Fortunately, Disney has plenty of terrific restaurants for celebrating special events. Here are some of my favorites, organized based on the particular event you want to celebrate.
For A Birthday Celebration Dinner
General Birthday Dining Tip: The key to planning a great birthday dinner is knowing the interests of the special birthday boy or girl – no matter what their age. From fun to elegant, there are many great Disney World dining choices.
Restaurant: Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Hotel
Great for: The birthday person who loves Mickey Mouse and the other Fab Five Disney Characters – whether they are young or just young at heart. This is a Disney character dining event where you can enjoy a buffet of American Cuisine. Everyone has plenty of food choices, and the location is terrific – just steps away from the Magic Kingdom and in the shadow of the monorail as it glides by overhead while it passes through the atrium of the hotel.
Cost: Buffets range from a low of $15 for breakfast to a high of $60 for dinner at peak season times.
Restaurant: 50s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Great for: The birthday person who loves the nostalgia of the 1950s. Enjoy hearty classics like pot roast and meat loaf, delivered from mom’s kitchen by wise cracking waiters and waitresses who make sure you eat all your veggies and don’t put your elbows on the table. It’s a fun atmosphere where the older folks in the crowd will reminisce about the groovy Formica counters and classic black and white television shows playing on the TVs. Treats for adults are available from “dad’s liquor cabinet” and include cocktails, beer, and wine.
Cost: Entrees range from $15 to $40.
Great for: The birthday person who loves seafood served in an upscale environment with amazing views of the huge coral reef aquarium – the largest such ever build inland. With great food and a great view, the birthday celebration is sure to be a hit. Specialty drinks and a nice wine list compliment many delicious seafood choices.
Cost: Entrees range from $35 to $60.
For A Graduation Celebration Dinner
General Graduation Dining Tip: Different graduates have different personalities – from enjoying the finer things in life to being the life of the party. We’ve got a suggestion for each type.
Restaurant: Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Great for: The graduate who especially loves coastal sea food and the finer things in life. Classy but relaxed, the dress code calls for men to wear something like slacks, dress shorts, and shirts with a collar (no white t-shirts please), and ladies to wear skirts, dresses, or dress shorts. An extensive six-page drink menu includes a vast selection of cocktails, martinis, wines, and ports. The menu sports plenty of lobster and tuna, with a steak and chicken thrown in for those who aren’t so much into fish. Time things right and you can enjoy seeing the Wishes fireworks spectacular across the Severn Seas Lagoon.
Cost: Dinner entrees range from $35 to $60.
Restaurant: Raglan Road at Disney Springs
Great for: The graduate who likes to cut loose and have fun, especially if they are Irish – or Irish at heart. The ambiance will take you away to green rolling hills and an authentic Irish pub. Live entertainment will encourage you to dance a jig or sing along with the band and the house dancers. On your way out you can pick up a souvenir, and then wander the other shops and entertain that Disney Springs provides.
Cost: Lunch and dinner entrees range from $15 to $40.
For A Romantic Celebration Dinner
General Romantic Dining Tip: Be ready to drop some cash to impress your sweetie. It is advice everyone knows, and Disney provides the ultimate way to make it happen.
Restaurant: Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Great for: The romantic couple that is celebration a very special occasion – from an engagement to an anniversary, or maybe just a celebration of another day of life together. A trip to Victoria and Albert’s isn’t just a meal – it is an experience. Victoria and Albert’s delivers an extremely elegant dining room, extraordinary service, and a 6-course prix fixe menu make for the ultimate gourmet event. Plan for two-and-a-half hours as you listen to the gentle strums of the live harpist and enjoy every bite of every course. The menu changes constantly, but your choices include delicious options like Kobe Beef Tenderloin, Pork Tenderloin with Cannellini Bean Sauce, or Ranch Lamb with Turnip Kraut – all prepared by some of the world’s finest chefs. Men should plan to wear a dinner jacket (tie optional) and ladies should don a dress or pant suit.
Cost: Prices begin at $125.00 per person, plus an additional $60 per person for a wine pairing. The exclusive Queen Victoria’s Room or the Chef’s Table start at $210 per person.