3rd Annual We are "NEVER" going to Disney in the summer again"

[DawnMaree]

I can't remember if I have this in the post or in subsequent comments- Ben did successfully utilize the barf bags that are in ride. If I don't have that in the actual post, I will go and edit it in.

Oh yes, you said he utilized the barf bags. But still... Of course, I should be used to it when flying with my kids

 

[natebenma]

As I mentioned, we had reservations at Kyoto, the Japanese Hibachi restaurant, on our last evening, at 5:30 PM (opening). The four of us were seated at a show table with a couple from Ontario. They were very nice and we had some polite conversation, but we didn’t want to intrude on each other’s dining experience.

The meal begins with the server bringing around warmed wash cloths. My sons look at them and ask what they are for- “To wash your hands, you know like you do before meals”. They looked at me like I was an alien. A proud-mother moment!

The first course was a selection of sushi and tempura. My 12 year old son is a picky eater, so I recommended the shrimp tempura to him (I knew the veggie would not appeal to him). There was an ulterior motive. I wanted sushi, but I also love tempura, so I was hoping to try some of his. My 9 year old had a dilemma. He couldn’t decide between the octopus or the calamari (squid) sushi. Seriously! So my husband said he would get one, Ben could get the other and they would split. I ordered the Tekkamaki, which is a lot like a California Roll.

Here’s the sushi:

No picture of the tempura. Nate was sitting at the far end of the table from me, and he INHALED the shrimp tempura before I had a chance to raid his appetizer. I didn’t get a chance to sample the octopus or squid sushi since there were only 4 pieces of each of these. My husband and son both said they were fantastic. My sushi was incredible, too.
Next up was the salad/soup course. I ordered the salad with a ginger-sesame dressing. Mark and Ben had the miso soup. Nate passed on this course. The miso soup was the winner here!

As we were enjoying the soup and salad, the chef arrived and started to prepare fried rice:

Everyone at the table ordered the Surf-N-Turf, Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Tail. The chef presented the tray of steak and lobster for us to see and then he cooked it up:

The meal was delicious, but there was definitely too much food. I couldn’t finish my plate, which is very unusual for me.


The chef started cleaning up his table and said his goodbyes to us. We tipped him. We were not sure if that was customary or not, but really, he worked hard preparing our meal and entertaining us! We tipped our server as well at the end of the meal. (Note- the Barcelo resort is all inclusive, so tipping is not required, but is definitely allowed and appreciated)


I think that Ben decided to skip dessert because he was full. I believe Nate ordered fried ice cream. Again, because he was on the opposite end of the table, I didn’t get a picture of his dessert. Here is what my husband and I ordered. They were beautiful and delicious desserts, but I can’t remember exactly what they were.

They have a lot of coconut stuff on the dessert menu (coconut pudding, coconut jello, tropical fruit with coconut, Spam-eggs-sausage-and-Spam*) * Had to throw in a little Monty Python reference- my son Ben and I are currently in a Monty Python-style production of the Canterbury Tales*

Great meal!


.

 

[dtr_angel]

looked delicious! Who would've thought you can eat great Japanese food in Mexico! We ate at Teppan Edo on our last trip and really enjoyed it.

 

[natebenma]

looked delicious! Who would've thought you can eat great Japanese food in Mexico! We ate at Teppan Edo on our last trip and really enjoyed it.

I'm pretty sure that Teppan Edo was the first sitdown meal my husband and I had at EPCOT, maybe even Disney World- and it remained on our must-do list for many subsequent trips.

This was back in the day when you made your dinner reservations on the day of your trip by talking to a reservations rep through a television monitor either from Town Hall on Main Street at MK or in the lobby area of Spaceship Earth.

The last time we have been as a family was our trip in 2004, and we all enjoyed it. It just hasn't made it back onto our reservation list.

So it was great for us to enjoy the hibachi experience again after so long.

 

[dtr_angel]

I'm pretty sure that Teppan Edo was the first sitdown meal my husband and I had at EPCOT, maybe even Disney World- and it remained on our must-do list for many subsequent trips.

This was back in the day when you made your dinner reservations on the day of your trip by talking to a reservations rep through a television monitor either from Town Hall on Main Street at MK or in the lobby area of Spaceship Earth.

The last time we have been as a family was our trip in 2004, and we all enjoyed it. It just hasn't made it back onto our reservation list.

