First night dinner

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 14:13

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First night dinner

We are planning our first trip to DW, two weeks starting just after MLK holiday. We have planning our ADR's but I am having the most trouble with our first night choice.

We will leave for the airport at 4am and land in Orlando at 3pm so it will be a long day. We will still have to clear customs and get to the resort, staying at POR. I am sure at check in they will give us a pile of brochures and stuff to read.

We are looking for a restaurant recommendation for that evening, something that will not be overly noisy, not busy (if that is possible), and not feel rushed. A place to relax and settle into our holiday and read the pile of brochures.

I was thinking of just going to Boatwright's as it is right at the POR but we will be doing that on at least one other night, maybe two. The other place I was thinking of is Boma for the buffet but I also want to take a boat ride to DD and then ride the monorail. Anyone have any suggestions maybe in DD or along the monorail that will also be relaxing for us.

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 14:38

MrHub

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NorthernOntario & happy to have you! Just to clear up some confusion, you can't get the monorail from Downtown Disney. That is only at the Magic Kingdom and the monorail resorts. You would have to take a bus to the Magic Kingdom or one of the resorts.

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 14:49

Julie

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I LOVE Boma, but would not recommend it your first night if you are looking for somewhere relaxing and quiet. Much as I love Boma, my perception of it is a little chaotic and loud. It's a buffet, so there is a lot of movement and up and down to get your many choices of food. We've never been there when it's what I would consider quiet and relaxing or not busy, even with later adrs. Just mho.

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 14:52

The Cookie Crumbler

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Hello, NorthernOntario!!

My spouse and I are also going in January. We'll be at Pop and plan to celebrate the first day with a monorail crawl to the MK area resorts, ending with sushi dinner at Kona in the Polynesian. I've only ever eaten at Earl of Sandwich in DD, so can't be much help there.

Will you be using the dining plan or paying as you go? That can make a difference in your choices.

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 15:47

Kris1971

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My first thought was Boatrights since it is right at your resort, but if you are eating there later in the week and don't want to do it twice, my second thought would be to take the boat over to Downtown Disney and eat at one of the wonderful restaurants there. Some of the favorites here on the forum are Ragland Road, Paradiso 37, and Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

Welcome to the best WDW forum around! Can't wait to hear more about your trip plans.

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 15:56

senseicj

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the only quiet place i can think of that i have eaten at in dtd would be portabello's and it was very good, but we were there for lunch not dinner

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 18:12

Kristen K.

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I agree with Julie, Boma is not quiet or relaxed. It's got some serious hustle and bustle going on most of the time. The only time I've ever seen it quiet is towards the end of the Breakfast hours.

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 20:48

JoAnn C

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Welcome!

I haven't eaten there, so I don't know how quiet or relaxing it will be, but I was thinking the Grand Floridian Cafe. It looks like a quiet place to me in the few pictures I've seen.

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Wed, 07/04/2012 - 23:05

NorthernOntario

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Thanks for the welcomes

Quote:

you can't get the monorail from Downtown Disney

My bad

Quote:

portabello's and it was very good

I have read so many mixed reviews, I am not sure I want to put it on the list for first night. We have some free spots later in the trip and we are still debating on adding it to the list. I can't eat steak and fillet mignon every night so we are looking for variety and so a pasta night would be a welcome change for me.

Quote:

Some of the favorites here on the forum are Ragland Road, Paradiso 37, and Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

Ragland Road and Wolfgang Puck are both on our must do's for the trip and are already planned in. I will have to check out Paradiso (have not seen that one).

Quote:

ending with sushi dinner at Kona in the Polynesian.

Kona is already a must do for us, love sushi

Quote:

I was thinking the Grand Floridian Cafe.

We are already planning Citricos, Narcoossee's, and the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare ... but the cafe looks really nice also, we could make it four meals at the Grand Floridian Resort.

Quote:

Will you be using the dining plan or paying as you go?

We are going for the Deluxe Dining Plan with the 3 full TS meals,.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 11:57

MrHub

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Northern, you could stop at SSR and have dinner at the Turf Club. That is an awesome restaurant and a hidden gem. Also their chocolate espresso tort is delicious. I'm sure others here would recommend this also.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 12:24

Vettelover

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mrhub wrote:

Northern, you could stop at SSR and have dinner at the Turf Club. That is an awesome restaurant and a hidden gem. Also their chocolate espresso tort is delicious. I'm sure others here would recommend this also.

Yes! I for one certainly would reccomend this.

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Thu, 07/05/2012 - 13:57

MrHub

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Fri, 07/06/2012 - 11:30

dontthrowsand

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DTD would be a great way to take a calm pace the first night! If you don't want table service, I personally love Earl of Sandwich. Probably my favorite quick service food I have ever had and everywhere I have tried them, they are always amazing.

Sat, 07/07/2012 - 23:09

NorthernOntario

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Thanks for the suggestions but I think for us it will be the Grand Floridian Cafe, since it will be a very long day I am not sure what we will want for food and their menu has a bit of everything ... and looks really yummy.

Earl of Sandwich is on our list for an early lunch one day and we are looking forward to it.

I am not sure if we will squeeze in the Turf Club as we just had a look at Sanaa and really really want to eat there, too many choices.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 15:19

Kristen K.

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NorthernOntario wrote:

we just had a look at Sanaa and really really want to eat there, too many choices.

