"Insanity is my Middle Name" - Impromptu Easter Weekend Trip -Update 4/23 - Wishes!

[wilma-bride]

Great start - add me to the list of people who are sad about the loss of shrimp chips (we call them prawn crackers here in the UK)

The meal at Jiko looked divine.

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by Dis_Yoda

Looking over the menu, I noticed two of the things I thought I would have ordered on this adventure were gone! Alas, there are no more Shrimp Chips w/ Peanut Sauce or Pho on the Yak & Yeti menu.

I too was so bummed in January to find out that the Prawn Chips had been removed from the menu, these were one of the best things that I had when we ate there in 2007!

Great reviews looking forward to more!

[Dis_Yoda]

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Great start - add me to the list of people who are sad about the loss of shrimp chips (we call them prawn crackers here in the UK)

The meal at Jiko looked divine.

There sure are a lot of us that are missing them Where I live, if I wanted to get some for myself, I would need to drive about an hour north to Atlanta & their ethnic markets.

Jiko was divine! Its easily turned into one of my favorite restuarants at Disney over this past year.

Originally Posted by franandaj

I too was so bummed in January to find out that the Prawn Chips had been removed from the menu, these were one of the best things that I had when we ate there in 2007!

Great reviews looking forward to more!

Exactly! I loved them this past October.

[Dis_Yoda]

All Star Music Food Court

When I woke up this morning around 7AM, I headed down to the food court to pick up breakfast. Looking at the hot food menus, not a single thing appealed to me this morning. In fact, nothing really did. Knowing I needed to eat *something* before heading into the park, I went with an old standby:
Croissant - $2.29

After getting it, I nuked it in the microwave for 10 seconds. This made it hot & taste fresher.

Meal Cost: $2.46
Total Trip Cost: $102.15

Italy

After World Showcase opened at 11AM & I toured the first few countries & their flower and garden festival displays, I decided I was thirsty.

I initially went to Germany to get a glass of wine at the Wine Shop. I stood at the counter for a while & no one came over so I decided drinking German Wine was not to be today. Luckily after Germany, comes Italy.

Italian Margharita - $10.00


I admit I forgot to take a picture – so here is a reused picture from a previous trip.

The perfect refreshing drink when you don’t want to backtrack to Mexico!

Snack Cost: $10.65
Total Trip Cost: $112.80

Japan

While I was walking around enjoying my margharita, I went shopping in Japan to enjoy their unique gifts to the world.

In the back where all the Japanese snack food & saki is sold, I found prawn chips!



I wasn’t in the mood for them at the time, in fact, I still haven’t eaten them. They are sitting on top of my filing cabinets at work to enjoy when I want a snack at work or if I’m unable to take a lunch that day.

I also picked up a pack of the Yan-Yan Chocolate Dips for similar reasons. This also hasn’t been touched.

Prawn Flavored Chips - $1.00
Yan-Yan Chocolate Dips - $1.25

Snack Cost: $2.34
Total Trip Costs: $115.14

At this point, I was hungry for lunch & debated on what I was in the mood for. I really didn’t have any counter service that stood out to me. I thought about Tutto but remembered I would be having Italian at dinner in the evening. I was in Japan so decided to walk in at Tokyo Dining.

Tokyo Dining

The restaurant had been opened for about 15 minutes when I inquired if I could walk-in. Not a problem! Within minutes, I was seated in the area by the sushi counter and given my hand cleaning cloth.

To start, I had a Cherry Blossom Martini - $8 and a bowl of Miso Soup - $3



The Martini had Sake & Plum Wine and a wonderful cocktail for the meal. The miso soup was flavorful.

For my main course I had the Ebi Tempura - $20.95


Excellent tempura! I couldn’t finish it today though as it was just too much. With the vegetables on this day, it included fried green beans! I love fried green beans so it was a wonderful surprise!

Meal Cost: $41
Total Trip Cost: $156.14

[BriarRosie]

Very good report so far. I noticed you like to eat appetizers and dessert, too. Every so often, I like to do that instead of having an entree. Sometimes you're just not in the mood for it! I haven't been to Jiko for few years other than a special wine dinner, but I want to go back soon, now. Mostly because they never used to have a dedicated chocolate dessert!

