Opinions on non-park TS lunch?

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Long-time lurker, first time poster.

For my 30th birthday, my husband and I booked dinner at Victoria & Albert's, then an overnight at the Polynesian; I figured if I have to turn 30, I might as well do it on my terms at my favorite resort after a fancy-pants meal.

I'm thinking about booking a lunch reservation the following day before leaving (add a little extra magic to the short visit). This is certainly not my first visit, but the first time I'm going to WDW and not going to the parks, so I've not had lunch at a non-park restaurant in recent memory

Considering the following lunch options:
- Kona Cafe (I know folks rave about breakfast but haven't found many lunch opinions)
- Captain's Grille (really enjoyed our low-key breakfast here last trip)
- Sanaa (enjoyed dinner, animals are cool enough to look at but I'm not an "animal person")
- ???

If anyone has any opinions on these -- or any other non-park, non-buffet lunch restaurants -- your input would be appreciated (mostly appreciated by my husband so I don't keep asking him his opinion; we are a mixed marriage: a Disney wife and an apathetic husband).

 

[sxeensweet]

Out of those I would pick Sanaa hands down. Kidani is our fave resort with a beautiful atmosphere, and loved our lunch at Sanaa. Also an option is any restaurant at Disney Springs like Raglan Road, Morimoto, Boathouse etc. All of those are great choices.

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Out of those I would pick Sanaa hands down. Kidani is our fave resort with a beautiful atmosphere, and loved our lunch at Sanaa. Also an option is any restaurant at Disney Springs like Raglan Road, Morimoto, Boathouse etc. All of those are great choices.

Thanks I have been leaning towards Sanaa

 

[sxeensweet]

Thanks I have been leaning towards Sanaa

Your very welcome!

 

[lostpro9het]

Our favorites:
Sanaa
Il Mulino
Yachtsman
Jiko
The Wave has really good food too but can be over run with families and their screaming kids.

 

[slappy magoo]

Thanks I have been leaning towards Sanaa

Will you have a car? Will you have to rely on Disney transportation to get anywhere?

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Our favorites:
Sanaa
Il Mulino
Yachtsman
Jiko
The Wave has really good food too but can be over run with families and their screaming kids.

Thanks - Jiko is fantastic; was my 2nd choice for birthday dinner if we didn't snag the V&A reservation.
I'm definitely trying the Yachtsman our next trip (won't be open til dinner time and we'll be gone by then and couldn't justify going there the day after V&A).
Thanks for the heads up on screaming kids at The Wave!

 

[sxeensweet]

Our favorites:
Sanaa
Il Mulino
Yachtsman
Jiko
The Wave has really good food too but can be over run with families and their screaming kids.

Some of those are only open for dinner like Jiko and they wanted lunch options. That's why I didn't mention Jiko that is a fave of ours. I would definately recommend Jiko or Cali Grill if it was dinner options and many more places. Lol

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Will you have a car? Will you have to rely on Disney transportation to get anywhere?

Yes, we'll have a car (but we've done resort-to-park-to-resort transportation hopping for dinners on previous trips)

 

[slappy magoo]

Our favorites:

The Wave has really good food too but can be over run with families and their screaming kids.

Weird, we've eaten lunch there a few times, and we've always been the only people there with kids. Maybe not at dinner, but at lunch. But hey, it's Disney, stands to reason screaming kids can happen anywhere at any time. I've seen kids acting like total turds at Cali Grill (thankfully not mine)

 

[slappy magoo]

Yes, we'll have a car (but we've done resort-to-park-to-resort transportation hopping for dinners on previous trips)

Sanaa looks like a good choice, as would be The Wave. Other suggestions - Raglan Road (maybe with a side trip to Ghirardelli for dessert; seems like the OP won't be on the dining plan so hitting a second place for dessert wouldn't be an issue). Or maybe Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe so you can do a little shopping at the Springs before splitting? I like Kona for lunch but like it for breakfast more (maybe you can get the last breakfast reservation?). I know the OP doesn't want a buffet, but going to Trail's End would afford you some time wandering around Fort Wilderness, which would be nice. If it's Sunday, the brunch at Cali Grill could be nice.

 

[mouse_luv]

Grand Floridian Cafe. There's also a wide range of choices at Disney Springs.

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Sanaa looks like a good choice, as would be The Wave. Other suggestions - Raglan Road (maybe with a side trip to Ghirardelli for dessert; seems like the OP won't be on the dining plan so hitting a second place for dessert wouldn't be an issue). Or maybe Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe so you can do a little shopping at the Springs before splitting? I like Kona for lunch but like it for breakfast more (maybe you can get the last breakfast reservation?). I know the OP doesn't want a buffet, but going to Trail's End would afford you some time wandering around Fort Wilderness, which would be nice. If it's Sunday, the brunch at Cali Grill could be nice.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply - we were just at Raglan a couple months ago, looking to try something different. Not sure I'll be able to lure the hubby to Disney Springs on a potential crowded Late-May Friday (we're normally off-season, mid-week WDW visitors), but the lure Giradelli drinking chocolate might just do the trick.

