misha2

Any suggestions for a special Disney birthday dinner for a group of older teen girls? It's an 18th birthday celebration and we would love it to be memorable.

spirobulldog

Victoria and Alberts

doug_stallings

Victoria and Alberts is not at all suitable for 18 year olds. I'd choose a restaurant at Downtown Dsney. Lots if god choices. Or perhaps the Moroccan restaurant at Cot. That's fun too.

doug_stallings

At Epcot.

spirobulldog

Doug,
Your opinion

It does depend on what you are wanting. If you are wanting "fun", then no this isn't exactly the place. "special" and "memorable" yes Older Teens led me to think mature in their actions and way of thinking too.

If eating cous cous and curry kebabs all while seated on the floor with bread for your only eating utensil and a belly dancer- then yeah try Marrakesh in Epcot

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/0...-table-review/

spirobulldog

In fairness, It was several years that we at at Marrakesh. It was very good, glad we went. Don't know that I would repeat it thought. VA is really really something. That's what I was trying to make my point

EmilyPost

Truth: If you tell any server or reservationist at any WDW restaurant that this is a milestone birthday, they will make it special.

Just avoid ANY character buffets!

doug_stallings

I probably should have explained myself a bit more. V&A is fancy and quiet and requires you to really dress up. All of this makes for an upscale and expensive romantic dinner fr adults. But it is, in my opinion at least, also a little fussy. Not what I would call fun. So it just doesn't seem at all the kind of place I would have wanted to eat at when I was 18. But WDW is very good with special occasions. I agree that almost any restaurant will do a good job.

spirobulldog

I agree with Doug now. Fussy, Dressy, Upscale is accurate. Other than it is one of my daughters favorites I think she was 14 when we took her. You will shell out some $$$. If they are wanting to be giggle, cut up, dance, that type of thing--then no this isn't the place.

emd3

There is a lot of good info online about all the various restaurants at the Disney resorts (and btw, is this Disneyland CA or DisneyWorld FL?). Having had an 18 yr old girl, I'd review the types of restaurants and options with her and let her decide where she wants to have her friends celebrate her birthday with her. My daughter appreciated having some control over things like that at age 18, and having her choose would have gone over much better than me choosing.

Tabernash2

The WDW hotels have good restaurants, and are less hectic than within the park.

When we visited, The Polynesian had a great all-you-can eat table service dinner. The Floridian has a fancy restaurant, a bit more sedate. The wilderness hotel (forget the name) also has a casual restaurant.

downtownbrown

I think the restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge is called the Whispering Canyon.

Dinner there could be a lot of fun for an 18-year-old, depending on the 18-year-old. The waitstaff puts on a show, and if you tell your waitress that someone there is having a birthday, chances are they'll make her part of the show. Food is OK, nothing special. Won't break the budget. Definitely not fancy or upscale.

nytraveler

Definitely depends on the teens and what they expect. My DDs would not have been amused by performing waitstaff and being part of the show after about age 13. But they have seen that in NYC since they were little kids. And eaten upscale food since they were early teens.

At 18 they would definitely go for the best food and a more adult atmosphere. They would NOT want mediocre food and a children's show.

But if kids are more unsophisticated they might enjoy something more like a show and not care much about the food.

EmilyPost

Oh brother...My kids, and I'm Mom to many, enjoyed anything we did for them and with them, thank goodness.

And they've eaten food all over the world including in NYC and in Paris (where they ordered in French) and in Venice where they ordered in Italian and again in Sicily when they ordered in dialect. They were all over 15 years old the last time we ate with our fingers at the Hoop De Doo Review and they laughed through that whole show too. They were guests of their grandparents and they behaved themselves.

But: Big whoop and who cares what YOUR kids or my kids do, nytravler??!

How about you start over with the basics, misha2? What kind of food does your teen enjoy? What's the budget and how many people will you be?

misha2

Thank you all. Sorry for not offering more information upfront.

My teen adores food, everything from pasta to sushi to spicy Korean. She and her friends are up for silly fun and appreciate elegance too. The birthday girl is overwhelmed with AP exams and other stuff and would appreciate anything, but doesn't want to research/make the decision. Their will be eight of us total (the girls, 17-18, myself and hubs and one teenage boy, her brother).

The day we are going, the Magic Kingdom is open late so I wondered if it would be best to eat there or close to it. However, I don't want to limit myself if there are other/better options.

Since posting this I've spoken to Disney reservations also. I had considered the restaurant in the Polynesian and thought maybe getting a corner table timed to watch the fireworks would be nice. (A uniquely Disney experience is what I thought would be memorable. ) The Disney rep I spoke to suggested the restaurant in the Floridian. He said it's an upscale buffet (there will be characters but that could be fun - perhaps). He also thought it would be great to eat and then go to the beach and watch the fireworks and the water parade. What do you think?

nytraveler

You know your kids best - and what they will like. We can only filter through our own kids, who may be much different.

(We - and ours - don't do buffets - prefer freshly cooked food - and the food is the most important part of dinner. Fireworks would be fine, characters - and lots of little kids - would not.)

Tabernash2

misha, I think that sounds nice. The fireworks display is great. The closing parade is cool, too, though.

The Floridian has an upscale look and feel, and could be perfect for a celebration dinner.

Remember that the hotels cater to families of all ages, not just kids. Because older folks travel with their family, but prefer to skip the park and recreate at the hotel instead. So the hotels are geared for that, especially the Floridian.

spirobulldog

Sounds like the brother is in for a marvelous time. LOL

nytraveler

Sorry - strongly disagree that V&A isn't appropriate for 18 year olds. Out DDs have been eating at upscale restaurants since they were 12 or so and at 18 appreciated good food - and wine (which they were served in europe and at home). At 18 they were young women living on their own at college and running their own lives - the same as many other 18 year olds.

Not sure why anyone would think the restaurant inappropriate for a special event like this.

EmilyPost

Not sure why you keep shoving your dd's taste down our throats, nytraveler. Give it a rest.

Isn't there a restaurant at Wilderness Lodge and also the Contemporary that has windows overlooking the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display>

Aren't there boats you can rent with dinner provided that can be out on the lake during the fireworks show?

I'd move beyond the buffet with Chip and Dale....but I wouldn't be moving on to V&A either.

Doug's initial suggestions are very good; have you considered them?