Advice needed - non-park restaurants

Jacova · 08-01-2003

Ok, here's the deal. We are arriving in FL on a Sat night, which will be the day before our "cruise" actually starts. We don't want to waste a park day, but I would like some place to eat that is Disney themed to start off our trip. Either at a resort, Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk. Oh, and I don't want anything that is too pricey either.

So what is everyone's favorite restaurant with good food, good value and a good theme? Does such a place exist?

I'd appreciate everyone's suggestions! :)

goofyguy1958 · 08-01-2003

One of the places I and my family always like to go to when in WDW is the Rainforest Cafe -- there is one in Downtown Disney and one at the entrance to Animal Kingdom (you do not need to enter the park to dine). Cost is reasonable, food is good and you cannot beat the atmosphere -- if you have children, they will love it!

**DisneyTeacher** · 08-01-2003

Take a look at Chef Mickey's. I think it is a fun way to get in the Disney spirit at the start of a trip. I don't know what too pricey is for you but I think Chef Mickey's is a blast and not too expensive.

jmouse · 08-01-2003

Disney themed to me means a character meal. I would pick either Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary or Cinderella's Gala Feast at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.

Jacova · 08-01-2003

I don't need to do a character meal. What I mean by themed is just something that has a Disney sort of spirit, as apposed to eating at Planet Hollywood or another non-Disney owned restaurant.

Chef Mickey's is a good suggestion. I have eaten there though and want to try something new!

Oh, and we are 2 adults (though kids at heart!)

jmouse · 08-01-2003

How about Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Or Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge?

crystalrp · 08-01-2003

When we were there in May we thought Whispering Canyon was really kind of pricey.

**mickey** · 08-01-2003

How about O'Hana in the Polynesian. Great place to start your trip. If you time it right, you can finish dinner, and then see the fireworks and/or the water parade from the Poly beack.

dab · 08-01-2003

I second both Ohana's and Rainforest Cafe. They are both on our must do list every trip.

Park Hopper · 08-01-2003

Big River Grille and Brewing Works at Boardwalk might be a good choice. Big River Grille isn't too pricey, the food is good, and you'd have the Disney ambiance of Boardwalk. An after-dinner stroll down the boardwalk would be fun, too. Check out the Big River Grille menu.

**DisneyTeacher** · 08-01-2003

Two adults, no kids, I would go with 'Ohana then. It is one of my favorite WDW restaurants. It is a must do for us every time we go. It can be so romantic, ask for a table by the window, you can see the castle in the distance. Like Mickey said, after dinner walk out to the beach to watch the water parade go by. Very romantic.

trishb · 08-01-2003

O'hana is a great choice...but I would choose the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. It is right across the Lake from the Boardwalk and a few steps away from the back entrance to Epcot. If you time it right, you can enjoy Illuminations near France and walk to the Boardwalk for a night of shopping and fun.

Happy planning!

mickaholic4077 · 08-01-2003

I highly recommend Boma,because on Saturday nights they have ribs which are to-die-for!!! Also,the Zebra dome desserts are the greatest!

Captgoodguy · 08-02-2003

Jacova - sounds like we have a lot in common. We are also just two adults that are big kids at heart!

These are some great suggestions. I must confess that I was not aware of some of these ideas and will be using them on my next trip!

Thanks everybody!

DisneyAnne · 08-02-2003

Disney-themed? Off-site? You may want to check out the restaurants in The Dolphin and The Swan. They have character meals that are a couple of $$ cheaper than the resort or park meals. They also have non-character meals. The buildings are BEAUTIFUL and have a little of the theming in them. Plus, if you are a Disney Club member, you can get 20% off your bill. :)

08-01-2003	#1 (permalink)
Jacova Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 47	Advice needed - non-park restaurants Ok, here's the deal. We are arriving in FL on a Sat night, which will be the day before our "cruise" actually starts. We don't want to waste a park day, but I would like some place to eat that is Disney themed to start off our trip. Either at a resort, Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk. Oh, and I don't want anything that is too pricey either. So what is everyone's favorite restaurant with good food, good value and a good theme? Does such a place exist? I'd appreciate everyone's suggestions! :)

08-01-2003	#2 (permalink)
goofyguy1958 Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 267	One of the places I and my family always like to go to when in WDW is the Rainforest Cafe -- there is one in Downtown Disney and one at the entrance to Animal Kingdom (you do not need to enter the park to dine). Cost is reasonable, food is good and you cannot beat the atmosphere -- if you have children, they will love it! __________________ Completed the 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon in honor of Lizzette Victory Hartz and raised over $5,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the process.

