Special meal suggestions

[lojo]

How nuts is this - asking questions about meals when I haven't even decided on accommodation or flights!

Anyhow..... we plan to visit over my 50th birthday next year, which will coincide with the 32nd anniversary of our first date (aww). We thought we'd push the boat out for a special meal and after seeing a couple of dining reviews of Victoria and Albert's thought we'd found something worthy of the extra quid. However, I've just read that they have a dress code which would mean bringing clothes and shoes just to wear for the one evening, a big no-no.

Is there anywhere else that comes highly recommended, that we would see as a once in a lifetime meal, that doesn't expect diners to dress up so much. Obviously, I'd want to dress up as you do on a special occasion, but my DP retired several years ago and is loath to ever again wear anything that remotely reminds him of 33 years in management. A leather jacket, shirt and good jeans is dressing up now!

We want somewhere with spectacular food, possibly wine pairings and excellent but not fawning service - over to you.....

 

[disneyholic family]

How nuts is this - asking questions about meals when I haven't even decided on accommodation or flights!

Anyhow..... we plan to visit over my 50th birthday next year, which will coincide with the 32nd anniversary of our first date (aww). We thought we'd push the boat out for a special meal and after seeing a couple of dining reviews of Victoria and Albert's thought we'd found something worthy of the extra quid. However, I've just read that they have a dress code which would mean bringing clothes and shoes just to wear for the one evening, a big no-no.

Is there anywhere else that comes highly recommended, that we would see as a once in a lifetime meal, that doesn't expect diners to dress up so much. Obviously, I'd want to dress up as you do on a special occasion, but my DP retired several years ago and is loath to ever again wear anything that remotely reminds him of 33 years in management. A leather jacket, shirt and good jeans is dressing up now!

We want somewhere with spectacular food, possibly wine pairings and excellent but not fawning service - over to you.....

my vote is for V&A - by far, the best dining experience at WDW...
i don't know how big a deal the dress code is...
i just wore a nice blouse and a skirt, with sandals...
the woman i was with was more dressed up than that, but they didn't give me a second look...i think the fact that it was a skirt made it 'dressed up' in their book..
as for men, when i was there, there were men in sport jackets and trousers, not suits...
i can't remember if they had ties on or not...
but it wasn't all that dressed up if you know what i mean...
relative to the state of undress you find at other disney restaurants, it was dressed up, but certainly not fancy or anything...

 

[queendisney]

yes you def do need to dress for this restaurant. Men are expected to wear dinner jacket...but a tie is optional..I would try and do V&A's if you can as it is wonderful and also tends to have no children in there. (ages 10 and over only) It is the best restaurant on site...

Have you considered the other restaurant at the GF resort..heres a link to it..its fab!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/citricos/

Have you considered going off site...? We went to the Peabody Hotel once and had a wonderful meal and also to this one
http://www.christinis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=50 which was excellent....

 

[disneyholic family]

yes you def do need to dress for this restaurant. Men are expected to wear dinner jacket...but a tie is optional..I would try and do V&A's if you can as it is wonderful and also tends to have no children in there. (ages 10 and over only) It is the best restaurant on site...

Have you considered the other restaurant at the GF resort..heres a link to it..its fab!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/citricos/

Have you considered going off site...? We went to the Peabody Hotel once and had a wonderful meal and also to this one
http://www.christinis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=50 which was excellent....

the men who were there when i was there were definitely not wearing dinner jackets...
for example, the man at the table right next to us had on a navy blazer and khaki trousers - not exactly dinner jacket level dress...
all they care about is at least be a blazer....
it most certainly doesn't have to be a dinner jacket...
when i was there, there wasn't a single man wearing a dinner jacket..

 

[macca77]

How about an intimate meal at grand floridian with a butler, you basically go to the grand floridian their your butler will meet you and either take you to the 5th floor inside room or 3rd floor outdoor balcony room whichever you prefer. You then have a 4 course meal served by the butler with a view for the mk firworks. Its not cheap but should be a fantastic memory for yourselves. I have a phone number if you wish to enquire more with the disney people about this.

