I am planning on visiting the Coral Reef Restaurant in May, but I would like a few opinions from it. I've read some bad reviews, but I know I can't go based on one experience or opinion. A friend thought that the Coral Reef counted as 2 TS credits, but as far as I could tell from the list on DW website it only requires 1. Please tell me any experiences good or bad you have had here. Also if there are any seafood places (1 TS credit only please) that might be better I would appreciate the suggestion.

I went a few years ago and loved it, but haven't been recently.

I went last year and it was really good. I will be going again in December and will let you know if it has changed after I get back.

When I was there last year it was 1 credit. We really enjoyed it. I had the tuna and it was great. Now, there are maybe 3-4 seafood items on the menu. The rest is steaks and chickens.

When they FIRST started the DDP, Coral Reef was 2 credits, but it was quickly changed to 1. That could be the cause of the confusion.

All of the tables have a view of the tank, some are closer than others, though. AND if a kid is at a table 'farther away' SOME have a tendency to move closer while they're waiting for food and such, and that can disrupt diners that are right next to the tank. Hopefully not 'disrupt disrupt' but 'minorly irritating disrupt' which can flavor how people perceive the restaurant. At least that was part of it with my sister and I. We also thought it was overpriced for the portions/items, which didn't help our perception. But I don't think the food was bad or anything.

And then they've so simplified the menu (as Mermaid mentions) that it's almost a stretch to call it a seafood restaurant. (Go to the Walt Disney World link at the very top of this page, and scroll down to the dining section for a page that has links to all the menus.)

BUT, it's darn cool to eat looking at a huge aquarium!

We went last February. It cost 1 credit and we got to sit right up front. The food was wonderful. My only complaint was that it was a little noisy. But I was having such a great time watching the shark swim by that it really didn't matter.

OK. I'll play devil's advocate. I didn't like it. At all. It was highly recommended, though, so I might have had an off night.

To keep from being disappointed with the lack of seafood (although I was there for a DELISH steak), check out the menu first. That way, you know what to expect food-wise. The salad was salty and overdressed; the cream of mushroom soup was just ok and a funky grey color; the chicken and the steaks were very good. Everyone likes that chocolate wave, but I didn't. Must be me.

As for the atmosphere, if you're by the tank it would be nice. I found the tables to be VERY close together. I was practically sitting on the lap of the groom sitting next to me. The group behind us was completely obnoxious, loud, throwing food, etc. The parents were drunk. HOWEVER, I understand that this was an isolated situation, but in hindsight, I REALLY wish I would've said something.

I found it to be very loud in there. VERY loud. I felt a little rushed, but the server was excellent. We gave her an extra tip.

So, there's good; there's bad. I wouldn't go back any time soon of my own accord, but if my party really wanted to eat there, I wouldn't go in kicking and screaming either.

Hope this helps. I have pics of the food. If you want to see them, PM me.

It is only one credit on the dining plan. I took my son there for his 5th Birthday and got the diver to dive down to our table with a special Birthday message for Max. This meant that we got a tankside table so the view was fantastic and we almost didn't even notice the rest of the restaurant at all. It also meant that the actual experience was amazing. However, our server was weird... kind of over the top fake, like he really wanted to be a great waiter, but was trying to hard and was borderline obnoxious instead of helpful. The food was NOT good... except for the lobster bisque, that is incredible... but everything else was mediocre at best.

The Coral Reef has been one of my favorites for many years. I always ask to sit down by the glass, which sometimes adds an extra 15-20 minutes of wait time before I'm seated. I'm not one to be bothered by kids coming down to see the fish up close - in fact I really enjoy that aspect. The menu has taken a BIG hit due to the DDP. Now there are only 7 items on the menu, and only 3 or 4 of them are seafood. I still managed to find something I liked on my last trip a few months ago, but I am disappointed that their once stellar menu has gotten slashed like this.

But the CR is really a unique restaurant with a very special atmosphere - I'd definitely go for it!

I ate there once, for lunch. The food was NOT the best. But even so, I think I'd probably go back here in the future. Everything else about it was so nice. We were one of the first lunch reservations for the day, and there were hardly any other diners there at all. We were seated at a table right next to the tank, and it was really pretty, and quiet. So, like I said, the food really wasn't so great, but the rest of the experience was really quite nice.

My experience was definitely more to Tina's view than others who loved the place. But, yes, it's only 1 credit on the dining plan. Found the selections limited for a place that bills itself as a seafood restaurant. Really loud-really. We were in the second tier; server was really good. But after a morning spent in FW, I'd much rather walk over and sample something in WS than eat here again.

That said, I can say that because I've experienced it. I wouldn't let negative reviews necessarily keep me from experiencing any of the TS restaurants first hand.