Dining suggestions

[ELG13]

Our first night in MK we are booked at kona cafe at 655. The park closes at 7 that night for mnsshp( and we have 3 days set aside for MK this trip so I'm not worried about losing a little bit of time for dinner). We have another ADR for ohana later in the week so I'm considering switching kona cafe to something else.. just not sure what. Crystal Palace has a 430 availability but I'm not a huge fan of buffets just because they can get a little tricky for our family. Should I still take it? Is it worth it?? Orrrrrr....Do yall have some other suggestions. I know about all the popular places (and managed to get adrs to all of them!). I'm jus looking to try something a little different...not weird, but maybe a lesser known but still worth it resaurant.

 

[belledream]

How about Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge? Would be nice to take an evening boat ride there and relax at the resort, while also enjoying a fun, rowdy atmosphere. Plus, those refillable milkshakes...

I agree that I wouldn't necessarily want to do Kona + Ohana in the same trip. Although different experiences, I'd personally want to branch out more!

 

[ELG13]

Yes my thoughts exactly on those two. Whispering canyon only has an 825 reservation and with my experience they always run a ltitle late so with 3 littles that may be too late but I'll keep checking. Any other suggestions? I was hoping for a few different ones that I could keep and eye out for.

 

[larryz]

The Wave at the Contemporary...

 

[ELG13]

The Wave at the Contemporary...

Is that on the DDP?? I looked at California grill and it wasnt, but the food looked awesome.

 

[larryz]

Is that on the DDP?? I looked at California grill and it wasnt, but the food looked awesome.

According to the list it is (warning - opens an Adobe Acrobat file)
California Grill is also on the list, but under "Signature Restaurants" and it's 2 TS credits per person.

 

[belledream]

Yes my thoughts exactly on those two. Whispering canyon only has an 825 reservation and with my experience they always run a ltitle late so with 3 littles that may be too late but I'll keep checking. Any other suggestions? I was hoping for a few different ones that I could keep and eye out for.

Yeah that's pretty late, keep checking though! Maybe Grand Floridian Cafe or 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian then?

If you're not against a dinner before you leave MK, there's tons of options like Plaza, Skipper Canteen, and Liberty Tree.

Btw, The Wave is on the DDP as 1 TS credit. California Grill is also on the DDP (as 2 entitlements though because it is a signature restaurant).

 

[ELG13]

Yeah that's pretty late, keep checking though! Maybe Grand Floridian Cafe or 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian then?

If you're not against a dinner before you leave MK, there's tons of options like Plaza, Skipper Canteen, and Liberty Tree.

Btw, The Wave is on the DDP as 1 TS credit. California Grill is also on the DDP (as 2 entitlements though because it is a signature restaurant).

How is skipper canteen? I had an ADR there before our dates changed but never added one. I hadn't heard much about it.
I think i saw one for 1900 or grand floridan and I also saw crystal palace. I should mention weare staying st the ft.wilderness cabins.

 

[littleroo]

My vote is for Sanaa!!!

 

[Javier Antonio Nisa Avila]

If you want a dinner plan with characters and in family ambient, Crystal Palace its perfect and funny for childrens and adults. The food in crystal palace its awesome, for childrens, for vegetarians for ultrafans of meat or fish its the better option inside MK. Other option near to MK its Gran Floridian or Chef's Mickeys to dance with characters.

 

[belledream]

How is skipper canteen? I had an ADR there before our dates changed but never added one. I hadn't heard much about it.
I think i saw one for 1900 or grand floridan and I also saw crystal palace. I should mention weare staying st the ft.wilderness cabins.

I loved Skipper Canteen! The themeing and CM interaction was a perfect extension of the ride. And the food was really great...a nice departure from the overall standard cuisine you can find around MK. Would definitely recommend if you wanted a dinner in the park.

 

[ELG13]

I loved Skipper Canteen! The themeing and CM interaction was a perfect extension of the ride. And the food was really great...a nice departure from the overall standard cuisine you can find around MK. Would definitely recommend if you wanted a dinner in the park.

Oh that makes me happ to hear!! I wasn't sure about it because it was a little different, not because it didn't look amazing but because it's new and being so different from the standard around there I was afraid it would miss the mark!! There's a 400 available, so I may grab it. Have you had crystal palace?? There's an ADR there around the same time....which would yall pick?

 

[ELG13]

If you want a dinner plan with characters and in family ambient, Crystal Palace its perfect and funny for childrens and adults. The food in crystal palace its awesome, for childrens, for vegetarians for ultrafans of meat or fish its the better option inside MK. Other option near to MK its Gran Floridian or Chef's Mickeys to dance with characters.

We have a chef mickeys ADR for later in the week and I'm so excited!! I seem to be torn between skipper canteen and crystal palace....

