Twitter me this, Twitter me that...MY dining reviews won't make YOU fat! (new 9/5)

[medicgirl911]

Now me on the other hand..I may get fat..well fatter..on our trip to the World!!! But it will ALL be worth it, right?!?!

Oh wait...who am I??? Long time lurker, occasional poster!! :)
Hi, I am Tiffany, please~ you can call me Tif! I am an 34 year old ER nurse from rural Illinois! And by rural, I mean my town has 2500 people and only one stoplight. Seriously. So yeah, a lot of the food at Disney seems pretty exotic to me, and definetly better than you can get in this area!
I love me some dining reviews, drooling over food pics, *and really I do mean drooling* and wishing I could spend more time at WDW!! I love watching Top Chef :love: and the Food Network, but honestly...I am a very timid eater! Keep the mushrooms away from me! And as for anything that comes from the water...you fishies and shellfish...you stay away too!! It's a good thing my hubby is a pretty adventerous eater! As is my daughter! You all would be oh so bored with me. :surfweb:

And who are those other people I mentioned?
DH..hubby..Tim...that guy... married him 12 years ago.. He is more of an adventerous eater than I am thats for sure...pretty much anything that ends up on his plate he will enjoy! And usually a second helping :rotfl2: He works for the governemnt...nope...not a secret spy or high ranking official.... He is a pipefitter at this government arsenal where they build stuff for the Army. I honestly have no idea what he does all day, but he says he works hard and there is a paycheck that comes every other week. So I am good with that. LOL! :lmao: But really, guys start talking tools and stuff and I just tune out. Its like chinese to me honestly. He also has a DJ business with a friend on the side. Not quite a Disney lover AT ALL! But he loves me and he loves our DD so he puts up with it. He says that when we go and he hears our daughter get so excited and say "Look Daddy, it's Mickey!!!!" that its all worth it. So, yep, he's a keeper :love:

Onto the girl...Mackenzie..Kenzie...Kenz...wanna-be Hannah Montana and Marry A Jonas Brother.... typical 9 year old :laughing: We upgraded her to adult dining plan for the trip because she is at such an in-between stage. At some places I think she would prefer a kids meal and at others probably an adult meal. I figured this way, it would be less stressful and she can just have whatever she wants....kinda like at home...LOL, she has her daddy right where she wants him. Anyway, I know I wouldnt want to eat kids meals for the entire trip. *shudder* I think Disney needs to come up with a junior meal plan. I do feel bad about how much food she might be wasting.

Anyway, we are leaving in 4 short days! This will be our 4th trip and we were some of the fortunate people to score an upgrade to Saratoga Springs when we had orignally booked at POP!
Concentrate now and share your pixie dust with me folks as this just may help convince my hubby to go with DVC!!!

I have so much more to tell you about ....mainly where we will be eating......but I have to go for now...its time for some mexican food and MARGARITAS with a dear friend!
(and no not here in Hicksville..we are going to "town" about 20 minutes away LOL!)

[TigerKat]

Looking forward to your reviews! We're staying at SSR for the first time in October, can't wait to hear what you think of it!

[leeann32]

I can't wait to read your report! Congrats on your upgrade to SSR!:thumbsup2

[letthewookiewin]

I can't wait to read your report when you get back. Congrats on the upgrade. If you have time, try and get your DH on the DVC tour. We went on our last one. My DH left it wanting to buy into it, and he isn't a big Disney guy.

[DLo]

Looking forward to your reviews. Can tell they are going to be fun from your intro. Hope you have a magical trip!

[Sandy321]

hmmm Hicksville in IL - must not be in the Northern suburbs!! *wink

Also from IL - and with 2 sons that went to Univ of IL - this is 1 BIG state - but no where nears hicksville *wink!! (ok I admit raised in Hoosier land!)

cant wait to hear/read your reports!!

[livinlife25]

Another rural Illinoiser subbing!

[MickeyNicki]

Count me in! So....where ya eating?

[lynn46356]

Greetings Neighbor (sort of)! I'm from rural Indiana. Everywhere I look I see corn, beans or a gravel road. :) Can't wait for the reviews. I'm hungry NOW!!!! Have a great trip.

[bluejasmine]

4 days? Im so jealous! We stayed at SSR last Sept for our honeymoon,beautiful resort! We have 25 more days to go!

[medicgirl911]

Looking forward to your reviews! We're staying at SSR for the first time in October, can't wait to hear what you think of it!

I am so excited to stay there!! It looks gorgeous, I will let you know about it!

I can't wait to read your report! Congrats on your upgrade to SSR!:thumbsup2

Thanks! I am looking forward to talking about it:goodvibes I am feeling quite pixie-dusted about the upgrade!

I can't wait to read your report when you get back. Congrats on the upgrade. If you have time, try and get your DH on the DVC tour. We went on our last one. My DH left it wanting to buy into it, and he isn't a big Disney guy.

..ahhhh That would be a big pixie dust thing to get my hubby to consider DVC!! He prefers camping, and I promised NEXT YEAR we would buy a camper...maybe I need to take him over to Fort Wilderness ;) :thumbsup2

Looking forward to your reviews. Can tell they are going to be fun from your intro. Hope you have a magical trip!

