EAT ALL THE THINGS!!! Early December 2015 WDW visit - Updated 4/3 Trader Sam's & Olivia's Cafe

dmc6469 · Jul 30, 2015

We are highly excited and cannot wait. I have all my friends say that they want my sister to take my photo when I first see the castle since they are saying I will be amazed in comparison to the DL one LOL

Since you offered about restaurants, I will take you up on that J We aren’t really keen on dining at MK and only doing BOG there and the other meals will be just counter service but Epcot is what we are really looking forward to. We are dong 2 days there but with the 3 of us we all want to do so many restaurants that of course it’s impossible. I want to do ones that you can’t do anywhere else (my sister wants a Japanese place..I feel we can go to a hibachi place here so not keen but…) And one night for dinner I really want to ‘eat/drink around the world’ but who knows if I will win out compared to sit down places.

Here is what we have reservations for or contemplating. LMK your views on them and thanks!

Biergarten (lunch ADR..I want more of the atmosphere but sister doesn’t care for German food)

San Angel Inn (lunch ADR but heard the food isn’t the best..now worried)

Via Napoli (have lunch and dinner ADR…haven’t decided which to use if any)

Restaurant Marrakesh (sister wants, I’m not crazy about the food)

Teppan Edo (sister wants, I feel we can do this place at home)

I’ll take whatever you can give on your reviews of those.

Axelrodb1 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
San Angel Inn (lunch ADR but heard the food isn’t the best..now worried)
I’ll take whatever you can give on your reviews of those.

I had to chime in on this one, we ate here twice, very excited both times, I love Mexican food and I love the look of this restaurant, both times I was horribly disappointed. There are many fantastic and wonderful places to eat in Epcot.. just my opinion but there are much better places then San Angel Inn.

dmc6469 · Jul 30, 2015

Axelrodb1 said:
I had to chime in on this one, we ate here twice, very excited both times, I love Mexican food and I love the look of this restaurant, both times I was horribly disappointed. There are many fantastic and wonderful places to eat in Epcot.. just my opinion but there are much better places then San Angel Inn.

Please please chime in! Thank you. See, that's what I've heard, that it isn't that good. And I'm one who LOVES Mexican food: I can eat it 24/7. And San Angel Inn isn't the most cost worthy place to spend $$ and be disappointed. Thank you for your input!

Axelrodb1 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
I'm one who LOVES Mexican food: I can eat it 24/7.

As a fellow Mexican food fan (hands down my favorite!!) I was not impressed... and on vacation I like to leave every meal thinking WOW and it was more of an "eh" feeling!

twinkybel81 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
Biergarten (lunch ADR..I want more of the atmosphere but sister doesn’t care for German food)

We love Biergarten!!! Food is tasty with lots of variety (including some more basic, not so German options) and we love the atmosphere. The musical acts are fun and you get to do the chicken dance, and who doesn't love to do that whilst eating and drinking German?!

dmc6469 said:
San Angel Inn (lunch ADR but heard the food isn’t the best..now worried)

We haven't eaten here, but I've read numerous reviews that the food just isn't that great as well (and I'm another Mexican food lover, I'd eat it every day if I could!)

dmc6469 said:
Via Napoli (have lunch and dinner ADR…haven’t decided which to use if any)

We did lunch here last fall and it was wonderful! It is a very loud restaurant, but the food is great! I had a pasta dish (don't remember which at this point) which was tasty and the perfect portion size. Other members of my party had a few different varieties of pizza which were all tremendous. The arancini appetizer was tasty, but wished there was one more ball. The deep fried ricotta donuts were to die for (going to try and incorporate them into our wedding next year)! Can't wait to go back!

dmc6469 said:
Restaurant Marrakesh (sister wants, I’m not crazy about the food)

Ate here 3 years ago and I don't remember much about the food, which means it wasn't bad, but nothing noteworthy either. I do remember the portion sizes were generous and the cocktails were tasty.

dmc6469 said:
Teppan Edo (sister wants, I feel we can do this place at home)

We haven't eaten here yet either, this December will be our first visit, so I can't give you any opinion on it, sorry. The only thing I will ask is that while you can do a hibachi restaurant at home, will you actually go? I know for us, it's a lot less likely that we would go when not on vacation.

Hope my answers help at least a little bit!

twinkybel81 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
We are highly excited and cannot wait. I have all my friends say that they want my sister to take my photo when I first see the castle since they are saying I will be amazed in comparison to the DL one LOL

Since you offered about restaurants, I will take you up on that J We aren’t really keen on dining at MK and only doing BOG there and the other meals will be just counter service but Epcot is what we are really looking forward to. We are dong 2 days there but with the 3 of us we all want to do so many restaurants that of course it’s impossible. I want to do ones that you can’t do anywhere else (my sister wants a Japanese place..I feel we can go to a hibachi place here so not keen but…) And one night for dinner I really want to ‘eat/drink around the world’ but who knows if I will win out compared to sit down places.

