What is your favorite ATMOSPHERE restaurant?

[hobbit]

We have never been to US before and we're looking for some unique experiences. I booked one night at Blue Bayou, and another at Ariels Grotto. The food isn't the main issue - it is atmosphere I'm after. We have another 2 nights. We are 2 adults and 1 boy (almost 10 years). Which restaurants would you dine in?

 

[HydroGuy]

Blue Bayou is a good choice and the one I would choose first. Second...hmmm....probably RainForest Cafe in DTD. FWIW, DLR does not do atmosphere restaurants as well as WDW does.

 

[nunzia]

Blue Bayou, but really, only if you are in the middle or by the water. The last two time we were there (and probably the LAST time we will go) we were seated right at the door....

 

[jimreuter]

If you like barbecue, the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue is a good bet. There is live entertainment throughout the day, and the food is all you can eat.

At Blue Bayou, when you check in ask for a waterside table. The host will get you a quote for wait time from the lead inside, and you can choose whether to wait or take the first available table. If you ask for 2nd row or better, it almost doubles the number of tables that you might get, and usually cuts the wait time in half. It's always worth asking, as sometimes the answer is "right away", although sometimes it is 20-40 minutes (often longer for parties larger than 4).

 

[hobbit]

At Blue Bayou, when you check in ask for a waterside table.

I've got a reservation already with BB - I called them about a week ago and reserved for 6pm. Should I call them back and ask for a water-side table? Or can you only make that request when you arrive at the restaurant that evening?

 

[macman752]

I've got a reservation already with BB - I called them about a week ago and reserved for 6pm. Should I call them back and ask for a water-side table? Or can you only make that request when you arrive at the restaurant that evening?

No need to call again. Arrive about 15-20 minutes before your reservation time and when you check in ask for a waterside table. You will probably be told that you won't be seated right at 6 but you will get the table (and probably very close to 6)

 

[Sherry E]

OP, when you say "atmosphere," are you specifically referring to "theme" or just overall general atmosphere (which could include a couple of different elements but not necessarily have any theme)?

As far as "theme," the ones that have already been mentioned - Blue Bayou, Ariel's Grotto and Rainforest Cafe - are all the clear "themed" choices.

For a different kind of atmosphere experience (without a theme), I like Carnation Cafe - which is excellent if you can have them seat you by the railing right along Main Street. That's great for people watching and soaking in the overall DL atmosphere, and if you time it right, sometimes you can catch snippets of whatever parade happens to be going by. Plus, the food at Carnation - for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert-only - is very good.

I also like Wine Country Trattoria in DCA - again, there is no theme, but if you sit outdoors it is a really nice, relaxing atmosphere, and certain tables give you a great view of parades. Also, the food is good.

Plaza Inn in DL is a very beautiful restaurant inside, so you may want to try that just to look at the lovely decor.

ETA: I should add that in the character meal realm, Ariel's Grotto will be - by all accounts - a very calm, polite atmosphere as the Princesses visit the tables. The other character meals like Goofy's Kitchen, Surf's Up with Mickey, and Minnie & Friends are probably more upbeat and high-octane, high energy kind of fun. Storyteller's Critter Breakfast in the GCH is popular with many DIS-ers because it has a very laid back vibe for a character meal - more so than Goofy's, Minnie's or Surf's Up with Mickey - and the restaurant itself is a nice, cozy, woodsy kind of place with a fireplace and earthy feeling to it.

If you want "theme" and "atmosphere" all in one, but without food, make sure to visit the Grand Californian Hotel lobby/hearth area for a rest. The nice dim lighting, dark wood, high ceilings, fireplace, comfy chairs, soft piano music and overall 'elegantly rustic mountain lodge' kind of feeling provide a great place to have a beverage and just really rest and unwind for a little bit while recharging the internal batteries mid-day.

 

[hobbit]

Thanks. I am noting down everything you say. As for "atmosphere" I guess we're looking for restaurants (for dinner only, as our hotel has a free bf and we only eat snack lunches), that are a break from the ordinary. We are aussies who have never been to America, and would like to experience something "different"

As for Ariel's Grotto, the description in the Unoffical Guide made it sound quite "different" with the 3D images of being under the sea; that sounds like fun. But would it be too "princess-y" for my son (9)? He does like pretty girls, but he also feels awkward if something is too "girly".