Sanaa is one of my new favorites, with the caveat that you need to go while it's still daylight. The atmosphere loses a little bit when the sun goes down and you can't watch the animals.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 19:10

AuntieSocial

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We booked Kouzzina at the Boardwalk for our first night. Our flight lands at 1:00 PM, and we aren't going to any of the parks on that first day, so we decided to rest in our rooms for a bit and then head to the Boardwalk. Dinner at Kouzzina (Iron Chef Cat Cora...be still my fluttering heart!) and then maybe the piano bar for drinks afterwards. We figured that with going to the parks every day for the rest of the week, this would be the best night to have dinner in a different resort area.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 22:43

The Cookie Crumbler

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AuntieSocial wrote:

We booked Kouzzina at the Boardwalk for our first night. Our flight lands at 1:00 PM, and we aren't going to any of the parks on that first day, so we decided to rest in our rooms for a bit and then head to the Boardwalk. Dinner at Kouzzina (Iron Chef Cat Cora...be still my fluttering heart!) and then maybe the piano bar for drinks afterwards. We figured that with going to the parks every day for the rest of the week, this would be the best night to have dinner in a different resort area.

I'd be lying if I said Cat Cora wasn't an influence in my decision to eat there.

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Mon, 07/09/2012 - 23:15

Ollie

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Let me start with a big Welcome!

Then i'll chime in and say I think that the GF Cafe is a good choice. I have never been disappointed with any meal there. Jiko at at AKL is also quiet and relaxing and we love it! Sanaa was good, but much busier and much louder.

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Tue, 07/10/2012 - 00:12

salejune

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Welcome!

O'hana's might be a quiet place for dinner. I've been there for breakfast and the atmosphere seems like it would be nice in the evening. How about the California Grill? Is that too busy in the evening? I do have one suggestion, a place where I've been for dinner and that's Artists Point at the Wilderness Lodge. Nice, quiet, relaxing as well. Good Luck!

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Mon, 07/16/2012 - 15:08

oft013

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I would suggest taking the boat to Downtown Disney's West end and eating at Bongo's. For years that was always our first evening meal. A lot of people recommended Boma's, but our experience with Boma's and most other buffet is unless you are a big eater they are just not worth the money. The only time we eat at buffets or all you can eat (servers bring the food to you) is if there is something else going on, such as the Hoop de do review, or O'hana's. O'hana's is definitely a loud place at dinner time.

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 01:56

NorthernOntario

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Thanks for the suggestions everyone but the plans have totally changed, it is now a one week holiday and we will be flying out of a different airport so we can arrive about 10 am instead of 3 pm. We will also be leaving a lot later on the last day.

Here is the NEW meal plan on the DDxp, please let me know if you see anything wrong with it or have any suggestions for improving it.

Saturday - Arrival and Disney boardwalk
lunch - Beaches and Cream (Beach Club Resort - 2 credits)
dinner - Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club - 4 credits)

Sunday - Animal kingdom (9am - 5pm), Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 3:45pm, 8pm fireworks at DW during dinner
lunch - Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village - 2 credits)
dinner - Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian - 4 credits)

Monday - Epcot (9am 9pm), IllumiNations 9pm
breakfast - Boulangerie Patisserie (French pavillion - snack credits)
lunch - Les Chefs de France (French pavillion - 2 credits)
dinner - Rose & Crown (British pavillion - 2 credits)

Tuesday - Disney downtown day, relax evening
breafast - Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge - 2 credits)
dinner - Wolf Gang Puck Cafe (Downtown Disney - 2 credits)

Wednesday - Disney world
breakfast - Grand Floridian Cafe (Grand Floridian - 2 credits)
dinner - Artist's Point (Wilderness Lodge - 4 credits)

Thursday - Epcot
breakfast - Kouzzina (Disney boardwalk - 2 credits)
lunch - Restaurant Marrakesh (Morocco pavilion - 2 credits)
dinner - Tepan Edo (Japan pavillion - 2 credits)

Friday - Relax, resort tour, leave
breakfast - Kona Cafe (Polynesian Resort - 2 credits)
lunch - The Turf Club Bar and Grill (Saratoga Springs Resort - 2 credits)

The weak point for me is Beaches and Cream, I am thinking of heading straight to AK and going to Sanaa for lunch the first day (Sat) and then doing Yak and Yeti for lunch when we are at AK on Sunday.

Thanks or the input everyone.

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 06:20

OregonMom

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I would not want to leave AK on Sunday to have lunch, since that would take about 2 hours away from what I consider to be a short day at the park. So, I agree with Sanaa on the first day.

Also, on your Monday at Epcot, be advised that the world showcase opens later than the rest of the park...11am? You may be gnawing on your own arm by the time you get a croissant at the Boulangerie Patisserie for your breakfast. (That's how I felt last year when I had the same breakfast plan.). Keep the plan, but grab a banana, and make sure your lunch ADR is late.

Looks like lots of good eating!

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 10:39

NorthernOntario

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Thanks OregonMom. I will make the change and plan on Sanaa for lunch on Saturday and Yak and Yeti for lunch on Sunday.

I didn't realize that World Showcase does not open at 9am, we will make the adjustments, thanks.

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:04

Kristen K.

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I am a HUGE advocate of Sanaa for a lunch choice!

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 16:41

JoAnn C

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NorthernOntario wrote:

Thanks OregonMom. I will make the change and plan on Sanaa for lunch on Saturday and Yak and Yeti for lunch on Sunday.

I didn't realize that World Showcase does not open at 9am, we will make the adjustments, thanks.

I would have suggested the same changes. My suggestion for dessert at Yak & Yeti - pineapple and cream cheese wontons.

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Sat, 07/21/2012 - 23:50

NorthernOntario

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JoAnn C wrote:

I would have suggested the same changes. My suggestion for dessert at Yak & Yeti - pineapple and cream cheese wontons.

Sounds yummy except they are deep fried.

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