Thanks so much! I hope it is fun, I dont want to be a bore!!:headache:

hmmm Hicksville in IL - must not be in the Northern suburbs!! *wink

Also from IL - and with 2 sons that went to Univ of IL - this is 1 BIG state - but no where nears hicksville *wink!! (ok I admit raised in Hoosier land!)

cant wait to hear/read your reports!!

Well my brother is now a Hoosier, nothing wrong with pulling up roots and transplanting lol!

Another rural Illinoiser subbing!

Hey I remember you...you aren't far from me at all!!!! :goodvibes

Count me in! So....where ya eating?

Upating shortly!!! I love your reviews Nicki! Thanks for stopping by!

Greetings Neighbor (sort of)! I'm from rural Indiana. Everywhere I look I see corn, beans or a gravel road. :) Can't wait for the reviews. I'm hungry NOW!!!! Have a great trip.

:goodvibes LOL Funny, I have the same view! I am starving myself...may have to grab a bowl of Special K while I am writing! :lmao:

4 days? Im so jealous! We stayed at SSR last Sept for our honeymoon,beautiful resort! We have 25 more days to go!

I feel truly blessed to get such a great upgrade! I can't wait to see it, it looks incredible! Where are you staying on your upcoming trip?

[medicgirl911]

I forgot to say about my title!! I am going to be updating throughout my trip on Twitter! See the link in my siggie!! I am currently following several other families who are on vacation @ the World right now, and it is so much fun! Yeah, I am a little obsessive, so I have the updates sent to my crackberry. I have quite enjoyed getting some Disney Tweets while I am working or shopping or whatever! :goodvibes Like this morning I woke up to seeing that the fast pass line (at rope drop) for Toy Story Mania stretched clear to the Little Mermaid......SAY WHAT?!?!? Thats craziness!!! :headache: Anyway, so if you want to, follow along!! It's fun!

Ok if you haven't noticed by now, I am easily distracted and tend to write just how I am thinking! I am a talker!!! :rotfl2:

So where are we eating???
Nowhere incredibly exciting like Artist Point or the Chefs Table at Victoria and Alberts or anything remotely high class like that! **but a girl can continue to dream!** Basically just some great Disney food at some great Disney favorites!!! There has to be some reviews for us timid people too!! Don't Judge Me :lmao:

Ok Folks here we go!
Wed. August 26th
Teppan Edo
Ok there is a hibachi restaraunt about an hour away, but we have never been there! I am actually excited to try this one, I think it will be a fun, interactive experience and hoping its not an issue for them to keep the mushrooms away from me. Preferrably the zuchinni too, but I wont press my luck and just pick it out lol! My DD has seen the pics of this and she is really excited to eat here as well. **yes I am training her young, she enjoys drooling over the food pics with me**

Thurs Aug 27th
Crystal Palace
There is a big long story about this one, that I will post about later tonight. Been there once, it was fun, food was ok, but not my choice to rush back to.

Fri Aug 28th
Ohana
I know it gets a lot of mixed reviews, but we LOVE the place. It is the only place my hubby requested specifically to eat at. Kenz wanted to eat there twice :lmao: The bread pudding is so sinfully good. And hello....its at the Poly!:lovestruc

Sat Aug 29th
50's Prime time Cafe
Haven't ate there before....I am thinking the Pot Roast looks to die for! I am however concerned that they dont always seem to seat very promptly. I hear about people having to wait a long time past there ADR for a table. We have tried Hollywood and Vine before and had to wait 1 hour past our ADR for a table. It was miserable with horrible service and blech food. I dont have a lot of faith in the DHS restaruants, so I am kind of nervous about this!

Sun 8/30
Le Cellier
Yes, I fall into that overhyped category! We had a girls trip in Oct of 2007 and ate there and I fell in love with the famous Cheddar Ale soup. Even tried making it at home once, but it was not nearly as good! I think my hubby will like it!

Mon 8/31
Rain Forest Cafe (@ DTD)
What can I say, its strictly for my daughter. She really wanted to do T-rex, but I couldnt get a ressie.

Tues 9/1
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Again, all about the hubby and daughter on this one. We ate there in June 07 and my daughter fell in love :lovestruc with all the antics. We were with a group of 9 then, and I worry since it will just be the 3 of us, she may not have the same experience. DH...well you know he just fell in love with the unlimited skillet. I remember the food being so-so but falling in love :lovestruc with the Wilderness Lodge. So it gives me a reason to go back and enjoy its majestic beauty!

Wed 9/2
Chef Mickeys
Booked a late breakfast for today. Our departure day. :sad2: This was a big request from my daughter. She has loved the Contemporary ever since her first monorail ride. When she found out there was a restaraunt inside that had Mickey and the gang, she has wanted to eat there. Hadn't worked out on previous trips, so she is very excited for this time. It gets such wavering reviews, I was a bit nervous about it, but breakfast seems to get the best reviews.

