I don’t *like* food; I Love it – A Solo August 2015 Dining Report - 10/20 COMPLETE
- Thread starter SnowWhiteOz
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Thanks for taking us along with you on your vaca, loving it! Also, thanks for the Uber tip, would never consider it here at home but does sound like a good idea for getting between parks, if I ever needed to, which isn't likely
You're welcome
Thank you! And I can't recommend Uber highly enough (maybe I should ask for a free ride with all the plugs I'm giving them
)I'm really enjoying your reviews and love your scoring system
Thanks!
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Lard Lad Donuts
Order: D’oh-nut (Pink)
Order: D’oh-nut (Pink)
After dinner I think the effects of the heat and constant running around were starting to get to me because I was tired and didn’t feel like doing anything. The only things I had yet to ride still had a combined wait of almost three hours (Minions and Rip Ride Rockit) and I just didn’t feel like standing out in the heat for that long. So I prepared to leave Universal for a resort evening instead.
But there was just one thing I had to do first, and of course, it was food related. I wasn’t hungry at all at that point but there was something I really wanted to try and I figured I could take it back to the hotel. So I walked back round to Springfield USA and lined up at Lard Lad Donuts.
Now I can eat a lot but there was no way I could eat one of the famous Big Pinks by myself – I mean these things are truly massive and I don’t think these pics do it justice. Definitely one to share with the family if you’re ever there.
Instead I went for the more normal sized pink donut for $2.29+tax.
I packed up my purchase and headed out of the park and into a waiting Uber and I was soon on my way. It was peak hour but it really only added about 5 minutes and $1 onto the trip.
Once back at the hotel the plan was to try and fit in a swim for the first time but of course Florida weather did not want to cooperate – as soon as I got back the heavens opened.
So instead I went back to my room and tucked into this donut.
It was really good – a nice sticky icing and a super fluffy donut. It was definitely worth the wait and I would get it again, no questions asked.
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Everything Pop
Order:Gravy Fries
Order:Gravy Fries
This is the one review I have really been dreading writing. I was going to try to follow Thumper’s advice and say nothing if I’ve got nothing nice to say, but in this case I think if the saying something not nice acts as warning for others it is worth saying. In saying that, this of course was a one off experience and yours may be different but all I can talk about is what I experienced.
After having a really early dinner and after a few hours relaxing in the room watching some TV, I started to get a little peckish. It was still raining at this point (around 8pm I believe) so I put on my poncho and trekked up to the Everything Pop food court for a snack.
I’d read a review on the Disney Food Blog that thoroughly recommended the gravy fries so that’s what I decided to get. (Note this image is from their website)
Fries are my favourite food group ( I even have these up on my desk at work).
And there is nothing better than gravy so I thought it would be a great choice. Unfortunately I think the rainy conditions meant everyone decided to eat in the food court that night. The lines were long. It took about 10 minutes to order and another 5 to get the food. Now this would have been fine if it were not for the additional 10 minute wait to pay. By the time I got to a table to eat the fries were no longer hot and the gravy had considerably thickened.
I would have been willing to overlook this if the flavour was still there but these were awful. The chips, while thin, were very floury and the gravy tasted like someone added a whole tub a salt and a whole tub of pepper and that was it. It was seriously all you could taste and not in a pleasant way. I ate a few of the chips, seeing as I had just paid $3.79+tax for them but most ended up in the bin. (I unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, don't have pictures as I made the dash over in the rain and didn't take my camera!)
Look, although this meal was terrible, I wouldn’t write off Everything Pop completely (in fact I went back for dessert the next day). I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt but, for me, I would only eat a full meal there again under similar circumstances (stuck because of weather and nowhere else to go).
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
And that was a good pic of the fries - mine looked so much worse than that!
But stayed tuned because the bakery case offered up much better options
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- Joined
- Oct 16, 2007
And that was a good pic of the fries - mine looked so much worse than that!
But stayed tuned because the bakery case offered up much better options
I am a fan of that cheesecake there that is all colorful.
SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Fire Eater’s Grill
Order: Fiery Hot Chicken Stingers with Fries
Order: Fiery Hot Chicken Stingers with Fries
Day three in Florida began with another Uber across to Universal although this time I would be starting in Islands of Adventure. I was at the front of the queue for rope drop and managed to ride nearly all the rides in Marvel Island, Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park by lunchtime.
