Rating the best of Disneyworld dining (part 2)

This post is dedicated to the table service meals I feel are best when dining at Disneyworld. This list is comprised from many meals consumed at Disney over our 35 past vacations here in 20 years. Some places are ranked because of atmosphere, some food, and occasionally you get the best of both, so here goes.

1. Without a doubt the best meal for a 1 table service option in all of Disneyworld dining is Ohana's at the Polynesian resort. This resort is a short monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom and worth the trip out of the park. It is a wonderfully relaxing Polynesian style meal with tons of great food and the themeing of the restaurant is spot on. Your meal starts out with appetizers in bowls which include noodles, salad, wings, and Welcome Bread. Then the meal starts coming out in skewers which include shrimp, steak, turkey, and pork and they will continue to bring you meat until you explode or quit whichever comes first. Then they bring out the bread pudding with bananas foster and ice cream which you will say no thank you until you taste it and then you shovel it in anyway! My biggest tip here is if your kids will not eat this food ask for kids meals. They will bring you out a huge plate of grilled cheese, chicken, fries, hamburger, or whatever and your kids will not go hungry. During the course of your meal there will be someone playing traditional Polynesian music, teaching the kids to luau, and they even have coconut races for the kids. It is a great family experience for the atmosphere and the food and that is why it is number 1 on my list.

2. The next option is going to have to be Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. We have only done breakfast (many times) but we have heard that dinner is good as well. It is a buffet so everyone especially the kids will find something to eat and as far as buffet's go it is pretty good. The stars of the show are the characters which include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto who come to your table while you eat. Each character has a rotation that they follow so you do not have to stand in line or worry about some other family cutting in on your action. They will sign autographs, take pictures, and interact with your family which is a memory you never will forget.

3. This slot was a little bit of a toss up but keeping the kids in mind I went with Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom. This is another buffet which is pretty decent and is also a character meal which is fun. There is not really a special theme or anything exotic about the place just food and characters. This is a must do for us each trip because my kids love Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and most of all Piglet. Once again great character interaction with pictures and autographs. These characters also have a designated rotation and will hit every table at least once in an hour so by the time you have eaten all the characters have come to you. We have eaten both lunch and dinner and both were similar just slightly different food options for dinner but the same of everything else.

4. My kids love the Coral Reef at Epcot because of the scenery. It is beside the large fish aquarium and the kids meal comes with a laminated picture of the fish that are in the tank. My kids love trying to find all the fish especially the turtles and sharks. The food is actually pretty good and most reviews on this place are great or awful. We have been numerous times and never had bad service or food. The typical Disneyworld dining menu of steaks, a little seafood, and some other various chef specialties. The desserts are fabulous! The kids meals come with an appetizer, entree', and dessert which is usually a build your own sundae.

5. The last spot goes to the Akershus restaurant in the Norway pavilion in Epcot. This is a 1 table service meal that has princesses come to your table. The ambiance is not as good as Cinderella's castle but it is 1 table service credit and I think the food is better. We have eaten both breakfast and dinner here and enjoyed both. The princesses come to your table and can include Jasmine, Aurora, Belle, Mulan, Snow White, and Aeriel with legs and they are awesome with the kids. Of course I have two girls and if you only have boys somewhere else may be a better option for your family. The meals choices include a few traditional Norwegian dishes and most are seafood based. You also get a cold food appetizer bar with deli meats, cheeses, salads, and seafood which is really good. or dessert they bring you the Royal Chef's dessert plate which is sampling of all they have to offer and you can have as much as you want of anything you like.

I hope this is helpful when making your reservations for Disneyworld dining and remember all of these recommendations are based with children in mind. My next post will be my top five 1 table service meals without children. Remember on the Disney dining plan that these are large meals and to really utilize the value of what you pay for do your Table service meal for dinner, counter service for lunch and your snack for breakfast or anytime of the day!