So it was great for us to enjoy the hibachi experience again after so long.

Oh my goodness, I can't imagine booking ADRs that way! For our May trip I was able to do them online and it was so awesome to be able to see what was available in general, instead of having to specify a restaurant and a time on the phone.

It was really good and we liked it, but it's not on our list either. We have a hibachi place in our little town and I guess if we have the craving we can eat there - although we never have LOL.

 

[counselormom]

If that food tasted anywhere near as good as it looks it must have been amazing. I must admit that everytime I read the lastest installment of your Mexico trip I have the urge to nix any future Disney trip plans and head to Mexico!!

 

[natebenma]

Oh my goodness, I can't imagine booking ADRs that way! For our May trip I was able to do them online and it was so awesome to be able to see what was available in general, instead of having to specify a restaurant and a time on the phone.

Things have really changed over these years with the Disney dining situation. Even with our trip in 2004, we made our reservation for Teppan Edo by going into Town Hall in MK.

I really like making reservations 180 days in advance, though. It gives me a chance to anticipate and get excited about the meals I have booked.

For our trip to Universal, reservations to even the most popular restaurant in the parks- Mythos- can be booked a day or two before the trip and even that day!!! How bizarre is that?

If that food tasted anywhere near as good as it looks it must have been amazing. I must admit that everytime I read the lastest installment of your Mexico trip I have the urge to nix any future Disney trip plans and head to Mexico!!

This was a great meal! The sushi was spectacular! The salad was so-so, but the taste I had of the soup was excellent. The fried rice was yummy (there was too much, though), the filet was very good. It really is not fair for me to review the lobster. Being from New England, there is nothing that can compare to sweet, tender Atlantic lobster.

Disney and Mexico are two totally different types of vacations! Fortunately, we love them both!

 

[jenneth79]

This was a great meal! The sushi was spectacular! The salad was so-so, but the taste I had of the soup was excellent. The fried rice was yummy (there was too much, though), the filet was very good. It really is not fair for me to review the lobster. Being from New England, there is nothing that can compare to sweet, tender Atlantic lobster.

Now, I am craving lobster rolls. No way I am going to lose weigth on this board!

Thankfully, we're heading up to Long Island in a month. North Fork, so we should get at least haflway decent rolls

 

[natebenma]

Now, I am craving lobster rolls. No way I am going to lose weigth on this board!

Thankfully, we're heading up to Long Island in a month. North Fork, so we should get at least haflway decent rolls

Thanks for coming to check out my TR!

Yum on lobster rolls! I'm craving them now, too!

Maybe you will have an opportunity or two to sample some while you are at the YC. One night in Concierge Lounge there were small dishes of lobster salad. The Captain's Grille also has a pretty decent lobster roll at lunch from what I understand.

Lots of food pictures in my TR- as I have stated, although I don't have a Disney vacation planned in the near future, I have the title of the TR for that trip:

More pictures of my food than my kids. Is that wrong?

 

[Queila]

Oh my... I love sushi and everything looks SO YUMMY!

Q

 

[jdd]

Just came over from another thread - haven't read your whole TR yet, though I'm looking forward to it!

One question for you - did you see a big difference in crowds between August and July? We've gone twice in August now, and have been pleasantly surprised at at how manageable it was, but wondering if July is different

DS13 is entering high school this year, and plans to play on the soccer team, so I think our August trips are out for a few years....

 

[natebenma]

Just came over from another thread - haven't read your whole TR yet, though I'm looking forward to it!

One question for you - did you see a big difference in crowds between August and July? We've gone twice in August now, and have been pleasantly surprised at at how manageable it was, but wondering if July is different

DS13 is entering high school this year, and plans to play on the soccer team, so I think our August trips are out for a few years....

It was certainly WETTER in August!

I'm not sure we are great judges of August because it was a very atypical week with Tropical Storm Faye. That kept the crowds down. I think the first couple of weeks in August tend to be busier, then a lot of the country returns to school for the last couple of week, so there are fewer guests. BUT the last couple of years, free dining has been offered during that time frame- so that affects the crowds a little.

We loved going the second week in July. We experienced pretty decent weather for the last two years. It was hot, but manageable. A couple of big afternoon thunderstorms, but there were no full day washouts either week.

The key is EARLY, EARLY, EARLY! We would get to the parks at the early extra magic hour rope drop, which allowed us to accomplish so much by 10 am. We would be ahead of the crowds and working the fast passes until lunch or early afternoon, then we would take a break or hop to another park.

