DaisyluvzGoofy's next update was their lunch at...
Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! Package
"After reading a bunch of reviews about H&V, I certainly did not go into lunch expecting anything even noteworthy, but I was wrong. I think this buffet, for late lunch/dinner (non-character) was Really Good not only for it's variety, but also for it's atmosphere and price."
"First pic: My plate, starting at 12:00 and working clockwise: Herb bread (good, nothing special), Fried Plantains (if you like the sweet taste of plantains, this is for you. It was a bit too sweet for DH and I.), Shrimp & lobster mac & cheese (Amazing, and totally worth going again JUST for this. Huge pieces of lobster and an abundance of shrimp), garlic mash (standard), Citrus BBQ chicken (great flavor, very moist), creamed corn cake (also amazing, and I had this more than once.)"
"Second pic: DH's plate. Starting at 12:00 and working clockwise: Chicken nuggets (hand breaded, decent, wish they were hotter), regular artisan bread (DH: "decent"), green beans (standard), Whole Grain penne w/ meat sauce (wish it were hotter, again), lobster mac (DH's favorite as well). DH said "I hadn't tried the creamed corn cake yet, and that's what changed everything."
"Third: DH's 2nd plate: Lobster mac, turkey (DH "very moist and tender"), Caesar Salad (disappointing), Citrus BBQ Chicken (DH said, "I liked it, it was good"), creamed corn cake (DH: "reaaaally good as well. It tasted even better mixed with the lobster mac.")"
"Fourth: My 2nd plate: dish on right is from the make your own pasta bar: Cavatelli with marinara, fresh garlic, and spinach. Great flavors, pasta was a bit overdone for my taste, but great option at a buffet, and the chef was quick! No more than 3-4 min wait. Plate on right: starting at 12:00 going counterclockwise: Chicken nuggets w/ BBQ sauce, kids mac & cheese (Stouffer's for sure), creamed corn cake (again), parmesan & Alfredo chicken (too much parm taste for my liking, but moist otherwise)."
"Fifth: DH's dessert: brownie bite, choc dipped marshmallow, red velvet cake, & Choc./Vanilla Swirl soft serve. (DH: "I never complain about anywhere I can get unlimited ice cream! Treats were basic, but they were certainly fresh!!")"
"Sixth: MY 1st dessert plate: clockwise starting at 12:00: Key Lime Tart, Dipped Strawberries, Blueberry cheesecake, 12 layer bar. (Key lime tart was fun, included 7th pic of the inside of that. Dipped strawberries were nice and sweet, but I wished it was dipped in milk chocolate instead of semi sweet. Cheesecake was standard)."
"7th: Key lime tart inside. Great flavor!"
"DH wanted to make it known that H&V has Coke Zero (which is rare in the parks in general), just in case anyone else out there is a fan."
Check back tonight for...
"Next update: Narcoossee's w/ Ddad & DM for an Anniversary Dinner with them!"
Great H&V review!! The last time we were there the food wasn't even close to being / looking that good!!!
How was the cleanliness of the restaurant in general? On our last visit a few years ago we found it to be quite unkempt especially the floors and the buffet area itself.
Woohoo! Lots of updates received today, but first I still have one more from DaisyluvzGoofy to post from last night.
She said, "After a blistering cold day, we left DHS and headed to the Grand Floridian for dinner with my parents."
Narcoossee's
First a pic of their personalized menu...
"Narcoossee's was our 2nd favorite honeymoon rezzie for it's ambiance, ability to see the fireworks and the food. (1st being Shula's!!!!) We were surprised with personalized menus that they folded nicely and gave us to take home!"
House-made Fettuccine "Scampi" - Florida Wild Sustainable Jumbo Shrimp and Maine Lobster with Curly Spinach, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes, and Lemon-Chardonnay-Garlic Cream
"1st plate: Ddad: Fettuccine "Scampi". Dad liked it but wasn't a big spinach fan. The lemon-Chardonnay-Garlic cream was light but excellent. He said he'd consider getting it again because of how much shrimp and lobster was in it."
