Is Victoria & Al's worth the price?

[mell]

Just wondering if it is worth the price for dinner? Is it $100 per person? Does that include tip? Is it really that awesome or is it more the romantic atmosphere than the food? We love Calif. grill, but is it worth the xtra $$$ for Vic. & Al's?
Thanks

 

[Amyrlin]

Yes!!!! it is worth the price, it isd very different from CG, much much better and also romatic. The price does not incude the tip. If you have a DDE card you can you that at V&A, but not for the chefs table.

 

[mell]

Thanks. Can you tell me what a DDE card is please? Also when should i make the ressie? We are going in August. Thanks

 

[Contemporary_Man]

I think that V&A’s isn’t just dinner, it is a wonderful dining experience. It is 2.5 hours in an intimate, quiet, and probably childfree setting. I did see a child on my last visit, but she was the most well behaved 2 year old that you could possibly imagine. Believe it or not, I actually plan my Disney vacations around my dining plans. V&A’s is as good as any restaurant that I have had the pleasure of experiencing and is quite deserving of its 5 Diamond rating.

To me, it is a requirement for any of my trips along with Artist Pointe, California Grill, and Bistro de Paris. That being said, I’m sure there are people out there who either don’t like it or don’t believe that it is worth the price. Keep in mind that the dinner price does not include the wine pairings, which were an extra $50 per person this past August. I also was surprised to notice that in addition to the caviar, with has always been an additional cost, that every course had a “signature offering” that was extra. If you are interested, I have the menus from 2003 and 2005 that I would be glad to send you if that would help give a better picture.

 

[Threehearts]

We did not think it was worth the price. Threehearts

 

[crs7568]

I am never really sure if I can say with assurance that I think that concierge is worth it at Disney but I can tell you without a doubt that Victoria and Albert's is DEFINITELY worth every penny.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Many years ago I read a review in the Orlando Sentinel's Sunday Magazine of V&A, including the Chef's Table shortly after the CT opened. This was when V&A was only rated with four Diamonds by AAA. This was when we decided to try CT (for the first time).

Here is a paraphrase (close to a direct quote) of Scott Joseph's las paragraph of the review: "Dinner at Vicotria and Albert's is an excellent value, dinner at the Chef's Table is an absolute bargain."

We have always agreed with that phrase.

 

[PrincessAurora]

If you like fine dining, fine wine, romantic atmosphere, dressing for dinner, trying new things, going outside your food comfort zone - this is for you and is soooo worth it.

If your comfort level of food is plain, basic, think Coors is the ultimate in beer, don't like "weird" food, don't like wearing a jacket or tie - this is not for you - save your money.

Not making any judgements. Different strokes for different folks but if trying things that you will not see on the menu of Olive Garden make you nervous, you would be happier dining at Fultons or Yachtsmans or Rose & Crown. Still good places to eat. Good steak, good lobster and you don't have to wear a jacket.

Just do what makes you happy and that you will feel is the best value to you.

 

[kpm76]

If you like fine dining, fine wine, romantic atmosphere, dressing for dinner, trying new things, going outside your food comfort zone - this is for you and is soooo worth it.

If your comfort level of food is plain, basic, think Coors is the ultimate in beer, don't like "weird" food, don't like wearing a jacket or tie - this is not for you - save your money.

Not making any judgements. Different strokes for different folks but if trying things that you will not see on the menu of Olive Garden make you nervous, you would be happier dining at Fultons or Yachtsmans or Rose & Crown. Still good places to eat. Good steak, good lobster and you don't have to wear a jacket.

Just do what makes you happy and that you will feel is the best value to you.

That's a great way of putting it....well done. We absolutely love V & A's. We've dined at the Chef's Table as well as the main dining room and they were both outrageously good. As others have noted, this is not just dinner, it's an experience, probably unlike any other you may have had. We really enjoy fine dining and thought this was worth every penny.

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

That's a great way of putting it....well done. We absolutely love V & A's. We've dined at the Chef's Table as well as the main dining room and they were both outrageously good. As others have noted, this is not just dinner, it's an experience, probably unlike any other you may have had. We really enjoy fine dining and thought this was worth every penny.

