New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas

[MinnesotaFriar]

Alright, so I'm going with my parents/brothers for my 23rd birthday at Disney World. My birthday is New Year's Eve, and believe it or not, I'm completely and totally psyched about this. I grew up in Florida and I was a Disney passholder growing up. I moved away for college and my parents cancelled the passes (haven't been to Disney since 2007), so it'll be a good homecoming of sorts for me. Lots of great memories.

It is crazy to think, but in our many years of having the passes, we never went to Disney World on my birthday, so I'm not even sure what to ask for as far as a birthday dinner goes. Last year, I got Ruth's Chris (that was awesome), so I'd like to follow it up with something special at Disney, so to speak.

We're staying at the Contemporary and we'll either be at MGM or Magic Kingdom (I think I'm going to make a separate thread about that debate), and I'm wondering what people may recommend. For information purposes, my family is my mom and dad (50 and 48) me (turning 23) and my two brothers (19 and 15), so character dining, we might be a little old for. We do love any and all Disney stuff, however, so we're open to ideas!

Thanks!

 

[Prince-1]

If you are going to MK then the Crystal Palace is a great choice. It is a buffet that has a lot of great choices for many different palates. It is also has characters (Winnie the Pooh and gang) which can be fun (or not). What I would do is make dinner reservations across the lagoon at Ohanas in the Polynesian. Great food and great views of MK. This is a 5-10 minute monorail ride away.

I personally do not like any of the restaurants at DHS. The Brown Derby is good but that's about it for me. 50's Prime Time Cafe might be another choice. It's a fun atmosphere and the food (to me) is decent.

Have fun whatever you do.

 

[Scuttle]

If you are going to MK then the Crystal Palace is a great choice. It is a buffet that has a lot of great choices for many different palates. It is also has characters (Winnie the Pooh and gang) which can be fun (or not). What I would do is make dinner reservations across the lagoon at Ohanas in the Polynesian. Great food and great views of MK. This is a 5-10 minute monorail ride away.

I personally do not like any of the restaurants at DHS. The Brown Derby is good but that's about it for me. 50's Prime Time Cafe might be another choice. It's a fun atmosphere and the food (to me) is decent.

Have fun whatever you do.

Agree. Ohana is a great place to celebrate and have a few drinks and eat as much as you want. Good food for a reasonable price(for WDW). Remember to start looking for reservations ASAP.

 

[MinnesotaFriar]

If you are going to MK then the Crystal Palace is a great choice. It is a buffet that has a lot of great choices for many different palates. It is also has characters (Winnie the Pooh and gang) which can be fun (or not). What I would do is make dinner reservations across the lagoon at Ohanas in the Polynesian. Great food and great views of MK. This is a 5-10 minute monorail ride away.

I personally do not like any of the restaurants at DHS. The Brown Derby is good but that's about it for me. 50's Prime Time Cafe might be another choice. It's a fun atmosphere and the food (to me) is decent.

Have fun whatever you do.

We're doing a 3-day Magic Your Way passes. That allows for re-entry to the same park in the same day, correct? (So we'd be able to leave the park to go to Ohanas or elsewhere) It's not a Hopper, but same re-entry is still allowed, right?

Agreed, we've done 50's/SciFi and the atmosphere is only kind of cool, but meh. The price is also pretty high (relative term).

Thanks!

 

[MinnesotaFriar]

Agree. Ohana is a great place to celebrate and have a few drinks and eat as much as you want. Good food for a reasonable price(for WDW). Remember to start looking for reservations ASAP.

So is it a buffet? If so, how much does it cost (approximately) and what sort of food is served there?

Also, I'm just curious, but taking a monorail trip out of Magic Kingdom to get there, how much time, theoretically, would it be to leave the park, hop on the monorail, get there and then get back? I would just hate to be in a situation that would become time-prohibitive.

Any and all information is very appreciated and very helpful!

 

[durangojim]

Dhs is actually my favorite for nye because of the fireworks and the fact that there's the spectacle of lights and you can enjoy an adult beverage. We've done nye there twice and ate at brown derby for a really nice dinner each time. If you eat at a hotel that night you might not make it back in the park due to crowds.

 

[MinnesotaFriar]

Dhs is actually my favorite for nye because of the fireworks and the fact that there's the spectacle of lights and you can enjoy an adult beverage. We've done nye there twice and ate at brown derby for a really nice dinner each time. If you eat at a hotel that night you might not make it back in the park due to crowds.

I've actually never tried drinking at Disney before. Last time I went, I was 18. Now I'm 23.

What's the deal with alcohol at Hollywood Studios during New Year's Eve? Is it only at the restaurants, like the aforementioned Brown Derby? Or are there like stands or whatever selling beverages?

Thanks.

 

[Prince-1]

So is it a buffet? If so, how much does it cost (approximately) and what sort of food is served there?

Also, I'm just curious, but taking a monorail trip out of Magic Kingdom to get there, how much time, theoretically, would it be to leave the park, hop on the monorail, get there and then get back? I would just hate to be in a situation that would become time-prohibitive.

Any and all information is very appreciated and very helpful!

Not sure on the price but I think it is around $35?? This is the average price for a buffet style dinner at Disney. O'hanas is unique because it is not a true buffet. It starts out with waiters bringing you this great bread and macadamia nut butter and a selection of appetizers which includes saldad chicken wings and more. The waiters then come around with a selection of meats (steak, pork, turkey, chicken, on large skewers that they push off onto your plate. This is all you can eat. At the end is a great bread pudding. The theme ties in with the Polynesian which means very tropical and fun.

