BOO Dining Review- It's Halloween season at WDW!- UPDATED 12/17 CALI GRILL/COMPLETE!

Smiling Cheshire Cat

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Hi friends on Dining Review Board! I can't believe we are heading back to WDW in just a few days!!:yay:

Halloween season is my favorite time to visit WDW. This is our 6th trip during Halloween time, with 1 trip to Disneyland. We are looking forward to a few firsts this trip, with the biggest being our first trip to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

This trip will be me, Brian (DH), and Chase (DS). We took DD, Brianna, this past Spring so this is Chase's turn. The four of us haven't been on a vacation together since 2009. I've found I get to go to WDW twice as much if I take the kids separately. I use the excuse that there is such an age difference in them that they don't like to do the same things. (Chase is 15, Brianna is 6). SHH, don't tell Brian I'm just figuring out how to get to WDW more often.:thumbsup2

Anyway, here's a couple of pictures from 2010 from our Disneyland Photopass.



Disneyland by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr


Photo0017FourBySix by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr


We will be arriving on Thursday, September 27th and coming home on Tuesday, October 2nd. This time we are staying at AKL. Chase and I have stayed at Kidani before, but none of us have stayed at the Jambo House. I'm really looking forward to trying all the wonderful restaurants AKL has available.

As far as eating, we usually try to do 1 to 2 TS places a day. Brian and I are usually up for eating most things, but Chase is super picky. His idea of being adventurous is having swiss instead of american cheese on his burger.:rolleyes: In my old age, I try not to eat too much so you will see me eating appys and salads as meals or trying to get the boys to split a meal with me. This way there's room for dessert.:thumbsup2

We are AP holders and have the TIW card so all our meals will be paid OPP.

Here's are tentative dining plans...

Thursday, 9/27- Rose and Crown Dinner- hoping we make it to this one as our plane lands at Sanford airport at 4:30 and our ADR is at 7:30. We've all eaten here before and enjoyed it. Hoping to stick around and see Illuminations. Updated 10/3- p.2
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46338744&postcount=18

Friday, 9/28- I'm actually looking for a Chef Mickey or Ohana breakfast here, but haven't had luck. If not it will be Boma breakfast- Chase and I ate breakfast at Boma last year. We liked the variety and I'm looking forward to Brian trying it. He will love the banana foster bread pudding.Updated 10/7 p.3
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46375423&postcount=36

Friday, 9/28- Plaza Dinner- I have an early dinner scheduled before the Halloween party. We eat here almost every trip!Updated 10/8 p. 3
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46386700&postcount=42

Saturday, 9/29- Le Cellier lunch- We can't pass up a Le Cellier burger when visiting WDW. Updated 10/13 p.4
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46435272&postcount=51

Saturday, 9/29- Jiko Dinner- I'm most excited for this one. Jiko is a place I have sat here and drooled at the computer over the reviews I've read. Brian and I are doing this one alone as Chase isn't interested in the more exotic food. Looking forward to a romantic dinner!Updated 10/20 p.4
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46499126#post46499126

Updated 10/25- Halloween treats- p. 5 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46549533&postcount=66

Sunday, 9/30- Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch- This is our favorite lunch spot at MK. Updated 11/01- p.5
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46602109&postcount=67

Sunday, 9/30- Tutto Dinner- Tutto's is Chase's favorite restaurant at WDW. We haven't been there since the renovation. Updated 11/9 p. 5
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46666055&postcount=71

Monday, 10/01- Saana Lunch- Chase and I had lunch at Saana last summer when we stayed at Kidani. Can't wait to go back and try something different. Updated 11/20 p. 5
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46753535&postcount=74

Monday, 10/01- Cali Grill Dinner- This one was requested by Brian. We've eaten here our last 2 trips and had solidly good meals.Updated 12/17 p. 6
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46945193&postcount=78

Tuesday, 10/02- We will have breakfast at Boma if we don't get there on Friday or maybe at the Mara. Updated 12/17 p.6

:wizard:Here's hoping for a safe flight, good health, and some fun and relaxation, not to mention tasty food.

 
Joining in and adding the link! Can't wait to start receiving your updates...just two more days!!! :cool1:
 


Hi Rachel! I want to hear all about it!!

I wish you all the BEST for a MAGICAL and fun trip!!! ::yes::
 
Yay for another dining report! Great pictures from Halloween at Disneyland, and once again you have awesome dining plans. I really hope you like Jiko. :goodvibes

We love Disneyland so much! Can't wait to go back some day. I feel sure we will love Jiko. The problem will be deciding what to order.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP, RACHEL & FAMILY!!! :wave2:

Thanks so much Barb! Looking forward to sending in some live reports.

