What to drop for surprise trip??

[AllentownAl]

I am surprising my wife and 2 daughters (age 8 and 2) with a trip to Disney next week. I need your help because I can't ask them!!! This site has been so helpful so far. thank you.

These are all definites based on family's interests.
Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare Dinner, Ohana dinner, Sanaa Lunch, Les Chefs Lunch, Mama Melrose (F!), Akershus, Via Napoli

The tricky part is Epcot. There are so many great choices. So, which 2 of these would you drop? Our kids are well behaved in restaurants. All would be new to us. I would like to drop the extra ADRs within the next day or 2.

1. Teppan Edo (we do have hibatchi at home)
2. Biergarten
3. Rose and Crown
4. Le Cellier Lunch
5. Coral Reef
6. Kona Dinner - I know this is not Epcot
7. Marrakesh

Anything else you would recommend instead? Please no more character meals or buffets!

Our DDs are adventurous eaters, but like to eat right away upon sitting. Do all of these places serve bread with dinner or lunch?

 

[TDC Nala]

On the one hand, Biergarten is a buffet. On the other hand, buffets = immediate food.

I don't recall many of the Epcot restaurants serving bread except Le Cellier and sometimes it takes them awhile to bring it. Doesn't mean they don't serve it, I just don't remember it. Teppan Edo will definitely not serve bread but the chef's show might distract the kids. (Just because it's on the board a lot from those who are used to hibachi at home, it should be noted that Teppan Edo does not serve fried rice. I've seen that be a dealbreaker, usually with kids.) Kona does serve bread but it's pineapple bread of some sort, not regular bread.

 

[minnie mum]

Dropping Epcot ADRs can be SO difficult. But your choices make it easy for me to pick: I'd drop Teppan Edo (since you have hibatchi at home) and Coral Reef (recent reviews have been kinda meh) I actually quite like all of your other choices.

 

[Jedimike]

Since you're already eating at Ohana, I would drop Kona. It is really hard to choose from the remaining list. Based on experience and a ton of reviews that I've read, I would keep Le Celier and Coral Reef (two of the most popular places to at at Epcot). I love the Biergarten and am a sucker for hibachi, so I would keep those two. The bottom of my list is Rose and Crown and Marrakesh. Rose and Crown is pub food, which you can probably get in a bunch of places, and I've only eaten there to get patio seats for Illuminations. Marrakesh, I have not eaten at, because my wife is a picky eater, and it seemed quite exotic.

I know you asked for no more character meals, but if you have two daughters, why not go for Cinderella's Royal Banquet? If you can't get ADRs (tons of people get lucky in the last week before their trip btw), I hear you can get lucky sometimes by just walking up for an early dinner.

Hope this helps,

Mike

 

[Quin]

1. Teppan Edo (we do have hibatchi at home)
2. Biergarten
3. Rose and Crown
4. Le Cellier Lunch
5. Coral Reef
6. Kona Dinner - I know this is not Epcot
7. Marrakesh

Since you can get a similar experience at home I'd drop Teppan Edo. And although it is a DisBoards fave, I'd be tempted to drop the Le Cellier lunch.

Biergarten is a non-character buffet with good food (and you get pretzel bread there too; on the buffet so as much as you want). A good option for lunch or dinner. Rose & Crown also has good theming and some unique foods. Coral Reef - although the food is not always spectacular, the view makes it worthwhile. I considered a prior poster's recommendation to drop Kona too but some of their food is more 'unique' than, say, Le Cellier. Finally there is Marrakesh. The food and the atmosphere are both really, really unique. We ate there a few months ago and I was very surprised at how much I liked my meal.

 

[coltsfanatic]

KONA and ROSE AND CROWN

The other choices are far more excellent.

 

[jjsdad]

I'd drop kona and makaresh. Maybe you could drop the reservation after the cat has been let out of the bag and get some input from them once they know whats going on?

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Since you're already eating at Ohana, I would drop Kona. It is really hard to choose from the remaining list. Based on experience and a ton of reviews that I've read, I would keep Le Celier and Coral Reef (two of the most popular places to at at Epcot). I love the Biergarten and am a sucker for hibachi, so I would keep those two. The bottom of my list is Rose and Crown and Marrakesh. Rose and Crown is pub food, which you can probably get in a bunch of places, and I've only eaten there to get patio seats for Illuminations. Marrakesh, I have not eaten at, because my wife is a picky eater, and it seemed quite exotic.

I know you asked for no more character meals, but if you have two daughters, why not go for Cinderella's Royal Banquet? If you can't get ADRs (tons of people get lucky in the last week before their trip btw), I hear you can get lucky sometimes by just walking up for an early dinner.

Hope this helps,

Mike

I agree with this advice! If you ask for a table by the aquarium, Coral Reef is magical. Our meals have been excellent here on our last three trips. The only possible complaint from our table might be that the portions are small, but we were on the dining plan and stuffed as it was--so it was PERFECT for us. I cannot tell you how much my daughter loved sitting next to the aquarium when she was 2, 4, 5, and 6 years old. It has been a highlight of EVERY trip!

My daughter also loved Teppan Edo the last time we were there (age 6). The show was very good, but even more important, we ordered the filet mignon, and it melted in my mouth. I have never had a steak that good at Disney. It was excellent!

