Hurricanes & sickness can not hold us back from Free Dining! Pics Sept 15-20

[plutosgirl]

Hi All~

It's been a few years since our last trip and review. This trip it was just me the Pluto Lover (Christie) & my youngest (Devie). Here we are...





This was the first time we have gone in September and will probably be our last September trip! We may be spoiled because our past trips were at the end of October or beginning of November and we always had beautiful dry sunny cool weather. This trip since it was hurricane season it was a trip of total downpours and rain showers and when the sun made an occasional appearance it was HOT & MUGGY!! The morning we landed Devie was as sick as a dog...worst cold ever. Apparently she was not the only one because everyone around us was sniffling, sneezing and coughing and all the resort shops were down to the last box or bottle of this or that type of medicine. Luckily we were able to score a small box of Nyquil (for the bargain price of $13.95!!) which helped her tremendously by the third day. Sick or not she was a trooper and it didn't stop of us from having a fun trip with lots of GREAT food! Break out the ponchos and let's eat!

We had a few GREAT meals with a SUPER wonderful experience with Chef Jerry at "Be Our Guest" for dinner...but more on that later!

Here's the places we will be posting about:

Be Our Guest - Lunch
Ohana's - Dinner
Garden Grill - Dinner
Chefs De France - Lunch
Ragland Road - Dinner
Tusker House - Breakfast
Be Our Guest - Dinner
Captain's Grill - Lunch
And of course various snacks and goodies along the way!

 

[plutosgirl]

So we landed bright and early on Tuesday morning and we stayed at the All-Star Sports resort. I received a txt message from Disney the moment we landed that our room was ready at 8:30am! This was great news so we could unload and head to the Magic Kingdom and our first Disney Meal. Ponchos on and off we go....

Let me start by saying I'm not sure what happened at Be Our Guest but just a heads up...you cannot check in any earlier than 10 minutes before your ADR time. We were there 12 minutes early and stood in line to be told we couldn't check in yet and return to the back of the line along with 50% of the other guests trying to check in. This was not putting us in a happy place considering it was raining and we had to wait. Once we checked in they then put us in this HUGE line over the drawbridge where we stood with 100 other disgruntled hungry wet people. Apparently they had a problem with the ordering computers and so there we all stood for over 40 minutes! Finally they let us in and we got to order our lunch.

We went right to the West Wing but not a seat was to be had to we ended up in the East Wing. Then we waited and waited...as every cart came out with food we were like....please, please, please let this be ours. My daughter went up to get her fruit punch drink and the machine was empty while we waited so she went to the main dining room...empty again and no one around to fill it so she got water. After all this we were hoping the food was at least okay. Well it finally arrived and we have to say...IT WAS DELISH! (Thank goodness)

I had the glorified Grilled Cheese and can I just say it was the best grilled cheese ever! (and the fries were good too!



Devie had the Roasted Turkey Sandwich and that was REALLY good too! Loved that it was sliced fresh turkey rather than lunch meat type turkey.



I really planned on trying the Grey Stuff but changed my mind at the last second to the Strawberry cupcake and it was a great decision!


Dev loves chocolate mousse so she went with the choc cream puff. This was good but could have used more of the mousse inside.


My thoughts on this...not crazy about the way it is set up to run for the Counter Service meal but the food was great and it was nice to sit and regroup. (and dry off lol) Later we will talk about the Table Service dinner here....that was a competely different experience!

 

[momabbate]

Hi Christie, Sorry you didn't care for Sept for trip time. I have only been twice and both times in Sept the third week. Weather has always been ok for us. Hope to follow your trip report. I love mother, daughter trips.

 

[plutosgirl]

We were very excited to be able to score an Ohana's ADR for our first night. (This and the Garden Grill were the two places my daughter requested and luckily we got both)

We were seated at the perfect table...we've never been seated near the window before. It was lovely!

Can't remember what this drink was called but it was tropical and delightful!


Dev went with the Pina Colada (virgin of course!)


Now onto the food...everything was great. Since I have a food allergy to Paprika the chef made us a HUGE bowl of all the meats in a wonderful light lemon type broth. I have to say the steak was the best I had the whole trip.








And of course to finish it all off....


All and all we were pleased but surprised that this did not rate in the Top 4 of this trip which just tells you how good EVERY meal was this trip!

 

[plutosgirl]

GARDEN GRILL TIME!

Let's just say that this meal was AMAZING. There service from Kurt was awesome and Chip was the best character interaction we had the whole trip. He fixed himself up when he saw us two ladies at the table and then he and Dev did some "Model Walking" and then would turn and strike a pose. Chip was a sassy boy and we loved him almost as much as the food!



