in-room babysitting or venue advice for golden anniversary party?

[2vets]

Hi, all -

It has been a loooong time since I posted here. I am not sure if this is the right place, but feel free to refer me to other threads!

My mom and dad are celebrating their 50th anniversary soon. My brother had a trip to WDW planned, and now, all of my siblings will be joining him, along with my parents. Our party is 9 adults, 3 kids 3 and over, and 2 babies under 1 year. We're staying at the WL, and because of the babies, getting everyone to agree to venues has been difficult. I feel very strongly that I'd like to give my parents a private celebration that evening, and there are no private venues at WL. It is their 50th, and I want to get a cake amd some darned flowers! They have earned it, right?

That shifts us to look at the nearest resorts, Contemporary, Poly, and GF, which brings me to this. We are in a tough spot with respect to numbers. Citrico's (Chef's Domain) at GF is insisting that 12 is a max, and honestly, even if they push it, I don't feel good about having the 2 small babies in there - the room appears like that might start to get cramped.

Next option is the Sonoma Room at CG. I have communicated with the event planners, and this is certainly an option, but this jacks the bill (although with the way my family eats and drinks, I don't know if it will really be that much more). I don't care all that much about the bill, but goodwill among my siblings has really begun to break down. There are a lot of "I told you we should have stayed at X resort" and "Let's just get a big table at Y" conversations going on. I am trying to keep my eyes on the prize (dinner in a private room), even if I foot the bill and tell them to shut their mouths, but in the meantime, the texting and emailing is getting out of control. One sibling is pretty much freaking about the fact that we have to design a private menu, like I wouldn't be perfectly happy to just do that on my own. Sigh.

One possibility is to push on with Citricos and get a sitter for the 2-3 smallest kids (6 months - 3 years). One sibling is cool with this idea, but the other one is not, though I think she could be swayed. My first question - does anyone have any firsthand recommendations for the in-room sitting services?

And then the alternate question - am I missing an obvious venue? Something close by? I also offered to hire a passenger van for the night, but then the baby seat conversation started up...argh, so that may not be very easy either. Serenity now! Or should I just play the hijacker, plan this thing with my one cooperative sister, and then tell the others later?

Any help would be appreciated. But whatever you do, please don't text me and tell me that so-and-so is selfish....although you can tell me I'm being stubborn about the private room

THANK YOU!

 

[bigr3ddog]

Have you looked at the wave at the contemporary? It has private rooms. It's not as fancy as your other choices, but given the babies, you really can't be too fancy.

I wouldn't recommend citricos for your party. It's really nice, but it isn't a good fit for kids, and twelve already is kind of a squeeze there.

'Ohana would be good, but it's not private.

The other options for private dining are further away but may be worth the trip. The attic in the boardwalk would suit a party your size well, and Ariel's would work too, although I think Ariel's might be a bit too big for 14. You would have to design your own menu, but that shouldn't be too hard. You can basically pick what you like.

 

[andeesings]

I like the California grill for a number of reasons--

1- It's a nice private room, and doesn't it also have access to a nice balcony to watch Wishes?

2- You can take a boat there from the WL. Which will be VERY convenient for you and your family, and will also conceal the fact it's a party because you can just tell your parents it's a reservation and the Cali Grill.

3- since it IS in the Cali Grill, planning a menu really isn't going to be a trial since you've got to work from their existing menu.

While it might be more expensive, if you're having all this trouble, there IS something to be said for convenience!!!

 

[2vets]

Wait, the Wave has private rooms? I thought you had to use the actual restaurant as a venue during the day? I haven't seen anything about that anywhere! That would be awesome.

If we do Citricos, the only kids would be 5 and 8, and they are fairly sophisticated. They'll be easy. I have one sister with a baby that is basically not even replying to inquiries about what we must do to to ensure she'll be there (she didn't get her hotel choice, which admittedly was the Contemporary and would have been much easier...but she got outvoted. Argh.) The other sister has a baby and a toddler, and she is game to leave them with a sitter. So right now, Citricos is a possibility, but you can see why it's getting tough to get all the siblings to fall in line.