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks. I am noting down everything you say. As for "atmosphere" I guess we're looking for restaurants (for dinner only, as our hotel has a free bf and we only eat snack lunches), that are a break from the ordinary. We are aussies who have never been to America, and would like to experience something "different"

As for Ariel's Grotto, the description in the Unoffical Guide made it sound quite "different" with the 3D images of being under the sea; that sounds like fun. But would it be too "princess-y" for my son (9)? He does like pretty girls, but he also feels awkward if something is too "girly".

Ariel's Grotto is a very pretty restaurant, with a great 'sea theme' for sure (it used to be called Avalon Cove, and it was a Wolfgang Puck restaurant themed after Catalina Island/Avalon in Southern California, so they kept up the mermaid and underwater decor from the Catalina theme, added some things and made it Ariel's Grotto). I have not done that character meal yet, but if you even suspect that your son might have a problem with it being too girly, you might want to reconsider that and choose one of the other character meals instead. Some folks say that their boys enjoyed Ariel's and the attention they got from the pretty Princesses, but I know if I had a son, I would probably be hesitant.

Perhaps your son would enjoy a more upbeat, fun character meal like Surf's Up with Mickey (which has a bit of a beach theme to it)? Not only is that the only meal where you can find Mickey, but there are also other classic Disney characters too (Daisy Duck, for example) and some interesting food choices in the buffet (some special items with Latin or Asian influence). Goofy's Kitchen has a mixture of both classic furry characters (like Goofy, Baloo, Pluto, Chip and Dale, etc.) as well as Princesses, as well as a huge buffet with a wide variety of food choices. Storytellers, while not terribly upbeat and lively, has Chip and Dale, Koda and Kenai, sometimes Meeko, Terk, etc. Minnie and Friends has tons of furry characters like Chip and Dale, Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, etc., etc. - and it's held at the Plaza Inn, which as previously mentioned, is a beautiful restaurant inside.

 

[endy]

My son loves Rain Forest. MPV Zone is great for the sports themes and the great arcade games.

 

[Sherry E]

My son loves Rain Forest. MPV Zone is great for the sports themes and the great arcade games.

Do you mean ESPN Zone (which has an MVP Club, I think)? Yes, while that is a very hectic, busy, loud atmosphere (all kinds of people running around and games on the TVs all around the restaurant), the food is good and it may be just the sort of environment a 9-year-old boy would enjoy, because of the heavy sports emphasis.

 

[NancyIL]

No need to call again. Arrive about 15-20 minutes before your reservation time and when you check in ask for a waterside table. You will probably be told that you won't be seated right at 6 but you will get the table (and probably very close to 6)

I just reserved Blue Bayou for lunch at 11:30, and they open at 11:30. I made a note on my calendar to ask for a waterside table. It shouldn't be TOO difficult to get that, since we'll be there right at opening.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

As for Ariel's Grotto, the description in the Unoffical Guide made it sound quite "different" with the 3D images of being under the sea; that sounds like fun. But would it be too "princess-y" for my son (9)? He does like pretty girls, but he also feels awkward if something is too "girly".

We enjoyed Ariel's Grotto, but it was pretty much only because of the princesses. The two little girls in our party were big princess fans at the time, and seeing their faces each time a princess stopped at our table was priceless. The restaurant was pretty (and EXPENSIVE), but if you only have a limited number of picks for dinner, I might choose something else over this. I agree with SherryE that if it was just us and our nearly 9 year old son, we would also be hesitant to eat at Ariel's.

I echo the previous posters in saying that the Rainforest Cafe is unique.....remember to call ahead for priority seating! Busy place!

 

[pixiewings71]

BB for sure. We always check in at least 20 min early (once we checked in 40 min early because it was wet, rainy and cold, we just waited in the lobby) and we ask at that time for waterside. We have always been able to get it. Only once did we not have waterside and that was simply because we just walked up, no reservation so we didn't feel right asking for waterside. After that we decided we will ask every time for waterside, it's just so much better.
Ariel's Grotto is very pretty inside, we really like the decor and the food. Honestly we would (and will) eat there when the girls aren't "into" Princesses anymore because we liked it so much. We also like sitting outside there when the lagoon is full...which it is now.
Rainforest Cafe is really neat inside, very cool rainforest decor. It's loud but it's really cool, especially if you get to sit by one of the HUGE fish tanks.

