What restaurants would you recommend for dinner?

[n0007917]

We will have 3 evenings at the parks and since this is our 1st trip, I dont know much about the restaurants. We have the dining plan and I would like your recommendations as to where we can get the 3 best dinner experiences. There are 2 adults and a 10 yr old boy.
Can you also tell me where the restaurant is located so I can try to schedule it while we are in the right park.
Thanks,

 

[Sunshein]

Hmmm. It really depends on what you like. There are some great options at Epcot of course. Coral Reef is great with giant aquariums that have ginat sea turtles and sharks swimming by. Le Cellier is also really amazing and very popular for steak. That is in the Canadian Pavillion. For a fun and different experience you can try Teppan Edo in the Japanese pavillion. The chef grills your food right there in front of you and it is very entertaining.

For finer dining on the DDP Downtown Disney has Raglan Road which has great food, an Irish band and dancers or you can head over to Wolfgang Puck Cafe which is the most expensive restaurant on the Dining Plan.

For some real fun for your 10 year old you can head to the Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge. Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge is pretty amazing too and a buffet so you can try everything.

Check out the menus at: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

This should help you decide. Lots of great places to try! Good Luck!

 

[GoingtoDisney]

Are you interested in character meals at all? If so, Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends is fun. Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary.

Others, we loved (including my almost 10 yr old ds) dinner at Coral Reef in Epcot. Also I've heard Garden Grill in Epcot is nice (we couldn't decide between the two), also has characters. Also, of course, Le Cellier, we haven't done that one yet but I would love to in the future.

50s Prime Time, Mama Melrose and Hollywood and Vine are ones we have enjoyed at MGM.

We loved Kona for dinner at Poly this past trip.

 

[whogirl'smom]

As said before, Le Cellier was the best meal we had this trip, with a close second at Coral Reef in Epcot. We also enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom a lot and all the food was good. Loved 1900 Park Fare (at Grand Floridian) for breakfast--that was some good bread pudding!!! Don't know how that would go over with 10 y/o boy? Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter.

Mama Melrose at MGM was pretty good, nothing bad, just not outstanding. Rose and Crown at Epcot was very good last year, and you can watch Illuminations from there. It's getting mixed reviews right now, so I'd say it's a toss-up.

 

[asmarykay]

We also loved Kona and Le Cellier. For me - I would skip Boma. We ate there last trip and I was glad we were on the Free DP or I would have been upset. The food was fair and not much that my 11 yo would eat - she had the chicken strips which we could get anywhere.

We also enjoyed Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary Hotel.

 

[Shmily1]

I would say the three best, in order, are Coral Reef, Cape May Character Breakfast, and Crystal Palace. These are all great for children and the food is great too! The first two are my all time favorites. Fourth would be Rainforest Cafe since we ALWAYS go there.

 

[OKW Mom]

We got there early for out ADR and the CM asked our children to ring the bell and announce the Lunch opening. They were 6 and 9 and got a kick out of being important. Don't know if they do the same at dinner, it is worth asking.

Great photo opportunity too!

 

[Simba22]

On this past trip, our favorite dinner was San Angel Inn, but Coral Reef was also very good, and so was LTT.

 

[Sunshein]

I would say the three best, in order, are Coral Reef, Cape May Character Breakfast, and Crystal Palace. These are all great for children and the food is great too! The first two are my all time favorites. Fourth would be Rainforest Cafe since we ALWAYS go there.

Those are great suggestions, just keep in mind that Rainforest Cafe is not on the list of Dining Plan restaurants so you would have to pay for that out of pocket.

 

[simonkodousek]

Le Cellier, Nine Dragons, Crystal Palace, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Kona Cafe.

 

[Rysar]

Liberty Tree is great just for the mac and cheese alone.
Coral Reef for the view
California Grill for the adults and the view.
Whispering Canyon for breakfast and the waiters

 

[karmalicousss]

Well I think the best restauraunt for dinner are either Cinderella's Royal Table or Chef Mickey's.

 

[matysgrandma]

LeCellier, Tutto Italia and Coral Reef, in no particular order all in Epcot.

 

[laura74]

California Grill around fireworks time will keep your son amused and you get to eat at one of the best restaurants at Disney. This was our absolute favorite last year.

Also in the fireworks vein, we had a nice experience at Rose and Crown during Illuminations. I wasn't that impressed with the food but it was worth it for the view. Our server picked our five-year-old daughter to "start the show" complete with special wand, and it was one of her favorite memories.

Next year, we're trying Chef Mickey's which isn't supposed to be fabulous foodwise but your son will enjoy it. We're also going to try O'hana which seems like a happy medium between menu and ambience.

