Disney Dining: The Dinner Dilemma & The Best Full-Service Dining

I was having dinner with the family and the conversation turned to summer 2009's trip to WDW - where we should stay, how long we should go for, and most importantly, where we should eat. Like everyone else, we're cutting back on costs this year, so we've decided to limit ourselves to 3 "nice" dinners - meaning 3 visits to WDW's top tier dining experiences.

2 of those dinners are a given - our perennial favorite places to dine in WDW, bar none, hands down:

Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge): While relatively new, it's a diamond among a lot of cubic zirconias in WDW. The cuisine is African-inspired, without being too scary (the oak-grilled filet mignon with mac and cheese is heavenly). The wine list is insane, the ambience is lovely, and best of all, it's a grown-up place to eat - a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the parks. Jiko is a great example of the key to great dining in WDW - don't be afraid to go off the beaten path. Even if you're not staying at the AKL, Jiko is worth the drive (or bus trip) out of your way.

Le Cellier Steakhouse (EPCOT, Canada Pavillion): Reservations for Le Cellier must be made months in advance, and its the hottest ticket in the World Showcase for a reason. The steak is always great, and it has a menu that even the pickiest of eaters can be happy with. Make sure you try the cheddar cheese soup with pretzel bread - it's divine. One word of caution: this is a big, hearty, heavy meal. Almost every time we eat there we end up slunking back to the hotel afterwards to nap off the food coma. It's best to visit at the very end of the day - otherwise you run of the risk of being sluggish when you should be enjoying the magic.

So that leaves us with one open slot. Here are my finalists, but if you have other suggestions, please give us a shout in the comments or email me here.

Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge): Every article I read seems to point me to this place as another often-overlooked gem. I'm not sure everyone in the family will be able to find something on the menu, but I'm willing to believe the hype.

Restaurant Marrakesh (EPCOT, Morocco Pavillion): Strangely, this is the only EPCOT restaurant we've never visited. I'd like to erase that distinction, but the menu also looks darn good.

Yak and Yeti (Animal Kingdom): It's new, I love the name, I like Thai food. That's really all the reasoning I need.

Fellow foodies and WDW fans, please send us your thoughts and don't forget to vote for the next WDW recipe we'll feature here!