New to any Disney Dining that isn't quick! Help?!

[rubydoo2]

Hi all :wave:

We've just booked our trip for the end of June! This will be my first trip just thats just my boyfriend and I; the past times have all been with lots of family members who all, invariably, didn't want to pay to eat on Disney. We would hire a car and end up going out of the 'World to eat on I-Drive etc.

However, this time seen as it's just 2 of us, I'm really keen for us to try some Disney Dining! The only problem I'm having is that it's just such a vast variety, I can't seem to make leeway into deciding anything haha.

Do you have any particular advice or suggestions for First Time Disney Diners? I'm can be fussy with food, so we don't want anywhere that's super exotic etc. Just wanna try out a few places, and finally make a ADR haha

Thanks!

 

[real mad hatter]

Start your planning NOW!

Many questions?are you going for two weeks?do you want QS meals?are you wanting table service meals?if so,make your ADRS now,what food do you like?pasta,fish,steaks.You really need to start planning right away if you want table service as your 180 day clock is well ticking away.Also are you on Disneys free dining plan,since you are from UK,I suspect you are or should be.:shrug:

 

[mickeysshoes]

Best general advise I can give you is if there is something on the menu that you like but it has a sauce or a side you dont like then ask to replace it with something else or to leave it off. We hardly every order anything AS IS right off the menu. Disney is very willing to work with you. That being said dont be affraid to try new things.

 

[righttrack]

My advice is take in at least one of all of the experiences they have:

Buffets (some with good themeing) - We like Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Biergarten (Epcot Germany), Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)

Family Meals (a shared platter family style or other) - We like Ohana (Polynesian Resort), Whispering Canyon (Wilderness Lodge), Cinderella's Castle

Plated Meals - all sorts of experiences. Pick a theme or type of food you like. Our favorites are Artist's Point (Premium - Wilderness Lodge), 50's Prime Time Cafe (Disney Studios), Kouzzina by Cat Cora (Boardwalk Resort), Rose and Crown Dining Room (Epcot UK)

Have fun with each type of meal. If I had to pick one meal, I'd pick three from my list: Ohana, Boma and Biergarten. No trip has ever been had that did not include those 3 meals. All are wonderful in their own way and there is something for everyone there, despite the themes (Polynesian, African, German). Disney does a great job of introducing cuisines and still has something for those who are already familiar.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

You may want to sit down with your boyfriend and peruse the restaurant menus here on site, then decide but call as soon as you can

 

[Crush Dude!]

Hi all :wave:

We've just booked our trip for the end of June! This will be my first trip just thats just my boyfriend and I; the past times have all been with lots of family members who all, invariably, didn't want to pay to eat on Disney. We would hire a car and end up going out of the 'World to eat on I-Drive etc.

However, this time seen as it's just 2 of us, I'm really keen for us to try some Disney Dining! The only problem I'm having is that it's just such a vast variety, I can't seem to make leeway into deciding anything haha.

Do you have any particular advice or suggestions for First Time Disney Diners? I'm can be fussy with food, so we don't want anywhere that's super exotic etc. Just wanna try out a few places, and finally make a ADR haha

Thanks!

1) Welcome to the boards :wave:

2) Doesnt Free Dining Rule?

3) What resort are you staying at?

4) You are in for a treat, disney has some amazing restaurants! Now seeing as your 180 day mark has already passed then some spots will be VERY hard to nab!

Heres my recommendations, many i will be booking Monday at my 180 day mark for my 3 week trip in August :wave:

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
'Ohana
Chef Mickeys
Kona Cafe

Lunch: Le Cellier ( only 1 credit, dinner is 2)
Via Napoli

Dinner: 'Ohana
Yachtsman
Citricos
1900 Park Fare
Akershus

Now some of these are gonna be very tough to get but you never know :wave:

Also def go and view the menus here on wdwmagic or on the wdw site :wave:

 

[danpam1024]

Gotta try Kouzzina. It is very unique and yummy:king:

 

[Stitchaholic84]

We only tried Disney dining for the first time last year and went to Rose and Crown & Via Napoli.
Since you're British, you might like Rose & Crown to get a kind of "homely" feel (but the sticky toffee pudding is awful - not the real stuff you get back home).
Via Napoli is nice but I've had better pizza, im not really into stonebaked bases.

Being veggie and not really liking much veggie food :lookaroun, i too am a fussy eater. This year we are going back to Rose & Crown and trying Le Cellier, Jiko and Kona Cafe.

The official Disney website has all the restaurant menus in full so take time to read through them and plan your reservations. But I'd get cracking soon.

Enjoy :wave:

 

[rubydoo2]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I've made reservations for Chef Mickeys breakfast and Le Cellier lunch. Those were 2 I was really keen to try anyway, so if boyfriend doesn't like it... tough

Also, we're actually not on the Free Dining Plan. We're staying at Pop and the offer I think is on through Virgin Holidays at the moment is Free Dining for Moderate resort guests and upwards only! I think because there are a few places outside of the World we'll go and eat, we weren't sure if it would end up being worth it.