 

[Weather_Lady]

If it were I, I would go for Skipper Canteen if you can get a decent reservation time. My family enjoyed it all -- the theming, the diverse menu, and the service.

I'm not sure, OP, how buffets are "tricky" for your family, but FWIW, Crystal Palace pleasantly surprised my family when we visited in terms of food quality and variety, although the meal took us a full 2 hours (and would have gone longer had we actually waited for the full character rotation). Food-wise, there was literally something for everyone (whether you wanted standard buffet fare, or more exotic, frou-frou items), and all of it was actually cooked properly (even things like pasta and rice, that often get mushy or dried-out on a buffet) and genuinely spicy and flavorful. I wasn't expecting much, but was thoroughly impressed. The timing of the meal however -- the time it took to be seated and for characters to come around -- was a nightmare. We waited nearly half an hour past our reservation time to be seated. After 90 minutes inside the restaurant (having finished our meals half an hour earlier but with two of the four characters yet to step foot into our dining room, let alone visit our table) we decided to go rogue, track down the characters ourselves between tables in the adjoining dining room, and snap a couple of photos with the kids so we could get the heck out of there. The food was great, but the time investment it required as a character experience was, in my view, unreasonable.

 

[ELG13]

If it were I, I would go for Skipper Canteen if you can get a decent reservation time. My family enjoyed it all -- the theming, the diverse menu, and the service.

I'm not sure, OP, how buffets are "tricky" for your family, but FWIW, Crystal Palace pleasantly surprised my family when we visited in terms of food quality and variety, although the meal took us a full 2 hours (and would have gone longer had we actually waited for the full character rotation). Food-wise, there was literally something for everyone (whether you wanted standard buffet fare, or more exotic, frou-frou items), and all of it was actually cooked properly (even things like pasta and rice, that often get mushy or dried-out on a buffet) and genuinely spicy and flavorful. I wasn't expecting much, but was thoroughly impressed. The timing of the meal however -- the time it took to be seated and for characters to come around -- was a nightmare. We waited nearly half an hour past our reservation time to be seated. After 90 minutes inside the restaurant (having finished our meals half an hour earlier but with two of the four characters yet to step foot into our dining room, let alone visit our table) we decided to go rogue, track down the characters ourselves between tables, and snap a couple of photos with the kids so we could get the heck out of there.

Lol...yall went rogue!! That's hilarious! They are just tricky bc my son won't let m rout of his sight currently and trying to walk around picking food and getting it to the table... it's just all too much effort to make sure we don't have a melt down or a spill lol. And knowing that it takes that long is enough of a reason for me. My kids aren't huge winnie the pooh fans (not even sure if my youngest would recognize him... shame on me!!!!!) So I probably will do skipper canteen, it seems like a fun new place to try!! And we can grab a beer there too!!!

 

[belledream]

Oh that makes me happ to hear!! I wasn't sure about it because it was a little different, not because it didn't look amazing but because it's new and being so different from the standard around there I was afraid it would miss the mark!! There's a 400 available, so I may grab it. Have you had crystal palace?? There's an ADR there around the same time....which would yall pick?

I have been to Crystal Palace. I do enjoy it, even if it is a 'Disney buffet'. I love Pooh & friends, and the bright nature of the restaurant, but in your shoes, it sounds like Skipper is the way to go for you.

 

[ELG13]

I have been to Crystal Palace. I do enjoy it, even if it is a 'Disney buffet'. I love Pooh & friends, and the bright nature of the restaurant, but in your shoes, it sounds like Skipper is the way to go for you.

Yeah I'm thinkin the same. Crystal Palace is on our list of places we want to go but maybe our next trip when the kids are a little older.

 

[correcaminos]

How is skipper canteen? I had an ADR there before our dates changed but never added one. I hadn't heard much about it.
I think i saw one for 1900 or grand floridan and I also saw crystal palace. I should mention weare staying st the ft.wilderness cabins.

Love Skipper's Canteen! Definitely a big winner for our family as a whole! People seem to shy because it's "exotic" or something but we all loved it.

My vote is for Sanaa!!!

Kind of far from MK isn't it? We think Sanaa is great though, but it would take too long to get there IMO with 3 little ones.

 

[ELG13]

Love Skipper's Canteen! Definitely a big winner for our family as a whole! People seem to shy because it's "exotic" or something but we all loved it.

So I actually ended up finding a whispering canyon ADR for 7 so I took that. It sounds like the kids will enjoy it. I'm still wondering about skippers canteen though!! Ever since it opened I've wanted to try it! Argh!!!!! I can't decide where I want to go for dinner the day of, much less 3 months out!! Lol

 

[ELG13]

Not sure what happened! My reply got mixed in to the post!! Oops!!!