 

[lojo]

How about an intimate meal at grand floridian with a butler, you basically go to the grand floridian their your butler will meet you and either take you to the 5th floor inside room or 3rd floor outdoor balcony room whichever you prefer. You then have a 4 course meal served by the butler with a view for the mk firworks. Its not cheap but should be a fantastic memory for yourselves. I have a phone number if you wish to enquire more with the disney people about this.

I like the sound of this and have read very favourable reviews about the experience. Both of us are a bit intimidated though by the personal service - I know it's a job but somehow in my head it seems a bit "upstairs, downstairs" if you know what I mean. If I can't get DP to pack anything but jeans I might give it a go.

the men who were there when i was there were definitely not wearing dinner jackets...
for example, the man at the table right next to us had on a navy blazer and khaki trousers - not exactly dinner jacket level dress...
all they care about is at least be a blazer....
it most certainly doesn't have to be a dinner jacket...
when i was there, there wasn't a single man wearing a dinner jacket..

my vote is for V&A - by far, the best dining experience at WDW...
i don't know how big a deal the dress code is...
i just wore a nice blouse and a skirt, with sandals...
the woman i was with was more dressed up than that, but they didn't give me a second look...i think the fact that it was a skirt made it 'dressed up' in their book..
as for men, when i was there, there were men in sport jackets and trousers, not suits...

I actually like the dressing up lark - makes an evening out that bit more special, but DP just doesn't see the point in bringing clothes that he'll only wear once - in fact going back to the hotel to change is just time wasting in his mind. The dress code on the Disney website specifies dinner jackets and dress slacks (no ties necessary) but I think their idea of a dinner jacket and ours is a bit different.

yes you def do need to dress for this restaurant. Men are expected to wear dinner jacket...but a tie is optional..I would try and do V&A's if you can as it is wonderful and also tends to have no children in there. (ages 10 and over only) It is the best restaurant on site...

Have you considered the other restaurant at the GF resort..heres a link to it..its fab!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/citricos/

Have you considered going off site...? We went to the Peabody Hotel once and had a wonderful meal and also to this one
http://www.christinis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=50 which was excellent....

I'd really like to do V&As but may have to accept second best..... Had a look at these recommendations and they look lovely, definitely adding them to my shortlists, not sure they fit the bill for my birthday though as they are heavy on Italian food (which I love and therefore eat as often as possible - so maybe too familar to qualify as a one-off special meal).

 

[queendisney]

the men who were there when i was there were definitely not wearing dinner jackets...
for example, the man at the table right next to us had on a navy blazer and khaki trousers - not exactly dinner jacket level dress...
all they care about is at least be a blazer....
it most certainly doesn't have to be a dinner jacket...
when i was there, there wasn't a single man wearing a dinner jacket..

Well its a shame that people can't adhere to the request of the restaurant!! But I suppose times are changing...and what is smart in one persons eyes is not in another...which is why they give guide lines....I would be most put out if I and DH made the effort and others just think they don't have to when its the top resturant on site. hey ho..

 

[disneyholic family]

Well its a shame that people can't adhere to the request of the restaurant!! But I suppose times are changing...and what is smart in one persons eyes is not in another...which is why they give guide lines....I would be most put out if I and DH made the effort and others just think they don't have to when its the top resturant on site. hey ho..

there was 1 or maybe 2 women dressed in what i would consider to be black tie level dresses, but they were way over-dressed. It was really out of place - you're in a theme park after all. Ok, in a hotel in a theme park. But it's just really out of place for my taste.

It's just a good restaurant. No need to play dress up.

Especially given the costumes worn by the staff - they're wearing period costumes. So the overly dressy clothing really seemed silly.

But that's me. i felt perfectly comfortable. I wore what i had and it matched many of the other people there. But then again, i'm an american by birth and by nature (read that excessively casual).

I'm there to enjoy the extraordinary culinary skills of the chef, not for a fashion show.

and i'm sure the staff didn't mind my very big tip at the end of the most outstanding meal i've ever had at WDW, both food and service. Definitely a meal worth every penny they charge and then some.