What restaurants to take first timers to?

[FSU Girl]

In the middle of December I'm going to Disney with friends who have never been before. It'll be a couples trip, just adults. The couple me and my boyfriend are going with are sorta first timers. They have been one time to Disney before, last year on Christmas. They didn't know you needed to plan ahead of time and it was super busy so they barely rode any rides and didn't get to eat anywhere.

This time will be different. I am planning the trip in advance so we can get everything we want. I'm just not sure where we need to go.

It'll be for a weekend, probably just Saturday and Sunday for them, boyfriend and I will go up Friday night after work so not much planning that day anyway (it's a three hour drive away)

So which restaurants are must dos for couples? I want to take them to Be Our Guest because they had tried to go and couldn't get in. Not sure where else. How many meals should I plan for the day? Just one? Or maybe more? They'll be driving in from Tampa.

I'm excited to plan this trip it'll be my first trip planning for multiple people coming together like this

 

[Deanie1]

If you plan too many meals then you will not have as much time to tour the parks. I would only do one TS per day. What park will you be in for the second day? Since the trip is short, I would try to eat inside the park you are at.

 

[FSU Girl]

If you plan too many meals then you will not have as much time to tour the parks. I would only do one TS per day. What park will you be in for the second day? Since the trip is short, I would try to eat inside the park you are at.

I'm not sure which parks we are doing. I'm think Magic Kingdom since it has the most rides. Thinking Be Our Guest for lunch or dinner. If we did lunch it would be earlier since I like going back to the hotel to swim in the heat of the day. The other couple might stay and do more rides then not sure. I like doing sit down dinners though so would probably do one then. I don't think Be Our Guest lunch should count as sit down since it can be done quickly.

For the second day thinking Animal Kingdom for the new Pandora land but since they've never been to any park besides magic kingdom I'm not sure about this one. I'm thinking of a late lunch or early dinner this day since we will both have to drive home

 

[FelisLachesis]

I'd say for two days, the two parks should be the originals: MK and Epcot. The only deviation would be if they're both huge Star Wars or Avatar fans, then go MK and either HS or DAK, respectively.

In MK: BoG, like you said, is fairly safe. They'll be floored at the detail in the dining room Maybe for a TS restaurant not named "Be Our Guest," either Skipper Canteen or Liberty Tree Tavern is safe. Oh, and you have to take them to Aloha Isle for a Dole Whip!

Epcot, just find out their favorite cuisine and find something in Epcot (as long as they don't say something like Filipino food, which you ain't findin' there!).

HS: usually 50s and SciFi are safe. I can't think of a decent QS, maybe ABC?

AK: Satu'li Canteen looks fun, if you can get in.

But for first timers and such a short trip, @Deanie1 is right, you don't have the time to go outside the parks.

 

[brertoad]

What do they like? All rides, fast rides, slow rides, shows, fireworks, sit down meals or QS?
Budget for meals?

Are you staying on property, will you have extra magic hours to work with?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm not sure where you are staying or what your exact touring plan is, but, I can make some general suggestions if it's helpful! My DS9 and I took my sister on a "first-timers" trip about a year ago (she had been before, but it had been over 25 years ago!). We were there for 5 nights so had more time for TS than you will have for 2 nights, but I did a combination of fun, unique Disney dining (mostly character meals) and signature dining. I would suggest perhaps doing the same with your friends! Perhaps one character TS dinner and one signature.

On your MK day (you mention BOG for lunch and then taking a break), if your friends don't mind taking some time out of the park, perhaps a mini-monorail crawl? We did this and had so much fun! Especially in December when the tree will be up at GF. We started at Trader Sam's to see the antics and special effects, went to GF to see the tree and get some gingerbread, had dinner at Cali Grill (where we could see the DHS fireworks in the distance) and then ended the night with MK fireworks dessert party. If you don't want to do all of this and just have dinner, I highly recommend Cali Grill for first timers - the view is just stunning.

Other signatures I would recommend (since you mention MK and AK) - Artist Point, Tiffins (go to Nomad Lounge to get drinks first!) and Jiko.

If you want to go the signature and character meal route and are sticking to MK and AK, I would probably consider Cali Grill for your MK day and Tusker House for AK (you could even do the TH ROL package).

Another restaurant I would consider in the AK area is Sanaa.

If you end up considering DHS or EP, I would consider Hollywood Brown Derby, Sci-Fi (if you want a themed experience and aren't interested in characters) and Spice Road Table. If you aren't on the dining plan, consider Kimono's (for sushi), Il Mulino and blue zoo.

 

[Yahweh]

I think one of the Big attractions of WDW is seeing the resorts. And even if you are planning to get as much done as possible, it is still important IMO to get out of the park for a least an hour or two. That being said:

I'd walk over to the Contemporary and do California Grill. You get to See the Contemporary, and MK from one of the best views in WDW

On your AK day, take a bus over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and do Sanaa. AKL it totally worth the trip!

