Unique Dining Recommendations

[Dallas Bengal]

Hello friends,
I am hoping to get some unique dining ideas for our upcoming trip in May. I know there are so many different restaurant experiences all thru the parks and resorts, So please share some of yours with me and the other Disney fans

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Hopefully]

Who is in your party? What are the ages? What is your budget? In a park or somewhere else? What kind of food do you like?
A little more information will help us help you

 

[crabbygal902]

I've been hearing such good things about Maya Grill at CSR. It is now on my radar!

 

[imthemamahere]

You'll pretty much hear about every single restaurant on property with a broad question like this! (Precisely because there ARE "so many different restaurant experiences" around the World - someone will have something to say about each and every one.)

A little more information could help people narrow it down and tell you what's most helpful for YOU to know. Are you traveling alone, with friends, with a significant other, with kids? Are you looking for character meals, fine dining, cheap eats? Do you want to eat in the parks, in resorts, a little of both?

I'd love to make suggestions based on my Disney dining experiences, but I don't want to offer advice on, say, my favorite character meals to someone who's got kids who are terrified of characters...

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Unique dining:
*The Sci Fi at Disney Hollwood: You table is a car at a Drive-In Movie. You eat and watch old movie clips on a drive in size screen
*50's Prime Time Cafe at Disney Hollwood: It's designed to look like you're eating at your Mom's house in the 1950's. Really good food as well (Great fried chicken).
*Coral Reef at Epcot: Dining area has a huge aquarium. Watch the sharks, fish, and sea turtles swim as you dine. We seen divers in the tank once when ate there. Had a very good steak there on our last visit.
*T-Rex at Disney Springs: A dinosaur themed restaurant.
Just to name a few. I'm sure others will give you more places to consider.

 

[OhThePain]

Also, besides needing more information, May is just around the corner (we leave April 29th and are at 52 days). May trips have been able to book ADRs for 120+ days already. Take that into account when asking about unique dining ideas, because a lot of what may be recommended may not be available, unless you can be very flexible with times.

 

[Dallas Bengal]

Sorry been away for a few days..
I was looking for something maybe with a show?
It will be Me (48) My wife (46) and daughters (19 and 22 )
Yep still going to Disney with my girls LOL. My oldest is graduating from College in April and we asked her if she wanted to go to Paris to see the Eifel tower for part of her graduation present since she has always wanted to see it... She though for about 30 seconds and said " I would really like to go back to Disney World again ".. So we are on our way back to the world.

Thanks for the suggestions
Scott

 

[Moms]

We have been doing trips with our adult child for a number of years and love Raglan Road in Disney Springs ... they have Irish bands and dancers and we always enjoy the "show". Frankly as much as we love Disney ... I would have gone to Paris!

 

[dachsie]

I enjoyed Tusker House in AK - not your normal American fare. I loved Ragland Rd too. Also Sanaa is a neat restaurant with animal watching while you eat. I am trying Via Napoli this trip but have heard great things. Sci-Fi is on my list to try. Another I want to try is Marrakesh in Morroco with the belly dancers. It may be hard to find some ADRs for May at this late date.

 

[marchingstar]

like others have said, you might have a bit of a hard time booking on shorter notice than most Disney vacationers.

one unique dining opportunity that you might want to look into is club villain. you can read about it over on the theme park thread, or by searching for reviews on Google, but it's a villain-centered event with singing, dancing, and meet and greets with some villains. it's also one of the pricier events at Disney (129$/person) but it could be a really unique way to celebrate your daughters' graduation.

regardless of what you pick, I do suggest you book soon. dining fills up, especially the special/unique places.

 

[dkmulder]

Hoop De Doo Musical Revue! It's always a good time, and the show is good, corny fun. The food is very tasty and all you care to eat, as well as included sangria! It is an absolute must for my family every trip.

 

[disneyfam31]

Since your daughter was considering a trip to Paris, what about Chefs de France or Monsieur Paul at Epcot in France?

As a side note, we just started booking everything in the last few weeks for our upcoming May trip (not 180 days in advance). I have been updating and changing dining plans frequently and have not had a problem with booking ADRs. I was able to snag a res at CRT (my kids are younger) and I constantly see availability pop up for locations I thought I couldn't get - another example is BOG. Maybe this is obvious, but keep a list of the restaurants you want to try and book them when they are available and adjust as needed.

Have a great trip!

 

[mommycrawford]

Sorry been away for a few days..
I was looking for something maybe with a show?
It will be Me (48) My wife (46) and daughters (19 and 22 )
Yep still going to Disney with my girls LOL. My oldest is graduating from College in April and we asked her if she wanted to go to Paris to see the Eifel tower for part of her graduation present since she has always wanted to see it... She though for about 30 seconds and said " I would really like to go back to Disney World again ".. So we are on our way back to the world.

Thanks for the suggestions
Scott

Hoop de doo review is a show and dining with a set menu

Raglan Road at Downtown Disney has traditional Irish dance and music after 6PM

Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge-Kidani Village has a view of a animal savannah

 

[River Country]

With out knowing the definition of unique here are some of my picks and hidden gems

California Grill at the top of the contemporary....fresh menu of steak, sushi, fish, and great desserts not to mention the view on DP
Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian...amazing setting on the water Castle in the back, great seafood and chops On DP
Victoria and Alberts.....wanna splurge? check out one of the highest rated restaurants in WDW I believe on the platinum plan
THE Boathouse....new restaurant in Disney Springs has great service excellent food and you could take a ride in an amphicar...... not on DP
Raglan Road....awesome Irish pub style restaurant in Disney Springs great beer and fish and chips.... on DP
Shula's, Yachtsman, LeCellier, all great steak houses with Shula's being the best but not on DP. Yachtsman and LC are very good and are Signature restaurants
Ohana...awesome breakfast with Lilo and Stitch...dinner is a Brazilian BBQ not my favorite but DW loves it
Whispering Canyon Café...at the Wilderness Lodge and make sure you ask for ketchup!!!!!
50's Prime Time Café...HS and keep your elbows off the table and clean your plate love this place
Hollywood Brown Derby...HS underrated signature restaurant original Cobb Salad yumm


HIDDEN GEMS
Olivias at OKW breakfast lunch or dinner
Boatwrights Dining hall at POR
Beaches and Cream..not that hidden but great for sundaes or burgers...burgers used to be awesome but they are now avg. I go for the Kitchen Sink
Captains Grill at the yachtsman

good luck