Which restaurants would you pick to convert someone to Disney?

[melk]

DH and the kids and I have been to WDW several times. This year we have finally talked my MIL into going. She is not into Disney at all, thinks she's just going to a "theme park" and really I think just wants to go to spend the week with the grandkids. That's all fine with me but we would like to take her out to dinner a few times where she is going to be impressed (but please, no Victoria and Alberts, I do have young kids, remember?). We enjoy 'Ohanas and have dined almost everywhere in World Showcase.
So tell me, if you wanted to convert someone into a WDW lover, where would you take them? Thanks!!

 

[zulaya]

I am guessing you are looking for theming that will wow her so I am trying to think of both park and resort restaurants that I think are wow. Keep in mind that most of us on this board don't need wow-ing anymore, so I don't know how objective this might be.

'Ohana
Garden Grill - characters with a rotating restaurant makes for a pretty cool experience
Cindy's - breakfast if you can, otherwise, any meal in the castle should be a wow
Liberty Tree Tavern is also pretty cool - but I like wood interiors like that
Crystal Palace might be a good place too.
I like Boma but that probably isn't a "wow" place unless you really like specific theming

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Hope it works out. We just took MIL & FIL in Dec for their first trip ever to WDW. MIL was more skeptical than FIL. I can tell you they thoroughly enjoyed every character meal we did, but especially enjoyed Hollywood & Vine at lunch and Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner. I have pictures of the biggest smiles on their faces at those places when the characters came around and posed with them.

 

[eeyore65]

California Grill. WOW food and WOW view plus a monorail ride!

 

[travelin' tigger]

I'd think she'd get a kick out of Mom and all the cousins. Also the decor is great!!!!

 

[MikeWazowski]

I would bring her to Cinderellas Castle, theres no way she would forget about eating dinner in the Castle. I mean calm on it's the Castle.

Great Prime Rib, Great Waitors, Great Atmosphere, and your eating in Cinderellas Castle.

She'll be bragging to all her friends where her and her favorite daughter in law had dinner when she went to WDW.

 

[Grumpy92]

California Grill, Yachtsmans Steakhouse, Narcoosees, Citrocos

Ohanas & Whispering Canyon are good but they can also be noisey and the children are encouraged to get involved and have fun. So I would go with something a little calmer. All the above restaurants are good especially for adults but they do have childrens menus.

www.wdiwig.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[daannzzz]

It depends on your MIL's personality. My mother was so taken aback by the prices at alot of the restaurants she would protest and kept saying we should go into Kissimme and go to Black Angus! But she enjoyed many of the places we went. I even got her to return and stay at the AKL in a deluxe room at great expense. We took her to Boma.
Boma at AKL is a great buffet with a nice atmosphere and you can show here how unlike a themepark the Disney resoerts can be.
The California Grill is good to with a wonderful view.
Narcoosee's at the GF was excellent though expensive.
The Crystal Palace is a noisy charcter meal in a beautiful building with decent food.
The Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch is a quiet and cool place with good food and a nice colonial atmosphere.
Lunch at Whispering Canyon at the WL is good.
I would try to get her into some of the resorts so she sees that it isn't all Charcter oriented.

 

[Belle5]

My inlaws are crabby and don't like "weird" food. Home cookin' is their style. The only place they seemed to like was LTT for dinner since the food was similar to an old fashioned Sunday dinner. In retrospect I think they would have liked Biergarten with it's German food (they are of German ethnicity) and rollicking entertainment. They also complained about the cost of food continually. I think it made them stand in judgement of us for how much $$ we must have spent over the years if this is how we eat whe we vacation...

My mom is different story. She loved "Ohana and Boma.

 

[GlennandAnn]

What about 50's Prime Time- it's a fun atmosphere and the food is like home cooking (comfort food)? The Crystal Palace is always good too. We love the atmosphere there, and the food is great too.

Ann

 

[Uncleromulus]

At the MK, it would have to be the Castle. At MGM, the Brown Derby.
At the resorts, California grill would be my top choice, followed by Narcoosee's at the Grand Floridian.

 

[ducklite]

I wish that the rstaurants offered menus with no prices that you could request for people like your MIL.

That way you could just tell her to order--"it's free!"

We're going with my brother, SIL, and their two kids in August. My brother keeps his wallet so close to his heart that SIL claims she "has to oil him regularly" to get it away from him.

