Need advice on Dining and ADR's? Come inside! [Merged]

[Wendy Bird]

Maybe a poll on best by parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, character meals and buffets?

[DisneylandForever]

Maybe a poll on best by parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, character meals and buffets?

Well I don't want to break it down that much! :p But I will list my overall faves in each park/section, based on my personal experience:

Magic Kingdom - CRT

Epcot, Future World - Coral Reef

Epcot, World Showcase - Les Chefs De France

MGM/Disney Studios - I've only eaten CS here! So I can only say ABC Commissary

AK - See above. Flame Tree BBQ

Downtown Disney - Cap'n Jacks

Resorts - Kona Cafe

[Drince88]

I've merged 'which restaurants are best' with the Dining advice thread, since it really was asking for dining advice.

[TinaMouse]

OK--I'll jump on this train!

Magic Kingdom - LTT (TS); Cosmic Ray's (CS)

Epcot, Future World - Coral Reef this time on Chicago Wookie's advice (TS); Cantina SanAngel (CS)

Epcot, World Showcase - Trying Chefs de France this time (TS), but LOVE LeCellier; Germany CS place--I forget the name

MGM/Disney Studios - YUK--my least favorite park for eats. 50s is ok (TS); trying Mama Melrose again this time (it's been 15 yrs!); no CSs.

AK - Flame Tree (CS)

Downtown Disney - Wolfgang Puck Express (CS, but plenty of Table seating); Earl of Sandwich (CS)

Resorts - Trying Kona this time (TS); Loved California Grill, Flying Fish Cafe, Boatwrights (breakfast).

[kadiehl]

Ill go ahead and second that. At the same time, I try to stray away from chains that I can go to when I am home. But overall, the food was not all that great.


We have eaten at Rainforest Cafe at AK and liked it alot...plus the atmosphere is cool.

Then again we like the chain sort of places just for the fun of going to them sometimes like Applebees, Chili's, TGIF, etc.

We also visited a Rainforest Cafe in Chicago and loved it.

So we make sure to hit them just because it is a cool atmosphere and the kids love it and I don't think the food is bad. It is not awesome but it is not bad either.

[Dianna]

I have reservations for 4:25 pm. How can I find out if this is considered lunch or dinner. I am I correct in that chacters are only there for Dinner? I am hoping this is dinner.

TIA

[GusMan]

While not 100% sure, I do believe that is considered dinner time. I would bet that you would see characters during the time of your meal.

However, I reserve the right to yield to someone who has experienced this first hand. :)

[D2000lands]

GusMan is correct.

For Disney, 4 pm and later is considered dinner for pricing and character dining purposes. :)

When I went to LTT last year, it was the character dinner at that time. When I was looking at all the other restaurants, etc. there at WDW, they all said that before 11:00 is breakfast, 11:00 am to 3:59 pm is lunch, and 4:00 pm and later is dinner. This comes from their menus. Keep in mind, all places don't serve Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, but this will give you a good guide.

I hope this helps.

[dahunter1129]

We are trying Coral Reef for the first time, too. DH is a big seafood lover, this was his pick for dinner. I just think it's kind of weird to have a seafood place in the middle of that big of an aquarium...

[bellefan]

I just think it's kind of weird to have a seafood place in the middle of that big of an aquarium...

Don't worry - the fish don't know you're ordering their cousins when you point to them! ;) Its VERY cool - the food is very good and the atmosphere is fun! I love seeing divers in the tank and the big sharks when they swim by the window.

[Wendy Bird]

How are the Disney Dining credits set up? Is it like a credit card? If so, does each person get one with their credits on it? I ask because it looks like our group is going to be wanting to do different activites (splitting up) during our trip.

[TinaMouse]

Yeah, they keep track of it for you off of your Key to the World card, or whatever it is called. Your receipt will show credits left. It will be super easy for your group to split up and do their own thing.

[Wendy Bird]

So each "key" digitally holds our park passes, dining credits and room key?

[dahunter1129]

Yes. But for the dining plan, only one person needs to have their card "swiped" at each meal, the meals are all linked to the room reservation. Your park tickets are individual, so each person will need his own "Key to the World" card to get into each park every day.

[Lolabunny]

We are staying at POFQ, so
Aug. 4 Boatwrights
Aug. 5 Whispering Canyons
Aug. 6 California Grill @ 9:10 Fireworks at 10:00

[bradk]

to clarify, dining credits are pooled and every resort ID has access to the entire pool. so theoretically one person can use up all the snack credits. just something to be mindful of.