Rating the best of Disneyworld dining for kids(part 1)

I thought the best approach to this is assume everyone will be at every park at least once on their trip as well as visiting Downtown Disney at least once. That being assumed this post will strictly focus on what we consider the best of the counter service options in all of Disneyworld dining with kids. I will also give a short description as to why those are our choices and to some surprise it is not always because of the food. Strange isn't it?

1. The absolute best counter service Disneyworld dining has to offer is at Downtown Disney and it is called Wolfgang Puck Express! This is without a doubt the best quality and selection of any counter service restaurant on property. If you are on the dining plan (regular or quick service) this is a not to be missed stop. The portions are large and the quality is exceptional.

2. For number two I am going to have to go with Sunshine Seasons inside The Land Pavilion at Epcot. The food is always OK but the selection resembles a small food court so everyone can find something that appeals to them. This makes the Disneyworld dining experience much less stressed when one family member wants one thing and someone wants something else. For the most part the variety is diverse enough to appeal to everyone.

3. Number three is at Magic Kingdom and is a tie between Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Ray's. Columbia Harbor House is a favorite of ours for one main reason "SWEET TEA" and it is about the only place Disneyworld dining offers it sweetened. The fact that they have a pretty good salad, sandwich, and of course fish and chips is a nice option from traditional park food. Cosmic Ray's has a large selection with lots of seating. This little alien guy plays the piano and sings while you eat which is annoying to me but the kids love it. If you are on the dining plan you could actually share food here and save some meal credits for later especially if you choose the ribs and chicken. This is usually enough to feed two adults and two kids while only using 2 counter service meal credits!

4. For this slot I am going with Flametree BBQ at the Animal Kingdom. This is actually a pretty good meal and once again strays from traditional theme park food. They serve up BBQ ribs, chicken, and pork with the sides also. The seating is very relaxed among all the trees and natural wildlife which is also very appealing. It is kind of like a midday break from all the Disney craziness.

5. For the final spot I am going way out of the box on this one. The Backlot Express at Hollywood Studios is another good stop off point because of its location. The only reason this place is in my top five is because it is the only place we have found where there is a place to get free refills. This might sound silly but on a hot day a free refill to take with you as you leave the restaurant is priceless. (Not to mention that a coke is 2.50). The food is typical fast food burgers and chicken nuggets but the kids seem to love it but, please do not go expecting to be blown away by the food!


In closing I would like to mention that without kids walking around World Showcase in Epcot can be a real treat. Each pavilion offers a counter service and for those who enjoy trying things this is a great option for you! You can choose Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, German, Moroccan, United Kingdom, or French as a counter service meal or snack! Just another terrific option in the world of Disneyworld dining!

Disney dining plans

1. There are three main types of Disney dining plan options available. The first is a relative new comer called the quick service dining plan and includes two quick service meals, two snacks, and a refillable resort mug for each person in your party. The cost is set at $30 for adults and $9 a day for kids and since there is no table service meals on your plan their is no tipping involved. The two counter service meals include one Entree or one complete Combo meal, dessert (lunch/dinner) or One juice (breakfast) & One single non-alcoholic beverage. Having been before this option seems reasonable although I am not sure if the adult meals would really be much of a cost savings from just paying out of pocket?

2. The basic Disney dining plan is what my family always chooses! This will get you one table service meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per day for each member in your party. A counter service meal can be described just like the quick service dining plan but here you only get one. The table service includes entree and dessert (lunch or dinner only), or full buffet, 1 juice (breakfast only), non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast). 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet. Always remember that advanced reservations for Disney dining is always recommended and can be made 180 days in advance. The cost of this plan is $40 for adult and $11 per child per day and does not include gratuities at the table service meal. We always choose this option for two reasons: We love the food at Disney and we need down time and this the the perfect opportunity to do just that!

