1900 Park Fare
So, this week, I have a lot of planning to get to! Yep, it’s almost time for those advance dining reservations (“ADRs”) again, and the DH and I have been busy taking care of some of those adult 😉 pre-vacation details, like his creating Excel spreadsheets and number crunching (*yawn*) while I’m pouring over restaurants and menus (*yum*)! Ok, so while I think his is more of a “chore” (and thankfully he does not!), it is all in preparation for our upcoming 180-day booking date! *bounces*
180-day what?
Walt Disney World (“WDW”) Resort guests can make dining reservations up to 180 days in advance. Those guests staying on property, however, can actually make their first 10 days’ worth of ADRs, at 180 days out, beginning with their check-in date (i.e. for the dates beyond your check-in day; not meaning beginning at 190 days out ;-)). So, for example, if you plan to arrive and check-in on October 1st, you can make your ADRs (online or over the phone, by calling 407-WDW-DINE) beginning on April 4th.
I use an online calculator to verify my days; just be sure to select your check-in date and use “-180” (that is, negative 180) for your “days.”
Also, ADRs can be made online, which I prefer, because the system “opens” up at 6am EST versus the phone lines which open at 7am EST. However, if you will have an exceptionally large party (of 10+ guests), require further assistance from a Cast Member (“CM”), etc., then you will need to call Disney Dining to make your reservations.
** Also make note of Walt Disney World’s new cancellation policy for many of the table-service restaurants: “If a Guest cancels within one day of the reservation or if the dining party is a “no show” for the meal, a cancellation fee of $10 per person will be charged to the credit card used at the time of booking.”
So, until my clocks ticks over to 6-0-0, the building excitement leading up to that 180 day mark, for me, is ridiculous! LOL I stalk my calendar, double- and triple-check my day calculator (even though I’ve already done this a good 10 times before I actually, and very colorfully, marked the date on my calendar!), as well as make sure to examine, and re-examine (only once or twice! *Tries to keep a straight face*), all of my park hours, spreadsheets, tentative touring plans, etc. Totally normal, right? 😛
Well, in honor of my growing anticipation, and subsequent inability to stop thinking about Disney food, here are our top choices for must-have ADRs! (Plus a whole lot of “Oh please! Oh please! *fingers, toes, eyes crossed* Let me get these for our trip!”)
Our Top 5 ADRs
So, I will admit it; some of these restaurants (which are listed in no particular order as it’s impossible to choose one over another!) are so downright delicious that they just might, perhaps, wouldn’t-think-twice-about-it get a visit or two from us — ADR availability depending, that is! 😀
1. ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
I don’t know why it took so many trips for us to realize just how absolutely FANTASTIC the food is at ‘Ohana, but I am so glad that my stomach and my brain are now in sync!
Meat on a stick! Need I say more? * photo taken by chezp
2. Le Cellier at Epcot’s World Showcase
Love its beautiful entrance! * photo taken by Dopey007
One of the more difficult ADRs to get is for Le Cellier, but if you’re as tenacious as I am about checking for availability, you just might get an ADR or 2 — like I did last year! I mean, cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread?! Yeah we definitely need more than one reservation! 
3. Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort
I don’t know what is better at Boma, the carved roast beef or the zebra domes? LOL
Mmmm * photo taken by chezp
If only I could get just a plateful of each…oh wait, I can — and I do!
4. 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Now, I’m talking about the “Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner” buffet. This has got to be one of the most fun character meals we have ever been to! Cinderella’s stepsisters, Drizella and Anastasia, as well as Lady Tremaine, her wicked stepmother, are incredibly entertaining — especially with us grown-ups who they can more openly “discuss” their feelings for Cinderella, and her Prince Charming…that’s all I’m saying!
Who looks better in pink? * photo taken by aliceinwdw
5. Tokyo Dining at Epcot’s World Showcase
This is a new one for us, as of this last November, but my oh my! I had one of the best steaks I had had anywhere else on property, including Le Cellier, Narcoossee’s or Yachtsman! If you love the tenderness only a hibatchi can give a steak, then make an ADR here. It was fan-tab-ulous (it’s a word! :-P)!
