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10 Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) Worth Making for Your Family

by Mommy Frog on January 20, 2014 17

If you’re worried that you’ll be as popular as a two-hour stand-by line when you have to drag your kids away from the great rides, exciting shows and all-around Disney fun to sit down at a dinner table for an hour, think again.  Here are 10 restaurants in the Disney parks that the Frog Family (kids especially) absolutely loves and that are definitely worth an ADR. Even better, most of these restaurants are fairly easy to get reservations for.

As a reminder, ADRs can be booked up to 180 days in advance. For the most in-demand restaurants such as Cinderella's Royal Table and Be Our Guest, booking 180 days in advance is absolutely essential! Reservations open at 6 a.m. EST 180 days in advance on Disney’s website or at 7 a.m. EST by phone at (407) WDW-DINE.

1. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

It’s not just the delicious milkshakes that make Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater a Frog Family favorite…it’s hopping in our convertible table, placing our order with a waiter on roller skates and watching old movie clips on the big screen in front of us.

2. Via Napoli (Epcot)

We hadn’t tried this one until so many of our Facebook friends suggested it and it looks like our friends have VERY good taste. Tad and Lily love “building their own” pizza, and I love that they don’t even realize how many vegetables they’re eating. (Fun Fact: The pizzas are cooked in authentic wood-burning ovens named after the 3 active volcanoes in Italy – Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.)

3. Coral Reef Restaurant (Epcot)

10 Advanced Dining Reservations Worth Making for Your Family - Coral Reef

The seafood dishes like seared Scottish salmon and lobster ravioli are delicious, but what makes Coral Reef Restaurant so popular among my kids is that they’re surrounded by views of the Caribbean Coral Reef, the 5.7 million gallon salt-water aquarium in The Seas with Nemo & Friends® Attraction Pavilion.

4. Tony’s Town Square (Magic Kingdom)

10 Advance Dining Reservations Worth Making for Your Family - Tony's Town Square Restaurant

If it’s not too hot out, I request a table on the porch so we can soak up all the sights and sounds of Town Square and Main Street, U.S.A. Leap always orders spaghetti so he can embarrass the Tad and Lily by re-enacting the scene from Lady and the Tramp with me, and yes, it works every time.

5. 50’s Prime Time Café (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

Leap and I love the “TV Tables” that show clips of mid-50s sitcoms like “Father Knows Best” and the original “Mickey Mouse Club.” The kids love hearing their parents be reminded to mind our manners and keep our elbows off the table by “Mom” (our waitress). The food is classic American: fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast and delicious.

6. Biergarten Restaurant (Epcot)

Located in the Germany Pavilion, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a traditional Oktoberfest at Biergarten Restaurant. It’s nice and cool, the German food is all-you-can-eat, and the entertainment is included! Oktoberfest Musikanten performs 25-minute sets (watch the video) throughout the day. Tad and Lily have no idea what it means, but they love love love raising their juice “steins” with the entire restaurant and yelling “Eins, Zwei, Drei, G’suffa!”

7. Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom)

10 ADRs Worth Making for Your Family - Liberty Tree Tavern

We think Liberty Tree Tavern has some of the best food of all the Disney restaurants. The New England-style pot roast and the tri-corner roast beef sandwich are a few of our favorite dishes. If possible, I make our reservation for a late lunch around 2 p.m. so after we’re finished eating we just step outside for a great view of the afternoon parade, Celebrate a Dream Come True.

8. Yak & Yeti Restaurant (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

10 ADRs Worth Making for Your Family - Yak & Yeti

The theming of Yak & Yeti Restaurant is almost as impressive as the Asian cuisine that is served. As with most kids, Tad and Lily have more fun trying to eat their Lo Mein with chopsticks than look around at the décor, but everywhere you turn you’ll see detailed Nepalese artifacts like fine tapestries, statues and, oh yeah, 900-pound, gold inlaid puppets. (Note: If you request a table on the 2nd floor, you’ll have great views of Asia® Land down below.)

9. Les Chefs de France(Epcot)

10 Advance Dining Reservations Worth Making for Your Family - Les Chefs de France

Where else can you taste authentic French cuisine in a restaurant created by three of France’s best chefs while you’re wearing t-shirts and shorts? Leap and I love getting Tad and Lily to try new foods and Les Chefs de France is perfect for that. They are so preoccupied with Chef Remy, the 6-inch star of Ratatouille, as he makes his rounds atop a rolling chef’s cart that they don’t realize they’re eating seared scallops and duck breast.

