How to find Best Resteraunts?

[Rogue21]

You can always take a short boat ride over to the Wilderness Lodge. Whispering Canyon Cafe is a lot of fun and the food fine. Artist Point is a signature restaurant and very good. There is also the dinner and a show option at Hoop de doo Revue (at Ft Wilderness); dinner is basic grub and the show is hokey -- still, it's fun if you've never been.

 

[heychadwick]

I've heard Hoop de doo Revue is fun, but it takes up 2 sit down slots.

I'll look at the others. Thanks!

 

[Kit83]

Looking around I found "eating my ears" to be very informative I'm rubbish with links just Google it there's lots of you tube reviews there .

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

I would go with Kona in place of Ohana for sure!

 

[SDisney90]

There's tons of restaurants there that people claim to be the best yes, they might be but it's all just a consensus. You will always receive the tops spots to go; Ohana's, Le cellier, Jiko, Boma, etc. I'm not saying they are not the best on property but there's plenty of places out there. When people at work, friends, and family ask where to go I tell them you never know until you try. It's great to have a general idea of the resort/park favorites but many gems are those that you discover on your own.

You can research high and low and just come up with the same 10 places to dine at, its up to you to try those other places with little no no reviews. Mama Melrose for instance, has some great reviews then some really, really terrible ones. Last January I took a shot, and you know what? I absolutely loved it. One of the best meals I had my entire trip. The food was excellent and the waitress was beyond attentive. We planned out our ADR's to book for next January and you bet it's on our list again. Take what you read here, pick a place or two and try something you feel like you would enjoy (look at menus). Good luck

 

[heychadwick]

I would go with Kona in place of Ohana for sure!

I thought Kona was in Animal Kingdom. I did look it up and was happy to realize I'm wrong. It actually does look good and is in the same place as Ohana. So, that might be a great option.

There's tons of restaurants there that people claim to be the best yes, they might be but it's all just a consensus. You will always receive the tops spots to go; Ohana's, Le cellier, Jiko, Boma, etc.

Good luck

I appreciate the advice. I do get what you are saying. I recall the last time we went, we hadn't thought of restaurants and got help online. All the places were fantastic. So, I guess I was hoping for some advice. I do understand that they can all be great or bad and it's got to fit me. That's why Morocco is one of our favorites, even though I never see it in the top listings.

...and thanks for the luck!

 

[SDisney90]

I thought Kona was in Animal Kingdom. I did look it up and was happy to realize I'm wrong. It actually does look good and is in the same place as Ohana. So, that might be a great option.



I appreciate the advice. I do get what you are saying. I recall the last time we went, we hadn't thought of restaurants and got help online. All the places were fantastic. So, I guess I was hoping for some advice. I do understand that they can all be great or bad and it's got to fit me. That's why Morocco is one of our favorites, even though I never see it in the top listings.

...and thanks for the luck!

That's good you went to Morocco and enjoyed it and you're right its a place you rarely see in the top. Do you have some ideas on the places you would like to try? maybe some of the same as last year? Each place is a unique dining experience. Tons of the "top" restaurants are right on the monorail loop so that's fairly easy to choose from.

in your original post you have:
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom
Wed: Epcot
Thur: Hollywood
Fri: Epcot or Magic Kingdom
Sat: Epcot or Magic Kingdom

Epcot: Fairly easy to pick a spot, tons to choose from. For QS I highly recommend Sunshine Seasons. There's a little bit for everyone there and in my experience the quality/quantity of food is up there. Table service wise there's ample of amount. Do you want to got o Morocco again since you enjoyed it so much? I've dined at Garden Grill twice now, and again that's another place with good/bad reviews. I personally love it there and will be going back in 2016. Also: Teppen Edo, Chefs de France, Via Napoli, Tutto Italia pop in my mind is some of the more popular places to dine in. I can go into more detail if you'd like just trying to sum everything up.

Magic Kingdom: Does staying in the park matter to you? If so there's only so many places to go here. I had a great time at Tony's and Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner (my top pick in MK) If you want to go out of the park then you have the entire loop close to you. Ohana, Kona, Jiko, Sanaa, GF Cafe, etc. You can go even further than that if you'd like as well..all of those are in the top picks. QS B.O.G tough to get reservations here so forget that place for now. Personally Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills, and Caseys if your up for a great BBQ Slaw Dog (mmm) Columbis Harbour House is also a top QS.

Hollywood Studios: Limited to pick from but these are the top IMO: 50's Prime time (one of my favorites) and my new favorite; Mama Melrose. Hollywood Brown Derby is possibly the most popular ts in the park, personally never been but there are a lot of great reviews.

Also places you can go to around HS on the boardwalk swan and dolpin resort etc. Really there's a ton of places to name off you just need a cuisine that sticks out to you.

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

I thought Kona was in Animal Kingdom. I did look it up and was happy to realize I'm wrong. It actually does look good and is in the same place as Ohana. So, that might be a great option.

Yes, Kona is in the Polynesian. (You may have been thinking Boma, which is in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.) Kona gets consistently good reviews and I personally love it. The atmosphere at the Poly is great too. And it's such a quick monorail ride from MK.