 

[FSU Girl]

Thank you for all these suggestions! I went with this couple to Universal a couple months ago and we stayed in the park from opening to close and they definitely like the big rollercoasters. I just don't think I have it in me to last the entire day without some break, so I was thinking if they wanted they could stay in the park while me and my boyfriend go back to rest a bit. Right now they are contemplating getting an annual pass so that'll factor in to if we could park hop for dinner. I was thinking if they do this we could do dinner at Epcot.

Me and my boyfriend are definitely staying on property, I'm not sure they will or not. If they do I think they'll probably pick a moderate or value hotel and we are going to stay Deluxe so probably wouldn't be at the same hotel. I think their focus will be the parks more than enjoying a hotel so I think not staying at the same place should be okay.

My main focus is getting them into some nice restaurants because they had complained how they couldn't eat anywhere when they went and it was disappointing.

Do you think Pandora will have calmed down by December? I don't want them to get stuck in really long lines for everything and if it's still crazy might avoid this park.

I definitely think they are more on the frugal side so I don't want to schedule any really expensive meals. The guy also has a serve allergy to any milk product so probably eliminates pizza places lol.

 

[North of Mouse]

BOG lunch - very impressive, but will not take a lot of time away from the parks!! Prices will be much less than any other TS (like) places also - even though CS!

 

[FSU Girl]

BOG lunch - very impressive, but will not take a lot of time away from the parks!! Prices will be much less than any other TS (like) places also - even though CS!

Definitely have to have BOG on the list since it was one they mentioned not being able to get into

 

[wdw&sonny]

I would plan to go to a resort or DS for dinner. They are newbies to WDW. Their first experience was not favorable. They are adults going for only the second time...so they are not HUGE Disney fans like all of us...with that being said, I would introduce them to the hectic pace of the parks gradually.

Plan the morning FPs and have a "themed lunch" (BOG, 50's PT, Sci Fi) , get out of the park for the afternoon. Relax poolside with a drink.

Go to dinner at a resort to show them the vast array. Discover the resort you will stay at "next time".

Return to the park for the evening shows.

Introduce them to the resorts, the restaurants, the shows. Most newbies think of Disney as "rides". Show them everything else.

 

[Shanti]

In the middle of December I'm going to Disney with friends who have never been before. It'll be a couples trip, just adults. The couple me and my boyfriend are going with are sorta first timers. They have been one time to Disney before, last year on Christmas. They didn't know you needed to plan ahead of time and it was super busy so they barely rode any rides and didn't get to eat anywhere.

This time will be different. I am planning the trip in advance so we can get everything we want. I'm just not sure where we need to go.

It'll be for a weekend, probably just Saturday and Sunday for them, boyfriend and I will go up Friday night after work so not much planning that day anyway (it's a three hour drive away)

So which restaurants are must dos for couples? I want to take them to Be Our Guest because they had tried to go and couldn't get in. Not sure where else. How many meals should I plan for the day? Just one? Or maybe more? They'll be driving in from Tampa.

I'm excited to plan this trip it'll be my first trip planning for multiple people coming together like this

Hoop Dee Doo Revue dinner show.

 

[FSU Girl]

I would plan to go to a resort or DS for dinner. They are newbies to WDW. Their first experience was not favorable. They are adults going for only the second time...so they are not HUGE Disney fans like all of us...with that being said, I would introduce them to the hectic pace of the parks gradually.

Plan the morning FPs and have a "themed lunch" (BOG, 50's PT, Sci Fi) , get out of the park for the afternoon. Relax poolside with a drink.

Go to dinner at a resort to show them the vast array. Discover the resort you will stay at "next time".

Return to the park for the evening shows.

Introduce them to the resorts, the restaurants, the shows. Most newbies think of Disney as "rides". Show them everything else.

This is great! Thank you! I definitely want them to keep going back, currently trying to sell them on the benefits of an annual pass. Do you think I should try to convince them to stay with us at our hotel so we could go to the pool together? I was think Wilderness Lodge could be good, it's close to Magic Kingdom and its the cheapest of the Deluxes

 

[Shanti]

If you only want to have your special meal at the parks:

Magic Kingdom: Be Our Guest
Epcot: Garden Grill breakfast
Animal Kingdom: Tusker House
Hollywood Studios: Sci Fi Dine-In Theater

 

[Thing 1]

I think the biggest factor is you only have a short weekend. We have done week long trips and weekends and we plan and tour very differently. I would do MK the first day and probably Epcot the second. We love breaks in the afternoon but with a short weekend I would try to build in some down time in the parks or just outside of them. I would try to do a good CS lunch ( BOG) and take your time to get a good break. A nice dinner either in the parks or a close by resort will give another good break. California Grill is my choice for MK day but it is pricey. There are great choices in the WS for Epcot. I would try to both say on the monorail route or near by. The WL is amazing for Christmas. Maybe consider sharing a room for just a weekend. More money for nice restaurants . Plan FP well and have a good touring plan. Know that the weather can be anything from hot to cold so encourage your guest to prepare for that. It's a beautiful time to go .....enjoy!!