Does the Fantasmic dining package run a shorter booking window than 180? I couldn't do it when I tried a couple days ago. Or is it down cause Fantasmic is at the moment too?

Gonna have a sit down this weekend and go through some menus etc and decide on a few more... I feel like a proper Disney holiday goer now I'm making proper dining reservations :lol:

Thanks again guys

 

[dreamfinder]

Oy, where to begin. First questions, how long, what parks, what resort, will you have hopping?

The in park dining is kinda meh. MK, and AK are pretty much passes unless you want a character buffet. DHS has some interestingly themed choices, the food isn't bad, but it's not great either. SciFi Drive in and Prime Time 50's are both pretty much on par for the food, but have unique themes. Epcot does shine for dining, and that is where hopping would be a benefit. Being able to stop by for the evening for dinner. Biergarten is a decent buffet, my DW and I love Restaurant Marrakesh, and Le Cellier is a popular choice for most people. I would avoid China, Norway (unless you want princess buffet), but the others are ok.

Resorts have some great choices. My DW and I love Sanaa, Jiko, and Boma all over at the AKL. Jiko is signature, Sanaa is Indian flavored, and Boma is a great all around buffet with plenty of different Africian inspired and flavored choices. Artist Point, Blue Zoo, are great. I guess it really depends on what you want to eat. At this point you may be more dictated by what has availability as much as anything else.

 

[Stitchaholic84]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I've made reservations for Chef Mickeys breakfast and Le Cellier lunch. Those were 2 I was really keen to try anyway, so if boyfriend doesn't like it... tough

Also, we're actually not on the Free Dining Plan. We're staying at Pop and the offer I think is on through Virgin Holidays at the moment is Free Dining for Moderate resort guests and upwards only! I think because there are a few places outside of the World we'll go and eat, we weren't sure if it would end up being worth it.

Does the Fantasmic dining package run a shorter booking window than 180? I couldn't do it when I tried a couple days ago. Or is it down cause Fantasmic is at the moment too?

Gonna have a sit down this weekend and go through some menus etc and decide on a few more... I feel like a proper Disney holiday goer now I'm making proper dining reservations :lol:

Thanks again guys

If you haven't tried it already and will be heading to Mall at Millenia, be sure to try the Cheesecake Factory. They have a MASSIVE menu, not to mention every kind of cheesecake you can think of! :slurp:

 

[Philhar-Fanatic]

One of the best tips I can give you is to go thru some of these message boards. See what people like and then look at the enu for yourself and see what is appealing to you. Some of our fav's include...

Hoop Dee Doo, uses 2 credits, food is salad, cornbread, fried ckn, ribs, beans, strawberry shortcake and it's all you can eat and drink (budweiser and sangria). Great show and food!

Ohana at the Poly was fun and food pretty good. Everything has a sweet taste to it. Kind of sweet and sour/tereyaki/pineapple...Hawaiian. Dessert here was FABULOUS!

Epcot-Teppan Edo is fun and food is always fresh and good, as they cook it there in front of you. We also liked La Hacienda for Mexican.

Hollywood-Momma Melrose was REALLY GOOD, Sci-Fi has a great atmosphere but I'd say the bacon.cheese burger and fries are the best thing on the menu. 50's Prime Time is a great atmosphere too. I'd recommend the fried chicken.

AK, never did a sit down here before. We love Flame Tree BBQ, and Yak and Yeti for QS.

 

[Crush Dude!]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I've made reservations for Chef Mickeys breakfast and Le Cellier lunch. Those were 2 I was really keen to try anyway, so if boyfriend doesn't like it... tough

Also, we're actually not on the Free Dining Plan. We're staying at Pop and the offer I think is on through Virgin Holidays at the moment is Free Dining for Moderate resort guests and upwards only! I think because there are a few places outside of the World we'll go and eat, we weren't sure if it would end up being worth it.

Does the Fantasmic dining package run a shorter booking window than 180? I couldn't do it when I tried a couple days ago. Or is it down cause Fantasmic is at the moment too?

Gonna have a sit down this weekend and go through some menus etc and decide on a few more... I feel like a proper Disney holiday goer now I'm making proper dining reservations :lol:

Thanks again guys

You should upgrade, the free dining will more than cover the cost :wave:

 

[c1aire.griffin]

We are british and travelling to the World in June I priced everything up and it worked out cheaper to go to a moderate resort and upgrade to the dining plan (rather than the counter service) than it did stay on value and pay for our food!!!! Seriously such a good promotion. For a family of 3 plus an inf flights, accomodation, park passes (14 days) and all our food anywhere in disney £4000 ($5500) we couldn't believe it we honestly spend over £1000.00 on eating when we are there usually whether it be snacks or table service meals! For a couple I would imagine it would be £2800 - £3000 approx for what we have included. Clothes shopping here I come!! :ROFLOL:

 

[unkadug]

Don't bite off more than you can chew.