10. Teppan Edo (Epcot)

Like many things at Epcot, Teppan Edo offers a great opportunity for kids (and adults) to learn about a different culture and taste new foods in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. The Teppan Chefs are amazingly talented as they chop, slice and dice your food right in front of you. In addition to stir-fried shellfish, meats and vegetables prepared at your table, the sushi is some of the best we’ve ever had.

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
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Mar 4, 2015 at 9:58 p.m. rich james Says...

I was interested until I seen how far up the list Tonys Town Square was. Other than the favorable seating you may/may not be able to get before a parade Tony's should be after Liberty Tree Tavern. Be warned if you eat at Tony's because of this list.

Reply
Nov 21, 2014 at 10:46 p.m. Michele Says...

Was wondering if anyone has opinions on 1900 Park Fare? We are thinking about making reservations in the next few days here and were wondering if it was a good choice? My older daughter is wanting to meet Mary Poppins who is supposed to be here. Thanks for any info anyone can give me.

Reply
Jan 26, 2015 at 2:20 p.m. Dea Says...

Park Fare is a great Character Dining experience and the food is good too! I'm sure it depends on what you like but they had great choices for adults and kiddos when we visited last year!

Reply
Jan 16, 2014 at 1:34 p.m. Countdown to Disney! Our Favorite Tips for Getting Ready for the Big Trip! Says...

[...] to keep us occupied those loonnngggg days before we leave for Orlando. Amid all the planning, ADR-making and wait-time checking (yes, we do this from home via the app, you know, just to see), we have [...]

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Jul 30, 2013 at 7:41 p.m. Rachael Bronner Kaplan Says...

Thanks for the tips...

Reply
Jul 25, 2013 at 10:44 p.m. Katie Says...

I can't wait to try some of these on our next trip! My kids even requested Biergaren after we had guests visit us from Germany. I hope they like it!! :)

Reply
Mar 12, 2013 at 1:14 p.m. Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ $ Budget Dining Treasures Says...

[...] Related: 10 Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) Worth Making for Your Family [...]

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Mar 7, 2013 at 2:29 p.m. Disney World Spring Break Survival Tips Says...

[...] you’ve made Advance Dining Reservations, the restaurant crowds can be as busy as the attraction lines. You’ll find the shortest lines [...]

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Jan 15, 2013 at 3:37 p.m. Epcot’s $ Budget Dining Treasures Says...

[...] [...]

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Nov 11, 2012 at 5:10 p.m. Nicole Siemers Says...

Does DDP mean the restaurant is on the Disney Dining Plan? I mean I don't mean to be stupid, but I see you mention via Napoli as a table service rest. On the plan if I'm understanding correctly, yet I downloaded a 2013 brochure for the plan to take with me for our upcoming jan trip and it is not listed in the brochure as a restaurant on the plan? I don't want to be traveling all over the parks when it's time to eat ting to find a rest. On the plan.

Reply
Nov 13, 2012 at 5:33 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Nicole,

I have read in a few places that some restaurants not owned by Disney are announced later than Disney-owned restaurants. That said, you're right. The last brochure does not include Via Napoli. I called Disney Dining directly, and the representative told me that yes, Via Napoli is on the Disney Dining Plan for 2013.

Enjoy your trip!

-- Leap

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Oct 9, 2012 at 1:22 p.m. Spotlight on 3 Disney Resort Restaurants Worth Trying on Your Next Trip - The Frog Blog: travel tips from the family frog at Undercover Tourist Says...

[...] Related: 10 Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) Worth Making for Your Family [...]

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Aug 28, 2012 at 12:54 p.m. Review: Character Dining With the Evil Sisters at 1900 Park Fare at The Grand Floridian - The Frog Blog: travel tips from the family frog at Undercover Tourist Says...

[...] [...]

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Aug 16, 2012 at 2:53 p.m. Get Ready to Make Reservations for Be Our Guest – August 20 - The Frog Blog: travel tips from the family frog at Undercover Tourist Says...

[...] 10 Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) Worth Making for Your Family Tags: Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Dining, Disney, Disney Fantasyland, Disney Orlando, [...]

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Aug 15, 2012 at 5:03 p.m. The Magic Kingdom’s $ Budget Dining Treasures - The Frog Blog: travel tips from the family frog at Undercover Tourist Says...

[...] [...]

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May 8, 2012 at 2:51 p.m. Dawn Says...

I can't believe you did not include Le Cellier! Our favorite since our first visit. Why>

Reply
May 8, 2012 at 4:25 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Dawn, It is definitely one of our favorites, but Leap and I save Le Cellier for romantic dinners sans tadpoles. -Mommy Frog

Reply
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