As I write this, I am thinking that I need an adults only trip, so I can really live up some Disney dining!
Ok later tonight I will tell you all about the MK/Crystal Palace saga and try to post some pics of us, so you know who the heck this crazy lady and her family is! I got to do some packing!!!!! :scared1:

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hey, I live in a town of about 2,500. Where is OUR stoplight? I grew up in a town even smaller. The last person to go to sleep had to turn off the stoplight. :rotfl:

Le Cellier huh? Were YOU the one who kept Hitler from getting his ADR? :lmao:

Looking forward to your reports. Especially if you do not rave about how good an $8 hotdog is. Hot dogs can be good for a whole bunch less. Of course the scenery and the company might not be nearly as good. :banana:

Slightly Goofy

[Sandy321]

I forgot to say about my title!! I am going to be updating throughout my trip on Twitter! I'm so going to have to update and follow you!

Ok if you haven't noticed by now, I am easily distracted and tend to write just how I am thinking! I am a talker!!! :rotfl2:Hey, I resemble this remark!!

Don't Judge Me :lmao: no judgements here!

Wed. August 26th
Teppan Edo
Ok there is a hibachi restaraunt about an hour away, hmmm, my hometown has THE best hibachi place -ever - they now let you buy their teryiaki sauce to go - and I now make my own chicken fried rice!! :goodvibes

Thurs Aug 27th
Crystal Palace
There is a big long story about this one, that I will post about later tonight. Been there once, it was fun, food was ok, but not my choice to rush back to.
cant wait for the story!
Fri Aug 28th
Ohana
I know it gets a lot of mixed reviews, but we LOVE the place. It is the only place my hubby requested specifically to eat at. Kenz wanted to eat there twice :lmao: The bread pudding is so sinfully good. And hello....its at the Poly!:lovestruc I so totally agree!! If only ...

Sat Aug 29th
50's Prime time Cafeyou are brave!


Sun 8/30
Le Cellier
Yes, I fall into that overhyped category! We had a girls trip in Oct of 2007 and ate there and I fell in love with the famous Cheddar Ale soup. Even tried making it at home once, but it was not nearly as good! I think my hubby will like it!
LOL I hate I fall into they hype too!! WAIT, WAIT - an all girls trip?????

As I write this, I am thinking that I need an adults only trip, so I can really live up some Disney dining!
I'm thinking its all Nicki's fault:rotfl2:

Ok later tonight I will tell you all about the MK/Crystal Palace saga and try to post some pics of us, so you know who the heck this crazy lady and her family is! I got to do some packing!!!!! :scared1:



Love the update!! (my comments are in red - obviously!)

[medicgirl911]

Hey, I live in a town of about 2,500. Where is OUR stoplight? I grew up in a town even smaller. The last person to go to sleep had to turn off the stoplight. :rotfl: ROFL!! gotta love that small town living!

Le Cellier huh? Were YOU the one who kept Hitler from getting his ADR? :lmao:
It was me, I confess!!!!
Looking forward to your reports. Especially if you do not rave about how good an $8 hotdog is. Hot dogs can be good for a whole bunch less. Of course the scenery and the company might not be nearly as good. :banana:
Trust me, there will be no raves of $8 hotdogs here!! I only eat maybe 2 hot dogs a year, and they have to be cooked on an openfire, like at a bonfire or something!!!

Slightly Goofy
!

[medicgirl911]

Love the update!! (my comments are in red - obviously!)

Wow its really hard to reply with a quote, within a quote, or whatever lol!! Ok your replies were cracking me up, glad to have you following along!!!!!!

[medicgirl911]

Ok so like I was saying this will be our 4th trip!!! I promised some pics, and I have them, but I will just ramble for a minute!

Our first trip was in May of 2006, shortly after Tim came home from Iraq. He had been injured by an IED explosion while over there, it was a really hard time, and once he was on the mend and released, our family needed a vacation!!! Where else would we go but WDW!! Planned the trip in about 1 1/2months :scared1: found the Dis and Tour Guide Mike about 3 weeks before we left! It was a good thing I did LOL!!! I would have been one of "them" :rolleyes1 One of the pics I have...to keep this kind of food related...is some pics of my DD at the Wonderland Tea Party. If you have a kid who is around 5-8, especially of the girl type persuasion, I would highly recommend it...she had sooooo much fun!!! (while she was there, WE enjoyed desserts at the Grand Floridian Cafe! Alone!!! :lovestruc )
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/frainerfamilydisney09/DISNEY__183.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/frainerfamilydisney09/DISNEY__185.jpg

I think every meal that we ate on that trip was a character meal! LOL!

2nd trip was June of 2007 with another family we are close friends with. We ate at a variety of different places, multiple character meals again since it was their first trip and figured the buffets would have something that everyone would eat. Here is a pic of Tim and Kenzie at the Sci Fi during that trip!

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/frainerfamilydisney09/disney2007285.jpg
MMMMMMMM Milk shake!!!! :worship:

3rd trip was a girls trip!!! Me and my mom and Kenzie during MNSSHP, Food and Wine and Free Dining!!! Now about this time, I had convinced myself that I was going to do a food review! Only fair since I had drooled over so many reviews and pics myself!!! Here is the one food pic that I took....
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/frainerfamilydisney09/GirlsTripSept07154.jpg
before I chickened out and worried people were thinking I was weird for taking pics of my food! :lmao: Oh and that is Liberty Tree Tavern..yes the characters in costume, right before MNSSHP...thanks Dis and TGM for helping me get that awesome night combo! Can I also say how sad I am that the characters aren't there at dinner anymore!! I know its not terribly fancy food, but seriously....who doesn't love Thanksgiving dinner?!?!? I know I do! LOL!!

