Why does the MK area have such terrible restaurants?

[Microcell]

Whew, I will tread lightly here...

I agree that it seems like there is not a whole lot that looks good at MK proper to eat (I do like Crystal Palace), especially for being the happiest park at the happiest place on earth. It does seem to be lacking in good restaurants in comparison to the other parks, but I plan to try Ohana this trip and lots of counter service at MK!

I will let you know if I am going before you OP.

 

[bluejasmine]

I always wondered why the MK didnt have more TS restaurants.. They do have some of the best CS tho... Now honestly I havent tried Crystal Palace just because my kids arent Pooh fans but I have tried Tonys and LTT and CRT we liked the breakfast at CRT, LTT wasnt bad but I normally dont want Thanksgiving dinner when I go to a theme park..lol Now wasnt Crystal Palace open as something else outside of the character dining at one time? Didnt have a different name?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

The Crystal Palace has always been the Crystal Palace, but once it was more like a cafeteria. I don't recall it ever having a sit-down menu. And it hasn't always been a character meal.

Once more, this is a case of "taste buds of the beholder." We happen to like 'Ohana, too, but it's not a favorite or a "to die for" meal. In the park, the Crystal Palace is just about as good as any other option, if you're sympathetic to buffets, which many folks aren't. I've had good and just OK at Tony's; LTT has been pretty good on any visit; Cindy's is such a hard ticket, and since we're sort of past that princess phase, I haven't been in a couple of years; the Plaza is really good for a really pricy sandwich; and Columbia Harbor House is our favorite CS in the MK.

As for me and my house, on the monorail, for a simple, no-fuss meal, I'm opting for Kona. But the Californa Grill came across as somewhere very, very special.

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

Eek!

Let's all get along here people!
On closer inspection, Chef Mickey's looks alright. I should make a reservation there just in case nothing else comes along.

Anyway, does LTT really have Stouffers food? I was considering it but it I don't want to go there if it has TV dinner food.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Excuse me, your royal highness.
Thanks for your concern, but we did not have a bad experience-we just had really bad food.

This was incredibly rude!

Anyways, you have Concourse Steakhouse, California Grill is just Fabulous and we LOVE LOVE LOVE Ohana! GF cafe is very good. It really depends on your tastes! we had a blast at Chef Mickeys too.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

My problem is that EVERYTHING sounds good. I want to go to them all and experience as much as we can. I've never been to any of these restaurants but will be trying out several on our trip. As far as I am concerned, any meal that I'm not cooking or cleaning up after is a great meal. You do have to take reviews with a grain of salt since nobody's tastes are the same....If you go in expecting a bad experience, guess what you will have?

This is exactly how i feel!!!

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Whispering Canyon Cafe and Crystal Palace are the only that look good.

'Ohana doesn't look too good and neither does Chef Mickey's. I hear alot of reccomedations for these two yet they sound disgusting.
What else would you reccomend in the MK area?

Of the restaurants you mentioned, my family members agree that we wouldn't go back to WCC again. See, most people LOVE WCC so it's all a matter of opinion and taste. If you've never been, I'd say, be adventerous and try it. We've found some very good restaurants that way. We like 'Ohana for Breakfast and Chef Mickey is good (although we haven't been there in awhile because there are SOOOO many places new to try). If WCC and CP look good to you.... Then go and try them out. We went to CRT for dinner just before they went to 2TS. If the menu hadn't changed, I'd say, it is still worth the 2TS but I don't know. BUT we all loved the food we ordered... and there were 9 in our group. We went to LTT and the food was OK but the interaction with the characters was GREAT!!! The posters gave you good suggestions such as GFC, Concourse Steakhouse, Kona Cafe, etc. If nothing looks good even after these suggestions, you may think of doing what we do at times.... We go into each park 2-3 days so sometimes we eat in the park on the nite we want to watch the Fireworks/Fantasmic and other than that nite, we go to DTD restaurants or to a Resort Restaurant. Maybe one of those will appeal to you.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

KONA KONA KONA all the way!!!!!!!!!!! We love it

 

[belle&beast]

We loved the food, characters and atmosphere of the GF's Mary Poppins and Friends breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. We also did both breakfast and dinner at Crystal Palace and they were wonderful. We were also happily surprised with CS at Pinocchio's Village Haus. We liked Chef Mickey's atmosphere and characters- ok DH liked the food, too, but the others were better IMO.

 

[The Sweetness]

I guess Ive been blessed with less than high standards! First of all, My fam has never been to a buffet where we didnt all find adequate choices of tasty foods to satisfy our diverse pallets (sp?)

In addition to the obvious (crystal Palace), We have enjoyed meals at The Plaza, and Tonys, in additon to Chef Mickeys, and Ohanas (both on the monorail line)

We also love Cosmic rays for a quick bite, and the Man Street Bakery, and the candy store for a snack/ dessert

I have twice, in all of my vacations, ever had *bad* food... 1~ at MGM Studios, a turkey leg. It was my first and only. My daughter (about 7 at the time) begged and begged for one, it didnt look good for me. But I got one for her, at dinner time. This thing waas so tough, trying to cut a scrap of meat off it for her to eat was like wrestling an aligator. It was the most frustrating experience Ive ever had with food Yes, even worse than the time I invited friends over for dinner, made lasagne, and the seasonming went wrong, somehow~ It tasted like mexican food, not itallian

The other bad one was at Sea World, we made the mistake of buying hot dogs for dinner outside Shamu Stadium for dinner. The buns were hard enough to hurt someone with, and the dogs were ice cold. PUTRID!

