Which Disney Restaurant to stay away from?

[disnaholic]

We have ressies in December. I have been to WDW before and we ate at the places we knew were "OK" I would like to try some new places this trip. Any recommendations on what's good and what's not?

 

[NorgeKathrine]

Can you give us a little more information to go on, i.e. what kinds of foods you like to eat, price range, atmosphere you're looking for? I don't want to send you to Victoria and Alberts if you're idea of a great night out is to get sandwiches, wear jeans, and be in the midst of a lively crowd.

That being said, I'll take a "shot in the dark" and give you my recommendations...

My favorites - Boma, Flying Fish, Le Cellier

My least favorites - Sci-Fi, Prime Time, Whispering Canyon

Good luck with your planning!

 

[disnaholic]

NorgeKathrine,

Thanks! I did not think about leaving details. That would help.
Our family of 4 will be going (2 kids, 2 adults). We are looking for something casual that all of us will enjoy. We are not picky eaters. Price range reasonable (We definitley won't be at Victoria and Albert's, but don't mind the cost of the character buffets)

Thanks again!

 

[sillyminny]

We love the prime time cafe (pot roast excellent) and our fav breakie is Chef Mickey's.

My dh found the Grand Floridian too stuffy. We also enjoy a hot dog on main street!

 

[disney queen]

we enjoy artist point at wilderness lodge, hollywood brown derby, and jiko's at AKL. agree w/le cellier. beaches and cream at the beach club is great. tusker house at AK has a very good breakfast and lunch. donald's breakfastasarous at AK is good. and the plaza restaurant in MK--yum!! happy eating!

 

[travelitis]

Skip Planet Hollywood and Bongo's. We haven't had a bad experience in the parks with full service.

 

[MICKEEP]

DON"TS:
Sci Fi, Whispering Canyon, San Angel Inn, BIERGARTEN


DO"S:
Chefs De France, RESTAURANT MARRAKESH, TONY'S TOWN SQUARE

 

[Eeyore1954]

Restaurants I would choose NOT to eat at include Planet Hollywood (overhyped); Restaurant Akerhaus, Biergarten.

Restaurants I would go to in a heartbeat: Marrakeesh (Morocco), Le Cellier, 50's Prime Time Cafe, House of Blues, Fulton's Crab House, Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[scarlett873]

you're going to get all kinds of opinions on this subject! i was really worried about restaurants for our recent trip due to mixed reviews on the boards, but once we were there we actually enjoyed a few places that others said to avoid! overall, we enjoyed everything we ate...

here's where we chose:
ASMu food court
McDonald's - DD
Sunshine Season Food Fair - Epcot
Alfredo's - Epcot
Chef Mickey's for breakfast - CR
Columbia Harbour House - MK
Wolfgang Puck's Express - DD Marketplace
Sci-Fi Dine-In - MGM
Hollywood and Vine - MGM
Donald's Breakfastosaurus - AK
Lotus Blossom Cafe - China - Epcot
Perkins - Off site
Yorkshire County Fish & Chips - UK - Epcot
Restaurant Marrakesh - Morocco - Epcot
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe - MK
Planet Hollywood - DD

we didn't really have a bad experience with any place that we ate!

 

[Dana_Buckley]

We loved OHana's for dinner and Kona Cafe for lunch. Also, Toystory Pizza at MGM was very good, not too thick pizza. The counter at Morocco was very good also! And frozen banana at AK.

 

[travelitis]

Pretty soon you'll be told to avoid every restaurant. My advice is to go any place that sounds good regardless. Every restaurant can offer a great experience or a terrible one, and I've already seen 2 places I enjoy listed here.

 

[f7prez]

With all the choices around the world it is hard to decide on a restaurant.
Everyone has there favorites for one reason or another. Some that my wife and I enjoy are:

Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki; Japan - Food is fresh and the chef cooks your meal at your table as you watch.

Ohanas; Polynesian Resort - All you can eat family style. Marinated Meats and Shrimp cooked over an open flame (Delicious) with polynesian appetizers, vegetables and rice.
They also have cocnut races for the kids.

California Grill; Contemporary Resort - Top floor offers a view of the Magic Kingdom that is only surpassed by the exceptionally prepared food. You can't go wrong here. May be too pricey for a quick in and out meal with the entire family.

