Okay Disney World experts. We are going to Disney in July to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday. My mom asked me to find a restaurant to have dinner on his birthday. There are 3 kids, ages 2, 7, and 10 that will be with us. My mom suggested Be Our Guest, which is a possibility. My kids are picky eaters (think pizza, nuggets, Mac and cheese) and the menu isn't very kid friendly. Any recommendations as to a good place for family dinner?
*****Even though my mom would love to go to Be Our Guest, reservations are not available for the days we are in Disney, so that is not an option. My parents won't give me a specific place, just told me to pick something nice. We already reserved Chef Mickey for a different day. I wanted to do that one the last 2 times we were in Disney and always have missed it, so I already reserved it.
I recommend Coral Reef. It is in epcot in the seas with Nemo. It has fish/steak/chops so its pretty nice but you dine facing an aquarium so it can be pretty entertaining for the kids. I expect BOG would not be available. Those resies book up exactly 180 days out. CA grill while nice is not someplace I would take kids to. The food is just not kid friendly at all.
Sounds like that will be quite a multi-generation celebration for your dad! California Grill is the restaurant on top of the Contemporary Hotel where we go to to celebrate big events. We were just there for my husband's birthday with a 2 year old in tow and we enjoyed an excellent meal and service. It is expensive but there is a beautiful view of the magic kingdom. (There are no characters at this venue) I had never noticed before, but they seated us on the side of the restaurant with other families with children vs. the other side of the restaurant with just adults in their parties. There were several families celebrating special events. You can probably pull up the children's menu on the Disney website. Otherwise, you might check at the restaurants at some of the EPCOT world countries if your father might have a favorite type of food. Have fun - but July is a very hot and crowded so allow extra time to get to your restaurant.
Since it is your Dads 80th birthday, I would consider his wants and needs first. Your kids won't starve if pizza is not on menu. All restaurants have kids menu. Personally, I would not choose a kid type place. I would go,for,something a little nicer since it is a big celebration. Your kids are old enough to understand that it is not about them but grandpa. Bring something for the two,year old to do if you think he cannot sit. I have been to all the restaurants in Epcot and everyone is great. See what your Dad would like to eat and go from there. Do it soon though because with the dining plan, these places fill up fast.
How about the Fantasmic Dining package at the Brown Derby at Disney Hollywood Studios? Great dining plus guaranteed seating at the Fantasmic fireworks show. DHS isn't the MK, however, if your dad is 80, DHS might provide less walking for his special day. Look into it. And whatever you do, have fun. And don't worry about the kids at all - Disney will accommodate. It's all about your dad!!
You can eat in Cinderella's castle. The Royal Table. That is a really nice experience. Maybe the Hawaiian luau at the Polynesian?
All the suggestions below are good. Canada has a nice steakhouse at EPCOT. We love Bongos Cuban café at Downtown Disney.
California Grill is one of the top rated restaurants in town. The key is to make reservations around the time there are fireworks at the Magic Kingdom and you can maybe plan dessert around that time as you sing Happy Birthday and enjoy the show.
My parents favorite place is Narcossee's at the Grand Floridian . It is 2 meals in the dining plan but totally worth it . They usually have steak and lobster and I just have the lobster ! The kids love it too . The desserts are super fun for them . I'm sure your dads birthday would be magical !!!!
By the way , did you get him a motorized scooter for the trip . Buena Vista Scooters is Disney approved . They deliver it to your hotel and pick it up . Totally worth it .
I would not pick the restaurant around your kids, I would pick what your dad would like best. I have eaten at Restaurant Marrakesh which was excellent (it was a few years ago). The Coral Reef was nice (food was fine, not exceptional, the place is beautiful).
Hands down the finest meal I've ever eaten was at the restaurant on the top floor of the Contemporary. With dinner, you also get a pass to return to the roof to view the Magic Kingdom fire works. It was beginning to end a magical evening and very worthy of a milestone celebration. Like most Disney places, the restaurant will want their younger patrons to be pleased, so ask for a kids menu and I'm sure you will be accommodated.
wow. I am not a disney expert, but if your mom wants to take you to Be Our Guest, that sounds like a wonderful disney experience.
I just went to yelp and it has good reviews (negative points are the price and time it takes). One reviewer said the kids had fancy mac and cheese (same as everywhere in disney).
edit: go to yelp and read the review and look at photos. California Grill and Victoria & Albert seem very high end based on the reviews and photos (some post photos of the check). Cinderellas Royal Table might be less expensive. I would start calling to see what hot spot you want has seating available. Make sure you know when the fireworks/parades are and time yourself so you are not stuck in a crowd.
The restaurants in Epcot are my favorite! The teppan place could be really fun. Pretty much anywhere in Disney will have a kid-friendly option like the ones you mentioned. It's kind of their thing :) Restaurant Marrakesh has belly dancing, the place in Norway has a huge smorgasbord.
Check out these options:
http://allears.net/tp/ep/ep_rest.htm
I wouldn't limit myself to a place that does only pizza, etc- set up a great experience for everyone! There will be something that the kids can eat. Frankly, the service at Disney is so good that you could call ahead and have the restaurant prepared with a pizza for your kids at any of the full-service restaurants.
I would do Chef Mickeys. They have the best Mickey and Cheese, all the main characters. This is, however if you have the dining plan or money is not an issue. Not the least expensive place, but not the most expensive either. It is a buffet, so everyone is happy!!
Forgot to add....you can order a birthday cake to have there too!
Raglan Road in Downtown Disney was fun.
We did a birthday celebration for my daughter at ohana's at the Polynesian. It was breakfast but it was delicious and nice. I'm sure they do dinner as well. We also did chef Mickey for breakfast for my son's birthday.
I've heard there's a wonderful restaurant at animal kingdom lodge. Since all the transportation is included you might broaden your search to nice restaurants at the hotels. We visited animal kingdom lodge on our last trip and it's a beautiful property. You can see lots of animals up close.
Have fun and may your Dad have many more healthy years.
Blessings!
L.
Down town Disney, T-rex, or Rainforest cafe.
I would make reservations for Be Our Guest now since they are always booked (the new ones always are), but I don't know about the menu I haven't been able to get in yet (I don't like to plan 6 months out).
I will suggest the Crystal Palace is a buffet and has Pooh Bear and friends, Chef Mickeys in the Contemporary is also a good choice. Sci-Fi diner and the 50's café at Hollywood studios are fun too. Did you want to be in the parks or can it be outside Disney?
Downtown Disney would be my first picks for choices of all ages. You have Rain Forest Café, T-Rex, Planet Hollywood and quite a few other places. We are local and our favorite is Rain Forest café and there is also one at Animal Kingdom. You can also check out the surrounding areas there are loads of fun themed places too.
I have eaten at many of the Disney restaurants and most will have children's meals so you should be able to find something they like, also remember that they may be too excited to eat. Our first time at Cinderella's Royal Table my daughter didn't eat anything, she was too busy with the characters (she was 3 then).