And I promised I would post a pic of me...but then lookimg at all my pics...which are so few, because I am always behind the camera...and the ones at WDW I look so retched in...here is a pic of me and Kenz on our trip to the American Girl Store in Chicago a couple months ago!

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af41/frainerfamilydisney09/n1551476600_30250586_2157814.jpg

Ok since Facebook kept interrupting me posting on here...(yes, I said I was obssessive remember) I will have to get back to my story about the Crystal Palace tommorow!!! Which can I say...is my last day to work before we leave!!!! :cool1:

[jeminni]

I'm in. Have a great trip.:goodvibes

Your daughter is adorable. :)

[SlightlyGoofy]

medicgirl911, love your name BTW, your daughter is indeed adorable but then so are you. :lovestruc

I enjoy reading those luxury reviews from time to time, along with many others but there is a sore dearth of down to earth, small town, reviews on the DIS IMO. I long ago realized that high priced burgers and dogs are the norm for some areas of this country but for the middle part the idea of spending the same amount that we can feed a family of 4 on for either just boggles the mind. I can eat hot dogs and hamburgers at home, it is not what I crave when I am out and about any old where.

I loved my grown up tea party and think I would have enjoyed the other even more since it included a bevy of little girls.

I am headed out to read to a bevy of my own in a few minutes. Will be back to check on your reviews. I am looking forward to them.

BTW, thanks for bumping Hitler from DW. :worship:

Slightly Goofy

[milmore104]

I'm in...

[disneygirlinnj]

I'm in! And I just started following you on Twitter! :) I'll be tweeting during my whole trip in a month too. Can't wait!

[onelilspark]

Just started following you on Twitter...I'm ready!

[WETWHISTLE]

Looking forward to the review!

[wilma-bride]

I'm in and looking forward to these reviews - I'm a plain, boring eater too :thumbsup2

[Sandy321]

Wow its really hard to reply with a quote, within a quote, or whatever lol!! Ok your replies were cracking me up, glad to have you following along!!!!!!

:rotfl2: true that!

Love the pics - and pass along my gratitude to your dh (as well as you and your dd) for his sacrifice for our freedom! :lovestruc (My niece and her dh both served - its a huge deal!)

BTW - when I took dd to AG store in Chicago - I had to use the DIS/TGM tricks for getting an adr ( they were all booked up! but got there before "rope drop" or first seating - and asked if there were any cancelations - there were! ) Great Memories!!

[nicolemomof4cuties]

I think that the pic of you and your DD is SWEET. You 2 are too cute! I hope that you have a great trip. My DH will probably die of embarrassment from me taking pics of food for my report but my kids will find it amusing. I'm sure your DD will too.

[medicgirl911]

I'm in. Have a great trip.:goodvibes

Your daughter is adorable. :)

Thanks so much! I cant wait!!

[medicgirl911]

medicgirl911, love your name BTW, your daughter is indeed adorable but then so are you. :lovestruc

Thanks! I was a paramedic forever, then went back to school for nursing, now I work as an ER nurse! And thanks for thinking we are adorable! LOL!!!! :goodvibes

I enjoy reading those luxury reviews from time to time, along with many others but there is a sore dearth of down to earth, small town, reviews on the DIS IMO. I long ago realized that high priced burgers and dogs are the norm for some areas of this country but for the middle part the idea of spending the same amount that we can feed a family of 4 on for either just boggles the mind. I can eat hot dogs and hamburgers at home, it is not what I crave when I am out and about any old where.

Well as much as I love a great deal of fancy food reviews, there are still a lot of people who are new, and need to see everything Disney has to offer!! I think there is a place for everything, thats what makes Disney so wonderful...there is something for everyone!!

I loved my grown up tea party and think I would have enjoyed the other even more since it included a bevy of little girls.

I have alwys wanted to do the afternoon tea @ the Grand Floridian, It looks so dignified!! LOL!!

I am headed out to read to a bevy of my own in a few minutes. Will be back to check on your reviews. I am looking forward to them.

BTW, thanks for bumping Hitler from DW. :worship:
:lmao:

Slightly Goofy

I'm in...

I'm in! And I just started following you on Twitter! :) I'll be tweeting during my whole trip in a month too. Can't wait!

Yaaay!! I am glad you are, it's fun to hear what others are doing at the parks while I am stuck at work LOL!!!

Just started following you on Twitter...I'm ready!

Glad to have another follower!!! :goodvibes
Looking forward to the review!

I am excited to do it. I broke the news to my DH tonight, that I was going to be taking food pics so he could be prepared lol!

I'm in and looking forward to these reviews - I'm a plain, boring eater too :thumbsup2

Awesome!! Glad I am not the only one! :lmao:

:rotfl2: true that!

Love the pics - and pass along my gratitude to your dh (as well as you and your dd) for his sacrifice for our freedom! :lovestruc (My niece and her dh both served - its a huge deal!)