It has a great view! * photo taken by chezp
A table by the window during Illuminations is pretty nice too; however, the view isn’t as great as it could be due to the reflection of the restaurant itself on the windows. But, it’s still a great view of the higher fireworks and not a bad way to end your meal — and evening! — in the park.
What’s on your Top 5 ADR List? Do any of ours match?
So now that I’m super hungry, I’m going to get back to planning — and definitely some dinner (and oh how I could go for some stir-fried vegetables, fried dumplings, and lo mein noodles from ‘Ohana right now!) *sigh*
Well, until next time…
Hypersmash.com
It’s so hard to choose because every time we try something new, it almost always goes on our list of favorites! But here is my current top 5:
1. Yachtsman Steakhouse
2. Sanaa
3. Via Napoli
4. California Grill
5. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (weird, I know, given my other 4 choices, but nothing like a burger and shake in a really cool atmosphere!)
We have booked our 19th trip for WDW starting 26 Nov, 2012.
We always book dinning reservations 180 days in advance, In suggested top 5 why not Fultons Crab House? We buy the Magic
Your Way Premium Package. We try to go to Fultons at least 3 – 4 times in a 12 day stay. Also enjoy Coral Reef and Le Cellier.
I totally agree with Tokyo Dining. I’ve tried 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and LOVED it. By far the best breakfast at WDW in my opinion.
I think that you left out a lot of the dining experiences though. The luau at the Poly is a must do and the Hoop De Doo Review is a ton of fun with great food (Cornbread… yum!).
You are definitely convincing me to try Ohana though.
Currently we have reservations for Boma, The Crystal Palace, Tusker House and 1900 Park Fare. It is all about the characters for my 11 year old and I threw in the Boma for giggles.
Here’s my top 5: Jiko, Teppan Edo, Ohana, Prime Time Cafe, and Liberty Tree Tavern! But, I’ll confess, that list changes a lot … totally depends on what I’m doing on my trip, who I’m with, and what I’m craving!
Fulton’s Crab House, Narcoossee’s, and California Grill are three of our favorites and every time we visit WDW we seem to gravitate back to our favorites even through we tell ourselves we will try restaurants we have not been to since there are over 100+ at WDW. We really like these restaurants because not many kids eat at them so they tend to be more on the quiet side for a more romantic meal. Don’t get me wrong but for a couple without kids trying to have a romantic dinner, its nice to find quieter restaurants.
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Now, if you want an experience of a lifetime try reserving the chef table at Victoria & Albert’s; again sorry no kids. I called everyday for almost 6 months to get a reservation for us for our 10 year anniversary and persistence paid off. We got a call 4 days before leaving and we had our M-A-G-I-C-A-L dinner for 2 at the chef’s table. The table actually seats 6 comfortably so it was really nice to be able to spread out our wine pairing. I took tons of pictures and squeezed it onto a two page scrapbook layout to remember the occasion. Our server to our picture together and another with Chef Scott Hammill. Yes, it was very very pricy but again, a once in a lifetime experience and you get a personalized menu too!
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one making color-coded spreadsheets in anticipation. LOL!
We try to go to different places every year, so I’m not sure if these will end up being our top 5, but this is what we’ve reserved for our trip this summer:
1. Artist Point
2. Whispering Canyon
3. Sci-Fi
4. California Grill
5. Via Napoli
1. Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
2. Le Cellier
3. Cat Cora’s Kouzzina
4. Sci-Fi
5. Tusker House
This time around we’re trying Ohana’s & I hope it’s as good as you say! You’re really making me want to try 1900 Park Fare though, but I already have all my reservations set, maybe next time! Great suggestions, I’m hoping one day to get to Le Cellier too, so many restaurants, so little time.
