In Loving Memory... We’re Going Deluxe! - A Jan 2013 PTR (TR Link 01/28)

[lovethattink]

FOOD - Table-service: Our ADRs​

I wanted to go dig around the internet, and find nice little pictures of food for this update, but I’m too lazy. So instead of making you wait forever for an update full of pictures, you getting an (almost) picture-less update now.

My wonderful TA (Hi Hope!) booked me my ADRs today. She was suppose to book 5, but I had her add a 6th because of an update I read in a TR recently (from someone I’m not going to name *cough*Shannon*cough*).

Let’s start with the two repeats, and the only two pictures you’re going to see from me tonight. The first repeat was guessed by Avasmommy :

KONA CAFE​

Ron really enjoyed his meal there and wants to go back. He is torn between eating the Teriyaki steak again (pictured here) or something else.

I’m obviously going solely for the BREAD!!! And dessert, probably the white-chocolate cheesecake. I want to be sure to have room for both of these, so I’m thinking of either nibbling at Ron’s steak, or taking one of the kids meal as my entree. We will be having dinner here.


The second repeat is my choice.

VIA NAPOLI​

I have two reasons. First, the pizza was melt in your mouth good and I’ve been craving it ever since. The second reason is the dessert (if you’re sensing a theme here, you may be right). Last time I ate the whole pizza to myself and was too full for dessert (saddest thing ever). This time I’m hoping Otaku will agree to share this bad boy with me:

That way, I’ll have no choice but to eat only half of the pizza (I may not be able to stop myself otherwise...), which will leave plenty of room for the beauty that is called Zeppole di Ricotta. I have read about this little piece of heaven on at least two different TRs lately (Queila and can’t remember who else) and I. Want. It. Now. We will be having a late lunch here.



Now for the new places. The first one was a request by Otaku. We asked her if there was any restaurant she knew she wanted to try and she said : “The place where you can see the fish”.

CORAL REEF​

I don’t know much about the menu here, and we’re not going there for that anyway. The main attraction will obviously be the fish. I’m glad Otaku requested that because Peanut has been fascinated by the fish in the aquarium at the doctor’s office every time we have gone. We have booked an early lunch here, so Claudia should be awake to enjoy the view.

KOUZZINA​

This was my choice, and I chose a late breakfast here. I got the idea from Jenn (Inkedupmomma). I’m really looking forward to trying the waffles with whipped mascarpone cheese. (If you’re sensing yet another theme in the kind of food I like, cheese, you would be correct. Pat yourself on the back) I probably would not have gone out of my way to try this place, but since we’ll be staying in the Epcot resort area, it’s perfect for a break day.

CAPE MAY CAFE​

Ron chose to have dinner here. He loves seafood, so the idea to have it all-you-can-eat sounds like heaven to him. He wants to try the fried clam strips, so hopefully I booked the correct day for it (Monday). Just to be sure, we’ll look at their menu after we check-in at Beach Club and try to change our ADR if necessary. I’m just going to be eating the more “normal” food (using the word normal here only to describe the non-seafood stuff). And the desserts, obviously.


So, both Ron and I have chosen a repeat ADR and all three of us who can speak have chosen a new place to try. We should be set, right? Wrong! What is this last-minute addition, you ask? (oh wait, you didn’t ask? I’m telling you anyway)

CALIFORNIA GRILL​

You see, I’m not a big meat eater, but I do have two favorites that I absolutely love. Those favorites are filet mignon and teriyaki chicken. When I read someone’s (Shan) review of this, I just had to try it. So thank you, nameless person (Shan) for costing me a bundle of money. Ron and Otaku both love their meat AND their sushi, so I KNOW this will be an expensive meal. That makes me a bit nervous, but I calm myself by remembering that in a way, my mom is the one “paying” for the trip. In so many ways this will be a “once in a lifetime” trip (going deluxe, going for New Year’s Eve, it may be Otaku’s last trip with us for many years), so I figured what the heck, let’s go all out. Bonus, we scored the first ADR of the evening so we’ll be just in time to watch the gorgeous view and early sunset, and have plenty of time to go back to MK after to watch the new castle projection show up close.




