We are nearly 180 days out from our travel dates!
Historically speaking, this is the McDowell's sixth (or seventh) trip together and more than I can count as an individual. Needless to say, we have experienced many of the dining experiences available within the Walt Disney World Resort. Over the years our favorites have changed, and we have racked up some that we don't care to experience again for one reason or another. Let me share some of our favorites in no particular order!
1900 Park Fare - Dinner
We love to visit Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa any time to experience the ambiance of the Victoria Era of Florida. Dining with Cinderella and her prince is an added bonus! We are always treated like royalty from the characters (Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drisella, and occasionally Fairy Godmother - all subject to change). The food is basic buffet fare, but our experience has always found well cooked, hot food with decent service from cast members. The number of characters rotating to the table keeps the kids engaged - and offers a great incentive for finishing their food!
Our Best Memory: Cinderella plucked a 2-year-old mesmerized Maggie from her high chair, pulled her to the floor and into her princess lap for a snuggle session. When the Prince arrived, Cinderella and Maggie were still gazing into each others eyes, when he decided to join them on the floor for more cuddles, ending with a Cinderella kiss - where we could not wash away the lipstick from Maggie's cheek!
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| Cinderella's Kiss! |
Whispering Canyon Cafe
This spirited, rustic BBQ restaurant has gotten some mixed reviews on several message boards lately, but we still consider it one of our favorites. We love the Canyon Skillet, which arrives family style to your table, and offers all-you-can-eat BBQ irk, ribs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and baked beans. Cornbread completes the meal all within the wild atmosphere of the restaurant, which is adjacent to the Wilderness Lodge lobby. Early on, we weren't as excited with the antics of the cast members - making a mockery of guests by placing napkin-hats on their heads, bringing pitchers of beverages to the table instead of the typical mason jar, screeching when folks ask for ketchup, and announcing celebrations, like birthdays to the patrons at the top of their lungs - however, the food won us! The truth is that anyplace that offers unlimited milkshakes will always win for us!
Our Best Memory: Our youngest was making a mess on the floor - as toddlers do - and our server brought a converted trash bag and tied it around her neck. As it draped to the floor, we laughed hysterically at our child covered in the world's largest bib!
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| Maggie's Giant Bib |
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| Unlimited Milkshakes! |
While this restaurant offers characters at breakfast, we typically spend our table service time at dinner, as to maximize our morning energy within the parks. Ohana is located within Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and transports its guests to lands with volcanoes and seaside landscapes. While you can no longer see Magic Kingdom from most areas of the restaurant, the food at this restaurant keeps us coming back! We love the family style entrees served from large skewers, and friendly staff! While I am not a huge meat eater, I love the atmosphere with ukulele playing, coconut races with the kids, and limbo and hula hoop contests.
Our Best Memory: Everyone is treated like family, with the servers introducing themselves as Cousins. This sparked our oldest to call everyone cousin for the rest of the trip.
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| Ohana |
Garden Grill
This restaurant is often overlooked at Epcot's Future World. Nestled within the Land pavilion, Garden Grill offers a few unique experiences that we absolutely love! Offering another family-style meal, this restaurant rotates to display views of the Living with the Land attraction on the first floor below. On this attraction, guests learn of Epcot's hydroponic gardens, and the research that is taking place on site. It is from these gardens that much of the produce served at Garden Grill is harvested. I love farm-to-table dining, and am amazed even more that it can take place within the Walt Disney World Resort! Characters spend time at each table and include Farmer Mickey, Farmer Pluto, Chip and Dale. The food here is always fresh, and includes salad, beef filet, turkey breast, stuffing, fish of the day, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Garden Grill also offers a fantastic hidden Mickey in the foliage paintings on the wall!
Our Best Memory: Chip came to our table for photos and autographs and tried to strike up a conversation with me. He was obviously trying to tell me something important, but I was having difficulty understanding what his hand gestures meant. He grabbed my son's autograph book and wrote under his signature, "I saw you today in Adventureland!" We laughed for a long time after that! How fun for the characters to recognize and remember us across theme parks!
Wherever you decide to make your danced Dining Reservations, remember to take advice with a grain of salt. Well meaning friends may try to deter you from a restaurant that your family may absolutely love! Read the restaurant descriptions through official Disney websites and make your own decisions! As always, a Disney Destination Specialist is a great resource when trying to weed through information! Happy dining!
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