By the way, I am really excited for you and your family! I know you'll have a marvelous time because of the care you have put into planning your trip.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

My best suggestion, especially with the age of your kids, is to go to allears.net and look at the menus. And either as a group pick your venues or have each person pick a place they really want to try. The good thing about disney dining is that there is usually something on the menu or something that can be worked out for the pickiest eaters. My step mom, for instance, is the least adventurous eater I know, so at Cali Grill she asked them how they could help her and they had an adult sized portion of something on the kids menu done for her.

 

[PEPPER2029]

I've heard Hoop de doo Revue is fun, but it takes up 2 sit down slots.

I'll look at the others. Thanks!

Trails End has the same food but no show. Its about a 5 minute ride via boat from mk.

 

[bcalltimandanna]

Not Shutters

 

[mouse_luv]

I would say no to Kona at the Poly. It used to be one of my faves until the new chef. After our trip this fall, I will never go back. It was horrible and I was not only sick from it, but I was mad because had I known it was going to be that bad I would have booked a 2nd dinner at Teppan Edo or the Plaza.

 

[heychadwick]

OK......I got my reservations in! We did shift our days from Tues-Sat to Mon-Fri as the crowds start to come on that Saturday in March. Not sure if we will fly in on Sunday and have a whole day on Monday or fly in on Monday and have half a day.

Mon = no plans yet, other then go to EPCOT
Tues = Magic Kingdom

9:45 7 Dwarfs ride
11:45 Big Thunder
counter lunch somewhere
1:45 Space Mnt
dinner at Kona
​

Wed = EPCOT

9:50 Figment
11:00 Soarin'
lunch at Sunshine
12:45 Mission Space
6:15 Marrakesh
​

Thur = Hollywood

9:50 Tower of Terror / Star Tours
11:45 Toy Story Mania
lunch at counter somewhere
1:15 Indiana Jones show
5:35 Brown Derby
​

Fri = Magic Kingdom

10:30 Space Mountain
11:45 Buzz Lightyear
12:45 Crystal Palace Pooh lunch
1:15-2:15 7 Dwarfs Mine
dinner counter somewhere
​

Sat = sit down breakfast somewhere not in a park before flying out.

I know I said no character meals, but it turns out the 15 yr old wants to be a kid one last time and have lunch with Pooh. How could I say no to a last gasp at childhood?

 

[LAKid53]

Here's my suggestions:

Magic Kingdom: Casey's. Yes, it's hotdogs (and quick service), but you can get an amazing chili dog. As someone previous mentioned, avoid Tony's and I'm adding Pecos Bills to the places to avoid.
EPCOT: If you want to try something different, go for the pizza at Via Napoli. Delicious
Hollywood: Starring Rolls, Brown Derby, 50s and Sci-Fi. I also enjoy Mama Melrose, it's Italian but not the Olive Garden Italian (IMO)
Animal Kingdom: Yak & Yeti, both table service and quick service. Sadly Flame Tree is closed for refurbishment, but I understand you can find those ribs at some of the kiosks around the park
DTD: Wolfgang Puck - both his table service and quick service spots. The Quick Service feels more like a table service - you order at the counter but they bring your food to your table; Raglan Road

At the resorts: any of the restaurants at Grand Floridian will be excellent choices. All are Signature (2 dining credits per person; don't think Victoria & Albert's takes the dining plan but that really is an adults only restaurant) but 1900 Park Fare and the Grand Floridian Café. I had some amazing salmon for dinner at the Café. And, other than what I cook every year, an amazing Thanksgiving dinner there. The Wave & Cali Grill at the Contemporary. Artists Pointe at Wilderness Lodge (another Signature and 2 dining credits). Haven't eaten at any of the restaurants at either Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Polynesian - just remember the Poly still has construction going on. Boatwright's is good (it's not a Cajun restaurant as someone previous mentioned, just Southern) and since your 9 year old likes seafood, he/she might enjoy the Shrimp and Grits.

When checking out the page for restaurants that interest you, make sure to click on the reviews people post on Trip Advisor - most will include pictures of their food.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[jack@wdw]

We really enjoyed the Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner on our recent trip.

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

I think you made fantastic choices. I enjoy all of those. And it's a nice variety.

 

[LAKid53]

If you want French at EPCOT, go to Chefs de France. The DDP is a price fixed menu, with appetizer (soup or salad, lobster bisque is excellent), entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. You can select from 3 or 4 entrees and a couple of desserts. And it is only 1 TS dining credit.

 

[DisneyDaver]

I'll plug one of our favorites: The Wave at the Contemporary. It's not a signature restaurant, but I've consistently had better meals there than at some of the signatures. And it has a full range of main courses-- beef, pork, chicken and seafood along with a pasta selection or two.

+1 The Wave has some great stuff and some items that are a little different.

 

[dreamfinder]

Keep in mind that most places at WDW seem to get 4+ stars. The only really bad meal I've ever had was at Hollywood & Vine dinner. Everything else was at least fine. On par with Olive Garden/Chilis/etc. Not a bad meal by any means, but also nothing I would consider to be fine dining. WDW does "dumb down" most menus to appeal to large crowds, especially in the theme parks, so often you will need to venture to resorts for creative food. Use reviews as a guideline, but then pick based on what you think your party would like and the menus you read.