The not so live version of dining w/ Disers, in Castles & on Safari! The Wrap! 2/26

[peachmermaid]

There is so much to try in the world showcase! School bread looks yummy but a sweet pretzel with chocolate...it's going to be a tough decision for me. Bummer that both the school bread and the avocado margarita were both kinda meh. I'm surprised that an avocado margarita ended up being sweet. Weird.

We are dining at MP on a Sunday, the 16. I've never dined in France, except the bakery, so I'm super excited!

 

[MrsB1228]

Now you did it!! I had to look up that Verdens Beste and according to this site, it is cake topped with meringue and a layer of custard crème filling. Oh my gosh that sounds awesome! Now I will be on a mission to try that next time.

Wow, that sounds amazing! I think you've found my new must-try snack in WS!

 

[emmysmommy]

There is so much to try in the world showcase! School bread looks yummy but a sweet pretzel with chocolate...it's going to be a tough decision for me. Bummer that both the school bread and the avocado margarita were both kinda meh. I'm surprised that an avocado margarita ended up being sweet. Weird.

We are dining at MP on a Sunday, the 16. I've never dined in France, except the bakery, so I'm super excited!

I asked my Dis friends who had tried the avocado margarita a lot of questions about how it tasted since I couldn't imagine what it would be like. It was so strange to be sweet. It just wasn't for me but there are plenty of other varieties to try.

I hope you enjoy MP!!! And even better that it's for your bday. I hope Philippe works that night!

Wow, that sounds amazing! I think you've found my new must-try snack in WS!

The first one to try this has to report back! Deal?

 

[emmysmommy]

Day 13: Wed. August 28, 2013 – Tony’s Town Square Dinner​

Dinner tonight was at Tony’s Town Square which is not necessarily a must do for the food; however, there is another more salacious reason for selecting this restaurant…. Foodrocksluver knows what I’m talking about when I say that there may or may not be a certain handsome waiter that influenced my selection of this restaurant. And just to be completely above board, my DH has met this server (Mark Anthony) and shared that if he was a chick he’d not mind dropping a glove in his path. (Not sure if the present generation would get the chivalrous intent of that statement but oh well!)

We checked in for our 8:40pm ADR and asked to be seated in said handsome server’s section but alas, his area was full. We were seated for the first time in the solarium room between the porch dining and the main dining room. Right after we were seated who should appear at our table? Mark Anthony was kind enough to come over to say hi!

Photo op!

We just chatted for a minute, appreciating him taking his time to say hi. His son is in the military, same as mine, and he had surprised his dad in the restaurant when he came home on leave recently. That was when Mark's wife Becky was still working at Tony's so they were both overjoyed to tears for that special surprise.

This really is a dining review…. So let’s get back to the food and such.

Menu photos:

I wasn’t really that hungry since the school bread that I had eaten earlier seemed to stick with me. I only ordered the Caesar salad while Em chose the shrimp scampi the same as last visit but requested the scampi sauce on the side. Last time she ordered this dish it was swimming in oil so she was intent on avoiding a repeat of that experience.

We were started with the rolls and olive oil with cracked black pepper. They are not remarkable and I believe are similar to what is served at BoG. We could have skipped them and not felt like we missed anything.

Wishes fireworks started before we received our food and we could see the higher up bursts through the upper windows. Our food arrived mid fireworks show.

Caesar Salad (appetizer): Romaine lettuce tossed in Caesar dressing topped with Romano cheese and Crostini $5.99​

The salad was pretty much like the rolls – unremarkable. Not fabulous but not bad by any means. The Caesar dressing was at least plentiful and the lettuce was crisp and not wilty like it would be if they pre-made the salads. Apparently, the Romano on the top was sufficient because I declined additional grated parmesan cheese.

Better view of the crostini

The crostini on top shouldn’t be confused with a big crouton since a crouton would be so much better. I may be the only one that thinks a crostini is just a stale piece of bread that has been repurposed and paired with a salad.