So after all that I had managed to build up quite an appetite and headed towards my chosen lunch destination – Fire Eater’s Grill. I love spicy foods so the fiery hot chicken stingers ($9.39+tax) were calling my name. There was only one person in the queue in front of me and it took less than 1 minute from ordering until I had my food.
I took the food over to one of the tables with umbrellas across the walkway to get out of the scorching heat and dug in. These were pretty good. The sauce was clearly Frank’s Red Hot, which I enjoy, and the five chicken fingers were tasty, if not a little overcooked. They had a nice breading and were breast meat which is always a plus. The fingers were served with French fries, carrot sticks, celery and a packet of ranch sauce which tied it all together.
Overall it was a good lunch and I’d happily order from there again.
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jesswindsor
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
Nice reviews so far!!
SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Landscape of Flavours
Order: Caprese Sandwich with Chips
Order: Caprese Sandwich with Chips
My original plan for dinner this day was to eat at the Three Broomsticks at IOA but after finishing up everything I wanted to do at the park by about 4pm I decided that instead of hanging around for another few hours filling in time just to eat there I would instead head back to the hotel for a rest afternoon.
The plan was to spend the evening relaxing by the pool after being rained out the day before. This time I managed to make it into my swimsuit and to about three steps away from the edge of the pool when there was a crack of thunder and the pool was closed. I made it back up to my room just as the rain began. I filled in a few hours watching TV and writing up my notes while waiting for the rain to stop.
At about 6:00 it did so I finally managed to get a swim in after three days of trying! After swimming, showering and getting changed it was almost 7:30 and I was starving. I decided to walk across to Art of Animation as I’d heard good things about their food court – Landscape of Flavours.
The atmosphere here was no different from Everything Pop in that it was a big noisy food court but they seemed to have a slightly more upscale or adventurous menu.
I decided to go with the Caprese Sandwich. As per their menu this is described as Vine-Ripened Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil Leaves, and Balsamic Drizzle on Ciabatta with House-Made Chips or Coleslaw. I’m not a coleslaw fan so went with the house-made chips. This was on the pricey side for a sandwich at $9.49+tax.
As this was pre-made I got my meal very quickly (although I did see the hand-made chips come straight out of the fryer so they were very fresh!). I lined up to pay and then found myself a table. This was a pretty decent meal. The sandwich filling was tasty (I mean you can’t really get mozzarella and tomato wrong) but it was very heavy on the bread (like 80% of the sandwich was bread). The hand-made chips were delicious and if I had to hazard a guess I would say that they had some sort of paprika-based flavour sprinkled on them.
The sandwich was big enough for two and I took half back with me to my room with the intention of eating it at a later point in time (this never happened but it was there if I had wanted it!).
Overall I was happy with my meal from Landscape of Flavours, and would definitely go back (which is not something I can say about the Everything Pop food court). The menu was varied enough that you wouldn’t get bored and it seemed to cater to all tastes (i.e. it wasn’t just burgers, hot dogs or chicken nuggets!)
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Clearly we need to start a chip fan club on here!
That sandwich looks delicious. I love those homemade chips! When we stay Club Level they have them out all day and I swear I could make a meal out of them
I'd love to stay Club Level but could not justify it travelling by myself - but if they have the chips all day maybe I can swing it
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Everything Pop
Order: King Cupcake
Order: King Cupcake
After making my way back across the lake from Art of Animation I headed into the place that just last night I swore I wouldn’t go back to, Everything Pop. But this was going to be different as I wasn’t going to be getting a meal – just dessert.
Now I had read all about the King Cupcake before going and was dying to try it. It sounded like all my favourite flavours in one cupcake. It is described as a chocolate cupcake filled with banana custard, peanut butter icing, topped with candied bacon and drizzled with chocolate. I mean how can you possibly say no to that???
I grabbed one out of the bakery case and willing handed over my $4.19+tax. I then took this back to the room to eat a little later on.
It managed to sit on the table in the room for a whole hour before it was devoured.