Palios; Swan Hotel - Wonderful Italian food, strolling violinist

Cape May Cafe; Beach Club Resort - All you can eat New England Clambake with a special kids counter.

Good luck making a decision. I am sure you will have fun

 

[skuttle]

I'd stay away from Tony's...food isn't that great, atmosphere is almost nonexistant, and it's overpriced, IMO. We tried it twice and there won't be a third.

 

[Eeyore2U]

This is kinda funny, you'll see good and bad for every restaurant on property.

We WILL NOT go to Rainforest or Planet Hollywood. Absolutely the worst food and service we've had.

 

[aurora19]

We also won't go to Rainforest at WDW - but mostly because there is one about 15 minutes from where I live - I want to go to places that are special to WDW.

I agree that you'll get conflicting opinions - and a place one person may hate - your family may love! Read the descrips - figure out what you would like and then post back your choices - if there is a response that is overwhelmingly negative - then you may want to reconsider.

You could also check out Zagats.com for their Orlando area reviews. A lot of the Disney sites (like Deb Wills) have reviews too.

Happy hunting - I'm sure you'll enjoy the places you choose.

 

[Carl]

Garden Grill, Liberty Tree Tavern, Donald's Breakfastsaurous.
Liberty Tree is probably the best bargain for what you get.

 

[patman]

Most posters have good things to say about 1900 park faire in the grand floridian. It is an all you ca eat buffet for about 22 bucks for adults and 16 for kids. Disney kids I think are under 9 though. It has characters for all three meals. with it being on the monorail you can get to it pretty easy.

Flame tree BBQ is nice at AK, and I think this has that new program where you can have lunch, a desert and a bottle of water for 11.00.

The adventureland, and tommorow land terrace I like for lunches.
For sit down the Columbia harbor house serves family style meals (I never ate there)

at MGM holly wood and Viine have character Breakfast and lunch for about 18, for dinner no characters but you can get the fantasmic package and save 1/2 hour waiting in line.

I like the Japanese counter service in Epcot, very reasonable.

I eat most of my sit down meals offsite as that is where I stay If I ate my dinners in WDW it would cost almost twice as much as I budget.

 

[two-foxes]

BAD- Sci-Fi, hands down. Yuck. But, the milkshake was good...the only saving grace. The buffet dinner at the Crystal Palace is something I'll never touch again....I either got nasty food poisoning or a 1 1/2 day horrible flu the morning after!

GOOD-Coral Reef, Yachtsman's Steakhouse, 50's Prime Time...but be in the mood for a show and to play up to the CM's, and top of the list....Fulton's Crab House, it falls into the REALLY GOOD catagory!

Jill&Tim

 

[juliesue]

I have not had good luck with DD restaurants, with one exception. House of Blues was overpriced and the food was mediocre. Definintely avoid Planet Hollywood, way overpriced, too loud, bad service and boring food. However, we thoroughly enjoyed Portobello Yacht Club. The food was very good, the wine was very good, and the service was excellent. It is somewhat expensive, but a good value for the quality of food and service.

At the resorts, some of my favorites are:

1) California Grill (absolute hands-down favorite) at Contemporary
2) Yachtsman Steakhouse at YC
3) Beaches and Cream at BC
4) Olivia's at OKW
5) BOMA at AKL
6) Whispering Canyon at WL

Character Meals:

1) Breakfastosaurus in AK
2) Chef Mickey's at Contemporary

In the parks:

1) Crystal Palace (when they reopen)
2) Counter service across from tomorrowland speedway with Sonny the lounge singer (cannot remember the name)
3) The Land pavilion counter service at EPCOT
4) Pizza Planet counter service at MGM
5) Backlot counter service at MGM

Like the other posters said, it all depends on what you like. As you can see, we like a variety of types of places and are also very casual. No way is it a vacation if I have to dress up to eat!!

 

[eeyore0062]

My favorites are:
Narcoosee's
Prime Time 50's Cafe
Cape May Cafe (Clam Bake)
Le Cellier
Hollywood and Vine ( character lunch)
Akersaus (Storybook Princess Breakfast)
Planet Hollywood
Tusker House
Fulton's
Wolfgang Puck Express

My least favorite is:
Whispering Canyon