The Everything Victoria & Albert's Thread

[mommyrosa2]

DH & I ate at V&A's tonight for the first time and all I can say is WOW!! It was way more than I could have ever hoped for. We ate in the main dining room and everything from beginning to end was perfect. And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, our server, Amy, presented us with a specialty cake for our 30th anniversary that our two girls had ordered for us weeks in advance!!

Couldn't have asked for a better night and I'm so glad we got to experience this.

 

[forloveofdisney]

My husband and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in April. I'm working hard to get fit and ready to run the Dark Side 5K. I left it up to him as to where to have our anniversary dinner. He chose V&A and since we have time to save for it and it's just the two of us, we are doing it! Last week on my 180+ day I called right at 9:00. It must have been a little early because the message still said they weren't open. I waited a minute and called back and got the message that they were already with someone so I left a message. I got the call back around 9:30. It was a very pleasant call and I had the choice of the QV room or the main dining room. We had already decided on the 7 course meal in the main dining room. She asked about allergies and celebrations and gave me all the explanations and options for the evening. She took our reservation number, credit card number and email. I received a confirmation email almost immediately after the phone call. She said that it would show up in MDE in a few days. It did not show up so I just used the confirmation number to link it. At the end she said "Have a GRAND day!" I loved that!

We are so excited to celebrate here in April. We are not 'fine' dining people (yet!). I'm sure I will be confused by all the forks, spoons, and words I can't pronounce! It will be a great opportunity to dress up at WDW and have amazing food in one of the best restaurants in the Country.

Reading through this thread helped me make several of my decisions and I hope my info is also helpful. I look forward to coming back and giving the details of my experience!

 

[Richard M Nixon]

It's not French style service where you'll have every utensil you'll use at your table setting the whole time. They will swap flatware each course so you will only have what you need for a given dish. The only utensil I hadn't seen before was a sauce spoon which is flat on one side so you can scoop sauce from the plate.


I recently learned that Bob Iger celebrated his last birthday at the chef's table. It really says something that a multimillionaire CEO picked V&A's for his special event.

 

[jedijill]

New service? Dish wear? V and A? Do tell.

The meal is started with a complimentary cocktail like they do at Remy on the Dream/Fantasy. There were special touches from the QVR like shaving the butter at the table, presentation of pink salt, etc that elevated the meal past the former high level of service. I did the 10 course Chef's Meal and did the Reserve wine pairings. It was an expensive but amazing way to celebrate my birthday!

Jill in CO

 

[BC1836]

Our latest V&A experience (last evening) was different from our previous ones: brighter lighting (reflecting the illumination of some of Europe's best restaurants), new table configurations (our favorite two-person table was replaced by a four-seater, so we had to move to the next area), new harp location, new complimentary cocktail (unless it was part of the pricier food & wine festival time period), special cheese serving, special chocolate serving in a custom wood case, new menu options (7 or 10 courses in the main dining room), and several never-seen-before menu selections.

All the best!

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I was at the Chef's Table on Tuesday night and was pleased as always. I found that the whole menu was re-done, which delighted me as I like trying new dishes every time. My girlfriend swapped her cheese course for a white chocolate gelato which was definitely the better choice. We added shaved white truffle to accent the bread course (heaping truffles on the truffle bread with black truffle butter was incredible) and I added the Miyazaki wagyu (so good). The wine pairing is now a choice between a $105 and $150 selection, both of which are 8 glasses. I opted for the $150 version which Israel changes daily and I enjoyed every single glass they poured. The hangover the next day was less than magical, but so worth it.

I did notice that the chocolates are now in a wooden presentation box. I have no strong feelings about it, except that I didn't get any of the orange chocolates in my take-home box, which was disappointing.

 

[Pirate Fairy]

Hi all- My husband is trying to plan our first visit to V&A's for about a year from now. It will be for our 12th wedding anniversary (we just celebrated #11 but were unable to really do anything special this year due to circumstances beyond our control). How difficult are reservations to get? He will be calling right at the 180 day mark but do any of you have insight/tips as to getting a reservation? He was trying to do it in the MDE app but I told him that I thought you had to call for that res, much like CRT. Any advice/recs would be appreciated! We are pass holders who live a little over an hour away but are planning on spending 1-2 nights at the Grand Flo for this occasion (we have never stayed there either and it's on my Disney bucket list). We are pretty familiar with WDW in general but the whole V&A/Grand Flo experience is new to us...

 

[bcarey2k]

Hi all- My husband is trying to plan our first visit to V&A's for about a year from now. It will be for our 12th wedding anniversary (we just celebrated #11 but were unable to really do anything special this year due to circumstances beyond our control). How difficult are reservations to get? He will be calling right at the 180 day mark but do any of you have insight/tips as to getting a reservation? He was trying to do it in the MDE app but I told him that I thought you had to call for that res, much like CRT. Any advice/recs would be appreciated! We are pass holders who live a little over an hour away but are planning on spending 1-2 nights at the Grand Flo for this occasion (we have never stayed there either and it's on my Disney bucket list). We are pretty familiar with WDW in general but the whole V&A/Grand Flo experience is new to us...

