Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub SciFi is always the very first advanced dining reservation I make no matter what. It is very unique and fun experience for those of us that grew up with the drive in in the 60s and especially for those that did not because the theme is very well done. I wish it was at DL or DCA! The loop includes a lot of cartoons and the funny sic fi robots from that era. It also includes the St. Louis ZOO that I grew up with. Chimpanzees performing in a band. I am always surprised cause my brothers and sisters should be in the audience from that clip. I love the hamburgers and the vanilla coke and onion rings. . That is my standard order. I like to recommend the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney and Ghiradelli for the whipped cream bowl. ALways have to have the turkey dinner at the Liberty Tree for lunch. Better than Thanksgiving. I also like to make a reservation on those long days at the MK. Late lunch or early dinner at the Plaza Inn on Main Street. Very refreshing to just sit down with the family and revitalize. They still serve a maltshake in the metal container so it is almost a double but the banana splits look mighty good. I do not like fancy food just the basics. Be sure to check out the Prime Time with a walk-in. The waiting area is set up to look like a 50s living room with the old black and white television sets. I think it also has a continuous loop of black and white daytime tv. You have a lot to look forward to. Thanks for letting us help you with the planning!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Yes, there is just something really fun about the Sci-Fi... I can't explain just what it is, but it is there.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Ghiradelli's....found that in downtown DisneyWorld last visit...... best desserts ever..... that place was packed.
Originally Posted By tashajilek If you are looking for a Blue Bayou feel then the Mexican restaurant in Epcot would be a good choice. I will eat there next time even though we are not that huge on Mexican food. I cant remember the name, is it San Angel? The best Disney restaurant I have eaten at was Saana at the Animal Kingdom hotel. I had no idea that the restaurant has huge glass windows and there are all sorts of animals right beside you as you eat. You guys might not like Aftican/ Indian style food though.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Unfortunately probably not Tash. I have a family of very picky eater, including myself! Sounds amazing though! I'll have to check out their menu. Sooooo many choices, it's crazy!!!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip The atmosphere at the San Angell Inn is probably the best of any Epcot restaurant. With the darkened restaurant overlooking the Mexican village square on one side and the "River of Time" on the other, it is a very lovely setting... one of the best at WDW. Anyone should experience it a time or two. Once you've had the experience, I'm not so sure. I'm not fond of the elbow-to-elbow seating, or the (in my mind) over-priced food that seems to have diminished in quality over the years. It used to be a "must do" for me but now, not so much. Of course if you are on the DDP you don't have to worry about the expense, and it is certainly worth trying if you have not been there before.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've commented on various WDW restaurants (pro and con) and figured I should give a list of my favorite WDW table service restaurants. These are NOT the most popular restaurants, just my personal favorites. Your mileage may vary. MAGIC KINGDOM Liberty Tree Tavern. Good food, comfortable setting. ANIMAL KINGDOM Yak & Yeti... in my opinion one of WDW's best. This is the Yak & Yeti table service restaurant - NOT the Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes (counter service). Tusker House... although it is a buffet, I am including it. The food is excellent... in my opinion just as good as the highly rated and more expensive Boma buffet at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. DISNEY STUDIOS Sci-Fi Dine In... Decent food; a whole lot of fun. Hollywood Brown Derby... In my opinion one of WDW's best. Great setting, unsurpassed service, excellent food. This requires two DDP table service credits and has become so expensive that I rarely go there anymore for anything except appetizers and dessert (which actually makes for a darned fine lunch). EPCOT Nine Dragons Restaurant... lovely surroundings, tables are not crammed together, food is very good. It used to be criticized for high prices, but with the price increases at the other Epcot restaurants, Nine Dragons is now quite reasonable. Restaurant Marrakesh... seems to be a love it or hate it kind of place. I love it. Once again, a lovely setting. During dinner they have live belly-dancing performances (strictly G-rated) - fun for the kids. The food is differently spiced, but not highly spiced. If you are open to new flavors I think it is an excellent place. It is higher priced than some Epcot restaurants, but again on the DDP that would make no difference. Biergarten... this is another buffet but a very good one. They have a wide variety of well-prepared food - almost anyone could find something they like. Fun atmosphere with live entertainment. Some people don't like it because you are seated at long tables with other guests. I've never found that to be a problem. At times they keep to themselves and you keep to yours. At other times our neighbors are talkative (and INTERESTING) and I've had some of the most enjoyable dinners I've ever had at Epcot. RESORT HOTELS 'Ohana at the Polynesian... it was a favorite 20 years ago and still is. That has to tell you something. Waiters come around with grilled meats on skewers... steak, chicken, pork loin and shrimp. You can have as much of anything as you care eat. They keep coming around with the skewers until you tell them no more! Fun and games for children, especially during the earlier dining hours. The setting is one of WDW's best... a wall of windows overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon with a great view of the Magic Kingdom in the distance. During the nightly fireworks they dim the lights and play the music that accompanies the show. I don't usually like this phrase, but PURE DISNEY MAGIC. A great way to either start or end your WDW vacation. After all these years it is still a must do for me (my daughter had her wedding reception dinner there). Reasonably priced for what you get. This is one of WDW's hardest to get reservations - BOOK EARLY. Turf Club Bar and Grill at Saratoga Springs... I don't know, I just like the place. Off the beaten path, comfortable dining room, good menu with well prepared food, good service. Not a jaw-dropping dining experience, but an enjoyable, comfortable place to eat. Well, that's it... just my opinion, nothing else. I would love to hear other comments though - either pro or con.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Coral Reef at Epcot.......chicken and seafood .... somebody might have to help me out here to be able to give a better description.....I have dined here twice ever. While you dine....you are facing a wall that is literally a gigantic tank of water with fish and people swimming around in it... Kids love it....and it really is fascinating to watch... We asked to sit up front and got to and swimmers inside of it kept coming up to the glass to wave to Tarik (my son)
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Coral Reef is on the dining plan also and I would for sure reserve it if I decided I wanted to dine there.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I will definitely be making reservations as soon as I possibly can. Thanks for taking the time to give me some ideas. Now just having time to do it all!
