The Yachtsman Steakhouse Disney’s TRULY Best Kept Secret Secret

[Mr. D's K-Man]

OK, so for years we’ve all seen the signs for the Vacation Club Marketing. They’re everywhere … “Disney’s Best Kept Secret”. Well, they’re WRONG! Disney’s truly Best Kept Secret is over at the Yacht Club … The Yachtsman Steak House.

Our first visit there was back in 2005 when we were doing the Platinum Plan. I can’t for the life of me remember what we had, only that it was amazing. We’d been out all day in had a late reservation and had invited friends to join us. Back in 2005, we made note to make sure we returned.

Fast forward a couple of years … Mister Disney’s Birthday Celebration 2007. Remember the 2006 celebration at V&A’s?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=12604553#post12604553

Well, how do you out do that one? A lot happened between 2006 and 2007, including Mark Hoevenaars becoming Area Manager over at the Yachtsman Steak House. Mister Disney, being the brilliant man that he is, the gears of his mind in constant motion, was pressing to find out what was going to happen at V&A’s. Without much effort, I played dumb. Being born blond, it isn’t difficult. Needless to say, the 2007 Birthday Celebration was a “two pronged attack”. In the Spring of 2007, I worked with Mark to bring the Celebration to the Yachtsman Steak House. Mark and the entire staff at the Yachtsman truly rose to the occasion.

Yes, this is one of those “yet to be written reviews” for which I am truly deserving and anxiously awaiting my spankings. All I can say is we’ll make right the sins of our past.

So, anyway … back to Mister Disney and his wonderful Birthday Celebration. Having already seen how the Yachtsman truly puts on the Ritz, once again, in 2008 I made reservations for the Yachtsman and plans with Mark to Celebrate the man I love.

Without hesitation, Mark knew exactly which stops to pull out … ALL OF THEM! Mark’s a perfectionist and accepts nothing but the best. In our first phone conversation, Mark began to go down the list … the likes and dislikes, the allergies and the “don’t even think about using Bell Peppers on Mister Disney’s food”.
Pest that I am, I made a series of follow up calls, all of which Mark had already done or spoken to the Chefs about doing. (OK … SPANK ME!) Still, we needed a Theme or a Topper, something to set this birthday apart from every other celebration.

HAPPY!

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

OK, so for years we’ve all seen the signs for the Vacation Club Marketing. They’re everywhere … “Disney’s Best Kept Secret”. Well, they’re WRONG! Disney’s truly Best Kept Secret is over at the Yacht Club … The Yachtsman Steak House.



HAPPY!

Happy … you know one of the Dwarfs! We’ve been carrying an original issue rubber Happy around in our knapsack for a few years, so I decided, let’s do a Happy Theme.

I called Mark back and told him, let’s find a stuffed/plush toy of Happy and have him as part of the evening. Immediately, Mark set out to find it. Calls and emails were exchanged. It’s the Happiest Place on Earth, but there was NO HAPPY plush toy to be found. Understand this, Mark was running around WDW on his own time searching. I got the email that we were coming up short on Happy and needed a Plan B. UGH! Pulling the remaining 3 hairs out of my head, I couldn’t figure anything out. Finally, recalling our September visit to the gift shop at the Grand, I remember a pair of Crystal Cuff Links that Mister Disney fell in love with. Let’s get the cuff links. With that, I emailed Israel and asked if he could tell me if they were still available at the gift store. Sadly, they weren’t. I broke the sad news to Mark, and again found myself having to come up with a Plan B … or would this be Plan C?

So, I just told the Mark and Israel that we’d have to hang tight and that I’d have a few hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during which I could hunt for something that would work for all of us. Talking about PRESSURE!

The next day … the phone rang. Caller ID … it’s from WDW! It was Mark. He had just come from Downtown Disney where he found a pair of Crystal Mouse Head Cuff Links and it's the exact pair Mister Disney wanted! WOO HOO! MAGIC! We now have something to present Mister Disney. Let the Celebration begin. Mark also mentioned that they had the Mouse Hand Cuff Links, and offered to go back and exchange them if I wanted … all this on his own time! I told Mark that we were all set, and we’d go with what he had picked up.