Shouldn't be that difficult for the QV Room or main dining room. The chefs table is tough, even if you pull the 180+10 days thing.

Brian

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Hi all- My husband is trying to plan our first visit to V&A's for about a year from now. It will be for our 12th wedding anniversary (we just celebrated #11 but were unable to really do anything special this year due to circumstances beyond our control). How difficult are reservations to get? He will be calling right at the 180 day mark but do any of you have insight/tips as to getting a reservation? He was trying to do it in the MDE app but I told him that I thought you had to call for that res, much like CRT. Any advice/recs would be appreciated! We are pass holders who live a little over an hour away but are planning on spending 1-2 nights at the Grand Flo for this occasion (we have never stayed there either and it's on my Disney bucket list). We are pretty familiar with WDW in general but the whole V&A/Grand Flo experience is new to us...

If you'll have a reservation at the Grand Floridian you should be eligible for 180+10 which puts you in as best a position as you can hope for. Check in here a few days before your trip to see if online reservations work, otherwise be calling them directly (407-wdw-dvna) at 9am sharp. Get on the waiting list for every day you want and see if you get lucky in the event that it's full when you call. The menus are the same at all the tables now, so you're only really selecting ambiance.

 

[Swilcox]

Can someone please tell me a little bit about the wine pairing at the chefs table? There are two options now, is the more expensive choice worth the extra money? How many glasses of wine are in the pairing? How big are they? Can my husband and I share a pairing?

 

[Li Li]

Looks like the Chef's Table will be under renovation for some of January.
http://www.scottjosephorlando.com/news/3183-changes-at-disney-s-victoria-albert-s

 

[schoen]

so? What is the appeal of the QVR now? If the menu and service is now the same, why have a separate room? I always enjoy the harpist, so would I be better suited to change to the main dining room. I am also a bit concerned that with only four tables it might be a bit not-so-private, vs. sort of hiding in a crowd in the main dining room, does that make sense? I booked QVR because I wanted a different and "special experience, is that no longer the case in the QVR?

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Can someone please tell me a little bit about the wine pairing at the chefs table? There are two options now, is the more expensive choice worth the extra money? How many glasses of wine are in the pairing? How big are they? Can my husband and I share a pairing?

You can split the pairings. Both pairings are 8 glasses, which I'd estimate are about 6oz, plus you get a complimentary champagne toast when you begin your meal.

The pairings are $105 and $150. I did the $150 last week and thoroughly enjoyed every glass. I always drink rich reds but I enjoyed the whites just as much, which tells me that the pairings were well done. The difference between the two is that the $105 pairing is fairly fixed in terms of selection, being bottles that V&A's regularly stocks and they know will be available for some time. The $150 pairing changes daily and is a showcase of new wines, boutique wineries, rare offerings, and special selections. Israel chooses the wine pairings every morning and works with suppliers who are all, apparently, begging to get their label in V&A's. I'd go for the more expensive option if possible.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

so? What is the appeal of the QVR now? If the menu and service is now the same, why have a separate room? I always enjoy the harpist, so would I be better suited to change to the main dining room. I am also a bit concerned that with only four tables it might be a bit not-so-private, vs. sort of hiding in a crowd in the main dining room, does that make sense? I booked QVR because I wanted a different and "special experience, is that no longer the case in the QVR?

Since October, the QVR is identical to the main dining room in food pairing. You can have the 7 or 10 course menu at either, so you are opting for decor and privacy when you choose the QVR.

 

[porterbl1]

My husband and I are looking forward to our dinner in the QVR for my bday in early December. I was wondering if there happen to be any photographers at the GFR that could take our picture? We'll probably just monorail over from BLT, so that we don't have to drive back that night?

 

[Circusgirl]

My husband and I are looking forward to our dinner in the QVR for my bday in early December. I was wondering if there happen to be any photographers at the GFR that could take our picture? We'll probably just monorail over from BLT, so that we don't have to drive back that night?

At that time of year there are photopass photographers stationed near the tree in the lobby in the evenings.

Check the transportation schedule when you are there. The dinner experience is at least 3 hours so depending on the MK hours and when your dinner starts you might out-dine the monorail hours.

Have a fabulous birthday!

 

[courtneybeth]

Unable to make reservations for our 180+10 window for ANY table in the restaurant. Really disappointed, this was suppose to be for my MBA graduation dinner. Not sure what to do at this point.

 

[KProuty]

Did you call Victoria and Albert's directly? Not the regular Disney Dine number?

 

[courtneybeth]

I am an idiot and didn't realize you had to call. -hangs head- called and got right into the queen Victoria room. 630pm seating.

 

[cantoine]

Just got my email confirmation for the chefs table for May! My husband and I are so excited!