Shrimp Scampi – Linguine with sun dried tomatoes and asparagus tossed in a garlic sauce ($19.99)

This dish really looked wonderful! There were plenty of shrimp and the sauce on the side was a great call. The pile of grated parmesan added to the top was a nice touch. Em is a huge fan of this dish and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dessert was definitely happening since I have a favorite here. We split the pistachio crème brulee.

Dessert Menu:​

Pistachio Crème Brulee $5.99

I adore this dessert! It is excellent! The little candy brittle basket of pistachios is something that I will fight over. I don’t share that so well since it is the best part of the dessert.

Nearly deserted restaurant photo:

Using our TiW card we saved $6.39.

Next Up: Breakfast that doubles as a snack
​

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm getting caught up! Sorry for me being long-winded. Being gone on vacation will do that to someone.

Wow, that is not a lot of time to eat a meal on the tour, is it? I mean, I wouldn't be worried for myself, since I'm a sprint eater, but others might not be so adept.

I've never tried the lighthouse sandwich, but have wanted to. I just always order the salmon at CHH.

I love eating upstairs there!

I want to do Afternoon Tea with my Mom. We're trying our best to get the Grand Floridian Villas in November, so if the stars align, I think we'll do it.

The kid's tea makes me laugh, because as a child, I always drank tea! Since the age of 4. I wish they had more options for little kids, especially ones who really enjoy tea.

I am definitely a syrup person too, not compote. Nothing against compote, but I just really like syrup. LOL. I'm glad the Wave was a success for you this time.

I am a big sushi lover too, and Tokyo Dining didn't disappoint me on that front. You know who has good sushi on property too? Splitsville. No joke, I at it there and it was so yummy!

Love green tea ice cream!

I adore school bread. My one caveat to that is...if it's no super fresh, it does not live up to the hype. It's got to be well balanced on the inside. Yours didn't have as much filling as I'm used to, and that could be a reason.

I tried the avocado one this last trip, and I didn't love it. I actually do not enjoy the fact that it's blended at all, and was surprised that they did that. I like cucumber much more.

You are not the only one that views crostini that way. Seriously, just give me soft bread. What are you doing trying to pass this table wafer off as bread!

 

[Linda67]

We finally got to try Tony's for the first time on our last trip Brenda. I haven't really read too many good reviews but I really wanted to strike it off the list and give it a go

We had lunch sitting on the patio watching the parade and everything from the service, to the food, to the atmosphere was excellent. It was truly a great meal and I wondered why this place usually gets a bad rap. Perhaps we just got lucky

 

[lizzyb]

I used to love the school bread but unfortunately the last couple of visits it has been underwhelming. Hope they bring it back to what it once was.

 

[nym4588]

So many people rave about school bread that I had to try it. I don't think I would turn it down if someone gave me some but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it either. Maybe I need to try it more than once like you.

Ahhh cardamom... say that out loud three times. I am impressed with your spice knowledge. Henceforth I will call you Spice girl. Now you have me curious. I think I need to go wiki cardamom.

I love that, lol! Now, if I could only stop pounding down the School Bread and similar desserts, I might actually look like this:

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Your reviews of Tony's make me want to try it again. Em's scampi looks so yummy. And Chase has a personal goal of trying crème brulee at every WDW restaurant he can, and he hasn't had pistachio yet. BTW, he still says the best crème brulee he's ever had was at Steakhouse 55.

 

[Couchy]

I am going to have to try Tony's sometime, but that means I have to get DH to agree to enter MK which (gasp) he does not like going into at all

 

[smile4stamps]

I am going to have to try Tony's sometime, but that means I have to get DH to agree to enter MK which (gasp) he does not like going into at all

My hubby doesn't like stepping foot in any park ha-ha!

Maybe we should give Tony's a try for lunch on April 25th?!?

 

[JulieODC]

Ooh, Em's scampi looks delicious!! As does the pistachio crème brulee. We've never eaten at Tony's, but it might be on our list of new places to try in the future!

