Non-Park Restaurants - Recommendations?

[Disney Newbie]

We will be at Disney for a week (Arriving midnight 5/11 !) and for a good part of that time we will be with another couple, but one of our party will not have a park pass since the husbands are there for a conference, but us wives get to have fun. :sohappy:

So the question is where should we eat? I am so bummed we cannot try all the good places in World Showcase, but keeping in mind a moderate budget, what is good at Disney, but not in the parks? :veryconfu

Thanks!

 

[DisneyMarg]

Look at the menus for the resort restaurants on Allears.net or on the restaurant section of this board. There are many great restaurants in the resorts and you can eat there without park tickets. You won't be disappointed. Favorites include:
'Ohana at Polynesian, Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge (our family's favorite), and Concourse Steakhouse at Contemporary.
It's particularly nice to eat at 'Ohana or Concourse and then enjoy a short monorail ride around the parks at no charge. You can hop off to enjoy a walk around the Grand Floridian, Polynesan, or Contemporary resorts, or transfer to the Epcot monorail at the Ticket and Transport Center. It's a little bit of magic all for the price of a dinner. (But do try to ride the monorail at sometime other than park closing, or you'll be mobbed with TIRED people.)

You ladies can enjoy plenty of snacks or lunches at World Showcase and still eat dinner in the evenings with those without park tickets.

 

[BRER STITCH]

You've got all of the resort restaurants, Boardwalk, and Downtown Disney spots to choose from...and the selection is huge! You wont even miss the park selections! :lol:

There's lots to see and enjoy before, during , and after dinner without being in the parks, so you will have no problem. Make the most of your choice with a spot that will give you a good taste of the parks by being very close to them!

O'hana is a great "all you can eat" family style place that serves great food with a nice beach, tropical gardens, and a cool view of the Magic Kingdom.

California Grill is a fancier restaurant that comes with a view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks!

Spoodles, Cape May, and ESPN Zone are all on the Boardwalk and will give you all the sights and sounds of Atlantic City without the panhandling! You can also catch a good portion of Illuminations at Epcot from there! ESPN, of course, is a very casual sports bar type of place if thats all you want.

House of Blues, Portobellos, and Fulton's are all great places to eat at Downtown Disney, with lots of shopping and people watching before and after!

Figure out what TYPE of place you want (fancy or casual), and what type of food you want, and it will be easier to steer you to the right place! Don;t wait too long, though, as you will need reservations as soon as possible!

:wave:

 

[tigsmom]

Those without passes could always buy a one day admission and then you ladies can spend the day in EPCOT, have some fun and hit up some of the restaurants there for lunch and snacks while the guys are in their meetings. You could meet up for dinner outside the parks later.

There are many great restaurants in the resorts to choose from as pointed out above. Why not try Jiko or Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and then do a little animal watching. Just wandering around the resorts and taking in the sights is a lot of fun. You could also do a dinner show such as the Hoop Dee Do Review (a personal favorite) at Fort Wilderness or the Spirit of Aloha Luau at the Poly.

Also, you do not have to spend all of your time with the other couples, you could always sneak off with your hubby for a romantic/fun dinner alone. :animwink:

 

[tednvon]

Hi...great advice above...

Specificially for the gals to have fun..

Don't miss...BOMAS at the Animal Kingdom Lodge...very different, very fun and a great place to walk around afterwards outdoors and look for the animals with the "night vision" tool. Make sure and ask where the viewing area is with night vision..there will be a Disney person there to help you...with a little luck you will see all kinds of neat animals...and the food is spectacular

For all of you...we love CAPE MAY BUFFET at the Beach Club...beautiful restaurant, and after dinner talk a long walk around to Boardwalk, catch some the street entertainers and maybe grab a microbrew at the brewery restaurant or stop into Jellyrolls for dueling pianos.

Enjoy...Ted

 

[maelstrom]

Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary
Kona Cafe at the Polynesian

 

[ZapperZ]

Just avoid the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney, and you're fine.



Zz.

 

[bsandersjr]

We will be at Disney for a week (Arriving midnight 5/11 !) and for a good part of that time we will be with another couple, but one of our party will not have a park pass since the husbands are there for a conference, but us wives get to have fun. :sohappy:

So the question is where should we eat? I am so bummed we cannot try all the good places in World Showcase, but keeping in mind a moderate budget, what is good at Disney, but not in the parks? :veryconfu

Thanks!

I highly reccommend:

Ohana at the Poly

Yachtsman at the Yacht club

Concouse Steakhouse at the Contemporary

 

[shoppingnut]

www.allearsnet.com has all the menu's with prices for the disney hotels. Also out on International Drive you have all the chain restaurants. The one that is a very good italian restaurant, that I have eaten at, is Christini's on off Sand Lake Rd in Dr. Phillips area, don't recall the prices, but here is there website http://www.christinis.com/. There is also a Morton's steakhouse there too.

The Grand Floridian Cafe is very good for dinner and moderately priced.

 

[lawyergirl77]

All of the suggestions on here are awesome, but if you're in the mood for getting a little goofy and for some insanity, go to the Whispering Canyon Café... Believe me, you won't miss the park shows at all!! :lol: