Night before the wedding dinner dilemma Pt 2

[Suzymouse]

Ok, If you've answered part 1 (or if you haven't, you can still help me here!), my next question is: where to have dinner?
.
A little background about our families-they haven't really ever gotten together as a group. I get along very well with DF's siblings. We currently all live right near each other and see each other fairly often. I've only met DF's mom a few times. She's a lovely woman, but I think we are both a little shy around each other. DF isn't so keen on my parents (long story), but he is certainly very pleasant to them when he sees them. My brother and his wife live in CA so DF has not even met him yet! (though I'm sure they will get along fine. DF doesn't have a dad. His mom has never met my parents. They come from very different backgrounds. My family is upper middle class, jewish, & tends to be judgemental at times (kept to themselves). His mom is from the countryside, non-religious christian, very simple & sweet, completely nonjudgemental, lower income & single, chatty, yet a little bit shy.

DF & I have narrowed it down to two places:
California Grill during Wishes or
1900 Park Fare character meal with Lady Tremain, the wicked stepsisters, Cinderella, & Prince Charming

Things I like about Cali Grill:
-It's upscale & romantic, and grown up
-Watching Wishes will be a nice treat for everyone
- Everyone will like the food

Things I like about 1900 Park Fare:
-Well, biggest thing really is the entertainment!
-It seems like a "break the ice" kind of atmosphere that will lessen the tension that might be brewing at the table, or lessen the stress for me on the night before the wedding!!
-Food will likely be mediocre, but thats ok with me.
*One worry-will it be too childish?

So, which would you pick for my families? If you wouldnt mind, please also reply with your rationale, suggestions, etc...

Thanks!!

 

[OceanGdss]

hmmm....i picked "other". Im sitting here trying to think of a different place, but I can say that I think California Grill will be TOO uptight and stressful for such a situation. (My mom sounds a lot like your DF's mom, and my DF's family sounds a lot like your family..minus their religion) I think your DF's mom would be very uncomfortable in that setting. High stress never leads to fun. A better location might be O'hanas? Its relaxed, but the dinner is not childish at all...and planned at the right time you can see Wishes! Thats just if you're wanting to stick around the MK area. There are a lot of other great places at WDW. Big River Brewery at BW has awesome food and a lovely outdoor seating area for people watching (imagine a nice steakhouse..but with a more relaxed atmosphere)..and with right timing you can see the sky fireworks of Illuminations. Hope I have been some help!

 

[OctoberBride]

I voted other. If I could pick an ice-breaker place it would be O'Hanas during Wishes. It's such a fun, laid-back, family-friendly environment with great food. The staff is so sweet and it's fun without being too loud. I also love that they play Wishes during the fireworks with a great view.

 

[SarahInMN]

I voted Cali Grill but I'm biased (our welcome dinner is going to be there).

1900 Park Fare...Food will likely be mediocre, but thats ok with me

I'd suggest going to a restaurant where you'll enjoy the food. O'hana's sounds like a good middle ground: good food but more casual than the Cali Grill.

On a sidenote, you are doing a great job trying to balance the needs of both your families (it sounds really complicated).

Good luck!!

 

[alissa2008]

I picked other as well... Check out Seasons52.com This is a great, light meal - especially good if you're trying to watch your weight (Df and I are doing ww).

Fresh, fun, light food - I've never heard a bad thing about them.

 

[Suzymouse]

hmmm....i picked "other". Im sitting here trying to think of a different place, but I can say that I think California Grill will be TOO uptight and stressful for such a situation. (My mom sounds a lot like your DF's mom, and my DF's family sounds a lot like your family..minus their religion) I think your DF's mom would be very uncomfortable in that setting. High stress never leads to fun. A better location might be O'hanas? Its relaxed, but the dinner is not childish at all...and planned at the right time you can see Wishes! Thats just if you're wanting to stick around the MK area. There are a lot of other great places at WDW. Big River Brewery at BW has awesome food and a lovely outdoor seating area for people watching (imagine a nice steakhouse..but with a more relaxed atmosphere)..and with right timing you can see the sky fireworks of Illuminations. Hope I have been some help!

