DDP Signature Restaurants vs. NON DDP Signature Restaurants

[Jetta8300]

So my husband and I have decided not to do the Disney Dining plan because it will actually cost less for us to pay OOP. (I added it up, we do not eat much during the day, but would love to do more signature dinners. And we are not too keen on desserts. LOVE appetizers!!!).

Anyway, we originally thought we were going to do the dining plan, so I booked my signature reservations at Cali Grill and Jiko. My question is: Are the NON Dining Plan restaurants better in anyone's experience? How would you compare these to:

Todd English's Bluezoo
Shula's
Il Mulino
Bistro de Paris
Portabello
Fulton's Crab House

Any other suggestions of restaurants not on the dining plan? Or should I stick to Jiko and Cali Grill?

 

[rlovew]

We ate at Bistro de Paris last night and it was awesome! We have eaten at Cali Grill and the food was good but we felt that Bistro had better food and service. it was also more romantic as there were not many children and those there were fairly quiet and seated away from the other diners.

We have had dessert at Jiko's and it was very good- but we sat at the bar and I haven't eaten at the other places you mentioned.

 

[Jetta8300]

We ate at Bistro de Paris last night and it was awesome! We have eaten at Cali Grill and the food was good but we felt that Bistro had better food and service. it was also more romantic as there were not many children and those there were fairly quiet and seated away from the other diners.

We have had dessert at Jiko's and it was very good- but we sat at the bar and I haven't eaten at the other places you mentioned.

Thanks for the advice! It looks like we will go to Bistro de Paris for sure, the day we are in epcot. Now I have to decide if I am going to switch the other 2. Mainly I am looking at switching the Cali Grill for Bluezoo! I don't know what to do about this. There aren't a lot of people with experience at these places because they aren't on the ddp.

 

[Pakey]

I think that bistro and the upscale restiarants at Dolphin and Swan are all better than the signatures on the dining plan.

 

[shellybaxter]

We think that Jiko is the best restaurant on property - DDP or not. We also love Shulas and Blue Zoo. If I were you I would drop Cali Grill (used to be good now it is getting really loud and not worth the hassle) and pick up Blue Zoo or Bistro

 

[madalex]

Jiko is my favorite restaurant at WDW, but bluezoo and Il Mulino are also in the top 5. Well worth trying out if you are not restricted by the DDP nonsense.

 

[Leota]

IMHO BlueZoo is much better than Cali Grill. CG has just gotten way too noisy & the last time I was there, I just wasn't wowed at all. BZ has hung onto it's spot as our favorite since it opened. We eat there every trip.

 

[Jetta8300]

this is the exact advice i needed! This is what I am looking at now for my revised plan

night 1- counter service at DHS (half day at the park)
night 2- Bluezoo (switched from Cali Grill)
night 3- Bistro de Paris (switched from Tutto Italia)
night 4- Jiko (keeping it???)
night 5- unsure, we have MNSSHP and don't know what we will have time for

If anyone has any suggestions other than Jiko let me know! I am an adventurous eater and love to try new things.

The only thing that would deter me from Jiko is that Boma may be a good idea for night 5 since it is a buffet and would take less time before the party....

 

[aubeone]

I think I saw BlueZoo on Restaurant.com which could save you some money.