Hello! Which of these would you rather eat at for a fun & relaxing evening for me and my husband? We like everything so if atmosphere or all-around food is better at one or the other, please elaborate. We have MANY other ADR's already so please just choose between these two for us. We will be going on the Illuminations private boat tour later that evening so there will be plenty of time for romance :) Thanks!

I think Yachtsman's would be less hectic, and therefore more romantic and a better lead-in to the cruise. Plus you'll be closer to the dock, so you don't have to 'stress' about getting to the dock on time if the dinner at Brown Derby runs long or you just miss the ferry from the Studios.

I haven't heard any complaints about Yachtsman's - I have heard a few about Brown Derby. I had some minor service issues at Brown Derby, but nothing that would (or did!) stop me from going again.

And I heard from some 'experts' that the regular water at Yachtsman's is pretty good - if you want to make your decision based on water taste :D

(The experts were reps from a tea company that supplies Yachtsman's, Jiko, and a few others - they always get he 'regular water' when they eat out so they can taste what their tea would be brewed with - and they will blend the tea specifically for the brewing water in some cases, so I really do think these people could be considered water as well as tea experts!)

The Yachtsman is our top pick.We NEVER miss eating there when we go!

As a general rule, the in park restaurant locations always seem to be busier and frequently more rushed. We enjoy the resort restaurants when we we want to relax a bit and linger, So Yachtman's would be my pick.

I haven't been to Yachtsmans, but I really enjoyed the Brown Derby last month. It may have been because we did the "Dining With an Imagineer" luncheon, but they totally pampered us. The service was great; the food was outstanding. Some of it was a little fancy for my simple tastes, but they graciously substituted --chicken noodle soup for the lobster bisque that came with lunch, for example. Each course was beautifully prepared, from the artistically arranged cobb salad with carved produce, which could have been a meal in itself, to what I called the "mountain of meat" I was served. It was a New York Strip Steak cut into thin triangular pieces stacked against a mound of mashed potatoes. Sounds crazy; looked really impressive.

I give it a five!

Yachtsman, hands down!

I've enjoyed many meals at the Brown Derby, and had the pleasure of eating at the Yachtsman Steakhouse for the first time last year. I would highly recommend either place, for fine food, elegant but not stuffy atmosphere, and great service. I think the Yachtsman would have a more extensive menu, being a hotel restaurant. But I've never come away disappointed from the Derby. Save room for the signature grapefruit cake for dessert - light and tasty!