Yes, you have been helpful. I've never been to Cali Grill & definately do not want a stuffy uptight atmosphere! DF's family is actually alot more fun & relaxed than my family. DF's mom does get shy sometimes, but now that I think about it, she is very comfortable when she is with her children. I'm really just trying to find a place that has a mixture of distracting entertainment and ability to converse with our own table.

Our families definately do clash in personality and that makes me nervous. & I know I'm being selfish here, but I do NOT want to be worrying about this on the night before our wedding! On DF's side, his brother, SIL, & sister are all very outgoing, friendly, don't need much to please or entertain them. DF's mom is very sweet and simple, but I know she will feel shy or intiidated by my parents. On my side, we've got my brother & SIL-my brother is extremely shy in social situations & SIL is Taiwanese and her English is just so-so. They are both very nice. My parents are a bit more uptight and "proper"

I don't like the food at O'hana's (not my taste), but I do like the idea of sticking with a resort restaurant.

 

[DecemberBride]

I picked O'hana's too, but I just read you don't like the food... so maybe you should go with 1900 Park Faire because it's fun and you'd be relaxed!

 

[lpizzuro123]

I would say 'Ohana or 1900 due to the fact that I believe these would definately feel more relaxed. Even if there is tension at the table, the characters at 1900 would ease some of these. 'Ohana has great food and there is usually an entertainer and games for the kids so this would also relieve the tenstion.

Linda

 

[Beep]

You didn't say whether anyone has been to Disney before so I voted other too. If you have family members that are judgemental they probably wouldn't appreciate the characters and if you have simpler tastes they might feel that the Cali Grill is not for them.

We've gone for House of Blues for our welcome dinner because it is very us and only two guests at our wedding have been to Disney before. We wanted to make sure the first experience they had of Disney parks and resorts was our wedding as we have had the usual 'Mickey Mouse' comments.

How about somewhere like Boma? The food is probably on a par with 1900 but with no characters, nice relaxed atmosphere and something for everyone.

 

[disprincessatheart]

How about the luau at the Poly? There's tons of entertainment there! Plus you can still watch Wishes.

 

[Suzymouse]

I picked other as well... Check out Seasons52.com This is a great, light meal - especially good if you're trying to watch your weight (Df and I are doing ww).

Fresh, fun, light food - I've never heard a bad thing about them.

Checked out this website, but we definately want to stay on site for dinner.

You didn't say whether anyone has been to Disney before so I voted other too. If you have family members that are judgemental they probably wouldn't appreciate the characters and if you have simpler tastes they might feel that the Cali Grill is not for them.

We've gone for House of Blues for our welcome dinner because it is very us and only two guests at our wedding have been to Disney before. We wanted to make sure the first experience they had of Disney parks and resorts was our wedding as we have had the usual 'Mickey Mouse' comments.

How about somewhere like Boma? The food is probably on a par with 1900 but with no characters, nice relaxed atmosphere and something for everyone.

Most of our guests have been to WDW at least once before. Pretty much everyone in both families love sushi. The judgmental ones in the family are usually pretty easy to please when it comes to menu. It's people that they are judgmental towards Though I do remember my dad getting a kick out of the characters when I was little. HoB sounds like a neat idea, but I'm not sure that it's "us"

How about the luau at the Poly? There's tons of entertainment there! Plus you can still watch Wishes.

Good idea, but I'm not a huge fan of the luau. Did it once before & I thought it was a waste of money. Also, a dinner show might not be the best for this situation because then they might not be given a chance to talk at all & that might make them feel uncomfortable. I want them to talk, but just be distracted by other things going on, in case it gets tense.

Plus, I want to feel as stress-free as possible!
I love the 1900 Park Fare idea, but I'm concerned that it might be too childish!

