Here's what a little PIXIE DUST can do ....... a dining review+pics COMPLETED!!!!!

[dizneeat]

You post reviews so quickly! I love!
That pork at Cali Grill looks heavenly.

Cali Grill ......... pork ..........

I have been saying that for weeks, where have you been?

That is fantastic! Loved your Cali Grill reviews...wish I ate there tonight instead of Jiko. That balloon ride looks awesome, got to put that on my to do list!

You NEED to do the balloon ride, it is awesome. You'll have a view of all the landmarks! It is such a shame about Jiko, but at least you got to try "one or two" desserts at the Wishes Dessert Party!

Well maybe we will see you on the Dream in 2011

We are from London so we fly with Virgin and their flights are quite expensive too. They do some pretty good deals as well, but I find that if I leave it too late to wait for these deals availability might not be so good.

Our window has opened up for us to book our flights for next year and I am in two minds whether to wait a while and see if any deals come up, or just go straight ahead and book

Those flatbreads look yumma Lol to Tom's dessert, really does look like earthworm pudding

The balloon in DLP is pretty cool, but it must be even better in WDW as the parks are much bigger and spaced out, did you take any pics from the balloon?

Looking forward to more

Yeah! That would be fun if we could meet on the Dream!

Lufthansa seems to "play" the same games as Virgin! But the flights I got now are about the same as they were last year and BOTH went down quite a bit from what I was looking at for some time. Plus I got the flight times I wanted - I am NOT keen on a 35 hour flight time, no Sir!!

We loved the flatbreads, I LOVED my carrot cake and I took a gazillion of photos of Tom's worms in the dirt - should make a fun Halloween dessert for my class next year!

We have been on the balloon in DLRP a few times and even though I really enjoyed it each time, the one in WDW gives you such an incredible view! Tom took SO many photos - I'll add a few!

The Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Towers

Spaceship Earth

The Tower of Terror

It is worth every penny taking that balloon ride!

I've hear so much about Ron
We have an ADR at CG in March, do you just ask at check in to be seated in his section?
Can you ask if it is possible to wait for a window seat at the same time?
Our ADR is at 7.30pm and Wishes isn't until 10pm so we are in no rush and in fact would rather sit down later so that we can see Wishes (don't think we would be abel to make our dinner last from 7.30 - 10 )

Ron is one of the best! We asked at check in to be seated in his area and even though they said we would have to wait a little longer we were seated just a little after our ADR time.
Your 7.30 ADR is perfect! That is right about the time Ron always tells us to be there, as this is when he turns these tables.
As for the time - I have yet to be seated RIGHT on time at the CG, they ALWAYS run behind and if you space out your courses, like appy, then the bread service, main, dessert and maybe a cup of coffee you will easily spend the time there!
If you finish your ADR ahead of time you can always go and check out the resort, then come back and watch the fireworks from the CG deck. Just show them your receipt and they will take you up!

following the food queen!!!!

 

[KatMark]

I knew you'd like that!

When is the next review coming?

 

[dizneeat]

I knew you'd like that!

When is the next review coming?

I am working on it right now! Grand Floridian Cafe with a surprise for Kristy, Mary Ellen's daughter!

 

[dizneeat]

Still day 18, Sept 1

Grand Floridian Cafe dinner

After lunch we met up with Mary Ellen and her family at the Magic Kingdom and had a blast exploring the park together.

In the evening we boarded a Monorail and went over to the Grand Floridian for dinner.

We checked in and it did not take long for them to find a table for all of us - there were 8 of us! Mary Ellen and Joe, Kristy (Mary Ellen's daughter), who had just turned 21 and her fiance Sean, Scott (Mary Ellen's son) and his girlfriend Stephanie and Tom and I.
Once they had a table for us we were led to a table towards the back of the restaurant. Our server intoduced herself and left to leave us a little more time to decide on food and drink.

I mostly forgot to take photos of the menus, but when I saw that they offered a Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, I was so amazed that I even remembered to take menu photos. When we visited California, we made a day trip to the Silverado winery - which is owned and operated by Diane Disney Miller and her family. What a winery - and what wine they make -

On with the review!

Tom had the Florida Sunshine - Peach Schnapps, Chambord, Skyy Vodka, and a splash of orange and cranberry juices and a Diet Coke.

I had a Pina Colada and a Diet Coke as well.

Tom and I decided to share an appetizer, the Shrimp Appetizer for Two - citrus poached, tomato basil, champaign scampi over lobster bread pudding.

Tomato Basil shrimp, yum

Champaign scampi over lobster bread pudding - wow! That was GOOD!!!

Citrus poached shrimp - heavenly!

I had the Grand Floridian Burger - Angus Chuck Burger, Lobster, Asparagus and Horseradish-Chive Hollandaise Served with Tomato Salad. I had ordered my burger medium, unfortunately it came out rather well done and was very dry. Since there were so many people around our table enjoying their dinners I didn't want to make any fuss, so I dipped the burger in lots of Hollandaise sauce to give it a little more moisture!