This cupcake is amazing. The chocolate cake itself tastes like standard Betty Crocker cake mix, but it is all the additions that make it incredible. The banana custard was light and had a nice strong banana flavour. The peanut butter frosting was smooth and not to thick (it didn’t stick to the roof of your mouth) and had an intense peanut butter flavour. I could honestly eat a whole tub of the frosting. And to top if all of there was the candied bacon pieces and dark chocolate drizzle (as well as a music themed chocolate decoration).
I seriously cannot recommend this cupcake highly enough. I had said I was going to only eat half and save the rest for later. Nope! It all went and it all went quickly. I had to stop myself from getting another one during my stay! My only criticism would be the price – it is definitely on the pricey side for a cupcake (although in line with Disneyworld standards).
So Everything Pop redeemed itself just as quickly as it shamed itself the night before. With a 50 per cent success rate I would definitely recommend it for desserts.
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keahgirl8
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2005
Sign me up for that fan club! I ate only chips a couple of times on my last trip! They are so good!
SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
I wouldn't say it was overpowering but it definitely tastes like real banana. I have read that other people who hate banana just eat around the middle bit - or you could cut it in half like I did and just scoop out the middle! But otherwise you might be out of luck if your hatred for banana is that strong
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SnowWhiteOz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2015
Biergarten
Order: Lunch Buffet
Order: Lunch Buffet
Day four and I was back in the Disney bubble. After exploring the future, visiting Mars and meeting a strange little dragon I grabbed my passport and headed into the World Showcase. I made my way through Mexico, Norway and China (all of which I’ve been to in real life) and made my way to my lunch destination – Germany.
There were three people at my table already and within about two minutes the rest of my table was full. Mind you there were only about 4 tables full of people in the entire restaurant. The first family there didn’t feel like chatting but gradually opened up over the course of the meal and the other end of the table and I chatted away like old friends (one gentleman was also a Diser so if you’re reading hello!).
We had two servers for our table as one was in training. They were both very sweet and were always available but never intrusive. I placed an order for the Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen beer and a diet coke. While the drinks were being made I watched the second half of the performance (it was already going when I walked in). They were really good and people were up and dancing (the number of dads dancing with their daughters definitely put a smile on my face ). Soon the drinks arrived and the servers suggested we go up to the buffet – well you don’t need to tell me that twice.
). Soon the drinks arrived and the servers suggested we go up to the buffet – well you don’t need to tell me that twice.I’ve been to Germany and studied German in high school so I’m used to German food. I grabbed a plate full and returned to the table to try it all. My first plate included some meatballs, German meatloaf, pork schnitzels, sausage, chicken fricassee, roasted potatoes, warm and cold potato salad and the spätzle. Oh and a pretzel roll. The great – pretzel rolls. The very good – meatballs, schnitzel, fricassee, roasted potatoes. The good - warm potato salad. The bad – cold potato salad, spätzle and sausage. The ugly – German meat loaf.(German meat loaf and I have a history in Liechtenstein and it wasn't any better in Florida!)
While trying all this (again trying, not eating!) I tried the grapefruit beer. Now I’m not usually a beer drinker but all the great reviews encouraged me to try this. I can’t say this convinced me to like beer at all but at least I tried it.
After letting plate one digest I went up for dessert (and another pretzel roll). I tried a little bit of most things on offer including the apple strudel, chocolate cookie, cheese and crackers, fruit, chocolate roll and blueberry slice. The strudel was ok but the pastry could have been flakier. The cookie was good but cookies are hard to get wrong. The blueberry slice was probably the better of the offerings. And the chocolate cake was pretty boring but not bad. The cheeses were mostly average and I don’t think any of them were actually German.
While eating dessert the band started up again and I managed to catch the whole show. The shy family from the start of the meal opened up more (thanks to my continual efforts to engage them) and their son (who had special needs) was having a blast dancing to all the songs!
Eventually the servers came round with the bill. One of our servers (the non-trainee) noticed that I had only had like two sips of my beer and offered to take it off the bill for me. I thought this was super kind but I couldn’t accept the offer. If it had been bad or off maybe, but just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t pay for it. So the total bill was $43.22 including the beer and tip.
I left the restaurant pretty full and overall it was really enjoyable. Yes the food is hit and miss but there are so many options that no one could go hungry. The CMs were great and the entertainment was really fun. If you couldn’t possibly stand sharing a table then this is not the place for you but I had a good time and would go back again.
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