Originally Posted By jmishica I'm going in January and will be using the dining plan- just how far in advance should I make reservations and where exactly should I eat?
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider According to some on these boards you're already late in terms of reservations and should make them ASAP - I'm not sure how accurate the 6 months pre-visit thing is though.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 90 days and 60 days are the 2 benchmarks for sit down restaurants --depending on park or hotel based.....the only things that book out further than that are stuff like Hoop de Doo and the Luau - etc. So you're right on target to book some PS's -- - you can always alter them in the future if you change you mind-- etc. My guess is that most of January won't be overwhelmingly booked as the free dining package plans are expiring like now. Now as far as eating -- you will get a lot of help here from everyone: With soooo much to choose from it really depends on the type of food you like -- and how much you want to spend (or use up via the plan at each meal) - I will only list my favorite sit downs - -kinda a must do list for me when I go -- and you can compare to others who respond to get a sort of ranking: @ MK - Crystal Palace for Lunch or Dinner ( character)- excellent buffett - Pooh characters - Liberty Tree Inn -- I prefer lunch as it is non character ( dinner is character buffet) @ MGM - Brown Derby - I prefer lunch there, food is excellent ( try the grapefruit cake for desert ) - Prime Time Cafe - schtick is 50's - Mom waiting on tables- try the Chicken Pot Pie ( really ! ) @ EPCOT -- now this is difficult but I will cut the list down -- - Biergarten - music show and excellent buffet - very good value for lunch - Le Cellier - better for dinner IMHO - steaks and Maple Salmon good choices - as is beer soup with pretzels for app. - Rose & Crown for firework shows ( English Fare - or if not sitting for show- grab and go fish and chips ( and a yard of Guinness will make me happy all restaurants are pretty good there- if you pick any you will be fine @ AK - only sit down is Rainforest and we have 4 in Chicago - so I don;t eat there in WDW - - Flame Tree BBQ has much above average counter service food - try the ribs @ Downtown Disney - Wolfgang Pucks - try the pumpkin ravioli ( again really !) - Earl fo Sandwhich for counter service - beef and blue cheese sandwhich a winner @ resorts - California Grill is my favorite restaurant on the planet -- you are early enough to book at Wishes fireworks time -- if park closes at 9 ( most likeyl for January - book restaurant at 8:15 -- the view from there for fireworks great -- order terryaki filet --and a nice wine--mmmmmmmmmmmm - Olivia's @ Old Key West - excellent for lunch ( or breakfast) - lunch/dinner fare seafood and steaks & salads - lighter tasting- excellent - Character breakfast - Chef Mickey's if you have kids and they want to get in the Mickey spirit the first morning - Beach Club is you are looking for characters and best breakfast food - again many others - just my faves
Originally Posted By bigthunderranch I'm going in December and it has been pretty easy to get reservations.
Originally Posted By jmishica Thanks! I'm thinking the following: Ohana (hOw is it?) Coral reef (How is it?) Le Cellier Prime time cafe teppenaki Sushi I figure I should take advantage of the higher priced fare- save for Prime time- I loved that place. I'll have to pay an additional 30 bucks for the extra dining day, but so what!
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider I'd like to add Bongos to the list of great places to eat at. It's a Cuban steak house and it's delicious. The sweet plantains/platanos are sooooo good and their chimi-churri sauce on the steak is amazing. I'm not a big fan of steak but I love that place. We try to eat at Puck's and Bongos for true dining while we're down at WDW. When we're there our favorites are also Mama Melrose's at MGM, Liberty Tree for lunch at MK then DTD for dinner (sometimes) we like Askershaus at Norway (Last time we were there it was pre-princess I think) in EPCOT although Mexico and Italy have nice restaurants too, the two DTD restaurants (One on a night we go to UO) and Mythos at IOA is great.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Ohana (hOw is it?) Coral reef (How is it?) Le Cellier Prime time cafe teppenaki Sushi I figure I should take advantage of the higher priced fare- save for Prime time- I loved that place. I'll have to pay an additional 30 bucks for the extra dining day, but so what!< O'hana is a lot of fun- great at night especially if you can get a seat with ta view across the lake of the castle -- they bring the salad and appetizers to your table ( yummy)- and then all you can eat of skewers of Turkey/ pork/ beef and used to be tiger shrimp but they just replaced that with a Hawaiian sausage - whatever that is ? Maybe fallout from hurricane and shrimp shortages ? Coral Reef - I like the place, don;t get me wrong, just seems pricey ( if that's possible ) for what you get -- just IMHO.....I prefer the seafood at Blue Zoo ( Todd English's place in the Dolphin)- for that price. and when it comes to spending on meals, I am so there with you.....it is an integral part of our trip. Last year I had an AP for the first time ( I live in Chicago) - and added the Disney Dining Experience you can add to an AP ( +$50) - and you get 20% off all sit downs including alcohol.....
