Dinner for Eight Suggestions

[amym2]

We're bringing some friends with us to WDW next Oct and would like to pick a couple of restaurants. We're seasoned WDW visitors (DVC, no dining plan) and they've been once many years ago. We'll have 4 adults and 4 kids (16, 14, 12, 12) and will be staying at SSR. Our family eats anything, but they have 2 vegetarians, 1 who doesn't eat red meat, and a kid who loves steak (go figure). We'll all be on a budget, so we'll probably stay away from signature dining unless there's something that just sounds perfect. What comes to mind to you?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Teppan Edo have tables for 8 and should accommodate both herbivores and steak folk.

the Wave at CR might be fun.

 

[mgentry210]

I'm book 8 for New Years week and here's where I have been successful getting all 8 together: Mama Melrose, Artist Point, Liberty Tree, Teppenedo, Monsuier Paul, Whispering Canyon, Boathouse, Aloha, Biergarten, Marrakesh, Yak and Yeti, Tusker House and Ohana. Hope this helps!

 

[JZCubed]

We're bringing some friends with us to WDW next Oct and would like to pick a couple of restaurants. We're seasoned WDW visitors (DVC, no dining plan) and they've been once many years ago. We'll have 4 adults and 4 kids (16, 14, 12, 12) and will be staying at SSR. Our family eats anything, but they have 2 vegetarians, 1 who doesn't eat red meat, and a kid who loves steak (go figure). We'll all be on a budget, so we'll probably stay away from signature dining unless there's something that just sounds perfect. What comes to mind to you?

Teenage friendly...on a budget.....staying at Saratoga Springs, next to (Downtown) Disney Springs.....

(Downtown) Disney Springs:
- Splitsville - inside Bowling Alley. Food better than you'd think.
- House of Blues - 'juke joint' vibe with a mixed bag of well-seasoned BBQ, Cajun/Creole flavors of New Orleans, and some other Southern favorites. The fried chicken platter is huge, the VooDoo Shrimp are usually a standout.
- Morimoto - mostly Chinese from Japanese 'Iron Chef' Morimoto. This is not necessarily 'inexpensive', but the ability to share foods family-style from a lower price-point on the menu makes budgeting possible.

In the Parks:
- Be Our Guest for dinner, Magic Kingdom. The dining rooms are cool. We prefer the vibe at dinner. Food not overly priced for the table service value. If you were going to splurge just a little, this place has reasonable food and an unrivaled location. Photo with The Beast is optional only possible at dinner.
- Sci-Fi Theater, Hollywood Studios, means y'all have to sit two-by-two, but even the most dreary teenager would find the room to be interesting.
- Via Napoli, Epcot - yes, it's expensive pizza, but it's very good and still better value than most sandwiches.
- Sunshine Seasons, Epcot - a place that will have each youngster marveling, "I wish the cafeteria at my school was this good."

Resorts:
I don't usually recommend folks travel for food if using Disney transportation. And Disney made getting resort-to-resort all the more burdensome, but I would be remiss for not mentioning:
- Whispering Canyon - the room is not as much fun as the formica-rich ambiance at 50's Prime Time (where the theme can be a bit lost on most youngsters who never saw a black & white TV). Whispering Canyon is an antics- and fun-filled place for lunch and easy to/from Magic Kingdom - in a beautifully-themed Lodge. Enjoyment of milkshakes is a bonus.
- Sanaa - yet another place inside another of Disney's best-themed Lodge's. Boma is likely the crowd favorite for buffet breakfast or dinner, but we enjoy these curries and bread service that come with views of animals on the Savannah during any daylight meal.
- ESPN & Big River Grill - Boardwalk area has these two spots that do NOT take ADR's. ESPN may be the easier spot for a group of 8 when no football (etc.) is being played; food is what you'd expect. I have a hidden indulgence at ESPN - the nachos with pulled pork, otherwise, the gastropub grub meets or exceeds expectations. Big River Grill is a meat-n-potato kinda' place, with a reasonable balance of salads.
- 1900 Park Fare (or Cape May Breakfast, etc.) - strolling inside the Grand Floridian is lovely in the late afternoon, especially when the live jazz is being played. The dialogue between the Wicked Stepsisters from Cinderella is fun for teenagers. There are some other Character Meals that the kids might enjoy (in Parks or at Resorts) and these places should not be ruled out; these buffets often have more food choices for vegetarians.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

We have traveled with 8 many times and are traveling with 9 on our upcoming trip. Here's what I have gotten in the past and for our upcoming trip, just for reference. There are signatures in this list, though but wanted you to have a list of where we've gotten in with a larger group.

Big River Grille
Crystal Palace
Plaza
Teppan Edo
Via Napoli
Garden Grill
San Angel Inn
Liberty Tree Tavern
ESPN club (no ADR)
50s Prime Time
Chefs de France
Be Our Guest
Boma
Cinderella's Royal Table
Boathouse
Hollywood & Vine
Hoop de Doo Revue
Le Cellier

 

[mickeygirl78]

We always travel with a party of 7. We have eaten at almost every disney restaurant. One favorite of the families is Biergarten. With a large group you will not be sitting with strangers. It's a fun atmosphere. The food is good and it's a buffet so it should meet all the needs of your party. We've always done lunch here because lunch is much cheaper and the buffet is very similiar to dinner. I think it's a good value.

The kids in my party love Sci-Fi. They do have a couple tables in cars that all of you could sit together (its the front and rear of a car with a big table in the middle). Otherwise you would be sitting two by two. I've sat in both types of tables and both are good. It's such a unique experience that I would really recommend it. They have a little of everything on the menu so hopefully everyone could find something.

Teppan Edo is also really fun when you have a large group. You'll end up w/ the table to yourself. I've always loved the food and the show the chef puts on.

During my last trip (Sept '15) we were very disappointed in the food at the Hoop Dee Doo. We eat there almost every trip and found it to be dry and overdone. Maybe it's cause we were at the 8:30 show, but that's what we always do. I won't be going back for awhile.

 

[amym2]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I should have mentioned that we'll have a car (2), so we're not limited to Disney transportation. We've done many of the restaurants mentioned (love Via Napoli, WCC, BOG, Biergarten, Sanaa). One we've not done is Sci Fi, and that might be a good one this trip, although DHS is the one park we may not visit (or might just hit a few rides). The kids would not mind (would probably prefer) their own table anyway. We've also not done Teppan Edo because we have lots of hibachi options near us, but that might be a fun one. We've also not done 1900PF, and the kids might get a kick out of that one.

 

[ShannonMB]

We are going with a party of 8 in February, and I am in charge of picking and booking everything. 2 teens, one first timer, and 2 who haven't been since the 70s! Only one vegetarian. Lol I can't wait to show everyone what WDW is all about these days!

One of the selections I'm most excited to have everyone try is Boma, mostly because I remember what an adventure it was to me on our first trip. Going to AKL is amazing in itself, and then there was just so much to try! Even DD loved it when she was a little tiny girl, and all she ate was chicken nuggets.

We are also dining at:
BOG dinner
Mama Melrose for Fantasmic! package
Coral Reef
O'hana breakfast

Have fun planning and hope it's a great trip!!