Best places to eat for large family and child with Autism

[Dostert9]

We are renting a vacation home off of Disneyland Dr. It will be 10 of us and I will be buying groceries online to be delivered to our rental while we are there but want to eat a couple nights with a special dinner. I've been reading all the menus and still I am not sure. Really wanted to do Rain Forest Cafe but don't think it's a good idea with my son who has High Functioning Autism and Peanut Allergy. He wants to do ESPN Zone but I went in there last time and it's so loud and too much visual stimulation so I don't think we will. Also, who accomodates such a large party. Any suggestions would be great. We have children ages 5, 7, 10, 13 (HFA), 16, 18, 19 and 19 year old boyfriend.
Would love to do Blue Bayou just once but not sure they will accomodate or that the menu is worth it or that my younger kids would eat any of it. Not much of a kids menu. I know I can call around but thought I would check the forums suggestions first for ideas

 

[charmama4]

I wouldn't do BB, but that is just my opinion for a few reasons. First reason is that your party will def. be seperated and no guarantee the table will be next to each other. Second reason is that I agree with your reservations on your children eating all of the over priced menu items. The over priced menu items would be my final reason. But, hey that's just me.

House of Blues may be an option for you if you sit outside. Good food and prices comparable to Rain Forest Cafe.

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ could be another option. You will be split up here but the food is excellent and it's all you care to eat (with take home boxes )

Storyteller's Cafe is a real nice buffet. Not a lot of visual stimulation, soft color tones and my kids enjoyed selecting their own food items.

I am also going to throw in the new counter service Tangoroa Terrace for another option. I, myself, have not been there but the pictures of the food looks scrumptious and being able to sit out on the patio on the Disneyland Hotel grounds sounds wonderful.

Enjoy your vacation!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

When we were a party of 9 we ate at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and we were not split up. We thought it was a good place for a large group to share a meal.

 

[tlovesdis]

If you like Mexican food, I would suggest Tortilla Joe's in DTD! They are great at accomodating large parties and we love the food there!

 

[Dostert9]

Thank you so much! I will check all those out. Maybe dh and I can sneak over to Blue Bayou for dessert or something.

 

[oumagic]

For your party, Bucca di Beppo might be fun. It is a chain, but I think they make good food and I really like it for large parties. With a large party, you can usually reserve your own room and they serve the Italian food family style so the small kids could spilt a chicken breast 4 ways and then just have a little pasta, etc. It is on Harbor in the Garden Grove area. One other thing, you can also do takeout from there and not have to worry about cooking one night but still have the luxury of relaxing at your rental house.

 

[cyclenut]

Bucca Di Beppo is an excellent idea and yes, you can get your own "room". All entree's are served family style so you can order a few and pass them around to share. Be prepared though for walls covered with pictures of all sorts, bright colors and one room includes a bust of the pope on the center of the table.

I also suggest Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. They do have larger tables and plenty of food to pass around. Be aware that they do have audience participation type entertainment. That could be a bonus but it depends on how you feel your HFA child might react. It is an outdoor setting so I think it could be perfect.

My suggestion is to try Goofy's Kitchen. It is a buffet style with plenty of choices for both kids and adults. There is a lot of external stimuls though, including a visit from Goofy and other characters. My family and I really like the place.

Most places that accomodate larger parties have this same problem as they tend to have a more open floorplan but there really are several choices in the area.

We really like Lucille's BBQ as well. It isn't real close but they do have plenty of room for large parties and you can order one of their "feasts" for the whole family to enjoy. You can even order Lucielle's as "take out" and have a great BBQ prepared for you to take "home" and enjoy.

 

[rmonty02]

I'll add Cafe Orleans. We had a party of 9 and were seated together, outside on the patio. Great for people watching and good food.

 

[tanyaewa]

The outside resturants like El Rancho Zoculo (sp?) Big Thunder BBQ & Plaza Inn have lots of seating and less stimulation than the indoor ones that cram you in - imo.