3. The Deluxe Dining plan is crazy amounts of food and time needed to plan it out! This plan offers your choice from select Walt Disney World Resort table-service and quick-service restaurants for all 3 of your meals. In other words you could conceivable have 3 table service meals a day which is crazy! The best way to utilize this option is to make one of your meals a 2 table service dining option thus getting a sample of the best Disney dining options available. The cost of the Deluxe Disney Dining plan is $72 per adult and $21 per child per night for every member of your party and does not include gratuity which could run you upwards of $75 per day. Of course you also get 2 snacks per person per day as well as a resort refillable mug. Just remember that advance dining reservations are recommended and can be made 180 days in advance, especially for more popular Disney dining establishments. This Disney dining option seems perfect for couples on a honeymoon, anniversary, or special getaway and not very appealing to kids who would rather be playing than eating.

In future posts I will give the low down on what are the best value and best meals for each category including counter service, table service, and 2 table service Disney dining options.

Disneyworld dining tips

These tips will not necessarily save you money but lots of time and will be really fun for everyone in the family. Disneyworld dining is a real treat for people who live on a strict budget the whole year and really go all out on vacation. There are so many options and a wide range of costs anyone can find a great place to eat!

1. Always make advanced dining reservations through Disney before your trip for any place you might a nice sit down (Disney refers to it as table service) meal. The high demand places such as character dining and Le cellier for example fill up quickly. You can now make reservations 180 days in advance of your check in day. You will need to call at that 180 day mark to get the really hard places. The best advice I have for this is call and make the reservations at the end of your trip for the castle so it is like getting 180+ to get those reservations.

2. If you want a little less stress we always choose the Disney dining plan not because we save substantial money but the food in essence is pre-paid. This is so much less stressful because if the kids don't eat well it feels less overwhelming. Plus it frees us up to select meals we probably would never choose under the out of pocket option. Disney dining plan has pros and cons but for us it is simpler and we do save a little money but less stress in crucial to having a good Disneyworld vacation.

3. If you have kids do at least a couple of character meals in your Disneyworld dining experience. This is a table service meal where the characters (which you will know ahead of time) come to your table for pictures and autographs while you eat. We try to do the princess characters (Norway in Epcot or Cinderella's castle) because to see those characters in the park are very long lines so it saves time and it's fun for kids. We also usually do a character meal with Mickey, Minnie, and others also because of time savings and everyone has a blast. These meals are not cheap if you pay out of pocket but they are crucial to maximize your time especially if it your first visit.

4 Most places have a decent kids menu but do not be afraid to ask for something not on the menu. No grilled cheese on the Disney dining option then ask your server and Disney will do its best to accommodate you, we do this all the time! Most counter service (fast food) offer a modified kids meal for $5-6 so the price is pretty reasonable. All meals come with two sides such as applesauce, grapes, or carrot sticks but in tiny print on the menu you can substitute for fries and a cookie so read carefully. You can also substitute soda for milk or juice is you like just tell the Disney employee.

5. My last tip seems so ridiculous but it has two parts so read carefully. When you go to order at a counter service meal there will be 5-10 registers to order from and you can go on either side of the counter. The employee will rotate from one side to the other which make the line go faster. Always go to the far left register on the left side and your line will move faster 90% of the time. Part two is while you are standing in line decide what every member in your party is going to eat before you get to the register. If you stand in line for 10-15 minutes you should never have to get to the register and turn to your kids and go What do you want to eat? This is not only wasting your time but everyone else waiting to order. This is extremely annoying to those waiting and guess what chances are they paid close to the same to get there as you so please be courteous to others.


Disneyworld dining is fun but definitely not cheap. It typically requires alot of research to determine how to maximize our Disney dining experience. Always try to choose places that the whole family will enjoy and hopefully like the food. If you are picky eaters why would you try to eat at a Moroccan restaurant. Use common sense and go out of your box on vacvation but not so far out you are intimidated. Have fun with you Disneyworld dining!

More time saving tips

1. If you can afford to stay at a resort on the Disney monorail loop this will save you valuable time. The Disney monorail is efficient and quick transportation to and from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Time on the bus or parking your own car can drastically slow you down when entering the park. The quicker you enter the parks at opening the more long line rides you can do before the rest of the crowds hit. Staying at these Disney monorail resorts is one way to expedite your time.

