Special WDW Christmas Time Dinner Advice

[DOPEYLUVER]

I'm taking a WDW trip in December with a very, very good friend of mine. We have a lot of history and I want it to be very special. He is a Florida resident and is making all the plans but I want to surprise him with a really special dinner. The problem is I don't want to research everything because I don't want to either ruin any of his surprises or build hopes for something that we don't do. He called me last night very excited as he made the hotel reservations, but won't tell me where - I don't want to know because I want to be surprised. The other day someone had posted great Christmas pictures on the kissing in the parks thread. I was disappointed that I saw the pictures because I had no idea there would be lights like that. I assume the picture is the Studios.

So anyway, can anyone recommend a great Christmas dining experience at WDW? I don't really care about the food - he and I will eat anything. I am particularly interested in the Christmas theme/decorations, etc. This is the second weekend in December, not Christmas Day, but it will be our first Christmas celebration together in about 25 years.

Thanks in advance for your help.

He took me to WDW in March and I didn't research that trip either. I had never really done AK before and had NO idea of the surprise Everest held!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OrlandoMike]

You're going to get a ton of ideas on this one, but I'll throw in my idea.

Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge.

Not only is the food and service top knotch, but the deorations in the Lobby of the resort will blow your socks off! If you reallly want to take it up a step, arrive at the resort by boat!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Mike,
Thanks for that great suggestion. I told him that I wanted to stay someplace that he hadn't already stayed. He stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for Gay Days and I know he loves it so that would be a great idea. We are pretty much going just to see the decorations though I'm sure there will be a ride or two thrown in.

 

[rpmdfw]

If you're going for an unexpected experience, I suggest Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian.

It's a relaxing time, the food is good, the service is always wonderful, and the Victorian elegance of the Grand is enhanced by the wonderful decorations they have at Christmastime. They do a life sized Gingerbread House that you can see from the Garden View Lounge. (Inside the Gingerbread House they sell small gingerbread houses, chocolate Santa Mickeys and other fun treats)

 

[wallyb]

Jiko.

Nothing matches it at WDW right now.

The holiday decor was great in the hotel.
And certainly not your normal ho ho ho hummm holiday experience!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Dont worry, the lights and all the decorations will take your breath away no matter how many pictures you see!

Oh! And Wally is right... Jiko is incredible.... the Yachtsman would be good too....

 

[JoeyAnyc]

If you're going for an unexpected experience, I suggest Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian.

I look forward to Afternoon Tea. This year will be my first time doing so.
Can't wait!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I look forward to Afternoon Tea. This year will be my first time doing so.
Can't wait!

Rob, I really want to thank you for that suggestion. I told my friend and he is all for it. I'll actually be at WDW with him at the 90 before our Christmas trip. I think we'll plan the trip together rather than try to surprise each other, which of course could be a disaster.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Is this where I creep in sheepishly and whisper that we hated Afternoon Tea at the GF?

Jiko is wonderful, as is Artist Point and Yachtsman's Steakhouse. If you wanted to dine in one of the parks, I'd suggest Bistro de Paris. We had a wonderful meal there.

If you really want to go all out, there is always Vic and Al's.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Is this where I creep in sheepishly and whisper that we hated Afternoon Tea at the GF?

I would love to hear why. Were you there at Christmas time? Like I said, I'm all about the decorations.

Victoria and Albert's would definitely not be to my friends liking. We have talked about that and while I would love to try it sometime, he said that he wouldn't.

Hmmm, maybe next time I'll have my husband go instead. Always good to have two men in your life.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Ah well, then. V and A's is not the place to go if it's not going to be enjoyed.

Yes, the tea... the sandwiches were terrible. Dried with curling bread. The scones were nasty; dried out with hard crunchy bottoms. The champagne was poured so it overflowed and made a mess... not once, but three times. The server couldn't pour to save her soul. We tried to convince her to STOP; that we'd do it, but she kept it up. She spilled the hot tea too... The berries and cream were inedible. We sent them away. The berries had dark, mushy spots and the cream was separated.

I'm sure it was probably a bad day, but we spent a small fortune on the thing. The staff were rude, particularly the woman at the entryway. She acted like we were interlopers. LOL.

Needless to say, we disliked it so much we decided we'll not return. If we want an authentic English Tea, we'll head to Mount Dora and the Windsor Rose.

If you go, I hope you have a wonderful time with fresh food and great service.

 

[rpmdfw]

Ah well, then. V and A's is not the place to go if it's not going to be enjoyed.

Yes, the tea... the sandwiches were terrible. Dried with curling bread. The scones were nasty; dried out with hard crunchy bottoms. The champagne was poured so it overflowed and made a mess... not once, but three times. The server couldn't pour to save her soul. We tried to convince her to STOP; that we'd do it, but she kept it up. She spilled the hot tea too... The berries and cream were inedible. We sent them away. The berries had dark, mushy spots and the cream was separated.