BTW - when I took dd to AG store in Chicago - I had to use the DIS/TGM tricks for getting an adr ( they were all booked up! but got there before "rope drop" or first seating - and asked if there were any cancelations - there were! ) Great Memories!!

Isn't the AG experience just soooo much fun!! I felt like a little girl again!! Kids today have no idea how good they have it lol!!
And thanks for the kind words about Tims service, it was a horrible time when he was injured and he suffers from PTSD and scars that serve as a constant reminder of his time there. My thoughts are always with those who are still there, along with all our fine military men and women!

I think that the pic of you and your DD is SWEET. You 2 are too cute! I hope that you have a great trip. My DH will probably die of embarrassment from me taking pics of food for my report but my kids will find it amusing. I'm sure your DD will too.

I prepared them tonight and gave them the low down on the food pic taking LOL!!! Thanks for joining in!!

[medicgirl911]

Ok so I know I said I would post about my issues with the Crystal Palace ADR, but I have to be up in 5 hours to leave!!!!!! My 12 hour shift turned into a 14 hour shift yesterday :eek: it was miserable!! Spent all day packing today! I am so last minute about stuff like that!!
After we arrive tommorow and get checked into SSR, my plan is to walk over to DTD and eat at Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. Then Teppan Edo tommorow night!! Say it with me...TOMMOROW!!! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
OK really, I have to get to bed! I dont want to oversleep!! Have I mentioned I have a HORRIBLE fear of flying?!?!?!? :scared1: I dont think I will be updating from the resort :sad2: Tim was not too impressed about the charge for internet access! :guilty:

[disneygirlinnj]

Have a safe trip!! :) Saw the tweet that you guys are on your way!!!

[SlightlyGoofy]

Now the afternoon tea CAN be a dignified experience but it is all in who you go with.:lmao:

I hope you pick Puck for your first meal. The only problem is that if you do you might well find that you want to go back for EVERY meal!

Safe trip and looking forward to reading more.

SG

[Sandy321]

Ok so I know I said I would post about my issues with the Crystal Palace ADR, but I have to be up in 5 hours to leave!!!!!! My 12 hour shift turned into a 14 hour shift yesterday :eek: it was miserable!! Spent all day packing today! I am so last minute about stuff like that!!
After we arrive tommorow and get checked into SSR, my plan is to walk over to DTD and eat at Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. Then Teppan Edo tommorow night!! Say it with me...TOMMOROW!!! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
OK really, I have to get to bed! I dont want to oversleep!! Have I mentioned I have a HORRIBLE fear of flying?!?!?!? :scared1: I dont think I will be updating from the resort :sad2: Tim was not too impressed about the charge for internet access! :guilty:

:scared1:You're going to leave us hanging??

:worship: You are back at Disney!! :lovestruc:woohoo:

Well, I'll miss the updates - hope you got some sleep - sounds like you will be too exhausted to be afraid - hope it was an uneventful flight for you!!

My niece was a surgical nurse in Afghanastan - and she says she's fine, but her dh went thru a lot - (and he was gravely injured when he returned - he's an amazing young man!) But like many of our soldiers - what they experienced, (what anyone experiences in war) is horrific, I truly pray we as a country figure out how to get them the help they deserve for the PTS - this was the very first 4th of July Brad can say he laughed (we all banded together and when my side of the family gets together, shenanigans rule!) -

It still gives me goosebumps!! Glad your dh is with you now - may you enjoy all of Disney!! :wizard:

[IrishTinkerbell]

loving your report and following you on Twitter (irishtink- twitter name)

[Cotta]

I'm in! Another rural IL DISer!

[SlightlyGoofy]

Medicgirl, if ever anyone deserved a great vacation it sounds as if it is you and yours. Much magic to you all!:worship:

SG

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Enjoying your reviews!

[Cotta]

Welcome home! Hope you had a magical trip!

[PoohsFan1]

Another rural Illinoiser subbing!

you can count me in too :thumbsup2

[medicgirl911]

:banana: I'm home!!!!!!!!!!

Of course if you had been following my tweets youwould know that! ROFL! :lmao: to those of you who weren't it was an absolute glorious trip!!!! (well other than the oppressive heat, humidity, and rain!!) Had a few changes in plans, and only one absolute dreadful meal, I can't wait to tell you all about it!!! Ok well, I can wait til somtime tommorow, after I have photios uploaded and have had some sleep!! :rotfl:

[disneygirlinnj]

welcome back!

[livinlife25]

Did you get Disney ready for me? Im leaving in 72ish hours!

[medicgirl911]

Now the afternoon tea CAN be a dignified experience but it is all in who you go with.:lmao:

I hope you pick Puck for your first meal. The only problem is that if you do you might well find that you want to go back for EVERY meal!

Safe trip and looking forward to reading more.

SG If I went, I could not gurantee that it would be dignified! I did pick WPE for my first meal!!

:scared1:You're going to leave us hanging??

:worship: You are back at Disney!! :lovestruc:woohoo:

Well, I'll miss the updates - hope you got some sleep - sounds like you will be too exhausted to be afraid - hope it was an uneventful flight for you!!

