What's the best Restaurant for celebrating?

[msce2]

How do you know you've raised a lifetime WDW fan? When he chooses Disney with the family for his high school graduation trip. We will be heading down in June for 8 days and staying at BLT. We are planning on cooking but have a few ressie's planned. The big question is that we are looking to do a special dinner and there are so many great restaurants we are having trouble choosing one. I currently have an ADR for Narcoossee's and have eaten there before, but my Mom thinks Artist Point is better. Here's the added catch, it has to be outside a park as the we don't have tickets for that day.

Thank you all so much for your help!!!

Here are our current ressies:
Be Our Guest Dinner - was one of our fav's from last year
Teppen Edo Dinner - another of our favorites
Cinderella Royal Palace Breakfast - this is a 1st for some of us
Rainforest Cafe lunch - my kids always insist on this one
Tusker House late Breakfast

 

[xjillianpaige]

I put Cal Grill, but I think it really could be any of those restaurant! I chose Cal Grill because that was the "big" dinner that my friends and I had for our bachelorette celebration weekend. The food was incredible, the wine went down like water, and our server was the absolute best.

 

[Shanti]

Hoop Dee Doo Revue

 

[FelisLachesis]

It's the grad man's dinner, let the grad man decide! They're all different, but they all sound really good.

He wants steak? Yachtsman. He wants an upstate New York theme? Turf Club. He wants something out in right field, Jiko.

 

[caliope]

I agree, let the one being celebrated (the grad in this case) select the restaurant. We've done celebratory meals at California Grill and loved them, but we're in our 40's and that's the kind of vibe we like. It might not appeal to a younger crowd. We also have many, many outstanding restaurants in our city, so when we go to Disney, we don't need "special" dining experiences per se - the trip itself is special enough! For something fun, I'd echo a previous poster and suggest Hoop Dee Doo - another one of our faves.

 

[Dug720]

Add me to the "let the one being celebrated choose" camp!

I still remember how my parents decided where we would go for lunch after my confirmation - and it was not only a place I would never have picked, there was very little I would actually eat as I do not eat fish, did not eat eggs at the time, and like my beef at least medium (the place only had rare). I was NOT a happy camper on what should have been my celebration day.

 

[Hopefully]

I too think the Grad should decide. It is his celebration. Anywhere he chooses is best.
That said, another vote for HDDR. It is great fun and good, home-style food.
Enjoy

 

[lorileahb]

I agree with let the man of honor choose! That said, California Grill at the time of the fireworks is excellent. We celebrated a 40th birthday that way a few years ago.

 

[Marthasor]

We love Artist Point, but the view from Cali Grill can't be beat!

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

High school graduation? If they eat like my high school kids any signature restaurant would be prohibitive price wise.

I'd go with Boma, Cape May or 'Ohanas. Buffets are good for filling up teens, and those are my teens' favs.

 

[msce2]

Thank you so much for all your responses. He's usually pretty easy to please and somewhat adventurous but mostly a steak and potatoes kind of guy. We went over the menus together and discussed all the options. It's hard because there are so many great choices and we usually don't splurge on the signature restaurants.

Also sometimes it seems that restaurants kind of go through changes and while they were good 5 years ago, it might not be at the same level or vice versa. We experienced that last year with Chef Mickey's. It has always been a character meal and the food left a little to be desired but we ended up having an awesome meal. I really felt like they had stepped up the quality.

 

[Branflakes]

Artist Point is our all time favorite for signature dining. Best meals in all of WDW imo.
Hoop Dee Doo review would be a great time as well for celebrating. We have done a wedding anniversary and a high school graduation here and it was a great time!! And no one is leaving hungry!

 

[NileNellie]

I think hoop de doo is really fun for celebrating, but if you're looking for something a little more quiet/fancy, then I'd go with California Grill.

 

[bcarey2k]

Victoria and Alberts