Help I need a suggestion for 10th Anniversary

[ajjollie23]

Hi we are DVC members and will be staying @ AKL from 7-12th and BLT from 12-16th. It will be me, DH, DS 6 and DS 3. The 13th is our 10th wedding anniversary and I would like to do a special dinner.
We have been to Disney many times but have never done any of the signature restaurants or the more expensive places. We will probably get the DDP so price hopefully won't matter other than 1 or 2 TS credits. I have also never tried the on site babysitting so I am not sure how that works with a 6 and 3 yr old. I guess it would be the in room one since i think the other child care is for older children.

Anyway, I was hoping for some advice on good restaurants (we tend to like steak and some seafood, although more steak than seafood).
Also, can someone tell me if they have ever done the child care and how that works. All else we can take them to dinner with us, but it would be nice to have 1 night out.

thanks

 

[vicki_c]

Places we've been & enjoyed that I consider more grown-up and appropriate for an anniversary:

• Artist Point @ WL
• Flying Fish (although we did take our kids there)
• Le Cellier (actually went there for my anniversary a few years ago)
• The Wave

Places in the same category that I would love to try with just my DH:

• Jiko - good choice for you since you're at AKL
• Yachtsman - I think we went there on our honeymoon but I can't remember!
• Citrico's
• Bistro de Paris

 

[Vickis3js]

We celebrated our 10th at Narcossee's and we loved it. I booked it so we could watch Wishes while we had dessert and it worked perfectly. Food was great and service was outstanding. We can't wait to go back.

 

[Golf4food]

Since you are staying in AKL you have no choice to make. Jiko. Done.

Jiko. Jiko. Jiko. (In case you missed it. )

Excellent Filet Mignon & Mac and Cheese, fun apps, and great desserts.

 

[EvilQueenT]

i'd vote for artists point, california grill, le cellier, flying fish, or shula's steak house. If I were to go all out I might consider victoria and alberts but cannot speak from personal experience on that one.

Do they do the beepers like they do on the cruise lines? I haven't done the child care thing... unless you count leaving the kids at home with their grandmother and having a second honeymoon at wdw. Disney seems to do everything else great and I'm sure tons of people have had great experiences with this type of service but I'm maybe a little to overprotective and would probably do it with older children (say 9-10-ish) but can't say I'd use this type of service with a 3 and 6 year old. But I'm just one opinion... and you know what they say about everyone having one lol.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

California Grill

 

[ajjollie23]

thank you everyone for your suggestions they have been very helpful. We have stayed at AKV Kidani before and have never tried Jiko only Boma, which was pretty good but not really the experience I was looking. I will have to look into Jiko though

 

[ajjollie23]

I must say Le Cellier is one of our favorite's we have gone there pretty much every trip We have never tried Narcoosees, artists point, california grill, flying fish, or shula's steak house. We have looked at the menu on flying fish before and decided against it, but the others sound pretty interesting.
I like the idea of Narcoosees or California Grill and being able to watch the fireworks as we eat. We have looked at artists point before and didn't want to spend the extra money on it, but in this case for a special occassion I feel like that would be different.
Anyway, thank you again everyone.
Also, about the child care, EvilQueenT, I am a stay at home mom so other than school and when my family babysits I have never left them either and I too am a little hesitant especially when they aren't in their own home. That was why I was looking into opinions from people who have done this before. I am not sure if they have the beepers, but Disney is usually on top of things like this and I imagine there are people out there who have used it. Knowing us we will probably end up taking them with us. Thank you for your help.

 

[MEK]

DH and I did the DXDP for our anniversary and we ate at Narcossee's, Flying fish, Artist Point, and Brown Derby as our 2 TS meals. I would have to say that while I absolutely loved the food at Flying Fish (best scallops ever), I thought Artist Point was the best overall in terms of food, ambiance, and service. Our waitress went out of her way to help us celebrate our anniversary - the champagne, the menus, taking our picture. It really was a great evening and I hope to return. I have also eaten at Cali Grill, which was very nice. In the future I hope to try the Yachtsman and Jiko!

 

[Luv4Disney]

I'd say Narcoosee's, Artists Point or Yachtsman. When we went to Narcoosee's for our anniversary they had our names and anniversary date printed on the menu.

