What were your favorite table service meals for kids under 5?

[jnordan]

We'll be taking a 4.5 and 2.5 year old (both girls) to Disney in May 2007.

What were your favorite sit-down meal locations for kids under 5?

 

[lady_hlh]

We took my DD last year when she was 3.5 and her favorites were of course character dinners, Crystal Palace and Princess Storybook. She was OK with eating at the Concourse steakhouse because they had steak, which she loves, on the kids menu.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We loved Garden Grill at Epcot! (revolves very slowly through the sets from the Living with the Land ride; characters are Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto) DS was 5 already, but I expect your 4.5 would get a kick out of it as well. And ours is a picky eater, so we liked that while the grown-ups' meal comes family style (and was great) the kids can have chicken tenders and fries instead. - They also get to decorate their own cupcake, which DS thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[ted2baker]

Agree with Garden Grill.

If you must do a princess meal, we preferred Norway to Cindy's castle. FWIW, YMMV, etc.

 

[debbi801]

Princess Storybook Dinner in Norway
Chef Mickey (he loved swinging the napkin around)
Crystal Palace
'Ohana (he loved the coconut races)

 

[lindakmonty]

Chef Mickeys
Ohana
CRT!!!
Donalds Breakfastosaurus
Hoop de Doo Revue
Mickeys Backyard BBQ

These are the ones we have had the most fun at. DS5 had a blast

 

[jakensydsmom]

I'll repeat other votes here -
the character meals are big with the kids. We had a great time at Chef Mickey's and donald's. The kids also loved Ohana's -when we went there were no characters at dinner (2003). They also enjoyed Prime Time Cafe and our 6 yo loved telling the waitress that we had our elbows on the table!

 

[susykt4]

My kids (then 4 1/2 and 2) both absolutely loved the Norway princess lunch. I couldn't believe how well they ate and while we chose this meal for princess-loving DD, DS had just as much fun. It was DH and my favorite meal of the trip, but I think everything else we ate was counter service.

Our last trip (kids 5 1/2 and 3) everyone enjoyed Donald's Breakfastsaurus at Animal Kingdom. We got the latest available seating and used it as an early lunch. This allowed us to do the safari and a few other things before our meal.

 

[sara74]

Our little ones both really liked Whispering Canyon at the WL! It was noisy, there were Lincoln Logs to play with, horse races, bottomless milkshakes and corn bread! We ate there twice the family enjoyed it so much!

Of course they also had a good time at CRT and Crystal Palace as well.

 

[lorli]

Our then 4 year old dd enjoyed

Princess breakfast in Norway
Chef Mickey's
Liberty Tree Tavern
Crystal Palace
Sci-Fi Cafe

She loved sitting in the car at the drive-in.

 

[Suzanne74]

Our dd (now almost 5) has been there a few times and absolutely LOVES Chef Mickey's. It wouldn't even be a complete trip for her without it. We do dinner on opening night to get us in the Disney mood.

We did the castle for breakfast and she did like but said she didn't want to do it again. She likes the classic characters better than princesses. she tends to be shy with the "real" talking Princesses I honestly think the castle is worth it if your girls are totally into it. If not, maybe just Norway breakfast or 1900 Park Fare. I wouldn't do all character meals though, the food gets redundant and there are some really nice restaurants in WDW. Most will keep little ones busy but here are some of our other favs...

Ohana's which has great food and a fun atmosphere. Hula hoops for the kids, coconut races.

I would also recommend Coral Reef. Not only do you try good seafood but the girls will be happy watching the tanks of fish.

We did 50's Prime Time and she liked it in there and LOVED Daddy getting yelled out by the waitress about elbows on the table, the waitress also spoon fed him his green beans. She was belly laughing.

We are trying WCC and Sci-Fi this coming trip which I think she will like.

I would still try places YOU might like though like LeCellier (yum!) since most servers are so great with the kids, the get crayons and such. We always play games like "funnies moment today, best ride today" and we also do I Spy. Just make sure your kids are well rested and not exhausted when doing a meal and they should be fine.

HTH

 

[Haworthfamily]

Hi

We went at Easter this year and our 4.5 DD loved the Prime Time Cafe in MGM.
The Food was superb and the waitresses very funny, our DD particularly enjoyed chosing her pudding from the old fasioned hand held picture scope.

we didn't eat in their until 8:45pm! and see still managed to stay awake

Sarah X

 

[Brian Noble]

I like anything that is "family-style service." The advantages: unlike a "traditional" sit-down restaurant, you don't have to look at the menu, decide what to order, and wait for it to be prepared. This shortens the wait between sitting down and eating, which is always longer than the crayons are interesting.

On the other hand, unlike a buffet, you don't have to get up and get food for yourself and all the kids without any help.

Character meals with this style include GG, LTT, CRT, 'Ohana and to a lesser extent PSB. (PSB has a buffet for the first course, but is family style after that). 'Ohana's dinner works this way also, but is not a character meal. HDDR and Luau work this way, and if you order the skillet for everyone at WCC. There may be others that I'm not thinking of.

 

[juligrl]

We liked Rainforest Cafe -- DD (then 2) loved all the animated animals.
Also, she loved the Lincoln Logs at Whispering Canyon Cafe.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Hi! We are going in May 2007 also, the 3-11. We are doing a bunch, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare instead of Cindy's, Ohana, and a few others that aren't character like Le Cellier.

I agree with PP that I am not a huge fan of the buffets because it seems like with 3 that are too young to serve themselves, I never get to sit down and enjoy my meal. I would rather someone bring us the food, but there are some restaurants we want to do that I am willing to sacrifice

Maybe we'll see you there! Are those the ages of your girls at trip time or now? Mine are DD 5, DD just turned 3, and DS 8 months. (now) Hope you have a great trip, I cannot stand the waiting!!!! Luckily we have frequent trips to Disneyland to hold us over in between time.


Andrea

 

[slo]

My favorites are:

The Garden Grill - Epcot
The Crystal Palace - MK
The Liberty Tree Tavern - MK
Chef Mickey's - Contemporary
Cindy's Royal Table - MK

Non-character:
Kona Cafe - Poly
Concourse Steakhouse - Contemporary
Biergarten - Epcot (Germany)

 

[judben821]

We have 2 DD's - 5 and 2. By far their favorite is Chef Mickeys. Then Crystal Palace, O'hanas, and CRT.

I know you didn't ask, but mom and dad's favorite - Fultons

 

[dizfam4]

Our 4 year old and 1 year old loved Ohana, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Sci-Fi, and Whispering Canyon Cafe.

 

[Disnelson]

Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Whispering Canyon at WL

 

[golden1]

We will be going with children the same ages, 4.5 yr old dd and 2.5 yr old ds. Our ADRs are:

CRT (Just dd and I)
Hollywood and Vine Character Breakfast
Mama Melrose (FDP)
Crystal Palace
Garden Grill

I am also doing the Perfectly Princess Tea Party with dd.

I think that any buffet or family style would be fine as well. I decided to wait on HDDR because I thought that it might be more appreciated when the kids were a bit older and my ds would probably get antsy having to sit for that long.