Victoria & Albert's review (sorta)

[Dominus]

So I opted to book V&A for my wife and I and have some thoughts. First things first, know what you're getting into. I really didn't research the place as much as I should have. I sort of assumed there would be options, when really the options are 7 course at $185 or 10 course at $235. And that is minimum! It goes up from there. So the absolute minimum a couple can get out is $370 before tax and tip. So when I posted the question of Narcoossees or V & A and people were saying things like "for the price difference it's a no brainer" and "roughly 3 times the price" they are being playing pretty loose with words.

So here's the review part. The food is great, the wine pairings, even better. The service is what you'd expect for the price. So I have nothing to say about the food or service. But here's what I'll say of the experience.

Why you would go, and who should go.
Unless money is no object in your life, you should plan a very special occasion, not just a Tuesday on vacation. You should really want to dress up, not just tolerate dressing up to meet the dress code, you should want to have people look at you and know you're going somewhere special. You should not want to engage in any idle chit chat with your guest. It's a really quiet room and you will be interrupted often by the wait staff. Now, I understand, you are paying for the service, and it is special service, but I prefer conversation to service interruptions. You should be the type that enjoys people tending to you like you're someone special. Not just sorta like it, it should be something you relish in.

All that being said, I'm not bashing the place. But it's not for me, not at that price point. I get that nothing at WDW is a value, I get that you pay a premium for the location and the brand. But this place is easily 3 to 5 times what I've paid for comparable meals and experiences. At that price point, I can't justify it. We were at California Grill the night before. The meal was about 1/3 the price and was about 70% the quality, but was a much more enjoyable experience.

To sum it up, the night before we went to California Grill, we dressed nice, but nothing overly fancy, had one great waitress, a great meal by most standards, got to see the fireworks from the balcony of CG for about 1/3 the cost of V&A where we dressed almost uncomfortably nice, had 3 wait staff tending to our needs with a frequency that made conversation of anything other than the meal a bit challenging, had a great meal, but nothing I could call the (best I've ever had), and paid easily 3x+ the amount.

Just be aware what you're booking. What it is and more importantly, what it isn't.

 

[loves to dive]

I think it really depends on your tastes and desires and what you are used to. I've tried to get reservations and haven't been able to but will some day. We love dressing up and playing grown ups. We love being waited on and treated special. The cost doesn't really sound that high compared to what we have paid at other events at WDW so it actually sounds right up our alley.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thank you for the review! Its definitely off our list for the reasons you state - DH and I barely see each other during work weeks and weekends are our only family time although usually spent running the kid around from one obligation to another, so when on vacation we like to 'family it up'.

 

[carlandellie31]

It's so interesting how people can have different experiences at the same place, isn't it. Keeps us on our toes, I guess.
We went recently for the hubby's birthday. I felt like we got loads of time to talk, to each other and the waitstaff, because it was so quiet and peaceful. It doesn't have the noise and kids and distractions we find at other Disney restaurants. Granted, we talked a good bit about the food, but that was super fun for us.
I totally agree about it being a special occasion place. Don't know that we can make it happen again any time soon, but we had a fabulous experience all the way around.

 

[gillep]

I guess I have a totally different perception of who should go, LOL. DH and I have been twice, once for my birthday and once for an anniversary, while they are special occasions, I wouldn't call them very special or out of the ordinary. We booked V&A because we were interested in the experience, and food, and were able to work it into our budget on each of these trips.

Neither of us like to dress up at all, but we both dress very nicely, and tolerate it because that is what is necessary at V&A, and therefore we are happy to do so.

I don't particularly like people looking at me, and I don't care what people think of where I am going, or why I am dressed in any particular way.

We have never felt awkward having a good discussion at our table, or even with our waiters, that is not to say that we were in any way loud, but we weren't exactly whispering either. We have usually found that the waiters are pretty good at keeping an eye on us, and tended to swoop in when there was more of a lull in our conversation, as opposed to really interrupting us per se.

Like everything in life it is just based on perception, I can't even compare California Grill to V&A regardless of the price difference, they are just too dissimilar in my mind.

 

[Dominus]

I think it really depends on your tastes and desires and what you are used to. I've tried to get reservations and haven't been able to but will some day. We love dressing up and playing grown ups. We love being waited on and treated special. The cost doesn't really sound that high compared to what we have paid at other events at WDW so it actually sounds right up our alley.

Ok, by way of comparison, at Cali Grill my wife and I got an app, each an entree, each a dessert, and each had a couple of drinks. After tax and tip it was about $240. At V&A we got the 7 course (the cheapest you can get at $185 PP), the wine pairing ($105 PP, but if you have a couple of glasses you will hit that, so you may as well), and we had the coffee, and after tax and tip it was about $750. So where people get this nonsense of it being not that much more expensive is beyond me. It's simply not true. CG is likely the next most expensive place in WDW and we had about the same amount of food and drink for about 1/3 the price.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I'm still stuck at the 7 course meal part. That is just ALOT of food!!

