Future World

Coral Reef Restaurant Review at Disney’s Epcot Theme Park

by josh on March 9, 2010

Wondering how Coral Reef stacks up against the other Epcot Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of all 15 Epcot restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Food Type: Fish, chicken, steak

Dining Plan: One Table Service

Cost: For lunch, appetizers are $7-$17 and entrées are $13-$28.  For dinner, appetizers are $7-$17 and entrées are $19-$31.

Setting: The tables at the Coral Reef Restaurant face a large aquarium full of sharks, sting rays, turtles, and more than 85 varieties of tropical fish.  The restaurant features raised stadium seating so most tables have a great view.

Advantages: The atmosphere can’t be beat.  Kids and adults who enjoy aquariums will be fascinated by the variety of fish.  Fish is presented nicely.  Service is usually attentive.  I recommend the Mahi Mahi and Chocolate Wave dessert.

Disadvantages: This restaurant is deceptively noisy due to the sound bouncing off the aquarium glass.  Service may be rushed, especially during Free Dining promotions.  The menu is limited with less than ten entrée choices.  There are no crab, lobster, or shrimp entrées.  Portions are small.    Lunch isn’t much cheaper than dinner.  Personally, I am deathly afraid of fish (not kidding), so eating here is entirely unpleasant for me.

Value: Average out of pocket or excellent on the Dining Plan.  The Coral Reef Restaurant relies heavily on its ambiance to please guests.  The food portions are small and the prices are high considering the low cost of many of the ingredients.  You come here mostly for the aquarium, so if that is not something you would particularly enjoy then you’re better off dining elsewhere.  You can spend about $45 on the Dining Plan, making this an excellent use of a credit.

Reputation: The jury is out on this one.  There is definitely better food and service at Epcot, but the chances of finding another aquarium with a table to eat at are slim to none.  Chances are you will have a good meal here, but be aware that the portions are small and the Coral Reef is not known for its high quality food or relaxing atmosphere.  The other potential downside is that not all of the tables have a great view of the aquarium, so you may want to request a good view or ask to be moved elsewhere in the restaurant.

Overall Rank on The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants: 15th out of 15

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The Garden Grill – Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Harvest Feast Review at Epcot

by josh on March 9, 2010

Wondering how Coral Reef stacks up against the other Epcot Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of all 15 Epcot restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Character Meal

Food Type: Buffet Served Family Style- Steak, Fish, Turkey, Potatoes. Dinner Only.

Dining Plan: One Table Service

Cost: $31.99 for adults, $14.99 for children

Setting: The Chip ‘N’ Dale Harvest Feast is a dinner only character meal featuring Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Farmer Mickey.  Interestingly, the restaurant rotates slowly and the scenery changes throughout the meal.  You will be able to see various areas of “The Land” and get a peek at the boats as they cruise through the Living with the Land ride.

Advantages: Characters spend more time per table than at other character meals.  Dinner is served family style so you don’t have to do anything other than try to eat as much as possible.  The restaurant rotates and it’s fun to see the different areas of The Land.  The atmosphere is calmer than most other character meals, especially if you are seated near the beginning or end of service.  The blueberry dessert is delicious.

Disadvantages: Like most buffets at Disney, the food is generally average, although you should find something you like.  The platters of food are pre-plated so you will be brought everything on the menu whether you want it or not.  Expensive and can get noisy.  Tables are set for four so it’s likely larger groups will be broken up into tables of four.

Value: Below average out of pocket as far as food is concerned.  If character dining is your favorite then this is a great opportunity to interact with the characters and may be worth the additional cost.  As far as the Dining Plan is concerned, it’s a decent value considering it would normally be $32 and is more expensive than many of the other buffets.

Reputation: As far as food is concerned, your $32 is better spent at one of the other Epcot restaurants.  As far as character interaction, there are few places on property where you will get this much individual attention.  The food is decent and most people will enjoy the rolls, salad, flank steak etc. but it’s certainly a lower quality meal than you would get at Le Cellier or Tokyo Dining.  I would recommend the Garden Grill for anyone looking for a mellow character meal with plenty of interaction, but not for those that don’t care if characters are present.  The upside is that the Garden Grill is not a particularly sought after reservation, so you should be able to dine here if the other restaurants are booked solid.

