Orlando Magical Dining

[Brummy]

Hello

We will be in Orlando for 2 weeks, early September. I’ve just come across some info about the Magical Dining promotion and would like to try a few of the restaurants out whilst we are there. According to the visitorlando website the restaurants are split into a number of areas/districts as follows; Convention Area, Disney/Lake Buena Vista, Downtown, Restaurant Row, Universal/Citywalk, Winter Park and Surrounding Areas. We are staying off-site in a villa on Oak Osland Cove near to Formosa Gardens. We’re not familiar with the area so wondered whether anyone could tell us which of these areas are closest to our villa please.

Also does anyone have any ‘must-do restaurants’ that they can recommend? We enjoy most types of cuisine.

Thanks in advance

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

Not sure how close to your villa but from the list I recommend:

Il Mulino - Swan hotel
Bluezoo - Dolphin hotel
Ravello - Four Seasons hotel
Morimoto Asia - disney springs
Cooper's Hawk Winery - I drive

[Gryff]

The Melting Pot
Forgo de chio
Coopers Hawk
To be honest most of the participating resturants will be a hit of a drive
From villa areas but well worth it in most

[DonnaD]

As Gryff mentioned most of them are not near the villa areas although Oak Island is far closer than most. The Disney/LBV ones are the closest to you. The promotion and many of the restaurants are aimed more at the locals than tourists. This is actually a good thing as they aren't the usual chains. Some are real "foodie" places and a bargain for the offer price. In Sept the traffic won't be too bad so Restaurant Row, I Drive, Universal and the Convention Center are less than 30 min away. Downtown is at least 10 minutes further and Winter Park 10 further again. Both are past the roadworks on I4 so not a very pleasant drive just for dinner at the moment.

Sharks Grill is probably the best bargain if you don't have tickets but would enjoy a few hours in Sea World.

[Brummy]

Thank you everyone. Really useful. Good to know we can do walk ups too as I didnt want to do too much forward planning on where we will be eating other than a couple of ADRs I’ve already booked in and around Disney.

I’m definitely going to try to book Sharks Grill though. We hadn’t planned on going to SeaWorld but this is such a bargain I can’t resist. From looking at the Sea World website it closes at 6pm every night we are there so if the earliest dining time is 3pm we wouldn’t get much time to look around after eating but better than not going at all.

Thanks again.

[JanetteP]

We've done Morimoto Asia and STK at Disney Springs, and The Melting Pot and Eddie V's on Restaurant Row. All the meals were terrific value for money, although Sharks Underwater Grill with the free entry to SeaWorld is the best value, albeit you won't have long in the park after your meal. We booked our meals on Open Table and there was no problem getting a reservation anywhere.

[Brummy]

Thanks Janette. I’ve just posted a question on your original thread about how quickly you think we’d be done with eating? We’re not too fussed about going on the rides but would like sometime for our children to see the animals before leaving

[JanetteP]

Originally Posted by Brummy

Thanks Janette. I’ve just posted a question on your original thread about how quickly you think we’d be done with eating? We’re not too fussed about going on the rides but would like sometime for our children to see the animals before leaving

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There's loads going on Electric Ocean night, so I hope someone comes along to answer your question. I suppose you could get desserts to go:. I think they'll enjoy the experience as well.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Thanks to Janette I am so looking forward to some of these restaurants.
We have only been here just over a week and eaten at Disney restaurants 4 times in 8 days. That's because our Granddaughter is with us and it's quicker so we can get her to bed at a reasonable time

Overpriced and poor fare. Boring food, uninteresting and expensive.
We are done.