Grilled Filet Mignon with "Smoked" Boniato Whipped Potatoes and Yellow Wax and French Beans with Cabernet Wine Sauce
"2nd plate: DM: Grilled Filet Mignon. Had to convince DM she'd like the Cabernet sauce on it, and she was glad we did. She didn't make a peep (which is saying a lot for her!! haha!) and finished this without leaving a morsel left. No comments, but she obviously liked it."
Grilled Black Angus New York Strip
"3rd: DH: NY Strip (Garlic mashed potatoes & green beans). Garlic mashed was a bit too thick but he liked them just the same. Green beans were standard, steak was better than what he had last time, and 2nd to Shula's. Very well seasoned, moist, & the sauce complimented the seasonings very well. He said, "I would easily get that again."
"Chicken & Dumplings"
Roasted Ashley Farms All Natural Chicken Breast with Potato Gnocchi "Dumplings", Baby Carrots, English Peas, Caramelized Red Pearl Onions, and Peppered Soubise Sauce
"4th: Mine: "Chicken & Dumplings". I can't begin to explain that if you're in the area, and if you can afford a trip to Narcoossee's, that this was worth it's weight in GOLD!!!! Chicken was extremely moist, and the "Peppered Soubise Sauce" was to die for. I took my time and savored this. Dumplings were garlic-y and tasted like the perfect garlic mashed potatoes but in a cut-able pasta density. Carrots, peas and onions were perfectly al-dente. I wish we had time to go back and eat this again!!!!! I let everyone else try the chicken dipped in some of the sauce and everyone else agreed it was amazing. I'm not going to forget this dish!! I promise it won't let you down."
"1st dessert: Coconut & Chocolate Creme Brulee: the flavors combo'd extremely well, and the added texture of the coconut flakes really added to this dessert."
"2nd dessert (Ddad's & DM's) Almond Cheesecake. Ddad really liked this and probably would have eaten the whole thing if DM would have let him. I got a little bite and the almonds act like a crust to this cheesecake and reminded me of an Italian Pignoli (sp?) cookie. Adding the berry compote to the bite was excellent."
"We were also treated to a glass of champagne w/ a strawberry on the house for our anniversary.
All in all, totally worth the price!!!"
3 February Game Points + 1 Bonus Point for menu pic
Okay, now let's get started with the updates received today...there are 14 so far!!!
Our First Update of the Day was sent to us by nicole0992.
She said, "We had dinner at Be our Guest. I had seen pictures of the ballroom prior to our reservation but these did not do it justice. Wow, I was speechless how beautiful everything was."
"We were seated by the windows in the ballroom."
"We were first served rolls with salted butter."
"My daughters both ordered a lemonade in the souvenir light up goblet. I believe it was topped with wildberry foam.
They loved it."
"We all started with the French onion soup. It was good but watery, not a very rich, strong onion flavor."
Rotisserie Cornish Hen with roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus
"Both daughters decided on the Cornish hen. This was served with a little pot of chicken jus. The girls enjoyed their meals."
"I ordered the grilled strip steak with garlic butter and served with pommes frites. Sorry, do not know what happened to my picture. The steak was perfectly cooked and I loved the garlic butter. Fries were great."
"We ended with cupcakes for dessert. I had the lemon meringue and the girls both chose the triple chocolate.
These were great and just the right size."
"We loved dining here. My only negative comment is we were rushed like I've never been rushed before. Made 'Ohana seem like a leisurely meal! Haha! We were served our soups literally two minutes after we placed our order--before drinks even arrived. We were in and out of dining room and meeting Beast within 30 minutes."
2 February Games Points Earned + 6 Bonus Points for sign, menu, and DD and misc. pics plus First Update of the Day
Next up is a snack update from a new reporter who just arrived today, pinkxray .
Diane said, "We arrived at Downtown Disney starving for our first Disney meal but still had one hour to wait, so we decided to start with some ice cream."
