Which restaurants are the best for character dining/theme experience?

[mom2pixies]

Hi everyone,

My eldest daughter received a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney back in Sept 2011 and we've been eager to get back to Disney since then. The trip was amazing and the girls still talk about it on a weekly basis. We are planning on returning sometime this summer (thinking late August or September) and I am in the process of planning which restaurants to attend. We'll likely be at Disney World for six days and I'd like to make at least three special reservations--maybe more. I'm thinking of one breakfast and probably two early dinners--or lunches? We visited Cinderella's Royal Table for lunch and Akershus for dinner when we were there last. (It was a very princess-centric trip!) This time around, I am thinking of Be Our Guest, and Prime Time Cafe, but not certain what else is worth it. I definitely want at least one character dining reservation. Can't decide between a Mickey or Winnie the Pooh or princess theme, however. Girls adore princesses, but I don't want the meals to seem repetitive and I'd like for them to see some other characters since this time we won't have the magic button to wait in lines! And, while we certainly want a good meal, we are more interested in theme and fun experiences than we are about gourmet cooking. Any suggestions? I have three little girls, who will be aged nearly 7, 4 and 8 months by the time of the trip.

Thanks in advance.

 

[old lady]

You should tried eating at the Coral Reef if you like seafood since it has a giant fish tank. If you like Mexican food, San Angel is a good bet since it is inside a pyramid. The crystal place is good for seeing the pooh bear.

 

[mom2pixies]

Hadn't even thought of the Coral Reef because I'm not a big seafood fan (my husband and one of my daughters love it however!) but they would be so entertained by the fish tank. My hubby would love it too. Good idea!

 

[SP123]

We did Be Our Guest for dinner and the kids loved it. They got to take Pictures with Beast. Not princesses but the castle is great as they can see the rose and the pictures change from the prince to the beast.

The desserts and food are very good for Disney if you can get a reservation.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Be Our Guest is fantastic if you can score an ADR - highly, highly recommended! The food is GREAT, the scenery is beautiful, and it's fun to pose for pictures with Beast.

As for character meals, Crystal Palace in MK and Tusker House in AK are my two favorites. The characters are always pretty awesome and the food is good (especially at Tusker House!). I go to both of these for breakfast, but I'm sure the lunches or dinners are fine, as well.

Perhaps it's gotten better since I've been there, but I will never again step foot in Coral Reef. The food isn't all that great and only a few tables are next to the fish tanks (although the overall ambiance was quite nice). This was also the reservation that required the most waiting before we could sit down. If you're looking for a tasty Epcot dinner option, I would suggest Via Napoli, La Hacienda, or Rose and Crown. Garden Grill is also pretty fun - and includes characters, too!

A final note - 50's Prime Time is a great choice! I love it!

Have fun!

 

[MaryPoppinz]

1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian has Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter and Tigger at breakfast -we really enjoyed it. I also read good things about their dinner with Cinderella, the Prince , the stepmother and stepsisters.

 

[mom2pixies]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I didn't realize that there were any characters at Be Our Guest. We definitely wanted to check out the castle, but the chance of meeting Beast is definitely an added bonus. I'll try to get a ADR there!

Does anyone know if the Disney Junior dining experience at Hollywood and Vine is any good? Long waits? Decent food? My girls love Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins, so I'm sure the chance to meet these characters would be great for them?