Two Quintessential Disney Restauants?

[Angry Duck]

If you had to pick two restaurants that were a quintessential Disney meal or experience, what would they be and why?

 

[vacationer1954]

There are a number of restaurants at WDW which are just like really great restaurants elsewhere. Then there are a few that are uniquely - quintessentially - Disney. I think the top of that list is 50s Prime Time.

I'm leery about picking a second, because other quintessentially Disney restaurants have come and gone. I would have previously said that perhaps Whispering Canyon would be #2, but it has become "less" over time. I also don't want to consider any of the World Showcase restaurants to be quintessentially Disney. I've eaten in pubs in England; in restaurants in Mexico; in biergartens in Germany, etc. The unique aspects of those World Showcase restaurants are that they resemble aspects of restaurants elsewhere. And I don't want to consider having characters walking around or meeting and greeting guests to be quintessential.

For now, I have a few candidates for #2, all attributable to the rich theming (but all lacking enough "show" for me to really commit to any of them): Skipper Canteen, Be Our Guest, Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[mom2rtk]

There's nothing more quintessentially Disney than eating in the castle. Lots of possibilities for number 2, but CRT is my vote for #1.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I would say CRT for sure. The other one I would say is Chef Mickeys. Even though the food is just okay - there is something quintessential about eating breakfast with the Fab 5.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Dinner at the California Grill... timed with fireworks. Just the experience of being in the Contemporary, seeing the monorail, maybe even a monorail tour of resorts before dinner, and, of course, fireworks all “screams” Disney to me.

 

[vinotinto]

What is "quintessential" Disney may be different than what I would pick as my next meal, but I do agree that dinner at the castle with princesses (CRT) and breakfast at the Contemporary with the Fab 5 (Chef Mickey's) are truly classic Disney.

If you are looking for interesting experiences, I find Sanaa to be at the top of that list, followed by Cali Grill, Sci-Fi, 50's, Biergarten, Marrakesh, Tusker House.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I would say CRT and Chef Mickeys. Those 2 meals cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world!

 

[mkla2015]

I know it will be different for everyone but when I think quintessential Disney dining- I think of character meals. CRT, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, 1900 PF- I would say those are all quintessential Disney.

 

[KenHutch]

My 2 votes are classic Disney dinner at Ohana in The Poly and a meal at Chef Mickey's in the Contemp. Hotels that were there at the beginning.

 

[kiramay]

I’d probably say Cinderella’s and Chef Mickey’s.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I’d probably say Cinderella’s and Chef Mickey’s.

Yup. Even though the food isnt great at Chef Mickey's and the prices at CRT will make your eyes bleed, they are sill the two most quintessential in my eyes at WDW.

 

[gharter]

My list is totally different between what I consider the quintessential 2 restaurants and the 2 restaurants that we want to eat at every trip.
Agree with CRT and Chef Mickey as the 2 most quintessential restaurants.

 

[DisDreaming4116]

By using the dictionary definition of quintessential, CRT for the princesses and being IN the castle and Satuli Canteen (when eating in the outdoor seating area) for the visuals, people watching, noises and overall ambiance that Disney provides better than anyone on Earth.

 

[TCRAIG]

CRT and Crystal Palace - both have been around a long long time - my first WDW trip in 1972 - I think CP was only restaurant open - at least - it was the only one we ate at...and it was cafeteria style - trays and all

 

[wdw&sonny]

I will add Sci Fi Dine In to the possibilities. My reasoning is similar to the first response (Vacationer 1954) regarding 50's PT; uniquely Disney.

Sci Fi was the first 'themed' restaurant at which I ate...anywhere.

Long nostalgic backstory = skip this unless you are really bored..
It was Spring 1992. My wife and I and another couple, all in our mid/late 20s, drove 18 hours straight through the night, to visit a high school friend in West Palm Beach. The six of us ventured to MGM Studios for the day. We arrived with no tickets, no plans, no fast passes, no dining reservations, no Magic Band, no MDE, no cell phone, not even a credit card. Just some cash in pocket. Heck "we were young and wild and free". We bought our tickets and grabbed a park map and wandered from attraction to attraction, with no waiting.

We got hungry so we went into the nearest place to eat: Sci Fi Dine In Theater. We laughed. What was this supposed to be? Looks like some cheesy plastic cars that sit outside Gold Circle that moms pay a nickle (a whole nickle) for their toddlers to bounce around for 30 seconds. We sat in our car, gasped at the outrageous prices for food (remember, young, no money, burger was probably $3). We watched, what I am guessing is, the same movie reel they play now. We ate, got full and left...oblivious to what we had experienced.

For me, that was the start of my love for Disney World. Only I didn't realize it for 13 years. It wasn't until we returned in 2005 with children in tow, that I began to appreciate the 'themeing' of Sci Fi and all things Disney. We spent the next decade returning to WDW with kids, annually, to experience all the new and old through their eyes. Now, as AP holders and biennial visitors, with grown kids, I long for that first experience of walking into Sci Fi, and experiencing quintessential Disney.

 

[smiths02]

Yup. Even though the food isnt great at Chef Mickey's and the prices at CRT will make your eyes bleed, they are sill the two most quintessential in my eyes at WDW.

Exactly my sentiments.

That being said, while the food isn't always great, when eating at Disney, I tend to favor "unique" dining experiences (character meal, Be Our Guest, Sci Fi, Biergarten, San Angel Inn).

 

[smiths02]

While my answers are CRT and Chef Mickey...I probably wouldn't try to eat there again

Places that we have done every single trip are Crystal Palace and Sci Fi

 

[chris benton]

Hoop Dee Doo - number one with a bullet

Number two is moot.

 

[goofy4prez]

Gotta go with the flow and say in spite of the crazy price, 1st would be CRT. The 2nd would be the quintessential plop and slop buffet at CM and the Fab 5. First time I did Disney, they were both on my must do list. Second time to Disney and thru the years, they are now on my must-miss list.

 

[CynBeth]

BOG dinner, Crystal Palace, and 50’s PTC.