Need help!!

[jazz0007]

We'll be at Disney Dec. 9-15 for the second time this year. These boards have made me think 2 trips a year is NORMAL!! Anyway, we're from WI and my entire family lives in the Orlando area. This time we decided we're not bringing car seats or renting a car! We're staying there and they can come see us! Soooooo.....where is the BEST restaurant for THEM to meet US? We'll be on the dining plan...but that doesn't matter much. I just don't want them to have to pay to get into a park only to eat. Opinions??????

 

[hildarumpole]

The resorts and Downtown Disney have some terrific restaurants. What's the age range of your group and what types of food do they like to eat?

 

[jazz0007]

Dh and I are 40-ish....2 kids..5 and 2....parents, 70'ish and brother 45 ish and maybe girlfriend will meet us. We eat anything and everything. Everyone is fun and "young."

 

[tluvstink]

The resorts have great options. 'Ohana at the Poly is fun. California Grill at the CR if you are looking for something a little more upscale. Trails End at Ft Wilderness might be a good option as well. You can hang out at Ft Wilderness after eating.

 

[Hopefully]

The resorts have a wide range of choices you can enjoy.
I second "OHana. We had a very good meal there and there are things to keep the kids entertained. If you time it correctly you can see Wishes from the restaurant as well as the Electrical Water Pageant on the lake. You could stroll the Poly grounds after dinner and visit.
Our favorite resort restaurant is Jiko at the AKL, but it is expensive and a bit more upscale. There were not many children there Friday night. You could arrive before sunset and walk out to the savannah overlooks and see the animals.
Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL gets lots of good reviews, but we have not eaten here. It is supposed to be a very fun atmosphere, with decent food.
The Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club is another good choice. It is a "clam bake" buffet with lots of choices. When we were there they kept the buffet full and fresh and we enjoyed it.
Spoodles at the Boardwalk also is a nice atmosphere. It is Mediterrainian food. The Boardwalk is a fun atmosphere, and you could explore the entertainment on the Boardwalk after dinner.
HTH

 

[Minniemouse07]

My ILs are meeting us FOUR times for dinner while we are visiting WDW in December, like you we will not be renting a car.

I picked the four restaurants and MIL said they were "fine." We'll see!

Chef Mickey's
Boatwrights (we are staying at POR)
1900 Park Fare
Whispering Canyon Cafe

We've only been to Chef Mickey's before..but for breakfast, so this is our first visit for dinner. We will be visiting the other restaurants for the first time.

I'm thinking that stepFIL isn't going to be thrilled w/ any of our choices, but I'm over it.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

We also have family in Orlando. We like Boma's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is a buffet with a huge selection and variety. The grounds are beautiful to explore. However, our all time favorite resort, during the holidays, is the Grand Floridian. It is beyond magical. From the hanging baskets of flowers to the reindeer and the astonishing tree, the Disney touch never seems to end. We always try to visit the gingerbread house inside the main lobby!

We always love catching the monorail and visiting all three resorts to see their Christmas decorations. If we are just talking food, then one of our favorite places to eat is at the Kona Cafe. I used to really enjoy eating at 'Ohana, but we have had two disappointing dining experiences there in a row. Others here on the boards have expressed similar problems. There are also those who have had wonderful experiences, so they seem to have become a hit and miss restaurant experience rather than a tried and true location.

Back to the Kona, we were there in September, and ate a great meal. We overlooked the lush atrium, our waiter was AMAZING. My glass never reached empty, not once! I had the Kona Salad and the Almond Chicken, both were great. The restaurant is much smaller than most at Disney and it seemed relatively overlooked. It wasn't crowded while we were there during the Free Dining promotion. I wonder if people see the word Cafe in the name and think it is just sandwiches and soups? They offer sandwiches and soups on the lunch menu, but for dinner, the offerings were expansive.


http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_kcd.htm

--Eeyore's Wife

 

[hildarumpole]

Jiko and Boma are geat choices at AK. At Grand Floridian, Narcoossee's is lovely. You can see the MK fireworks if you dine later in the evening. I believe they pipe in the music.

Ohana wouldn't be my first choice. We didn't have a good time. Food ranged from only o.k. to inedible. It was a big disappointment, especially considering the price charged. Service was mediocre. Whispering Canyon Cafe is another one that is simply fair and not worthwhile if you really want good food. Both restaurants are loud and chaotic.

At Downtown Disney, my family loves Raglan Road. I've heard House of Blues is good, too.

 

[MinnieTink]

I will add my votes for the Poly restaurants! Either Kona or Ohana would be great. We have eaten at both. IMO...the atmosphere is more fun at Ohana, but the food is better at Kona. (Not to say Ohana wasn't good, I just enjoyed Kona's food a bit more.)

Enjoy!

 

[WishesQueen]

I would also have to recommend Ohana's. The meal is good and the entertainment is fun. With a group of your size and kids you are definitely going to have a great time. Besides make the most of them meeting you, after dinner you could jump on the monorail and visit the GF and Contemporary and make a night of it, have a drink, coffee or visit the game rooms, even if the weather is bad. At the GF you can go down to the pier and see the water parade after you watch the fireworks from Gasprilla.

The Boardwalk is great fun too, and Spoodles is good not fun, but if the weather is against you there is nothing you can do other then ESPN.

I love downtown Disney too, Wolfgang cafe is delicious and you could walk for hours around there.

Its hard to choose......Have a great time.

 

[bnk1120]

Downtown Disney is a great place to meet relatives for dinner. However, many people who live in Orlando have "been there, done that, too many times" with the restaurants at DTD. Ohana would be different and sounds like a really fun place to go with a group who are all young at heart!!!