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

[Stefy]

Off to go check it out

Wheres our next update (hee hee).

 

[dizneeat]

I will let you know when we start, hope to see you there

Your way sounds like a good idea. So when you book the bounceback you book the resort and tickets (and dining?) for one week and then back home you book the UK offer for another week, with tickets (and dining?).

Picnic in the Park sounds and looks like fun. The rotisserie chicken looks yumma and I love the cute lil picnic bag it comes in

Off to go check it out

Wheres our next update (hee hee).

Can't wait for your pre trippie - bring it on girl!

The way we have booked the last two years was to book the Bounceback offer (Free Dining) with a one day ticket, since we are AP holders. Now for 2009 we had POR for 12 nights with waterview (and FD) - then I got an offer from the British DTC offering a one bedroom villa at OKW for 200 Euros more than POR and it included FD!! So we dropped the BB and went for OKW. If you haven't checked out OKW - do so - the one bedroom villa is 942 square feet - can't beat that.
During our stay at OKW we booked BB (Free Dining) for 11 nights at ASMovies and 9 nights at Pop. Each has a one day ticket attached. Now, I checked into the British offer again and we are keeping the 11 nights ASMovies (FD) and dropping Pop Century for OKW (with a huge discount AND FD). We are upgrading our FD to DxDDP for those 9 nights. We are staying for another 4 weeks again with a back to back cruise this time - 7 nights on the Wonder and two days at Castaway Cay! Can't wait.

Well, now on with the reviews. I have just uploaded the rest of my photos. Unfortunately my job doesn't give me quite enough time to do as many updates as I would love to do! But I need to earn some money for Mickey!

Thanks Stefy....there is a story behind it per my Nov 2009 TR.

And can I say again how much I am loving this TR?? LOVE these food pics! Can't wait for your Cali Grill review!

Oh Dave, that story is hilarious! So glad you mentioned your trip report - this really is a fun one to read!

Cali Grill coming right up!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I had wanted to try the Picnic in the Park this trip but we only had one AK day and went to Yak & Yeti instead. Turned out it was cold & rainy so I guess I made the right choice. Definitely want to try it one of these days though.

Looking forward to Cali Grille!

 

[dizneeat]

.......... and still Day 28, Sept 10

Dinner at the California Grill

Well, after snacking on the Picnic during the afternoon my dear brother had agreed to do me a HUGE favour. He offered to drive to Port Canaveral to wave goodbye to the Disney Wonder.

Side note: It had taken me a loooooooooong time to consider a cruise, let alone a Disney Cruise, but for my 50th birthday I wanted to do one. I started nagging Tom years in advance, since he never really wanted to go on a cruise either.
Well, after our first cruise we are head over heals in love with Disney cruises and I just HAD TO say goodbye to my favourite "boatie"! (If you want to read HOW we fell for the Disney Wonder - check out my trip report on my homepage!)

So around 3pm we got into the car and drove all the way to Port Canaveral, found a parking lot (which charged 10$ (I think) for parking) and went out on the pier to wait for the cruise ships to leave harbour.
We watched Carnival Cruises leave port and then it was time for the Disney Wonder! Doesn't she look just stunning?

Bye, bye! We'll be back next summer!

Once the ship was further out at sea we walked back to the car and drove back to Old Key West. We had a reservation for 8pm but wanted to be early, just in case our server friend Ron was working that night. Well, after changing our outfits we hurried over, just to find out that Ron wasn't working. We decided to go up to the restaurant early and checked out the Observation deck before we sat in the lounge area. We were not seated before our ADR time, rather later than that. This time we were seated in the Wine Room, toward the very back of the restaurant. It is much more quiet in there and we had a four top all to ourselves.
Our server was quick to introduce himself and took our drinks orders. Two Diet Cokes, what else?

I had a Strawberry Daiquiri - they just make the best!

Tom had a Whiskey Sour - a HUGE glass of it!

We both decided to get a starter.

I had always wanted to try the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli - with sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, shiitake mushrooms and basil. It was delicious. Thin dough on the ravioli, delicate goat cheese and the pesto and tomato sauce were just devine.

Tom had the Maine Lobster Risotto - with Midnight Moon Goat Cheese, Lobster Oil, and Meyer Lemon Beurre Blanc. Perfectly cooked rice on the risotto and well seasoned with good bits of lobster in it! Gordon Ramsay eat your heart out good!

We both chose the Oak-fired Filet of Beef - with Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Baby Zucchini, and Teriyaki Barbecue Sauce. The beef was cooked to order - perfectly cooked I may add and was melt in your mouth tender. The mashed potatoes were so creamy and yummy! Baby Zucchini flavourful and tender and the sauce was devine. We both LOVED it!!