Subscribed!

Yeah! So glad you're going to read.

Hi Rachel! I want to hear all about it!!

I wish you all the BEST for a MAGICAL and fun trip!!! ::yes::

Thanks Brenda!
 



Photo0123FourBySix (1) by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

I've got to post this one last picture from our Disneyland trip. I think I'm looking good next to the Old Hag.;)

I've got one change to make to our dining plans. I was able to get an early Chef Mickey breakfast on Friday so we switched our Boma breakfast to our departure day, Tuesday. Chase will be whining about getting up so early but I can't wait to eat there again!
 
Looking forward to it.

I'm so glad!


I'm here! :wave2: And ready for all the delicious details! popcorn::

Hi Barb! I'm excited to get started. We had so many good meals this time.

Welcome home!! I've enjoyed the live previews but want to hear all the details!!

Thanks Brenda! The live previews were so much fun to take part in.

It seems like this will be good. Joining in!

Thanks for reading!
 
For this trip we flew into Sanford International Airport through Allegiant Air and rented a car and drove down to Disney. This was a first for us and actually saved us a good bit of money. We really liked having a direct flight and a car and would absolutely fly Allegiant again.

Also this was the first time we had stayed at the Jambo House. We were upgraded to a Savannah room on the Zebra Trail. I've said I wouldn't ever pay for a Savannah view room since AKL has so many wonderful animal viewing areas, but I really enjoyed sitting out on the balcony watching the animals. I already miss these guys!



Giraffes at AKL by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

So we had a great stay at AKL. I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of staying there, if just for the dining options alone. Now, on to the food...
 
ROSE AND CROWN

Our first meal was one requested by Chase. The last time we ate here was May 2011 and had a very good meal.

This time our server was Katy Sue and she was a sweetie. We always find the servers at Rose and Crown so friendly.

I love this picture of Chase with a cross bow that was hanging from the wall. I'm wondering if he thinks he's going to have to hunt his own dinner?:rotfl2:



Chase at Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Katy Sue brought us this basket of bread. I love that it had lots of butter, but I didn't think this bread was worth wasting much stomach space on.


bread at Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Chase knew that he wanted a repeat of his last meal at Rose and Crown, the Fish and Chips. But I was suprised that Brian also chose this.


Fish and Chips from Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Both of the guys loved this dish. It had several chips with one big piece of fish. I had a bite as well and agree it is very good. The fish is more meat than coating and fried just crisp. My only complaint is the price. I found my receipt from May 2011 and it was $15.99. This trip we paid $17.99.:eek:

I ended up chosing the Vegetable Pie 'n' Mash.



Vegetable Pie and Mash from Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

The presentation is just so lovely with the pattern on the potatoes. Here is a picture of the inside so that you can see what the vegetables and sauce look like.


Inside Vegetable Pie and Mash from Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

The potatoes and cheese on top were very tasty although a bit heavy. I was a little disappointed with the vegetables inside. They seemed the kind of peas and carrots that come frozen in a bag. It also had chunks of potatoes. I would have preferred mushrooms since it already had potatoes on top. The sauce was good so all in all this was a good dish.

Brian and I had decided on our dessert by looking at the menu on the internet while waiting. We were going to have the Mandy's Mess, which is a pound cake with berries and Ribena syrup. Since we didn't know what Ribena was we had googled it. (BTW, it is a British fruit drink made from black currant juice). We were disappointed when we were given this menu that didn't include the Mandy's Mess.



Dessert menu from Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

So Brian decided on the cheesecake instead, which had mocha cream and carmelized bananas. I think Brian has tried every dessert at WDW with the word "banana" in it. :rolleyes1 I'm really not that fond of bananas, but all 3 of us thought this was divine.


Cheesecake from Rose and Crown by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Chase's favorite was the cheesecake. He loved the chocolate coffee beans on top and it had a chocolate crust. Brian like the banana. It was carmelized perfectly with just the right stickiness. My favorite was the mocha cream. It was a little mound of chocolatey fluff.:cloud9:

So we were off to a great start with our meal at Rose and Crown. We had good food and good service. Up next we will have breakfast at Chef Mickey's.
 
Just came across your report! Joining in :)
Glad you had a great trip and someday I am going to use your tactics of double Disney time! :rotfl:
I love banana desserts too so that looks yummy! I have to agree the price of the fish and chips is a bit steep!
Can't wait for the rest :goodvibes
 
DBF is a banana lover too so I fear we will not be sharing desserts our upcoming trip!
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top