Insanity Ver 2.0 - Last Minute 4th of July Trip - Update 7/21 - Complete

[Dis_Yoda]

I'm back again.

Yesterday I decided to book a last minute 4th of July Trip to disney! My annual pass expires on the 10th so it needed one more use before we get our Premier passes in the fall. So I'm leaving after work today & should arrive around 8pm, pending on I-75 traffic.

I went online to get my dining reservations for the trip. I must say I love the new online dining system! With it giving options of everything that is open - it made picking out what I wanted so much easier & I also found out there was 1 open spot for Le Cellier on the 3rd.

The Dining Report!
July 2nd, 2010
Dinner @ Pecos Bill's.

July 3rd, 2010
Breakfast @ All Star Music Food Court
Lunch @ Coral Reef
Dinner @ Le Cellier
Snack

July 4th, 2010
Counter Service Breakfast & Snack
Lunch @ Grand Floridian Cafe
Dinner @ Bistro de Paris

July 5th, 2010
Nothing

 

[accountingbabe08]

I hope you have a magical last minute trip!

 

[vettegirl]

I love the online reservation system too! Whoo hoo Le Cellier last minute, how awesome!!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I hope you have a magical last minute trip!

Thanks! I am!

I love the online reservation system too! Whoo hoo Le Cellier last minute, how awesome!!

It really was awesome I was amazed at how much was still open for me on a holiday weekend overall.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Pecos Bills​

I got off of work at 1:15pm! I thought sweet, I'll make it to Disney by 6:30 no problem. That is until I met about 7 or 8 accidents on I-75 in the small section between Gainesville & the Florida Turnpike

I finally made it to the hotel around 8pm & after getting my stuff to the room - headed straight to the Magic Kingdom.

Having only had an Amp & some Nature's Valley Nut Clusters today, I was starving. Luckily my friend I was with was hungry too. We headed to Pecos Bill's for a quick dinner before we decided to see what rides we could get done on this busy Friday evening.

I went for the Taco Salad w/ a Coke.

This was actually really good. The meat doesn't have a lot of spices to it like I know how I cook my taco meat, but for a theme park mass eatery I was happy!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

All Star Music Food Court​

I had a busy day ahead of me full of park hopping & Captain EO. I wanted a quick breakfast before I made my way into the parks.

Chocolate Croissant & Banana!

After putting the croissant in the microwave for 10 seconds - it returned to life from the stale piece of pastry it was before. If I hadn't done the microwave, I wouldn't have enjoyed it much. The banana was ripe so no complaints there.

 

[scanne]

Wow, to be able to book a last minute trip is sooooo cool. I would love to live within a reasonable driving distance to WDW. I'm trying to get DH to move to Georgia.....hmmmm, maybe someday!

Looking forward to reading your reports as they come in! Oh and congrats on snagging Le Cellier on such short notice!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Wow, to be able to book a last minute trip is sooooo cool. I would love to live within a reasonable driving distance to WDW. I'm trying to get DH to move to Georgia.....hmmmm, maybe someday!

Looking forward to reading your reports as they come in! Oh and congrats on snagging Le Cellier on such short notice!

It really is awesome. 5 hours is nothing to me for driving in my car as I listen to audio books so the time goes by in no time.

 

[TigerKat]

Signing on, looking forward to your reviews!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Coral Reef​

After a morning of enjoying EPCOT, it became time to get lunch at Coral Reef.

My friend and I were quickly seated right next to the tank.

I was sadden to see the awesome appetizer from Feb was now gone so I went with the stand-by.

Caesar Salad w/ Shrimp

I was happy to see I didn't have to work for it this time

It was fresh and a light & filling lunch.

For dessert, I went with the other standby Bailey's and Jack Daniels Mousse

No picture but it is definitely one of my favorite desserts throughout Disney.

Service was timed well enough - nothing too memoriable.

 

[tinacaplan]

Subbing!

 

[butiflfeet]

Great start to your reviews! I can't wait for more

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Joining in...

 

[ChefColette]

Looking foward to hearing about Bistro de Paris, that's one place I've always wanted to try.

