Help me decide. V & A???

[lady_bug_888]

We are going to Disney World in August. It will be me, DH, DS 7 (8 while there) and DD 17 months. We will be on the basic DP and have some great meals booked including: Boma, 50s' Prime Time, CG, Maya Grill, 1900 park fare, 'Ohana, WCC, Chef Mickey's, Artist Point, Arkeshus and CRT. All of the above we are doing with our kids.

We were originally going to take 4 days out of Disney and do other things but have decided to cut that to 2 which gives us 2 much needed flex days. Since this frees up some time, I was thinking that DH and I should get an in-room sitter and have some alone time together which is rare for us. I was thinking of skipping our anniversary celebration here in May and postponing our evening out until August to go to Victoria and Albert's.

My main worry here is that I don't want to feel awkward or out of place. The fanciest place DH and I have been to is The Keg/Olive Garden type establishments (mostly steakhouses that I consider to be moderately priced). I've always wanted to try a really nice upscale restaurant but I don't want to feel like a 'Beverly Hillbilly' for lack of a better term. Also, I usually drink pop/soda with my meals and I DON'T drink wine...what do people drink with their meals at V & A.

DH says we can do what I want and I would REALLY like to try a nice place at least once. WWYD??? I was thinking afterwards we could go to DTD or go for a stroll somewhere around seven seas lagoon.


127 more days until our 1st FAMILY vacation to WDW!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

what do people drink with their meals at V & A.

Whatever they want. I do wine, but you can stick to water or they would probably be glad to bring you a Coke or something.


Dinner at V&A usually lasts upward of 2 hours, maybe closer to 3. I would assume you would want the earlier seating. Not sure how much babysitting time you will have, but it's a long way to DTD.

 

[Eeyore98]

I don't drink either, and if we eat somewhere fancy enough to have tablecloths (Yachtsman, Ruth's Chris at home, never been to V&A's), I order iced tea. I usually drink soda if we are out somewhere like Olive Garden, but yeah at a nicer place I would feel weird asking for a Coke to go with my Prime aged NY strip.

I did feel a bit out of place the first time we went to Ruth's Chris...you mean I can pick between Evian or Fiji for my free water? And they send someone around with a little comb-thingy to brush crumbs off the table? But it was all my own feeling, the staff was very nice and didn't treat us differently at all.

I think you'd be fine at V&A, but if you're worried, maybe go with a middle ground and book a ressie at a signature like CA Grill or Citricos? That would still be an awesome and fancy way to celebrate your anniversary, just not jackets-required, we-have-a-harpist fancy.

 

[Lynne M]

No one at V&A will know that you usually go to the Olive Garden.

And even if they did, why would they care? Why would it matter? Odds are, all of your fellow V&A diners eat in a wide range of restaurants. Sometimes I eat at Ruth's Chris or Morton's, sometimes I eat at Burger King. And everywhere inbetween.

Your money's just as good as anyone else's, and you have the same right to be there as anyone else. Go, enjoy your dinner.

 

[kaffinito]

Unless I'm at WDW I eat at Murphy's diner. I have V&A booked for my solo trip, so I know how you feel. Even if I'm with my kids I can't really do signature restaurants, it would just be a wasted experience for them.

I say go for it. As long as you're dressed appropriately, how is anyone to know you don't dine like that on a regular basis? It sounds like a lovely evening, a nice long meal and then a stroll around the lagoon.

 

[tinkandpan]

V&A is a wonderful experience, and you certainly don't have to have wine with your meal (although you might want a glass to experience the flavors). However, i want to suggest you look at the menus and make sure you will like the flavors, I am guessing some of the meals might be a little overwhelming when you look at them on the menu and I wouldn't want you to feel nervous about what lies ahead. What if you chose another signature- Jiko, Artist Pointe or Blue Zoo could be a lot of fun as well. Whatever you do- enjoy. Also- just an FYI with the inroom babysitters you have to pay for a certain time whether you use them or not- so plan on making it all count! I think the minimum is 3 hours.

