My youngest is 5 1/2. I know your DS is quite a bit younger, but hopefully you can still get a feel what it is like from my report and then decide.
I can't wait! He is a pretty mature 3 year old, so I am not too worried
I should not have read this thread on an empty stomach!
I don't have any experiences with the restaurants you are thinking about. LeCellier, O'hana and WCC are on the top of our list for our next trip. Try as I might in 2009, I couldn't fit them in. Our favorites from our last trip were Chefs de France and Tutto Italia. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. On the flip side, we were not thrilled with CP. I know, I know everyone loves it!
We didn't hate it but it was nothing special IMHO. We waited a long time despite having an ADR, characters came and went like the wind and the food was just average. Maybe it would be better for breakfast.
Ohhhh we are dying to try Chefs as well! I have to agree...I am not in a huge rush to try CP. I mean, I want to try it one day, but it is not on the top of my list. I do hear it is better at breakfast. Thanks SOOO much for your advice!
Glad my advice can help
Hi!
I am loving your PTR We are staying at the WL this Aug/Sept. I love reading reports from others who love the place!
I think LeCellier is a great choice. The fire place will make it even more festive and cozy. Perhaps do the boat ride together as a family and skip trying to eat at SA. This way you don't have to take turns and you won't have to worry about being too far from the festivities. I hadn't heard about making LC a 2TS.
I am glad that we have ADR's this year.
For DHS, I would go to Starring Rolls without question. We had not-so-good food at ABC. My son calls it "
Already
Been
Chewed"
We love the sandwiches and huge yummy deserts at Starring Rolls.
To answer your question of the day I would say that our favorite place to eat is a tie between Ohana and Boma. We love the atmosphere of both of the places. We love the family environment of each place and it goes along with why we take vacations. Throughout the year, we hustle and bustle to practices, games, work, church functions, etc. During vacation, we want to reconnect and both places offer FUN, Festive, Family Face time which is what we love about Disney.
Already Been Chewed
That is GREAT! Yea, the food was average when we went there. I am SO excited b/c I have chosen Starring Rolls (pending the weather).
I have also chosen LC for our Candlelight package. I am SOOO excited!!
I have never tried Boma, but we LOVE LOVE Ohana. REALLY want to try Boma one day. Thanks for all the advice. I am so excited to try these new places!
Hi, I'm joining in, I have to go back and get caught up, but I'm looking forward to your PTR! I'm going in November, staying at WL, so we will be there around the same time, for the Christmas festivities! I stayed there last November and it was beautiful, so I couldn't not go back this year! I'm going to start a PTR for my November trip as soon as I finish my TR for May!
WELCOME!! So happy to have you join me in planning!! Wow, the WL will be so great during the holidays!! What are your dates?
Make sure to remind me about your PTR. I will be there FOR SURE! Hope you had a great May trip!
LTT and WCC are great choices- I hope they're just as wonderful as they were last year! I would probably go with Starring Rolls over ABC (even though our favorite CS in DHS is Pizza Planet-- the pizza with salad is a great value and so yummy). You might as well try something new and those cupcakes are incredible!!
I would also go with Le Cellier over SAI, if you can get reservations! Like you said, the atmosphere can't be beat, especially for a Christmas trip!
Our favorite restaurant in Disney is the Coral Reef! We know it gets mixed reviews, but we had absolutely amazing service, incredible food, and found the atmosphere incredibly romantic and family friendly at the same time. We can't wait to go back-- the watercress and potatoes that I stole from DBF's NY strip steak were some of the best side I've ever eaten!!
YEA! I have decided on Starring Rolls after reading a blog post. I will update with it later on---the cupcakes are TDF! We have also chosen Le Cellier!! Dying to try the food!
We would really love to try Coral Reef one day. Maybe a romantic dinner? Thanks so much for the advice! It is always appreciated!
Wow, Katie, let me see if I can remember everything I wanted to say. I probably should have responed before I read the 3 pgs of responses that followed
On the LeCellier vs SAI debate, sounds like you already made your decision and let me just say, if you are going to have to use 2TS credits you might as well make the most of it, and LeCellier would most definitely allow you to do that. The one thing that would worry me would be if they change to a 2TS restaurant anyway before December will it still be part of the CP pkg? Will it be more than 2TS credits? You might have a back up plan just in case. I've never eaten at SAI (and probably never will, it gets such awful reviews I'm terrified to try it!) so I can't help you there.
I really wanted to try Starring Rolls on our DHS day in May, I've heard they have great sandwiches, but it was so hot outside that Mom and I decided to head inside the a/c for lunch and we skipped Starring Rolls
Pizza Planet is a fun option for the kids though!
I know you all loved LTT on your last trip, so I won't try and talk you out of it, I'll just say make your ADR early so that you don't miss any of the party. In my experience, while the food is good, the service can be sloooooooowwwww
As far as your question about favorite Disney restaurants - I'm not sure I can answer that, there are so many great ones! My two favs from my last trip were probably Jiko and the Grand Floridian Cafe, great food and great service at both!
No word yet on the Le Cellier/CP package yet. We may just book 2 dinners in order to have a back up. I can not see them charging 3 credits though. That is crazy! I am going to post a Starring Rolls blog review soon. Looks SOOO yummy! Pizza Planet is our back up for sure.
