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

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Those fish and chips are making me hungry! They look delicious! However, as much as I enjoyed your dining review, I enjoyed your giraffe pictures better!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Aw, I'm also sad to see that Mandy's Mess was removed. It was one dish that I was especially interested in trying, mainly because I love Ribena! It's so hard to find in the US, so I was excited to see it on the menu in some form. Oh well

Glad your reviews have started - looking forward to more!

 

[vettegirl]

The fish and chips looks great, good to know about the shepherds pie and the veggies. I have never gone to R&C yet, but do enjoy reading about it

 

[MissPrice]

Hi there Great review of Rose and Crown. DH and I ate there last Jan for the first time. Looking forward to more, especially your Jiko review. -Amanda

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

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!
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

The cheesecake with bananas really was so good. And I don't even like bananas that much. The fish and chips is pricey. I was just a little amazed at the price increase, $2 in less than 16 months.

DBF is a banana lover too so I fear we will not be sharing desserts our upcoming trip!

That's funny. If your BF is a banana lover he should definitely get that cheesecake.

Those fish and chips are making me hungry! They look delicious! However, as much as I enjoyed your dining review, I enjoyed your giraffe pictures better!

I've never ordered the fish and chips myself because I like to order something else and I know my son is going to order that every time we go to Rose and Crown. But I always bum a couple of bites from him and think I ought to just order my own next time.

I really loved looking at the animals. The baby giraffe was just the cutest.

Aw, I'm also sad to see that Mandy's Mess was removed. It was one dish that I was especially interested in trying, mainly because I love Ribena! It's so hard to find in the US, so I was excited to see it on the menu in some form. Oh well

Glad your reviews have started - looking forward to more!

I was exctied to try Ribena too after doing my research. I think Mandy's Mess was replaced with a flourless cake to be friendly to those with gluten allergies.

The fish and chips looks great, good to know about the shepherds pie and the veggies. I have never gone to R&C yet, but do enjoy reading about it

We really like eating at Rose and Crown. The food has been solidly good for us and the service even better. Hope you get to try it sometime.

Hi there Great review of Rose and Crown. DH and I ate there last Jan for the first time. Looking forward to more, especially your Jiko review. -Amanda

Thanks so much for reading. Our food at Jiko was excellent. Review will be coming up in a few days.

 

[jabead]

Great start to your reviews, Rachel! I especially liked the pic of Chase.

 

[butiflfeet]

Welcome back! We have never actually tried Rose and Crown but I keep seeing reviews like yours that make me want to try it

 

[Ro Z]

Love r+c but with menu changes I am not sure what I would get anymore. I got the cornish hen last time and the time before the chicken pastys. Neither on the menu. I also loved the drambue cheese cake. Also gone. But I am glad you enjoyed your dinner. Look forward to more!

 

[partyof2]

I think that the Fish and Chips look fab!

I'm definitely curious about Rose & Crown, but being from the UK it's not somewhere that I prioritise as there's so many other Epcot restaurants I'd like to try first.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Great start to your reviews, Rachel! I especially liked the pic of Chase.

Thanks Barb. That child of mine will do almost anything for a laugh.

Welcome back! We have never actually tried Rose and Crown but I keep seeing reviews like yours that make me want to try it

Thanks so much! Glad that I can give Rose and Crown a "thumbs up."

Love r+c but with menu changes I am not sure what I would get anymore. I got the cornish hen last time and the time before the chicken pastys. Neither on the menu. I also loved the drambue cheese cake. Also gone. But I am glad you enjoyed your dinner. Look forward to more!

I didn't get the chance to try any of those dishes and they all sound appealing, especially the chicken pastys.

I think that the Fish and Chips look fab!

I'm definitely curious about Rose & Crown, but being from the UK it's not somewhere that I prioritise as there's so many other Epcot restaurants I'd like to try first.

It would be interesting to see how close Rose and Crown's dishes are to what you actually get at home. But I feel the same way, we never eat at the American CS, Liberty Inn, because there are too many other interesting choices at the World Showcase.

 

[emmysmommy]

Cute photo of Chase!!

Sorry your veggie pie wasn't as good as it looks. I would want some hearty flavorful veggies in the dish since all the potato on top doesn't necessarily scream flavor. It is actually something that I would still try - maybe. But the hightlight to any meal is the dessert and oh man... the caramelized banana looks awesome!!

 

[sushi candy]

Sitting in for your reviews, Rachel! I wanted to eat at the Rose & Crown but couldn't fit it in. I am glad to see the fish and chips are a hit. That is what I would have ordered.

 

[kelleigh1]

Just found your report and I thought it would be a good way to tide me over until our own trip in 22 days!

 

[Roma]

I would be highly interested to know what white meat fish justifies that type of price tag for fish and chips! Even for Disney that is a little over the top.

Sorry your vegetable pie was bleh . I love mashed potatoes but I don't particularly love them mixed with bland vegetables.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Cute photo of Chase!!

Sorry your veggie pie wasn't as good as it looks. I would want some hearty flavorful veggies in the dish since all the potato on top doesn't necessarily scream flavor. It is actually something that I would still try - maybe. But the hightlight to any meal is the dessert and oh man... the caramelized banana looks awesome!!

Thanks Brenda! Chase is a cutie, as you know there's never a dull moment with a teenager around.