My niece was a surgical nurse in Afghanastan - and she says she's fine, but her dh went thru a lot - (and he was gravely injured when he returned - he's an amazing young man!) But like many of our soldiers - what they experienced, (what anyone experiences in war) is horrific, I truly pray we as a country figure out how to get them the help they deserve for the PTS - this was the very first 4th of July Brad can say he laughed (we all banded together and when my side of the family gets together, shenanigans rule!) -

It still gives me goosebumps!! Glad your dh is with you now - may you enjoy all of Disney!! :wizard: I love shenanigans :goodvibes LOL! It sounds like your family has went through a lot as well, and they, as well as all our soldiers have my thoughts and prayers! The flight down was pretty good (umm ok to be honest, I was medicated!! LOL!

loving your report and following you on Twitter (irishtink- twitter name)
Thanks for following Irishtink!!

I'm in! Another rural IL DISer! I think we are getting Illinois pretty well represented up in here!!! :thumbsup2

Medicgirl, if ever anyone deserved a great vacation it sounds as if it is you and yours. Much magic to you all!:worship:

SG
:goodvibes THANKS!!!!

Enjoying your reviews!
:lovestruc I love your reviews, I hope I can do a smidgen as well as yours!!

Welcome home! Hope you had a magical trip!
It was FABULOUS!!! I am in LOVE with Saratoga Springs!!!

you can count me in too :thumbsup2

YAAAAY!! Glad to have you aboard!

welcome back!
Thanks you!! I wish I was still there!!

Did you get Disney ready for me? Im leaving in 72ish hours!
Its ready and waiting for you girlie!!!

[medicgirl911]

Ok folks here we go!!

Now I will say this one may be a bit short, I am T-I-R-E-D!!!! The week has caught up with me! We did have a fabulous trip, I am absolutely in love :lovestruc with Saratoga Springs!!! It is a gorgeous resort, our room was in a perfect location, gorgeous view, I could go on and on, and if anyone wants me to post a few pics of it I certainly will!!!

The only bad parts were the HEAT! Humidity! and the Rain!! Lets just say one day it rained so much in such a short amount of time that I had to walk barefoot out of the MK so I didnt ruin my new tennis shoes!! There wasn't many family pics, because we were all so hot and miserable looking!
Crowd wise, I dont think they were too bad at all, but then again I also do the Tour Guide Mike least crowded park charts and touring info practically like a religion lol! But when Expedition Everest, Splash, Big Thunder had 10 minute standbys til afternoon...well I think that is pretty darn good!:thumbsup2
All my info will probably be coming from ALLEARS, if it has a price I will include it...but I didnt pay attention much to prices..I cant even balance my checkbook here at home, so trying to do a cost analysis is not going to be happening here!!! We had free dining so, even more reason not to pay attention!

Ok Ok Ok...enough of my mindless chatter......onto the food!!
We arrived around 1230 to Saratoga Springs, and our room was not ready. I figured this would be the case! I already had a plan in mind...went to DTD!! I had to try some Wolfgang Puck Express! I had been drooling over some of the pictures forever!! When we arrived around 1:15 the line wasn't too bad, but seating was still pretty scarce. The only table that was available was for 8 people but we took it, and did end up letting 3 ladies join us on the other end. We all had flatbread pizzas!
Tim ordered this:
Spicy Chicken - all natural chicken, roasted red and yellow peppers, mozzarella, tomoatoes, leeks, crushed red chilis and fresh cilantro $11.95
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/76242.jpg
He really enjoyed it...thought it could have been a bit more spicy...but then again the guy has an iron stomach so don't trust anything he says about spicy LOL! I didnt try any of it because I was too busy devouring my own food!!

For me I had:
Margherita - tomato-basil garlic sauce, mozzarella and parmesan, Roma tomatoes and fresh basil $9.95
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/316095.jpg
I too really liked this, thought it could have had a bit more italian seasoning to it, but it was very yummy and would order it again in a split second!

Mackenzie just had the plain cheese flatbread, I believe off the kids menu. I didnt get a pic of it. *bad reviewer*
I had the creme brulee for dessert, they both had fruit cups. Mine was perfect! Theirs was fruit..what do you want me to say....seriously..its vacation people! Like I am going to have fruit for dessert!

After eating all that food and waiting still for the magical text to tell us our room was ready we decided to walk around, Kenzie got a hair wrap done, then we happened to walk by this store and the smell of sugar wafted out of the doorway!! Can you guess where??

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/142041.jpg
And I am not kidding about the smell of sugary goodness coming from the doorway! I think I got cavity just walking by!!
Grabbed some pics...
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/227508.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/DISNEY192.jpg

Kenzie got one of those dang plastic tubes that she filled with all that flavored pure sugar...:scared1: and we didn't actually get anything else! Can you believe it?? we were still tooooo full from lunch!

So we ended up wandering around some more, waiting for our room...they said it would be ready no later that 4:00, they would text me when it was ready. Well at 4:30 we went back because they still hadnt texted us. Turns out our room had been ready since 2:00 and they dont know why it hadn't texted us! :confused3 I was a bit irriatated because we were so tired from being up since 3am! But it's Disney you can't stay mad for long LOL! :wizard:

Ok, thats it for tonight!! My bed is seriously calling my name! Tommorow will be Teppan Edo!!! :woohoo:

[disneygirlinnj]

Great start so far! The pizza's look yummy and I can't wait to attack Goofy's candy company when I go! hahaha

[SlightlyGoofy]

Medicgirl, so glad to see you are back. Selfish of me cause I should be wishing you had even more days there. ;) I am so looking forward to your reviews and so far you do not disappoint.