Overall Rank on The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants: 11th out of 15

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Electric Umbrella Quick Service Dining Review at Epcot

by josh on March 9, 2010

Wondering how Electric Umbrella stacks up against the other Epcot Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Epcot Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the nine Epcot counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: American – Burgers, Nuggets, Salads

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées between $6-$9

Unique Items: None

Advantages: Electric Umbrella is probably the most convenient counter service in Future World.  A safe bet with picky kids.  Eating outside and watching the fountain is pleasant.  Air-conditioning is nice in the heat.

Disadvantages: The food served here is available all over Disney World.  With all of the options at Epcot, it’s better to put yourself in a position where you can try something more unique.  Busy during meal time with limited indoor seating.  No fixings bar.

Value: Poor.  This is your standard Disney World counter service menu with $10 hamburger meals in a basket.  It does have a beverage station where you can refill your drink though.

Reputation: Electric Umbrella is a solid choice with picky children or if you find yourself in a downpour with lightning striking everywhere else you step.  I don’t think anyone in the history of Disney World reviews has put this one down as a “must see,” but if you really want a burger then knock yourself out.  It gets the job done, but there are plenty more interesting counter service choices at Epcot.

Overall Rank on The Best Epcot Quick Counter Service Locations: 9th out of 9

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Fountainview Cafe Review at Disney’s Epcot Theme Park

by josh on March 9, 2010

Food Type: Ice Cream

Dining Plan: One Snack

Cost: $5 or less

Unique Items: A great variety of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream floats, and shakes.

Advantages: Ice cream, floats, ice cream floats, sandwiches with ice cream instead of meat.  Need I say more?

Disadvantages: May take time off your life.

Value: Top value for snack credit.

Reputation: The ice cream here is tasty tasty (intentionally two tastys).  For a snack credit you can get anything under $4 including an ice cream float, single scoop with waffle cone, double scoop without waffle cone, or a bottle of water.  I don’t know why I mention the bottle of water.  Please don’t get a bottle of water.  Get a double scoop.  Ok, you can get a bottle of water just mail me the ice cream cone.  Thanks.

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Sunshine Seasons Counter Service Review at Disney’s Epcot

by josh on March 9, 2010

Wondering how Sunshine Seasons stacks up against the other Epcot Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Epcot Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the nine Epcot counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: A great variety – Asian, soups, sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, grilled salmon

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées between $7-$10.

Unique Items: Just about everything.  You won’t find an Oak Grilled Vegetable Flatbread Sandwich or Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese Salad at other quick services.

Advantages: Great variety of food, most of which is freshly prepared.  Kids have several unique options to choose from as well.  The quality and freshness of the food is unrivaled at any Disney Park counter service.  Many freshly baked dessert options as well.

Disadvantages: Food is ordered and picked up at several stations that are far apart.  This can make it difficult to get an idea of what’s available and figure out where to go to order a particular item.  It can also mean waiting in several lines if you’re ordering more than one kind of food. With Soarin’ right next door, Sunshine Seasons is almost always crowded.  While there is usually plenty of seating, there are so many people moving in and out that it can get congested and noisy.  Asian food isn’t as good as the other options.

Value: Above average to excellent.  You’ll be hard pressed to find grilled salmon anywhere else at Disney for under $10.  The $10 Asian entrées aren’t as good of a value due to their lower quality and smaller portions.

Reputation: Sunshine Seasons is many people’s favorite counter service on property.  It is certainly worth trying, although if you will only be eating one counter service at Epcot I would still recommend checking out the World Showcase offerings.  If you’ll be doing two or three meals at Epcot then this is one worth hitting.  For those that are “bacon cheeseburgered out” this will be the next best thing to heaven.  The downside is that everyone recommends it and it’s near Soarin’ which is the most popular attraction at Epcot.  Many people will grab a Fastpass and head to Sunshine Seasons.  You should too.

Overall Rank on The Best Epcot Quick Counter Service Locations: 1st out of 9

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