So there you have it, our ADRs. We will be doing one more table-service, but they don’t take ADRs there. If you guessed Beaches & Cream, bingo! Staying at Beach Club, there is no way I can pass the opportunity of trying their ice cream. More specifically, I really want to try the No Way Jose and a milkshake. We will be stopping here more than once! At home I’ve been trying to avoid sugar after dinner because it makes it harder for me to sleep, but at Disney, to hell with that! If I want a chocolate sunday just before bedtime, I will. Let’s just hope the weather is comfortable enough for ice cream. Who am I kidding? I eat ice cream in winter here!


As you can see, this update was mostly from my point of view. I encourage Ron (I know you’re reading this my love) to come and post his possible choices of appetizers and entrees. After all, he has been spending several hours (I may be exaggerating a tiny bit here) scouring the menus and photos of food porn and trying to decide exactly what he’ll be in the mood to eat 6 weeks from now. (Eeeeek, 6 weeks!)

I am behind already. Had my in-laws visit for a week so I lurked a little from my phone, but just skimmed.

The Coral Reef's menu changed. We ate there on Wednesday. (I'm a WDW "local"/) The chicken on spaetzle was really good!! What I usually order wasn't on the menu anymore. Same with the dessert menu, what I order was gone so I opted for the Blood Orange Cheesecake. Don't let the name scare you off. This is to die for!! There is an orange called a blood orange. The top of the cheesecake had a very thin orange gel, the cheesecake itself was light and airy, kind of like the Bavarian cheesecake at Germany. Instead of a graham crust, it was a thin orange cake. I took pictures, will eventually get around to posting.

Be Our Guest is a fantastic new restaurant. Did you try to get ADRs there? I know they are booking up quickly.

Yes, I do see a common theme going on your choices

 

[shan23877]

Oops! Sorry!



I really think you'll love it though Mel. We sure did.

 

[KatMark]

We've done soe of your ADR choices and some we want to try (we've done Kona for breakfast, but never dinner). I would love to try Via Napoli but me and sauces don't see eye to eye lately. We were not happy at all with Cape May this past September, but I think we may have had an off night there (but with the prices they charge, it will be on the back burner for quite a while).

I hope the little one is feeling better.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I had to Google slicker brush because I had no idea what it was. I found a website that explains it, so I should be fine shopping for one. I was able to cut two of her mats, but the rest are very close together so I'll try the other tricks. It probably was corn starch, Nikki wasn't sure which powder it was. I'll have to check if I have some. I never bake anything, I wouldn't know.

I was on my phone, or I was going to find a link for a slicker brush so you know what they are. Glad you found it on your own. It's good that you were able to cut out at least 2 of the mats, and I hope the corn starch helps with loosening the others so they can be brushed out too! Good luck!


Your dining plans look nice. I've never eaten at any of those, though I will be eating at Coral Reef for lunch this Friday! I'd love to eat at Via Napoli, but there hasn't been anything available this trip.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

So happy to hear Claudia is feeling better!

Your ADR's look great!! We've been to all of them except CA Grill. You are going to eat well!!

 

[monica23535]

Your ADRs look great!

My two favorite WDW desserts are on your list, the Zeppole di Ricotta and the No Way Jose - they are to die for

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Nice ADR choices... I'm trying Kouzzina based on Jenn's review of it too... so she's going to have a lot to answer for if it isn't good... I'm sure it will be... Also going to try Via Napoli... never been to Cape May Cafe... but really like Kona and California Grill and have had really good experiences at Coral Reef as well...

I'm sorry that your little Peanut is feeling out of sorts... It is really hard before they can tell you exactly what's wrong... it gets better when they can speak... but even then it's always hard and even when you have an 18 year old Peanut some day... you aren't going to like it when she gets sick...

(I have/had a love/hate relationship with Parenting books... sometimes what works in them don't work for you... plus you can drive yourself crazy trying to diagnosis ... they can be nice for reference...)

 

[AvasMommy526]

You guessed Kona right! Ron would have liked to have breakfast there so he could try a Tonga toast, but I would only have booked it had we stayed at the Poly. I chose Kouzzina instead. One breakfast ADR is enough. I do not want to waste precious park time.

