<p>Oaklandmom, because mid-September is typically a slow time (and because it’s hurricane season), for the last few years, Disney has been offering free dining packages. This year it starts on August 24th and ends either September 20th or 25th. You had to have booked by June to get free dining, but what this will mean to the mid-Sept. visitor who is not on the plan is 1) there will be larger crowds than you might expect and 2) make your reservations NOW (or 4 months ago) for table service restaurants. There are so many people wanting TS meals during that time that they will open some “temporary” buffet restaurants in the MK to handle the crowds.</p>
<p>Our favorites are Mama Melroses, the Italian place in Epcot (just changed hands, so I don’t know about it now), and Hollywood and Vine. Hollywood and Vine is a buffet, but we love it for all the vegetarian selections it offers.</p>
<p>I agree LeCelllier is one of our favorite restaurants at Epcot – great steaks!!! Here is a site that has tons of information on Disney including the menus from the various restaurants. [Walt</a> Disney World Dining Menus Information](<a href=“http://allears.net/din/dining.htm]Walt”>All Restaurants & Dining Locations in Walt Disney World - AllEars.Net)</p>
<p>Mtnest, thanks. I have just spent way too much time on this. Getting reservations has not been easy. I still need to book one more dinner…sigh</p>
<p>alliesmom, I read that the Maya will not be no longer be part of the dining plan in 2009. You might want to double check. If you are not on the dining plan, or if you wanted to pay for a meal outside the dining plan, I would not recommend this restaurant. On the boards a lot of people were complaining about paying high prices for what they were getting. On the dining plan, we had a few good and enjoyable meals there.</p>
<p>I’m always disappointed with the food at Disney-I get hopeful and then disappointed. I did like the French bistro (the one on the ground floor at Epcot) I thought it was delightful.</p>
<p>Chedva: Tried to reply to your PM, but it says you have to “clear some space”.</p>
<p>northeastmom: check your PM!</p>
<p>I think it uses up 2 of your sit-down meals if you’re on the dining plan, but IMO the best meal at Disney is the California Grill on top of the Contemporary. A five-star restaurant with a fabulous view, if you can get one of the window tables.</p>
<p>Le Cellier is the family’s favorite place to eat, although they’ve had some menu changes since we were last there. Mama Melrose’s is pretty good, but Prime Time is a fun atmosphere. Ditto Sci Fi, but the food is just so-so. Liberty Tree is a character meal, and basically you are eating Thanksgiving dinner. We think it’s the best place to eat in Magic Kingdom. If you get the chance, stop by the Beach Club resort and visit Beaches and Cream, an old-fashioned ice cream soda shop.</p>
<p>There is a new sit-down restaurant at Animal Kingdom we want to try our next visit, the Yak and Yeti.</p>
<p>Georgia, thanks for the tips.
We have been to Mamma Melrose, Liberty Tree, and Prime Time. </p>
<p>Just curious if anyone has been to Ohana’s, Teppan Edo, or Raglan Road?</p>
<p>Ohana is on our list of restaurants to visit everytime we go to Disney. You can see the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom at the restaurant.</p>
<p>MTnest, how is the food at Ohana? We tend to eat early, so fireworks would not be a reason for us to go there.</p>
<p>The food is really good. I liked the salad and all the appetizers. My boys enjoyed the selection of meats. It is all you can eat and the servers will keep bringing stuff if you request it (includes the salad and appetizers). The atmosphere is very family oriented and they use to have coconut races for the kids (don’t know if they do them anymore). </p>
<p>The places we always hit are the Contemporary Grill, Le Cellier, Ohana and Chef Mickey’s. Also I highly recommend Le Nouba – we have seen the show at least three times but it is great everytime we see it :)</p>
<p>Northeastmom, this site has lots of WDW info, here is a link listing the menus for all restaurants at WDW:
[Restaurant</a> Dining Menus from Walt Disney World](<a href=“http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm]Restaurant”>All Menus for Restaurants in Walt Disney World - AllEars.Net)</p>
<p>My family is probably in the minority, but we really didn’t enjoy Ohana.
We found the meat to be quite dry but we did enjoy the shrimp.
We might have just hit it on a bad night.</p>
<p>Enjoy, I love WDW!</p>
<p>For the steak, you can ask your server for “rare” and they will bring it. The turkey was hit or miss – we’ve had dry and we’ve had moist. Shrimp was good!!</p>
<p>Well I have no problem speaking up if the meat is dry. Sarha, I have read some negative reviews too, so some people agree with you. I guess we will have to just try it ourselves. Thanks MT and sarha for the shrimp tips.</p>
<p>My “best of the best” are:</p>
<p>My top recommendation is Victoria and Albert’s (Grand Floridian Resort)- Food and service is incredible, elegant ambiance, and if you’re lucky enough to get the Chef’s table, then you’re in for a special treat. Both meals are 7 courses (chocolate mousse is a must try). Cost is about $130 per person ($190 per person for the Chef’s table), both without wine pairings. Jacket and tie required.</p>
<p>The California Grill (Contemporary Resort)- Very modern, open kitchen. Best place to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks at night. Great sushi. Will cost you about $40-$50+ per person. </p>
<p>C</p>
<p>I second MTnest on La Nouba at Downtown Disney. Marvelous show that we’ve seen a few times, and I’d go again.</p>
<p>And there is a Ghiradelli’s shop at Downtown Disney that has delicious ice cream.</p>
<p>California grill at the Contemporary hotel was memorable. I ate at a few others and they were not remarkable (Animal kingdom and the other restaurant at Grand Floridian - not Victoria and Albert).</p>
<p>Lunch at the Akershus in Norway was, hands down, the best meal I’ve ever eaten on Disney property. I was there about three years ago, so it may have changed, but at the time, there was a fantastic cold buffet to start the meal with many kinds of herring, salad, salamis, etc. The side dishes were served family-style – I started making mashed rutabagas at home because I liked theirs so much! It was one of the only Disney meals where I did not leave feeling overcharged in light of the quality, quantity, service, and ambience.</p>
<p>^ Hanna, yes, I enjoyed eating in Norway. The rest of my family doesn’t care for that kind of food.</p>