At this point, I couldn’t wait for March 20th and dinner at the Yachtsman Steak House. During our travels earlier in the weekend, we had stopped in to say “Hi” to everyone at the Yachtsman. It was great to see everyone again, especially knowing how much they had done for us on two previous occasions, Mister Disney’s Birthday and my birthday in 2007. Without divulging any information (and you KNOW Mister Disney was DIEING to find it ALL out) everyone said how much they were looking forward to Thursday Night.

Oh … then Chef Al mentioned that although he was an integral part of the menu creations and was very much looking forward to being part of the Celebration … he would not be working Thursday, March 20th. My jaw dropped … and I blurted out … WHY NOT? Pressing him for an answer, he confessed that his girl friend called to say she was coming down from CT and he needed to take off to be with her. AHEM!

In Harmony, both of us said, WHAT? I’m thinking to myself, OMG, that means coming up with a Plan C … or are we on Plan D now. Chef Al saw the panic over take me, and immediately brought over Chef Mark, whom he assured me could fill in for him. We’re 3 days out, and I’m hit with this. Without hesitation, I blurted out “WHO IS THIS WOMAN?” Chef Al proceeded to tell us, this WOMAN is on the DisBoard and has even read our reviews. Nothing was going to calm me down. I’m thinking … “she is just another one of those Disney Villainesses.”

Needless to say, I was not HAPPY! WHO IS THIS WOMAN!

 

[PNO4TE]

Wow... Dueling Dining Reviews! Mister Disney is busy with the Narcoossee's review and you are one sneaky K-Man working on this one at the same time. Can't wait to read more.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm in....

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

Happy …
Needless to say, I was not HAPPY! WHO IS THIS WOMAN!

Tuesday, March 18th. Two days to go, after dropping Mister Disney off at his trade show, I walked over to Downtown Disney looking for Happy and to get the other pair of cuff links that Mark had mentioned. Other than the statue that looked more like it belonged in a Nativity Creche, there was no Happy. My mind was spinning. After almost 3 hours of looking, I gave up and began walking back to the hotel. When I got to the edge of Downtown Disney, just about to exit, I hear a guy yelling “Kevin, Kevin”. I’m all alone, 1200 miles from home, no one could possibly know me, so I ignored the calling out by this guy and kept heading to the hotel. Louder, “KEVIN, HEY KEVIN”. With that, I decided to turn around. This blonde muscle bear in a tank top and sunglasses was waving and saying “KEVIN”. I’m sure he saw the dumb look on my face, so he lifted the sunglasses and headed towards me. “It’s me, AL”, he said.

So, I walked over to him to talk to him. I apologized for not recognizing him and we shook hands and began to talk. At that point, he again apologized for not being able to be part of Mister Disney’s Birthday Celebration and began to tell me some of the special things they’d been working on for over a week. (Details to follow) I couldn’t lie and I couldn’t hold back, so I asked him, “Who is this villainess who has caused you to abandon Mister Disney’s Birthday Celebration.”

Caught between the pressure of my question and the pressure of the villainess, he quietly turned around and motioned for two women to come over and join our conversation. As they approached, I thought to myself, these women looked more like Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. After the introductions, it was at this point that I realized I had just met the Villainess Herself! Again an outburst … “SO YOU’RE THE REASON!” Fairy Godmother jumped back! I guess my outburst took us all by surprised and we all laughed.

Cinderella had flown down from CT to spend time with her Prince Charming. Her Fairy Godmother was Chef Al’s mother. After all the pleasantries were exchanged, I decided to make one last attempt at getting Chef Al to leave Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother at the Ball so he could be at the Yachtsman on Thursday; even going as far as inviting Cinderella and Fairy Godmother to join us for dinner, if that would free Chef Al up to work. All negotiations failed!

No Happy … No Chef Al … just blisters on my feet … a Villainess and comfort in the knowledge that Mark, and the entire staff at the Yachtsman have pulled off bigger miracles than this.