 

[OceanGdss]

I'm going to agree with you...I feel 1900 will be a little childish as well. But you don't care for O'hanas... hmmm.. I would say Concourse Steakhouse..but its closing on May31st of this year. But my DF recommends Narcoosees for your dinner. (yes...i explained the whole thing to him lol) He says it won't be "childish" at all, it will have AWESOME views of Wishes, and it won't be too "stuffed shirt" as he says lol. They have awesome food and the best service. And its quieter than any other location, allowing for more personal bonding time & conversation. HTH!

 

[Suzymouse]

Ok, we decided!! (thank goodness, since we only have 2 years to make this decision LOL! )

We are going with the California Grill Wishes fireworks dinner with family only.

We decided that everyone in our families will like the food, the fireworks will be a nice distracter in case they run out of things to talk about, & it's properly "grown up"

We are such little kids when we do WDW by ourselves, it didn't occur to us the 1900 Park Fare will likely be filled with screaming kids & not very appropriate for my stuck up family. We are gonna plan to go to 1900 during our HM when it's just the two of us.

Only thing DF was wondering is-what time are the fireworks? If they are at 9:30, he was thinking that might be too late to eat the night before our very early wedding day....plus my dad likes to eat early. What do you think?

Our plan B is to do the California Grill at sunset (might be a pretty view) instead of Wishes time.

Thoughts??
We are feeling good about

 

[Suzymouse]

Ok, we decided!! (thank goodness, since we only have 2 years to make this decision LOL! )

We are going with the California Grill Wishes fireworks dinner with family only.

We decided that everyone in our families will like the food, the fireworks will be a nice distracter in case they run out of things to talk about, & it's properly "grown up"

We are such little kids when we do WDW by ourselves, it didn't occur to us the 1900 Park Fare will likely be filled with screaming kids & not very appropriate for my stuck up family. We are gonna plan to go to 1900 during our HM when it's just the two of us.

Only thing DF was wondering is-what time are the fireworks? If they are at 9:30, he was thinking that might be too late to eat the night before our very early wedding day....plus my dad likes to eat early. What do you think?

Our plan B is to do the California Grill at sunset (might be a pretty view) instead of Wishes time.

Thoughts??

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[PrincessAngie30]

You have time to get your pops to adjust to a new eating schedule. Just kidding... It is your special time, I'm sure dad can grab a quick snack around 6 to tie him over and not complain much?
I am sure you will be excited enough to eat late and still bounce out of bed ready for your big day? If you think your family is more on the formal side of things you could ask them how they would prefer to do it, but let them know it will be your final say and you're just looking for suggestions.
If they all are against it, you may have a crabby bunch at your ceremony regardless how great and beautiful the fireworks were. HTH

 

[Suzymouse]

You have time to get your pops to adjust to a new eating schedule. Just kidding... It is your special time, I'm sure dad can grab a quick snack around 6 to tie him over and not complain much?
I am sure you will be excited enough to eat late and still bounce out of bed ready for your big day? If you think your family is more on the formal side of things you could ask them how they would prefer to do it, but let them know it will be your final say and you're just looking for suggestions.
If they all are against it, you may have a crabby bunch at your ceremony regardless how great and beautiful the fireworks were. HTH

Well, that's what I"m worried about is the crabbiness-uggh My DF has such an easy going family, my parents on the other hand can be a handful & once my dad is in a mood, it just carries over and uggh....they usually eat out with friends around 7:00/7:30pm, so I'm not sure how 9 or 9:30 will pan out.

We are starting to lean towards a sunset dinner, which is too bad because the fireworks would have been such a nice touch and really been a nice distracter. DF just made a good point though-a few times during our last WDW trip, Wishes fireworks were held around 7 or 7:30. I wonder how early in advance you can find out what time the FW are. We obviously won't need to know NOW! I just mean if we could find out when it comes time to make the ADRs. I guess I'll just ask my parents how they feel about whatever time it is.

I don't want to put them in charge of the dinner time, but my sanity on this night is too important!!