 

[ready123go]

One of the great things about Orlando, and Disney in particular, is that we never feel out-of-place doing anything! Personally, I hate packing dress clothes for travel, finding room in my luggage, dragging them to the airport, prepping them (hanging, pressing, de-linting), etc. Ugh, it's my vacation. Our best friends are just the opposite, they love that stuff and wouldn't go somewhere that didn't give them the opportunity to do all that. So, for me, out of sheer ease-of-use, I would skip V & A (I do want to do it one day) and try what PP's have suggested, Citricos and the like (with iced tea!). That way you can ease into it and get a 'feel' for the Disney dining places without feeling uncomfortable.

 

[snykymom]

I went to V&A with my college-aged daughter. She ordered a Coke. No issue; no one even batted an eye.

If you can afford it without stretching the budget to the breaking point, I say go for it. How will you know whether you like or don't like fine dining if you've never tried it? Here's a place at which you don't have to guess about quality or experience; there are lots of people here talking about how wonderful it is - count me in on that! And yes, I do eat at Olive Garden, too.

And don't worry about the dress code - it's not really that fancy. A simple dress or pants suit will do; take something that doesn't need ironing! And enjoy yourselves! When will you have this opportunity again?

 

[KCSherri]

Hubby and I have been to V&A's twice now, and we LOVE it.

I pack a simple knit black dress that needs no ironing...and some black sandals.

I am allergic to wine, and no one has ever sneered at me for ordering a Diet Coke with my meals...and if I ever became allergic to Diet Coke, just kill me now.

The staff at V&A's go out of their way to make you feel comfortable...if you're ever unsure about the menu, just ask. I am normally picky about what I eat, but I trusted the chef at V&A's to make a fabulous meal, and I ate things I'd normally never eat, and it was all wonderful.

I think you would have a meal you would always remember....I say, GO FOR IT!!!

 

[Pakey]

We dine at V&A on almost every trip to WDW and at other equally rated restaurants when we vacation elsewhere.

I always have still water. The V&A wine pairing is too much wine for me. So I usually order a glass of red (my preference) to have with my meat course but other than that, I drink water.

The things that I think are the most intimidating about this level of dining are

1) the dining room is extremely quiet. It's like being in a library. You will feel like you need to whisper but you can resist the urge.

2) the silverware is plentiful and there are unusual pieces. You will get new silverware before each course is plated. The last time we were there we were given a utensil that looked like an ace of spades on top of a stem. We had no idea what it was for so of course I asked. It was a sauce knife. You know, for when you need to cut your sauce.

The food really is amazing and for this level of a restaurant, V&A is very reasonably priced. I usually wear a simple black dress, nothing fancy.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I've done CT four times, and the Dining Room several times. I have never been a wine drinker, and every time I go I order Iced Tea. When my glass gets low, they do not refill it but replace it with a fresh glass with a lemon wedge; I don't have to ask, they do it automatically.

Actually I have a reservation there this Wednesday. I am going with my BFF (we were Best Man at each other's wedding), a friend from out of town, and I am inviting my Grandnephew who works at WDW. He won't be able to have any wine as he will not turn 21 until next month.

 

[Zife]

Neither my wife nor I drink wine, and quite often feel 'out of place' at fancier restaurants. Not so much because we don't think we belong, but because sometimes wait-staff seem to look down on us (we don't order expensive wine, so we must tip poorly).

Honestly though, I think that's usually in our heads. We expect that they feel like that, so we see them as feeling like that.

Anyway, moving on Our two nicest meals at WDW so far have been Narcoossee's and Yachtsman, and at each place, we felt incredibly welcome, and we treated ridiculously well by the wait-staff. And from what I've read about V&A, the staff is the same way. Very welcoming, and more than understanding if you don't understand something.

Which is why we have an ADR booked for our October trip. We'll order our usual Coke, and hell with anyone who 'looks down' on us for it. For $350, it had better be the best Coke we've ever had