[TinaMouse]

True. Watch out for those teens (aka bottomless pits) who might use up all of the snack credits!

[Nini04]

Please help...I'm torn! I don't know what to do. I leave in a couple of weeks. So far most of my adr's I'm comfortable with, except one. The day we go to epcot, we HAD an adr for coral reef. my dh and I have already been there when we went for our honeymoon....so I decided to try the Biergarten. Is there a lot of entertainment? My son is 7yrs old. please, if you have been there before, tell me it's worth it!!! Or tell me to take my adr somewhere else!!!

While I'm at it, here are my other adr's:
7/19-California Grill
7/20-Boma's
7/21-Biergarten
7/22-Mama Melrose(fantasmic)
7/23-Ohana's

Thank you!!!

[Drince88]

I went to the Biergarten with a group last year at MouseFest, and there was a little music, and (in my opinion anyway) pretty darn good food. It wasn't excessive in-your-face entertainment, but I think it would be enough to keep a normal 7 year old entertained enough while eating.

We had a full table of people, but I believe all the tables are about the same size, so if it's just the three of you, you'll likely be put at a table with others, which might just include another kid. I don't know if they try to put families with kids together or not, though.

[Wendy Bird]

We have reservations for LeCellier(lunch) for four and we just added a 5th person to our trip. Now LeCllier is booked. :|

My question is -- should i just cancel LeCellier or hope that they can fit 5 somewhere.

[bradk]

that's a tough one. i presume you've already called and asked if they can change it (not cancel) to 5 and they said no. i'd keep trying. at least 3x a day if it's important to you. i can see le cellier saying no to the 5th, but there's no way to know for sure. i'd have a plan b for sure.

[buffalomike]

my family and myself are arriving to disney in september[18-25] could anyone advise me on the brown derby fantismic dinner show? also hows the calif. grill for a dinner with the fireworks show we have reservations for 9:20 on the 21st.will we be on time or close to the starting of the fireworks?thank you mike

[tigertam]

This is my first post, but I have been reading your posts for a while now. I am going for my 10th trip with my husband and two teenage daughters July31-Aug7, so the countdown is on. My youngest is having her 14th birthday while we are there and we are staying at the WL. Paying way too much but couldn't get the codes and didn't want to change our location. We have the maxed out tickets with waterparks and fun and meal plan. Dinner reservations include: WL, Poly Luau, Ohana's,50s prime time, Rainforest (not on meal plan), Alfredos, and GF breakfast with characters. The luau is 2 dinner credits....is it worth it? We have done the hoop-de-doo twice and wanted to try something different. What are your thoughts? Thanks and I am happy to see others who love disney like me!

[Drince88]

my family and myself are arriving to disney in september[18-25] could anyone advise me on the brown derby fantismic dinner show? also hows the calif. grill for a dinner with the fireworks show we have reservations for 9:20 on the 21st.will we be on time or close to the starting of the fireworks?thank you mike

Regarding California Grill and fireworks. September 21st is a Halloween Party night, and the fireworks (according to the Disney Calendar) are at 9:30. I'd arrive early, and say you'd like to sit in the lounge to wait for your table to be ready (if it's not) and you should be ablet to see them with no problem. The bonus of doing the fireworks from the California Grill during a party is the expanded launch locations. They're almost 360 degress around the castle, and for me it was interesting to see how far out some of those launch locations were.

Regarding the Brown Derby Fantasmic Dinner Package, what exactly were you wondering? There is a recent thread (click here (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=72276)) about the Fantasmic Dinner package in general which should answer most of your basic questions, but let us know if there's something more specific you're interested in.

[Drince88]

This is my first post, but I have been reading your posts for a while now. I am going for my 10th trip with my husband and two teenage daughters July31-Aug7.......The luau is 2 dinner credits....is it worth it? We have done the hoop-de-doo twice and wanted to try something different. What are your thoughts? Thanks and I am happy to see others who love disney like me!

Welcome!

It's been a while since I've done the luau, and I know it's changed at least once since then, but it was fun, and I think your teenagers will likely enjoy it. Being worth two table service credits is something someone who's done it more recently will have to provide their opinions on. The FOOD won't be California Grill quality, but you're also paying for the show part and all the dancers.