Restaurant advice for non Disney in laws

[FSU Girl]

I’m going back to Disney in February and my dining date is coming up soon. My in-laws might be joining us. They aren’t fans of Disney and have a lot of mobility issues, but were a bit jealous my parents went when we recently went to celebrate my baby’s first birthday and had such a good time. We did invite them and they had said no but I think they thought my parents wouldn’t have enjoyed the week so now are saying they will come in February.

I’m not sure if they’ll go into the parks because they both have mobility issues and my FIL can only use a wheel chair and she’d probably need a scooter if we went in the parks which complicates stuff so I recommended they relax at the hotel and we do some meals with them as a more low key trip for them.

So where should we take them? I’m not sure I want to repeat any of the places we went this past week since the trips are close together, but I’m open to any options. My MIL talks about not liking Disney all the time so I’m not sure they’d enjoy a character meal with us, but the kids love them so we are definitely doing some. They also don’t want to plan anything or give me any feed back so I’m on my own to figure what they like out lol.

We’ll be at the new poly tower so monorail hotels would probably be easiest for them and not having to drive somewhere.

 

[sponica]

Honestly, what do they like to eat while at home? I'd find a place that serves that.

My MIL is the PICKIEST eater in the world, so they stick with LTT and Garden Grill dinner.

 

[FSU Girl]

Honestly, what do they like to eat while at home? I'd find a place that serves that.

My MIL is the PICKIEST eater in the world, so they stick with LTT and Garden Grill dinner.

Very meat and potatoes type nothing fancy. Would help if they’d look at menus but that’ll never happen

 

[sponica]

Very meat and potatoes type nothing fancy. Would help if they’d look at menus but that’ll never happen

Book a couple places that fit what they usually like and leave it at that.

 

[Disneylover99]

So where should we take them? I’m not sure I want to repeat any of the places we went this past week since the trips are close together, but I’m open to any options. My MIL talks about not liking Disney all the time so I’m not sure they’d enjoy a char

Where did you dine?

 

[jcolvin5]

I think many of the steakhouses fit that meat and potatoes, traditional description. Le Cellier, Steakhouse 71 and Yachtsman Steakhouse come to mind. All are accessible, but I'd say SH 71 is the easier to get to from the monorail.

 

[Disneylover99]

I know they haven’t released a menu yet, but you’ll probably want to try the Wailulu Bar and Grill since you’ll be in the new Poly tower.

 

[FSU Girl]

Where did you dine?

Garden Grill, yak and Yeti, Flying Fish, Topolinos, Cinderellas Royal Table, Citricos, Ohana for breakfast, and Jiko

 

[FSU Girl]

I think many of the steakhouses fit that meat and potatoes, traditional description. Le Cellier, Steakhouse 71 and Yachtsman Steakhouse come to mind. All are accessible, but I'd say SH 71 is the easier to get to from the monorail.

Yes they’d probably like that. I love Le Cellier but last time I went I remember the tables really close together so that would probably be hard on them

 

[Nancyg56]

I think I would choose Steakhouse 71 and Grand Floridian Cafe.

Uber to one of the Boardwalk resorts and have dinner at one of the Yacht Club restaurants or at All Forno. Uber to the one closest to the one you choose.

 

[FSU Girl]

I know they haven’t released a menu yet, but you’ll probably want to try the Wailulu Bar and Grill since you’ll be in the new Poly tower.

Ya that would be really convenient. Hopefully the menu is good! Although if it’s similar to the stuff at polys current stuff it’s probably too adventurous for them

 

[Disneylover99]

Maybe book a character meal on the monorail line like 1900 Park Faire or Chef Mickeys and ask them if they’d care to join you.

 

[ftbaker1313]

Shula's at the swan and dolphin

 

[Lewisc]

Steakhouse 71 is the best choice
Menu and location.

Will you have a car? Restaurants at Swan Dolphin will validate parking

 

[FSU Girl]

We will but they are considering use the bright line train to get there so they won’t have to drive such a long distance. And our car has two car seats so no room to bring them too. They could probably Uber

 

[loves to dive]

I think Poly is probably going to be your most challenging food wise but it will be great non-Disney wise since the theming isn't over the top. You have easy access to GF and CR so there are options there for them and neither of those resorts are too heavily Disney themed. I'd stay away from those character meals with them, take the kids and let the in-laws enjoy the resort that meal. Push comes to shove they could do a kids meal at the QS at Poly, there shouldn't be anything over the top there. I'd also Uber over to the Epcot resorts. I stay at Swan/Dolphin a lot and there are a number of options there. I love the Fountain, it's sort of a cheaper less themed Beaches and Cream soda shop. The Epcot resorts tend to be a tad quieter than the monorail ones (other than GF) so those are options for relaxing meals. Those aren't over the top Disney themed either.

 

[hertamaniac]

To me, Geyser Point would be my recommendation.

When we eat there, I am hard pressed to think I am at Disney. So if anyone in your party doesn't want/like the Disney experience, this might fit the bill.

The menu is somewhat limited and not sure it's what you're looking for, but the food has always been excellent with fair pricing. The view and theme is wonderful but am not sure if there are direct buses from the monorail loop to WL (taking the boat might be challenging). Visiting in February should mean no bugs and maybe the overhead heaters are turned on. You can see the fireworks, the electrical parade and hear the music pumped in down by the lake (the last time we were there).

 

[JennyDrake]

Yes they’d probably like that. I love Le Cellier but last time I went I remember the tables really close together so that would probably be hard on them

I find almost ALL the WDW tables are crammed super close together anymore.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

First I would not overly cater to them.
They openly speak about not liking Disney but are basically going because they are jealous of your relationship with your parents and the fact that "they got to go" and they didn't even though they said they didn't want to.

I would suggest that you look into the non character options at the monorail resorts.
So Steakhouse 71 or Cali Grill may be good options.

They could also enjoy the bars/lounges at those resorts for a more adult experience especially if they do like alcoholic beverages.

But really if they don't appreciate the magic of Disney they may end up bringing you down with them.

 

[FSU Girl]

First I would not overly cater to them.
They openly speak about not liking Disney but are basically going because they are jealous of your relationship with your parents and the fact that "they got to go" and they didn't even though they said they didn't want to.

I would suggest that you look into the non character options at the monorail resorts.
So Steakhouse 71 or Cali Grill may be good options.

They could also enjoy the bars/lounges at those resorts for a more adult experience especially if they do like alcoholic beverages.

But really if they don't appreciate the magic of Disney they may end up bringing you down with them.

I hope not we had such an amazing week when we went with my parents it was so much fun. I think those restaurants would be good although Cali grill might be too fancy for them