Where To Eat Upon Arrival

[wdwtweets]

On our arrival day, we will be checking into our WDW resort much earlier than we expected. This means that we will be able to have a nice dinner there. We already have ADRs at Fulton's, Sanaa, and Teppan Edo for other days. We don't want to use our park tickets that day. So, we are looking for suggestions of where to eat. We are paying OOP so it can't be anything too lavish but we would like a table service meal.

 

[Disney Princess]

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Any of the resort or DTD restaurants would be nice for your family since none of them require a park ticket. There are SO many options for you. If you could tell me where you are staying, that might help to narrow down your possibilities. Do you want to stay close to your own resort? What kind of food do you like?

Without knowing that information, I would lean toward suggesting a restaurant at an MK resort - CR, Poly, GF, or even WL. If you time it right, you could ride around the monorail, catch a glimpse of the castle, even watch Wishes from the beach. This might set you up for a wonderful night of anticipation. At each of these resorts, you have restaurants that range from $ to $$$$, so you could find one that suits your needs.

 

[Minniemama350]

Planet Hollywood at DTD?

 

[natalielongstaff]

What about Ohana at the poly

 

[Planogirl]

We often like to visit Downtown Disney our first evening. Maybe something there would work?

 

[jenniferyawn]

We love to spend our first night in DTD and eat at the Rainforest Cafe! We also shop the stores and buy the lion's share of our souvineers for the week that night. That way we're all done and can relax and enjoy the rest of our trip! : ) Have fun! We're also going in Feb!

 

[wdwtweets]

Thank you for all of these wonderful suggestions. We will be staying at Wilderness Lodge and wouldn't mind staying in the resort/MK area. As it stands now, our last day is devoted to DTD but that could always be changed.

A thought that occured to me after starting this thread was that we might want to do the Hoop De Doo over at Fort Wilderness. I see they have a late late show. Would you recommend this for the first night? Does anyone know how hard it is to get from Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness?

 

[Disney Princess]

HDDR would be a great choice. We think the show is a riot. The only reason I would NOT pick it for a first night is if you are worn out from travel. Depending on how early you have to be up that morning, you might want a low-key evening. On the other hand, if you want to be up early the next day for rope drop or an ADR, you may not want to go to the late late show. If you are up for it - it is a very enjoyable show and dinner. I haven't done it personally, but I know the trip from WL to FW is very easy per reports here; still someone who has gone that way will give you a better idea.

If you think you may not want to risk it, 'Ohana is a lovely choice as is Kona. The Poly beach is an excellent viewing point for Wishes or the electric water pageant if you want to see either of them. I haven't been there, but I've heard great things about the Wave at the CR. That seems to be not as expensive as other places. Also, the Grand Floridian Cafe seems to be highly reviewed (again we haven't been there - but it is on our list!). This would allow you to stay within the MK area as well. And just at your own resort, the WCC has a fun experience. We've always enjoyed our meals there, but the reviews here vary greatly. I know you can see the EWP from WL as well. From the WL, you can boat it over to CR and take the monorail from there if you want to tour the area or get to any of the restaurants.

Let us know if you have more ideas or questions. I think skipping DTD and waiting until later in the trip is fine. Nothing gets me more "in the mood" than seeing the different resorts and the MK (even from the beach or monorail ride). That would set me up for a great first night!

 

[ccigliano]

HDDR is a great choice and a quick boat ride from WL to the campgrounds. I would also recommend WCC right at the lodge and if you have kids they'll just love the atmosphere. There is also counter service right at the WL, Roaring Forks, which is good for a sandwich or salad. We've enjoyed the Wave at the CR but that has more of a relaxing atmosphere so depending on what you're up for you've got options. The CR is also only a boat ride away. Good Luck.

 

[Mysteria]

Our last trip we had dinner at Ohana our first night. Then we went and watched wishes from the Poly beach. Very relaxing first evening.

 

[kamikazecat]

I would definitely recommend Ohana for the first night or The Wave at the contemporary. It was quiet and relaxing and the food was amazing. You could follow it up with a ride around on the monorail.

 

[Kyle+Breanna'smom]

We just returned from our trip last week and had a wonderful stay at VWL. Loved it! Our first night we had an early dinner at the Trail's end buffet over at FW. It was good food and reasonable prices. The boat ride over was very nice and they had a great playground for my kids to use after dinner. We were all really tired after a full day of traveling so I am really glad that we stayed so close. We went to bed early and were well rested for our first day at the parks! Have a great vacation!

 

[toverly]

Our first night supper is always the Rainforest Cafe in DTD. Usually we just walk to it, enjoy the meal then retire to the pool at the hotel. We let the shopping wait for a "down day" away from the parks.

 

[wdwtweets]

Thanks again for all the suggestions! I'm still torn about checking out HDDR. We may be tired after traveling. I'm not sure what to do. However, I hadn't thought about Trail's End! I've heard that it's very reasonably priced. This is definetly one to consider. Glad to hear that it's a short boat ride to FW.

We're going to pass on WCC because it doesn't seem worth the extra money for dinner. (You seem to get basically the same thing for less for lunch.) We ate there last trip and had horrible service too.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I vote 'Ohana followed by Wishes on Poly beach, as a pp suggested! Sounds perfect!

 

[mcco5543]

This doesn't seem to have been suggested yet, but on arrival day my wife and I like to throroughly explore the resort we are staying at and eat at the resort TS. Traveling wears us out to no end and it's lovely to not have to "travel" any more than we already have that day. Also it helps us truly appreciate our surroundings. So for you this would be Whispering Canyon Cafe. Check out the menu on Allears and see if its' something your family would enjoy. My suggestion is leisurely does it on the first day!

 

[wdwtweets]

Thanks again everyone! I appreciate all the suggestions, including Whispering Canyon Cafe. However, as I said, we didn't enjoy it enough to go back. But Trail's End seems close enough that it doesn't involve any huge amount of travel. I think we may just do this.

I do appreciate the 'Ohana recommendations. I think I would like to eat there at some point but maybe not this trip. We will definitely be taking a trek over to the Poly though. It's our favourite resort to visit. We do love the QS at Captain Cook's.

 

[Minniemama350]

HDDR has very similar food to the WCC IMHO. We loved both, but if you're not crazy about WCC, you may want to rethink HDDR.

 

[tinkbyday]

I have stayed at WL before and they do have WCC but it is more of a family style place and can be a little loud because of all the activites they have during your meal. But you can take a boat to the monorail and go to GF and have a nice meal at GF Cafe.

 

[Disney Princess]

Thanks again everyone! I appreciate all the suggestions, including Whispering Canyon Cafe. However, as I said, we didn't enjoy it enough to go back. But Trail's End seems close enough that it doesn't involve any huge amount of travel. I think we may just do this.

I do appreciate the 'Ohana recommendations. I think I would like to eat there at some point but maybe not this trip. We will definitely be taking a trek over to the Poly though. It's our favourite resort to visit. We do love the QS at Captain Cook's.

If you do go to Trail's End, I "think" I've heard they serve the same food as at HDDR. If you don't make it to HDDR this trip, but do eat at TE, you'll know if you like the food or not!