 

[FSU Girl]

I'm still stuck at the 7 course meal part. That is just ALOT of food!!

It's really not that much food. After I left I felt full, but not uncomfortably full. The portion sizes are very small so adding them all up equal to normal dinner.

 

[ErinsMommy]

It's really not that much food. After I left I felt full, but not uncomfortably full. The portion sizes are very small so adding them all up equal to normal dinner.

Ah gotcha! TY. Here I am thinking regular portions and like whoa.

 

[FSU Girl]

Ah gotcha! TY. Here I am thinking regular portions and like whoa.

Lol no that would be a crazy amount of food. For example one of the courses was a scallop, and you only get one so it's more of a taste of each course.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Lol no that would be a crazy amount of food. For example one of the courses was a scallop, and you only get one so it's more of a taste of each course.

Ah so like food you get in France. Bite sized everything.

 

[cigar95]

Curious, are all the servers still named V&A?
Or have they opened up their hiring options?

Going for the first time this September, after 25 years. We'll see how it goes. Not sure we've ever been someplace more pricey than Ruth's Chris. (Our last visit to California Grill was back in the days when a couple could get out for under $60, and I think the typical WDW signature is a bit less pricey than R'sC.)

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Curious, are all the servers still named V&A?
Or have they opened up their hiring options?

Going for the first time this September, after 25 years. We'll see how it goes. Not sure we've ever been someplace more pricey than Ruth's Chris. (Our last visit to California Grill was back in the days when a couple could get out for under $60, and I think the typical WDW signature is a bit less pricey than R'sC.)

Alas, no. They stopped the naming thing about a decade ago. Some reviewer made fun of them for it.

It's worth what you pay. You may not be looking for that kind of experience, which the OP was not, but it's worth what you pay.

/Been 3 times, once with the Chef's Table.
//Yes, it really is a "special event" only type meal.
///Next special event planned for January 2018. Cannot wait!

 

[BayouQueen]

I really appreciated this review, as Dominus's take on V&A pretty well matches ours (including the wines being a high point.)
Being a Disney fanatic, I really needed to get this off of my bucket list. But it was one and done. Really very expensive, and while I love a calm and quiet dining experience, it was maybe a little bit too much so. One really does feel the need to whisper, I think. And there are no windows, which at WDW usually offer such pretty views. When we walked out, I kind of wished I'd had dinner at Citricos.

I know there are folks here on the Dis who are repeaters at V&A, and I respect that, but, again, nice to hear a review from somebody who doesn't make me feel like I just didn't "get it."

 

[Dominus]

I really appreciated this review, as Dominus's take on V&A pretty well matches ours (including the wines being a high point.)
Being a Disney fanatic, I really needed to get this off of my bucket list. But it was one and done. Really very expensive, and while I love a calm and quiet dining experience, it was maybe a little bit too much so. One really does feel the need to whisper, I think. And there are no windows, which at WDW usually offer such pretty views. When we walked out, I kind of wished I'd had dinner at Citricos.

I know there are folks here on the Dis who are repeaters at V&A, and I respect that, but, again, nice to hear a review from somebody who doesn't make me feel like I just didn't "get it."

I'm glad I'm not the only one as well. I didn't really hit on the lack of windows, which as you pointed out means a lack of view, but it did play into my experience. The previous night at CG we had a great view, and to walk out on the balcony for the fireworks was an incredible experience. The type of experience I"ll take over a whisper dinner every time.

You nailed it with the Disney Bucket List, that was it in a nutshell. One and done. In retrospect, had I known exactly what I was getting for the price of a car payment and monthly insurance, I would have skipped it. Not dogging the people who love it, just wanting to offer an honest yet different opinion.

 

[Dominus]

Curious, are all the servers still named V&A?
Or have they opened up their hiring options?

Going for the first time this September, after 25 years. We'll see how it goes. Not sure we've ever been someplace more pricey than Ruth's Chris. (Our last visit to California Grill was back in the days when a couple could get out for under $60, and I think the typical WDW signature is a bit less pricey than R'sC.)

It's far and away the most I've spent, and I've spent plenty. My wife's favorite food is sushi and mine is churascaria, so we're not afraid to spend money.

 

[alex9179]

I'm glad that people try things out of their comfort zone. You should never draw a line because experiences can surprise you.

