Where to eat? Husband, wife, two boys

[richcook99]

Hey. I know this question has probably been asked tons of times, but I'm new to the forum. I have two sons: 11 and 8. Where would you suggest eating in each park. We'll get the meal plan and be at WDW 7 days. Any special ideas for table service and counter service would be great! Thanks!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Chef Mickey at MK
Liberty Tree Tavern at MK
Crystal Palace at MK
Garden Grill at Epcot
Ohana for breakfast
Sci Fi Dine In at HS

Just a few!

 

[KatMark]

Crystal Palace -- Magic Kingdom for breakfast (character meal with Pooh and friends)
Plaza Restaurant -- Magic Kindgom for lunch or service (table service...but lighter fare--burgers, reubens, club sandwiches, shakes, sundaes...nice change of pace for other table service menus)
Columbia Harbour House and Pinocchio Village Haus -- Magic Kingdom for counter service

Chef Mickey's -- Contemporary Resort (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald character meal -- breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Hollywood Studios -- 50's Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi -- table service -- food isn't great, but not horrible...it is more about the themeing. There is also Mama Melrose which we like (Italian).
There are NO counter service meals that we like at HS.

Epcot -- LeCellier, Biergarten, Rose & Crown -- table service -- we have had excellent meals at all three.
Counter Service -- Sunshine Seasons

Animal Kingdom -- we have not done a table service, but are trying Yak & Yeti in September.
We love Flame Tree Barbecue for counter service at the Animal Kingdom.

 

[IUHoosiers]

You're family might enjoy these places...

Whispering Canyon Cafe
Sci Fi
Ohana (breakfast or dinner)
Coral Reef
Biergarten
Flame Tree BBQ (CS AK)
Toy Story Pizza Planet (CS HS)
50's Prime Time
Beaches and Cream
Chef Mickey's
Donald's Safari Breakfast

 

[CamColt]

I too have 2 DSs 8 & 11. ESPN is a MUST DO for them. They also enjoy Kona Cafe, Beaches & Cream, Chef Mickeys (breakfast and dinner), and Mama Melrose. For CS they like Pizza Planet, Liberty Inn, and the food courts.

 

[rgf207]

Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom gets my vote. It's a great buffet with the Winnie the Pooh Characters
50's Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi Dine in Theater in Hollywood Studios are good too. Very fun atmosphere in both.

 

[xipetotec]

Hey. I know this question has probably been asked tons of times, but I'm new to the forum. I have two sons: 11 and 8. Where would you suggest eating in each park. We'll get the meal plan and be at WDW 7 days. Any special ideas for table service and counter service would be great! Thanks!

MK - Crystal Palace for TS, Cosmic Rays' for Counter

Epcot - Too many to name, but Le Cellier, Biergarten and Rose & Crown are three of my favorites ( Biergarrten has a dance floor and a band. The whole family can go down and dance )

DHS - 50's Prime Time Cafe!

AK - Rainforest Cafe. Not a "disney restaurant" but what a nice THEMED way of ending a day at the AK ( stay away from Yak & Yeti ). Flame Tree BBQ for CS

 

[Wendy31]

You'll be there 7 days and 6 nights? So, you'll have 6 TS credits? Where will you be staying?

Let's see...

Arrival Day/Night (1st night) -

Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary - a dinner buffet w/ all the traditional characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto) - a great way to start your trip!

MK Day (2nd night) -

Crystal Palace (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) in the MK - yummy buffet w/ the Pooh characters

OR

Whispering Canyon Cafe (dinner) at the Wilderness Lodge - I think your boys will get a kick out of the antics at this restaurant; it's a short (relaxing) boat ride away fromt the MK

Epcot Day (3rd night) -

Coral Reef (lunch or dinner) - unique setting w/ the aquarium

OR

World Showcase restaurant (lunch or dinner) - Le Cellier, San Angel Inn, Rose & Crown, Biergarten, etc.

Disney Studios Day (4th night) -

Sci-Fi Dine-In (lunch or dinner) - your boys will probably like eating in a "car" & watching the funny sci-fi movies

OR

Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose's

AK Day (5th night) -

Breakfast w/ Donald & Friends at Tusker House (if you wanted another character meal)

OR

Boma (dinner) at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - great buffet w/ lots of options, and the resort is absolutely lovely - a perfect ending to a day at the Animal Kingdom

Extra Day (6th night) -

Ohana (dinner) at the Poly - great food (lots of it!) w/ a nice view of the MK for your last evening

Departure Day -

Maybe pay OOP for a yummy breakfast at some place like Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Kona Cafe (Poly) for your last day?

OR

Schedule Chef Mickey's for breakfast on your last morning (instead of your arrival night) or the character breakfast at Ohana.

We like the following counter-service locations in the parks:

MK - Casey's, Columbia Harbour House

Epcot - Sunshine Seasons & trying some of the WS counter services - if you don't schedule an ADR at one of the WS restaurants, you might consider trying one of the WS counter services

Disney Studios - Toy Story Pizza Planet

Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree BBQ

Downtown Disney - Earl of Sandwich

Happy planning!

 

[bluejasmine]

I know a tradition for my family on the first day is always to do lunch at Pecos Bills in the MK and Ohana's at the Poly.

I would defanitely do either PT or Sci Fi in MGM..

Epcot our family likes Le Cellier but its not a big hit with the smaller kids..

 

[RCharnay]

When my boys were 6 and 10, then got a kick out of Marrakesh at Epcot. The musicians invited the boys to try the drums and they got up and danced with the belly dancer. The meal is good and if they like rice and chicken or lamb they will probably like the cuisine. We like someting other than burgers or pizza when we go to Disney. It gives us a chance to feel like we've gotten a taste of the world.

 

[richcook99]

Thanks for all the advice. We can't wait to get there. Keep the advice coming.

 

[TJA]

I didn't read all of the other posts, but with 2 boys here are some places I'd consider:

Espn Club on the boardwalk (go on a day when you're at Epcot and you can just walk over. Great food and great fun for the sports enthusiasts).

Japan in Epcot (you can watch the cook make your food right at your table. My kids think this is neat to see).

Coral Reef in Epcot (very cool fish tank that takes up an entire wall which you can view while you eat).

Sci-Fi at Hollywood Studios (you can sit in a "car" and they play old films on a big screen. Your boys might get a kick out of this, but my girls were terrified LOL. As a side note, we had terrible food, but it could've just been an off night).

Chef Mickeys at CR (not sure where you're staying, but you can go to MK and then just walk or monorail to CR) (if your boys are interested in character meals -- mickey, goofy, etc. -- this is an entertaining one to go to. They do both breakfast and dinner.

Ohanas dinner at Poly (this is fun for the kids. They do a coconut race where the kids push a coconut around the room in a "race." Last time I was there, they also gave the kids hula hoops. It's entertaining and the food is served family-style and it's very good food. It you time it right, you can watch Wishes from your table, or else if you are done eating you can watch Wishes from the beach).