 

[praline3001]

I have 2 boys (10,13) THEIR favs are:
1. 50's prime time (as they like watching dad get made fun of )

2. Whispering canyon cafe ... this is right up any boys alley and the answer to a boys version of the princess breakfasts

3. Chef Mickeys

DH and I's favs are
1. Jikos ... I love love love this place!
2. Garden Grill .. ask for a booth! Its nice and quiet and with the super high booths you get Mickey to yourself for some great photos
3. CRT... not the best food but I am from New Orleans so I can eat GOOD food anytime how often do I get to eat in the Castle?!?!

 

[.:Disney.:.Freak:.]

I would say the best places to eat at for your first time are:

-Coral Reef

-Concourse Steak House

- Le Celier

-Cinderella's Royal Table

 

[Mickiethepooh]

When are you going? Do you realize that you need to make ADR's if you expect to get seated at a sit down restaurant? many people make these 180 days out. and they are often fully booked months ahead. So if you have not yet done so, pick some places and get on the phone at 407 WDW DINE to make your reservations, you better have several back ups as many won't be available if it is too close.
IF you can't get anything, then keep trying once you arrive at the resort go to the Concierge and see what they can find for you.
Hopefully you knew all this and are not going for six months or so.

 

[engle]

Well, I have planned trips for MANY 1st timers and after the reviews, these seem to be the BEST options for what you are describing....ain't claiming to be an expert....just my opinion....

Magic Kingdom....Crystal Palace with a boy, bfast, lunch or dinner
Animal Kingdom...Limited Options but I would maybe try to go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and go to Boma for dinner. Animal Kingdom usually closes earlier than other parks, too. If you MUST stay in park, take the risk and try the new Yak and Yeti (yeti to open or the soon to open Tusker House)
MGM...I would do Brown Derby but unless you're going at a VERY busy time, skip the Fantasmic Pkg.
Epcot...Teppan Edo for food and FUN. You're 10 year old will LOVE it. Yes, Le Cellier is good eats but a 10 year old will be bored. Go somewhere with more ambience geared for kids. If Teppan Edo doesn't appeal, then Biergarten.

These are my IN PARK opinions!!

 

[N.Bailey]

I find it very difficult to give you recommendations, without a bit more information. You say it's your first trip and you've only got 3 days. IMO, that leaves a lot of restaurants out because with such a short trip (and never having been there), you won't want to spend your days traveling to resorts etc. for ADR's.

You could have 2 weeks at Disney and really never see it all.

My recommendations are based on restaurants that are in each of the 3 parks (or within close proximity anyway), and I've only included restaurant that require 1 credit for dining. Not staying long also leads me to believe that you won't want to sacrifice a meal to have a signature one (signature requires 2 credits).

The Magic Kingdom day, I'd recommend hoping on over to the Poly and having dinner at the Kona Cafe. Others have liked the Liberty Tree Tavern, but personally, I'm not a fan. You could also head to the Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's if you're looking for a character meal. The CP and CM also offers character breakfasts if you'd rather use your credits during breakfast. These are buffets and IMO, not the best food in the world, but it depends on what you're looking for.

At Epcot, there is Le Cellier (great steaks), Tepan Edo (just reopened, but is getting great reviews). I've not eaten here yet, but the former restaurant (very similar) was one of our favorites. The Italian restaurant Tutto Italia is just newly opened (haven't eaten here yet either) and is getting lots of great reviews. Many like the Coral Reef, we never did, however.

MGM. IMO, there isn't much worth writing home about here. I love the Brown Derby, but I'm thinking that might be a 2 credit restaurant? I'm not sure. The 50's Prime Time Cafe would probably be a hit with your 10 year old. The problem with the restaurant is, it's so dependent on who your waiter/waitress is regarding how much fun it can be. We got a dud the 1 time we ate here. I also don't enjoy pot roast, meatloaf, and/or fried chicken when I'm on vacation (can cook these better myself), but the food is actually pretty good and I'd imagine it would be lots of fun if you got an interactive wait staff.

There are some other great restaurant in the World, but I chose these only because of your short stay. If it's signature that you're looking for, there are some great restaurant to choose from. If you're willing to sacrifice park time, there are also many other great restaurants to choose from. Some of the restaurants aren't far from the parks, too. It's really tough to answer without knowing more of what you're looking for.

 

[amaley01]

Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Boma's and Hollywood & Vine.
If you want a dinner & show, we love love love the ribs & chicken at the Hoop de doo review, if you can get ADR.