Hi Cynthia
I've been lurking on this TR and commented a couple of times on the "How do we stay so happy" TR, love them both, sad to see this one coming to an end.
As far as ADR recs, they might like 50's Prime Time Cafe...lots of down-home cooking, not a lot of funny sauces. Just an idea.
Hi and
LOL, the downhome cooking is actually not at all what her youngest will eat, but even if it was, at PTC she'll be stuck with the kids menu which has nothing on it she'd touch except maybe the chicken noodle soup appetizer. I had that pretty high up on the list until I looked at the kids menu. When we went to PTC, those of us not on the kids menu loved our meals but the E's were less than thrilled with theirs.
Alex & I are super picky eaters so we generally go with the more basic restaurants. Here are our favorites:
MK - Crystal Palace breakfast & Chef Mickey's dinner
Epcot - Teppan Edo - they can skip the seeds in the noodles if they ask & the chicken & steaks are pretty basic. I think they should give it a try. They also serve white rice - a favorite of mine. 
We also like Le Cellier but would stick with lunch due to the credits.
DHS - 50s Prime Time for sure! We didn't really like Mama Melrose's but if plain pasta is what they are looking for, then maybe?? Sci Fi was pretty basic food, but not a good bang for your buck with the DDP - a decent lunch option (maybe even OOP as an alternative to a CS meal if they would be short on CS credits?). Would they want to do a Fantasmic dinner package? If so, Mama Melrose's is probably the way to go - better than Hollywood & Vine.
AK - The only TS we've done there is Tusker House breakfast but it's a little exotic as far as buffets go. I'd probably stick with CS there.
I think 1900 is a good princess meal when there's a boy involved. 
Anyways... I think you have some great choices & they will have a great time with your planning help!
I'll run Teppan by her, she was so against Ohana that I discounted it as they don't like teriyaki but you never know. They are actually over on the TS based on their flight times and doing HP one day so may well end up moving to a 2 credit meal but if so it will probably be CRT. I do think 1900 is a better choice though.
I'll take it a step back and question if "free" dining is really the best choice for newbies with only 2 adults and 1 child getting dining? One for the money and two for tying them down to TS meals with picky eaters.
2 adults on the meal plan but it is one adult and 2 kids. It is the 9 year old who is super picky, 12 year old not so bad. I think it's a fair question. She does want to do several buffets and had planned to do sit down meals once a day already. Not to mention the fact as a single mom, she wants and needs some scheduled breaks in there.
Otherwise she'd be paying rack rate plus full buffet prices which is definitely pricier than the DDP kids meal price. Her original plan was do to POP but really didn't want the QSP at all. A PIN code would be a better fit for them but without any other offers out there, at present it's the best deal for them. This way she gets to upgrade to a mod and not think about the buffet prices for what she'd have paid for POP and OOP. Does she save over that option? Probably not, I've not costed it out, but it is the only way she'll be able to do a mod. If she gets a PIN code though, I'd probably recommend she switches, depending on the deal. Given that it's President's weekend, I'm doubtful that since free dining runs till the tail end, that they will offer anything else but you never know.
You have a lot of buffets and I think that is great! There is always something there for a picky eater- they can choose what they want.
Mama Melrose obviously has pasta and Le Cellier does as well! That is what my youngest ordered from the kids menu on our July 2010 trip. Pasta? Seriously? At a steak place?
I agree with you that the Park Faire is the best of the Princess/Character dinners for them.
What about Coral Reef? Not so much for the food as the atmosphere? Are there things on the menu that would interest the family? Disney didn't make that signature, did they?
I mentioned Coral Reef but it didn't appeal to her, I would think it would work but it's funny, I hadn't looked at the kids menu's in so long I forgot how awful and limiting they are. She's a very adventurous eater and doesn't want to be completely tied to just what the 9 year old will eat (as they'd all starve) but trying to balance it. I'd suggested HDDR but they don't like fried chicken or ribs! It does make me grateful for my own kids.
Cape May Cafe. there has got to be something there they would like and the location is great.
It's hard for me to believe that DD doesn't eat sandwiches.
I think CP or TH for breakfast is wonderful.
Via Napoli? Anything there?
Sci Fi???? Or too sandwichy?
I give up.
Anyway - I have seen most of your souvies!
but the ones I didn't see I really like!
Cape May is on the list I sent her, both for breakfast and dinner. That said, giving her directions on how to get there seems more complicated than getting them to CM or 1900 Park Fare but would be a great breakfast if she can manage it. She's a bit overwhelmed by the concept of getting places right now so trying to keep that as simple as possible. Sci Fi is too sandwhichy (and a rip off for dinner on the DDP if you ask me). Via is definitely an option for them and is on the list she has.
My challenge with CP or TH for breakfast is that right now they have dinners booked at both so it would be duplicating... I had no idea her daughter was so bad but you know what? When I think back to HS, she was the same. An absolute nightmare. I think she lived on cereal and salad.
And they are both married with kids of their own now...actually with teenagers of their own
