12 people. where to eat.

[tink89]

So i am back at it. We came back from a trip in December with just us but i am now planning a trip for 12 people for xmas week. We will have 7 adults 4 teens and 1 10yo. Staying offsite. Our package through costco will come with one premium dining for each guest. I know it is still very very early but where would you eat?

-should i use my premium vouchers to elsewhere? or should i do a character meal(goofys?)?
-Storytellers dinner, pch grill dinner.
-Other good restaurants for our party.
-What did they offer for xmas eve last year?
-We do not need character meals but do not mind them if food is ok.

DD10 has been many times and done some character meals.
2 teen girls (15,17) been a few times done (goofys)
2 teen boys(15,17) been once more than 10 years ago.

 

[smartlabelprint]

If you’re not dying to to go another character meal i’d just use the vouchers as you go. You can use it at counter service too.

On the other hand having a reservation for 12 May be a huge plus that time of year!

 

[tink89]

If you’re not dying to to go another character meal i’d just use the vouchers as you go. You can use it at counter service too.

On the other hand having a reservation for 12 May be a huge plus that time of year!

yea we are not dying to go to a character meal but we also do not mind and love seeing characters as long as the food is worth it. Goofys is usually ok we did that in December with two kids, but the food at PCH grill bonfire was much better ( no characters) I have also heard good things about Stroytellers dinner buffet. We do have teens so nothing like Napa rose or steakhouse 55 because we want a more casual but great food for everyone.

And I want to have one reservation everyday either dinner or brunch/lunch.

 

[figment_jii]

From a monetary stand point, I would think that the dinners are likely to be a better use of the voucher than a breakfast. What are the options at this point (B/L/D at Goofy's or B at Storyteller's?)? If those are the only choices, then I would go with dinner at Goofy's to maximize the value of the vouchers. On the other hand, as the PPs have said, you could just use the vouchers like cash to pay for meals (I don't know the current "value" of the vouchers), but I would make sure you're clear on the fine print (i.e., voucher value, whether you have to use it all at once, where you can use it, what you can use it for, etc.).

With a group that size, I would probably lean towards a buffet just because it seems easier for everyone to (potentially) find things they like. I really liked Storyteller's dinner buffet (no characters).

In terms of Christmas eve, I think that in the past some of the hotel restaurants have done a special Christmas meal (maybe the Eve too, but not sure about that one). Last year, I recall reading that Carthay Circle Restaurant and PCH Grill Dinner Buffet both had special holiday items (for at least a few weeks).

 

[tink89]

From a monetary stand point, I would think that the dinners are likely to be a better use of the voucher than a breakfast. What are the options at this point (B/L/D at Goofy's or B at Storyteller's?)? If those are the only choices, then I would go with dinner at Goofy's to maximize the value of the vouchers. On the other hand, as the PPs have said, you could just use the vouchers like cash to pay for meals (I don't know the current "value" of the vouchers), but I would make sure you're clear on the fine print (i.e., voucher value, whether you have to use it all at once, where you can use it, what you can use it for, etc.).

With a group that size, I would probably lean towards a buffet just because it seems easier for everyone to (potentially) find things they like. I really liked Storyteller's dinner buffet (no characters).

In terms of Christmas eve, I think that in the past some of the hotel restaurants have done a special Christmas meal (maybe the Eve too, but not sure about that one). Last year, I recall reading that Carthay Circle Restaurant and PCH Grill Dinner Buffet both had special holiday items (for at least a few weeks).

I am not limited to the restaurants i named i just can't think of other ideas. I would like to maximize the use of the vouchers. i think they are at $46 per premium voucher maybe a but less/or more. If we do not do a character dining i would try and use the vouchers at face value to pay two meals and split the rest cash.

I would not use for breakfast because i do not see the value of it.We did Minnies at Plaza last year and the amount of characters was good but the food was simple for the price.

Storytellers dinner buffet is probably one of the choices we will do.

Any suggestions as to other restaurants or ways to use the vouchers are greatly appreciated

 

[smartlabelprint]

Carnation cafe takes reservations.
As does wine country trattoria.

 

[Nonsuch]

The Premier Room at Carthay Circle Restaurant can accommodate groups of 8 to 12. Sometimes call the Wishing Well Room, since the base of the round table is patterned after the wishing well in Disneyland.

 

[Lolly&Rue]

Last time we went we had a party of 12 and we ate at Goofys Kitchen, Carnation Cafe, and Cafe Orlenes. Also Jazz Kitchen (which none of us were fan just fyi) in downtown Disney. We made reservations for all of these in advance.

 

[Whistlebee]

Just agreeing that you should make reservations with a group of 12 and I would make them early. We always enjoy wine Country Trattoria. We’ve done large groups at Cafe Orleans as well.

