Never Eat More Than You Can Lift...But, Kermie, FREE FOOD!!! September 2009 Report

[catne]

FINISHED 10/14/2009

Don't know what the deal was at POFQ, but every time I tried to post, it would claim there was no internet connection. So I'd reconnect, get the welcome to Disney internet mumbo jumbo, and away I'd go. Sign into the Dis, paste my post, click submit & back to the "no connection" business again. The few times I managed to post, took 3-4 tries so I gave up eventually. Just not worth getting aggravated on vacation. Disney internet was fine for surfing, just no-go with posting.

So, anyway, this was our second trip during Free Dining...we really enjoyed it last year...well I did. DH had a bit of a stomach issue 1/2 the week. But still managed to enjoy quite a few meals. This year, DH & I took Disney up on the offer to celebrate birthdays there...we were at WDW for DH's 53rd birthday on Memorial Weekend, and then we were there celebrating my 53 birthday on Labor Day weekend. Spending the gift card was great fun, but more of a challenge than I thought it would be (unfortunately, the one expensive Item I had picked out was in a store that didn't take the birthday gift card. DOH! But I did manage to spend it all in the end.)

DS (age 29) & his friend joined us for the week of free dining (in their own room, of course.) Well, DS was there all 7 nights, but friend arrived on Sunday evening, for 5 days/nights of free dining. We stayed at POFQ, which DS was interested in since he just spent several days in the reality version of the Big Easy this Spring...and he got hooked on authentic beignets from Cafe du Monde. I told him he'll have to remember this is a very Disney version of New Orleans, quite cleaned up & Mickeyfied...and he'll have to cut the Mouse some slack, this a family oriented place He actually doesn't really care whether it's authentic NOLA...is just thrilled to be going back to see the Mouse (he went to Disney World twice before, at age 13 & 19 on Family trips...well, I guess this is still kind of a family trip, but with alcohol, lol. He inherited his mother's love all drinks exotic...we're going to have some kind of fun They really got good at "staging" the food after the first couple of days...were really good sports about my insistence on photos of all the food & drink.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Free Dining this year...there were a few changes, especially on the snacks but most things did not change from last year. DS liked POFQ, agreed it was much too clean compared to the real French Quarter. He agreed with me that the real beignets have a lot more powdered sugar, but he still liked the beignets at POFQ. Food & service overall was good. Wait times were minimal, whether we were eating early dinner at 5:00 or later at 7:30. The main place we saw lines was ESPN Club on Saturday (college football Saturday!) Tried a few new places & a few new drinks...lots of fun, even though it was killer hot (90s all week...but we lucked out on weather. Rain never cancelled anything we wanted to see all week.)

Table service ADRs

Saturday 9/5 Birthday Lunch at San Angel Inn...new to us Review starts on post 47, page 4; desserts on post 53

Saturday 9/5 Birthday Dinner at Kouzzina/Boardwalk...new to usReview on post 56, 57, and 58 on page 4.

Sunday 9/6 The Wave repeat for DH & I, new for DS at the Contemporary
review on post 91, page 7

Monday 9/7 Captain's Grille-new for us at Yacht Club but Son & Friend will be going to Biergarten in Germany/EpcotReview on post 98, page 7

Tuesday 9/8 Olivia's-new to all of us at OKW Review on post 104, page 7

Wednesday 9/9 Raglan Road - new to all of us in DTD Review on post 108, page 8

Thursday 9/10 Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package, repeat for two, new for twoReview on post 113-115, page 8

Friday 9/11 Boma Breakfast, new to usReview on Post 120, page 8

Friday 9/11 CRT dinner, repeat for 2 of us, new to 2 Review on Post 121, page 9

Adult Beverages & Coffee Drinks

Saturday 9/5 Adult Beverage, Epcot/Morocco drink cart post 67, page 5

Sunday 9/6 Adult Beverages, The Wave Lounge/Contemporary ResortPost 85, page 6

Tuesday 9/8 Coffee, Writer's Stop/DHSPost 99, page 7

Counter Service

Sunday 9/6 Breakfast at POFQ food court, post 70, page 5

Sunday 9/6 Lunch at Columbia Harbor House, post 79, page 6

Monday 9/7 Breakfast in our room, Pastries from Main Street Bakery Post 92, page 7

Monday 9/7 Lunch at Sunshine Season/Epcot:The Land Post 93, page 7

Tuesday 9/8 Lunch at POFQ-Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory Post 100, page 7

Wednesday 9/9 Lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express, DTDPost 107, page 8

Thursday 9/10 Lunch at Starring Rolls, DHS Post 112, page 8

[Samandmom]

Cute title.
Tutto Italy and Boma Breakfast will be new to us also. We will be in Disney next week.
I read your May review with the Grand Floridian Cafe (will be new to us) and see that your DH ordered the shrimp & prosciutto I was hoping to get that but it looks the menu has changed it is now called Shrimp and Penne Pasta - Chicken Feta Sausage, Peas, and Asiago Cream Sauce.

