Planning for 8 - Don't want to disappoint!

[NSL]

I have the responsibility of planning dining reservations for a party of 8. My family (DH, DS-9, DD-6) are regulars to Disney, but for this trip we are bringing my DM, DD, DB, and DSIL. My DB and DSIL have never been to Disney and this will be my parents second trip. Their first trip much shorter, with us as well and of course I planned. My family has a few favorites that we will not want to miss, but with 9 nights I have a lot of meals to plan. We will be on the regular DP. Meals that we don't want to miss are:

Boma for breakfast
LeCellier (if I can get a ressie for 8) for dinner
Kona for dinner

My mom is super picky, and does not like any real different foods. My dad loves all types of food, but is now diabetic. My DB and DSIL are adventurous, but also picky. See my dilema? Would LOVE all opinions and suggestions. Thanks for helping me plan!

 

[pumba]

yup you are in a pickle....I would think with the kids and picky mama.......maybe restaurants that are more American. Maybe Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace. If you do that then your dad that is a diabetic, he can pick and choose good options. I am a diabetic too so I tried to eat at the right time and limit carb choices. We did go to the Tutto Italia in Epcot and we had the steak entree which was delicious. SO some could do the pasta choices and there is salmon and steak entrees too.........it was delicious....Biergarten had quite a few choices that were not sausages or things like that........we really enjoyed that ...Hope you all have a great time Planning....

 

[FireDancer]

I think your best bet will be buffets. Biergarten and Crystal Palace are probably the most "normal" but my favorite is Boma. While there are a lot of "exotic" foods on the buffet there are also a lot of normal options and even the pickiest eaters I have brought there (and I go every trip) have left loving the place.

A buffet allows people to go get what they want when they want it. The adventurous can try new things while the picky grab the staples they know they will like. I have also found that picky eaters are more adventurous at a buffet because they can grab something and if they don't like it get something else. If it is a standard restaurant they can't do that and they often get scared into an old stand.

 

[aggielawyer]

My parents took the whole family in December '08 and we had a similar group to yours: 7 adults and my nephew who was 2 1/2. My sister is extremely picky, as in when she gets a hamburger it is meat and bread only. We had reservations for Teppan Edo, Biergarten, Marrakesh, Spoodles (now closed), and 'Ohana. We didn't have any trouble with seating for our group and my sister seemed to be able to find things she would eat. She wasn't feeling well the night we went to Marrakesh, so she didn't try that one.

I understand feeling responsible for planning. Since I'm the ultra-planner, I actually annoyed some of my family with my efforts to get them to make a decision. I think by the 2nd day of the trip they'd come to understand but gave me plenty of grief about it beforehand. I think what I did was send a link to the list of restaurants, and told them that we needed to make dining reservations by a certain date. I asked them to send me their top two choices, but if they didn't want to be involved in the decision making process that was ok too.

When it came to the trip, we agreed that we'd all meet up for dinner but other than that we were free to follow our own schedule. We ended up spending quite a bit of time together but everyone understood that it wasn't mandatory. We had a blast. Have fun on your trip.

 

[curemyreed]

I'm going to also recommend buffets. I think people sometimes don't consider them due to character buffets & thinking those are really geared toward children. But I just love the choices at the buffets at Disney. DH & I have a few we have to go to even if the kids aren't with us, just because we like the foods and the ability to choose from a variety of items. And, if Tigger happens to come by and hug your neck, all the better!!! Just thinking between six different adult palettes surely everyone would find something to please them.

 

[karliebug]

ohanas, or for lots of family fun do the Hoop de doo review dinner show

 

[jfelcie]

I am also planning for a party of eight. Half of our party does not eat meat! I picked up a copy of Walt Disney World Dining Guide (Birnbaum Guides) It is very helpful.

 

[Atchley]

May I suggest splitting up for a few meals? Togetherness for 9 days can get to be a little much. Maybe everyone would enjoy a meal with their family or significant other. Just a suggestion. That away everyone can get a meal or two that they want and be happy.

 

[NSL]

Thanks for all your responses. I think the idea of splitting up a couple of times may be a good choice, I just wonder how I should ask them if they would like to. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I know my mom would be with us all the time if she could, even at home. I think Ohana's would be kind of fun one day. As one poster said, it is a lot of pressure to put all the planning on one person. I feel really bad when things don't go as planned. Also, newbies do not get the advanced planning for WDW. They think you are crazy when you say you have to book ADRs 180 days in advance. Any more ideas, keep them coming!

 

[aggielawyer]

May I suggest splitting up for a few meals? Togetherness for 9 days can get to be a little much. Maybe everyone would enjoy a meal with their family or significant other. Just a suggestion. That away everyone can get a meal or two that they want and be happy.

In our situation, only my brother is married. He and his wife (who were the main ones resisting the planning) decided to do one meal on their own. The rest of us took my nephew and went to Biergarten. They didn't want to make ADRs for their meal, so I was very slightly hoping they wouldn't get in anywhere. But they did at either Citricos or Narcoosees and had a lovely 'date night.'