Yay for Kona! I'm thrilled for the Tonga toast lol. I think Kouzinna will be great, I have read some wonderful reviews from there!
I like all your picks actually! We are eating at Via Napoli too, I'm so excited for the pizza and Zeppoles! California Grill was going to be my choice for our date night but it's going to be during the refurb so I will live vicariously through your report!!

 

[ronDisney]

FOOD - Table-service: Our ADRs​

I wanted to go dig around the internet, and find nice little pictures of food for this update, but Im too lazy. So instead of making you wait forever for an update full of pictures, you getting an (almost) picture-less update now.

My wonderful TA (Hi Hope!) booked me my ADRs today. She was suppose to book 5, but I had her add a 6th because of an update I read in a TR recently (from someone Im not going to name *cough*Shannon*cough*).

Lets start with the two repeats, and the only two pictures youre going to see from me tonight. The first repeat was guessed by Avasmommy :

KONA CAFE​

Ron really enjoyed his meal there and wants to go back. He is torn between eating the Teriyaki steak again (pictured here) or something else.

Im obviously going solely for the BREAD!!! And dessert, probably the white-chocolate cheesecake. I want to be sure to have room for both of these, so Im thinking of either nibbling at Rons steak, or taking one of the kids meal as my entree. We will be having dinner here.


The second repeat is my choice.

VIA NAPOLI​

I have two reasons. First, the pizza was melt in your mouth good and Ive been craving it ever since. The second reason is the dessert (if youre sensing a theme here, you may be right). Last time I ate the whole pizza to myself and was too full for dessert (saddest thing ever). This time Im hoping Otaku will agree to share this bad boy with me:

That way, Ill have no choice but to eat only half of the pizza (I may not be able to stop myself otherwise...), which will leave plenty of room for the beauty that is called Zeppole di Ricotta. I have read about this little piece of heaven on at least two different TRs lately (Queila and cant remember who else) and I. Want. It. Now. We will be having a late lunch here.



Now for the new places. The first one was a request by Otaku. We asked her if there was any restaurant she knew she wanted to try and she said : The place where you can see the fish.

CORAL REEF​

I dont know much about the menu here, and were not going there for that anyway. The main attraction will obviously be the fish. Im glad Otaku requested that because Peanut has been fascinated by the fish in the aquarium at the doctors office every time we have gone. We have booked an early lunch here, so Claudia should be awake to enjoy the view.

KOUZZINA​

This was my choice, and I chose a late breakfast here. I got the idea from Jenn (Inkedupmomma). Im really looking forward to trying the waffles with whipped mascarpone cheese. (If youre sensing yet another theme in the kind of food I like, cheese, you would be correct. Pat yourself on the back) I probably would not have gone out of my way to try this place, but since well be staying in the Epcot resort area, its perfect for a break day.

CAPE MAY CAFE​

Ron chose to have dinner here. He loves seafood, so the idea to have it all-you-can-eat sounds like heaven to him. He wants to try the fried clam strips, so hopefully I booked the correct day for it (Monday). Just to be sure, well look at their menu after we check-in at Beach Club and try to change our ADR if necessary. Im just going to be eating the more normal food (using the word normal here only to describe the non-seafood stuff). And the desserts, obviously.


So, both Ron and I have chosen a repeat ADR and all three of us who can speak have chosen a new place to try. We should be set, right? Wrong! What is this last-minute addition, you ask? (oh wait, you didnt ask? Im telling you anyway)

CALIFORNIA GRILL​

You see, Im not a big meat eater, but I do have two favorites that I absolutely love. Those favorites are filet mignon and teriyaki chicken. When I read someones (Shan) review of this, I just had to try it. So thank you, nameless person (Shan) for costing me a bundle of money. Ron and Otaku both love their meat AND their sushi, so I KNOW this will be an expensive meal. That makes me a bit nervous, but I calm myself by remembering that in a way, my mom is the one paying for the trip. In so many ways this will be a once in a lifetime trip (going deluxe, going for New Years Eve, it may be Otakus last trip with us for many years), so I figured what the heck, lets go all out. Bonus, we scored the first ADR of the evening so well be just in time to watch the gorgeous view and early sunset, and have plenty of time to go back to MK after to watch the new castle projection show up close.