"DD was boring and had vanilla, while DSis and I split the awesome Gold Rush sundae..."
1 February Game Point Earned + 3 Bonus Points for sign, DD, menu description pics
"Chicken & Dumplings"
Roasted Ashley Farms All Natural Chicken Breast with Potato Gnocchi "Dumplings", Baby Carrots, English Peas, Caramelized Red Pearl Onions, and Peppered Soubise Sauce
"4th: Mine: "Chicken & Dumplings". I can't begin to explain that if you're in the area, and if you can afford a trip to Narcoossee's, that this was worth it's weight in GOLD!!!! Chicken was extremely moist, and the "Peppered Soubise Sauce" was to die for. I took my time and savored this. Dumplings were garlic-y and tasted like the perfect garlic mashed potatoes but in a cut-able pasta density. Carrots, peas and onions were perfectly al-dente. I wish we had time to go back and eat this again!!!!! I let everyone else try the chicken dipped in some of the sauce and everyone else agreed it was amazing. I'm not going to forget this dish!! I promise it won't let you down."
That looks amazing and I love gnocchi!Seriously considering changing our O'hana reservation to Narcossee's now. I am on the fence about it in the first place but seeing all these other great meals is pretty much sealing the deal to swap it out.
Then we received Piglet54's update from her lunch today at...
SANAA
Discovery Wine Flight Sula Chenin Blanc, Nashik, India - a semi-dry, refreshingly light wine bursting with pineapple and stone fruit.
Game Reserve Chenin Blanc, South Africa - Upfront tropical fruit, ripe pineapple, melon, peaches, and honey.
Rudera Robusto Chenin Blanc, South Africa - Crisp acidity with peach, pear, and guava
Indian Style Bread Service
Today's Sustainable Fish (Tile Fish) served with seasonal vegetables in a light curry broth
Next another update from nicole0992. This one from their second dinner at...
"I had the Fettucine with pancetta. So delicious, light yet so creamy."
Fettuccine Vecchia Roma with pancetta and parmesan cream
"Older DD chose to also have the Fettucine but she changed it up and ordered it with no pancetta and added pomodoro sauce. They allowed these substitutions with no trouble. She loved it."
"Younger DD chose lasagna. She managed about half. It was a huge portion. I tried it and it was wonderful."
Lasagna alla Bolognese - traditional preparation with Emilia-Romagna beef sauce, bechamel and parmesan
"DD's friend dined with us and ordered spaghetti and meatballs. (You can see the meatballs in her entree, as compared to mine from earlier in the week when mine were literally covered in cheese."
Spaghetti with beef and veal meatballs and pomodoro sauce
"We had a great dinner but we were too full for dessert, which is a great shame."
3 February Game Points Earned + 1 Bonus Point for sign pic
Also from nicole0992 was a lunch update from two different Magic Kingdom QS locations...
Pinocchio Village Haus
Caprese Flatbread
Chocolate Cake
"Both DDs ordered the flatbread and standard chocolate QS cake. They loved their lunches. "
Columbia Harbour House
Battered Fish Basket - served with French Fries
"I snuck off myself to have lunch at CHH. It was so crowded in here, so no extra pics. The fish and fries were hot and crispy. Definitely a hit and I like how they have malt vinegar packets available."
Next up is another update from pinkxray, this one from her lunch today at...
"We ended up here less than 30 minutes after ice cream at Ghirardelli so we weren't as hungry as we normally would be."
Dexter's Dual Dip - Combination of shrimp and artichoke dip and spinach and pepper jack queso served with tortilla chips
"I tried the Dexter's Dip. I wasn't too sure of the shrimp addition to it and ended up not liking it. Shrimp and artichoke dip didn't work together for me. I loved the tortilla chips though."
T-Rexadillas - Chicken, peppers, green onions, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses grilled in flour tortillas and served with Pica de Gallo, sour cream and guacamole
"DSis had the quesadillas, which she said were fine."
