Recommendations For Dining???

[fan of Pooh]

We are planning to take our children ages 6 & 9 to WDW Aug. 31- Sep. 5th. We would like to make ADR's, but are overwhelmed with the choices for dining. We would appreciate any recommendations others might have.

Thanks!!!

[ElenitaB]

With children the age that your two are, I would recommend planning a character meal or two. You don't mention if you're on the dining plan... if you're not, schedule those for breakfast or lunch when the prices are lower but the experience is the same! If you have boys in your party and they like Stitch (like mine does), try to schedule an ADR for the character breakfast over at the Polynesian (this works out well for a day that you'll be at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot due to its being on the monorail line), where you'll dine with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch.

Another great character meal that's a bit more "laid back" is lunch at the Garden Grill, with Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. We've always really enjoyed the character interaction at this location and the food is quite good.

At the Magic Kingdom, breakfast or lunch with Pooh and the gang is always fun. Being that it's a buffet, your entire family will find something that they like there (a plus if you have picky eaters in your group).

If you have princesses, you might want to schedule one of the character meals that feature "girls in crowns." There are many to choose from, the granddaddy of them all being breakfast at the Cinderella's Royal Table (this might already be booked solid for the days you're going though). Other places to meet Disney royalty include Akershus Royal Banquet Hall story book breakfast (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/epcot/princess_storybook.asp), lunch (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/epcot/akershus_lunch.asp) or dinner (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/epcot/akershus.asp) (Norway/Epcot), or breakfast (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/resorts/parkfare_breakfast.asp) or dinner (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/menus/resorts/parkfare_dinner.asp) at 1900 Park Fare, located in the Grand Floridian.

Hope that my answer doesn't overwhelm you even more! There's a lot of choices to make, but for us, at least, it's part of the fun!

[sunlyon]

O'hana's is GREAT for dinner with the kids. Lots going on as well as family-style dining. Chef Mickey's is a must for us for the character breakfast, great buffet.

If you can get away for a quiet dinner, we loved Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot.

[RPHX2NC]

I agree my kids DD3,DS5, and DD7 Ohana for dinner is a must!

Also great Sci-Fi at MGM, Chef Mickey's at Contemp. Don't worry about best "value" with children this age, all of our choices are based on them. My husband and I can have romantic dinners at home but Disney dining is very different.

Make sure to look at restuarant reviews,photos and menus.

There are so many great places you can't do them all in one trip.

Here is our list for September and why we picked these this time.

Day 1: Dinner: Ohana followed by fireworks and electric light parade on the beach. This is the only must do! They have races and dancing in the dining room for kids. A get out of your chair kind of place, fun but noisy.


Day 2: Dinner: LTT at MK. Why: we will be in MK our first day at the parks and kids will not want to leave to eat. Dinner with Minnie and Mickey.

Day 3: MGM
-Dinner: 50’S PRIME TIME. "Role play" with 50's theme.

Day 4: Epcot
-Breakfast/Brunch: PSB Askerhaus WHY? princesses!! sorry son
-Dinner: Marrakesh why? belly dancing and music

Day 5:
-Dinner: Whispering Canyon 5:15. why? for my son loud, horse races

None of our choices are "adult" hush places. Last trip it was too much pressure for them to behave after LONG days of fun. Also not likely places the kids will get sleepy.

Anything you pick will be great, there are TOO Many! The planning is the second best part.