Right while we were munching on our main course the fireworks at Epcot went off and we could see them from our table. A nice extra for this evening.

Since I hadn't ordered any of my all time favourites I didn't want to change course and went for a new dessert as well. So I ordered the Double Chocolate Semifreddo - Rich Chocolate Custard over Hazelnut Cookie and Dark Chocolate Glace. It was SOOOOOO good! I truely loved it.

Tom had the Sweet Celebration, California Plum Cobbler with Vanilla Gelato and Port Syrup. I tried a tiny bit and it was ! He really loved his choice!

Once we had finished our desserts we decided to head over to the Magic Kingdom for Wishes instead of watching it from the Observation Deck. We both love watching it from Main Street and it was the last chance of catching it from there, since we were going home two days later.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
Just found out that I forgot to add our take away from WPE!
WPE (take away) = $ 16,40
18 CS credits = $ 317,20 (5 CS credits remain)
California Grill = $ 122,20
18 TS credits = $ 674,30 (2 TS credits remain)
2 snack credits = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 1137,10
(only accounting for the things covered by the DDP!! Not covering any items purchased OOP)

Next up - ANOTHER lunch at WPE!

 

[dizneeat]

I had wanted to try the Picnic in the Park this trip but we only had one AK day and went to Yak & Yeti instead. Turned out it was cold & rainy so I guess I made the right choice. Definitely want to try it one of these days though.

Looking forward to Cali Grille!

The Picnic is really worth trying - our meal was around $20,- including drinks and dessert, so a real bargain! And it was tasty to say the least.

Hope you like the Cali review! We love it there! I really look forward to our next meal there - in just 32 more days!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

thanks for a wondful updates. We never tried California Grill and hoping one of this Disney trip we will try.

 

[mossyflossy]

yum yum!

and snap! just posted our California grill report too! Loved the ravioli!

You must be so excited for next month!

Have you planned your August ADR list yet? We are knee deep in planning lists...ADRs next month!

 

[DaveInTN]

Oh Karin....that filet looks wonderful. I would like to try CG sometime. I've been waiting for my kids to get older so my oldest can stay back and babysit. Definitely a place I want to dine alone with DW.

 

[englishrose47]

Loved the Picnic in the Park review !!! I haven't tried it yet but it looks great!!

 

[tinacaplan]

Thanks for the nice pictures from your Cali Grill dinner...we'll be there in about twenty six days! And your pictures just made me more excited.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I love your review! I get so excited everytime I see you have updated! Your next trip is getting so close! I am very excited to plan our next trip to WDW. Whenever that may be. Keep up the good work!

 

[Stefy]

Can't wait for your pre trippie - bring it on girl!

The way we have booked the last two years was to book the Bounceback offer (Free Dining) with a one day ticket, since we are AP holders. Now for 2009 we had POR for 12 nights with waterview (and FD) - then I got an offer from the British DTC offering a one bedroom villa at OKW for 200 Euros more than POR and it included FD!! So we dropped the BB and went for OKW. If you haven't checked out OKW - do so - the one bedroom villa is 942 square feet - can't beat that.
During our stay at OKW we booked BB (Free Dining) for 11 nights at ASMovies and 9 nights at Pop. Each has a one day ticket attached. Now, I checked into the British offer again and we are keeping the 11 nights ASMovies (FD) and dropping Pop Century for OKW (with a huge discount AND FD). We are upgrading our FD to DxDDP for those 9 nights. We are staying for another 4 weeks again with a back to back cruise this time - 7 nights on the Wonder and two days at Castaway Cay! Can't wait.

Wow, I think I get the gist of it, but it sounds like its going to be a great trip and another cruise Can't wait to read the TR for this one

Great CG review, that steak looks sooooo good. I can't wait to try this one

 

[Linda67]

Your CG review has made me really look forward to out ADR in March
You have mentioned the server Ron before, should we ask for him?
We are visiting on a Friday night

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks for the review on the picnic in the park. I've wondered about it myself and that was the first time I heard about it honestly! I also love flame tree bbq and totally agree - I'd rather have the coleslaw than the beans. The ribs are GREAT! But I LOVE ribs. Go figure.

 

[cannp123165]

I have just caught up on your reviews. I love your photos and reviews so much.

 

[klacey1]

CG looked amazing!! The view just can't be beat. Glad you guys had another wonderful meal-- your ravioli looked so yummy.
Can't wait for more WPE!!

 

[dizneeat]

thanks for a wondful updates. We never tried California Grill and hoping one of this Disney trip we will try.

You're gonna love the California Grill! It is wonderful!

yum yum!

and snap! just posted our California grill report too! Loved the ravioli!

You must be so excited for next month!

Have you planned your August ADR list yet? We are knee deep in planning lists...ADRs next month!