 

[LuLusApple]

I really like your aready reserved choices
I like these choices for Disneyland atmophere.
1.Carnation cafe for classic Disneyland, sitting in the morning for breakfast watching the rushing crowds waiting for rope drop or running by to get to their favorite ride while you casually sit and watch them. Priceless, not to mention a Disney classic himself Oscar may pop out and say hello.

2.I like River belle terrace for the inside atmosphere, where you can watch the adventureland side or the frontierland side, no ressie needed. There are photos in disneyland books of Walt sitting outside and watching the ROA classic.
I like breakfast at ROA and take my coffee to go and enjoy a ride on the jungle cruise.
3. Plaza Inn for dinner. Inside architecture/decor is amazing, beautiful. Walt had a big hand in the design of this restaurant. It oozes main street lol
Fried chicken is pretty good too.
Outside seating at night along the perimeter you can see some of the fireworks
inbetween the bushes, it's relaxing you can drink hot cocoa, coffee and dessert.

4. Big thunder BBQ food is terrific, decimate disnyland old west feel. Think dinner show. Roaming guitarist, singing piano playing. Love it

5. Cafe Orleans, when ROA is filled. Outside seating watch the Mark Twain go by sip a mint julep Enjoy NOS and watch the crowds.

Those are just my favorites, we visit almost everytime we go

 

[bumbershoot]

I like the atmosphere of sitting outside at Cafe Orleans. I get to pretend I'm in New Orleans, just without Bourbon St, LOL.

Blue Bayou is neat, for sure, but if anyone has difficulties in seeing in darker spaces, you probably don't want a waterside table. For me, sitting at the water was useless, b/c I could barely see my menu; having Lasik done destroyed my vision in the dark, and I have a very hard time going from light to dark or dark to light...BB kinda sucked for me b/c of that. Second time we ate there we were more in the middle, so I wasn't in the dark vortex of the water, but wasn't being blinded whenever the doors opened, either.

 

[heatherleigh]

Bumbers, is it common for Lasik to have that effect on people, or does it just depend on the individual? Also, what year did you have it done? I'm curious, because I notice they keep updating technology each yr on it.

I would go for Ralph Brennan's in DTD for the atmosphere. I've never been, but I have heard it isn't a typical place that you'd find anywhere. They play jazz music, and the food is NO themed.

 

[LavenderPeach]

My vote is for Big Thunder BBQ. We really liked the food and the entertainment was a lot of fun. Also, since it's sort of western/cowboy themed it could be considered sort of "American themed" (if that makes sense) for someone from another country.

I was also thinking Cafe Orleans has a fun atmosphere and is great for people watching if you're outside. Carnation cafe has a very quaint feel to it and it's neat how it's sort of tucked away right there on main street. And rainforest is neat, especially if you've never seen it before.

I'm sure whatever you decide you'll have a great time. Good luck making a decision!

 

[pixarmom]

I like the atmosphere of sitting outside at Cafe Orleans. I get to pretend I'm in New Orleans, just without Bourbon St, LOL.

Blue Bayou is neat, for sure, but if anyone has difficulties in seeing in darker spaces, you probably don't want a waterside table. For me, sitting at the water was useless, b/c I could barely see my menu; having Lasik done destroyed my vision in the dark, and I have a very hard time going from light to dark or dark to light...BB kinda sucked for me b/c of that. Second time we ate there we were more in the middle, so I wasn't in the dark vortex of the water, but wasn't being blinded whenever the doors opened, either.

We were thinking of Blue Bayou, but recently returned from WDW where our pre-schooler (who previously liked it) absolutely hated Pirates. So trying to eat in a restaurant that's located inside that ride this summer may be tough. Our older boys were excited about the pirate theme. Would Hook's Pointe be a good substitute?

 

[spacemermaid]

Another place that I don't think has been mentioned already is Rancho del Zocalo. For a quick service restaurant, it's really got a great theme/decor going on, which really "comes alive" at night, IMO. There's a dining patio that's lit entirely by punched metal star shaped lanterns, which is a real treat to see at night. Also, it's right by Big Thunder Mountain, so that really adds to the atmosphere as well