Where should we eat?

[AliceCullen]

My fiance and I just booked a short trip to DW next month and need suggestions on where to eat. I'm basically only concerned with dinner as we'll probably grab counter service meals during the day. We'll be in Magic Kingdom one night and Epcot the other. Any great restaurant suggestions that won't break the bank (less than $100 bill)? Thank you!

 

[Pugmalion1]

My suggestions for good dinners for under a total of $100 in or around those parks:

The Magic Kingdom Area
Grand Floridan Cafe or Narcoosee's at the Grand Floridian
Kona Cafe at the Polynesian

Epcot Area
The Coral Reef in Future World inside of Epcot
Kouzzina at the Boardwalk

That being said, you can still eat at a signature for under $50 a person, if you do it right. Had we not indulged in a few drinks apiece on our last trip to California Grill, we probably would have been under a total bill of $100 for dinner. We sat in the lounge and had a flatbread apiece, shared an appetizer and shared a Spicy Kazaan Roll. We even had great seats to watch the fireworks without having to get up and go to the viewing area. If that sounds good to you, than I recommend doing that above all else for your Magic Kingdom night.

 

[goofyintoronto]

MK:
I love Liberty Tree ....its a thanksgiving style all you can eat (family style) place. So YUMMY!!

Stay away from Tony's, worst food in all of disney. their tomato sauce is atrocious.

I heard The Plaza restaurant is yummy, simple food like burgers and sandwiches, but its cheap and very yummy. Always gets great reviews.

Crystal Palace buffet is also yummy.


Epcot:
Teppan Edo is AMAZING (if you like hibachi/teppanyaki)! By far the best steak (way better than le cellier!). Very entertaining to watch too.

 

[goofyintoronto]

BTW i should mention, you should check out the menu's & prices on the disney website (and also on the allears.net website). Check out what you like and price out some meals.

 

[Hobbes]

Don't want to worry you but you might want to get a move on if you're going next month-you might end up eating wherever you can get in. Keep my fingers crossed for you

 

[AliceCullen]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I am definitely finding most places are booked, like the previous poster predicted. Do any of the table service restaurants leave room for walk ins or are we stuck with counter service for all our meals?

 

[Quin]

Walk-ups are possible but unreliable. The particularly popular (like Ohana) and particularly small (like Kona) are most likely impossible. And with only 2 dinners, you can't just shrug your shoulders and try again tomorrow.

Biergarten in Epcot is a good buffet at both lunch and dinner, and often will have availability for a party of 2 because they are filling in the tables that already have groups of 5-6 (like a true biergarten, 8 people are seated at a long table. You can interact as much or as little as you want: some people chat throughout the meal while others smile, nod, and go about their business).

Just outside the Epcot International Gateway, check for openings at Captains Grill in the YC resort. Nice place, a little quieter, and for the budget they have a fixed-price option that includes app, entree, and dessert.

For your MK day - I think Tony's food is fine; if Italian appeals to you, check availabiltiy. The Plaza is another option, as is GF Cafe (quick monorail ride away). Otherwise you may have to take a bit more time from your MK day and take a bus to a less-crowded resort. Turf Club at SSR and Olivia's at OKW are 'hidden gems' with pretty good food and more availability because they are off the beaten track. Slightly closer would be to take the boat to Ft. Wilderness and eat at Trails End, a basic ribs & fried chicken buffet.