Here is what we have reservations for or contemplating. LMK your views on them and thanks!

Biergarten (lunch ADR..I want more of the atmosphere but sister doesn’t care for German food)

San Angel Inn (lunch ADR but heard the food isn’t the best..now worried)

Via Napoli (have lunch and dinner ADR…haven’t decided which to use if any)

Restaurant Marrakesh (sister wants, I’m not crazy about the food)

Teppan Edo (sister wants, I feel we can do this place at home)

I’ll take whatever you can give on your reviews of those.

If you want to eat and/or drink around the world, you I would suggest you dedicate several hours (starting before lunch and going into the evening), it isn't really feasible to do it in one meal, at least not if you are trying to hit all/several of the countries.

Have you considered any DTD meals at all?

dmc6469 · Jul 30, 2015

twinkybel81 said:
If you want to eat and/or drink around the world, you I would suggest you dedicate several hours (starting before lunch and going into the evening), it isn't really feasible to do it in one meal, at least not if you are trying to hit all/several of the countries.

Have you considered any DTD meals at all?

dmc6469 · Jul 30, 2015

twinkybel81 said:
Have you considered any DTD meals at all?

We haven't. We've looked around but nothing we really care to head up. We're going there on our last night so we planned on BBQing at the timeshare then heading over there afterwards to shop and walk around

dmc6469 · Jul 30, 2015

twinkybel81 said:
Hope my answers help at least a little bit!

Oh they have!! I spoke with my sister and we've gone with a lot of your suggestions. San Angel Inn is getting cancelled, she didn't know the Biergarten was a buffet and after reading more she now is excited to go. THanks!

Gilrond · Jul 30, 2015

nco91590 said:
LOL! My husband thinks I'm crazy for already picking out my entrees! I'm glad I'm not the only one out there. Although my trip isn't until February!

I love doing that: I call it "the menu game" - not a very inspired title but lots of fun to do.

twinkybel81 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
We haven't. We've looked around but nothing we really care to head up. We're going there on our last night so we planned on BBQing at the timeshare then heading over there afterwards to shop and walk around

Fair enough. If you change your mind, I highly recommend Raglan Road for a TS meal or Cooke's of Dublin for a QS meal. Cooke's has battered, deep-fried burgers that are insane and a vintage cheese & bacon dip that is to die for!!! (We each have to get our own dip because we refuse to share

)

twinkybel81 · Jul 30, 2015

dmc6469 said:
Oh they have!! I spoke with my sister and we've gone with a lot of your suggestions. San Angel Inn is getting cancelled, she didn't know the Biergarten was a buffet and after reading more she now is excited to go. THanks!

dmc6469 · Jul 31, 2015

twinkybel81 said:
a vintage cheese & bacon dip that is to die for!!! (We each have to get our own dip because we refuse to share )

OMG! That alone sounds amazing. Ok, might have to rethink that meal

twinkybel81 · Aug 3, 2015

Does anyone know if you can request white or brown rice at Teppan Edo instead of the beef rice? Thanks!

twinkybel81 · Aug 21, 2015

Just edited the original post for the changes that have been made so far. The changes are the teal colored font. Happy reading!

Vernie822 · Aug 28, 2015

Hi twinkybel! We will be at WDW in November. I've contemplated doing a PTR myself because I am just so darn excited!!! Lol. All of your meals sound delicious. I'm guilty of picking out all of my meals beforehand too.

twinkybel81 said:
We are waffling between doing the DDP for the SSR reservation and the DDxDP for the AKL reservation or just doing DDxDP for both. Luckily, we have time to decide and already have all the ADRs we want no matter which direction we decide to go in.

I've thought about this as well. We are renting DVC points, 3 nights at AKL and 3 at Polynesian Villas.. but I don't know if I can justify the cost especially since we'll be doing Food and Wine for a few days. It sure is tempting, though.

twinkybel81 said:
Cooke's of Dublin:
-vintage Irish cheddar dip (to dip the corn dog in ..... I discovered this combo last year and I can't begin to tell you how decadent it is!!)