 

[vinotinto]

I got off of work at 1:15pm! I thought sweet, I'll make it to Disney by 6:30 no problem. That is until I met about 7 or 8 accidents on I-75 in the small section between Gainesville & the Florida Turnpike

I finally made it to the hotel around 8pm

Are you in So. GA? We drive from Atlanta (about 7-8 hours). By Gainesville, you think you are almost to Disney. What a bummer that it added 1.5 hours! When we went in October there was also so much construction on I-75.

Anyways, did you have lunch at Y&Y on your last day? I guess I have to wait and find out ;-)

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Signing on, looking forward to your reviews!

Thanks for joining in!

Subbing!

Welcome!

Great start to your reviews! I can't wait for more

Thanks

Joining in...

Thanks

Looking foward to hearing about Bistro de Paris, that's one place I've always wanted to try.

I was excited to eat there for the first time in years!

Are you in So. GA? We drive from Atlanta (about 7-8 hours). By Gainesville, you think you are almost to Disney. What a bummer that it added 1.5 hours! When we went in October there was also so much construction on I-75.

Anyways, did you have lunch at Y&Y on your last day? I guess I have to wait and find out ;-)

I'm in middle GA with a lead foot. The I-75 Construction has gotten a lot better. Most of the stuff around Macon is now gone. Valdosta no longer has it either. Tifton is the only place with bad construction at the moment. I also took the Western Way into Disney and it cut off another 20 minutes or so.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Le Cellier​

After an afternoon of Hollywood Studios, I said goodbye to my friend who now had to clock in for work & I headed back to EPCOT for my dinner at Le Cellier. I was rather shocked to see it available on the online ADR website 2 days ahead of time and playing into the Dis Hype - I couldn't just not take it.

I arrived about 30 minutes early for my ADR & checked in. I was seated within 10 minutes of arrival & the place was definately packed!

My server quickly came over and introduced herself, laughing at how we had the same first name & took my drink order (Ultimate Long Island) as I looked over the menu.

My drink arrived quickly. It may become my favorite drink in Disney as I believe I ended up having 8 of them over the course of the weekend.

She brought out the bread & I enjoyed eating the pretzel bread & sourdough until my first course arrived. The waitress mentioned that the appetizer I picked takes about 12 minutes to make but the time flew quickly as I wasn't in a hurry in the first place.

For my first course I had
Duck Three-Ways - Confit, Rillette, and Fleischnecke with Orange Gastrique $12.99

The fleischnecke was the fried circle on the left side. This was extremely tasty. I hadn't had something like that here before which made my day. The rillette kinda bored me. Yes, I tasted good - however, it was the exact same as when I had it back a few years ago at a Le Cellier Food & Wine Pairing, before they cancelled those events. You would have hoped something would have changed in that time. The confit was ok. Not the best confit I have ever had though.

For my entree I had
Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon - with wild mushroom risotto, white truffle and herb butter sauce $34.99 minus the mushrooms.

The steak was good. Amazing? No. It was very tender & cooked to a perfect medium rare. I enjoyed it but it still was no signature restuarant quality of meat. The risotto was extremely tasty, even if a little undercooked.

After these two courses, I was very full & couldn't eat anymore. My server quickly brought the check and processed it quickly.

Overall, I was very happy with my meal & would return, although, I wouldn't freak out at 180 days to make sure I got it. I'm hoping the rumors I've been hearing about the changes in 2011 comes to light as it then may become one of our must dos.

 

[TigerKat]

I haven't heard about the rumored changes in 2011, anything exciting? We enjoy Le Cellier but like you not a must do or panic over for us.

 

[tinacaplan]

I have to admit to being dubious that Le Cellier, as a 1 TS place, could possibly be as good as say, the Yachtsmen or Jiko. I appreciate your attention to detail in your reviews.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I haven't heard about the rumored changes in 2011, anything exciting? We enjoy Le Cellier but like you not a must do or panic over for us.

I heard rumors is going to become a 2TS place with some menu changes. Then again, who knows if that is true or not.

I have to admit to being dubious that Le Cellier, as a 1 TS place, could possibly be as good as say, the Yachtsmen or Jiko. I appreciate your attention to detail in your reviews.

Exactly. Although for 1TS if I were on a dining plan - it really would be a good deal.