Tom had the New York Strip - with Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes, Vegetables and Red Wine Sauce. He really enjoyed it!

Now, Mary Ellen wanted to do something special for Kristy, as she had turned 21 a few days before and had ordered her an individual castle cake. She had called them the day before to make sure it was ordered, but during dinner she got more and more stressed about it being served, so she and I excused ourselves and went for the "ladies room". Well, we went to the reception desk and asked about the cake and low and behold it was noted but they had not noticed it!!!! But the CM promised to have it brought out in a few minutes.

We returned to the table and a manager type CM came by our table to ask if we were celebrating something, a birthday maybe. We all pointed towards Kristy and he took her photo.

A few minutes later a server and the "manager" CM came over to our table announcing that we were celebrating a birthday and brought out the castle cake and a Happy Birthday card!

This was the ONLY time I have seen Kristy speechless!

It was an individual chocolate cake, with white chocolate filling and white icing and a solid white chocolate castle on top! She LOVED it!

Our server came by to take our dessert orders and she offered something spectacular I could not refuse!

We were allowed to share A Sweet Ending to Your Celebration... Dessert Sampler - Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Tart, and Lemon Cheesecake. 4 individual desserts! Mary Ellen did not want the sampler and was stunned to see that her dessert was the same size as the one on our plate! VERY good deal for us!!

Chocolate Mousse - yum!!

Lemon Cheesecake - yum!!

Tiramisu - yum, yum!!

Key Lime Tart - yum, yum!!

The bottom part was chocolate and I think the "board" was chocolate too - beware those "balloons" are hard as rock and inedible!!

We really enjoyed our dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe. After dinner we all went back to our resorts and Tom and I enjoyed some time on the balcony of our villa.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
4 CS credits = 73,50 (20 CS credits remain)
Grand Floridian Cafe = $ 80,80 (22 TS credits remain)
24 snack credits remain
all in all = 154,30

Next up - spending 2 snack credits at the Riverside Mill and some bonus photos

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I'll take some "Florida Sunshine" or 3 or 4

 

[DaveInTN]

Champaign scampi over lobster bread pudding - wow! That was GOOD!!!

Oh my....I'm speechless. That looks incredible.

 

[Linda67]

Ron is one of the best! We asked at check in to be seated in his area and even though they said we would have to wait a little longer we were seated just a little after our ADR time.
Your 7.30 ADR is perfect! That is right about the time Ron always tells us to be there, as this is when he turns these tables.
As for the time - I have yet to be seated RIGHT on time at the CG, they ALWAYS run behind and if you space out your courses, like appy, then the bread service, main, dessert and maybe a cup of coffee you will easily spend the time there!
If you finish your ADR ahead of time you can always go and check out the resort, then come back and watch the fireworks from the CG deck. Just show them your receipt and they will take you up!



[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info - I am soooooo excited about going to CG

 

[Stefy]

Rather you than me, wow 35hrs is long, I could just about stand 14hrs to Singapore.

Awesome pics from the balloon, must check that out next year, thanx for sharing

Love your GF Cafe review esp that shrimp sampler starter, yum-me! The Celebration dessert looks really cool, I think your review has assured me that I made the right decision to eat here for lunch

Kristy looks so pleased with her Castle Cake, it looks really good

 

[mossyflossy]

mmmm, just love the Grand Floridian Cafe, the dessert sampler looks so good.

we've just booked our flight for next Aug too, there were some good deals from the UK with AA last week, now just have to decide where to stay

 

[KatMark]

Oooh....that shrimp appetizer looks scrumptious. I may just have to convince Mark to go there although he has refused to ever step foot in the Grand Floridian ever again. But that looks too good to pass up. And the desserts....

 

[dizneeat]

UPDATE!!!

Just wanted to let all of you know that I have made changes to our February 2010 vacation!

Most important one - we changed our resort from Pop Century to Coronado Springs Resort (thank you KatMark!!)

We will stay offsite (Comfort Inn LBV) for the first night, since our flight only comes in at7pm and it will at least take us an hour (wishful thinking ) to get through immigration, then pick up a rental car and drive to a hotel.

Then we will stay at CSR for 6 more night until it will be time to go home again!

PLUS - I gave in to myself and booked us another ADR - for the CG on Thursday, Feb 18!

 

[dizneeat]

I'll take some "Florida Sunshine" or 3 or 4

Me too!

Oh my....I'm speechless. That looks incredible.

That was incredibly good! We both agreed on that!

Thanks for the info - I am soooooo excited about going to CG

We just love the CG - I just booked another ADR there for our August trip and I plan on 2 visits in August/September!

Rather you than me, wow 35hrs is long, I could just about stand 14hrs to Singapore.

