Hi Jen,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! As a mom of tweens, I understand your dilemma!
Our girls love to put on their "grown-up" side for a meal or two while we are at the Walt Disney World Resort. One of their favorite meals is dinner during the Happily Ever fireworks at California Grill. They also love to dine at 'Ohana for dinner during the fireworks. The views are fantastic and the food delicious.
For fun, they also like Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Crystal Palace and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (they don't mind the characters because they love the breakfast so much!), and Satu'li Canteen on Pandora - The World of Avatar. Although this might be shocking, our girls enjoy getting to the parks for pre-park opening breakfast reservations. We arrive early and leave by early afternoon, after lunch, so that we can return to the resort hotel and they can get in the pool!
Jen, I do suggest that you make
advanced dining reservations when possible and consider where you will stop for quick-service meals. Other than Satu'li Canteen, some of our favorite quick-service restaurants are ABC Commissary in Disney's Hollywood Studios, Be Our Guest Restaurant (breakfast and lunch) and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Magic Kingdom and Sunshine Seasons in Epcot.
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell