what resort restaurant is a good fit for us?

[kelly01]

Hi: we will be visiting WDW for 3 days in June. Our first day there we were planning on checking into our hotel late that afternoon. We are staying at POR. I really wanted to stay at either WL or AK, but couldn't swing it with a family of 5. I have 3 nine year old boys.

So I decided that maybe we would visit one of the other resorts for dinner that first night. My initial thought was Boma. My question is: can you get a feel for the AK resort by eating at this restaurant? Are there animals to be seen from the restaurant area? Also, is it a pain to get there? We will have a car, but is parking readily available at the resort?

The other 2 restaurants that I was considering were Ohana, or Whispering Canyon.

What I am looking for in particular is:
1)Decent food (and maybe food that is a departure from the normal TGIF Fridays type of restaurant fare).
2)A restaurant that gives us the "feel" of the particular resort we are visiting
3)Not a character meal...we will be doing that later in the week at Chef Mickeys.

What are your thoughts or recommendations? Thanks again in advance, I have found so much great info on this board!

kelly

 

[ugadog99]

Are you adventurous type eaters? If you don't mind trying new flavors, then Boma is a wonderful choice. You can't see animals from the restaurant, but you can go out to a viewing area before or after your meal. The lodge is beautiful and enjoy walking around and exploring the gift shop, too. Whispering Canyon would be a great idea if your family enjoys dinner participation. It can be lots of fun if you play along with it and the food is really pretty good. The WL is beautiful and we like to go over to visit there, too. Really, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these choices.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I'd go with the Boma also. You can go down the hall (a left after the registration area) and they have withdows you can view from. You can go out on the verrandah and they have nice rocking chairs where you can at times look out and see the animals and there's the area straight through the lobby wheree you can go out and see the animals. It's great!!! Boma, in my opinion, is one of the BEST buffets you can get at WDW. Foods that are very different and "normal" foods for the "less adventurous."

 

[sajetto]

We love Boma!!! Lots of choices, nice seating, good service, and they refill your drinks in a hurry

 

[HopperFan]

My choice would be BOMA, we aren't into the family participation, but 3 boys might like WCC. We loved BOMA and it has more choices than you can imagine. The hotel is beautiful to walk and explore. There are plenty of viewing spots for the animals, indoor and outdoor fire pit. Stories outside by firepit around 7. Gift shop has lots of interesting things. Parking is easy there.

 

[theflowerladee]

I highly vote for Whispering Canyon, although we have done been to boma, I
am a mother of 3 boys5, 11,18 and went with a cousin with 2 boys, 9 and 15
and all of them had a great time, we all enjoyed the food and did drive ourselves, they had valet so it was not difficult to park and the hotel lobby is
nice to sit before or after dinner and soak up the atmosphere, take a walk and
look at the pool. I definately plan on going back.

 

[MareQ]

OHHH DEFINITELY try Boma!!! The Prime Rib and Roasted Chicken is AMAZING! They had spaghetti and meatballs, mac and cheese and chicken strips when we were there last week for any picky eaters.

Some of the food is "exotic" but not weird or gross - kwim? It's just different flavors, different combinations. I had a watercress, cucumber salad that was amazing last week. Last time we wer ethere they had a spinach, beet, yogurt salad that I've been craving ever since. We were there the first time with my DH and his parents who are all very plain, basic eaters and they all loved it!

Parking is a breeze - you either self park in the hotel lot or valet park and yes you definitely get a feel for the resort in this restaurant!

 

[Sugardimples]

You say that you are staying at POR. What about Boatwright's? It's right at your hotel and it's a good restaurant too. The real attraction, however, is the entertainment in the lounge. There is a piano player (I think his name is Bob Jackson), who performs most nights and it is SO MUCH FUN! Please plan on spending some time there, it is great fun for both children and adults. It like going to a great party, you really don't want to miss it!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Do Boma.

Not only did we get a feel for AKL, we had the run of nearly the whole place to be honest. We deliberately got there early, sat in the nice lobby for awhile. Then we went out on the viewing area. Then we looked in the storesThen we sat in the bar at Boma while we waited for a table. And Boma was great.

I had to promise my son we'd go to AKL to eat and look because he wanted to stay there. When we left I asked him if he wanted to stay there next trip. He just looked at me and said why pay all that money when you can just stay at pop and come over once and do all the good stuff when you come over?

 

[groovy~disney]

You say that you are staying at POR. What about Boatwright's? It's right at your hotel and it's a good restaurant too. The real attraction, however, is the entertainment in the lounge. There is a piano player (I think his name is Bob Jackson), who performs most nights and it is SO MUCH FUN! Please plan on spending some time there, it is great fun for both children and adults. It like going to a great party, you really don't want to miss it!

Bob Jackson is awesome. Last time I was at WDW, in December, was the first time I had seen Bob, but my friends had been to several shows. Let me tell you, I was a little skeptical but once I got there I had a great time. Check out Bob's link below and he posts his schedule. You can see if he'll be at POR while you are there. On a side note, the pic that appears on the Update and Schedule page of the site is me and my buddy in December, I'm on Bob's left.
http://www.yehaabob.com/default.asp
Have a blast!

 

[kelly01]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies! It seems that I can't go wrong either way. We will definately keep Boatrights (and Bob the piano man) in mind. That wasn't really even on my radar.

For now, we have made ADRs at Boma. But will try to fit the others in another night. Thanks again for all the wonderful advice.

kelly