Where to eat before Illuminations

[TinkTatoo]

We have an Illuminations cruse booked and will be in Epcot from mid afternoon for the Ice-cream social.

We are meeting friends of ours who have never been to Florida before and would like some recommendations on where to have dinner.

There will be 4 adults and 4 kids (3 of whom have autism so "fancy" restaurants are out)

Ideally we would like a buffet and I am thinking of Cape May, but could you guys suggest anything else. We could go off site as long as it wasn't too far away or we could just snack from vendors!!!

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

[Earthbound]

How about the good old Rose & Crown in the UK??? We're there for a PS at 7.30 on the day we "do" EPCOT & will watch Illuminations from the terrace!!

[Jan]

For an inexpensive meal, we quite liked The Farmers Market at Coronado Springs. You can walk around the "stalls", which each sell a different sort of food, like pizzas and pasta at one, chinese at another, etc. You decide which one you would like and take it to your table where a waiter will bring your drinks.

[TinkTatoo]

We have the Illuminations cruse booked Chris so we don't need to eat while the fireworks are on but the Rose and Crown sounds a good bet for the next time.

The Farmers Market sounds good Jan - It should have something for everyone. I am guessing that I could catch a Disney Bus there from Epcot

Thanks
Jakki

[James]

Tink Tattoo, Whats the Illumination crusie (See when you think you know everything something else comes along) when can you book it and how much does it cost?

[TinkTatoo]

Hi James-Essex

I copied this from a reply BevS97 gave

You get private use of a pontoon boat plus driver for 1 hour - they usually set off about 1/2 hr before Illuminations is scheduled.

The boat seats 10-12 - we had 9 people and there was definitely room for more, I think 12 would have been ok, bearing in mind that Katie didn't really sit down.

Once the kids had their life jackets, and we boarded the boat - we went for a cruise around the lake, past the swan and dolphin and over to MGM. I have heard that some drivers are excellent here with loads of trivia etc, but ours was so busy keeping Katie entertained that we didn't get a lot of that - Kimmie (our driver) was however, so good with Katie that I didn't mind that. We sailed back past the Boardwalk and parked up under the bridge between England and France in Epcot. I had heard you would be away from the other boats, but we were all lined up , about 4 pontoons and 'The Breathless'

We had an excellent view for the fireworks, Kimmi even had Katie "blow out" the torches around Epcot which was a lovely moment - Katie was so impressed when the torches went out.
After the fireworks, Kimmi said we had enough time to go round to MGM for the end of Fantasmic, so we took off at some great speed (well it seemed fast to me!. and got back to MGM just in time to see Mickey at the top of the mountain,

After that we headed back to the Yacht and Beach and that was the end of the trip (not forgetting Kimmi hitting the bouy because she was distracted by Katie yabbering away!.

I thought it was a superb trip and well worth the money.

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I copied this from a reply that Stu gave

Illuminations cruises are called "Specialty Cruises".

You need to call 001-407-939-7529 exactly 90 days before the date you want to reserve.

The cruises are very much in demand and hard to get, all 4 pontoons are booked within the first minute of the lines opening at 7am.

Start calling around 6:55 am USA Time.

If you get a recording that they are not open yet, disconnect and immediately redial.
If you get the recording thanking you for calling hit #4 right away, as soon as the second recording begins press #2, when the third recording begins press #2. This will take you to a reservationist, if you have to hold do not disconnect or you go to the bottom of the queue.

When the reservationist answers do not make small talk, immediately tell him/her that you want to reserve the 8PM specialty cruise for the date you want. Do not ask to reserve an Illuminations cruise or you will waste time hearing that there is no such thing.

If you can try and book one for the beginning of your holiday, that way if you dont manage to secure a cruise you can try for another date.

You will need your credit card to secure the booking.

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We are doing this for the first time this year and it shoudl be great.

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Click here for Illuminations Cruise thread (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30662&highlight=illuminations+cruise). Make sure you read all the messages about the cost as there was debate about how much it was including tax.

I will also be going to the Rose & Crown to eat just before the Illuminations starts, after Chris's recommendation. We didn't want to stretch to the extra cost of a cruise as this holiday is almost bankrupting us already! :D

[peter+lynne]

please do not bother with the rose and crown it is truly awful from food to service.

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Originally posted by peter+lynne
please do not bother with the rose and crown it is truly awful from food to service.

Really? I have heard some good things about the place.
Do you think you had one bad experience? Would love
to hear more!

[Earthbound]

Originally posted by peter+lynne
please do not bother with the rose and crown it is truly awful from food to service.

More info please!!!!

[Jan]

We're not great lovers of the R&C. The food is not really English but changed to suit a variety of tastes, either that or they just don't know how to cook English. The last tiime we were there we found the menu to be extremely limited. We now prefer the Harry Ramsden's fish and chips served just around the bend from the R&C front door. And a lot, lot cheaper.

[Jan]

Jakki

If you haven't done so already, may I suggest that you take a look at the Menu section in the list on the left hand side of the home page of the Dibb. Click on the Epcot logo and there is a whole heap of menus for all the eating places. The Sunshine Season Food Fair is in The Land - like a food court.

We also like the Yorkshire County Fish Shop which is just by the Rose & Crown. The portions are not enormous and my DH could easily eat more than one, so three servings between two adults could be a good compromise - depending on the size of appetites of course. Like everywhere else, there are drinks sold here too. Nearby there is, or at least was, a "cart" which sold cakes. If you do decide on this, immediately across the "road" from the fish and chip shop are mock-ups of an english garden in which there are some bench seats. A little further back again from the road, there are more seats in an area where there is frequently street entertainment. So I don't think you'd be short of somewhere to sit and eat.

[CastelliX5]

The Cape May Cafe is an excellent choice. Also the ESPN Club has many TV's to keep the children entertained! If you have enough time, try Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge). It is a buffet like no other!

[chunkster20uk]

Another vote for the ESPN, great menu including a fantastic foot long hotdog, good value too.

I would love to say Beaches and Cream but it is just too small.

[TinkTatoo]

Originally posted by chunkster20uk
Another vote for the ESPN, great menu including a fantastic foot long hotdog, good value too.

I would love to say Beaches and Cream but it is just too small.

I ruled out Beaches and Cream after hearing how small it was but ESPN sounds good - DD would love the hot dog's :wink

Also Jan's idea of the Yorkshire County Fish Shop sounds good too. I have plenty to think about

Thanks for all the help:D

[chunkster20uk]

There is also a small amusement arcade attached to ESPN.