2TS Credit Meals - Opinions wanted.

[kelleigh1]

We are thinking of doing the DxDP on our next trip. (The whole trip will be a splurge / celebration.) We are in the very early stages of planning, but who doesn't plan a Disney trip in advance?

We are thinking that with all the credits on the DxDp, we will want to take advantage of some of the 2TS meals. This is the list that we are considering. (Note: the chances of us doing all of them are pretty slim, but these are the ones that appeal to me right now.)

Which do you love? Why?
Which do you hate? Why?
Are there any that I didn't list that you would say we "must try".

Artist Point

Jiko

Flying Fish

California Grill

Citrico's

Spirit of Aloha

Cinderella's Royal Table


It is just hubby and I. We are 40-something going on 6. We do like to try different things, although we do have our favorite foods too.

TIA!

 

[mickeynut1]

Out of your list we have only been to Artist Point, which was amazing and Spirit of Aloha, which we thought was also very good . One other signature we've tried is Yachtsman Steakhouse, which I would rank right up at the top with Artist Point....awesome filet at both places .

 

[Cafeen]

Artist Point - Very good. Beautiful resort, Smoked Portobello (I can never spell that word right, and Firefox doesn't help ) Mushroom soup is delicious (and I dislike mushrooms very much). Buffalo Tenderloin was quite good, as was the Oak Grilled Salmon (I had the tenderloin, so Salmon is 2nd hand info). Service was a tad on the slow side, but not horribly.

Jiko - Favorite dinner I had last year. Filet was great, Bobotie rolls were excellent. I could have passed on the dessert I chose, but that's more due to my taste that the quality of the dessert (was the Dutch Spice Cake). Server was in training and was getting frazzled a little after 4-5+ tables, but that's an unlikely situation. Restaurant (and Resort) is absolutely beautiful as well.

Flying Fish - Trying this year.

California Grill - Not interested. No particular reason, just doesn't jump out at me, and I only have a limited number of dinners available .

Citrico's - Tied with Jiko for best meal (and wins best dessert ). Again, beautiful restaurant, though it felt more like a lobby than a restaurant, may be a little too open. (It's not open to the lobby or anything, just seemed like one giant room with tables). Food was very good. Filet was perfect and the Warm Banana Torte was delicious.

Spirit of Aloha - Not my thing

Cinderella's Royal Table - As a single guy going solo, this would be creepy , plus, it's not really my thing either.

The only other place I ate (2TS-wise) last year was Yachtsman. It was quite good and the dessert was very good, but skipping it this year. Also trying Narcoossee's this year, though not a huge fan of seafood (and by "not a huge fan" I mean I wouldn't eat it if someone paid for my Disney trip... well, I might then, if only once and I could wash it down with a good steak or burger ) so we'll see how that goes.

I'd also keep your eyes out for Le Cellier reviews over the next while (it looks like you have over a year, so the newness of the changes should be settled by then). No one knows what it's going to be like, or what the menu will be, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

2TS meals we love:
Citricos is our first one b/c we had amazing meals there and 3 months ago it was my husband and I #1.
Flying Fish came in second.
We have gone to Narcoossee's and Jiko 3x and had great meals
We enjoy eating at Brown Derby
CRT is a 2 TS meal we liked eating in the castle for the experience but the food was so so.

 

[kelleigh1]

Thank you! Great info so far.

We have been to Le Cellier, and while we enjoyed it well enough, not sure it's worth 2 credits. I just feel like they are bumping it up because it's so popular.

We also dined at Narcoossee on our last trip and LOVED it. We timed it perfectly to see the Electrical Water Pageant and even though we were sitting on the upper level (away from windows), we could see it quite clearly. We are seafood fans though, so we both had the Maine lobster and really enjoyed it.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Thank you! Great info so far.

We have been to Le Cellier, and while we enjoyed it well enough, not sure it's worth 2 credits. I just feel like they are bumping it up because it's so popular.

We also dined at Narcoossee on our last trip and LOVED it. We timed it perfectly to see the Electrical Water Pageant and even though we were sitting on the upper level (away from windows), we could see it quite clearly. We are seafood fans though, so we both had the Maine lobster and really enjoyed it.

If you Loved Narcoossee's you'll Love Citricos (its better than Narcoossee's).
If you enjoyed LeCellier, go lunchtime if you can get an ADR.
Enjoy

 

[kelleigh1]

CRT is a 2 TS meal we liked eating in the castle for the experience but the food was so so.

