Disney Restaurant GC for parents? Which one?

[aprilfoolwed]

We are heading to Orlando in June (first family trip for us! Yay!) with my parents (Have visited Disney several times - including an adult-only trip 2 years ago). We're staying off-property in a pool home together and my parents have pretty much dedicated this trip to being our (me & DH) extra sets of hands as we experience Disney as a family for the first time. They been super accomodating - from where we stay, how we play and what we choose for dining.

I am thrilled with what I could find for them as xmas gifts, so I was thinking about giving them a dinner while we are down there. They will be spending their entire vacation helping me with my 3 kids (including 3 days that my DH has to go to a convention and I'd otherwise be alone!).

So here are my questions -

1 - can I purchase a gift card to cover their dinner?

2 - What are suggestions for a great "adult" dinner (I want them tohave at least this one dinner to enjoy themselves - where chicken fingers and hot dogs are not involved)?

3 - Around how much money would a dinner for two cost (so I know how much to get the GC for).

4 - The place would have to be something not too ethnic - my dad is a meat-n-potatos type of guy and doesn't care for spicy foods that much. He's getting better about trying things (he'll eat seafood, try more mild ethnic dishes) but still prefers traditional American foods - so eating in Morocco is probably not a good choice.

I am going to make an ADR for them and take care of everything for them - but we can't make our ADRs until mid-December.

Also - with an ADR, would I be able to make any special requests for their dinner, such as sending a special dessert to the table?

Thanks for the help!

 

[disnut8]

You can certainly get a gift card to cover their dinner. Disney accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diner's Club. We are lucky enough to get two free Visa $100 cards right before each Disney trip and use them everywhere. You can get the gift cards any place they are sold (Wal Mart, grocery stores, etc.). I would think a nice dinner for two would be $100-$150.

One place I can recommend based on your father's meat and potatoes leaning is the Yachtsman Steakhouse. My husband and I dined here and it was the best meal I've ever had on Disney grounds. The garlic spread itself is worth going there. Others will recommend the California Grill but we found there to be more kids there than at the Yachtsman. Plus, the California Grill was not the best for my meat and potatoes husband.

Others can help with the special requests as I've never done that (my husband would kill me if any extra attention was given to us!).

 

[Hootch]

is Artist Point. They serve beef and bison.

Here are a couple of links that have recent menus with prices

Yachtsman

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=13

Artist Point

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=15

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Thank you!

Where can I buy gift cards - the Disney Store at the mall?

 

[onelilspark]

You should be able to buy a GC at the Disney Store. If not, go to www.Disneyshopping.com and you can also order one.

As for restaurants, I'll still recommend Jiko, he can get the filet. It's not too "ethnic" (my tummy wouldn't handle that!) Or even Fulton's at DTD.

 

[ToddyLu]

Find out when the FW are and see if you can get them a table at CA Grill--may be more like $150-200 if they are hearty eaters or like to drink wine. It was a bit loud the last time we dined there but the atmosphere and service are awesome and the music is piped in from the Fireworks then you can go out on the terrace from the restaurant and watch the fireworks. I woul drequest seattin gin the "wine room". It is a must do gor us each year and this year we are taking my parents and using 2 of our table credits from the DP.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I went to the Disney Store yesterday and bought $100 GC. I also went and printed the info and menus for:

Yachtsman Steakhouse
Artist Point
Jiko
CA Grill
Captain's Grille
Narcoossee's
Citricos
Maya Grill
Flying Fish Cafe
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
Hollywood Brown Derby

I figure that gives them a good selection of places to eat, and they can read over the menus and decide where they would like to eat most. Plus, they've been to Disney many times, and I won't end up booking someplace they've already been without knowing! Also, since they will have the Disney GC, they can decide how much they want to spend on dinner - perhaps they would want a less-expensive meal and use the GC in other ways too. This will put it in their hands.

And hopefully I'll be able to make their ADR shortly after xmas for our June trip!!!!