 

[klacey1]

Great review of Tony's! I'm 100% with you on crostinis. So hard to chew...just yuck! Em's dish looks good, too! I'm thinking making adjustments on the typical order is the key to getting a fresh, good dish.

 

[momtwoboys]

debating trying Tony's too for April! we are eying the shrimp dish and wondering if the steak is decent. May replace a ADR at LTT for Tony's

 

[KatMark]

Brenda, we went to Tony's for lunch during the girls trip. I have to say if I had that waiter, I might have had a different opinion of my lunch.

Seriously, the calamari was good, but my meal itself was not. Mark wants to go sometime again, so I'm thinking calamari and a Ceasars Salad would be my order...I'd be safe.

Love the photo of you and Em with your charming friend. And I certainly understood your reference about dropping a glove in his path.

 

[peachmermaid]

Fun times at Tony's!! That fountain is adorable. The shrimp dish sure looked yummy!

 

[emmysmommy]

I'm getting caught up! Sorry for me being long-winded. Being gone on vacation will do that to someone.

Welcome back Danielle! Darn you are putting me to shame starting your new TR already... AND juggling multiple reports. I need to get this one finished before I start December's... or just ditch it and skip one.

Wow, that is not a lot of time to eat a meal on the tour, is it? I mean, I wouldn't be worried for myself, since I'm a sprint eater, but others might not be so adept.

I'm more of a talker so it tends to be a problem since I talk too much and eat too little!

I've never tried the lighthouse sandwich, but have wanted to. I just always order the salmon at CHH.

I love eating upstairs there!

That salmon is very popular so it must be good. Definitely upstairs is the place to park yourself. By a window preferably.

I want to do Afternoon Tea with my Mom. We're trying our best to get the Grand Floridian Villas in November, so if the stars align, I think we'll do it.

The kid's tea makes me laugh, because as a child, I always drank tea! Since the age of 4. I wish they had more options for little kids, especially ones who really enjoy tea.

If you score a villa there That's my new dream place to try and stay. I'm a cash paying guest which looks to be exempt from discounts so it's a bit pricy.

I can picture you drinking tea as a little girl! Tea and a Dunkin' Donut bagel.

I am definitely a syrup person too, not compote. Nothing against compote, but I just really like syrup. LOL. I'm glad the Wave was a success for you this time.

Yep, syrup.

I am a big sushi lover too, and Tokyo Dining didn't disappoint me on that front. You know who has good sushi on property too? Splitsville. No joke, I at it there and it was so yummy!

Love green tea ice cream!

I suppose we can still be Dis friends even though you eat raw fish. I would probably try green tea ice-cream before I'd try sushi. Yeah, definitely.

I adore school bread. My one caveat to that is...if it's no super fresh, it does not live up to the hype. It's got to be well balanced on the inside. Yours didn't have as much filling as I'm used to, and that could be a reason.

Maybe later in the afternoon it wasn't a fresh school bread. Definitely the cream filing made a big difference. I may have to try it again but that Verdeens Beste is now on my radar.

I tried the avocado one this last trip, and I didn't love it. I actually do not enjoy the fact that it's blended at all, and was surprised that they did that. I like cucumber much more.

I'm assuming the cucumber margarita is not blended. I looked up a recipe for the avocado margarita and if it has midori in it I'm not a fan.

You are not the only one that views crostini that way. Seriously, just give me soft bread. What are you doing trying to pass this table wafer off as bread!

Yeah! Can you imagine if crostini's are really only the stale old bread that someone thought to pawn off on unsuspecting guests and no one said, hey, this sucks!

Glad you are caught up!

We finally got to try Tony's for the first time on our last trip Brenda. I haven't really read too many good reviews but I really wanted to strike it off the list and give it a go

We had lunch sitting on the patio watching the parade and everything from the service, to the food, to the atmosphere was excellent. It was truly a great meal and I wondered why this place usually gets a bad rap. Perhaps we just got lucky

Really, that's great! I'm glad you enjoyed it. You had perfect timing with the parade.

I used to love the school bread but unfortunately the last couple of visits it has been underwhelming. Hope they bring it back to what it once was.