Originally Posted By jmishica OK- Made reservations today: Ohana Prime time for lunch Teppanyaki Le Cellier Morocco Beirgarten Ohana and Le Cellier were filling, but took care of it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I am not a big fan of Morocco ( mrs vbdad loves it) - but the rest are winners to me........
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I don't care to be attacked by seagulls while eating at the outside restaurant in Mexico at Epcot.
Originally Posted By Maxine76 OK. I am a Disney Dining Fanatic 1st & a Dining fanatic 2nd. There are 4 ways to judge a restaurant in terms of money spent as far as I am concerned...Presentation (of food) - Taste - Atmosphere - Service. I am an atmosphere person. Do what you will with my imput. Ohana (hOw is it?) If you want to be full with yummy food for a low cost & you can eat a large volume of food for your money at one sitting (aka - you are a buffet master) go here!!! Hoewever, the atmosphere is blah (sitting near the fire pit or not) & the service is just okay. Coral reef (How is it?) The food here is good (I say "good" because I am from New England & have a high standard of sea food). The service & presentation are excellent. The atmosphere can't be beat (except for maybe at San Angel in Mexico). I always go here on every WDW trip....for LUNCH. The prices for dinner are too high for what you get but for lunch, they are perfect. Don't miss the experience here. However, don't pay the dinner prices...go for lunch & you won't be dissapointed. Le Cellier A+++ on service, food & presentation. A on atmosphere - you are in a celler you know. Prime time cafe I know nothing of this place so I will not attempt to add info here. teppenaki Sushi The hibachi (I know that I spelled this wrong) part of the restaurant is tons of fun!!! I didn't eat any sushi here so I don't know much about there sushi bar. I can tell you the Cal Grill has AWESOME sushi & you should DEFINITELY go there for dinner to see the fireworks one night of your stay. You will leave feeling so enchanted. Another restaurant to consider is Jiko. I am a major fan. The food is cultural but not too ethnic that you don't know what you are ordering. The service, taste, atmosphere & presentation is A class. I have to say that my 3 favorite restaurant is WDW are Jiko, Le Cellier & California Grill. Please don't miss them for dinner!!! Hope this all helped. Happy dining! Maxine
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire No no not the outside part! The Inside is where all the fun atmosphere is!!
Originally Posted By danyoung >teppenaki Sushi< Sounds like you're gonna eat well! I just want to clarify that there are 3 different restaurants in the Japan pavilion. Yakitori House is in a building of its own, and serves fast food skewers of beef & chicken. Inside the main building are the Teppanyaki Dining Room and the Tempura Kiku. The Teppanyaki is like a Beni Hanna, where parties sit down around a grill and a show chef cooks for the group. The Tempura Kiku is more of a traditional sushi bar, and usually doesn't require reservations. I just didn't want you to be confused between the Teppanyaki and the sushi bar - they're not the same thing. Enjoy!
Originally Posted By beamerdog Of the better restaurants here are my favorites: California Grille Jiko Flying Fish - order the beef medium, yum Tepennaki(sp) has good food and can be lots of fun if you share your table with a sociable group. I find the sushi in Epcot to be dismal. The one time we had it, everything fell apart. The quality of the fish was average. And we are big sushi eaters not just at home, but when we travel, also.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 As hard as I have tried, I just cannot get into the whole sushi deal. Not that I hate it, I just don't prefer it to much else. Just my taste buds I guess...lots of my friends could go for lunch every day to a sushi bar...
Originally Posted By TiggerRulz O'hana and Le Cellier - my 2 favorite restaurants on property. I don't eat seafood so I don't mind they got rid of the skewers of shrimp (I think I read they added a shrimp appetizer though). Had had Le Cellier for lunch several times and then went for dinner on the last trip. Had the mushroom filet. YUM. Service there is always some of the best we have experienced on property. Next trip we have to do Cali Grill and Jiko. Can't wait and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Originally Posted By tinkerbell511 for a nice treat while watching the "wishes" firework show, you may want to drop by the Tollhouse cookie shop on Mainstreet! their ice cream sandwich is AMAZING!
