Romantic night out - dinner and ????

[voleball]

During our December trip, we are leaving kids w/ sitters for one evening and going out as a couple for a dinner and fireworks (or anything romantic for that matter).

What's your romantic night out at WDW?

I've read about California Grill and go to the observation deck, Ohana then the Poly beach, one of the restaurants at the Grand Floridan then beach or marina, or any other combinations? If you've tried any of them, would you elaborate more on your experience? If you have other suggestions/ideas, please let me know!

Mostly looking for non-park activities, but if you have a killer park night out plan, I would love to know that too!

TIA!

I've posted this in the Resort board but I thought I may get more feedback from this board as well.

 

[Leota]

You really have to be committed to romance to get it at Cali Grill. It can be really noisy. That said, the food & the view are terrific & if you are good at tuning out loud background noise, it can be a nice night out. I still find it romantic, but DH is fed up with it. Lots of folks bring their kids there to see the Fireworks, maybe not realizing that it's about a 2 hour dining experience. That makes for lots of overtired & bored kiddos. Sometimes the parents are overtired & bent on having that fireworks view at any cost. That's what drove DH & I away from romantic dinners at CG.

I had a very lovely dinner at Narcoossees & at Citricos & both seemed like they would be much better suited to a romantic evening out. DH & I will be doing Narcoossees on our upcoming trip.

We really love BlueZoo for a romantic dinner. It just seems more of an adult experience. They have some really lovely booths towards the back of the restaurant that are cozy with pillows & nice mellow lighting. The food & service has always been great when we're there. Afterwards, it's nice to walk hand in hand around Crescent Lake & enjoy the Boardwalk. You can see some of Illuminuations from the Lake if you want.

We also like Jiko for a romantic night. AKL is just so gorgeous & exotic. Food & Service is wonderful. We like to start out the night wandering around the Lodge & checking out the Savannah & finish the evening with a nice relaxing rocking chair around the fire.

This trip we're doing a Monorail Crawl. We're starting at Tambu Lounge at the POly for a drink & an appetizer. Then walking the Beach & taking the walkway over to the GF wher we'll go to Mizners for a snack there. Then we're heading into MK to see the Firewo0rks & finishing out the night having dessert & a nightcap at The Wave.

There's so many great opportunities for romance in WDW. Just walking around the World Showcase at night can be romantic.

Enjoy your night out!

 

[mrs_noopie]

This trip we're doing a Monorail Crawl. We're starting at Tambu Lounge at the POly for a drink & an appetizer. Then walking the Beach & taking the walkway over to the GF wher we'll go to Mizners for a snack there. Then we're heading into MK to see the Firewo0rks & finishing out the night having dessert & a nightcap at The Wave.

Ooh your Monorail Crawl sounds great!

I agree with both Bluezoo and Jiko (even though I've only been to them with child in tow).

I'm thinking about Narcoosee's (never been) or Jiko for a night of romance on our upcoming trip!

 

[voleball]

Thanks for ideas. They sound really nice.

Any more ideas? The more the merrier!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I think a stroll around the Boardwalk is very romantic.

I haven't done this, but I remember reading last year about holiday carriage rides (I think they left from WL -- sorry I can't remember the details because we didn't end up booking). But anyway, that sounded romantic. There are also carriage rides at Port Orleans, although that might be out of the way for you depending where you end up eating.

Have fun!

 

[madalex]

I would recommend dinner in Epcot resort area at one of the Signature restaurants (Yachtsman Steakhouse, Flying Fish, Il Mulino, Blue Zoo or Shula's) and then spending time in the area checking out all the resorts. This could include stops in the lounges at any/all of the resorts. From there, it is only a quick walk to Epcot to catch Illuminations, if the timing is right and you are so inclined.

 

[chuckml]

We will be at AKL from 12/5-12/12. My birthday falls on the 8th, so DW has made ressies at Jiko, and set up to have DD go to Simba's clubhouse. After dinner, we'll probably have a few drinks, take a walk around the resort, and then head to the room for... well I can't say it but I'll probably be doing thisafterward. have fun!

 

[BayouMickey]

another vote for Citrico's

 

[E&K's Dad]

I think a stroll around the Boardwalk is very romantic.