Other than that, Ive always gotten about what I expected in Theme Park restaurants

 

[TDC Nala]

Hmmm...WCC looks good to the OP, but 'Ohana looks "disgusting." Then it's not the meat, but the way it's prepared. They might like Concourse Steakhouse, as well as Park Faire. They like the sound of Crystal Palace but not Chef Mickey's...this I don't get, they're both buffets. Park Faire might be good again. I wouldn't suggest Kona if they think 'Ohana sounds bad. Maybe, at MK itself, the Plaza restaurant would work well for them. If spending money is okay, maybe Artist Point or Narcoosees.

 

[Mickey1122]

Have you actually tried any of the restaurants in the MK area. Most of them are great. There are good restaurants in MK, and at all the MK resorts. Most people have positive experiences.

 

[grinningghost]

Everybody has their thing.

MK area restaurants that I like:

Concourse Steakhouse
Kona Cafe
Plaza Restaurant
Pecos Bills
Cosmic Rays
Pirata y Perico

Just to name a few off the top of my head.

 

[BCV23]

Anyway, does LTT really have Stouffers food? I was considering it but it I don't want to go there if it has TV dinner food.

At lunch Liberty Tree Tavern is a la carte. We enjoy the sandwiches and there is a great salad there as well.

Dinner is a character meal with what some refer to as food that reminds them of Stauffers. Can't comment myself as we haven't had dinner there in many years since it changed to an all you can eat character meal. Even before that we seldom had dinner there as there are so many wonderful choices on the monorail circuit.

But lunch is very good and the decor is typically detailed to perfection.

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

Hmmm...WCC looks good to the OP, but 'Ohana looks "disgusting." Then it's not the meat, but the way it's prepared. They might like Concourse Steakhouse, as well as Park Faire. They like the sound of Crystal Palace but not Chef Mickey's...this I don't get, they're both buffets. Park Faire might be good again. I wouldn't suggest Kona if they think 'Ohana sounds bad. Maybe, at MK itself, the Plaza restaurant would work well for them. If spending money is okay, maybe Artist Point or Narcoosees.

Yes, well, we don't really like all of that weird exotic food and strange sauces. Chef Mickey's looks OK for now so we made a reservation incase we can't get anything else.

 

[Laura]

Well, sometimes trying a place you're not sure about could be an adventure. If you eat meat, 'Ohana isn't really very exotic for dinner and not at all exotic at breakfast.

Otherwise, perhaps the Grand Floridian Cafe, Concourse Steakhouse, Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square?

 

[Quinn222]

I wouldn't suggest Kona if they think 'Ohana sounds bad. Maybe, at MK itself, the Plaza restaurant would work well for them. If spending money is okay, maybe Artist Point or Narcoosees.

I don't know, 'Ohana looks bad to us too but we really like Kona, except it's noisy. I doubt the OP minds that though if WCC looks good to them. I tend to agree that MK area is difficult. The character meals tend to get good reviews but for my family character meals are out. I'd go but no one else will! Anyone want a stranger to sit with you at Chef Mickey's??

We're trying TTS in October. It's gotten very mixed reviews so I'm a little nervous about it but we'll see.

 

[english rose 47]

Never haVING BEEN TO dISNEY BEFORE i cAN'T COMMENT ON AN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE but lOOKING OVER THE MENUS AND CHOICES i THOUGHT mk HAD LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM. we are going to CP, and Liberty on 2 different days and while Pooh isn"t a huge favorite of the kids, the buffet really appeals. DGS will be happy as long as he gets his Mac & cheese and the pictures of CP look great. I agree that this thread got a little nasty, but it did get lots of responses. Soo maybe someone can tell me if Rainforest in AK is on the dining plan?

 

[steelmagnolia]

We thought the LTT during lunch was pretty special, but then again, we did have a window table and were able to watch the parade go by with our DGD, hard not to be memorable. Our server was very good. She was attentive and informative. The portion sizes were huge! My husband had roast beef and I do believe they gave him an entire roast! Our group of 7 had no complaints about the food, service or ambience!
Breakfast at CRT was good, no complaints about the food, service or the princesses.
I like having a hot dog from Casey's and watching the crowds on Main Street and the fireworks. I understand that everyone doesn't appreciate a hot dog and that's fine, just MHO. If you do enjoy a hot dog, I can personally recommend the one's from the kiosk at the bottom of Space Mountain
I hope you find some places that you can enjoy and have a magical trip.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

I don't know if I missed someone else suggesting it, but Citrico's at the GF is a GREAT place to eat! The food is amazing and the way they prepare it is beautiful!! It is not as formal as Victoria & Albert's and is more layed back. I had the filet mignon and it was one of the best I had had in Disney.

Also, another favorite of mine is Cinderella's Royal Table. The food is VERY good there also, and, if you order a drink that comes in a Cinderella's collector's glass, then you get to keep it as a souvenir. I think you have to order a milkshake, or something like that. The dessert was my favorite there! Although, I think the portion was a little much, lol. I ordered the chocolate cake, and I got two huge slices, I could barely eat one slice!! The Cinderella's slipper looks and tastes amazing also!!

Hope you find a restaurant that you enjoy! There are so many unbelievable restaurants at Disney. For me, it's not finding a good one that is the problem, it's deciding which good one to go to!!!!