Where to eat on our first evening first ever visit!!

[poet123]

We need help to decide how to start our holiday with a BANG!! arriving from the UK on july 14th approx 2.30pm stayong in the Formosa gardens area. Where can we eat that is reallly good and has a holiday feel? Varied age range from 67 to 7!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by poet123
We need help to decide how to start our holiday with a BANG!! arriving from the UK on july 14th approx 2.30pm stayong in the Formosa gardens area. Where can we eat that is reallly good and has a holiday feel? Varied age range from 67 to 7!!

I almost always start my WDW vacations with dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table (the castle) in the Magic Kingdom. It's the one thing that makes me really feel like I'm at Disneyworld, at last!

Yummy prime ribs and smoothies too.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

They aren't taking PS's for after 6 yet. I've been told to keep calling back to see if later times open up. I'll be arriving and eating there on the 14th. It's how I like to start my vacation.

Are you going to the parks the first night? If not then I don't know where to tell you try. Orlando is full of all sorts of great places to eat.

 

[loriandmatt]

we have a tradition of doing the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show at Fort Wilderness on our first eveing at WDW. We did this on a tip from a friend for our first ever visit. She said it would put my DH (who i was worried wouldn't "get the Disney Magic" on our vacation) in a Disney mood. It worked big time!!!!! He left there (just 4 hours into our vacation) saying "This is the BEST vacation ever!!!! We gotta come back here again."

As you can see from my signature below - i took him up on that.

the Hoop Dee Doo isn't for everyone, but i have brought in-laws and visiting freinds and they have all loved it. Good, Korney, WDW fun and some of the best fried chicken i have ever had.


have a magical trip - nothing beats experiencing WDW for the first time.

- lori

 

[sunking]

i assume that you are asking about dinner...if that is the case, our family tradition is to eat at chef mickeys (character buffet) and then move up to the deck at california grill to watch the fireworks at magic kingdom...i look forward to doing this in june!!!!
have a great time!!!!
sunking

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I second the Chef Mickeys suggestion. The food is good, the atmosphere fun, lots of character interaction, and you can see the fireworks. What more could you ask for on your first night?

 

[OLT2004]

Where is The Formosia Garden Area? What Hotel?

Are You Renting A Car?

What Type of Passes Do You Have?

Coming from the UK - What is your Biological Clock Arrival Time?
I.E. - You gain time coming here - WEST - What is your arrival time?
What meal are you looking for? Breakfast, Lunch, Tea or Dinner?

I hope you enjoy your Holiday - I mean "Vacation"...

More Information Please!

OP direction was incorrect - you are coming WEST

 

[poet123]

Thanks for your suggestions and here are the answers to your questions!!
We arrive at 2.30pm your time which is 7.30pm english time BUT we will have been travellling since 4am the previous day as due to security measures we now need to check in 5 hrs prior to flying!!
We will have a rental car
Formosa gardens is an estate of villas near to what was/is splendid china
We have not yet got our passes any help there would be great. we are in orlando for 7days then off to the gulf coast
We will want to eat dinner but may be jetlagged and as chef mickeys sounds great we may be too tired to appreciate it [so maybe a suggestion closer to formosa gardens would be better
What is the nearest park to that area? Is it Animal Kingdom?if so is there somewhere there that is really good?
Thanks again

 

[Eeyore2003]

Not sure exactly what you're looking for, but any of the resort resturants would be easy to get to after tiring day. You can park in thier parking lots and be right there at the resturant without walking through any park at all.

The choices I can think of after a stressful tiring day might be Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is a buffet, so there is minimal waiting. I have only eaten breakfast there, and it was very good, although, most people say that dinner is much better. You could also walk out the back and look at the animals in the savanah. We like doing this.

For something a little fancier and quiet, I would suggest Artist Point. It"s the fancier resturant at Wilderness Lodge. Excellent meals. Ask for a window seat and you can have views of the water fall behind the lodge.

For something more festive, but still handy, you might want to try the character meal at 1900 Park at the Grand Floridian. Cinderella and friends. Also at the Grand Floridian is Narcooses, a little fancier again, but quieter, with views of Magic Kingdom.

I'm not sure how tired you'll all be and I know that it's much handier and quicker with allot less walking to eat at one of the resort resturants. Generally better food too, IMHO.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I guess you also said "With a Bang". I agree about the castle, but it surely depends if you feel like parking and walking that far. Chef Mickey is convenient. Another "bang" but expensive treat is the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary. Go around 8 ish or so, ask for a window seat, and you can see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom and they pipe in the music. The fireworks are at 10:00.

 

[twotoohappy]

another vote for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort! It's our family tradition. It's easy to get to. You don't need to use up a park pass for dinner. And..... you get to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale! The buffet is great too with prime rib, shrimp cocktail, all sorts of great stuff!

 

[noseybuddy]

My vote is for Chef Mickey's. The place just makes you feel sooooo good! You also can get in and out of there pretty quick, at least that is what I have experienced.

 

[Micca]

I concur with a resort buffet. We like Boma at AKL The cool thing about a dinner at one of the monorail resorts (Poly, CR, or GF) is that it's fun to wander around the resorts, and catch a monorail to another(giving you a definite Disney vibe) until you are tired and ready to go to your hotel for the night. It's not exactly a "BANG!" but with the fatigue you'll experience on that journey, it may be enough excitement for one evening. Besides, you'll want to get to sleep fairly early to get up and enjoy WDW the next morning.

 

[crow11ad]

Go down to DTD and eat at Earl Of Sandwich. It is the best.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Hiya,

I'm going to have to disagree with most of these posters. You are going to be KNACKERED when you arrive in Orlando. My husband is from Manchester and every time someone comes over, they want to go out the first night here and end up face down in their soup.

If I were you, I would go to your hotel, eat, and sleep the first night. Then start your vacation with a bang the next morning with an early Priority Seating and Chef Mickey's or the Crystal Palace before you go to the Magic Kingdom. If your plane is supposed to land at 2:30, it could be late, and even if it is on time, by the time you get out of the airport it will likely be closer to 3:30, then you have to get to your hotel, check in, etc.

Just my 2p.

Beth

 

[Harambe]

Totally agree with Tinkerbeth - stay at your hotel, unpack, order room service, and go to bed!! If you feel like doing something, go for a dip in your hotel pool. But that will start you off on the right foot the next morning! This is what we do every trip, and we have a much shorter trip than you! Have fun!

 

[wannabee princess]

If were you are staying is what I think, and you are not interested in going to DW area that evening - I do think that the nicer restaurants in that area are places like Carrabba's (a sort of Italian restaurant - but not exactly just an Italian restaurant) and Outback Steakhouse.

I do think you could take the back road to AKL and it would be convenient - however I don't remember the name of the road! It is off of the main drag, but there is no sign telling you how to get to DW from that street. It comes out right by AKL though. Boma is wonderful and probably convenient for you, if you want to go onsite for dinner - the animals would be a great bonus, the food is buffet and the resort is beautiful to visit.

If you wanted to go to a Disney spot, but not to a resort, you could always drive over to DD - not too far, more options - maybe try House of Blues? The benefit of heading to DD is that you could go to guest relations and get your passes purchased, so you don't have to do that the next morning? Or, purchase the passes at the airport.