Anniversary Dinner Poll

[srauseo]

I have this romantic notion of having dinner with DH and watching the fireworks over a lovely meal. To me, this means good food and a peaceful setting. I worry that, even later at night, a lot of the restaurants will still be more lively than I am hoping for and would love to hear people's experiences with meals in these settings during this time frame. Also, thinking about just bagging that idea and having a fun night at Trader Sam's or doing a monorail pub crawl. Basically, yes, I am trying to avoid places crawling with kids. Perhaps futile but advice sought anyway. Open to other suggestions.

 

[Chrelaine]

We didn't expect it to feel romantic, but we had a special dinner at 'Ohana last trip. DH and I had an 8 pm ADR. We were seated beside the windows and were able to watch the water pageant while sipping wine and eating bread pudding. It was so nice.

 

[NuJoy]

If you want a peaceful setting, then kids swatting brooms at coconuts circling the restaurant at 'Ohana is probably not going to seem ideal. My husband and I would probably pick the bar/lounge idea. I find it intimate to snuggle up close on a lounge sofa, share small plates and sip cocktails where we can talk softly and still hear each other. I like California Grill also for sushi and wine; but anywhere fireworks are a perk of dining, families with children tend to gather as well.

 

[Leelo]

LOVE California Grill during Fireworks. We did it for our anniversary and then again about 5 years ago. The first time, we had a table by the window facing MK. The second time, our table was around the corner from the view, so we told our waiter and left our table to go out on the observation deck and watch. We are going again next summer and I have a booked a table during fireworks. Im so excited! It's one of my all time favorite Disney experiences. My husband and I have also eaten at Ohana and then walked out on the beach to watch fireworks. There were a lot more families with children at Ohana than any time we have gone to Cali Grill, Citricos or Narcoosee's so it was not quite as peaceful. They also had luau style conga line dancing going on around the room and the food didn't impress us except for the bread pudding dessert. The beach after to watch fireworks was very romantic though. You could do dinner with fireworks at one of the nicer restaurants and then on another night travel over to the Poly and get a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai (the only place they offer pineapple/vanilla swirl) or the Bread Pudding from Tambu Lounge (same as the one at Ohana) and then go out to the beach for fireworks.

 

[nursejackie]

Narcoosee's it is then! We eat here either Christmas eve or Christmas night every year, the food is amazing, it's situated on the seven seas lagoon from where can see the Magic Kingdom castle, and therefore the lighting up ceremony or fireworks display.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Cali grill got my vote which was hard as I am a pub crawl person.

 

[kboo]

Ii voted for California Grill and Narcoossee's. I've brought our kids to Narcoosee's (early) and it was pretty chill. Definitely not crawling with kids. Have gone to Gali Grill multiple times, with and without kids. Later in the evening I went on an adults only dinner and did not notice any kids at all. I liked the room and atmosphere a little better than Narcoosee's, it just felt more like a fine(r) dining experience. That said, walking around the GF after dinner beats walking around the CR any day.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I voted for Cali Grill, though it will probably still be crawling with kids. Really the only way to avoid kids at WDW is to go to Trader Sam's after 8 pm or head over to the Boardwalk and go to JellyRoll's and/or Atlantic Dance Hall.

It wasn't on your list and it's not on the monorail, but I would suggest considering Artist Point at WL. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is much more serene than any of the restaurants you've listed. Even their lounge is quieter than the monorail resort lounges. You could do dinner and drinks at WL then take the boat to CR and watch the fireworks from the 4th floor observation deck.

 

[need2travel]

I voted for Citrico's. We find it a bit quieter than the others in your poll & while there are still children in the restaurant there are fewer that Narcooses, Cali Grill or Ohana. No conga lines either. We also like how the tables at Citrico's are spaced a bit further apart from each other so you aren't on top of other diners. You can't see the fireworks from the restaurant but you can go down to the beach to watch them. Oh man, now I want to go have dinner there & I don't even have a trip planned......

 

[TeeterTots]

I celebrated my birthday this year at Cali Grill and it was amazing!! Perfect timing for fireworks and a table right at the window.