Which extinct WDW restaurant do you miss the most?

[buckeyebill1995]

I was looking at this GREAT website http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/
and realized there are a TON of Extinct Disney restaurants! Many that weren't mentioned here. Some sound really good and I can't believe they'd eliminate the food choices so much! A cajun rest like several at Dland would be nice!

What a great website! Thanks!!!

 

[JVL1018]

We miss Mama Minnie's-it was a CS Italian restaurant in DTD. We loved the lasagna with garlic bread and the chocolate cake.
I am pretty sure it's where Wolfganag Puck Express is now, so it's okay, because now that place has my favorite CS meal in all of WDW: BBQ chicken quesidilla.
I also miss the non character meal Crystal Palace.

 

[Gamera]

Technically this isn't a restaurant that no longer exists but when my wife and I went in 2004, one of the highlights of my eating at DW was the Philly Cheesesteaks at "The Dig Site" outside the Indiana Jones show in hollywood studios. So for the last 4 years I've been talking about how great these things were and it (besides the biergarten) was a ABSOLUTE MUST STOP AT location during our trip this year in June. Imagine my shock and horror as I walk up to the window at the Dig Site and find they no longer sell philly cheesesteaks but now popcorn!!! It was very painful and definately put a damper on the rest of my day.

 

[drenkey]

The old Tusker House was counter service and it was wonderful. Not your typical burgers and fries. They had a wonderful chicken sandwich. However, it was the half chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans that kept us hooked. YES, THEY HAD REAL VEGETABLES AT A COUNTER SERVICE!!!!!!!! This summer we will be trying the new Tusker House (Table Service). I know that Animal Kingdom really needed to vamp up their table food choices, but I was sad to see my favorite counter service take the hit. Well, as long as they leave Flame Tree BBQ alone, I guess we will survive!!!

The CS Tusker House used to be our favorite eatery at AK. My husband loved the chicken sandwich and I always ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

The CS Tusker House used to be our favorite eatery at AK. My husband loved the chicken sandwich and I always ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich.

I LOVED their Salmon! So delish! I'm going to try out this new Donald breakfast and see how that goes. I will miss the CS there though. It was our favorite too!

 

[magik]

It's not really extinct yet, but I really wish El Pirata Y El Perico was open all the time instead of just at peak times for lunch.

I *really* miss King Stefan's banquet hall - not so much for the food, because I don't remember being too impressed with it, but for the non-character dining. I don't mind there being a princess breakfast, but I liked having the option of lunch and dinner as regular meals because I like to eat in the castle, but it's a real pain to have to fight for spots now that it's all character dining.

I miss the Soundstage restaurant. Again, I don't remember the food, but I remember having the best character interaction there. It had paper tablecloths and crayons, and this was in 1996, so characters from Aladdin were roaming around, and Jafar and the Genie both came over to the table my friend and I were sitting at and drew pictures and comments on our tablecloth poking fun at each other. For instance, the Genie drew a picture of Jafar and wrote "Jafar smells bad," etc. It was quite amusing.

Here's another vote as well for breakfast at Tony's. I distinctly remember having Lady and the Tramp waffles (I guess they had a waffle iron with a picture of Lady and the Tramp??). That was a long time ago though, so maybe I'm misremembering.

Not a specific restaurant, but I also seem to remember that all the of the individual counter service pizzas were Mickey Mouse head shaped. I'm not 100% sure though.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Even before the Top of the World show (Broadway at the Top I think it was called) they had a genuine supper club where California Grill is now. Had big name entertainment too-we saw Billy Eckstein, and I believe Rosemary Clooney also appeared there, among others.
And my most missed restaurant is Papeete Bay Verandah. What a special place! Great food, hula dancer and a 3-piece combo entertaining.
Also miss Ariels and Harry's Safari.

 

[LYNSUE]

I did not read all 10 pages of the thread, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned..... I really miss dining in the castle when it was just a nice restaurant with an elegant menu and atmosphere. (before it went all princessey with a limited menu). I had many romantic dinners with DH there and I just miss it. Now it is noisy and at times somewhat chaotic . But the kids enjoy it, so I guess thats what's important.

 

[TheSilverTherapist]

The Soundstage in MGM (great food adn character interaction)

That place... do you have any idea what memories that brings back? 1994... I was 11, we had a character breakfast there with the characters from Aladdin. We were all amazed that the CM playing Aladdin happened to look exactly like that guy from Full House who provided the voice of Aladdin in the movie. It was a bizarre coincidence.

 

[disneybride96]

The old Tusker House was counter service and it was wonderful. Not your typical burgers and fries. They had a wonderful chicken sandwich. However, it was the half chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans that kept us hooked. YES, THEY HAD REAL VEGETABLES AT A COUNTER SERVICE!!!!!!!! This summer we will be trying the new Tusker House (Table Service). I know that Animal Kingdom really needed to vamp up their table food choices, but I was sad to see my favorite counter service take the hit. Well, as long as they leave Flame Tree BBQ alone, I guess we will survive!!!

