Your Tippy-Top of the List Disney Dining Experiences?

[Talby]

I think I need to extend our upcoming 10-day vacation to at least 2 months! There are just so many places I want to try and things I want to experience with my kids. I know there's always "next time". I imagine I'm not unlike most people when planning our ADRs in that I look not just at the menu, but also the atmosphere and overall experience. Sometimes the food seems more important, other times it's something unique about the experience whether that's a certain character or a particular atmosphere. Sometimes the criteria is simply "filler" because we want to be playing in the parks and not committed to time spent in a restaurant.

I'm curious to know from others: All things considered (food/atmosphere/characters/overall experience/whatever happens to be your priority), what are your top 3 overall most memorable dining experiences at Disney? You know, the ones that you tell your friends and family about and that felt especially "magical" for you?

 

[IZHAYMAMA]

Hands down #1 experience for our family was our Christmas Eve dinner at BOG. Everything was perfect that night: the food, the atmosphere, our servers, having our picture taken with Beast, and when we were leaving the fireworks were going off directly above our head. It was a night we will never forget! Can't wait to go again this coming December. #2 is Teppan Edo. My kids love any hibachi-style restaurant but they really love Teppan Edo at Epcot. It's a must-do for our family every trip. The food is always delicious and we have been blessed with always having awesome chefs and servers. #3 Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. It's the atmosphere that makes it worthwhile to our family. It's always on my kids list of places they want to eat.

 

[chigirl]

I had an amazing birthday dinner at Narcoossees in 2014: great server, we watched "Wishes" and the water parade. We were dressed up, my dh and ds in Mickey ties, the night was wonderful. My dd looks very young for her age (she was 21 then) but the server treated her like her age, which was the first time on the trip someone did that, and she was thrilled. It just hit on all levels. The almond-crusted cheesecake was sublime.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

Not particularly fancy, but I always really enjoy Tusker House and is a top WDW recommendation for me. The characters in safari gear, wonderful service, beautifully themed atmosphere, and great food combine for a magical experience-- especially with kids but also nice for adults and unique.

 

[Valstew]

My top are 1 my hubby and sons first visit to Chef Mickeys, wasn't the food but their faces when they met the characters. Second was 1900 park fare food was good but my then 2 yr old hated the step sisters and lady tremain then fell in love with Cinderella, didn't want her to leave. Hoping to have # 3 at BOG this coming trip our ADR is for the night of out anniversary. We are celebrating 8yrs married and 15 yrs together.

 

[Parker Clan]

Be Our Guest for the theming & the food is incredible too!
We also think Hoop dee doo revue is so "Disney" if that makes sense
its an annual tradition

 

[aebeauregard]

So maybe this is out in left field but we had our best experience at Raglan Road. I'm hardcore Disney and my husband not so much. It was our first meal of the trip so I think we were just excited to be on vacation and knowing we still had like 5 days left. He had a really good steak and my meal was really good too. The entertainment and atmosphere just really lined up with our mood I think. I have also done many others I love like BOG, Hoop Dee Doo, 50s Prime Time...but I think Raglan Road sticks out because my husband still talks about it. There is something to be said about knowing your company is enjoying the vacation you planned.

 

[Candycane83]

Be our guest made the biggest impression on my DH on his first trip. We were lucky we got to try it during soft opening on our trip. It's his only request on our next trip for DS's first trip (never been back since 2012).

 

[ChasingLeslie]

1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Tusker House (breakfast)
Crystal Palace

Also, BOG (PPO breakfast) was very special.

 

[rosa727]

Be Our Guest (dinner)
Tusker House - the food is amazing - loved breakfast and lunch
Mickey's Backyard BBQ - yummy food, so much character interaction, such a fun night

 

[Megara5115]

Ours was (1)BOG on our wedding night- we sat in the room with the music box and dinner was great. I have a picture of the music box on my phone and it still makes me smile. (2) Our first time at Victoria and Alberts felt truly magical with the harp playing Disney music and the amazing service and food (3) Stars Wars breakfast at Sci-fi on May the forth... The look on my sons face was so priceless

 

[JerseyJanice]

I recently steered a relative and his family to Ohana for dinner. They loved it for reasons I kinda forgot since I haven't been since 9/2011.

Those reasons being visiting the Polynesian resort, the entertainment in the restaurant, and the overall fun atmosphere of the place.

The food is very tasty there and the bread pudding dessert is like manna from Heaven, but the whole package makes the Ohana dinner awesome. If you're looking for one big quintessential Disney restaurant experience, Ohana gets my vote.