We're eating mostly at mid-range places that are good for kids, Bongo's, Kona, 1900PF dinner, Cape May Cafe, Mama Melroses, 50's PT, etc. Any of these might be good, but Kona will probably ahve the biggest "WOW" factor. I'd also suggest Narcooses--we skipped ths one over for years and I'm now really kicking myself--it's wonderful!

Anne

 

[kdibattista]

Another vote for 50's Prime Time Cafe!!!

 

[ead79]

I would probably choose a few restaurants that serve whatever type of food is her favorite (home cooking, Polynesian, traditional American, Italian, etc.) so she will be able to find something that really suits her. A few of my favorites are 'Ohana, Kona Cafe, Liberty Tree Tavern, and 50's Prime Time. California Grill would also be a neat place if she enjoys that type of food. You can look over the menus of the restaurants at www.wdwig.com to check out the different restaurants.

 

[Terry S]

My mother and step-father went with us to WDW for the first time last October. I heard from my step-father for about a year previous to the trip over and over about "what is he going to do at WDW?" Well, he has returned 2 times since then and loves the place! One of the places both my parents absolutely love to go, both for the character breakfast and the non-character dinner is Cape May Cafe.

 

[BCV23]

I agree with Uncleromulus list except we haven't been as thrilled with Brown Derby the last few times we tried it. We always have great food and service at Mama Melrose. Brown Derby does have a great atmosphere however.

I personally would never take someone I was trying to impress to 50's Primetime. Some people enjoy it, some don't (me). My husband actually finds it obnoxious. Unless you're sure she'd enjoy that act through a whole meal, I wouldn't chance it.

 

[laurens mom]

Best Italian - Palio (the Swan)
Best Seafood - Flying Fish (Boardwalk)
Best Steaks - Shula’s Steak House (Dolphin)
Best For Romance - Victoria and Albert’s (Grand Floridian)
Best For Kids - Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney) or Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge)
Best Character Meal - Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom breakfast only) or Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)
Best Disney View - California Grill (Contemporary)
Best Disney Resort Restaurant - California Grill (Contemporary Resort)
Best Downtown Disney Restaurant - Wolfgang Puck Cafe
Best Epcot Illuminations View - Rose and Crown
Best Milkshakes - Beaches and Cream (Beach Club Resort)
Best Pizza - Wolfgang Puck’s (Downtown Disney) or Tony’s Town Square (Magic Kingdom)
Best Breakfast - Spoodles (Boardwalk)

Best Food at the Magic Kingdom
Restaurant ..... Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch
Fast Food ...... Pecos Bill Cafe

Best Food at Disney-MGM Studios
Restaurant ..... Hollywood Brown Derby
Fast Food ...... ABC Commissary

Best Food at Epcot
Restaurant ...... Bistro de Paris
Fast Food ....... Tangierine Cafe in Morocco

Best Food at the Animal Kingdom
Restaurant ...... Rainforest Cafe
Fast Food ....... Tusker House

 

[RinaMB]

My choices would be:

California Grill (one of my favorite restaurants ANYWHERE)
Jiko or Boma
Flying Fish
50's Prime Time
Artist Point
Chefs de France (or really any of the restaurants in WS based on your taste)

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Originally posted by daannzzz
It depends on your MIL's personality. My mother was so taken aback by the prices at alot of the restaurants she would protest and kept saying we should go into Kissimme and go to Black Angus!

I agree with that. My MIL would be so outraged at how much everything cost, that my plan to wow her with a meal would backfire

That said, I think a meal in the Castle is the epitome of Disney. Everyone can relate to the castle.

 

[PatriciaH]

California Grill for Fantasy in the Sky fireworks
Rose and Crown for Illuminations
Brown Derby-so beautiful inside
Maybe Coral Reef if she likes seafood
Cinderella's Castle for breakfast (if you can get it!)
Boma-you HAVE to see AKL's lobby and the food is great

 

[rcyannacci]

The last time I went to WDW with people I was trying to convert, it failed miserably. But, I think it was because I was trying to show them everything. I would think of selecting places with a slower pace, like the places in Epcot around the World Showcase. The only places they really relaxed and enjoyed was the Rose and Crown and the San Angel Inn. I also tend to think that the full service places, while more expensive, have a better value for the quality of food you receive. Plus, you get to take a break and enjoy each other's company.