I really cannot say enough about how every single thing we ate her was TERRIFIC!! Loved that you could get a bottle of sparkling water as your drinks on the meal plan. This was a nice touch and the restaurant was quiet and enjoyable as it turned around. We also loved that most of this is grown right in Disney and the food that isn't eaten is actually recycled to generate power for the parks.

Onto the food pictures!

Salad was so great!


I'm embarrassed to tell you how many of these rolls with the salted butter we actually ate! LOL


The main course was fantastic....could have just kept eating that stuffing! Mmmm Mmmmm...



And as if that wasn't enough...more side dishes. These sweet potato fries were so good and tasted like they had a dusting of cinnamon on them. Yum!



Our table was almost not big enough for the food!


And if that wasn't enough...DESSERT!! They found out Dev can't have strawberries which are in the crisp so they brought out some extra desserts to choose from. Holy Moly!


All in all this whole meal was a 10! We love it!

 

[plutosgirl]

And just for fun....

A few snacks & some Wishes!


Goodies from "France"



Breakfast of Champions from the All Star Sport Food Court



This makes me cry EVERY single time! Wishes Love...

 

[plutosgirl]

Next up we had breakfast at the Tusker House. This is a great meal and we love getting into AK before it opens. When we finished breakfast we love that we are right near the Safari and by the time we got over there and on the safari truck it started to POUR! This was good and bad...we were wet but the animals were frisky. Even the giraffes were just hanging out in front of our truck so we couldn't move. It was so cool. Not many pictures from here as we were really busy eating! LOL


Right before the rain!


Plates of breakfast goodness!


The buffet area....so many choices!!








We normally do a lot more breakfasts but for some reason this trip this was the only one we did. I think we were just to full every morning from the big dinner the night before! LOL

 

[plutosgirl]

My long time best friend that lives in Florida now (lucky dog) came up to spend a day with us in Epcot. We actually got some sun this day and we enjoyed a great lunch at Chefs de France. Devie is in her 5th year of taking French at school and we ended up with this cute waiter named Stephan who though Dev was adorable with her american accented French. He really took the time to talk to her in French and the food was great. Only got a picture of my lunch (yet another grilled cheese but this time with salad...like that's going to help my diet at this point LOL and the dessert that we all split).

Me and my BFF...

 

[plutosgirl]

Sometimes you just need a snack break!






And gotta have one of these babies!

 

[plutosgirl]

It's a RAGLAN ROAD sort of night...

So we headed off to Downtown Disney and dinner. This food is so SUPER but of course being the weekend it was a very loud and crowded restaurant with all kinds of entertainment going on while we ate. If you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner Friday nights are not the time to go! LOL

We started with the Fried Scallops which where YUMMY!


I LOVE their Salmon so that is what I ordered and it did not disappoint!


Dev had the Chicken Pot Pie which she said was her favorite meal of the trip.


And then of course dessert....
Ger's Bread & Butter Pudding



Granny Dundon's Famous Steamed Orange Pudding


It was fantastic!! Never been disappointed here!!

 

[plutosgirl]

We were happy to have a little sun even if it was humid and muggy. So we headed back to the Magic Kingdom and a little lunch at the Columbia Harbor House. Always love this place. We take our food up to the second floor and get a table by the window and watch the people go by and relax.

The Monorail....well just because...it's the Monorail!


Lunch...Shrimp, Fish & Chicken. The Peach Cobbler was to die for! Warm and yummy!


And a little after snack. Hello MR DOLE WHIP oh how I have missed you!

 

[plutosgirl]

OKAY>>> Now onto our most memorable meal of the trip. So the night before I'm sitting in our room checking our ADRs since the next night would be our last Disney Dinner I had booked the 1900 Park Fare but all of the sudden BE OUR GUEST popped up with an available reservation so I changed at the last minute and what a spectacular change it was!!

We head over to BOG the next night after some park time and checking in was much more organized than the lunch was. The hostess takes us in and right to the WEST WING!! YES!!! I have a nice glass of wine and explain to the waitress my paprika allergy. She says I should be fine with the Shrimp and Scallop pastry puff. Well our meals come out and I can tell before she even puts it down that there is my old friend paprika in it so ask if she can double check for me. Out comes the nicest chef we've ever met in Disney...Chef Jerry. He explains that the lobster sauce does have the "P" word in it and asks what else he can get for me. He suggest the pork chop and says I won't be disappointed. I don't normally order pork out but I agree. They take away my puff (but I did get a picture for you all LOL). So Dev starts eating her layered ratatouille. The chef then brings out the best pork chop I have ever had...so thick and juicy. He then tells me he roasted me asparagus to go with it because the veggies had a seasoning also and it came with a puff thing which I wasn't sure of what it was until I broke into it and found out it was like a Mac & Cheese Souffle! (Heaven!) I told Chef that we love asparagus so he sends the waitress out with another whole plate of it for us! Score!!