So there you have it, our ADRs. We will be doing one more table-service, but they dont take ADRs there. If you guessed Beaches & Cream, bingo! Staying at Beach Club, there is no way I can pass the opportunity of trying their ice cream. More specifically, I really want to try the No Way Jose and a milkshake. We will be stopping here more than once! At home Ive been trying to avoid sugar after dinner because it makes it harder for me to sleep, but at Disney, to hell with that! If I want a chocolate sunday just before bedtime, I will. Lets just hope the weather is comfortable enough for ice cream. Who am I kidding? I eat ice cream in winter here!


As you can see, this update was mostly from my point of view. I encourage Ron (I know youre reading this my love) to come and post his possible choices of appetizers and entrees. After all, he has been spending several hours (I may be exaggerating a tiny bit here) scouring the menus and photos of food porn and trying to decide exactly what hell be in the mood to eat 6 weeks from now. (Eeeeek, 6 weeks!)

So the wifey comes up to me one Sunday afternoon and says: Go post your reply to my post about ADRs on Disboard.
Never mind that there were probably a bunch of house chores to be done, and I pretty much finished a marathon round of video game playing (meaning I was in prime position to be told&not asked&go do some chores.) LOL!
So of course, I say: Of course sweetie&anything you say. I love you so much, thats why I wanna do whatever puts a smile on your face. And so&here I am. Hahahaha.

Truthfully though&I have put a bunch of thoughts into what I might be eating 5 weeks from now. After all this isnt ordinary food&its magical DISNEY food, and whatever ingredients make it up, my wife has told me that theres always an extra sprinkle of magic placed on every dish. All I can say is&I hope that this magic sprinkle stuff is FDA approved.
My prevailing thought for the places weve already been, is to do it differently and sample something other than what Ive already tried (within reason of course.) After all, there are some things one just has to do over again, when you visit a restaurant where youve enjoyed your meal.
So without further ado here a couple of thoughts with regards to the ADRs we have set up&

KONA CAFE
Having tried the steak there, I may just go the opposite direction and go mostly seafood. I plan on getting the tuna poke again, to share with Otaku, possibly along with some sticky chicken wings.
As for the main entrée..I was a bit disappointed to see that the Tuna Oscar doesnt seem to be available anymore. So, perhaps I may go with the Togarashi Spiced Ahi Tuna. I saw a pic of it, and it does look very enticing.

VIA NAPOLI
I know that my wife loves the pizza here. While I enjoyed it as well&I still dont feel it was so epic that I need to have one when we visit this place again. I think that this time I may go with some pasta. I was thinking that the table could start with a little appetizer like the Mozzarella Capprese.

Then, go right to the Linguini Frutti di Mare. Hopefully, the Disney food big portions creedo, also applies to the sefood portions of this pasta dish.

CORAL REEF
As previously mentioned&the idea here is to dine under the sea. And having looked over the menu, I wasnt particularly excited by it. Still, it should make for an enjoyable dining experience.
I was considering sharing the appetizer for two with Otaku.

And then for a main entrée, perhaps the Orange Ginger-glazed Scottish Salmon.

KOUZZINA
As were visiting this place for breakfast, I suspect I wont be too much in the mood for anything large and filling. But, if I am actually that way, I was thinking of Turkey-Sweet Potato Hash.

CAPE MAY CAFE​

SEAFOOD BUFFET. NUFF SAID!!! LOL!!!

CALIFORNIA GRILL
Out of all the ADRs we have, this location has been the most difficult in determining what I may actually want to eat, as so much of it looks appetizing.
Ive read and been told that the Grilled Pork Tenderloin is amazing. So, Im kinda leaning towards that at the moment.

I have a feeling me and Otaku might also go for some kind of sushi appetizer, Im kinda leaning towards the Tuna Three Ways.

I think that about sums it up for my thoughts on the ADRs dear wifey has set up. Im very much looking forward to the trip. Though I have a feeling the ole weight will shoot up another 10 pounds by the end of the trip. LOL!!

​

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I like hearing your take on the ADRs too Ron, you don't chime in often, but are quite funny and articulate!

I'm sure you will enjoy everywhere you eat, and I'm sure Disney wouldn't put anything in their food that wasn't FDA approved

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Love some of the places you are going. This fall my friend and I had the free dining. Children and spouses were not allowed on this trip!! We did California Grill (it was heavenly and I hope they are all refurbished before next fall so I can eat there again!) I had the filet, one of the ladies had the pork (and she thought it was awesome) and the other one also had a steak, I believe. There were no leftovers on the table when we were finished here!