I went right over to check out your review!
Yes, we are starting to excited about our upcoming trip! It was SO far away when we actually planned it, but now it is coming up fast!!

And like you we are working hard on our August/September ADR list! We have 12 nights of regular DDP and 9 night of DxDDP to fill!! So it needs some careful planning,
Have you decided where to go and where to stay yet? This is all so exciting!

Oh Karin....that filet looks wonderful. I would like to try CG sometime. I've been waiting for my kids to get older so my oldest can stay back and babysit. Definitely a place I want to dine alone with DW.

Dave, the CG is awesome and your DW is going to love it there. (Even though I think that your 4 princesses would love it too! ) Their food is outstanding and it changes VERY often to go with seasonal produce!
That filet was SO good - even though my favourite will always be the Pork Tenderloin with goat's cheese polenta!

Loved the Picnic in the Park review !!! I haven't tried it yet but it looks great!!

The Picnic was such a wonderful surprise. The chicken was tender and flavourful and there was more than enough to feed the two of us!

Thanks for the nice pictures from your Cali Grill dinner...we'll be there in about twenty six days! And your pictures just made me more excited.

The CG is the one restaurant that is a MUST DO every trip (apart from several visits to WPE, ). We'll be there in only 30 more days and I am so looking forward to it - I hope they have their wonderful flatbreads on the menu! I am dreaming about them a lot!

I love your review! I get so excited everytime I see you have updated! Your next trip is getting so close! I am very excited to plan our next trip to WDW. Whenever that may be. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for your kind words - I love your reviews too! Isn't planning a new trip at least half the fun? Last summer we hadn't even finished our vacation and I already had booked and started to plan this years,
I hope you'll go back really soon!

Wow, I think I get the gist of it, but it sounds like its going to be a great trip and another cruise Can't wait to read the TR for this one

Great CG review, that steak looks sooooo good. I can't wait to try this one

Sometimes I wish that English was my first language to make my self "more clear". But we are so excited about our upcoming trip and our summer trip as well. 30 days - and they are going to be pure Disney days - no Universal and no travelling this time!

Your CG review has made me really look forward to out ADR in March
You have mentioned the server Ron before, should we ask for him?
We are visiting on a Friday night

You should definitely ask for Ron! He will definitely make your stay there EXTRA special! If he's not working that night, ask for Walter - he is outstanding too!

Thanks for the review on the picnic in the park. I've wondered about it myself and that was the first time I heard about it honestly! I also love flame tree bbq and totally agree - I'd rather have the coleslaw than the beans. The ribs are GREAT! But I LOVE ribs. Go figure.

It took us quite some time to try Flame Tree - I do not like to sit outdoors and eat, but this is the one spot I don't mind doing it
The food has always been SO yummy! And the picnic was awesome - esp. since you get the keep the bag as well, I love to go shopping with it now!

I have just caught up on your reviews. I love your photos and reviews so much.

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am glad you enjoy the reviews!

CG looked amazing!! The view just can't be beat. Glad you guys had another wonderful meal-- your ravioli looked so yummy.
Can't wait for more WPE!!

We LOVE the CG and I am so looking forward to our next meal there! And the view is really just stunning!

And more WPE coming right up!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 28, Sept 11

Lunch at Wolfgang Puck's Express

We did some packing in the morning, then left for Downtown Disney for another meal at Wolfgang Puck's Express.

Yes, I had another Four Cheese Pesto Pizza - creamy goat cheese, mozzarella, fontina and Parmesan with Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic-basil pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes and it was as good as always - I SO miss this when I am here in Austria!

Tom went for a favourite too!

He got the Rotisserie BBQ Beef Focaccia Melt- Slices of house-roasted Niman Ranch rotisserie beef, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions and Wolfgang's signature BBQ sauce, topped with mozzarella, rolled in warm, all-natural garlic focaccia bread.

So what did we actually cost Disney?
WPE = $ 41,60
19 CS credits = $ 333,60 (5 CS credits remain)
22 TS credits = $ 796,50 (2 TS credits remain)
2 snack credits = $ 7,00 (22 snack credits remain)
all in all = $ 1178,70
(only accounting for the things covered by the DDP!! Not covering any items purchased OOP)

Next up - Dinner at Tony's Town Square

 

[disney_princess_85]

Great WPE review. The food there appears to be consistently good, I had a couple of nice meals back in September. Looking forward to Tony's Town Square!

 

[Stefy]

Sometimes I wish that English was my first language to make my self "more clear". But we are so excited about our upcoming trip and our summer trip as well. 30 days - and they are going to be pure Disney days - no Universal and no travelling this time!

Oh no I understood you perfectly, its more about me getting my fluff stuffed head to understand/process it all

30 days of Disney is going to be awesome sauce for you

Yummy WPE review