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Also the new place in Fantasy Land...Be Our Guest.... Reserve that one also if you choose it" Reserve it the first minute you can. Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge has stuff for kids (hobby horse racing etc.). "Restaurant Marrakesh... seems to be a love it or hate it kind of place. I love it. Once again, a lovely setting. During dinner they have live belly-dancing performances (strictly G-rated) - fun for the kids. The food is differently spiced, but not highly spiced. If you are open to new flavors I think it is an excellent place. It is higher priced than some Epcot restaurants, but again on the DDP that would make no difference." I really like Restaurant Marrakesh too. The counter service in Morocco (Tangierine Cafe) is quite good too. Use your snack credits in Epcot. Between the pastries at the France & Norway pavilions and the caramel shop at the German pavilions, there's lots of good stuff. My restaurant recommendation is Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (which is worth checking out regardless). Then do the night viewing of the animals. Oh, another restaurant I love is Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. Great entertainment too.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Oh, another restaurant I love is Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. Great entertainment too.>> THIS!! I forgot to mention my pick for Downtown Disney. It is now on my "must do" list. My wife's husband chose Raglan Road for the groom's dinner when they were married in Orlando. I loved it and have dined there every WDW visit since.
Originally Posted By danyoung >It had been a long, hot day in the park and my late wife Rosie just wanted a nice quite dinner. That is not going to happen at Prime Time...< I had a similar experience. My "cousin" didn't want me to put my elbows on the table (a stupid rule that I've never adhered to). After about the third time she got downright nasty about it. I was tired, and just wanted a nice dinner in a fun atmosphere. Instead I got verbal abuse. The problem isn't with the schtick - it's that some of them just don't know when to stop or how to read their guests to see when enough is enough. I won't be back any time soon.
Originally Posted By seafairy1622 I love the Coral Reef. The food is really good and I love the huge aquarium there. We have reservation there for this June. I am excited to see the Be Our Guest restaurant too. We have that reserved too. My dining reservations somehow got switched to the week before we were going to be there. I don't know how that happened but the only one that was correct was Be Our Guest. I was able to get all the places I had booked after a week of checking on line everyday except for T Rex. We ate at T Rex last year and it was good. My 3 year old grandson would love the dinosaurs.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Can you make restaurant reservations without having a booked vacation or buying tickets?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I'm pretty late to the party, but here are some thoughts anyway. >>>Anyone have an opinion on the SciFi Restaurant in Hollywood Studios?<<< Be aware that even though Sci Fi is really fun, it's not for all kids. I took my son there almost 10 years ago, and although as a 7 YO he was very brave and adventurous about wild rides, he was easily spooked by atmosphere. For instance, he HATED Tower of Terror. Not because of the ride system which didn't phase him at all, but because of the creepy old hotel atmosphere and the "doo, doo doo... doo, doo, doo" music. He was not overly thrilled by some of the old monster movies being shown on the screens at Sci Fi. So over all he didn't enjoy the restaurant and has not wanted to return on our other WDW visits. Ironically he never had a problem with HM or Pirates. As for the dining plan... unless you really want to spend a good amount of your time and energy coordinating, planning and getting to the various restaurants it may not be worth it. Especially with picky eaters. If burgers, sandwiches, salads and the like are going to be the norm you may find eating counter service most days with only the occasional sit down dining more to your liking. And frankly, unless you order sodas and desserts with your all your meals the math doesn't add up in favor of the DDP, particularly with the Quick Service Plan. I've actually done the math for us looking at the daily cost of DDP and what we would realistically order and eat and other than when we did it before he turned 10 it really didn't shake out to be worth it. I will say that if you plan on doing several character meals the math DOES work, unless you do Cindy's.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance The thing is we would probably do several character meals. IF they offer free dining plan. If they don't offer free dining, then I might decide against getting the dining plan. I'll have to find the prices to the restaurants we would want to eat at and just add it all up to see what I come up with. What about counter service choices. Are there any that stand out as way better in atmosphere and/or quality?