And you absolutely MUST try the lobster soup at Coral Reef! I was wishing I'd just had 2 bowls of that and the bread.

Haven't done Cape May since 2008, but we all really enjoyed the food there. We did breakfast and dinner there that year. All very good and the character interaction here for breakfast was some of the best I've experienced anywhere!

Sanaa was awesome!! The flatbreads and spreads were so good. That could have been a meal instead of an appetizer. I didn't see that as a choice for you, but that is a good one-with the added bonus of wandering around the resort to view the art and animals.

Great choices!

 

[AvasMommy526]

Love the update from Ron! I was at the chores part!
All great choices and looking at Disney food just makes me hungry and jealous

 

[ronnmel]

Hi guys! I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was quite busy, so busy that I didn't even have time to log in to the Dis. I did do some lurking here and there though, and read all you comments. I'll come back in a couple of days to do my replies. Tonight I'm busy making yet another photobook. What can I say, they are addicting! I'm subscribed to the Shutterfly newsletter and receive deals via email every so often. Well they sent a pretty good deal today, with the saying "Photobooks make the perfect gift for family members", and I thought "They are so right!". So here I am, making a photobook for the in-laws, Otaku, my dad, my brother, etc. Luckily I'm basically making the same book for everyone, just personalizing the cover and last two pages. I can't wait to give it to them for Christmas.

Ron came around yesterday and posted his thoughts about food for all our ADRs. In case you didn't see his post and are too lazy to go back to the previous page, here it is :

FOOD - Ron's take on our ADRs​

So the wifey comes up to me one Sunday afternoon and says: Go post your reply to my post about ADRs on Disboard.
Never mind that there were probably a bunch of house chores to be done, and I pretty much finished a marathon round of video game playing (meaning I was in prime position to be told&not asked&go do some chores.) LOL!
So of course, I say: Of course sweetie&anything you say. I love you so much, thats why I wanna do whatever puts a smile on your face. And so&here I am. Hahahaha.

Truthfully though&I have put a bunch of thoughts into what I might be eating 5 weeks from now. After all this isnt ordinary food&its magical DISNEY food, and whatever ingredients make it up, my wife has told me that theres always an extra sprinkle of magic placed on every dish. All I can say is&I hope that this magic sprinkle stuff is FDA approved.
My prevailing thought for the places weve already been, is to do it differently and sample something other than what Ive already tried (within reason of course.) After all, there are some things one just has to do over again, when you visit a restaurant where youve enjoyed your meal.
So without further ado here a couple of thoughts with regards to the ADRs we have set up&

KONA CAFE
Having tried the steak there, I may just go the opposite direction and go mostly seafood. I plan on getting the tuna poke again, to share with Otaku, possibly along with some sticky chicken wings.
As for the main entrée..I was a bit disappointed to see that the Tuna Oscar doesnt seem to be available anymore. So, perhaps I may go with the Togarashi Spiced Ahi Tuna. I saw a pic of it, and it does look very enticing.

VIA NAPOLI
I know that my wife loves the pizza here. While I enjoyed it as well&I still dont feel it was so epic that I need to have one when we visit this place again. I think that this time I may go with some pasta. I was thinking that the table could start with a little appetizer like the Mozzarella Capprese.

Then, go right to the Linguini Frutti di Mare. Hopefully, the Disney food big portions creedo, also applies to the sefood portions of this pasta dish.

CORAL REEF
As previously mentioned&the idea here is to dine under the sea. And having looked over the menu, I wasnt particularly excited by it. Still, it should make for an enjoyable dining experience.
I was considering sharing the appetizer for two with Otaku.

And then for a main entrée, perhaps the Orange Ginger-glazed Scottish Salmon.

KOUZZINA
As were visiting this place for breakfast, I suspect I wont be too much in the mood for anything large and filling. But, if I am actually that way, I was thinking of Turkey-Sweet Potato Hash.

CAPE MAY CAFE​

SEAFOOD BUFFET. NUFF SAID!!! LOL!!!

