as a pp said you could walk from EPCOT. You would need park hoppers if you were coming from MK, though.

No problem, our CM cousin gets us into the parks. We can park hop with those tickets!


Off topic, but can someone help me change my ticker? When I try to edit my profile, it doesn't give me an option (the little pencil thing) for my signature. That old ticker link has been there since 2009!

 

[jlr9882]

Nevermind about the ticker, I figured it out. Anyone else has suggestions about a fun and not so expensive place to eat for lunch or dinner let me know! Thanks!

 

[jlr9882]

I agree with Cape May and Coral Reef - I've always loved Coral Reef!

I checked out Coral Reef, and it does look yummy! I am sure DS would love the view too.

 

[jlr9882]

I think Biergarten for lunch best meets your criteria, with Cape May for dinner a close second and 'Ohana a respectable third.


Ohana would be a wonderful 'special experience'; would DS eat the shrimp? The trouble there is availability.

Of course, no matter which restaurant you choose, be sure to tell them about his allergy both when you make the ADR and when you check in; Disney is always good about trying to accomodate people and will bring out separate food for him if necessary.

Yes, he loves shrimp! No times available for lunch, but there are late dinners available. I really didn't want a late dinner, because we wouldn't want to get up the next morning. Not sure how DS would handle that late, but maybe if he had a late nap it would help. We usually go back to the hotel during the day for him to nap anyway. This is vacation, so no strict schedule as long as everyone is happy! If not this time, Ohana does sound like a fun place to eat the next trip. I just need to get on the ball and plan sooner. Our last big trip, we did plan at the 180 day mark.

 

[minniebride]

I would recommend either Cape May OR if you are looking for a character meal, Garden Grill at Epcot has fish as part of their meal. They also have Mickey and gang hosting the meal!

 

[jlr9882]

Woohoo! CM special 50% off hotel and dining plan option for friends and family. Guess who just changed their reservations to stay on property? We did!! We will be at Pop. Now the fun begins on trying to plan 4 sit downs for the first week of August!!!!

 

[gmboy95]

I am trying to decide where to eat with my CM cousin, my mom, and my 4-year old son (20+ food allergies). We will mostly pack our own food and do some CS on our trip, but want to do one good dinner or possibly lunch on my cousin's day off. Our breakfast is included on our hotel package. Our budget is tight, so we don't want to do the most expensive place but we do want a good meal and to enjoy it at the same time. Our last big trip, we did chef mickey's for breakfast and rainforest at dtd. While looking up ADRs online to see what is still available for the first week in Aug, we saw Trails End, Biergarten, boma, and Cape May that interested us. My son can't have pork, chicken, beef, or turkey, so a place with seafood would be great. I also know that they will work with us to make sure there is something for him to eat, Chef Mickey's was great when we went. I orginally posted another post that a character experience would be preferred, but it doesn't really matter now. I was more hoping for something fun, maybe a little entertainment, with good food. We also thought about HDDMR. Depending on the time of our ADR, if we ate at Fort Wilderness we might be able to catch some of Chip and Dale's sing-a-long. what are your opinions on these places and do you have any more suggestions? Anyone with food allergies been to any of these places, what was your experience? I would love pics of these places too.

i guess it would only be a problem if his food allergies where triggered through smell!!....if this is the case it will tough to go to any buffet

 

[jlr9882]

Thankfully, his allergies aren't triggered thru smell!

 

[dismichael]

Honestly, Disney is so good they can probably find someway of accommodating regardless of the restaurant, so enjoy!