Do not get me wrong, I enjoy reading the over the top luxury TR's but that is just not how I roll. I always opt for MORE days rather than MORE luxury and besides those fancy places require shoes and combed hair and sometimes I do not feel like doing either.

Did you notice if WGP Express still had the Macadamia Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup? I love the Margaretia Pizza but love the soup even more. :love:

Thank you for doing your first report even though you were plumb tuckered out.

Slightly Goofy, another Hick Chick

[Sandy321]

Loved your tweets - I will say you had quite the adventure!! Cant wait to see the report!! (what a way to have an "empty MK Park!"

Glad your home, safe and sound! I think I traveled thru your hometown once upon a trip! Gotta luv IL!!

eta - you really were a tweeter!! I still not sure I understand - do you have to do anything to see the @tweets from others? (I mean TGM tweeted you!!) I know how to tweet - and I feel silly tweeting someone else, because it only shows up on "my" home page - not the person I was tweeting... I think...

[Cotta]

Great start to your report! Can't wait to see your review of Teppan Edo! It's on my someday list! I would love to see your pics of SS too! Considering staying here on our next trip and it's one of the least reviewed resorts.

[DisneyDadNY]

Looking forward to the rest of the report!

[MusicMouse]

I'm jumping in, too! It sounds like you had a great vacation. I can hardly wait to read more reviews (after you catch up a bit on your sleep ;))!

[medicgirl911]

Great start so far! The pizza's look yummy and I can't wait to attack Goofy's candy company when I go! hahaha
Attack Goofys BEFORE you eat at WPE! LOL learn from my mistakes! :rotfl:


Medicgirl, so glad to see you are back. Selfish of me cause I should be wishing you had even more days there. ;) I am so looking forward to your reviews and so far you do not disappoint.

Do not get me wrong, I enjoy reading the over the top luxury TR's but that is just not how I roll. I always opt for MORE days rather than MORE luxury and besides those fancy places require shoes and combed hair and sometimes I do not feel like doing either.

Did you notice if WGP Express still had the Macadamia Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup? I love the Margaretia Pizza but love the soup even more. :love:

Thank you for doing your first report even though you were plumb tuckered out.

Slightly Goofy, another Hick Chick
I do drool over those luxury dining experience reviews as well, but thats not how I roll either! :thumbsup2 To be honest, it was about 93 degrees not factoring the heat index...I did not look at any soup offerings LOL!!

Loved your tweets - I will say you had quite the adventure!! Cant wait to see the report!! (what a way to have an "empty MK Park!"

Glad your home, safe and sound! I think I traveled thru your hometown once upon a trip! Gotta luv IL!!

eta - you really were a tweeter!! I still not sure I understand - do you have to do anything to see the @tweets from others? (I mean TGM tweeted you!!) I know how to tweet - and I feel silly tweeting someone else, because it only shows up on "my" home page - not the person I was tweeting... I think...
It was a really great trip!! I did not realize til nearly the end of my vacation how to check @messages from other people, there was a whole bunch, I felt bad that I had ignored everyone!! On the twitter home page there is a button on hte right hand side that says@your name, thats hows you see the messages people have wrote or responded to you! And when you tweet someone else, it shows up on their page too!

Great start to your report! Can't wait to see your review of Teppan Edo! It's on my someday list! I would love to see your pics of SS too! Considering staying here on our next trip and it's one of the least reviewed resorts.
definetly add Teppan Edo, the food was pretty good and it was a lot of fun! My daughter thought it was awesome!
I will gladly post some of my SSR pics...it was GORGEOUS!!

Looking forward to the rest of the report! Thanks!!! It was fun to see your tweets as well!!

I'm jumping in, too! It sounds like you had a great vacation. I can hardly wait to read more reviews (after you catch up a bit on your sleep ;))!
Thanks for joining in!! The whole go-go-go is finally catching up to me! I am exhausted!!

[TigerKat]

I'd love to see pics of SSR, we're staying there for the first time next month!:goodvibes

[medicgirl911]

Ok at this point I had started this review about midnight...fell asleep with my head on the computer desk...woke up, went to bed, started again this morning and half way typed up on here and IE "encountered a problem" and had to close, I tried to copy it before it shut down but it didnt work!! ARRRGGGGHHHH! And no, thats not pirate speak! LOL :lmao:
So this is going to be a bit shortened from my previous version!
Teppan Edo was great, Dining companions not so much! Next to me was a French family of 4..they spoke very little english, so we didn't really get much converstaion from them at all. Next to Tim, was the weirdest most disgusting couple I had ever met. They were probably a few years older than us. They had obviously been having quite a few drinks around the world. They had on anniversary buttons so I asked them how long the had been married. They said 3 months. :confused3 Ok, Whatever. They were ummmm extremely touchy-feely with each other and were basically making out! I am not talking some quick pecks...full tongue action folks! At dinner!!! At the table!!!! :eek: I am not a prude..but we are sitting 3 feet away from you! Kenzie is gawking at them...I am kicking her under the table trying to tell her to stop looking...Tim is getting pissed and keeps clearing his throat in an attempt to get their attention....I was hoping for a glass of cold water to throw at them...:lmao: Thank goodness when the chef had come out because that finally distracted them!!
Ok onto the food....(but I promise you will hear more about them later!)