We liked Marrakesh, and the belly dancer was interesting, but for me, watching her was a little strange, too. The food was okay...not outstanding, but not bad. But I could drop this one easily. And Rose & Crown is a pub atmosphere. It's good, and there are times that I am in the mood for that, but it's not somewhere I feel compelled to take my young daughter. She was bored when we dined there in 2006 (at the age of 2). We'll probably try it again when she is 12 or 13.

I would first drop Marrakesh, then Rose & Crown, and next Kona (because of the inconsistency in food quality). When Kona is on top of their game, it can be wonderful. But I have had couple of lackluster meals there, too.

 

[Mysteria]

I'd say drop Kona, since you have 'Ohana and Teppan Edo since you have something similar at home.

 

[goofyintoronto]

My daughter also loved Teppan Edo the last time we were there (age 6). The show was very good, but even more important, we ordered the filet mignon, and it melted in my mouth. I have never had a steak that good at Disney. It was excellent! >>>I agree. I enjoyed my steak here far more than my steak at le cellier. Shocker huh? Its quite entertaining for kids of all ages. My son LOVES it there! Sure there's no fried rice, but the noodles make up for it. Theyre so tasty! However, if you go to hibachi places quite often in your home town, and your kids have been, then maybe there's no point in going? But the atmosphere is so nice at Teppan Edo. If you can swing it, i'd go.

Rose & Crown is a pub atmosphere. It's good, and there are times that I am in the mood for that, but it's not somewhere I feel compelled to take my young daughter. She was bored when we dined there in 2006 (at the age of 2). We'll probably try it again when she is 12 or 13.>>>I also agree with this. I like Rose/Crown, I like the food, but its just a pub. There's nothing unique about the food or atmosphere. My son was also bored here. Unless you want a good view of Illuminations, i'd drop this one.

I would first drop Marrakesh, then Rose & Crown, and next Kona (because of the inconsistency in food quality). When Kona is on top of their game, it can be wonderful. But I have had couple of lackluster meals there, too.>>>I also agree, as good as Kona is, since your going to Ohana already, i would drop Kona.

 

[AllentownAl]

Thank you for all the replies. I think I am leaning toward getting rid of Marrakesh, because it seems as though it would be an easy enough ADR to get once we arrive anyway if we so choose.

Other than that, I see the point of getting rid of Kona or Teppan Edo. I am also really on the fence about Biergarten. I think the others we will keep.

Decisions, Decisions...

 

[HappyontheLake]

We love Marrakesh -- especially my kids.

LOVE Le Cellier.

Missed Teppan Edo this last trip -- had to make choices and this one hit our cutting floor. Maybe next time.

We don't do buffets (food allergies) so no experience with Biergarten.

Coral Reef was a hit for us because of the aquarium. Wish we could have gotten a table next to it, but wasn't able to pull it off (family of 6) There are many more tables for 4 there.

I would recommend Kouzzina at the Boardwalk -- we love anything greek!, glad to see you have Sanaa -- one of our absolute favorites.

Had an amazing meal at the Turf Club (Sarasota Springs) Sunday night -- I recommend the lamb!

 

[csmommy]

We Biergarten. The food & the atmosphere are great.

I would do away with Teppan Edo b/c you do hibachi at home & I would do away with Rose & Crown - not b/c of the food, but b/c we find it boring.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would drop Teppen Edo because we have hibachi at home and it is less expensive and you get the fried rice, appie salad, soup and shrimp and larger portions...you do not get this at TE

And I would drop LC because it is just nothing to get wild about

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Of those restaurants listed, Le Cellier is the one that I would definitely keep. You'll have a nice variety of bread, and I really enjoyed their duck meatballs, tuna appetizer, and mushroom filet with truffle butter. I think the menu options are really quite good for a 1-credit restaurant.

Now for the others...

-Biergarten is an interesting experience, with the entertainment and communal seating. I don't love it because the food is very heavy and fatty.

-I wouldn't waste my time with Teppan Edo, since it's basically an overpriced hibachi place that has the exact same entertainment as any hibachi restaurant that's 10-15 minutes from your home.

-Rose & Crown is pretty good. It's just not a must-do for me, but a lot of the food here looks good (fish and chips, shepherd's pie, trifle, etc).

-Coral Reef is by far my least favorite restaurant on the list. Even for Disney standards, I think it's overpriced, and I can honestly say I've had better food at Applebee's. The real reason to go here is to stare at the tank, but you can do that from inside the pavilion for free.

-Never been to Kona for anything besides breakfast. From what I've seen, I would keep this one, since the bread is unique (tropical-inspired) and some of the menu items have an Asian twist. The desserts here look really good.

-Marrakesh used to be one of our favorites, but our last meal here in 2008 was so bland and disappointing. In theory, this place has adventurous food, but the food really wasn't that interesting last time.

So I would suggest dropping Coral Reef and Teppan Edo, and maybe even Biergarten or Marrakesh. In terms of a replacement, since your daughters are adventurous, what about trying one signature restaurant? Jiko, Artist Point, and Flying Fish all have very interesting menus and would be a step up from some of the Epcot choices. You could even walk to and from Flying Fish if you wanted to do it on an Epcot day.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

My two worst meals at DIsney were Marrakesh and Coral Reef- so that's what I'd drop. Coral Reef wasn't awful, but horribly average. Marrakesh was awful!

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

First, you are awesome for the surprise trip!!

I would personally vote for dropping Marrakesh (doesn't appeal much to me), and then, if I'm to pick only one more, I'd drop Teppan Edo too. We really did like it, but we too have hibatchi at home and it's very similar.