I've toyed with Kona for breakfast, but I don't think we'll be hungry yet after a 7pm V&A dinner. Same reason why I'm not looking to do a buffet - just don't think we'd get our money's worth.

 

[slappy magoo]

Not sure I'll be able to lure the hubby to Disney Springs on a potential crowded Late-May Friday (we're normally off-season, mid-week WDW visitors), but the lure Giradelli drinking chocolate might just do the trick.

Does Disney Springs get that crowded on a non-summer weekday at lunch time? I mean I'm sure it's not dead, but does it get so crowded that you want to stay away, compared to say a weekend or at night when locals might go down?

Few occasions when we've stayed at Saratoga, we've gone to Wolfgang Puck express for breakfast and we're practically the only people there. That's why I wonder how bad Raglan or other sit-down restaurants would be for a weekday lunch. Especially if you do an early lunch. Not like I'd expect someone to get up early on their birthday when they're not going to a theme park or anything, haha. But if you woke up whenever you woke up, opted for either no breakfast or something simple like a bagel (after all, you might still be full from V&A), maybe go to the Springs around 10 - I think that's when most of the shops open, but I could be wrong - be a looky-loo for an hour or two, then go to RR or WP, or Bongo's or other Springs sit-downs. And then this way you're on the east side of property; so unless you live West of WDW, you'll deal with less traffic getting out when it's time to go.

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Grand Floridian Cafe. There's also a wide range of choices at Disney Springs.

Thanks, I'd considered Grand Floridian Cafe but wanted to visit another resort or location since we'll be there for dinner the previous night. Menu looked good though - would definitely try on another trip.

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Does Disney Springs get that crowded on a non-summer weekday at lunch time? I mean I'm sure it's not dead, but does it get so crowded that you want to stay away, compared to say a weekend or at night when locals might go down?

Few occasions when we've stayed at Saratoga, we've gone to Wolfgang Puck express for breakfast and we're practically the only people there. That's why I wonder how bad Raglan or other sit-down restaurants would be for a weekday lunch. Especially if you do an early lunch. Not like I'd expect someone to get up early on their birthday when they're not going to a theme park or anything, haha. But if you woke up whenever you woke up, opted for either no breakfast or something simple like a bagel (after all, you might still be full from V&A), maybe go to the Springs around 10 - I think that's when most of the shops open, but I could be wrong - be a looky-loo for an hour or two, then go to RR or WP, or Bongo's or other Springs sit-downs. And then this way you're on the east side of property; so unless you live West of WDW, you'll deal with less traffic getting out when it's time to go.

Gotcha, I was probably a little over-cautious regarding the Disney Springs crowds that time of year. I'll have to check out some of the Springs options again. Thanks again!

 

[slappy magoo]

Gotcha, I was probably a little over-cautious regarding the Disney Springs crowds that time of year. I'll have to check out some of the Springs options again. Thanks again!

No problem. Bear in mind, you COULD be right and the Springs might be packed on a Friday morning or early afternoon. But I'm figuring, if you get there as it opens, it shouldn't be too busy yet, it's not like the theme parks where everyone wants to get there before opening. And if you make reservations for wherever you wind up dining, being crowded shouldn't be an issue either, because you're booked.

 

[slappy magoo]

Another thought - I know it dos not evoke the romance and sophistication of V&A...but howabout Whispering Canyon Cafe? The food's pretty good, there's an element of a fun show to it with the wait staff often acting like lunatics. And if you give yourself some travel time, you can always get there by taking the monorail to either MK or Contemporary, then boating to WL, and enjoy that view.

 

[ChrisPyKeeno]

Another thought - I know it dos not evoke the romance and sophistication of V&A...but howabout Whispering Canyon Cafe? The food's pretty good, there's an element of a fun show to it with the wait staff often acting like lunatics. And if you give yourself some travel time, you can always get there by taking the monorail to either MK or Contemporary, then boating to WL, and enjoy that view.

I'll have to look into it - the hubs isn't much into antics, but it's my birthday so...

 

[mouse_luv]

Thanks, I'd considered Grand Floridian Cafe but wanted to visit another resort or location since we'll be there for dinner the previous night. Menu looked good though - would definitely try on another trip.

If you'd like to try the DS area w/o the crowds there's Olivia's at the OKW resort.

Otherwise there are plenty of places to dine on the Boardwalk like Trattoria al Forno, Big River, etc