08-01-2003	#3 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,310	Take a look at Chef Mickey's. I think it is a fun way to get in the Disney spirit at the start of a trip. I don't know what too pricey is for you but I think Chef Mickey's is a blast and not too expensive. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 238 days 6 hours 23 minutes

08-01-2003	#7 (permalink)
crystalrp Mouse Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: skowhegan, maine Posts: 1,235	When we were there in May we thought Whispering Canyon was really kind of pricey. __________________ 1972~off site 1982~Contemporary 1998~Port Orleans 1999~Caribbean Beach/Disney Magic 2001~Dixie Landings/Disney Wonder 2003~Wilderness Lodge/Disney Wonder 2004~POFQ and AKL

08-01-2003	#8 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	How about O'Hana in the Polynesian. Great place to start your trip. If you time it right, you can finish dinner, and then see the fireworks and/or the water parade from the Poly beack. __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > WDW Restaurants
Advice needed - non-park restaurants

08-01-2003	#4 (permalink)
jmouse Mouse Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,370	Disney themed to me means a character meal. I would pick either Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary or Cinderella's Gala Feast at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.

08-01-2003	#5 (permalink)
Jacova Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 47	I don't need to do a character meal. What I mean by themed is just something that has a Disney sort of spirit, as apposed to eating at Planet Hollywood or another non-Disney owned restaurant. Chef Mickey's is a good suggestion. I have eaten there though and want to try something new! Oh, and we are 2 adults (though kids at heart!)

08-01-2003	#6 (permalink)
jmouse Mouse Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,370	How about Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Or Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge?

08-01-2003	#9 (permalink)
dab Perpetual Trip Planner Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,604	I second both Ohana's and Rainforest Cafe. They are both on our must do list every trip. __________________ http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/timer...8lwbwx9enz.png

08-01-2003	#10 (permalink)
Park Hopper Mouse Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,255	Big River Grille and Brewing Works at Boardwalk might be a good choice. Big River Grille isn't too pricey, the food is good, and you'd have the Disney ambiance of Boardwalk. An after-dinner stroll down the boardwalk would be fun, too. Check out the Big River Grille menu. __________________ 30 Minutes from the Mouse

08-01-2003	#11 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,310	Two adults, no kids, I would go with 'Ohana then. It is one of my favorite WDW restaurants. It is a must do for us every time we go. It can be so romantic, ask for a table by the window, you can see the castle in the distance. Like Mickey said, after dinner walk out to the beach to watch the water parade go by. Very romantic. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 238 days 6 hours 23 minutes

08-01-2003	#12 (permalink)
trishb Mouse Meister Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,350	O'hana is a great choice...but I would choose the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. It is right across the Lake from the Boardwalk and a few steps away from the back entrance to Epcot. If you time it right, you can enjoy Illuminations near France and walk to the Boardwalk for a night of shopping and fun. Happy planning! __________________ Trish

08-01-2003	#13 (permalink)
mickaholic4077 Currently in Timeout! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 90 miles from The Mick!!!!! Posts: 6,181	I highly recommend Boma,because on Saturday nights they have ribs which are to-die-for!!! Also,the Zebra dome desserts are the greatest!

08-02-2003	#14 (permalink)
Captgoodguy Big Cheese Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 516	Jacova - sounds like we have a lot in common. We are also just two adults that are big kids at heart! These are some great suggestions. I must confess that I was not aware of some of these ideas and will be using them on my next trip! Thanks everybody! __________________ A former and future Annual Passholder from Indiana that has visited too many times to list here. Proud parent of Jingles The Wonder Dog.

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08-02-2003	#15 (permalink)
DisneyAnne Palmetto Pixie Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,148	Disney-themed? Off-site? You may want to check out the restaurants in The Dolphin and The Swan. They have character meals that are a couple of $$ cheaper than the resort or park meals. They also have non-character meals. The buildings are BEAUTIFUL and have a little of the theming in them. Plus, if you are a Disney Club member, you can get 20% off your bill. :) __________________