Special adult dinner

[ktbugsmom]

My husband and I are going to WDW January 1-8, 2005 with our 2 DDs. We are meeting another couple and their son for part of the trip. We have decided to hire a sitter for our kids and go out for a nice "adult" meal. We want to spend a fun adult evening over good food, wine and great company (in a magical place I might add!).

So - help me... where should we go? We are staying at BWV and will have a rental car, but prefer to stay on property. Here is some background... My DH and I love Flying Fish, but have been there 3-4 times and want to try something new. Victoria and Alberts is a bit over the top. We tried Boma and Jiko in August and love both, but want something new. We have never been to California Grill, Citricos, Narcooses, Le Cellier or Yachtsman Steakhouse. (Having young kids does that to a Disney vacation!)

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Also, we love good wine, seafood, and good steaks. Thanks!

 

[caverill]

Well, you are staying in a great place to have a wide selection without needing your car.

I would suggest the following places depending on what you would like to eat...

Yachtsman Steak House - Yacht Club Resort - Steaks
Shulas - Dolphin Resort - Steaks
Blue Zoo - Dolphin Resort - Seafood
LeCellier - Canada in EPCOT - Steaks

The Dolphin offers child care if you are dining there.

We have eaten at all of these and they are excellent. Haven't tried the CG, Citricos, or Narcooses.

BTW, Once you compare the cost of your dinners you might find that V&A isn't that much more. We loved V&A and will be doing it again.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

I'd go to to Yachtmens Steakhouse if I were you. But if you truly want to have a child free evening with spectacular wine look again at Victoria and Alberts. There's nothing like it on property. It was the best dining experience we had but we really liked Yachtmens Steakhouse too. California Grill was great food but it is a bit of a mad house because of Wishes. From what you are describing you could go there for a late dinner (well after Wishes) and have a great time. It's a fabulous restaurant.

 

[emememem]

Try the Blue Zoo at the Dolphin...excellent all the way around!

 

[CamColt]

Another vote for YSH. We ate there for the first time last summer and it was amazing! We absolutely loved everything we had.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We love the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We have eaten there every trip since they opened. It is a nice relaxing atmosphere with excellent service.

Calif. Grille would be a good choice, too, but as a poster mentioned it is very hectic. Our wonderful food was somewhat ruined by having to wait an hour standing shoulder to shoulder with a room full of people.

 

[madalex]

I would recommend Jiko, but you have already eaten there. My next choice would be Citricos - great food and service, very nice wine list. A lovely dining experience.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I would pick California Grill. We ate there on our last 2 trips and just loved it.

 

[lillygator]

My vote goes to CA Grill....love love love it!

 

[D&R love Disney]

Either the YSH or Shula's would be a wonderful choice and are in walking distance.

 

[ktbugsmom]

With all the great suggestions, we may have to plan 2 evenings out!

I will be honest, we have stayed at BWV or BCV 4 times over the last 2 years and have not tried any of the restaurants at Swan/Dolphin, nor have we tried the Yachtsman Steakhouse... (mostly because we have a 4 year old and she prefers Cape May, Beaches and Cream etc) I may see what my hubby thinks, and possibly let him choose. Either way, it will surely be a wonderful evening. Thanks for the wonderful suggestions.

 

[sleepydog25]

One place you didn't mention is Artist Point at VWL. They have a superb wine list, great steaks, excellent seafood, and other non-traditional fare, such as a very tender, tasty buffalo steak. It is adult-oriented, though kids are welcome, and the service, ambience, and setting is wonderful. There may be no prettier place than VWL, anyway, and that rustic, yet classy, theme is carried into AP. It is upscale, yet romantic and alluring at the same time. When we visited in late August, we decided to go with the wine flight option allowing us to choose three different wines to accompany whatever courses of the chef's selection we desired. To aid in making our decision, our server brought out samples of the wines between which we were deciding. It was a great experience, and my DW swears by the berry cobbler as do many others' posts I've read on here. Anyway, this is a topnotch restaurant worth considering.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Sleepydog25 -
I forgot about that one! My sister was at WL in February and tried it. She and her husband loved it and their kids loved the kids club at the resort. Since we have a rental car, that is definitely an option. If we had to take Disney transport, I would hesitate. However, it would be a nice walk through Epcot to the monorail, then a nice boat ride to WL... might be fun! However, I will be in heels, so maybe not.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Another vote for AP. It's our favorite WDW restaurant. I know we are in the majority, but YSH was one of the most disappointing meals we have ever had at WDW. We haven't tried the restaurants in the Swan/Dolphin, but I would love to fit in bluezoo on our upcoming trip. From everything I've read, you receive free child care in the hotel, while your dining. That's definitely a big plus, IMHO. Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

 

[sleepydog25]

KT~
There's also the beach by the lake where you can walk after the meal and the path leading around to the two pools, not to mention the geyser that erupts each hour. It's a real special place among the Disney-ana surrounding you that makes you feel less like you're eating at a theme park and more like a real getaway retreat. Good luck with your choices. If you do choose AP, let me know how you liked it!

 

[UKDEB]

Of those you've mentioned, I would choose California Grill, especially if you like Flying Fish and Jiko. It doesn't get all the rave reviews for nothing!

I also agree that you may want to reconsider V&As. We overlooked it for years (mainly because dh refused to bring a jacket from the UK!), but we broke with tradition for my brother's 40th birthday in January and now we're hooked (we ate there again in July for my birthday). It <i>is</i> expensive, though.

BlueZoo is our current favourite on property and would be easy for you to get to from BW. I also agree with the posters who have been recommending Artist Point. It's doesn't always get such good reviews as CG, FF, et al, but we love it there. It's very classy and quiet, but still relaxed. I'd have to say the same about Citricos, although I'd probably choose AP of the two. Both are in sharp contrast to CG, which is a buzzing, happening place.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Is there really free child care if you eat at the Bluezoo? Wow! If so, I might consider that for the night before our friends arrive. Their son is only 3 years old, so too young for the child care places, but our daughters (4 year old Dd and 10 year old step daughter) would love it. My 4 year old has been to WDW 5 times already and now BEGS to go the child care places! That could be a very cool meal for us... thanks!

The night of our adult meal, I am going to book an in-room sitter for all 3 kids and that won't be cheap (I think $21/hour for a 4 hour minimum plus $8 travel costs and a $2/hour surcharge after 9pm - ouch). So the thought of free child care if we go to Bluezoo makes that sound very very tempting!

 

[TheTexasKid]

If one can afford it, and I believe the price runs about $100 per person, and that does not include the wine, then eat at Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian. There is no finer restaurant, with finer food and finer service, then Victoria & Albert's, at Walt Disney World.

 

[ktbugsmom]

To be honest, I never really even considered V&A... but everyone is making it sound quite tempting. However, I fear I have not planned far enough in advance for this trip, since we leave in 3 weeks!

However, I like to go to WDW 2 times per year, so maybe on my next trip with just my family, I will try V&A for a special dinner with my DH.

For this trip, I booked California Grill for after the fireworks. In fact, the earliest reservation I could get was 7:50pm... but that is about the time we wanted anyway. Our plan is to go early and have cocktails someplace where we can see the fireworks... the CM thought we were allowed to go to the bar early. Hey - since they make more money on drinks than the food, you would think they would want us at the bar for an hour!

 

[jeepgirl30]

You'll love CG! You can go out on a walk way to watch the fireworks, it is absolutely beautiful. My DH is the most unromantic person ever and even he thought it was "pretty cool".

We have eaten there several times and have always found the food above expectations.

The wine selection is amazing, a little pricey but its a special night!