The veggie pie was just okay. Ironically, the mashed potatoes on top probably had more flavor than the inside veggies. The dessert truly was excellent.

Sitting in for your reviews, Rachel! I wanted to eat at the Rose & Crown but couldn't fit it in. I am glad to see the fish and chips are a hit. That is what I would have ordered.

So glad you decided to read. I'm enjoying your reviews as well. The fish and chips were very good. Maybe next time you will get to try them.

Just found your report and I thought it would be a good way to tide me over until our own trip in 22 days!

So happy for you that your trip will be here soon. Hope you have many good meals.

I would be highly interested to know what white meat fish justifies that type of price tag for fish and chips! Even for Disney that is a little over the top.

Sorry your vegetable pie was bleh . I love mashed potatoes but I don't particularly love them mixed with bland vegetables.

The fish and chips are overpriced, but I'm willing to pay it since it is the only brainfood my son will eat while we are at Disney.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

CHEF MICKEY'S BREAKFAST

Sure enough I was able to find a breakfast reservation for Chef Mickey's less than 2 days before Friday. I noticed that a lot of character breakfast ressies were available just a few days before since many people cancel now that Disney has started the $10 per person charge for ressies not cancelled within 24 hours.

The reservation was for 7:20 am which sounded great to me. We had a rental car this time so we could get from AKL to the Contemporary easily and we could get a jump start on our day. Brian and especially Chase were not happy about getting up so early but I hoped they would adjust after getting food in their bellies.

We headed over to CR and valet parked the car. This is one of the perks of the TIW card, free valet parking. We only had to show the TIW card and our breakfast receipt when we picked up the car.

I was suprised at how many people were already at Chef Mickey's at 7:20 am. What time does this place open anyway? We decided to skip the photopass picture. Chef Mickey's sister restaurant at Disneyland, Goofy's Kitchen, actually has a character to pose with as you enter the restaurant. Not sure I understand the point of these pictures and wonder if many people actually purchase them. Maybe they are included in the price of the preordered photopass CD?

We were seated in the first seat in the dining room to the left of the buffets. If I'm remembering right, this is the last section of the restaurant to be seated. I'm still shocked there were that many people seated ahead of us with a 7:20 ADR. Sorry, there are no buffet pictures, just too much madness but here is a picture of my plate.


breakfast from Chef Mickey's by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

The best thing I ate (other than the Mickey waffle)was the cheddar hash browns which are in the lower left hand corner of my plate. They were definitely seconds worthy!

Here's a picture of my fruit bowl. I love Florida fruit, it's so much better than what we have here at home. The granola covered pineapple was my favorite.


fruit from Chef Mickey's by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

And I've never met a donut that I didn't want to have a long term relationship with. These little donut holes were no exception. I could have eaten twenty of them, but decide to stop at four.


donut holes from Chef Mickey's by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Chase is a boy that loves an omelette. I noticed that Chef Mickey's didn't have an omelette station. Instead they have scrambled eggs and then all the toppings near the eggs that you would put in an omelette. I asked our server, Linda, about this and she offered to bring Chase an omelette from the kitchen. So here's his bacon, onion and cheese omelette.


omelette from Chef Mickey's by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Chase was really happy now and seemed to forget that I had made him get up at such an early hour on vacation.

We met all the characters, but this little lady was the star seen here with Chase.


Chase and Minnie at Chef Mickey's by Smiling Cheshire Cat, on Flickr

Minnie was our favorite this time. She had hugs and extra kisses for Brian and Chase.

We had a good time at Chef Mickey's. The characters were lots of fun, the service was just and fine, and the food was on par with most other Disney breakfast buffets.

Up next: THE PLAZA DINNER

 

[emmysmommy]

Minnie sure was sweet on Chase!!

I'm willing to brave the loud, napkin waving, music blaring restaurant for those cheesey potatoes!!! I love some different options at breakfast buffets beyond the usual breakfast potatoes and those sure caught my eye!! We usually stay all or part of our trips at CR/BLT so I see the crowds every morning that we pass through the concourse and have never been interested in dining there - until now! PLUS.. that was awesome that the kitchen made an omelet for your DS.

Thanks for the great review Rachel!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Minnie sure was sweet on Chase!!

I'm willing to brave the loud, napkin waving, music blaring restaurant for those cheesey potatoes!!! I love some different options at breakfast buffets beyond the usual breakfast potatoes and those sure caught my eye!! We usually stay all or part of our trips at CR/BLT so I see the crowds every morning that we pass through the concourse and have never been interested in dining there - until now! PLUS.. that was awesome that the kitchen made an omelet for your DS.

Thanks for the great review Rachel!

Minnie was actually sweeter on Brian than Chase. She came up behind him and suprised him with a big kiss on the cheek.

The cheesey potatoes really were great. Chef Mickey's had the breakfast potatoes too, but these were so much better. The waitress actually overheard us talking about how disappointed we were that omelettes weren't available and offered to have one made for Chase. That was good customer service.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Love your Chef Mickey's review! The photo of your son is adorable!

 

[AvasMommy526]

We are doing Chef Mickeys for our first breakfast, I think DD will love the characters and my hubby (and I) will love those cheesy hashbrowns lol!
Great review, Minnie is so sweet