DH and I dined there for our 11th anniversary dinner in 2012. It had been a tumultuous 4 years and we were excited to do something that we'd never do at home. We dressed up (we're super casual most of the time), kids went to the Neverland Club, and we STILL talk about how much we enjoyed everything about that evening. Service was polite but not intrusive. The flavors and preparation led to a hobbiest interest in cooking that has made a LOT of people happy to dine at my table (especially my kids and DH). The kids' favorite part, of the very expensive vacation, was the kids club.

I did a lot of reading about the place, so we weren't taken unawares. The price alone would have me looking into it more than the average restaurant. Thankfully, we went when the price was something we could swing. Now, I would balk at it . Especially w/o TIW. Still, it changed my expectations of food and flavors and has influenced my cooking ever since. If I thought it was an option, I would save for a couple of years just to go back.

 

[TwoMisfits]

So I opted to book V&A for my wife and I and have some thoughts. First things first, know what you're getting into. I really didn't research the place as much as I should have. I sort of assumed there would be options, when really the options are 7 course at $185 or 10 course at $235. And that is minimum! It goes up from there. So the absolute minimum a couple can get out is $370 before tax and tip. So when I posted the question of Narcoossees or V & A and people were saying things like "for the price difference it's a no brainer" and "roughly 3 times the price" they are being playing pretty loose with words.

So here's the review part. The food is great, the wine pairings, even better. The service is what you'd expect for the price. So I have nothing to say about the food or service. But here's what I'll say of the experience.

Why you would go, and who should go.
Unless money is no object in your life, you should plan a very special occasion, not just a Tuesday on vacation. You should really want to dress up, not just tolerate dressing up to meet the dress code, you should want to have people look at you and know you're going somewhere special. You should not want to engage in any idle chit chat with your guest. It's a really quiet room and you will be interrupted often by the wait staff. Now, I understand, you are paying for the service, and it is special service, but I prefer conversation to service interruptions. You should be the type that enjoys people tending to you like you're someone special. Not just sorta like it, it should be something you relish in.

All that being said, I'm not bashing the place. But it's not for me, not at that price point. I get that nothing at WDW is a value, I get that you pay a premium for the location and the brand. But this place is easily 3 to 5 times what I've paid for comparable meals and experiences. At that price point, I can't justify it. We were at California Grill the night before. The meal was about 1/3 the price and was about 70% the quality, but was a much more enjoyable experience.

To sum it up, the night before we went to California Grill, we dressed nice, but nothing overly fancy, had one great waitress, a great meal by most standards, got to see the fireworks from the balcony of CG for about 1/3 the cost of V&A where we dressed almost uncomfortably nice, had 3 wait staff tending to our needs with a frequency that made conversation of anything other than the meal a bit challenging, had a great meal, but nothing I could call the (best I've ever had), and paid easily 3x+ the amount.

Just be aware what you're booking. What it is and more importantly, what it isn't.

If you are value conscious, your best bet is to always post your idea on the Budget Board (on top of the "on topic" board) b/c if both boards agree, you probably have the best choice. V&A replicates a normal 4 star restaurant tasting experience that out of Disney probably costs $79-$99/person (at least it does around here) - in Disney, that price always doubles. Whereas Cali Grill replicates the "next tier down" experience (again at double the normal cost)...but that tier down in restaurant terms, is normally a large price drop down, but not a large quality one...

 

[Dominus]

If you are value conscious, your best bet is to always post your idea on the Budget Board (on top of the "on topic" board) b/c if both boards agree, you probably have the best choice. V&A replicates a normal 4 star restaurant tasting experience that out of Disney probably costs $79-$99/person (at least it does around here) - in Disney, that price always doubles. Whereas Cali Grill replicates the "next tier down" experience (again at double the normal cost)...but that tier down in restaurant terms, is normally a large price drop down, but not a large quality one...

That's a pretty accurate assessment. Again, I'm not at all value conscious when it comes to food. But I am experience conscious. But you nailed it, it's about a $100 max meal anywhere else. I've eaten at tons of great places as we travel a ton and are foodies. It's over priced even in relation to the places in New York, and it's no better than many places in New Orleans or Vegas. Not a bad place, but I think people on here do pimp it more than is justified.

 

[PAGA2003]

I have yet to eat at V&A but my friend and are planning on going during our girls trip next year. From everything I understand the experience would be worthy of a Michelin rating if the Michelin guide were in Orlando. If that is truly the case while the price point might be a touch high I wouldn't think it is as over priced as most things at Disney. We've dined at Michelin restaurants and I have yet to see a seven course tasting menu under $100 at dinner(or lunch really either). We ate at a fantastic 2 star in France that was 90 Euro for 3 courses at lunch (so about $113 at the time). A price of $185 is really pretty in line (from my understanding of the experience) with other restaurants of that caliber. But like I said I've yet to eat there, just going off what I've read/heard...