Orlando - Group Dinner for Company

Can anyone suggest a decent restaurant to hold a group dinner for company employees?

We're about 10-12 people with a budget of roughly $35 per person, and need to do a fixed pre-planned meal so the ordering doesn't go over budget. Ideally, we'd like a restaurant with a private dining room or area to accommodate us.

Our base is around the Gaylord Palms Resort, so we don't want to travel too far from that area, and we will consider a Disney location.

I believe Disney has a banquet office you could call. $35 should get you something decent at one of their hotel restaurants.

They also have the ability to book a special viewing area for the Epcot fireworks. I don't know how much that costs, but those areas are used a lot for corporate functions.

I would imagine that if you took the viewing area your restaurants choices would be in one of the hotels in the immediate Epcot area, but I'm not sure. They may take you to a special parking area behind the scenes and walk you into the park.

Great! Thank you for the advise...this sounds like a good plan.

I believe Disney has a banquet office you could call. $35 should get you something decent at one of their hotel restaurants.

They also have the ability to book a special viewing area for the Epcot fireworks. I don't know how much that costs, but those areas are used a lot for corporate functions.

I would imagine that if you took the viewing area your restaurants choices would be in one of the hotels in the immediate Epcot area, but I'm not sure. They may take you to a special parking area behind the scenes and walk you into the park.

You might be able to pull off dessert at Epcot with a viewing package and be reasonably within budget, but that's only if you were planning on park admission anyway.

A full meal in a private dining room at an on-property Disney hotel will blow your budget considerably. This link is wedding oriented but should give you an idea of what you're up against:

http://www.mouseweddings.com/weddingrestaurants.html

Instead my recommendation would be Seasons 52 (http://www.seasons52.com/default.asp).

Maybe there's a chance at one of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, or one along the Boardwalk. Or maybe something in Downtown Disney.

Maybe there's a chance at one of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, or one along the Boardwalk. Or maybe something in Downtown Disney.

We did the boardwalk last year - it was nice, but if our VP is not coming along (to pay), it's over budget.

I like Seasons 52 - I'm at my local ones in South Florida quite often, but the portion sizes are probably going to leave my coworkers eating each other by the time dinner is over.

We did the boardwalk last year - it was nice, but if our VP is not coming along (to pay), it's over budget.

I like Seasons 52 - I'm at my local ones in South Florida quite often, but the portion sizes are probably going to leave my coworkers eating each other by the time dinner is over.

Will all of your guests be from South Florida as well? It's pretty hard to find a decent, relatively inexpensive non-chain restaurant in the (extra) touristy part of Orlando. Roy's (http://www.roysrestaurant.com/index.asp) may be a good idea if it is new to most.

If you do go to a Disney-related restaurant, be sure to look at the bottom of this page for discount availability; you could save up to 20%:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

"CAN I GET ANY DISCOUNTS?
There aren't many, but there are a few programs or memberships that can save you a few dollars when you're dining at Walt Disney World:

Annual Passholders
Disney Dining Experience
Disney Vacation Club
WDW Discounts"

Will all of your guests be from South Florida as well? It's pretty hard to find a decent, relatively inexpensive non-chain restaurant in the (extra) touristy part of Orlando. Roy's (http://www.roysrestaurant.com/index.asp) may be a good idea if it is new to most.

Everyone is either from South Florida, or lived here before - Roy's sounds good, but probably over budget. I'm going to see if WDW can do something for us depending on how many people are going, or I'll just pray the VP will be there and expense a larger dinner with no cap - our Las Vegas dinner was around 200/pp on his expense account vs. the 35/pp my manager is permitted.

$35 is a tough number. Is more than you need for Sizzler or Ponderosa (or other cheap buffets), but not really enough to do much better (especially if drinks are part of that). Even a Texas de Brazil is $50 pp (and I think that is before drinks).

I go to a lot of group events and the only places I have seen do stripped down meals that might fight this budget are the Italian places - Maggiano's and Buca di Beppo. They can do a fixed price meal that is heavy on salads, offers a pasta or two, includes a dessert and has water/lemondade/tea. Does ok for the women, though usually a little light for the guys (usually remedied with a hamburger on the way home).

Maybe also check out the Melting Pot? They have a lot of options on their menu since it is all group-oriented. And here is my off the wall suggestion... check into Arabian Nights (http://www.arabian-nights.com/) or Medieval Times (http://www.medievaltimes.com/). I think you can get discount Arabian Nights tickets for $25 pp. Medieval discount tickets will be slightly more - like $45 - but perhaps you can expense that as something other than a meal? Both include dinner.

Forgot one other suggestion. I stayed at the Gaylord Palms Orlando in November and I think their Villa de Flora restaurant is a buffet and was just north of $30 pp (like $32 or something). Talk to the group sales manager and you may be able to get some drinks thrown in or get the price slightly reduced.

Forgot one other suggestion. I stayed at the Gaylord Palms Orlando in November and I think their Villa de Flora restaurant is a buffet and was just north of $30 pp (like $32 or something). Talk to the group sales manager and you may be able to get some drinks thrown in or get the price slightly reduced.

Our event is at the GP, so I think we want to move offsite for the dinner. Personally, I like idea of a buffet - people can eat as much or little as they like without going over budget - but some prefer the longer and more formal ambiance of a sitdown dinner.

A buffet that we consistently enjoy is the Garden Grove at the Disney Swan hotel (considered one of the Epcot resort hotels). The selection of entrees, salad bar, and desserts is first rate. (The prime rib is especially good.)

What's more, the adult price is only $29/person. The room housing the restaurant is a tastefully colorful affair with a soaring domed ceiling.

Even nicer, since you're SPG Platinum: The restaurant is in a Westin property, and you can get Starwood points (plus the SPG multiple) for the meal expenditure. (Just make sure you tell your server that you want the points.)

I think I'm going to give BOMA a try at the Animal Kingdom. The dinner buffet menu looks very interesting and the place got stellar reviews at yelp.com

Now I just need to secure reservations...which might not be easy.

Boma is a great choice, if you indeed can get a reservation for your large group. I have never thought it was as amazingly good as most people seem to, but it's still quite good.

One thing you'll face is that at least some members of your party will complain about going to such an exotic place. Assure them that, in addition to the very interesting and generally delicious exotic items, there are plenty of recognizable American buffet staples to satisfy even the most tame of diners. Everyone should enjoy it!

I think I'm going to give BOMA a try at the Animal Kingdom. The dinner buffet menu looks very interesting and the place got stellar reviews at yelp.com

Now I just need to secure reservations...which might not be easy.

Excellent choice! Since you had mentioned a preference for private dining, be advised that Boma is a loud restaurant when it is full. I prefer to get there at opening myself when things are much lower key.

By the way, Boma is at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (the hotel), not Animal Kingdom (the park).

Since I'll likely be on hold for most of the morning while making this reservation, I better ask the question here: if the restaurant is located in the hotel, does that confirm my guests will not need to purchase park admission tickets to get to the restaurant?

I didn't plan for that contingency...so I hope it's not the case.

They do not have to purchase admission. Also they will be able to roam around the grounds and see the animals in the hotel's version of the safari.

They do not have to purchase admission. Also they will be able to roam around the grounds and see the animals in the hotel's version of the safari.

Excellent, and good timing :) I just finished my reservation and we're good to go.

As a FL resident, you can join the Disney Dining Experience ($85 a year) and get 20% off food and beverage including alcohol for the first 10 people:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

It may take a day or so, so call soon.