Trying to please everyone!

[crazykids]

Looking for advice from some of the veterans out there on my dining picks. We are taking our first family trip w/ the kids & this will be our first time on the dining plan (free! ). Let me start off by saying that visiting restaurants w/ good food is often more important to my DH than visiting the theme parks themselves. At the same time, I'm trying to please three very small children (ages 20 months, 3, & 4). We'll be there for 11 days & are paying for additional TS restaurants w/ our disney rewards, so essentially all of our food will be free!! The kids are used to going to sit down restaurants, so that is not an issue. We'll decide on CS meals while we are there.


Breakfasts:

Ohana
Hollywood & Vine

Lunches:

Crystal Palace
Princess Storybook in Norway

Dinner:

Chef Mickey
Coral Reef
Kona Cafe
Flying Fish
Narcoossees
Brown Derby
Ohana
Jiko
Le Cellier
Chefs de France

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

I haven't eaten at all of those restaurants, but I will give my opinion...we have not eaten with the Princesses at Norway, because I have read that the food is not as "normal" as our kids are used to - you are essentially paying to see the Princesses, and if you are OK with that, the Princess interaction is said to be terrific....Chef Mickey's is OK food, fantastic character interaction - my 12 year old DD still always wants to go to the restaurant where you can "wave your napkins in the air" and dance along with the songs. Le Cellier, Coral Reef, both great food, great atmosphere. Kona Cafe, really enjoyed that, and a great chance to explore Poly as well! Enjoy your trip! Looks like you have made great choices!!

 

[Soubrette]

Looks like some good choices.

I personally tend to think of Chef Mickey's as more of a breakfast place than dinner...is that a night you're planning on being at the MK? If so, you might consider Artist Point at the WL and then take the boat over to the park. Great, great food and service, lovely atmosphere.

 

[MommaTinkerbell]

I haven't eaten everywhere on your list...but a few.
We loved Ohana's (night) meal,Chef Mickey's (night) meal was good,Coral Reef(for my DD-10 birthday) was wonderful ..try the lobster soup and... the best place for kids****Whispering Canyon Cafe(Wilderness Lodge) was outstanding service,fun for the entire family and great food(recommend the skillet)!
Hope this helps. Have a great trip. Oh, my DH still raves about Le'Cellier..that's a big deal...We all loved it...Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup & Steak...yummy!

 

[KatMark]

Looking for advice from some of the veterans out there on my dining picks. We are taking our first family trip w/ the kids & this will be our first time on the dining plan (free! ). Let me start off by saying that visiting restaurants w/ good food is often more important to my DH than visiting the theme parks themselves. At the same time, I'm trying to please three very small children (ages 20 months, 3, & 4). We'll be there for 11 days & are paying for additional TS restaurants w/ our disney rewards, so essentially all of our food will be free!! The kids are used to going to sit down restaurants, so that is not an issue. We'll decide on CS meals while we are there.


Breakfasts:

Ohana
Hollywood & Vine

Lunches:

Crystal Palace
Princess Storybook in Norway

Dinner:

Chef Mickey
Coral Reef
Kona Cafe
Flying Fish
Narcoossees
Brown Derby
Ohana
Jiko
Le Cellier
Chefs de France

We haven't been at Ohana in awhile, but loved it when there. Hollywood & Vine is hit and miss (although we've only had dinner). We always do breakfast at Cyrstal Palace because of the outstanding french toast. As for your dinner choices, we liked Chef Mickey's (average), Coral Reef was great, LeCellier is outstanding. We had the worse meal ever at Brown Derby (although every one else seems to love it...we may have just hit it on a bad night). We have not tried the rest of them.

 

[kaybird]

Meal planning is our favorite part of the pre-trip. I usually print out a sheet about the TS restaurants, possibly the menus, and then each family member gets to choose 1 restaurant. We have family fav'sthat are must do's, but this has made all of the family feel like a big part of the process. Once they pick, I usually make the ADRs based on EMH and the parks we are likely to be at or easily hoppable.

 

[LoveKermit]

Another vote for Whispering Canyon! Went there pre-baby....loved it!

My extremely picky sister-in-law said the buffet dinner at Chef Mickey's was dirty and gross by night time but she liked the Princess breakfast at Norway (and I said she is picky).

We have done Crystal Palace the last four times we've been there (and last week was the first time with our baby).

Ohana was good too. As only two eating people, the food came fast and furious (family style) and our table wasn't big enough (have to keep a space clear for 7 mo. grabby-hands). So, I felt a little overwhelmed. If I went again, I would ask for a slower pace. And if you drink, share a Lapu Lapu with your DH. It comes in a pineapple!

But overall, your choices look great. Also, if it's busy, the more popular restaurants were seating us "10-15 minutes after our reservation time." We just got back, and I'm jealous all over again.