CALIFORNIA GRILL
Out of all the ADRs we have, this location has been the most difficult in determining what I may actually want to eat, as so much of it looks appetizing.
Ive read and been told that the Grilled Pork Tenderloin is amazing. So, Im kinda leaning towards that at the moment.

I have a feeling me and Otaku might also go for some kind of sushi appetizer, Im kinda leaning towards the Tuna Three Ways.

I think that about sums it up for my thoughts on the ADRs dear wifey has set up. Im very much looking forward to the trip. Though I have a feeling the ole weight will shoot up another 10 pounds by the end of the trip. LOL!!

​

 

[KatMark]

Have fun making your photobooks (wish I had the talent or the time to do something like that).

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I LOVE making photobooks on Shutterfly!!! I've made one for each of my last 2 Disney trips and plan to do one for this one too

 

[photographymom517]

Sorry I haven't been posting, Mel!! I have been writing so much in my emails that I figured you wouldn't want to read it twice!

Regarding your food choices:

1) First of all, don't forget that Disney food is Calorie-Free!
(or at least that's what I'm going to tell myself after I eat my 10th cupcake!)

2) I highly recommend the Mahi-Mahi at Coral Reef, although it isn't as good as it was with the apricot chutney (they changed it in 2010). This year, I think I'm going to ask the waitress/waiter if they can possibly add chutney to the side.

3) I think it's an excellent idea to try to share the pizza at Via Napoli. Last year, none of us had room for dessert & that made me want to cry! I am like you...I LOVE my dessert!!!!!!

(We also have more in common than I realized because I am also a huge fan of cheese...my favorite things are cupcakes, cheese, bread, and chocolate!)

4) Thanks to you and Ron, I am now eating dinner at Cape May Cafe! After I booked your ADR, I went to AllEars and just kept reading the buffet menu over and over and over and over again . . .

I think that's all for now! I woke up to take my meds & I suppose I should go back to sleep since it's after 1:30am. I'll post again soon!

Love all of your ADR choices and of course your resorts!!! I'm so excited for your trip!!!

 

[photographymom517]

I keep forgetting to mention that the picture of Claudia in the Minnie outfit is ADORABLE!!!! Oh my goodness, she's just too cute!!!!

 

[amazingact21]

Hi! Just stumbled upon your PTR and am subbing in!


I love your ADR choices. You have 3 of my favorite restaurants on there. (Kona, Coral, and Via.) I agree with you on the bread at Kona. That macadamia nut butter you put on the Hawaiian bread is to die for. Just as a heads up, though, my favorite dessert is the white chocolate cheesecake, as well, but when I went there last May, it wasn't on the menu anymore.

I would highly recommend saving room for dessert this time around at Via Napoli. The tiramisu is actually the best tiramisu I've ever tasted, and this is coming from a girl who's parents actually lived in Italy for 4 years and learned how to make it the proper way. But even if you are too full, the dough they use on their pizzas is just as worth it.


As for Coral Reef, I'm not a seafood fan at all, and I felt the same way you did about the menu items, but the restaurant actually surprised me. The food, no matter what you order (I have tasted the steak, the lobster ravioli, and the mahi mahi) is all delicious and very well-prepared. I hope you all enjoy it, plus the atmosphere is as awesome as it sounds. I can only imagine how enthralled your DD will be with the aquarium!



And I agree with you on BC and the refurb! No discount in the world could make those old rooms at the resort look good!

 

[ronnmel]

Oops. I disappeared from the Dis for a week. Sorry about that. First I worked on those photobooks. Then Claudia got sick again (nothing bad, just a cold, which she still has, and possibly teething (I keep saying that, one day it will be true ), I got her cold too, and we visited some friends. Then I was just scared of coming back to a gazillion threads to catch up on. I've also been quite busy selling used stuff online. I don't even make that much money off of it because I sell it off so cheap.

But I'm back, and plan on spending the entire evening catching up, including replying to all of you, and possibly writing a small update. How have you all been? I can now officially say I'm leaving THIS MONTH!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!

 

[DisneyLifer87]

Jumping in. Your baby girl is adorable. DH and I keep thinking about kids but we just never take the plunge. I'm working on becoming a teacher so we have that commonality. What do you teach?

Looking forward to more.