That seems to be the going opinion, and we are prepared for that. I think we're looking at that one more for the experience than the food too.

 

[Pakey]

Artist Point-Not one of my favorites. The menu is "heavy" and that is not my dining style. The food is good, I just prefer to eat less hearty. The views out the windows are spectacular if you are there before or at sunset. The decor here is awful IMO but the views are great.

Jiko-Appetizers are better than the entrees, especially the soups. The entrees are good, just not as creative as the appetizers. Definitely the best soups at WDW. They have a wonderful wine selection that would be hard to find anywhere else.

Flying Fish-My favorite of Disney's signatures. They have a wonderful cheese plate that I always get. I've had the snapper, scallops and the tuna and they've all been very good.

California Grill-We sometimes go for the sushi. This is another restaurant where the appetizers truly outshine the entrees and they have a vast selection of appetizers. I've eaten here 6-8 times and have never been blown away by any entrees. This restaurant is a zoo before fireworks; we prefer to go after when it returns to a normal restaurant where you can hear each other talk. We love sushi and they do offer a decent quality and menu for that.

Citrico's-Probably the best of Disney's signatures to offer a quiet more adult atmosphere. If I did the dining plan (which I don't) and wanted a romantic dinner, this would be my top choice. The menu is limited but everything I've had here has been very good. Service has always been some of the best at Disney's restaurants.

Spirit of Aloha-never been. We have done several Hawaiian luau's so this doesn't interest us.

Cinderella's Royal Table-Not impressed at all.

We have dined at all of the signatures, V&A, Bistro, the Swan/Dolphin restaurants many times. My opinions towards Disney's restaurants are biased due to the superior quality of the places not on the dining plan (and my memory of when Disney's signatures were so much better than they are now).

 

[OhThePain]

Of your list, the only restaurant I would HIGHLY suggest you DON'T DO, is SoA. The food was subpar by Disney standards and the show was just downright boring. The few moments that the show is entertaining does not justify giving up valuable Disney time. My girlfriend and I were very disappointed. If you are looking to do a dinner show, HDDR is the only one I can rightfully suggest.

My girlfriend and I are huge fans of Jiko and FF. We always try to have a night where we go to FF, watch some of the performers on the Boardwalk then spend the night drinking and singing at JR's. It makes for a great night. After eating at Jiko on our last trip, my girlfriend fell in love with AKL and demanded that we stay there on our next trip. If you eat there, spend some time looking out over the savannahs and exploring the lodge.

CRT does not have the best food in the world, but it is worth the experience of eating in the castle at least once. CG is alright, not as special as it once was. There is a great view of Wishes. You don't need an ADR timed durring Wishes to see it either, if you can only get an earlier ADR all it takes is the dinner receipt to enjoy the view.

We plan on tring AP and Citricos on our next trip in October.

 

[kelleigh1]

Of your list, the only restaurant I would HIGHLY suggest you DON'T DO, is SoA. The food was subpar by Disney standards and the show was just downright boring. The few moments that the show is entertaining does not justify giving up valuable Disney time. My girlfriend and I were very disappointed. If you are looking to do a dinner show, HDDR is the only one I can rightfully suggest.

Thank you. I think the only reason why I've been considering this is because when we were kids, my aunt and uncle took all my cousins to WDW (my parents wouldn't let us take a week off school to drive to FL with them...and knowing my uncle and who he really is, we aren't upset about it), and I remember seeing their photos and videos and the Luau just looked like so much fun. It was the one thing that has stuck with me all these years later and I always thought I'd stay at the Polynesian and get to see the Luau. But even reading the description in the various books/websites, I have been second-quessing it.

 

[MrsLS]

We never do 3 TS a day on the deluxe plan, always do a 2 TS and a 1 TS a day. Of your choices I love Cali Grill & Flying Fish. My other favorite is Brown Derby, which isn't on your list.
Jiko & Artist Point are okay. I like Citricos better compared to those 2. & I never did CRT or the Poly show.

 

[OhThePain]

Thank you. I think the only reason why I've been considering this is because when we were kids, my aunt and uncle took all my cousins to WDW (my parents wouldn't let us take a week off school to drive to FL with them...and knowing my uncle and who he really is, we aren't upset about it), and I remember seeing their photos and videos and the Luau just looked like so much fun. It was the one thing that has stuck with me all these years later and I always thought I'd stay at the Polynesian and get to see the Luau. But even reading the description in the various books/websites, I have been second-quessing it.