Devie's favorite food happens to be Mac & Cheese so I gave her part of mine and when the Chef came out yet again to see how we liked everything he saw she had some and she told him how good it was....yep, out he comes and breezes by the table without saying a word and drops off another Mac & Cheese Souffle just for her! He was so nice, fun and knowledgeable that we sent a nice note to Disney about him and they said they will be awarding him for making our night so magical!

Okay enough of the chatting...let's get to the pictures!


The Castle




Yum....more bread! (My diet divorced me! lol)



The yummy looking dinner I couldn't eat...damn you paprika!


Dev's dinner


My new and improved non-paprika dinner!


You like asparagus...have some more!


So you like Mac & Cheese...here's another! LOL (she looks happy!)


And then dessert....this time we did do the Grey Stuff!



After filling ourselves we got in line to see the Beast on the way out and honestly there was only 5 people in line in front of us but we were so full that neither of us could just stand there so we bolted to start walking off the lumps of mac&cheese in our belly but we snapped this picture on the way out. I still can't believe we had to pass on the Beast picture! LOL



This was definitely our most memorable meal of the trip and we will be trying to do this one again next June while we are there!

 

[plutosgirl]

So that brings us to our last day....it goes by so fast! Off to Epcot we go (because it's our favorite). We grabbed a few breakfast treats at Sunshine Station and then later on take the boat over to the Yacht Club for lunch at the Captains Grille. This was so good and quiet and relaxing that I plan on trying dinner there with the hubby next year when we go to see Dev sing in Epcot with her school chorus group. (Love that we have another reason to go back!)

Final day and the Sun comes out!


Sunshine Station treats


Blue skies and the Captains Grille



Strawberry Lemonade....this was so good!


The chef there said he would make me a fresh lobster for my lobster roll because there is that dreaded Paprika in there yet again. Well this lobster must have been HUGE because there was so many big chunks of delectable lobster that I could barely finish it!


Dessert....MMMMmmmm Gelato and a Smores Tart

 

[plutosgirl]

So that is our trip! Now I can start planning the next. We had a great time and great food.....rain, ponchos, illness was not going to hold us back!

Here is my biggest tip if you do the dining plan. We never seem to use all of our credits. You can get 3 snacks for 1 counter service credit so the last day we are there we get a collectible bucket of popcorn with the lid. We of course eat the popcorn and then before we board the magical express we buy all kinds of pastries with our leftover credits and layer them with the waxed paper sheets to bring home and freeze. That way we have a little Disney treat when we are missing Mickey.

So now back on the diet until the next time! LOL



Thanks for reading!! Hope you enjoyed it! Have a Magical Day!

 

[Vernie822]

Love it! Thanks for the reviews. Usually Ohana is one of our best meals, and how crazy that even though it was great, your other meals were that good!!

I had the same dish at Be Our Guest (the pork chop) and I thought it was amazing.. how lovely that the chef brought Dev her own mac and cheese!

All of your meals look delicious!!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

FANTASTIC REPORTS thanks for reviewing

 

[plutosgirl]

Hi Christie, Sorry you didn't care for Sept for trip time. I have only been twice and both times in Sept the third week. Weather has always been ok for us. Hope to follow your trip report. I love mother, daughter trips.

Thanks! Glad Sept was good for you...it didn't stop us from having fun but will probably avoid Sept next time if we can. And you are right....love Mother Daughter trips!

 

[plutosgirl]

Love it! Thanks for the reviews. Usually Ohana is one of our best meals, and how crazy that even though it was great, your other meals were that good!!

I had the same dish at Be Our Guest (the pork chop) and I thought it was amazing.. how lovely that the chef brought Dev her own mac and cheese!

All of your meals look delicious!!

Thanks so much! Loved that pork chop so much...never would have ordered it on my own! LOL

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Loved your reviews. BoG was one of our most disappointing WDW meals a few years back. Your review is helping to push me into trying it again.

Thanks for posting!

 

[KarenP]

I so enjoyed your reviews!! Thanks so much for sharing! I am definitely going to eat at Garden Grill my next trip. I loved BOG for lunch and I am going to be sure to give dinner a try next time.