Please recommend a signature dining experience

[IMGONNABE40!]

Okay--you have convinced me that the dining plan is the way to go. However, I still don't like the idea of having a reservation each day of our stay. So, we are talking about using the 6 TS credits And doing three signature dining experiences. We are a party of 6 adults (including one vegetarian) and four children--boy 14, girl 9, boy 2, girl 2. What would you suggest for us?

 

[letterdavidman]

Okay--you have convinced me that the dining plan is the way to go. However, I still don't like the idea of having a reservation each day of our stay. So, we are talking about using the 6 TS credits And doing three signature dining experiences. We are a party of 6 adults (including one vegetarian) and four children--boy 14, girl 9, boy 2, girl 2. What would you suggest for us?

Definitely Jiko at the AKL! DW and I had dinner there on DW's birthday, and it was sublime from beginning to end. The filet mignon that they serve there comes with only a butter knife and, to my great surprise, it turns out that a steak knife is not needed to cut into it--succulently tender!

 

[jonimce]

My favorites are Artist Point, California Grill, Citricos and the Brown Derby.

 

[Wendy31]

If I were picking 3 signature restaurants, I'd choose the following:

1. Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge
2. California Grill at the Contemporary or Narcoose's at the Grand Floridian
3. Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge

Edited to Add - Or lunch or dinner at the Castle (CRT) for the girls in your party! (I can't believe I forgot CRT!) So, then my choices would be -

1. Artist Point
2. California Grill or Narcoose's or CRT
3. Jiko or CRT

 

[majortom]

Jiko's at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Citrico's at Grand Floridian
Brown Derby at Disney MGM Studios

/carmi

 

[bicker]

1. Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge
2. Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge
3. Citricos at Grand Floridian Resort

 

[cdrn1]

Another vote for Jiko. Wonderful place.

 

[Leota]

I would do :
Artist Point
California Grill
Citricos

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for all of your responses. Since we hope the budget will allow for a stay at AKL, a dinner at Jiko will fit right in. However, given that we will have 2 two year olds with us, how kid friendly are these venues? Do we want to consider splitting up and having the little ones stay behind? Are there character meals that are TS that we may be able to do? How about a dinner show?

 

[formernyer]

I haven't been to any of the signature experiences, but looking at the menus I'd question whether some of the "better" places for adults would be enjoyed by the kids (particularly the 14-year old who might not care for the ethnic food selections).

I'm not sure CRT makes sense, since your 2-year olds might be too young to appreciate it and the 9-year old is too old. I heard that Brown Derby is fun and I haven't seen any reviews of the Aloha Show at the Poly, but I bet that's a lot of fun too.

If you want all of your meals paid for under the plan, but just don't want to take the time for all of the TS meals, another option is to use "extra" TS credits for CS meals. I know you don't get as much bang for the buck this way as you would if you used them on a TS, but some people have reported that the convenience was well worth it.

 

[Wendy31]

The Hoop Dee Doo show at Fort Wilderness is 2 TS credits & should be fun for all ages. It always gets really good reviews!

Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wildnerness is also 2 TS credits, but it generally does not get as good reviews as Hoop Dee Doo does.

The Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly is 2 TS credits as well.

We haven't been to any of the shows (we never can seem to fit them into our schedules), but, if we were doing one, we'd choose Hoop Dee Doo.

CRT is the only character meal that is 2 TS credits - At breakfast & lunch, the princesses circulate among the tables; Cinderella is downstairs in the lobby for pics. CRT prices include a photo pkg of your group in the castle w/ Cinderella. At dinner, the Fairy Godmother & Suzy & Perla (the mice) have a special "wishing presentation" during the meal - but the princesses (besides Cinderella in the lobby) aren't there.

Hmm... knowing that you're not so much interested in signature dining but instead fun experiences for the whole group, I might choose the following, if I were you:

1. Hoop Dee Doo at FW - fried chicken, strawberry shortcake, & an hilariously cheesy show

2. California Grill at the Contemporary - timed w/ Wishes - I don't think the kids would feel out of place here, and I think they have some fun kids' desserts on the menu

3. CRT - if you're interested in the princesses, I'd pick breakfast or lunch; if not, dinner

Additionally, I think Jiko has a pretty kid friendly menu too - although, the 14 year old may have to order from the adult menu. Check out the menus on allears.net. Or, maybe, the following if you're interested in some character meals:

1. Hoop Dee Doo (2 TS credits)
2. California Grill (2 TS credits)
3. Boma at the AKL (1 TS credit)
4. Liberty Tree Tavern in the MK or Garden Grill in EPCOT (1 TS credit)

 

[Cookie Princess]

We have to go to CA Grill on EVERY vacation. DS requests it for the kid's candy sushi dessert. It is nice for kids because they can see the MK at night and they can draw on the paper tablecloth. Fancy food...kid friendly atmosphere.

On the other hand, DS does not want to return to Jiko. We were all somewhat dissapointed here due to all the hype. The meal was good, but not great.

 

[Christine]

I haven't been to all of the restaurants people have listed, but I do go to Artist Point and I seem to remember it being very vegetarian-friendly. In fact, one year I was there, I had some type of vegetarian sampler platter, although I do not think it is on the menu anymore.

My kids really enjoyed our meal at Citricos (I had a 10 year old, and two 14 year olds with me). Even though it is "signature" dining, there was just something about the place that they really liked. The 14 year old went up and "flirted" with the chef (the kitchen is kind of open here) and when they ordered desserts he gave them both chocolate princess crowns on their plates (these crowns were only supposed to go on the "anniversary" dessert). There were a few babies in there that night and the wait staff seemed to make a big fuss over them and were good with all the kids. So, that is something to consider with the 2 year olds. The food is mostly "normal" here and it shouldn't be a problem for everyone to find something.

I like the idea of the Hoop Dee Doo even though it is far from "signature" dining. I think everyone in your group would enjoy this. My only concern would be the vegetarian. Not sure what HDDR would do for that.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for the responses.

Hoop de Doo might be right up our alley!

How difficult is it to get an ADR for California Grill during Wishes? Is a certain time frame recommended? Do you tell the reservationist that you want to be there for the fireworks? Are certain tables better than others? Does the wait staff let you know it is going on?

Thanks.

 

[bicker]

That's one of the harder ADRs to get. I'd call at 180 days prior, if it was something I really wanted to do.

We asked for and were willing to wait for a window table, but were outright refused. It cannot hurt to ask, but don't expect any consideation in that regard.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

If you cannot get the window table at California Grill, are you able to see the fireworks? Also, in July, what time are we talking about for Wishes? If it is too late, it might not work for the little ones.

 

[bicker]

We couldn't really see the show from our non-window table. Luckily, the folks at the window table between us and the show were ushed, shortly after the show began, off to a special viewing area. So we picked up our desserts and coffees and relocated ourselves to their table while they were gone.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Jiko
California Grill
Artist Point or Citrico's