If you read through my report, you will see that we were able to accomplish A LOT during our July trips! We are going back to Orlando the same week this year, too, but we are doing the Harry Potter/Universal/Sea World thing for a change.

 

[natebenma]

Oh my... I love sushi and everything looks SO YUMMY!

Q

Hi Queila! I missed your post earlier this week!

The sushi at Kyoto was fantastic! Probably the best I have every had, although that is not saying much. We don't go to fancy sushi restaurants, and mostly what I have is grocery store sushi (but they do make it fresh at the store).

 

[Mommy2BnB]

Coming out of lurkdom to say I am enjoying your trip reports. I read you about your previous trips first and I enjoyed 'watching' your boys grow up through your pictures. It looks like your family had a wonderful time in Mexico.

 

[natebenma]

Coming out of lurkdom to say I am enjoying your trip reports. I read you about your previous trips first and I enjoyed 'watching' your boys grow up through your pictures. It looks like your family had a wonderful time in Mexico.

Thank you for posting and for your very nice comments! It was really fun for me to go back and remember the family Disney trips throughout the years, and as you said, see the changes in the boys from year to year. I especially like seeing my older son with shorter hair in the more recent photos!

Our trip to Mexico was fantastic!

I probably won't be adding anymore until it is time to write my trip report for our Harry Potter/Universal/Sea World trip in July.

Where are you staying for your first trip?

Thanks, again!

 

[jdd]

It was certainly WETTER in August!

I'm not sure we are great judges of August because it was a very atypical week with Tropical Storm Faye. That kept the crowds down. I think the first couple of weeks in August tend to be busier, then a lot of the country returns to school for the last couple of week, so there are fewer guests. BUT the last couple of years, free dining has been offered during that time frame- so that affects the crowds a little.

We loved going the second week in July. We experienced pretty decent weather for the last two years. It was hot, but manageable. A couple of big afternoon thunderstorms, but there were no full day washouts either week.

The key is EARLY, EARLY, EARLY! We would get to the parks at the early extra magic hour rope drop, which allowed us to accomplish so much by 10 am. We would be ahead of the crowds and working the fast passes until lunch or early afternoon, then we would take a break or hop to another park.

If you read through my report, you will see that we were able to accomplish A LOT during our July trips! We are going back to Orlando the same week this year, too, but we are doing the Harry Potter/Universal/Sea World thing for a change.

Sounds like a good plan! That's generally what we do too - hit the parks at rope drop, have a sit down lunch to get out of the heat and head back for a break at the resort. Then evenings back to the park. I don't think we'll swing it this year, but July 2012 is looking good

I finally got through the whole trip report - wonderful report and great pictures!! Thanks!

 

[natebenma]

Sounds like a good plan! That's generally what we do too - hit the parks at rope drop, have a sit down lunch to get out of the heat and head back for a break at the resort. Then evenings back to the park. I don't think we'll swing it this year, but July 2012 is looking good

I finally got through the whole trip report - wonderful report and great pictures!! Thanks!

I'm glad you enjoyed the report. I had fun writing it! Have a great time figuring out the details for your next Disney trip.

 

[Miriade]

Dee; thanks for sharing your tips and excelent photos from this summer trip of yours!
I loved the englands ones without people on them!
I'll keep reading as inspiration because I will be heading back to WDW in next May (it'll be our second trip to this wonderful dreamland place and we'll celebrating our honeymoon!)
And thanks again!

 

[natebenma]

Dee; thanks for sharing your tips and excelent photos from this summer trip of yours!
I loved the englands ones without people on them!
I'll keep reading as inspiration because I will be heading back to WDW in next May (it'll be our second trip to this wonderful dreamland place and we'll celebrating our honeymoon!)
And thanks again!

Thank you so much for reading and for your nice comments. It is fun to walk through the empty countries in the morning when we go from the Beach Club to Future World at EPCOT.

Congratulations! How exciting that your wedding and fun honeymoon plans are coming up so quickly! You will have so much to celebrate on your trips!

 

[DrMomof3]

I refuse to believe that this trip report will ever end. At least not until you're ready to start the next one...
We went to Disney in late August. Crowd levels were delightfully low. We had some rain/thunderstorm almost every afternoon. 2 or 3 daysvwere brutally hot and humid but overall enjoyable!

Amanda