Help me make one semi-romantic night of it!

[2girlsR2good]

This year is our 10th anniversary--actually that is next week. To celebrate we're, well, doing nothing . BUT, thanks to a PIN, we will be taking a wonderful spring break vacation to Disney for 5 days in March and staying at the Poly . We're making it a joint 10th anniversary and kids birthday party. This will be our first real family vacation since our twins were born. We don't have the kinds of grandparents who will take the kids for a week while we go somewhere romantic.

I've booked the kids to stay at the Neverland club one night until 10. I have no idea how they'll stay up that late, but I don't care . I have reservations at Artist's Point and Citricos but can't make up my mind. I was trying to get California Grill, but haven't been able to yet. Reading reviews here makes me think that might not be the place for us anyway. I want us to have one romantic dinner out where we can gaze soulfully at each other and remember when. Since we're staying at the Poly, I don't want to spend too much time traveling while paying $22/hour for a sitter. It would be nice to enjoy a beverage or two, so monorail or boat is important. I also don't think I care about seeing the fireworks from the CG since we will be able to see them every night from our room. (Did I mention the PIN?)

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Kymm1111]

I've eaten at both and hands down I would pick Artist Point. You can take the monorail to Contemporary or Magic Kingdom and then take a boat to Wilderness. The food is amazing, the setting delightful.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I can't speak from my own experience because I've never been to AP, but two friends of mine ate at both of those restaurants on a November trip and I was shocked when they didn't really rave about Citricos but said Artist Point was one of the best meals they had ever had, and their favorite meal in WDW. Both of these friends are attorneys outside of DC and are used to going out for good food in big cities, so I generally trust their judgment.

 

[Nevaland]

Oh Boy, tough choice. We have eaten at Artist Point and loved it but for us its hard to top the California Grill (mostly b/c I enjoy the suishi!). Never tried Citricos so I'm no help there. But we enjoy the CG not necessary for the fireworks but for the food. Artist Point definately seemed quiter and a little more romantic than CG but either choice would be fantastic.

Congrats on 10 years. Its our 10 yr anniversary this year as well and I think we are going to try Victoria's and Alberts. Its the only night we'll be away from the kids!!

Enjoy! Good Luck!

 

[rebster]

Have you considered private dining? Its a bit pricier but we loved it for one special evening. You can book it at a number of nice romantic locations around the Grand Floridian where you will have a room or balcony to yourself.

He is a review from a few years back: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1173715

And here is the number....you can customize your own menu if you like (get stuff from the restaurants you are thinking of).

407-824-2474 Grand Floridian Private Dining

 

[2girlsR2good]

Have you considered private dining? Its a bit pricier but we loved it for one special evening. You can book it at a number of nice romantic locations around the Grand Floridian where you will have a room or balcony to yourself.

He is a review from a few years back: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1173715

And here is the number....you can customize your own menu if you like (get stuff from the restaurants you are thinking of).

407-824-2474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************407-824-2474******end_of_the_skype_highlighting Grand Floridian Private Dining

Wow! That sounds amazing. I really enjoyed reading your story about your dining. I don't know if we can swing private dining or not this trip. I'm definitely putting it on file if it doesn't work this time.

 

[rebster]

I hope you have a great night whatever you decide! Also, just for clarification...the story I linked is not mine. Its just one I found to give you an example. I do not want to take credit for something I did not compose.

 

[2girlsR2good]

I hope you have a great night whatever you decide! Also, just for clarification...the story I linked is not mine. Its just one I found to give you an example. I do not want to take credit for something I did not compose.

oops--I didn't look carefully. Thanks for the info anyway--that was fun to read!

 

[MSSANDRA]

FYI- If you choose Artist Point, there is a kid's club there at the WL that you could use and cut down on the time they would need the club. They might however have a minimum time limit so might not help. We have not used it, but did pop in during the afternoon when DS was young and they had activities set up for kids to do. It's smaller than the Never Land Club but seemed really nice. I am pretty sure the GF has a club as well if you dine there!

 

[SassyCat]

Hi! You're romantic night sounds wonderful! I'm sure your spouse will love it.

I would suggest Artist Point. I haven't actually been there, but I have been to Citrico's. Personally, I did not consider to be a romantic experience at all. It was very crowded and VERY loud. A lot of activity going on - more so than I would say at a lot of the other disney restaurants I've been to, specifically to cost as much as it does. It just isn't really a romantic atmosphere. We also had a poor experience there, but that was mainly due to the server - the food was good. But, based solely on atmosphere, I would say from the pics I've seen and what I've read about Artist Point - it would be a more romantic experience.

I hope you have a wonderful/magical anniversary celebration!

 

[Pakey]

I have dined at all of these many times and we think Citricos is the best signature on the monorail loop. My son did private dining at GF for his proposal dinner.

I'd go to V&A. It's so much better than the signatures.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I second the vote for v&a's. If you don't get a bunch of the extras ( caviar, Kobe waygu beef, turbot flown in by private jet, etc. It's not really more than the signatures... But the food and the service are far superior. My dh and I dined there for our 10th anniversary and it was one of the 5 best meals of my life- definitely the perfect atmosphere for a romantic milestone meal

 

[cbg1027]

Between AP and Citricos, there is no contest for me. Citricos wins out every time. Great food and exceptional service.

 

[2girlsR2good]

Thanks so much! I think I'm leaning towards Artist Point based on what people have shared here. DH will like the menu there and it seems a little different than what we usually do when we are going out for a nice dinner. V&A is out of my price range for this trip--I can't see it being less than $200 pp w/out gratuity, probably more. If we spend that for a dinner, it'll need to be close to home with the kids safe in their own beds with a sitter we know for me to be able to relax enough to enjoy it.

The Neverland Club will work best since that way we can scoop up tired kiddos and put them straight to bed without more travel.

Thanks again for all the help! I'm keeping both the AP and Citrico's reservations for a few more days until I make up my mind for sure.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

I've also had wonderful meals at Artist's Point. I'm afraid I haven't tried Citricos, so I can't give you a comparison, but I've eaten at AP multiple times and never had a bad meal, so there's another vote of confidence there.

 

[LuLu_5]

I would definitely say AP is the place to go for a romantic dinner. I've been there for my engagement night and the service was super. The food is very good and is up there with any fine dining est. I've ever been to. They even gave us a celebratory wine on the house.

 

[ccrosner]

I totally agree with the PP about Citrico's not being a romantic atmosphere. We were there in December and it was my least favorite of the Signatures we went to (Jiko and Flying Fish were the other two). Bright lighting, on the loud side, very slow service including a long wait to be seated. Just didn't get the hype.

We have never been to AP so I can't compare but I would not spend my money to go to Citrico's if you want a special experience.

 

[3pletprincesses]

Congratulations on the 10 years. Hope you have a wonderful evening with DH. Thanks for posting this thread. Dh and I are celebrating 9 years during our trip and I have been at lost as to where to eat for our actual wedding anniversary dinner. I'm with you, we haven't done much sine we had our triplets 4 years ago. However, this time around we are getting a babysitter in our room for the evening and going out without worrying about anything but us. Enjoy dinner!

 

[Golf4food]

Artist's Point is fantastic and a great setting - much more romantic setting than the loop restaurants not named Victoria & Albert's. Best appetizer I've ever had at AP in December - Butternut Squash Risotto with Cranberry and a piece of Berkshire Pork Belly cooked in Duck Fat. Oh. My. God. Probably not something they keep on the menu (seasonal thing) but I would eat my body weight in it.

Jiko would be the other more romantic location, but it is out of the way for you. I'd go with AP.