Awesome pics from the balloon, must check that out next year, thanx for sharing

Love your GF Cafe review esp that shrimp sampler starter, yum-me! The Celebration dessert looks really cool, I think your review has assured me that I made the right decision to eat here for lunch

Kristy looks so pleased with her Castle Cake, it looks really good

Yes, 35 hours is a tad bit long, ! It usually takes 14 hours from leaving our home airport until arriving in Orlando with a stopover in Frankfurt. But what they tried to sell me would have left us stranded at Frankfurt airport for about 20 hours! Thanks, but no thanks!

GF Cafe is awesome. The setting is so nice and we have had such perfect food experiences there.

mmmm, just love the Grand Floridian Cafe, the dessert sampler looks so good.

we've just booked our flight for next Aug too, there were some good deals from the UK with AA last week, now just have to decide where to stay

Congratulations on booking your flights! When will you be there? For us Lufthansa is the only choice - they fly out of our home town via Frankfurt and it is the easiest way to go - otherwise we would have a 2 hour train ride and a bus ride to the airport in Vienna - no thanks!

Oooh....that shrimp appetizer looks scrumptious. I may just have to convince Mark to go there although he has refused to ever step foot in the Grand Floridian ever again. But that looks too good to pass up. And the desserts....

The GF Cafe definitely is a hidden gem! The appetizer was really yum! And then to be able to sample all those desserts
Now, guess what - if you order a single dessert it is actually the same size as the ones on the sampler!!!!! Mary Ellen had the cheesecake and Stephanie had the Tiramisu and they were the exact same size as the desserts on my plate! What a deal!!
I am sure Mark will rethink if you let him know how yummy the food is at the GFC!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I am thrilled that you are staying at the CSR instead of POP...much better choice and Kathy raves about the place so it has to be incredible...we stayed there once but not for long and we had a super clean room and the Pepper Market rocks!

 

[dizneeat]

I am thrilled that you are staying at the CSR instead of POP...much better choice and Kathy raves about the place so it has to be incredible...we stayed there once but not for long and we had a super clean room and the Pepper Market rocks!

I can't believe that you take the time to comment on my vacation changes while you are on vacation yourself! You are incredible!
And Kathy helped a lot with the choice to upgrade to CSR! We had a few PMs and then everything was set! I looked through her CSR thread and it looks incredible!

By the way I LOVED YOUR updates today!!!!!!

 

[KatMark]

UPDATE!!!

Just wanted to let all of you know that I have made changes to our February 2010 vacation!

Most important one - we changed our resort from Pop Century to Coronado Springs Resort (thank you KatMark!!)

We will stay offsite (Comfort Inn LBV) for the first night, since our flight only comes in at7pm and it will at least take us an hour (wishful thinking ) to get through immigration, then pick up a rental car and drive to a hotel.

Then we will stay at CSR for 6 more night until it will be time to go home again!

PLUS - I gave in to myself and booked us another ADR - for the CG on Thursday, Feb 18!

 

[dizneeat]

Thank you!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you!!!!

You are very welcome. I hope you and Tom love it half as much as Mark and I do.

 

[dizneeat]

You are very welcome. I hope you and Tom love it half as much as Mark and I do.

I bet we will! What I have seen from your photos in your CSR thread it looks awesome!!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

...... and still day 18, Sept 1

Riverside Mill

On the way back home to Old Key West we made a pitstop at the Riverside Mill to pick up two of those little beauties!

Magic Cookie Bars - oh, I LOVE those. I actually took a few more home and had them over a couple of days!

Here are a few more pics from Goofy's Candy Company!

So what did we actually cost Disney?
4 CS credits = 73,50 (20 CS credits remain)
2 TS credits = $ 80,80 (22 TS credits remain)
Riverside Mill = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 161,30

Next up - Cantina de San Angel

 

[dizneeat]

Day 19, Sept 2

Cantina de San Angel

We started the morning with a little tea and coffee in our villa. It was so nice to have the convenience of a full kitchen! Even though we did not cook, but the fridge and possibility to brew a decent cup of tea in the morning is just wonderful. And I DID get decent tea, I brought my tea from home!

We picked up Mary Ellen and Joe from POR and drove over to Epcot. Once World Showcase opened we decided to have lunch there somewhere - AND we decided to try two different CS places and share our food with our partners.

So, first stop was the Cantina de San Angel.

Mary Ellen and Joe shared the Cantina Burrito - soft flour tortillas filled with beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, black refried beans, sour cream and Adobo Sauce. They both agreed it was nice, but a little messy to eat!

Tom and I had the Cantina Nachos - tortilla chips, beef, cheese, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, sour cream, black refried beans. This was really nice. Crisp tortilla chips, lots of spicy beef and jalapenos. We agreed this was something to get again.

We all got a churro (sorry no photo, but we all know what it looks like) and this one was much better than the one we had earlier. This one was fresh and not hard at all. Tom and I enjoyed it very much.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
Cantina de San Angel = $ 15,40
4 CS credits = 73,50 (19 CS credits remain)
2 TS credits = $ 80,80 (22 TS credits remain)
Riverside Mill = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 176,70

Next up - Kringla Bakeri og Cafe