That's my vote. CS Tusker was awesome!

 

[arbonnette]

I think you're referring to the "Empress Lily" Riverboat restaurant. We had a character breakfast there in 1983 when I was 8 years old. Goofy "ate" my head, I'll never forget it! Of course, I can't remember what the food was like though.

I miss Disney Village, too. The first time we went to Disney we stayed at Disney Village, it was amazing! We had this beautiful patio with a view of the woods and the treehouse villas, and Mickey was etched into the patio door glass. And I really loved the Empress Lily. You're right, it really is so nice to remember past trips and those memories. But for (almost) everything that disappears something new pops up that we love and one day we'll reminisce about that place, too. It's the magic of Disney.

My first two trips to WDW included stays at the Disney Village. I remember the Mickey door. This was also the first time I ever saw the Disney Channel as a child!!!
I remember the Empress Lily character breakfast and I wish it was still around so I could share it with my DD!!!

 

[pixie08]

We stayed at the Disney Village quite a few times as kids and loved that place! I have heard they may be redoing the treehouses though!

I tried the new Tusker house at AK...it was good but the CS was the best Cs around!

I miss the Empress Lilly as well. I also miss King Stepahn's banquet hall.This was a must ahve for my family every trip growing up. I am sure there are a lot of little girls who love CRT but it is just not the same. I liked that there were no characters and that is was an a la carte menu. It just brings back so many memories. Maybe I will give CRT a try.

 

[Micca]

Even before the Top of the World show (Broadway at the Top I think it was called) they had a genuine supper club where California Grill is now. Had big name entertainment too-we saw Billy Eckstein, and I believe Rosemary Clooney also appeared there, among others.
And my most missed restauramt is Papeete Bay Verandah. What a special place! Great food, hula dancer and a 3-piece combo entertaining.
Also miss Ariels and Harry's Safari.

Uncleromulus that is some extraordinary info re TOTW. One of my all-time faves is PBV, the Disney version of Trader Vic's

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Still no pictures? Does anyone have pictures from these older restarants? It'd be nice to see some of them.

 

[mskayjay]

Our first WDW TS was back in 1998 so we haven't been doing it too long. I wish we would have eaten at the sound stage restaurant that was in MGM before it closed. I've read some fun stuff about those character meals.

And the other, right this second I cannot remember the name of it...the boat that had the Mickey breakfast at downtown Disney. Help you guys. My brain is not working! THAT one would have been a blast too!

Technically we don't "miss" these but I sure would have liked to have tried them! If anyone has old pictures from the retired restaurants please share!

Oh!!!!! I haven't read through the whole post yet but I remember that place!!!!! We went there with our kids and my Mom on a very special "Babci" visit to WDW. It was awesome! Isn't that place Fultons now or something????? Great memories......

 

[mskayjay]

I agree about Chef Mickeys at DTD. It was alot more calm than the CM of today at the CR. We have some wonderful pictures of my DS with Mickey and they are so different than now. If everyone loved the Beaver tails in Canada, why do they take stands away that sell what people want? I would love to try one!

Okay, I feel really stoooopid now! It never registered that the CM folks have been talking about on the boards is at CR (even though they mention it......duh!!!!!) and I was thinking of the one you're talking about at DTD. Great place!

 

[mskayjay]

Anyone remember the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon??????

YES!!!!! That place was the bomb! They had the most amazing corn bread. In fact, WDW sent me the recipe for it. Yummo! and it was so cute/hokey to learn to line dance there! I was very sad when we went and saw it closed down.

 

[Zuzu03]

We LOVED Soundstage Character buffet at MGM. The food was incredible and we would see tons of characters. I've got some beautiful pics of my daughter gazing into Phoebus' eyes as he held her hand and talked to her. One of our fave servers at Hollywood and Vine used to work there and everytime we go we reminisce with him.

 

[siugoalie78]

DW and i loved the Matsunoma lounge in Japan. I guess it was sacrificed for the new Japanese restaurant, which may be just as good, but the lounge was never very crowded, and had awesome sushi.

 

[TheSilverTherapist]

I've seen people talking about the old Odyssey Restaurant at EPCOT. Did that have a character breakfast?

Back in 1991 my parents took my brother and me to our first character dining experience, with, IIRC, Donald as the main attraction. Even as a seven-year-old I recognized that the decor of the interior was in a very cheesy 70s/80s idea of what the future would look like. Thinking back on it it was somewhat reminiscent of the 80s Cafe from Back to the Future Part II.

I remember getting into the park early and being whisked away to this location. I could have sworn the restaurant was at EPCOT, although I suppose it could have been the Old Tomorrowland too, but I don't recall any sit-down restaurants being there (what used to be where Cosmic Ray's is now?)

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?