 

[ajjollie23]

I'd say Narcoosee's, Artists Point or Yachtsman. When we went to Narcoosee's for our anniversary they had our names and anniversary date printed on the menu.

that is really special which is kind of what i am looking for it will be 10 years after all. Plus, we went to Disney on our Honeymoon so Disney is pretty special to us to begin with

 

[Tricia1972]

I can speak for Kids Nite Out for in room child care, and they are fantastic! We've used them four or five times, and we've always had a great experience!

Enjoy your 10th anniversary at Disney! We went there for ours, and had an amazing time (we chose Victoria & Albert's as our dinner, and skipped buying gifts for each other that year - it was totally worth it to us)

 

[Golf4food]

I would not recommend Cali Grill - it is not a romantic place. It is open, busy, noisy, hectic, etc. Not exactly a quiet, romantic dinner location. The food is good, yes, but no better than any number of other places that are more suitable to a romantic night out. The view of the fireworks is better from the outside balcony, and unless you are right by a window inside your view will be blocked by other people and tables, especially if those people in front of you stand up, which has happened to us. Cali Grill is certainly worth visiting at least once, but I would not choose it for a romantic anniversary destination. YMMV.

 

[ajjollie23]

I would not recommend Cali Grill - it is not a romantic place. It is open, busy, noisy, hectic, etc. Not exactly a quiet, romantic dinner location. The food is good, yes, but no better than any number of other places that are more suitable to a romantic night out. The view of the fireworks is better from the outside balcony, and unless you are right by a window inside your view will be blocked by other people and tables, especially if those people in front of you stand up, which has happened to us. Cali Grill is certainly worth visiting at least once, but I would not choose it for a romantic anniversary destination. YMMV.

Thank you that is very good to know

 

[ajjollie23]

I can speak for Kids Nite Out for in room child care, and they are fantastic! We've used them four or five times, and we've always had a great experience!

Enjoy your 10th anniversary at Disney! We went there for ours, and had an amazing time (we chose Victoria & Albert's as our dinner, and skipped buying gifts for each other that year - it was totally worth it to us)

Good to know. Is Kids Nite out through Disney? What ages were your children when you did this?

 

[Ella's Mom]

We celebrated our 10th at Narcossee's and we loved it. I booked it so we could watch Wishes while we had dessert and it worked perfectly. Food was great and service was outstanding. We can't wait to go back.

We did the exact same thing in February for our 10 year. It was an awesome evening. If you haven't been to Narcoossee's, I highly recommend giving it a try. We loved everything about this place. They even had a special menu printed for us that said "Narcoossee's Wishes Mr. and Mrs. ____ a Happy Anniversary!" My husband had the filet and I had the chicken. Both were delicious.

Also, we used Parents Nite Out and were very pleased. Our kids were 2 and 5 at the time. They loved their sitter. Give them a call. They'll tell you all about their service. I would definitely use them again.

 

[stephensmum]

Another vote for Naccoossies, we celebrated our Anniversary there last year. The server was wonderful, special menu's were made for us, my ds was given a massive cupcake with a candle on (for his birthday), we had steak & lobster (2 fillets & lobster tail), it was the first time i'd tried lobster & I really enjoyed it, the steaks were great. We watched Wishes from the balcony, just before dessert. I really recommend it.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yachtsman also does the special printed menus especially for you.

Citrico's and Yachtsman were both outrageous meals for us on this past trip. The service at both places was outstanding. Neither really has a view, although you could watch Wishes or Illuminations, respectively, from Grand Floridian or YC, and eat before or after.

 

[Tricia1972]

Good to know. Is Kids Nite out through Disney? What ages were your children when you did this?

Kids Nite Out is a separate entity from Disney, but they are the site that Disney endorses on the Disney website when you are looking for in room childcare.

The first time we did it the kids were 4 (almost 5) and just turned 2. The next trip the kids were 5 and 2.5. (I think we had them twice this trip) The last trip we used them the kids were 7, 4, and 1.5. (we snuck another kid into the mix) We definitely had them twice this last time!

The sitters are very responsible, fun, and just wonderful with the kids. They are always a little sad when they wake up in the morning and boring old mom, dad, Grandma and Grandpa are back.

 

[Tricia1972]

I will suggest that if you get a reservation at Narcoossee's, it's better to go later rather than earlier.

We celebrated my birthday at Narcoossee's, and had a 5:30 reservation. It was very light yet, so there wasn't much ambiance, and there were tons of kids who weren't very quiet.

I have heard that later is better there.