I went with Sonoma (which has a "bridge", as it was described to me, for Wishes viewing), but I am getting pushback about money that may not need to be spent. I agree - the convenience is a consideration, but the rest of my family (except the sister who wanted the Contemporary) is not as Disney savvy. At first, one sibling wanted to do a table for 14 at Jikos. From WL. Just not practical with our group AND not private. Of course, that sibling is now super-pissy and has booked a completely separate table for 12 at the CG restaurant just to "cover our bases."

Argh. Seriously!

Thanks you guys. I really appreciate the replies.

 

[lcataldimay]

We have used Kids Nite Out in the past and loved them. Our son has autism and the sitter was great with him. She came to the room. We to her she could take him around the resort, but they can't take them to the parks or pools.

We are doing a vow renewal in March and have once again booked them to help during the ceremony and watch our newest addition while we go to dinner. I highly recommend Kids Nite Out.

Good luck with the planning.

 

[bigr3ddog]

Wait, the Wave has private rooms? I thought you had to use the actual restaurant as a venue during the day? I haven't seen anything about that anywhere! That would be awesome. If we do Citricos, the only kids would be 5 and 8, and they are fairly sophisticated. They'll be easy. I have one sister with a baby that is basically not even replying to inquiries about what we must do to to ensure she'll be there (she didn't get her hotel choice, which admittedly was the Contemporary and would have been much easier...but she got outvoted. Argh.) The other sister has a baby and a toddler, and she is game to leave them with a sitter. So right now, Citricos is a possibility, but you can see why it's getting tough to get all the siblings to fall in line. I went with Sonoma (which has a "bridge", as it was described to me, for Wishes viewing), but I am getting pushback about money that may not need to be spent. I agree - the convenience is a consideration, but the rest of my family (except the sister who wanted the Contemporary) is not as Disney savvy. At first, one sibling wanted to do a table for 14 at Jikos. From WL. Just not practical with our group AND not private. Of course, that sibling is now super-pissy and has booked a completely separate table for 12 at the CG restaurant just to "cover our bases." Argh. Seriously! Thanks you guys. I really appreciate the replies.

Yes, the wave has private rooms. Smaller room holds up to 35. Bigger one does 36-50. However, for dinner, there is a $1500 minimum food and beverage expenditure. If you're doing lunch: it's only a $400 minimum.

Jiko also has private rooms, but as you said, it's quite a trek there from wilderness lodge.

 

[bigr3ddog]

Oh if you can get your party down to 12, then citricos is a real steal with a minimum of $600 for dinner.

 

[2vets]

Citricos would be great, but I have one sister that won't commit to bringing or not bringing her baby. We can't get any replies out of her at all. I'll pass on the Kids' Nite Out rec- thanks for that, as well.

I called the Wave last night (THANK YOU!!), and they are sending me info...but my brother has already decided he doesn't want that menu.

I am appalled at my siblings right now. All this for what will probably amount to an extra $700 or so in expenditures - yep, you actually have to pay for a private room, kids.

Anyways, I am probably just going to sneak around behind backs to plan this. But thanks so much for the recommendations and letting me vent. I'll stop now - this is the happy wedding board! The best thing about this - my parents have made it to 50 years! 50!!! How incredible!

 

[andeesings]

Vent away!!! I think a 50th Anniversary party is totally appropriate for this board and I'd be curious to see how your planning comes along!

 

[Lorelei528]

Jiko also has a private room (the Wine Room). You can do half of it, which I think has a $1500 food and bev. min.

That's where we had our Escape Wedding Dinner Reception..

 

[2vets]

Jiko's wine room is beautiful, but it is just going to be rough with our group to get over there.

It seems a milestone has been reached this morning - we have an agreement. Thank goodness, because I was starting to lose it. I think they all saw that I was going to give the "honor" to one of them, and things immediately straightened up!

Plan A: I emailed the planner and beg one more time to ask Cali Grill to allow us to order off of the regular menu and just guarantee payment of their required minimum. We have such a small group (9 adults and 2 kids really eating regular food) that I really don't get why this is such an issue. They will make easy money that way! If (when) they say no, then plan B: a friend will accompany one of my sisters on the trip and will babysit the smallest babies in the hotel room during dinner (and I will be sending them something wonderful to the room to say thank you), so we can eat at Citricos' Chef's Domain. I prefer Plan A, even if it is more $, simply because there is lots more room for the kids when they get restless, plus easy access for us from WL and a water view and private access to a place to view the fireworks. And no one to rush us.