"DD had the Kids Chicken Nuggets which she scarfed down in about two minutes so I guess she enjoyed them."
"Overall the food and service were fine but I told DD it would be our last visit. Check in was obnoxious with two lines but no signs of where to go wait in the other long line on the other side. I saw quite a few people having the same issue."
2 February Game Points Earned + 2 Bonus Points for sign & wholly mammoth pic
One last update for tonight and then the other five will be posted tomorrow. This one is from Incredibleboysmom, who had lunch today at Epcot's...
"DH and I shared this pitcher of white sangria. I wanted red but the waitress said this better. It had orange and apple pieces in it and was very refreshing. Today's wasn't hot, but I can see really enjoying this if it were!"
"This is the family style salad that you can get with pizza. I could have eaten a whole bowl of this! It was very fresh and loaded with olives, roasted red peppers, banana peppers, tomato, and cucumbers."
"These are my two older sons, ages 13 and 9. Don't let the smiles fool you, they have been arguing nonstop!"
"The kids shared a large Margherita pizza (after picking the basil off). I think DH had one slice but they handled the rest themselves."
Capriciossa Pizza with eggplant, artichokes, prosciutto, and mushrooms
"DH and I shared this individual Capriciossa. I love eggplant and artichokes so he let me pick this. We agreed that though the pizza here good, it is not as spectacular as everyone claims it is. Both of our pizzas were burnt on the bottom crust and we like more cheese. We would like to return and try some pasta."
"Here is the dessert menu. Unfortunately I don't have any of our actual dessert. We had two orders of the zeppole and I literally had to move fast and fight for the two I had! Everyone LOVED them. My middle son doesn't like chocolate so he ate his plain. The rest of us cleaned out the sauce containers with a spoon. Don't judge us until you have had that chocolate!"
2 February Game Points Earned + 4 Bonus Points for sign & dessert menu pics and pic of two DS.
And that's all for tonight folks! Good night and sweet Disney Dreams!
Then nicole said, "The girls snuck off to Art of Animation to show younger DD the new resort and then had lunch at the
Pop Century Food Court's...
Everything Pop
"I'm lucky they took these two pics for us. I honestly was shocked they remembered. They chose loaded nachos and a chili cheese dog. My daughter assures me the nachos look disgusting but that they were yummy."
Then back to nicole0992 for her last couple of updates.
She said, "On Saturday night DDs had dinner at DHS'...
Sci-Fi Dine In
Build-Your-Own Angus Chuck Burger
Flame-broiled Beef Patty with crispy Bacon, Lettuce, Vine-ripened Tomatoes, and grilled onions
"Paid extra to sub onion rings for the fries that normally comes with it. DD thinks this is the best burger on property."
"Younger DD had a kids plain cheeseburger meal. It was served with tomato soup.
She said it was so good and she loves that soup."
"She had a small ice cream that came with the meal."
Then a snack update from...
"For her daily slush, DD chose a strawberry Goofy Glacier. Older DD had an iced coffee. She said it's the best bargain at the Studios for only $1.99. Sorry no picture. They also purchased the Kermit apple for DD's friend."
4 February Game Points Earned + 3 Bonus Points for sign/menu pic and pic of DD
Then nicole0992's final update from her trip was from her dinner at...
She said, "While they were at the Studios, I snuck back to Via Napoli for the 3rd time this trip. I just love the food at the Italy pavilion. I started with an Italian Margarita (sorry I was self-conscious dining alone and seated so close to other tables that I didn't take many pics). I love this drink and hadn't had one yet this trip."
"For my entree I ordered the Candele pasta. This dish is a winner! It's like a baked ziti."
"Ugly but Good" Sundae
"I had the "ugly but good" sundae that has vanilla gelato, cherries and amaretti cookies.
I love this dessert and I'm not much of an ice cream sundae eater."
2 February Game Points Earned + 1 Bonus Point for sign pic
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Lots of updates received today, but first I still have one more from DaisyluvzGoofy to post from last night.