Sounds like school bread may have had it's glory days. I wonder if ordering some first thing when they open makes a difference?

I love that, lol! Now, if I could only stop pounding down the School Bread and similar desserts, I might actually look like this:

That's great! So perfect!

Your reviews of Tony's make me want to try it again. Em's scampi looks so yummy. And Chase has a personal goal of trying crème brulee at every WDW restaurant he can, and he hasn't had pistachio yet. BTW, he still says the best crème brulee he's ever had was at Steakhouse 55.

That pistachio crème brulee was wonderful but I like the candied pistachios just as much.

I've not been to Steakhouse 55 before... hmmmm good crème brulee too!

I am going to have to try Tony's sometime, but that means I have to get DH to agree to enter MK which (gasp) he does not like going into at all

What??? He doesn't like MK. Oh my! I see Paula has a message for you...

My hubby doesn't like stepping foot in any park ha-ha!

Maybe we should give Tony's a try for lunch on April 25th?!?

And I knew that... too bad I'm not there a few days earlier.

Ooh, Em's scampi looks delicious!! As does the pistachio crème brulee. We've never eaten at Tony's, but it might be on our list of new places to try in the future!

Em must really like the scampi since it was a repeat order.

Tony's is such a cute restaurant. We've been fairly luck there in that the food has been decent to good and the servers are friendly.

Great review of Tony's! I'm 100% with you on crostinis. So hard to chew...just yuck! Em's dish looks good, too! I'm thinking making adjustments on the typical order is the key to getting a fresh, good dish.

Thanks Kylie! We had to learn the hard way with the scampi so I guess if you give it a second try the experience should be better if you can control some of the options.

debating trying Tony's too for April! we are eying the shrimp dish and wondering if the steak is decent. May replace a ADR at LTT for Tony's

Ohhh that's a tough one. I personally would stick with LTT but that's only because I will never pass up an opportunity to have some ooey gooey toffee cake. If someone took away my dessert menu and said to choose for the entrees I'd still go with LTT. Good luck with that one.

Brenda, we went to Tony's for lunch during the girls trip. I have to say if I had that waiter, I might have had a different opinion of my lunch.

Seriously, the calamari was good, but my meal itself was not. Mark wants to go sometime again, so I'm thinking calamari and a Ceasars Salad would be my order...I'd be safe.

Love the photo of you and Em with your charming friend. And I certainly understood your reference about dropping a glove in his path.

Yeah, the food may not be amazing but a handsome waiter makes it better!

Thanks Kathy!

Fun times at Tony's!! That fountain is adorable. The shrimp dish sure looked yummy!

If by fun times at Tony's you mean seeing handsome waiters and fireworks entertaining us during dinner through the ceiling then YES. Fun times indeed.

I'm glad they have the fountain as a part of the fabulous theming... much better than fire hydrants being strategically placed.

 

[emmysmommy]

Day 14: Thursday August 29, 2013: Gaston's Tavern & Prairie Outpost Breakfast - of sorts​

There’s really not a dining review here more like just a few photos of some snack case options that served us well for a quick breakfast at MK.

This was the only morning of our 2 week trip for which we had zero breakfast plans. Since it was EMH at MK we had intended to get to MK early which we did. We also had plans to visit Sleepy Hollow and have one of the waffles. However, in reality that morning we were not in the mood and really didn’t agree on what to eat. We decided to go our separate ways since our cravings varied. While Em went to Gaston's Tavern I didn't know what I wanted.

As for Em’s cinnamon roll from Gaston’s Tavern, she didn’t love it. Her comparison is the huge, generously frosted, gooey cinnamon rolls at Disneyland. This apparently feel short of any expectations. She said it had too much cinnamon for her taste and too little frosting.

Cinnamon Roll:

Apple slices with Caramel:

Sorry, I didn’t get a photo of the open container.

Other option at Gaston's Tavern

I ended up in Frontierland and wandered inside the Prairie Outpost. They have a case with all manner of treats from cookies, cake pops, candy, and chocolate covered fruit.

