Which reservation to choose?

[Hope Soda]

So I have to choose between a few ADRs...

1900 Park Fare early dinner (5:15pm)
Sanaa (lunch or dinner)
Garden Grill 8:15am on a 9:00am opening day
Chef Mickey's

Things to consider:
We will dine with princesses at Akershus, so the advantages of Park Fare are the Tremaines, which I think could be really fun, and that the rest of my family would enjoy, but the kids wouldn't miss it if we didn't do it. How's the food? Atmosphere?

We don't really care about Chip and Dale, though will probably meet them in AK, and will probably see Mickey (though not farmer Mickey) in many places, including Tusker House (which we intend to keep), in addition to at in-park meet and greets. So the biggest advantage of Garden Grill is it's PPO time. Would we have enough time to get in the front of the line for Soarin' or Test Track after? Is the food good?

Again, we'll see plenty of Mickey outside of our dining experiences, so, while we would enjoy seeing the characters again, we'd like to know how the food is at Chef Mickey's. This is currently our AK day, and AK is currently set to close at 5pm, but that could very well change. Our reservation is at 7:30pm.

Sanaa is not a character meal, but the food is probably more our style. What do you all think of the food? Do you really get to see a lot of the animals if you're near a window?

We will be dining at BoG (dinner), Akershus (breakfast), Tusker House (lunch), Hollywood and Vine (lunch w/ Fantasmic), and Crystal Palace (dinner) throughout the week.

Which two of the four restaurants listed at the top would you pick? Please state whether you have actually eaten there, also. Thanks in advance!

 

[L&Lfan]

I would definitely choose Sanaa. I've dined there twice and saw enough animals at lunch. Dinner I believe it's too dark to see outside. The food is very good, but somewhat dumbed down Indian/Afican for the American palate. I haven't eaten at the others because 1. I don't do character meals 2. I don't do Disney buffets except Boma and 3. I've heard time and again that the food sucks at those 3 particular venues.

 

[Vikss]

Since you have three buffets booked already id choose Sanaa for a change of pace. I think you'd be pushing it to get anywhere after Garden Grill before the park opens without rushing the whole experience.

 

[tsme]

Sanaa is very good & sitting next to window is nice. 1900 Park Fare is fun, the food is ok.

 

[B-Ride]

Sanaa for dinner.

 

[Lauralaylin]

Sanaa is amazing. I go every Disney trip.

I had breakfast at Garden Grill for the first time a few weeks ago, and I was impressed. The food was good and plentiful. The characters came by twice, and we were able to ride Soarin' before the park opened (and there were people who were getting off as we were getting on, so that meant we could have gone on twice if we had pushed it. I didn't think my kids would care about the chipmunks either, but they actually did.

 

[kastoney]

Sanaa hands down. The others aren't even remotely in the same league. The food is amazing and provided you are there in daylight hours, there are plenty of animals to see.

 

[Hope Soda]

Very helpful, so far. Thank you all.

Sanaa is amazing. I go every Disney trip.

I had breakfast at Garden Grill for the first time a few weeks ago, and I was impressed. The food was good and plentiful. The characters came by twice, and we were able to ride Soarin' before the park opened (and there were people who were getting off as we were getting on, so that meant we could have gone on twice if we had pushed it. I didn't think my kids would care about the chipmunks either, but they actually did.

What time was your ADR?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Another vote for Sanaa

 

[ChasingLeslie]

1900 PF was our favorite meal of our trip. The characters were amazing and so fun to watch (even at other tables). The food was fresh and delicious, and different than all the other places we tried. Personally, I wouldn't miss it!

 

[Hope Soda]

Okay, I get it. Sanaa lunch, it is.

One more to pick!

 

[Stormeyes]

My vote is for Sanaa too. You have a lot of character meals. Sanaa will let you have a very enjoyable, calm dinner without characters, plus for the sheer convenience of being near AK anyways. Lastly, AK Lodge is a super sweet resort you're gonna wanna check out!

 

[Lauralaylin]

Very helpful, so far. Thank you all.

What time was your ADR?

8:05 I believe, but we got to the park early so we were first in line, and I think we were seated second when we got there.

 

[AngiTN]

8:05 I believe, but we got to the park early so we were first in line, and I think we were seated second when we got there.

Worth noting, any PPO ADR can get in at the same time, no matter what time your ADR is for. I'd do the early ADR and get there no later than 8:00.

 

[SullyD13]

Sanaa! Have you thought about doing their Dine with an Animal Specialist lunch? We did this on our last trip and loved it! Food was amazing and a variety of different things. Also, loved the interaction with the specialist. My mom picked the reservation and I was unsure of what to expect but we both felt it was one of the highlights of the trip. It was just a mother-daughter trip so it was just us two but there was a family there as well and the kids really loved it.

 

[Yahweh]

I'd Choose Sanaa as well! Heading to AKL is an experience in and of itself, plus Sanaa is, in my opinion, the best food option all things being equal.