Um, cheddar dip! SIGN ME UP! I have never been to Cooke's, but I love fish and chips so maybe we'll have to try.

twinkybel81 said:
Artist Point:
App: Artisanal cheese platter (my tradition at signature meals)
Entree: either the Buffalo Strip Loin - Buffalo Sausage, Macaroni & Cheese, Romanesca, crispy Shallots, Black Currant Demi or the Berkshire Pork Tenderloin
Goat Cheese Polenta, Baby Carrots, Favas, Masumoto Peaches, Stone Fruit
Dessert: either the Warm House-made Donuts- Cinnamon-Sugar, Nutella® Ganache, Marionberry Jam or the Strawberry Chèvre Cheesecake - Wild Berries, Whipped Panna Cotta, Marcona Almonds, Blooms

Artist Point has been on my list of places to try for awhile now. I haven't done it yet because we usually only do one signature a trip.. but everything here sounds so good! I've had my eye on the cobbler and the portobello soup.

twinkybel81 said:
Trail's End:
App: Smoked Cheese-stuffed Jalapeño - wrapped in Country Bacon with Peach-Pepper Jelly (this right here is pretty much the entire reason I want to eat lunch here)
Entree: most likely the Chicken and Waffles - Fried Chicken Fillets and Buttermilk Waffles with Warm Buttered Rosemary-Maple Syrup, but possibly the Spicy Shrimp and Grits - with Andouille Sausage and Red-Eye Gravy
Dessert: Warm Sticky Bun Sundae - A warm Pecan Sticky Bun layered with Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Whipped Cream (the other major draw for eating lunch here)

Chicken and Waffles..... that sounds amazing. We live in PA and I have only ever seen that on the menu one time! But shrimp and grits is also always a great choice.. I saw it on someone's dining report recently and thought it looked delicious. I think I may need to go to Trail's End for the sundae alone.

twinkybel81 said:
Landscape of American Flavors:
Entree: Pierogies and Kielbasa Sausage - Tandoor Oven Kielbasa with Cabbage, Sweet Red and Green Peppers, Onion, and Pierogies with Stone Ground Mustard Sauce
Dessert: TBD

That sounds so good! I must have missed that when we went to Landscape of Flavors. I had the Surf and Surf Burger there and it was awesome. We tacked on 2 days at the beginning of our trip at Pop so I'll definitely have to make my way over there.

twinkybel81 said:
Yak & Yeti Restaurant (if we make it there):
App: Thai Chili Chicken Wings - Fried chicken wings tossed in a sweet Thai chili sauce, spicy Asian pickled cucumbers
Entree: Chicken Tikka Masala - Boneless chicken breast marinated in yogurt and freshly ground herbs cooked in a traditional Masala sauce, jasmine rice, garlic naan bread
Dessert: Fried Wontons - Skewers of fresh pineapple and cream cheese wontons, vanilla ice cream, honey-vanilla drizzle
Beverage: Pink Himalayan - Tanqueray, Gin, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, Passion Fruit and Lemon Grass Flavors, Salt Rim

Yak and Yeti was awesome last time we went! I love Tusker House too and couldn't choose between both of them but we ended up going with Yak and Yeti for this trip. I'll have to try the fried wontons.. sounds amazing. The ahi tuna nachos are to die for.

twinkybel81 said:
Sanaa:
App: Indian Bread Service
Entree: Potjie Inspired with the Paneer Tikka, Lentil Dhal, and Five-Grain Pilaf
Dessert: it'll be a toss up between the Shahi Tukra - Indian-style Bread Pudding and Chile Vanilla Sauce or the Stone Fruit Samosa - Cardamon-scented with Seasonal Dipping Sauce

Ooooh that bread service!! We are trying Sanaa this time too and that's pretty much the reason I'm going there, haha.

You have a great lineup of restaurants!!

twinkybel81 · Aug 28, 2015

Vernie822 said:
I'm guilty of picking out all of my meals beforehand too.

Because I'm not a picky eater, I can look at a menu for a REALLY long time and still be indecisive, so it's better if I have an idea of what I want before hand (and my husband appreciates me not taking forever to choose :rolleyes:

)

Have a great trip in November! I realized this morning (thanks to my handy countdown app) that we are officially in double digit countdown for this trip!!! :jumping1:

twinkybel81 · Aug 30, 2015

So in looking at the whole of my meal choices, I've decided to make a few changes to keep things closer to the balance of foods I typically try to eat, so that I don't completely throw my system out of whack by the end of vacation. I'll still have plenty of treats and there were some meals where I wasn't willing to choose a healthier (for me) balance of foods, it is vacation after all. :thumbsup2

The changes are highlighted in blue in post #12, if you want to check them out!

twinkybel81 · Sep 21, 2015

Original post has been edited and updated with the minor changes that have taken place over the last month are so. All updates are highlighted in fuschia. Enjoy!

jesswindsor · Sep 21, 2015

You have some great choices, I'm looking forward to reading your reviews!!

EAT ALL THE THINGS!!! Early December 2015 WDW visit - Updated 4/3 Trader Sam's & Olivia's Cafe

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