The trip from the park to the hotel is a 10 minute ride. But adding in the time to leave the park, waiting for the monorail, and getting there will obviously be longer.

 

[GoochDSA]

Just remember that MK is going to fill up. Don't expect to try to enter MK after dinner and be able to get in. It usually closes to capacity at about 11, will open briefly late afternoon before closing to capacity again for all levels. So leaving to go to 'Ohana or anything else on the monorail loop will be a big risk to not get back into MK, if that is where you choose to be. Not to mention you can see the NYE Wishes on the 30th.

DHS does not usually close to capacity until closer to midnight, if at all. It seems to be the forgotten park on NYE. I would suggest having an early dinner at Shula's at the Dolphin at like 5:30 or 6 (since you enjoed Ruth Chris so much) before heading over to DHS for the night.

 

[durangojim]

I've actually never tried drinking at Disney before. Last time I went, I was 18. Now I'm 23.

What's the deal with alcohol at Hollywood Studios during New Year's Eve? Is it only at the restaurants, like the aforementioned Brown Derby? Or are there like stands or whatever selling beverages?

Thanks.

DHS is just like EPCOT when it comes to alcohol, and even more so on NYE. There are bars that are already open, but there will be many stands selling beer, wine, cocktails, and champagne. They will have some DJs set up around the park providing music and dance areas, then will have their own fireworks before midnight, which you won't see any other time of year. EPCOT is great too, but way too crowded for my taste, and MK's fireworks you can see on 12/30 and there is no alcohol (not needed but I enjoy an adult libation from time to time). We usually to MK on 12/30 and then DHS or EPCOT on 12/31. It's icing on the cake if you can stay at an EPCOT resort as you can just walk back instead of waiting 1 1/2 hours to take the bus or drive out of the parking lot.

 

[MinnesotaFriar]

Just remember that MK is going to fill up. Don't expect to try to enter MK after dinner and be able to get in. It usually closes to capacity at about 11, will open briefly late afternoon before closing to capacity again for all levels. So leaving to go to 'Ohana or anything else on the monorail loop will be a big risk to not get back into MK, if that is where you choose to be. Not to mention you can see the NYE Wishes on the 30th.

DHS does not usually close to capacity until closer to midnight, if at all. It seems to be the forgotten park on NYE. I would suggest having an early dinner at Shula's at the Dolphin at like 5:30 or 6 (since you enjoed Ruth Chris so much) before heading over to DHS for the night.

Good thinking, I hadn't thought of that!

It does appear that if we were going to go to Magic Kingdom, that dining options would be a bit limited and that alcohol would be completely out.

DHS is just like EPCOT when it comes to alcohol, and even more so on NYE. There are bars that are already open, but there will be many stands selling beer, wine, cocktails, and champagne. They will have some DJs set up around the park providing music and dance areas, then will have their own fireworks before midnight, which you won't see any other time of year. EPCOT is great too, but way too crowded for my taste, and MK's fireworks you can see on 12/30 and there is no alcohol (not needed but I enjoy an adult libation from time to time). We usually to MK on 12/30 and then DHS or EPCOT on 12/31. It's icing on the cake if you can stay at an EPCOT resort as you can just walk back instead of waiting 1 1/2 hours to take the bus or drive out of the parking lot.

That actually sounds great!

Stands selling alcohol...I assume they'll be really expensive? That's a given, but expensive as say, ballpark prices where it's around $8 or $9 for a beer or glass of wine/champagne? If so, well, I guess that's better than nothing.

As far as leaving, we're staying at the Contemporary. If we're trying to leave Disney Hollywood Studios after New Year's Eve, do you think the bus to get there will be an absolute mad-house? Would parking/driving be any better?

 

[durangojim]

Good thinking, I hadn't thought of that!

It does appear that if we were going to go to Magic Kingdom, that dining options would be a bit limited and that alcohol would be completely out.



That actually sounds great!

Stands selling alcohol...I assume they'll be really expensive? That's a given, but expensive as say, ballpark prices where it's around $8 or $9 for a beer or glass of wine/champagne? If so, well, I guess that's better than nothing.

As far as leaving, we're staying at the Contemporary. If we're trying to leave Disney Hollywood Studios after New Year's Eve, do you think the bus to get there will be an absolute mad-house? Would parking/driving be any better?

That pricing sounds about right. As far as leaving, the busses will be a mad house if you leave right after midnight, but if you stay until the park closes which is 3 am or any time between 1 and 3 am, crowds will be considerably less and you won't have to wait as long for a bus, also you can go on somemore rides and enjouna few more drinks or dances to ring in the new year! Have a great time!

 

[durangojim]

Forgot to add the main reasons why i prefer dhs over epcot. Epcot fills up early and becomes packed, like difficult to actually walk around due to crowds. Add to that that it is a large park and to get rrom point a to point b walking through those crowds becomes a pain. Also there arent as many easily accessible rides at epcot as there are at dhs. Less crowds at dhs along with a unique nye fireworks show makes it my favorite.

 

[MikeAGeorge]

If your going this NYE and do not already have ADR's your choices may be VERY limited on property. I would start with what is available and go from there.
Good Luck!!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I believe the California Grill does a special party on New Year's Eve. I know tickets are pricey, but that would definitely be my choice.

 

[durangojim]

If your going this NYE and do not already have ADR's your choices may be VERY limited on property. I would start with what is available and go from there.
Good Luck!!

Just checked and there's quite a few openings at both dhs and epcot. I'm jealous and wish we'd be there on nye this year.