As I texted Barb in the live dining thread, “I went for a healthy option and had oatmeal.” Ok, I lied since it was oats, butter, sugar, and all sorts of wonderful things to make this ever so delicious.

Cookie choices:

Or perhaps a peanut butter cup is more to your liking for breakfast...

I took my cookie over to Pecos Bills and chowed down. Yum!

My choice.... this delicious Oatmeal cookie:

I loved that cookie!! It was chewy and moist - absolutely perfect.

Lesson learned this morning….skip Gaston’s Tavern for breakfast and go get an oatmeal cookie!​

Next Up: Another legendary Disney snack item that will be a first for us... a little something from Aloha Isle

​

 

[emmysmommy]

Day 14: Thursday August 29, 2013 - Dole Whip Yumminess​

While we were still enjoying our morning at MK I felt the need to try another famous Disney treat that had yet to touch my lips.. a Dole Whip.
We walked past Aloha Isle and I figured that now was as good a time as any to try a Dole Whip. This is really an item that should have made my Must Do list.

Choices...

Once at the window I had trouble deciding between a float or just soft serve. I seriously was annoying the CM taking my order since I changed my mind 3 times before finally landing on the pineapple float. Yes, a float. And then he asked with flavor soft serve – vanilla, pineapple or orange. Ahhhhh I don’t know… I didn’t want to fail in making the right choice because what if I chose the wrong one and didn’t like it? It could be the end of my Dole Whip adventures. Ok, we’ll go with vanilla, it sounded fine.

I should have taken a photo while it was sitting there in the take out window because we wanted to enjoy it in the shade so walked over to the tables by Casey’s Corner while it was drip, drip, drip melting along the way.

Melty photo of Pineapple Dole Whip Float:

So what did I think? I LOVED IT!!! Em tried a bite but it wasn’t her thing. To each their own… in this case I own the entire thing. I hadn’t intended to eat this all myself but once I started I couldn’t stop myself. It was very refreshing on a hot day.

The end result:

Next Up: Beaches & Cream Lunch

​

 

[emmysmommy]

Day 14: Thursday August 29, 2013 - Beaches and Cream Lunch​

For lunch we deviated from the “plan” and cancelled our San Angel Inn reservation opting to instead head to YC/BC for Beaches and Cream. Arriving around 2:30pm meant that there was no wait for a table. (Now B&C takes reservations... when we were there they did not offer advance reservations.)

Nobody waiting outside, that was a good sign.

We were seated at one of the tiny 2 top tables that in reality would really be better suited for a single person. However, if you crowd your drink and plate together and then stack your utensils just so you can squeeze it all in.

Cool décor

Menu photos:

Beverages

I ordered from the “hot off the grill...and sizzling with flavor” part of the menu and chose the grilled cheese but substituted fries for the tomato soup. This was a repeat of my order from earlier in the year when we visited in February.

Em chose the cheeseburger with fries.

Once the food arrived Em decided to get artsy with her burger. Mustard and ketchup were the media for her artwork. Apparently the burger tasted as good as it looked.

Angus Beef Burger served with Cheddar, lettuce, and tomato, on a fresh baked bun ($13.99)​

Burger after the artwork:

As for the grilled cheese, I didn’t really like it this time which was a complete surprise since it was fabulous in February. I don’t think they changed the cheese but whatever it was I wasn’t a fan. The cheese tasted too funky for me. I had a little of Em’s burger while she ate the rest of my sandwich. Problem solved – just switch plates! I made a note that the fries could have been hotter/fresher.

Grilled Cheese: Six cheese blend on brioche bread substituting fries for tomato soup($8.99)

For dessert, Em ordered a hot fudge sundae. I don’t really eat ice-cream but I pilfered a few spoons of the hot fudge. Go figure since I usually don’t eat chocolate.

Hot Fudge Sundae ($5.99)​

Interestingly, when I looked at my receipt the burger was only $12.99, not $13.99. Using our TiW card we saved $6.79.

Next Up: Crews Cup Lounge dinner
​