We will be in Orlando for 1 day and would like to see Epcot. Should we have dinner there? Do you have any info on restaurants inside the park? Or do you recommed a better meal outside the park? Thanks

We had dinner last March at the restaurant "in Italy," and it was good; not great, but good.

I've been to Disney numerous times and have basically eaten everywhere. The best restaurants are not in the parks, but in the Disney hotels. The Wilderness Lodge has a great restaurant (good duck, fish, and meats). Also, the Grand Floridian has some lavish places. You could also go to the Boardwalk hotel, where there is a nice atmosphere but the restaurants are just okay. But, if you want to eat in Epcot, I would say go to Japan or France. I thought Italy was pretty bad.

Alysa,

There are wonderful places to eat at Epcot, it really depends on your tastes. One of our favorite Epcot days ended with dinner at Rose & Crown (U.K.) around 7:45 at an outside table then staying to watch IllumiNations while finishing our desert. It was a very special evening. Otherwise, have an early dinner (5:00-5:30) at Boardwalk's The Flying Fish (a little pricey, but amazing) then head back to the park for any rides you missed during the day. Lines really drop off most evenings. Other restaurants in the park: we really like Morocco, Canada, and France, while others rave about Japan, Mexico, and Germany.

Have a great time!

We spent Valentine's day dinner at Le Cellier in Canda and it was fantastic! It's lit by candles and very romantic,great wine selections and at moderate prices. Plus, if you made a reservation for say, 7:30 pm or so, you'll be out by 9pm and in a perfect spot to see Illuninations fireworks! Enjoy.

I thought the Akkerhaus in the Norwegian village was very good. It's a scandanavian smorgasborg but you've got to love fish, especially herring and salmon. Skip China and Japan is just like any Benihana restaurant, but that's just my opinion. I've also heard good things about Le Cellier in Canada. At the Wilderness Lodge I heard you can order Buffalo or Elk meat so that may be more of an adventure.

Our two favorite restaurants in Epcot are Le Cellier, in Canada, and the restaurant that cooks at your table in Japan.

It sounds as if you haven't been to Epcot in the past so I would definitely stay and eat in the park. Walt Disney World is huge and while they provide free transportation any where you want to go via bus, monorail, or boat, travelling from place to place can eat up a lot of time. You will probably want to spend this time seeing the park rather than riding around on a bus. Seeing most of Epcot in one day is a challenge in itself even if you don't take time to eat! The exception is the Boardwalk which is connected to the world showcase via boat and walkway so it's almost like eating in the park. The Flying Fish (expensive) and the ESPN cafe (moderate) are a lot of fun. If you enjoy riding the monorail, you can take the Epcot monorail to the Magic Kingdom monorail which gives you access to the wonderful hotels around the lake. They all have super restaurants and you get a great view of the Magic Kingdom. The bad news is that you should allow at least an hour and a half for transport alone. I don't think it's worth it if you only have a day.

We went to Epcot the first time when our girls were 11 and 12 years old and eating in the Italian restaurant was one of our highlights. The food wasn't great but the waiters sang and flirted with the girls so they thought it was wonderful! They are now 23 and 24 and still love to plan which country they will visit for dinner. (We try to get there once a year) Our favorite place for terrific food is either French restaurant. (I think they share a kitchen) We all like French food and are willing to try new things so we really enjoy it. If your party has folks like my dad and sister who think a gourmet meal is meat and potatoes on fine china, this is not the place for you! The Mexico pavilion has wonderful atmosphere, moderate prices, and a kid friendly menu. It is beautiful with tables in the market place overlooking the volcano. The food's not great but we love it. The most fun we ever had anywhere at Epcot was in the Morrocan restaurant when our girl's were teenagers. I have no idea what we ate but the belly dancer called dad up on stage and gave him dance lessons. The girls and I laughed till we ached!

If you will be in the front part by Spaceship Earth at mealtime, the Living Seas pavilion has a seafood restaurant where you can see the food. It is in the middle of the aquarium with big windows so you literally dine under water. The prices are fairly high and I've had better seafood in Nashville but the live fish more than make up for it. If you want something quick and inexpensive, the Land pavillion has a very nice food court in the lower level. It's great for a chicken sandwhich and lemonade.

I hope this helps, you really can't go wrong if you keep in mind that the dining experience is just as important as the food. Make your reservantions when you enter the park, that way you don't have to waste time standing in line . Oh by the way, all of the servers at the restaurants in the world showcase are from the countries represented, mostly college students doing what American students do in Europe. It's a lot of fun to talk to them about their home towns.

Have fun,

Jan

I'll cast another vote for The Coral Reef restaurant near The Living Seas at Epcot. We've had some excellent meals there and the aquarium can be viewed from wherever you're seated.

As in every Disney dining experience they'll tend to rush you, but don't you let them! Get a good look at the menu and then order a drink. Look some more, order an appetizer, etc.

Here's a helpful link. You can check out the menus for most if not all of the Disney properties here:
http://wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

Another vote for France----we have been there 3 times and loved it each time. It's like sitting in an outdoor cafe (altho it's all glass) in Paris. (I've never been to Paris but I've seen movies) teehee. Anyway, the food has always been delicious, and the atmosphere is high-energy. Have fun!

Alysa: We didn't spend a lot of time at Epcot but enjoyed the food at the Marrakesh restaurant. Food, wine, service, atmosphere and music were great. Akershaus in Norway was good, but our server, Bjorn, was the highlight of the evening. Best meal of all was at the California Grill atop the Contemporary Resort. We had an unforgettable wine dinner and a very knowledgeable server named Gail. We had smoked salmon on flatbread, Dungeness crab sushi and grilled grouper, each served with a different wine. For dessert try either the creme brulee or the chocolate quake. Have fun!

Alysa,
Once you select a restaurant in Epcot, head to the Customer Service desk (to the left of the "big ball") first thing when you get to Epcot and make a dinner reservation. Some of the countries book up quickly. Or if you are staying at one of the Disney properties, you can make a reservation from the hotel.

Now for my vote, Norway. And if you like pastries, you should really try the bakery at Norway or France for desert or a snack. Both are wonderful!

Actually Alysa, you can make priority seating arrangements prior to your trip. Call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463). Norway and Morocco are our favorites at Epcot!

To all that have responded:
What alot of great info! I love this forum. Thanks for all your help and input. I will definately use the web site and the advance reservation number. Blessings

Here's another vote for Marrakesh. It was my first foray into that kind of food, and now I'm absolutely hooked. The entertainment (belly dancing) was cool, too.

One day in Epcot is just an appetizer. I would not plan anything outside Epcot on the day that you dedicate to it. Even if you get there before it officially opens , they usually let people in ahead of time, it would be hard to see everything or try the different cuisines by the time the park closes.
My personal favorite is ending our Florida visits with the last night at the Rose and Crown Pub,at an outdoor table,overlooking the lake and all the countries illuminated, and watching the fireworks.

My family was last at Epcot in September. We ate at three of the World Showcase restaurants. France was excellent, though not as moderately priced as some of our guide books suggested. The buffet in Norway was also excellent. Mexico was great mainly because of the atmosphere - but the food was good. The margaritas really hit the spot after a hard day touring!
Have fun!