 

[Malcon10t]

The Premier Room at Carthay Circle Restaurant can accommodate groups of 8 to 12. Sometimes call the Wishing Well Room, since the base of the round table is patterned after the wishing well in Disneyland.

I second this if anyone likes Carthay. We've done it a few times, and we love this room.

 

[tink89]

Just agreeing that you should make reservations with a group of 12 and I would make them early. We always enjoy wine Country Trattoria. We’ve done large groups at Cafe Orleans as well.

I do like both of those. I have done cafe Orleans a few times but not Country Ttattoria. I am sure the adults will be fine wherever and DD10 because she can order off the kids meals. The issue is with the teens. Can they share a meal or order of kids menu. Sometimes they can be picky other times they are starving and eat anything

 

[Whistlebee]

Id

I do like both of those. I have done cafe Orleans a few times but not Country Ttattoria. I am sure the adults will be fine wherever and DD10 because she can order off the kids meals. The issue is with the teens. Can they share a meal or order of kids menu. Sometimes they can be picky other times they are starving and eat anything

I’d definitely look at menus beforehand then. Yes, they can split an adult meal (there might be a split plate charge) and I think they can order off the kids menu but they’re charged double with double portion (I think). Hopefully someone else knows if that’s right. Honestly, the kids meals are pretty small portions too. Probably not enough for a teen anyway.

 

[tarheelalum]

Lots of people have already mentioned a bunch of nice places so no need to go over that. But just make sure with a group as big as what you have at Christmas time, you need to make reservations for every restaurant you go to well before your trip. Its never to early to plan a vacation to Disneyland !! Have a great time. If it looks like it won't work out, as your planning goes along, it will be easy to cancel them with 24 hours notice. But I think it might be very difficult to make reservations for a large group with short notice.

 

[patyoung]

I would use the Costco vouchers as credit towards a meal at Napa Rose or maybe Carthay Circle. I went with my daughter last week to Napa Rose and the food was great. We didn’t do a character meal, but just used the vouchers as credit for our dinners. Noticed a bigger party had the adults at one table and the kids at another which seemed like a good idea.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Check those napa rose menus. I wouldn’t eat anything there so the teens may not either.

 

[tink89]

So we decided on the following,

12/21 goofys Dinner
12/22 Minnies Breakfast/ Storytellers dinner
12/23 Storytellers brunch/PCH dinner
12/24 Fantasmic dining package.
12/25 we leave so nothing panned.

Which would you change?
I chose these because we are a mix of kids, teens, young adults, and adults and most prefer the option of a buffet. Half have practically ever been(they went once for one day in the afternoon 12 years ago, So im going to say never been). Minnie breakfast is the only one that is a must must for most and I will for sure keep either Storytellers or Goofys. For fantasmic its still undecided if we will do BB or HB.

Oh and we are now 14 people.

 

[smartlabelprint]

So we decided on the following,

12/21 goofys Dinner
12/22 Minnies Breakfast/ Storytellers dinner
12/23 Storytellers brunch/PCH dinner
12/24 Fantasmic dining package.
12/25 we leave so nothing panned.

Which would you change?
I chose these because we are a mix of kids, teens, young adults, and adults and most prefer the option of a buffet. Half have practically ever been(they went once for one day in the afternoon 12 years ago, So im going to say never been). Minnie breakfast is the only one that is a must must for most and I will for sure keep either Storytellers or Goofys. For fantasmic its still undecided if we will do BB or HB.

Oh and we are now 14 people.

I wouldn’t eat at storytellers twice. Are you doing BB for fantasmic?

No Carthay Circle? Bummer you can’t reserve that room at lamplight.

Now 14! You are so brave!

 

[tink89]

I wouldn’t eat at storytellers twice. Are you doing BB for fantasmic?

No Carthay Circle? Bummer you can’t reserve that room at lamplight.

Now 14! You are so brave!

The only reason we are doing story tellers is once for brunch and once for dinner and again buffet. I looked at the menu for CArthary but I do not know if its for everyone.
BB is a maybe for Fantastic. It is more $$ than HB. Im sure the adults would love and the kids would like the setting but not sure of the food for kids. Can they order of the Kids menu if they wanted to? The cushions I want lol.

 

[smartlabelprint]

The only reason we are doing story tellers is once for brunch and once for dinner and again buffet. I looked at the menu for CArthary but I do not know if its for everyone.
BB is a maybe for Fantastic. It is more $$ than HB. Im sure the adults would love and the kids would like the setting but not sure of the food for kids. Can they order of the Kids menu if they wanted to? The cushions I want lol.

I wouldn’t want to do story tellers twice and miss out on blue bayou.

 

[tink89]

I wouldn’t want to do story tellers twice and miss out on blue bayou.

Hmmm. Now you have me thinking. Personally I do want to do BB. But if we do it it would probably be for Fantastmic. And it is double the price of HB. It is also the same price as RBT with the premium seating.

I still do not know what to replace one of the storytellers with....