2. Always enter the park and go left to tour. This doesn't always work but odds are good that right handed people go right so this usually works well for us. The parks are usually designed in a hub and spoke model so if you go left and more people go right your early morning will be less crowded. Then at midday when you see the crowds picking up you have probably met the right handers in the middle. Go back to the park front and go right thus being behind the bulk of the crowd. This is not an exact science but we have had great luck with this strategy on most of our trips.

3. Take your lunch break at 11 instead of the typical lunch time of 12. You can waste valuable time and be stressed by the lunch crowds so go early to avoid the chaos. If you happen to miss this window then grab a quick snack and eat lunch after 1 or so.

4. At the Magic Kingdom you will see lots of small children and parents who think they can go all day long. About 5-6 you will notice a substantial drop off in crowds especially the little ones because they simply cannot make it. Enjoy the areas of the park designed for little ones especially Fantasyland in the evenings the crowds will be smaller. Consequently avoid these areas like the plague in the morning and afternoon.

5. If you stay on property leave for an afternoon break about 1 and stay out until about 4. This is peak crowd time and the hottest so you avoid the crowds and the heat. Go back to the resort take a swim and put the little ones down for a nap. This will allow you to be rested and relaxed to enjoy the evenings when the crowds and the temps go back down. This 1-4 time will be crowded and the lines long so the worst you will miss out on is maybe a couple of attractions that you can do with short lines in the evening.

Avoiding crowds at DisneyWorld

Now that all my background information on the resorts is complete we can focus on our tips portion of this blog. No one question is asked of my family more than I want to go when it is not so crowded so here is a list of tips to avoid crowds at Disney.

1. If your kids are out of school chances are so is everyone else. I am not saying take your kids out of school but the facts are people travel when the kids are not in class.

2. Go on a reputable web site and find out when "value" season dates are for the calender year you are planning your trip. Value season aside from being the least expensive is obviously when the crowds are anticipated to be lowest.

3. Don't attempt to go to Magic Kingdom on a weekend because everyone else will be there. Most good web sites will give you the days of the week when each park is least attended. Most people start their vacation on Saturday or Sunday and Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world logic should tell you those weekend days will be busy!

4. If you stay on property and take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours for on property guests try to utilize the morning option as the crowds are very small and you can ride quite a few things before the park opens to the general public.

5. In our experience we always have had luck going to the same park the day after the evening magic hours for that same park. For example if Epcot has night time magic hours on Friday that means the park will be open late and most everyone on property will be there. So the next day Epcot will probably be lighter that any other park in terms of traffic!

Come back every two days for 5 more tips! I have numerous more tips on avoiding crowds and maximizing your time at DisneyWorld.

Yacht Club

Yet another place we have never stayed but would love to try some day! There are a few appealing things about this resort so here we go.

1. The Location is key here. You are within walking distance from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Also within walking distance of the Swan, Dolphin, Boardwalk, and right next door to the Beach Club.

2. So many fine dining establishments close by that the options are endless.

3. The Yachtsman Steakhouse which serves tasty cuts of superbly aged beef, poultry and seafood selections and serves only dinner is on the resort grounds.

4. Stormalong Bay is a three-acre water playground shared between the Yacht Club and the Beach Club and guests at both resorts are welcome.

5. Ship Shape Health Club is located between the Beach and Yacht Club resorts next to Lafferty Place Arcade and open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

6. Be sure to request and activities flyer where you can participate in things like campfire or sing-a-longs.

7. Fantasia Gardens - is located across from the Swan/Dolphin hotels. Here you can enjoy mini-golf at its best... Disney style.

8. Deluxe resort so deluxe amenities.

9. Very relaxing and inviting theme makes this a fun place to visit.

10. Themed after seaside New England hotels of the late 1800s, the Yacht Club has a stately, nautical look and feel; hardwood floors and brass accents enhance this feeling.

