Best Deluxe Restaurant for a First Timer?

[Irish_Mike]

Hey all!

My family (Mom, Stepdad, Grandma and myself) will be traveling down to Disney in mid-October for a week long vacation, and I'm currently looking at treating them to a dinner somewhere in the world. Ideally, I'd like to try something new with them since we tend to visit the same restaurants every time we visit - so I'm currently looking into treating us to a meal at one of the deluxe restaurants.

Right now, I've got a reservation booked at California Grill. But considering I've never been able to experience any of these restaurants, I was hoping to get some feedback and thoughts.

How is Cali in comparison to the others? Are there any I should specifically look into? Any to steer away from?

 

[Thing 1]

Love California Grill. Great Food, great service and great view. It's pretty pricey but a great splurge meal.

 

[wonderstruck88]

California Grill was my first deluxe restaurant choice, and I think it was a great pick! We ended up dining at a different deluxe restaurant every day that trip (it was our honeymoon) and Cali Grill was both my and my husband's favorite, no contest at all.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Hey all!

My family (Mom, Stepdad, Grandma and myself) will be traveling down to Disney in mid-October for a week long vacation, and I'm currently looking at treating them to a dinner somewhere in the world. Ideally, I'd like to try something new with them since we tend to visit the same restaurants every time we visit - so I'm currently looking into treating us to a meal at one of the deluxe restaurants.

Which restaurants do you go to normally?

 

[Irish_Mike]

Which restaurants do you go to normally?

Ohana, Cape May, Be Our Guest, 50's Prime Time, Via Napoli are some of the more common ones, though we've hit most of the table service restaurants at this point. Hence looking at trying somewhere completely new.

 

[Shanti]

Hey all!

My family (Mom, Stepdad, Grandma and myself) will be traveling down to Disney in mid-October for a week long vacation, and I'm currently looking at treating them to a dinner somewhere in the world. Ideally, I'd like to try something new with them since we tend to visit the same restaurants every time we visit - so I'm currently looking into treating us to a meal at one of the deluxe restaurants.

Right now, I've got a reservation booked at California Grill. But considering I've never been able to experience any of these restaurants, I was hoping to get some feedback and thoughts.

How is Cali in comparison to the others? Are there any I should specifically look into? Any to steer away from?

The Yachtsman Steakhouse serves the best food I've had at WDW. My boyfriend, who is well-traveled and is not a Disney buff, said that the steak he had there was the best he ever had anywhere.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Ohana, Cape May, Be Our Guest, 50's Prime Time, Via Napoli are some of the more common ones, though we've hit most of the table service restaurants at this point. Hence looking at trying somewhere completely new.

Those are our go to restaurants also. I agree with PPs about California Grill.

 

[JerseyJanice]

California Grill's view is truly unique. I think it's a great choice.

Artist Point is special too. And their mushroom soup is divine.

Yachtsman Steakhouse has fabulous food and service.

My advice is to look over the menus and go with the place that has the kinds of food you and your family like most.

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

My suggestion would be Jiko or Sanaa...the food is really good and there is something for everyone - even if you aren't sure you might like Indian/African food (for instance, the butter chicken at Sanaa is really delicious and very mild). What sets these two TS restaurants apart is the decor and location at the AKL. Animal Kingdom Lodge is a beautiful resort and the attention to detail is terrific. After dinner you can roam around the resort --go out on the outdoor decks and look at the animals and talk to one of the cast members about the animals that you will see...sit in the rocking chairs by the fire pits (indoor and outdoor), listen to the storyteller and see all the authentic artifacts ... it really makes a nice evening to cap off a lovely dinner!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would keep the Cali Grill reservation. The whole experience is really special IMHO. When you arrive to check in, you are whisked up a private elevator to the restaurant. The view (with floor to ceiling windows) is stunning. You can see MK, EP and DHS from the observation decks and are able to see the evening fireworks from all three of those parks. The food and service is also very good.

There are other great signatures on property, but for a whole experience (food, service, ambiance), none can beat Cali Grill IMHO