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

Tuesday, March 18th.

No Happy … No Chef Al … just blisters on my feet … a Villainess and comfort in the knowledge that Mark, and the entire staff at the Yachtsman have pulled off bigger miracles than this.

Thursday, March 20th. 7 PM Reservations. We arrived at the Yacht Club at 6:45 PM and were greeted by Mark Hoevenaars. We had drinks in the bar while final details were prepared. After catching up with Mark, the signal was given that it was time for the Curtain to go up on our Celebration!

Mark escorted us to our table by the window, the same one we had for my celebration in September, the one where you can see the fireworks over at Epcot’s Illuminations. A beautiful young woman immediately arrived at our table and was introduced to us by Mark. In all of her humility, Yun said it was with great anticipation that she looked forward to taking care of our every need this evening. She told us how she had her all kinds of stories about us. I wonder if Chef Al’s Villainess called her! HUM! LOL

Mark came over and presented us with the custom designed menus … including personal photos of us at Walt Disney World and Disneyland and the menu the entire staff had worked to create just for Mister Disney. He examined the food choices, looked up and smiled at Mark and said “Excellent, Thank You”!

I was HAPPY!

 

[Mister Disney]

We now break for a much needed cocktail hour with the "Lady of the Manor", Disney music playing on the Yamaha Disclavier and Appletinis in front of the fire place.

Back in a few.

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

We now break for a much needed cocktail hour with the "Lady of the Manor", Disney music playing on the Yamaha Disclavier and Appletinis in front of the fire place.

Back in a few.

OMG ... here comes the Lady of the Manor in her house coat clinking her martini glass ... quick POUR!

 

[PNO4TE]

We now break for a much needed cocktail hour with the "Lady of the Manor", Disney music playing on the Yamaha Disclavier and Appletinis in front of the fire place.

Back in a few.

I think I will join you in a lovely glass of cab and some cheese & crackers... no Disklavier here (one in my studio though!).

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I can't wait to read the rest!

 

[YCFAN]

I'm really looking forward to this review. I love YSH and try to eat there on every trip. I had my 50th birthday party celebration there this past October and it was wonderful!

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

I'm really looking forward to this review. I love YSH and try to eat there on every trip. I had my 50th birthday party celebration there this past October and it was wonderful!

Approaching 50 myself, I'll take your word for it!

OH ... you're refering to the Yachtsman Steak House.

 

[PNO4TE]

Approaching 50 myself, I'll take your word for it!

OH ... you're refering to the Yachtsman Steak House.

Your 50's are not so bad... but Yachtsman is better.

 

[oybolshoi]

So looking forward to the rest of this ... I love the things you two do for each other!

 

[Tissa]

I can't wait to read more. My ds decided on YSH for his big 13th, I just hope he doesn't read this though because I can no way pull off something this grand.

 

[Lynn5700]

I love you guy's!!! I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[AussieAngel]

Yay!

We hope to eat at the Yachtsman Steakhouse next January when we visit WDW. It looks great! Can't wait to read your review!

Although, don't say too many nice things, or then everybody will want to go there and we might not get our reservations.

Do you still eat dessert first?

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

Do you still eat dessert first?

After listening to Mark and all the chefs who had put so much into things leading up to this, for the first time in my life I truly believed that EATING DESSERT WOULD BE A SIN!

 

[Mr. D's K-Man]

Do you still eat dessert first?

I must admit however, I was truly Blessed at Birth. To this day, My mother still believe that

Apple Pie and Ice Cream is a Balanced Breakfast!

 

[Mister Disney]

OK, I am note sure where to jump in yet, but will interject the following:

Mark came over and presented us with the custom designed menus … including personal photos of us at Walt Disney World and Disneyland and the menu the entire staff had worked to create just for Mister Disney. He examined the food choices, looked up and smiled at Mark and said “Excellent, Thank You”!

Scans of the incredible menus Mark Hoevenaars put together to mark my birthday celebration.

I could or probably should make up some sort of explaination for the krinkles in the menus, but I won't. Surfice it to say, they got folded.....so SPANK ME!