This is my list of why to stay at the Yacht Club. It appears to be a fantastic resort and lots of fun. The relaxing atmosphere makes it great for children and parents. The feeling of being close to everything is very appealing to those who stay here. I hope if this resort fits the need of your family you have a great time at this facility.

Wilderness Lodge

This is yet another resort we have not had the opportunity to visit. I have heard wonderful things about this resort and many message boards out there rank this is one of their favorite on property resorts. The themeing of this resort is modeled after a lodge at Yellowstone National Park. As you enter the lodge you supposedly can hear crickets chirping and you are greeted with a huge 80 foot tall fireplace with rocking chairs. All around you are confronted with totem poles, wood carvings, teepee chandeliers, and yes some very nice Hidden Mickeys. Here are my top reasons for staying at this resort.

1. The themeing is really cool and masculine like a hunting lodge or something.

2. It is a deluxe resort so the amenities will be vast.

3. There is a bubbling geyser in the lobby that leads out to a really nice pool in the Park theme.

4. The 120' Geyser spouts every hour on the hour from 7:00 am to 10:00 PM Walk from the lodge to the back of the pool and there is a walkway to Watch the Geyser.

5. You can sun bathe on the sunny beach of Bay Lake because there is a roped off area in the water around the sandy beach where you are allowed to wade.

6. Artist Point is a fabulous restaurant that features cuisine from the Northwestern US.

7. Whispering Canyon Cafe is another terrific restaurant that serves family style on skillets.

8. Teton Boat and Bike Rentals is open from 8am to 5pm for Bikes and 10am to 5pm for Boats.

9. Transportation from the Wilderness Lodge is available through either the Boat Dock or the Bus Depot. They are located on opposite ends of the resort.

10. Suites and Junior suites are available if you want to pay extra.

Not really the resort for us but I do plan on visiting sometime in my lifetime. Based on the reviews I have read this resort is spectacular with great themeing. Check it out if you enjoy camping or the great outdoors this may be the place for you.

Boardwalk

Today's post is similar in fashion to some other Deluxe accommodations that I have not had the opportunity to visit. We have been down around the Boardwalk and in a couple of shops but other than that we don't have much experience at this resort. So I thought I would go through all of the research for this resort and highlight why I would like to stay at this resort.

1. The location is within easy walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios which means no transportation by boat or bus on those park days.

2. It is also within walking distance of four other premium resorts which means lots of additional fine dining options. These include The Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, and Beach Club.

3. he Boardwalk offers a wide range of activities that differs from day to day. Seasonally, you will find midway games, jugglers, entertainers, hand wax molds, food vendors, magic shows.

4. The main swimming pool is very inviting to adults and kids alike. The area is called Luna Park and is themed after a carnival and even the water slide looks like a wooden roller coaster. The Luna Park Crazy House is a play area also located near the main swimming area.

5. Muscles and Bustles Health Club offers free weights, Life Fitness, Stairmaster and Cybex exercise equipment. There are also other amenities available such as sauna, tanning bed, steam room, and massage therapies.

6. There is a Community Hall where you can rent all kinds of recreation activity gear. You can fish, croquet, rent bikes, tennis, ping pong, etc. are all available to help you have fun and entertain the young ones.

7. There is also night life available here if that is your thing. Atlantic Dance club for those dancers out there, Jellyrolls for the comedy lovers, and ESPN Club for the sports lovers which are located on the Boardwalk.

8. The restaurant options here are wide and range from simple to extravagant. There is the Espn club, Big River Grill and Brewing Works, a bakery, ice cream shop and two very nice dining establishments known as Spoodles and Flying Fish Cafe.

9. The fact this is a deluxe resort means you can expect lots of luxuries, higher price tag, but all the service we have come to expect from a Disney resort which is top notch.

I can't say this is on my absolutely have to do list although I hope to some day have stayed in all the Disney resorts at least once. I think this might be a great fit for many families but I have more of a desire to do the Beach Club and the Animal Kingdom Lodge.