 

[Keels]

1. California Grill during Wishes (especially Hallo-Wishes or Holiday Wishes, if you can get it!). The menu has many options, even for kiddos, and the opportunity to dress up and go to a "fancy" restaurant where fireworks are included might be nice!
2. Spirit of Aloha Luau. We've been numerous times, but went the first time this past Christmas night with an 8-year-old and it's ALL she talks about. She loved all of the food, she loved being called up to dance with all the pretty dancers. And the fire dancer is outstanding. For ME, I prefer the food at the luau to that of Ohana ... plus, unlimited beer/wine/sangria is included. I have cravings for the cold noodles, coconut bread and that pulled pork almost weekly! And then the bread pudding ... drooooooooool. If it matters, the bread, salad, noodles and bread pudding are EXACTLY what they serve in Ohana. The mains are pulled pork, chicken and ribs, and you get a great show!
3. Biergarten lunch in Germany. Great buffet, and the music is awesome - and they've always encouraged dancing. Again, we we're with the 8-year-old here and she loved the chef talking to her about everything on the buffet (he was wandering through and she asked him a question, and he personally escorted her through the whole buffet explaining everything). She's a VERY picky eater and she tried so many things she'd never tried before, and it's really opened her eyes to yummy food experiences!

 

[AussieNSW]

Our families was Cyrstal Palace for breakfast the week between Christmas and new year. We had an adr for the first time slot of the morning and were allowed to enter the park before other guests. We got to walk down an empty Main Street all lite up for Christmas as it was still dark. There was no one in front us to block the view of the castle with all of its lights on and this enabled us to have photos that looked like they opened the park just for us. It was magical and then we walked over to breakfast and the restaurant only contained a few families and us for about 30min and then gradually started to fill and during this time we had the characters to ourselves. The food was nice but it was the experiences we managed to have because it was so early that made it unforgettable.

 

[mstephen87]

I think I need to extend our upcoming 10-day vacation to at least 2 months! There are just so many places I want to try and things I want to experience with my kids. I know there's always "next time". I imagine I'm not unlike most people when planning our ADRs in that I look not just at the menu, but also the atmosphere and overall experience. Sometimes the food seems more important, other times it's something unique about the experience whether that's a certain character or a particular atmosphere. Sometimes the criteria is simply "filler" because we want to be playing in the parks and not committed to time spent in a restaurant.

I'm curious to know from others: All things considered (food/atmosphere/characters/overall experience/whatever happens to be your priority), what are your top 3 overall most memorable dining experiences at Disney? You know, the ones that you tell your friends and family about and that felt especially "magical" for you?

BOG dinner
Akershus
Crystal Palace

 

[Talby]

@IZHAYMAMMA Your BOG Christmas Dinner gave me goosebumps and sounds spectacluar! All 3 are on our list!

@chigirl You had me at father/son Mickey ties! And that's awesome about your daughter as well--made my mom heart pitter-patter!

@RafikiTiki21 I fully agree with you about the fabulousness that is Tusker House! Characters + safari gear = Beyond adorable!

@Valstew Those faces...those FACES! Makes me melt to think about those faces (I totally get that!) Congrats on your anniversary--hope BOG is extra magical for your celebration!

@Parker Clan That makes perfect sense! What a truly awesome tradition that is.

@aebeauregard Actually, I think that's smack down center field! Disney magic happens where Disney magic happens! Loved reading about your memory with your DH.

@Candycane83 BOG sure sounds special and I'm so looking forward to going in December! Enjoy your DS's first trip!! (ohhh---so exciting!)

@ChasingLeslie Of those you listed, we'll be hitting BOG and Crystal Palace this time around. Unless I extend our trip to the 2 month version. Great list!

@rosa727 Mickeys Backyard BBQ is really high on my next-time list! Hmmm...maybe I need to tweak some things!

@Megara5115 Did you get married at Disney?! Ohhh--What a way to spend your wedding night! Disney music on HARPS?! Oh my--amazing! And your little guy's face; that sort of thing gets me EVERY time!

@JerseyJanice You've convinced me! lol Your description is wonderful and so enticing. Sounds truly remarkable!

@Keels: What great experiences you've had and memories you've made! That chef going around the buffet with your daughter is extra-special! I'm seriously going to see if we can get the Luau or Ohana! I'm becoming well-acquainted with the trip planner reservation finder, so we shall see.

@AussieNSW: Wow--what a unique and special experience for your family! Sounds like a perfect Disney commercial! I actually got a little misty reading it.

@mstephen87 Decisions, decisions! lol Those are some really great places!

@ALL: Wow...thanks so much for sharing your special memories. Makes me all the more excited for our vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed reading what each of you shared. So great--please keep them coming!

 

[Lauralaylin]

For us it's Sanaa. We go every trip, which this year will be 5 or 6 times. Bread service is fantastic, and we love the ambiance. Adore staying at AKL as well, but we don't do that very often.

 

[crabbygal902]

#3 La Hacienda
#2 California Grill
#1 'Ohana

 

[thumpergirl101]

My top three are Narcoossee's, California Grill, and Sanaa. You can't beat the food at signatures, plus both Narc's and CG offer a superb view of the fireworks, if you time your meal correctly. Sanaa has beautiful views, and tends to be a quieter location, which is lovely. I'll second the bread service, because it's wonderful and totally worth the cost.

 

[mckennarose]

Sanaa- great food, love the bread service and views of the animals.
BOG- atmosphere and the food was very good
Biergarten- It's a fun restaurant with the show, and the food is great.
Rose and Crown for Illuminations. On its own its ok, but if you can get a reservation for Illuminations and a patio seat, its fantastic!