Well, I am hoping that the family style food will help, but our service was a little slow at LTT. My DH just loves the food, so we are kind of stuck there. Crossing my fingers!! Thanks so much for your advice. I always love to read what you think!
Hi Katie! Just got caught up! You have great choices there! And I love that you are trying to fit everything into that cozy, homey, holiday feeling for your holiday trip!
Obviously, you have already made up your mind regarding LC vs. SAI. We FINALLY ate at LC in February and loved it (it was on our last day of the trip, so as slow as I write, I'll eventually get to writing about it...um...maybe by the time you go on your trip! LOL)
My friend ate at SAI in February for lunch and was pleasantly surprised since she had read some mediocre reviews on it as well, but booked it anyway because her Mom really wanted to try it. I think LC is a better fit for your "holiday theme" though! I agree with the PP though - have a couple of backups in case they take it off the CP list or make you pay OOP for it instead of the DP due to the increase in credits.
Our favorite family restaurant is 'Ohana though! Love it and have to have it booked for each family trip from now on!
We have not done CRT since 2006 when we did it for breakfast. We enjoyed it and will probably do it again before the girls grow out of the princess stage. We really enjoyed breakfast so I don't have any advice over the bkfast/lunch debate. Do what works best for your schedule. My only recommendation for lunch would be to try and get in right after the first initial lunch seating (which I think is 11:30). Normally, I would say book as close to 11:30 as possible, but I find the changeover from breakfast to lunch is kind of crazy and ends up with alot more waiting. Say, 11:45 might be a better choice. Oh, who am I kidding....it's always a bit crazy getting seated in the castle. My vote would be a pre-park opening seating, but I know you want her to be princess-ed up at the BBB prior to going. Not sure I was much help with that...sorry.
Michael did the PL in February and had a blast. He is a lot older than your little guy though. He got the ghost pirate (with all the white make-up) since we let him pick. He is too old to be influenced by his mommy in regards to his choice.
He had the makeup off about 3 hours later when we went back to the Poly to swim in the afternoon. A shower, a swim, and another shower, and he still had some of the eyeliner on that night! LOL! They had an absolute blast though!!
Loved WCC on our trip for Thanksgiving in 2007! We also loved going to Trail's End over at Ft Wilderness. It's a buffet of some of the same stuff served at the HDDR and we really enjoyed the homespun feel of it! It's not expensive either if you had to pay OOP for it if you wanted to go over to the Ft for anything else (the campfire, pony rides, carriage ride). Nothing fancy - but we liked it!
Sara
WOW Sara! Thank you so much for your amazing post! Where to start?
We are excited to eat at LC. I did read some better reviews about SAI because of new management and chips and salsa. HA! I can't wait to read about LC in your TR!! Before my trip--LOL!
Ahhh Ohana!! Same with us...trying to go every trip that we have the Dining Plan. We LOOOVEE it!
I think we might do CRT at the lunch time that you reccomend. That makes sense about the change over. THANKS! Abby just REALLY wants to eat there...while she is young, you know?
HAHA I love the white paint for the older kids at PL. I know Aiden would try to wipe it off ASAP. We are going to stick with the basic mustache and eyebrow one..hehe..he will love it. What helps wipe it off? Anything I can bring with me in case he doesn't like it?
I have heard wonderful things about Trail's End. I will check it out if we go over to FW! Thanks again for all of your great info!
My favorite restaurant of the trip was Le Cellier. It was just so good. My whole family really enjoyed Teppan Edo, because of the atmosphere and the entertainment of our chef. And the food was good. Bella's favorite was CRT of course! She probably doesn't remember what she even ate, she just loved the wand, the star, and the PRINCESSES!
You look like you have some good choices, though!
AHHH CANT WAIT FOR LC!!!! I have heard great things about Teppan Edo! We are going to try to eat there in May I think. Can't wait to read about it on your TR!!
Awww and Bella's CRT as well! Did you do breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Hi there!
Thanks for the invite! Going back to read!
Yay! Happy you are here!!
I would chose Le Cellier, then use San Angel Inn as a back up.
And for ABC vs Starring Rolls...I'd see how hot it is. I'd pick Starring Rolls, but it's all outdoor seating. If you need the A/C because you hit a hot week, then I'd go to ABC
YUM! Starring Rolls got a great review on the Disney Food Blog!! The cupcakes look divine! We may use Pizza Planet as a backup. Ever been there?? I need your "expert" advice.
Hey Katie!! You MUST do Le Cellier!! It is incredible!! Sooo yummy!! And another vote for Starring Rolls--we ate there for lunch on Sunday--HUGE sandwiches and the chocolate cupcake I had was TDF!!!! Sooo good!! I don't think you need to worry about it being outside in December--we had an umbrella on our table and were fine! And you know we LOVE O'hana!! CRT for breakfast was not too impressive for us--that's why I'm thinking dinner this next trip.
WE ARE!!! LC for the CP package. I told my DH we can eat at San Angel when we go for our couple's trip in May. Starring Rolls got a GREAT review on Disney Food Blog. Can't wait to read about it on your TR!!!
Hi! Okay, I would definitely choose Le Cellier and Starring Rolls.
My favorite places to dine are, omg, I have too many. I am really on a Jiko kick. The food is very good there.
We are picking those two places!!! YUMMY!!
HAHA it IS hard to pick just one. I am hearing rave reviews of Jiko...dying to try it!
We had a view of wishes/the castle...to die for. Thanks for coming back to answer the question 