I'm sure it was probably a bad day, but we spent a small fortune on the thing. The staff were rude, particularly the woman at the entryway. She acted like we were interlopers. LOL.

Needless to say, we disliked it so much we decided we'll not return. If we want an authentic English Tea, we'll head to Mount Dora and the Windsor Rose.

If you go, I hope you have a wonderful time with fresh food and great service.

How strange. That's the complete opposite of the experiene we've had. And we've been to Tea at the Grand at least a dozen times over the last five years. The staff is always very friendly to us, and the service is always good. The scones, OMG, I love the scones! Sounds like you got a bad batch, because they're never that bad for us. Same with the tea sandwiches. They always seem to be freshly made.

I'm really sorry you had such a bad experience there. It really is one of our favorite meals at WDW. We've taken my mom, sister, aunts, and have even done the "let's take ten of our crazy local friends to tea" and it's always been wonderful.

It's like you got the "mirror universe where everything is evil" version of it.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Hmmm


I'm not a tea kind of guy at all, but I am intrigued by this...

(Hint for Rob next time Scott and Shrek are "busy")

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Yes, the tea... the sandwiches were terrible. Dried with curling bread. The scones were nasty; dried out with hard crunchy bottoms. The champagne was poured so it overflowed and made a mess... not once, but three times. The server couldn't pour to save her soul. We tried to convince her to STOP; that we'd do it, but she kept it up. She spilled the hot tea too... The berries and cream were inedible. We sent them away. The berries had dark, mushy spots and the cream was separated.

But other than that was it good? Just kidding. I'll hope your experience was an off day (fingers crossed) and that we'll get something like Rob described.

The only time I've done afternoon tea was on a cruise ship and just loved the whole thing. I am very excited to try this.

Right now my friend is making reservations at the Hoop-Dee-Doo for our September trip. I feel like these two experiences are exactly opposite each other.

 

[rpmdfw]

Hmmm


I'm not a tea kind of guy at all, but I am intrigued by this...

(Hint for Rob next time Scott and Shrek are "busy")

Oh heck no! We should go when Scott and Shrek can join us! I'd LOVE to see the look on their faces when the four of us walk in, sit down and pick up tea cups with our pinkies extended.

 

[rpmdfw]

Hmmm


I'm not a tea kind of guy at all, but I am intrigued by this...

(Hint for Rob next time Scott and Shrek are "busy")

Oh heck no! We should go when Scott and Shrek can join us! I'd LOVE to see the look on their faces when the four of us walk in, sit down and pick up tea cups with our pinkies extended.

 

[rpmdfw]

Right now my friend is making reservations at the Hoop-Dee-Doo for our September trip. I feel like these two experiences are exactly opposite each other.

Pretty much, but we love both of them! Hoop is a great time, and the food is wonderful!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

If you're going for an unexpected experience, I suggest Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian.

It's a relaxing time, the food is good, the service is always wonderful, and the Victorian elegance of the Grand is enhanced by the wonderful decorations they have at Christmastime. They do a life sized Gingerbread House that you can see from the Garden View Lounge. (Inside the Gingerbread House they sell small gingerbread houses, chocolate Santa Mickeys and other fun treats)

I really wanted to thank you for this idea. I couldn't do it as a surprise as I had hoped because my friend is making all the plans. I did tell him that this was one thing that I wanted to do. I know little about our plans - I don't even know where we are staying. I do know that on December 13 we are going to Tea at the Grand Floridian and then going to Mickey's Christmas Party at night. I am sooooooooo excited about this and so is my friend.

Thanks Rob

 

[rpmdfw]

I really wanted to thank you for this idea. I couldn't do it as a surprise as I had hoped because my friend is making all the plans. I did tell him that this was one thing that I wanted to do. I know little about our plans - I don't even know where we are staying. I do know that on December 13 we are going to Tea at the Grand Floridian and then going to Mickey's Christmas Party at night. I am sooooooooo excited about this and so is my friend.

Thanks Rob

Awesome!

I hope you have as much fun as we always do!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I had the most wonderful holiday trip to WDW. We had afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian and I ordered a very nice plate of dark chocolate truffles with a white chocolate Mickey Mouse. I ordered it specifically because my friend is allergic to nuts and there is often no dessert available for him. He was so touched by my ordering for him that he neglected to mention the nut allergy to the server. When he did she nearly had heart failure as there were nuts in two or three of the sandwiches that were served. Thankfully they were not the nuts he is extremely allergic to, just a little hive issue.

Anyway, the tea was great - thank you soooo much for the suggestion. It really was a perfect setting for a perfect day.

We also ate at Jiko's, which was very nice as well. The food was excellent and the atmosphere very nice. The server was a disappointment.

All in all the trip truly was magical.