We went to the Luau on my first trip when I was 4. To me I thought it was fun and great and all that. My parents, as I got older, always told me that it was pretty bad. I didn't want to believe them so I took my girlfriend for her first trip. It was upsetting for me to have one of my childhood memories come back and let me down. I don't know if the show had changed in those 20-something years.

HDDR is a show that I have done on just about all my trips since I was a kid. It's a lot of fun. I got my girlfriend hooked on it when I took her for her first trip. As long as you go in understanding that the show is cheesy and fun, and in a way awful on purpose, you'll have a great time.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Jiko - We loved it the first time we went but the second time we didnt care for our filet and mac at all...the appies and desserts were great but not the entrees

Flying Fish - Fantastic! We have been here three times and each time it is just wonderful! DH has ordered the NY Strip each time and it is always perfect. I have had the scallops, snapper and shrimp and each one was great

California Grill - ditto what I said about Jiko

Citrico's - Our favorite place in all of WDW! The best short ribs ever!

 

[nookaz]

I would do Yachtsman over Artist Point. I liked the food more and the service was definitely better.

I would also suggest Brown Derby if you still have room for it. I love the old Hollywood vibe. The Cobb salad is a classic and the grapefruit cake is my favorite dessert anywhere.

Jiko is good. Citricos is good. You have to do CRT for the experience. Flying Fish is not my favorite, but I am not a seafood person. I hope to try California Grill in May.

 

[nkereina]

We are thinking of doing the DxDP on our next trip. (The whole trip will be a splurge / celebration.) We are in the very early stages of planning, but who doesn't plan a Disney trip in advance?

We are thinking that with all the credits on the DxDp, we will want to take advantage of some of the 2TS meals. This is the list that we are considering. (Note: the chances of us doing all of them are pretty slim, but these are the ones that appeal to me right now.)

Which do you love? Why?
Which do you hate? Why?
Are there any that I didn't list that you would say we "must try".

Artist Point

Jiko

Flying Fish

California Grill

Citrico's

Spirit of Aloha

Cinderella's Royal Table


It is just hubby and I. We are 40-something going on 6. We do like to try different things, although we do have our favorite foods too.

TIA!

I have not done any of these, but my friend has. I travel with my boyfriend and she travels with her husband. Neither of us have kids so we relate a lot with regard to what we like and don't like to do at WDW. She has told me that Cinderella's Royal Table was cool to eat in the castle but teeming with kids since it's a character meal. She absolutely loved and raved about California Grill. She also said to try and make reservations around the same time as Wishes because the view was awesome.

If you're going during winter months, Spirit of Aloha may be risky. They cancel the show when it drops below 50 degrees.

 

[janeapplemeadow]

Cinderella's Royal Table: If you want character interaction it's a great place. If you want good food: run like the wind. I could think of many other places to better spend 2 table credits.
Citrico's: A very nice restaurant with good food.
Flying Fish: I would go back there in a heartbeat. Great food and relaxing atmosphere.
Artist Point: A great restaurant if you like beef or other meats. A great NorthWestern flavor. If you are a vegetarian, no so good.
California Grill: Another place I would go back to in a heartbeat. Great Sushi, and their regular menu items are consistently good. The view for fireworks is O.K., but I like to watch fireworks in the Magic Kingdom.

 

[debaone]

Don't count out Hoop Dee Doo. I would suggest that over the Spirit of Aloha show. Unfortunately, you can only get Category 1 seating at the last show, if at all, but since there are no kids involved, this should not be a problem.

 

[starrysky]

We LOVED Cali Grill it was great service and food excellent, the view of the fireworks was cool too. Not as good as being in MK but if you have seen the fireworks before the different view was cool.


Not tried any of the others buts Yachtsman is on our list for this year.

 

[juliebug1997]

As someone who is 36 going on 4, I loved CRT. I had so much fun eating in the castle and chatting with the princesses about my prince (DH).

Once I got to my table at California Grill, I enjoyed it very much. However, we couldn't get anyone to serve us at the bar and we waited 30 minutes for a table. Some people had been taking up several tables since about 7:30 PM and it was now 9:30 PM!!!! The beef tenderloin was awesome.

 

[kelleigh1]

Anyone else with opinions? I am actually taking notes from all the comments here, so the more the merrier.