Help! Torn between Flying Fish and Yachtsman's Steakhouse...

Ariel Wanna-be

“And when my time is up, have I done enough?”
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
....which one should I pick? It will be just DH and I (the night before DS arrives).

Priorities:
1. walking distance from World Showcase
2. good food
3. more casual dress (we'll be coming from Epcot...DH will be in jeans, I'll be in capris - at which restaurant will we "fit in" better?)
4. good atmosphere

TIA!

.
 
This is going to be a very unhelpful answer :)

I love Yachtsman and my husband love's Flying Fish.

They are both an easy walk from World Showcase. At both restaurants, you will find people who have come straight from the parks.

I would just recommend looking at the menus and finding which has items that appeal to you the most. I don't eat seafood, so Flying Fish is not a top-choice for me.

Either way, you can't go wrong!
 
Both of the restaurants are roughly the same distance from Epcot. Flying Fish alittle farther. You can catch the boat to them & it is a pleasant ride over there. I love sitting in the back of the boat & riding over there.

Both places some folks dress causal straight from the parks & both places folks are dressed up for a night out that evening.

Flying Fish is smaller than Yachtman's & in atmosphere I see little difference.

Foodwise however is a big difference for us.

Folks rave about Yachtman's so we tried it. Neither really liked it much. We skipped a visit & then tried it again. Odered different things but we both still agreed it just isn't our favorite place. I feel we are in the minority on this but we marked it off our repeat list.

Flying Fish, folks rave about also. So we tried it about 4 or 5 trips back. Wow! the food is outstanding. We repeat Flying Fish every trip & it is always awesome. It is one of our favorite restaurants there.
 
I really disliked Yachtsman one of the only restaurants at Disney I refuse to go back to...

But Flying Fish is OUTSTANDING that Jiko and California grill are my three favorite restaurants on property :cool1:
 


I'd vote for FF over Yachtsman based on your criteria:

1. The walking distance is pretty much a wash from Epcot's International Gateway. FF might even be a little closer, but I'm mostly basing that on running laps around the Boardwalk and that's not as precise a distance from the actual gate.

2. The food is better across the board. You will not have the same range of steak choices at FF as you will at Yachtsman, but you will find fish, shellfish, beef, and pork dishes at FF that are all fantastic.

3. Dress is a mixed bag at both restaurants. My sense is that FF can be a little more varied, but they are both signature restaurants and attract both the park-dressed crowd and the going-out-dressed crowd. I think you will feel fine in either place.

4. FF can be boisterous during peak dining times, and quiet and romantic during the later dinner hours. As long as you know what to expect, I think the atmosphere is great, as is the service. Yachtsman feels stuffier to me, but if you want the sedate steakhouse experience, it can be had there. It can still get loud during the peak dining times, and I find the decor a little less than signature-ish, but they put out a good product.
 
I have eaten at both +/- 6 times.

Flying Fish on a bad night is better than Yachtsman on a good night. Although I think the atmosphere is a little better (as in quieter) at Yachtsman, the food is much better at Flying Fish.
 


....which one should I pick? It will be just DH and I (the night before DS arrives).

Priorities:
1. walking distance from World Showcase
2. good food
3. more casual dress (we'll be coming from Epcot...DH will be in jeans, I'll be in capris - at which restaurant will we "fit in" better?)
4. good atmosphere

TIA!

.

As the PP said, based on your criteria I would also recommend FF.

1. Both are about the same walking distance from World Showcase, but FF is "closer" via boat. You walk up the dock and across the walkway is the entrance to FF. BW is also the first stop after leaving Epcot. The YC is the second stop and the dock is set out into the lake (so a slightly longer walk).

2. The food at FF is very good and varied. The calamari and crab cakes are excellent, as is the potato wrapped snapper. At Yachtsman, the primary focus of the food is steaks. The steaks were good and well-cooked, but they were still steaks (nothing really extraordinary about them). The sides were...um...interesting...(I did not like bone marrow).

3. You'll be fine in either. I didn't notice any major difference in the dress at either place.

4. Atmosphere can mean many things. I liked the decor at FF. Yachtsman was confused whether the theme was nautical or cowboy.
 
I think both are about the same based on your criteria. The question I would ask is what type of food do you like and what atmosphere. We have been to FF 3 times, it is brighter and louder. We have also been to Yachtsman 3 times, it is more quiet and romantic. My husband is big red meat fan and loves the Yachtsman and I find it extremely good. My favorite food in the world is scallops and am a huge fan of other seafood. I adore the FF. My husband like FF but does not love it. I know I probly have not been of much help but I think you need to look at the menus and see what food appeals to your personal taste.
 
Blue Zoo!
I'm with Grumpy!

But if it's got to be between the 2, Flying Fish's menu is heavy on seafood and Yachtsmen heavy on meats, otherwise there pretty similar in atmosphere etc. So what are you in the mood for, fish/seafood or steak!
 
I'd vote for FF over Yachtsman based on your criteria:

1. The walking distance is pretty much a wash from Epcot's International Gateway. FF might even be a little closer, but I'm mostly basing that on running laps around the Boardwalk and that's not as precise a distance from the actual gate.

2. The food is better across the board. You will not have the same range of steak choices at FF as you will at Yachtsman, but you will find fish, shellfish, beef, and pork dishes at FF that are all fantastic.

3. Dress is a mixed bag at both restaurants. My sense is that FF can be a little more varied, but they are both signature restaurants and attract both the park-dressed crowd and the going-out-dressed crowd. I think you will feel fine in either place.

4. FF can be boisterous during peak dining times, and quiet and romantic during the later dinner hours. As long as you know what to expect, I think the atmosphere is great, as is the service. Yachtsman feels stuffier to me, but if you want the sedate steakhouse experience, it can be had there. It can still get loud during the peak dining times, and I find the decor a little less than signature-ish, but they put out a good product.

Great detailed analysis. Agree with everything written here.

I have eaten at both +/- 6 times.

Flying Fish on a bad night is better than Yachtsman on a good night. Although I think the atmosphere is a little better (as in quieter) at Yachtsman, the food is much better at Flying Fish.

Great summary. Agree with it as well.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts

Top