Ok so my little town hickness was kind of worried about this ressie because it seemed so exotic to me, but even I have to say it seems pretty Americanized! Anyone would be fine to eat here if I even enjoyed it lol! The chef cooking part was a lot of fun! :thumbsup2
Tim and Kenzie both love sushi...you know me, I don't do fish/seafood, so I convinced them to order (out of pocket) this for an appetizer..
Crispy Suklyaki Beef Roll - grilled in front of you. 4 pieces $7.50
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009006.jpg
It was quite yummy and had a lot of flavor...I am thinking probably soy sauce.
Here is what we had ordered:
Me: Nihonbashi - sirloin steak and chicken breast $28.95
Tim:Asakusa - sirloin steak and large shrimp $29.95
Kenzie: Nihonbashi - sirloin steak and chicken breast $28.95

Here are some pics of the chef cooking things up!
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009008.jpg
:sick: ugh look at all those mushrooms lol! When I had ordered I had asked for mine not to be served with mushrooms, the chef confirmed that when cooking, and then she served them too me anyway! LOL It wasn't a big deal because they were large, and I could easily pick them out, but when she noticed I had, she remembered and aplogized, but it wasn't a big deal.
Infamous Onion Volcano
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009007.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009009.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009010.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009011.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009012.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/Disney2009013.jpg
(my serving) notice the picked out mushrooms LOL I was suprised how much I liked the zucchini, I don't eat it at home, but I was feeling adventerous and tried some...It was good!!
Also you are served a bowl of plain white rice....and I do mean plain...I kept dipping the rice into one of the sauces and it tuned it into fantastic rice!!! *bad reviewer* I didn't get pics of Tims food with the shrimp and I don't remember what the sauces were! I thought, oh I don't need to write it down..I won't forget! (just like I wouldn't forget the chefs name either!) :lmao:
On to the deserts!.....wait...we didn't have any! Were we too full?? :lmao: yeah right!
Here's what happened!
Ok.... hope you have strong stomachs!
So you know disgusting couple that Tim was sitting next to....well it got worse!! Towards the tail end of eating, the lady had a coughing sneezing fit! No biggie right??
She coughed up pieces of noodles that shot out onto the grill right in front of where Tim was sitting!!! :sick: She had snot coming out of her nose that she wiped on her arm just like a little kid would!!!!!!!!!!! The arm that was right next to Tim! I could even see it from where I was!! Tim left nearly half of his plate of food and just came and stood behind Kenzies and my chair!! She didn't even get up to go to the bathroom to wash her hands/arm or anything, and if I can see snot on your arm from 3 feet away..honey, you have to know it's there!! :sick:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/thefrainerfamilydisney/scan0006-1.jpg Even I was grossed out!!! :rotfl: Needless to say Tim was really past his limit with those two and just wanted to get the heck outta there! :headache: So no deserts for us!!
We finished up around 930 and walked out of a nearly empty EPCOT, that part was lovely!!
Next up will be Columbia Harbor House and Crystal Palace!! :wizard:

[disneygirlinnj]

ewww! that couple was vile! :( I'm so sorry you had to deal with them. Glad you liked Teppan Edo other than that, we try to go every year even though we have hibachi places by us too. It's just fun and pretty good food!

[DLo]

I don't even know how to respond re:scary women at teppan edo. wow. I am not sure I could have sat there with out saying something !:eek:

[milmore104]

That is really gross! I hate it when people "make out" in front of kids. No way could I have sat there.

Last year we were swimming and a couple in the pool were lets say getting a little too close. I walked over to them and asked them to please go to their room for that as there were kids swimming in the pool.
I'm all for being "lovey" w/ my hubby. But not in that manner in front of my kids.

[Cotta]

The food at Teppan Edo looks great! The experience not so much...

[maiziezoe]

Another Illinoisan checking in!!

I also have a Kenzie... (McKenzie). She will be 13 on Thursday. :)

So sorry you were seated near that couple. Gross.

Great reviews so far!

[iluvpluto27]

Really enjoying your reviews so far, though that couple at Teppan Edo sound disgusting!

[SlightlyGoofy]

Ugh for that couple. IMO folks who make out extensively in public are trying to make up for what they are not able to do in private. I have been known to take video tape of such people and show it to them. (dd's friends who were visiting our house) I am sorry that happened. A server should have noticed the couple and moved them to a different place, far away from others. The food looks like a carb dieter's dream. No 'shrooms' for me either.

I fear that you went to the wrong WGP. The best one is down by the movie theater and not at the Marketplace. It has more TS type food.

How was the bus service at SSR? I have heard horror stories about it. The only thing that I would like about being there is being able to hop the bus and go over to WGP for my meals. :laughing:

Great review. When reading TR it is always best to take the advice from one who thinks similarly to yourself although I enjoy the others too because they show me things that I might not otherwise think of doing.

SG