1. Flying Fish
2. California Grill
3. Via Napoli
4. Fulton’s Crab House
5. Narcoossee’s
We are in our later years and no longer have children with us. Eating out is one of our favorite things to do at Disney and so we hit the spots that we can relax and enjoy. We have a hard time trying new places because we love these so much. We do force ourselves to try at least one new place each trip and this time it was California Grill. Outstanding for all the reasons listed above but especially the fireworks!
#1 Cinderella’s Royal Table (Dinner)
#2 Plaza (Lunch)
#3 Grand Floridian Cafe’ (Dinner)
#4 Liberty Tree Tavern (Lunch)
#5 Kona Cafe’ (Breakfast)
Which is the favorite for Princess dinning, Chrystal Palce or the dinning at the Princess Castle?
The Princess Castle, that is the most princess like feel you can get anywhere. Chrystal Palace is great food and fun but no princess.
Love your list.
Our list is:
1) Califonia Grill
2) Boma
3) Victoria and Albert
4) Artists Point
5) Cosmic Ray’s. Yes I know it’s a quick service, still it’s a good meal
Only because we haven’t done Jiko, Le Cellier, or O’Hana yet. That’s this trip already have ADRs lined up.
Tokyo dining is ok. As someone who eats a lot of Japanese food during the year, it’s only adequate. Not really a draw for me.
Whispering Canyon took forever to get a special breakfast(due to a food allergy) and then they only brought out enough for a small bite, 2 hours for breakfast in wilderness lodge was absurd (then had to go to hostess to threaten to leave without paying because our waiter disappeared for half an hour.. Never, ever, ever going back).
I have a little different take on this. Some of my favorite restaurants aren’t that hard to get reservations for, so here’s my five top picks for restaurants I will try to book first, and assume I can fill in with others:
* Boma; breakfast or dinner, always a treat, despite being the cause of the dreaded “Boma Coma” induced by enjoying it too much.
* California Grill; not for the view, but for the food and the expert wine pairing advice.
* Hollywood Brown Derby; not quite the ambiance of the California original thanks to the stroller crowd, but excellent fare.
* Le Cellier; the dinner menu is much improved since being reclassified as a “signature restaurant”.
* Narcoossee’s; less formal than Citricos, and with Chef Dennis now in residence, even better than before.
I have a long list of “honorable mentions”, but these are my top five.
I’ve just done my first 10days ADR’s Today .
My top 5 are :
1)Polynesian Spirit of Aloha dinner show
2) California Grill
3)Narcoossee’s
4)Flying Fish
5) Fulton’s
As you can tell we like Seafood !
I really wish there was a “Like” button for all of your comments! The “Boma Coma!” LOL, literally. However, I think I have this same “affliction” from nearly every meal we eat! I also agree about the difficulty in trying to actually book at new restaurants due to us having so many favorites that we don’t want to skip. This year is looking like a list of favorites vs. any dining “adventures.” Oh well. I’m not complaining! 😀
My top 5 are:1900 park fare for breakfast or dinner,crystal palace for breakfast,Kona cafe for breakfast,50’s prime time is a must do,and liberty tree tavern for lunch before the aft. Parade
I rated for food quality,fun and location!!!!!!
Bistro de Paris
Le Cellier
Artist Point
Citricos (and yes, we like it better than Narcoosees)
Jiko
We love…
#1. Raglan Road – DD
#2. Crystal Palace – MK
#3. Rose & Crown – EP
#4. Tony’s – MK
#5. Mama Melrose – HS
We may try another restaurant in HS this year, but these are our faves. 🙂
I believe these need two dinners when using the meal plan
1-Teppan Edo
2-Tony’s
3-San Angel Inn
4-Via Napoli
5-Kona Café (Tonga Toast!!!)
We try to go to different places every year, so I’m not sure if these will end up being our top 5 next time. The following is what we’ve reserved for our trip this October:
1. Ohana’s
2. Whispering Canyon
3. Sci-Fi
4. California Grill
5. Tappan Eto