This was the best restaurant we ate at during our week at Disney World. The decor was enchanting (one entire wall is a glass aquarium), the food was great and the waitstaff was the best we encountered. As a bonus, they graciously allowed my party of three to split one of our precious Table Service meal coupons.

We had tried a month ahead to get a reservation at Coral Reef, but they were booked solid for the entire week of our visit (and it was a slow week by park standards). But when we arrived one noon, they said we could have lunch then and there.

We had hoped to get a seat near the aquarium wall, but it wasn't even an issue as all tables are on one of three tiers and the booths are circular and face the aquarium.

We just didn't have the heart to order seafood with all those fish innocently swimming by us. We ordered a salad appetizer and a strip steak entree (because it was easy to split). Both were great and the steak was cooked to perfection. The restaurant also allowed us to use our beverage option on a non-alcoholic pina colada, which was a pleasant surprise (many restaurants limit the beverage option to Coke products). Our waiter also brought over extra plates for our sharing.

Overall, we were very pleased with our experience and were grateful we could get in.

Children love Cinderella’s Royal Table, parents will love this. That is, if their kids remain entertained by the broad, two-story-high window into the giant saltwater aquarium. The place is arranged in tiers, like a Las Vegas show venue, so everyone has a view of the fish. We’ve sat in the front row, the middle, and the back row. Different views, all good. It’s seafood, of course, but not like your usual seafood place. It is creative, and go ahead and be adventurous. Hey, it’s Disney, they’re not going to push it too far. Ask your server what's good today, as you would in any seafood place. Sometimes they have things that grew over in The Land Pavilion's Aquaculture. If so, get it! As always with these places, try a salad for the excellent dressings that the restaurants generally make themselves. The other appetizers are, in my opinion, ordinary, as are the desserts. Skip dessert and have another ice-cream outside, where you'll need it to cool off.

One of the prettiest restaurants offering one of the best views can be found in the Future World section of Epcot at the Living Seas. The Coral Reef offers diners a terrific menu, all while enjoying viewing fish from the coral reef. The windows are 8 feet high and the glass is more than 8 feet thick. But not to fret, your entrée selection will not be coming from this tank!

Everything here is beautifully decorated in the calming greens and blues of the ocean, and the set-up is in layers, offering everyone a view of the aquarium. The menu changes here, but it offers a wide selection of seafood fare, as well as landlubber and vegetarian fare.

Since I am not a fish-eater, I went with Rosemary Chicken. This incredible chicken breast was roasted with rosemary and herbs, covered with a white wine sauce, served on an almond rice bed, and complemented with an assortment of fresh veggies in a light butter sauce. So it was not bad on the calories; I saved those for dessert. John went with shrimp pasta. This meal consisted of shrimp in an Alfredo sauce atop of herbed pasta. He said it was quite Good, and since I am not a shrimp-eater, I took his word for it. They brought us a basket of some of the most delectable herbed hard rolls I have ever tasted.

If you are dining here, make sure to save room for dessert. The sinful ice cream on the shell was probably 10,000 calories (just a slight execration) and worth every single calorie, carb, and fat gram. This consisted of white chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate mousse, and a chocolate and vanilla sea shell. I still drool thinking about it. They are open for lunch and dinner. They do accept major credit cards, Disney dollars, or US$. They do offer priority seating, so call 407/WDW-Dine up to 90 days from when you would like to dine.

When we checked in at the hostess stand, I thought, "Oh great—this is not what I thought it was going to be." The hostess stand doesn’t look like anything special and certainly does not introduce the attraction that is held within the dining room.

As soon as I entered the dining area, I was amazed. The entire wall is a HUGE fish tank. The room is darkened (though not too dark for kids to feel comfortable), and it really feels like you are dining beneath the water. You can see the coral and the fish—there were all kinds. There was never a dull moment. The tank is beautiful. The dining room is terraced so that you may have a great view even if you are not seated "at the glass".

Much to our amazement, we were greeted by a few scuba divers that were swimming in the tank...you can reserve this for yourself by being a certified scuba diver and calling to reserve your spot 90 days ahead of time. Then, what do we see now but Mickey Mouse, swimming right in the tank too! If you don’t believe me, check out the picture; it’s dark, but you can see him.

The food was good, the ambience was great, and the birthday call to my husband from Goofy was absolutely the icing on the cake. The prices are a little expensive but are worth it. My daughter loved the glowing drink. But BEWARE—if you use the Disney dining plan, this meal will cost you two (2) sit-down meals per person.

We ate here again for my husband's birthday while on vacation, and it was more wonderful than ever. Our waiter was extraordinary: very attentive and informative. Our seats next to the huge aquarium wall were beyond comparison, made especially delightful when Mickey himself appeared in scuba gear to feed the fish and wave to the diners who giggled with wonder and joy. Even the adults were charmed when Mickey signalled "I Love You" to the children nearby, and though our quiet table suddenly became more crowded as many flocked close to see Mickey, it was not unenjoyable.

The food is beautifully presented, wonderfully prepared, and the desserts are dreamy. Mention that you are celebrating a bithday or anniversary, and the birthday boy may get a free dessert! This is one spot in the theme park worth the money.