AMEN!! well put by yourself, cheshire figment & PrincessAurora we agree with every word!!

 

[Mister Disney]

Here is a paraphrase (close to a direct quote) of Scott Joseph's las paragraph of the review: "Dinner at Vicotria and Albert's is an excellent value, dinner at the Chef's Table is an absolute bargain."

We have always agreed with that phrase.

DITTO

 

[Uncleromulus]

Mell:
I agree. It's a "not for everyone" kind of place--but to me it's a dining experience well worth the $$$ and we're going back (yet again) in May.
The DDE card is a "20%" off card available to Florida residents and to Annual Pass holders.
And if you decided to go, I'd call as soon as the 180 day window opens--

 

[mell]

Thanks for all your help. We love trying new foods. Just hoep I can get my DH in a suit jacket in August. We are staying at CSR, should we take a taxi?
Thanks again

 

[PrincessAurora]

I would spring for the taxi. It would be so much better and less of a hassle than going to TTC or MK to transfer to the monorail.

 

[Mister Disney]

I would spring for the taxi. It would be so much better and less of a hassle than going to TTC or MK to transfer to the monorail.

Actually, although I am not advocating drinking and driving....

You can drive DIRECTLY to the Grand Floridian and use their Valet Parking. When going to the MK Parking Gates, go to the right hand side, and tell them you have dinner ressies at V&A. Bring the Valet Parking ticket with you to dinner and they will validate the parking.

 

[disneyinmay]

My DH and I ate at V&A for our honeymoon 9 yrs ago. I was very impressed with the atmosphere & service. I could totally see why people pay this much to dine there, based on those two things. However we were not impressed with the food at all. It was so bland, that it was literally hard to eat. We left much on our plates (and they don't serve much to begin with) and our Victoria and Albert servers, were worried that we were not happy with the food. We weren't,. but I always have a hard time complaining in a restaurant.
Maybe becasue I'm spoiled growing up on awesome food in New Orleans, or maybe I was just expecting to be completely blown away the way the CM at our check in made it sound like it would be. But it just was not good that night. Again, service and atmosphere were top notch, food was terrible. We had no problem getting reservations 24 hrs in advance.
Maybe things have changed in 9 yrs?

 

[kpm76]

My DH and I ate at V&A for our honeymoon 9 yrs ago. I was very impressed with the atmosphere & service. I could totally see why people pay this much to dine there, based on those two things. However we were not impressed with the food at all. It was so bland, that it was literally hard to eat. We left much on our plates (and they don't serve much to begin with) and our Victoria and Albert servers, were worried that we were not happy with the food. We weren't,. but I always have a hard time complaining in a restaurant.
Maybe becasue I'm spoiled growing up on awesome food in New Orleans, or maybe I was just expecting to be completely blown away the way the CM at our check in made it sound like it would be. But it just was not good that night. Again, service and atmosphere were top notch, food was terrible. We had no problem getting reservations 24 hrs in advance.
Maybe things have changed in 9 yrs?

Based on our two experiences, I would say they were the best dining experience we have had....ever. Certainly not bragging, but DH and I have had some pretty outrageous dinners and V & A's Chef's Table blew them all away. Hope you get to try it again and hope the food is more to your liking this time

 

[lark]

So hard to answer the was it worth it question.

Judged against restaurants outside WDW, I'd say no. But then, those restaurants aren't in WDW, so how can you answer?

We ate at the chef's table. The experience was great. Some of the food was very good. Some was not. The service was great. The interactive experience was great. The wine pairing was well done. The overall balance of the menu was very poor -- don't expect a Paris-like dining experience where as much thought goes into how the courses interact with each other as goes into preparation of each course. At V&As you get several very excellent individual courses with little continuity. The mango tapioca is great while you're eating it. So is the banana chocolate souffle. One after the other? Well, to each his own. (Exaggerated example to make the point.)

The bill is, well, astronomical. Glad we tried it. Won't go back, though, particularly with California Grill on the same monorail.

 

[damiel]

We went for our 10 year wedding anniversary - eight years ago and we still talk about that dinner. It was like nothing we have ever experienced. The service was out of this world and I must say it was pure Disney Magic!

 

[PaulaSB12]

Has anyone done V & a's solo