Have a great time and can't wait to hear and see your reviews.

[catne]

why thank you...gotta love Miss Piggy. That woman appreciates food

Hope you report back on your experience with the Grand Floridian Cafe...I see so very few reviews of it.

[Samandmom]

Very true you don't see alot of reviews for Grand Floridian Cafe. I am very excited to try it. I am planning on suprising hubby with either the mini wedding cake or mini castle cake for our anniversary.

[MickeyNicki]

You know I am in for this one! Take it easy until you leave and I hope you heal quickly!

[Tink_Or_Belle]

Fun! we will be there the week after you and we are "almost" from Nebraska (we live about an hour away from Nebraska in Iowa but we have to come up to Omaha to do any real shopping) can't wait to read your reviews

[catne]

Originally Posted by MickeyNicki

You know I am in for this one! Take it easy until you leave and I hope you heal quickly!

I will...we're going no matter what, but just want to be able to get around on my own. If worst comes to worst, I'll rent a scooter cuz we're GOING!

Just crossing my fingers that we have better luck at Raglan Road than you did! We're Irish-American, and love the Celtic music so hoping we get better food...or we'll just have to drink enough it all tastes good

[catne]

Originally Posted by Tink_Or_Belle

Fun! we will be there the week after you and we are "almost" from Nebraska (we live about an hour away from Nebraska in Iowa but we have to come up to Omaha to do any real shopping) can't wait to read your reviews

Well chances are I've been in or near your town...cuz we've lived all our lives near or in Omaha. And have gone antiquing, etc. up & down western "coast" of Iowa (and of course we drive down I-29 to get to Mizzou on the way to Disney...yeah, we're crazy enough to drive from Nebraska

[choirchic]

I'm in! We'll be there later in September and this is our first FREE Dining adventure!

[catne]

Originally Posted by choirchic

I'm in! We'll be there later in September and this is our first FREE Dining adventure!

Just read your pre-trip report...that anniversary cake is SOOOO pretty (and looks delicious!) We're going to our first-ever MNSSHP...doing some fairly simple t-shirt costumes (but we are staying away from black!)

Hope you enjoy Free Dining as much as we do...don't order any extra cakes this time though, cuz you're going to be having some DEE-LISH! desserts on the dining plan, lol.

We thought it was hilarious at 1900 Park Fare...they brought out a special Mickey cupcake for DH's birthday...when we had just stuffed ourselves at the buffet dessert station. DOH!

[disneygirlinnj]

I'm in! Great restaurants!

[MickeyNicki]

Originally Posted by catne

I will...we're going no matter what, but just want to be able to get around on my own. If worst comes to worst, I'll rent a scooter cuz we're GOING!

Just crossing my fingers that we have better luck at Raglan Road than you did! We're Irish-American, and love the Celtic music so hoping we get better food...or we'll just have to drink enough it all tastes good

I will keep my fingers crossed for you with your RR dinner...maybe I just hit it on a bad night? We loved the music and the dancing though, maybe I can talk DH into trying it again one day

[choirchic]

Originally Posted by catne

Just read your pre-trip report...that anniversary cake is SOOOO pretty (and looks delicious!) We're going to our first-ever MNSSHP...doing some fairly simple t-shirt costumes (but we are staying away from black!)

Hope you enjoy Free Dining as much as we do...don't order any extra cakes this time though, cuz you're going to be having some DEE-LISH! desserts on the dining plan, lol.

We thought it was hilarious at 1900 Park Fare...they brought out a special Mickey cupcake for DH's birthday...when we had just stuffed ourselves at the buffet dessert station. DOH!

Thanks! That cake really was yummy! I can't believe how much food we get on the dining plan! The only place that we may go a little overboard is at the California Grill...we'll see! ( I think I want one of everything on the menu ) lol

[catne]

so I just looked at the menu over on official Diz site...OMG, you guys...I am SOOOO tempted to call and see what's available on the Sunday we're set to go to The Wave. Don't get me wrong...I loved our meals at The Wave last year and love the location at the Contemporary - very convenient. And we're taking DS, 29, with us...he's already looked at The Wave menu & really looking forward to it.

But Kouzzina, wow there's some tasty sounding stuff on that menu - but now eating there that night would be a hassle, transportation-wise, because we're going to MK that night, not Epcot! So it'd really cut into our park time driving here, there & everywhere that night.

Dang it - I just have to *step away* from the menus. And keep telling myself Kouzzina will be there next time

[disneygirlinnj]

Haha, you sound like me. But I'm crazy enough that I planned eating at Kouzzina even before seeing the menus. We're Greek and kinda have to support our fellow Greeks, ya know? And I love Cat Cora whenever I see her on tv. We planned dinner there during our DHS day since we're not real fans of any food in the park. Then I got the bright idea to actually have breakfast there too so that's going to be our only transportation headache.

Hopefully the reviews tomorrow will start coming in and everyone will love it!