20th Anniversary Dinner

[Niki Andiokno]

I just made reservations for our 20th wedding anniversary trip to WDW next year. We will be spending our actual anniversary in the World and are contemplating where to go for our anniversary dinner. I just can't convince DH to do Vic & Al's. I am now considering Bistro de Paris, where we had our very first WDW dinner back in 1994.

My question is whether anyone has celebrated an anniversary at Bistro? If so, what did they do special for you, if anything?

I know I am looking for Cast Members to go above the ordinary service for this date, which is special only to us. It is just that since I have been on this board I have seen so many cast members do really great things for guests on things like anniversaries, birthdays, even pre-school graduations. I have heard of special care even before this "What are you Celebrating" thing started.

We spent our 10 year anniversary at VWL back in 2001. We got a "Happy Anniversary" from the hostess at Artist's Pointe, but that was it the entire 10 days. A few years ago, I spent my 40th birthday in WDW at BWV. I got a button (which I dutifully wore) from BWV and one from Flying Fish. At Flying Fish, I was asked if I wanted a coke re-fill "to go" to celebrate my Birthday, but that was it. I think one CM in BW said Happy Birthday. That is it. Every trip report and dining report I read has CMs bending over backwards with "Happy Birthday/Anniversary" DH and I have received no such treatment.

I know I sound whiney, but I am so jealous of all of the magic others have received. DH also reads these reports and gets a bit bummed as well. He says they must hate Philippinos, (LOL a recurring theme for him.) I point out to him I am Irish, so that is no excuse. Many of our DVC friends come home telling us of great stuff they get like special desserts, champagne glasses, buttons, loads of well wishes by CMs(which he wants most of all) and other stuff. We have gotten no such luck.

I guess we just don't look lucky or friendly enough.

Since 20 years is a very special anniversary, I am trying to find a place that will mean something sentimental to us like the Bistro. I plan to order a special cake or glass slipper, but I am also hoping to get a little bit of that Disney Magic our friends and others seem to get.

Sorry to get off on my tangent, but my question really is:

My question is whether anyone has celebrated an anniversary at Bistro? If so, what did they do special for you, if anything?

 

[damiel]

O-kay here is my advice. Go to Victoria and Alberts! It is a big celebration and a once in a lifetime experience. Just bite the bullet and do it! If you must eat a few extra CS meals during the trip to make up for the extra cost.
We went for our 10 year anniversay and we still talk about it 13 years later. It is so worth it!
Most people never hit the 20 year mark so celebrate your acomplishment! Believe me they will make you feel special.
Just do it!

 

[rlovew]

We were at Bistro for our 11th Anniversary this past July- the only specail thing they did was tto write Happy Annivesary in chocolate one 1 of our desserts 9which we ordered and paid for). We weren't looking for anything at all so that was fine with us- I can't recommend anywhere in particular that would go all out for your anniversary. If you really want something specail you can order a cake but expecting it to just happen is setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) REGARDLESS of the eatery, celebrations are based upon the CM.
2) It can be a big deal, or just a shrug.
3) Even at V&A.
4) I would say to go where you want to eat.
5) Not where you EXPECT a celebration.

NOTE: If you want the celebration, arrange for a cake or even characters. Both are pricey, but it gets you what you desire.

 

[TheNewMrsB]

I know I am looking for Cast Members to go above the ordinary service for this date, which is special only to us.

You sort of hit the nail on the head there, whether you intended to or not.

Expecting or even wishing really hard for special treatment will, in my experience, only serve to let you down. It's your anniversary so you need to make it special for you.

Go to Bistro because it holds such fond memories for you, or go to V&A because, heck, it's your 20th goshdarned anniversary and you deserve it. But try not to think too much about special treatment. If they don't give it to you, your evening may be thrown off even if everything else is spectacular. And that would be a shame.

I am surprised, though, that you haven't gotten a ton of well wishes from the various CM's. Maybe soooo many people pass through with different buttons on, they just get tired of it after a while! I know that by the end of our honeymoon my face got tired from smiling back at them!

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

So as PP have mentioned, no matter where you go it is hit or miss.
I have heard others report of getting a special personalized menu at Narcoosees,
but for DH's 42nd birthday he did not.
We still had a marvelous time!

For our 20th anniversary last year we had ADRs for Cali Grill.
We were the first seating of the evening,
they gave us a window table and the table had castle glitter confetti all over it.

We had a lovely meal.
Enjoyed our food and the view, which was spectacular!
Our desserts that we ordered and paid for had a chocolate "Happy Anniversary" message on them.

We really don't like being the glaring center of attention,
so a lower-key celebration is fine with us.

If you focus on each other, then your night is sure to be special.

I too, have thought about ordering a cake.
But I am so fussy about cakes!

Guess I have tasted too many "pretty" cakes that don't taste very good!
Not at WDW, but everywhere else.
Honestly, I have never tasted a really good bakery cake.
And I hate how fondant tastes
So I worry about spending $$$ for a cake at WDW and then not liking it
Guess I'll keep making my own custom cakes as I know they'll taste amazing...

Congratulations on your anniversary, I hope it is magical!

 

[honeydiane1953]

I wouldn't go to V and A's. That's just me. California Grill or Shula's or The Wave would be nice for special occasion.

 

[Golf4food]

I would not do Cali Grill. Noisy, busy, loud, hectic, unromantic, only marginaly so IF you get a window seat for an early seating before the place goes nuts with all of the other 8 billion sycophants who want to see Wishes from the top of the CR...

If you can't/won't do V&A then I would suggest Bistro, one of the nice Swolphin restaurants like Shula's, Il Mulino, Bluezoo, or Jiko, which we find to be the most romantic of the Disney signature locations.

But I'd still push for V&A.

 

[Anthony1971]

If you feel Bistro is your special place I would call them directly and arrange something... all will work with you for a fee... but that said it is worth it for your day and this way you know what to expect.
I was at Disney for an anniversary on the day we ate at EPCOT.. Nothing special-- MK a LOT of CM's wished us a happy anniversary .. we wore the buttons the gave us when we checked in I think 3 of the 4 days we were there. We also got a free dessert one night a WCC... which my son ate it was only a small thing of ice cream..
My point as I said Disney will do anything for a fee and if you want the truly special day well pay for it --not in a bad way
And more true in EPCOT and Bistro as Disney does not own it....you will have a much better chance at other parks and mainly MK but do not expect it...

 

[guitarob]

I wouldn't do V&A's just because DH isn't interested. If you make him go somewhere he doesn't like, it could put a damper on the evening.

Like other posters have stated, don't "expect" anything. We've done our honeymoon and 1st anniversary at Disney and have gotten some special treatment at some places, but none at others. It really is luck of the draw.

I'll put in another recommendation for California Grill though. We did our honeymoon special dinner there, our anniversary dinner there last year and are returning this year for another anniversary dinner. We think it's a really special place. If it's loud or whatnot, we've never noticed, we just tune out everything else and enjoy our time there. We always linger over that meal. I think last year we were there for over two hours.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!