Which restaurant outside of WDW parks is a "must do"?

[Dreambig39]

Vacation arrival will put us in the late afternoon on a weekend in October. Don't want to waste a park ticket that first day and figured we would just go somewhere fun (3 boys - 12, 11, 7) for dinner. Ideas/suggestions?

 

[Disneylover99]

Raglan Road at DS for us.

 

[B-Ride]

We never miss Boma and Raglan Road.

 

[plutosgirl]

Ohana & Raglan Road!! Yummy and fun!

 

[Hopefully]

Take a look at Disney Springs. There are many wonderful restaurants there. Your boys might like TRex. We also like Raglan Road.

 

[Keishag]

If youre wanting a table service, Ohana is an excellent choice to get you in that Disney spirit. We usually hang around Disney Springs our first night though and were blown away by how good Polite Pig is for a counter service meal. We went back multiple times during our stay.

 

[22Tink]

We really enjoyed our ‘Ohana dinner. That bread pudding is delicious!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We only visit five TS eateries at WDW when we go there for an actual meal.
.
1) We prefer
. . . fine food
. . . excellent, top notch service
. . . innovative dishes with flair and quality
. . . overall great value
. . . relaxed and soothing dining atmosphere
. . . behaved and somewhat quiet patrons
.
2) The only sit-down restaurants we routinely visit,
. . . Sanaa - Animal Kingdom Villas Resort (one of my personal favs)
. . . Artist Point - Wilderness Lodge Resort
. . . Citricos - Grand Floridian Resort
. . . Shula's Steakhouse - Dolphin Resort (no DDP)
. . . Il Mulino - Swan Resort (no DDP)
.
3) Our (nearby) off-site Recommendations:
. . . Bull & Bear - Waldorf Astoria Bonnet Creek - Fine Dining
. . . Café D'Antonio - Celebration - Casual Italian
. . . Columbia - Celebration - Casual Spanish/Cuban
. . . Fish Bones - Hwy192 - Seafood
. . . Venetian Room - Caribe Royale Hotel - Fine Dining
. . . The Hotel Tea Room - Davenport, FL - Casual - Friday Steak-Fry, Afternoon Tea

 

[KenHutch]

Boma, Jiko, Ohana's and if your going to Disney Springs Raglan Road,

 

[gharter]

A lot of good choices. Depending what you like.
Boma, Jimo at AKl
California Grill at Contempory
Artist Point at Wilderness
Flying Fish at Boradwalk
Il Mulino at the Swan
Raglan Road at DS

 

[Dreambig39]

Hmmm....lot of good info here. I probably should've given more info about us.... While I have 3 boys, they are pretty well-behaved and would be good at a nicer restaurant (jinxed myself there!); however, I think I'm looking for something that's more for them. We actually ate at Boma last visit, and while it got great reviews and I consider us to be adventurous eaters, it was not for us. We've eaten at O'Hana (which I loved) and might do again, but it was the only out of park restaurant we ate at and I thought I would check around. I am considering T-Rex, but wondered how loud it is? Does the roaring of the dinosaurs get to be too much? Going to look into Raglan, too. Thanks for the recs!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hmmm....lot of good info here. I probably should've given more info about us.... While I have 3 boys, they are pretty well-behaved and would be good at a nicer restaurant (jinxed myself there!); however, I think I'm looking for something that's more for them. We actually ate at Boma last visit, and while it got great reviews and I consider us to be adventurous eaters, it was not for us. We've eaten at O'Hana (which I loved) and might do again, but it was the only out of park restaurant we ate at and I thought I would check around. I am considering T-Rex, but wondered how loud it is? Does the roaring of the dinosaurs get to be too much? Going to look into Raglan, too. Thanks for the recs!

TRex is REALLY loud! You may want to consider Whispering Canyon at WL. WL is gorgeous and the antics at WCC are pretty darn fun. It's DS10's favorite restaurant. If you liked O'hana, consider ordering the skillet. And ask for ketchup.

 

[North of Mouse]

Vacation arrival will put us in the late afternoon on a weekend in October. Don't want to waste a park ticket that first day and figured we would just go somewhere fun (3 boys - 12, 11, 7) for dinner. Ideas/suggestions?

Mostly depends on who you ask!!
Our favorite is Cape May Clambake. We are seafood lovers, especially crabs, but there is plenty for non seafood lovers also.
We also enjoy 'Ohana.
We did not enjoy T-Rex - loud, plus the weird lighting effects from the ice cave made me woozy, but y'all might enjoy it. The food was not what we would go back for either, but that, too, is so subjective. Only you know your family!!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Our favorite out-of-the-park restaurant is The Wave at the Contemporary. Awesome food, but I wouldn't consider it fun. In fact, there is little theming at all. I second Whispering Canyon Cafe. Now that is fun!

 

[Haley R]

We liked beaches and cream at beach club. We are planning on trying whispering canyon on our next trip. It looks really fun!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Not a restaurant but makes a fine food truck meal according to the NY Times.
This was one of the worst travel reviews written overall even though I'm rooting for the author''s brief which is pretty hard.

Anyhow she loved eating at Mi Parrillita Peruvian food truck on the side of the W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee.

 

[goofyintoronto]

TRex is REALLY loud! You may want to consider Whispering Canyon at WL. WL is gorgeous and the antics at WCC are pretty darn fun. It's DS10's favorite restaurant. If you liked O'hana, consider ordering the skillet. And ask for ketchup.

TRex may be loud, but WCC isnt exactly quiet either! Lol. And to be honest the only fun and quiet place I know of at disney is SciFi. Thats the only place that comes to mind. I think fun and noise go hand in hand dont they? Lol.

I think your boys would LOVE TRex. Perfect age group for it. It was my DS18 fave restaurant when he was younger, for many years. He loved sitting in the ice cave. Its pretty neat watching it change colors. My personal fave though is Raglan Road! Such a lively atmosphere, and i love watching the celtic dancers. Food is great too!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Our favorite out-of-the-park restaurant is The Wave at the Contemporary. Awesome food, but I wouldn't consider it fun. In fact, there is little theming at all. I second Whispering Canyon Cafe. Now that is fun!

I agree, The Wave is AWESOME! One of my fave places to eat! Food is incredible. But your right, its not exactly fun.

 

[captaindavidhook]

Shula's or Yachtsman Steakhouse, I highly recommend those two.

 

[dachsie]

Sanaa. If you are there during daylight you can watch the animals through the windows. However, if you didn't care for Boma you may not like it - check the menu.

Ragland Road. It can get loud with the dancing and music but its entertaining and good food - get the bread pudding

1900 Park Fare. The stepsisters are a riot. Lady Tremaine may try to marry your sons to one of her daughters

Whispering Canyon Café. Lot of fun antics to keep the kids engaged