A couple of thoughts. . .if you head to the Boardwalk consider a stop at Jellyrolls. . .DW and I got "lost" there for about a couple of hours one night after a romantic evening that started with Dinner at the Yachtsman. . .a short walk over to the International Gateway for Illuminations and then a stroll down the Boardwalk watching the street performers before getting to Jellyrolls.

If you do CG consider getting a reservation for right as or after Wishes starts. . .get there early and watch from the observation deck and then head in for dinner when your table is ready. . .we found that as soon as Wishes was over the fireworks crowd thinned out and it was much quieter.

 

[waltskids]

Last summer we went to Bluezoo and there was literally one child there (about 10 years old). It was great! The server said very few children go to this restaurant and it's a good choice for an adults only meal. We are planning on going to Bistro (upstairs in France at Epcot) this December as we have heard they have no children's menu, thus less children dining. Shula's is another excellent choice as well as Victoria and Alberts. We find when we like to dine without our kids, we like restaurants that don't have kids (or very few kids). We have found both Yachtsman and California Grill to be very loud and many children go there as well (at least in our experience). Other things you could do after dinner could be to stroll around the Boardwalk area, go to Jellyrolls piano bar, drink around the monorail, go to some of the bars and lounges at the nearby hotels or watch the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. We love our 'date nights' in Disney and are looking forward to our next one in December. Good luck with your planning!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Narcosse's, Todd English's Blue Zoo, Citricos, Jiko all have more of an upscale, intimate dining vibe. These restaurants also offer a more varied menu than the typical Disney menu.

 

[LoraJ]

I think Shula's is the most romantic of the restaurants we have been to. Probably the priciest as well. But after dinner there you could walk over to the Boardwalk or resort hop at the different lounges.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

We will be on a trip for two. Our "romantic" night is our park free day. The plan is to something like the monorail crawl. We will stop at the Poly and have a pineapple cocktail (can't remember the name) then head to The Wave for dinner. It looks dark and quiet. We are on the DDP and I am not wanting to do a 2 TS restaurant. I am not sure how we will finish the evening yet. I am sure we will think of something.

 

[Leota]

If you do CG consider getting a reservation for right as or after Wishes starts. . .get there early and watch from the observation deck and then head in for dinner when your table is ready. . .we found that as soon as Wishes was over the fireworks crowd thinned out and it was much quieter.

That definately helps. We did this last May for Mother's Day. Our reservation was at 9:50. I was shocked at how many families were still there & there was a family waiting to be seated. The family waiting to be seated had an older son tho, like the 10 ish range.

 

[MoonFaerie]

We're having dinner at Cali Grill, then an Illuminations cruise, followed be strolling along the boardwalk or maybe a couple of drinks at Jellyrolls

 

[irishdadx4]

We got back from our first WDW, aug 16-aug 23. We were on our 19th wedding anniversary, us and our 4 kids. I did the planning for this trip and did all the ADR's. (Some of us hubby's love WDW) I set up one night for our anniversary dinner. We had dinner at boatwright's at POR, and then stepped outside and took the horse drawn carriage ride. It was very nice. It went from POR, along the river to POFQ and down through POFQ-like a carriage ride through New Orleans. To get there we took a bus from POP to DTD, and then took the boat over to POR. It was the same amount of time as taking a bus to POR from DTD and much better. very quiet and enjoyable. Got to see all the resorts along the way, and the treehouse villas.

 

[ElizabethB]

You can be guaranteed a romantic dinner at V&A. Every other place is a toss-up, although you can increase the odds by going late -- 8:30 p.m. or later.

Also, non-Disney places like Shula's and Blue Zoo are good possibilities, although conventioneers can change the entire situation at either place. We love CG but only go after the fireworks are over. If the fireworks are at 9:00, we make our reservation for 9:30 or 10. The place is insanely crowded and unromantic until the fireworks are over.

Citrico's is sometimes okay although not before things like MNSSHP. It was incredibly noisy the night we were there with kids running everywhere. Narcoossee's is another good choice, but only later. Are you seeing a pattern here?

If you need to eat early, there is really only once choice -- V&A.

 

[engle]

I agree with ElizabethB, V&A is a great choice. One romantic evening all rolled into one stop...the food, wine and atmosphere is unbeatable.