I still haven't made it over to Yak and Yeti, but I probably would want to do the appetizer thing there, too.

And the tempura brought me back...to yesterday. I had tempura for lunch yesterday. Yum!

[Linda67]

Great reviews, thanks very much for posting.

[jeminni]

Enjoying your reviews, that Cherry Blossom Martini looks great.

[englishrose47]

Great review , fried green beans sound DELISH!!

[Cookie Princess]

I am LOVING your beverage choices!!

[oybolshoi]

great reviews and pictures as always ...

curious about that drink at Tokyo Dining ... was it very sweet or did they use a dry sake to offset the plum wine? It looks great but drinks that are too sweet set off my gack-reflex.

[vinotinto]

Thanks for the reviews! Glad to see more pics of Tokyo Dining as I'm considering it for lunch on our next trip.

[Dis_Yoda]

Originally Posted by BriarRosie

Very good report so far. I noticed you like to eat appetizers and dessert, too. Every so often, I like to do that instead of having an entree. Sometimes you're just not in the mood for it! I haven't been to Jiko for few years other than a special wine dinner, but I want to go back soon, now. Mostly because they never used to have a dedicated chocolate dessert!

I still haven't made it over to Yak and Yeti, but I probably would want to do the appetizer thing there, too.

And the tempura brought me back...to yesterday. I had tempura for lunch yesterday. Yum!

I do like to go for the appetizers/dessert at some places especially depending on my mood. Plus it lets me try lots of different things without looking too much like a pig, although I think Sunday night I might have been a little piggy.

For years I never had dessert at Jiko - its only in this past year I've started ordering it there. Both the donuts & the trio are so so good.

Yak & Yeti to me is the only place in Animal Kingdom worth eating nowadays. If you can't tell by now - I hate counter service, especially with the cost cutting measures...errr "health reasons" (no more beef hotdogs, bun changes) I mean I still enjoy the fries but eh.

My husband teases about me going to Tokyo Dining since we eat Japanese Food at least weekly at home, alternating between the sit down portion or the cooking table. But meh - its tasty and thats all that counts.

Originally Posted by Linda67

Great reviews, thanks very much for posting.

Thanks for reading along!

Originally Posted by jeminni

Enjoying your reviews, that Cherry Blossom Martini looks great.

It was great Glad you are enjoying!

Originally Posted by englishrose47

Great review , fried green beans sound DELISH!!

They were! I wish my local place had them but sadly their veggies w/ tempura are carrots, sweet potato and mushrooms.

Originally Posted by Cookie Princess

I am LOVING your beverage choices!!

I was loving drinking them! Although I didn't have that many on this trip as I thought I would.

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

great reviews and pictures as always ...

curious about that drink at Tokyo Dining ... was it very sweet or did they use a dry sake to offset the plum wine? It looks great but drinks that are too sweet set off my gack-reflex.

It was definitely on the sweeter side. I ordered it thinking they would have used something drier but they didn't. I really don't know a lot about sake, maybe one of these days I'll learn more.

Originally Posted by vinotinto

Thanks for the reviews! Glad to see more pics of Tokyo Dining as I'm considering it for lunch on our next trip.

You definitely should try it for lunch! Its one of the better places for lunch in the World Showcase!

[Dis_Yoda]

Il Mulino

After Lunch at Tokyo, I finished up the World Showcase & went to one of the Demos at the Garden Center where we learned about the history of the festivals and then got make our own Mickey Shaped potted plant (which 1 week later – I still haven’t killed!) I returned to my room to relax and get ready for dinner.

I arrived at the Swan about 15 minutes before my reservation time & checked in. There were a lot of strollers around the podium which meant not a lot of room for waiting to be called to your table. After about 10 minutes, I was lead to a small table on the left of the restaurant, next to a very large column. In a few minutes, my server stopped by to drop off the basket of Italian bread & Red Pepper Flake Sticks and the accompaniments (eggplant and sausage) and to take my drink order. I ordered a glass of Tolloy Pinot Grigio - $10.50/glass and looked over the menu while munching on the nicely flavored Red Pepper Flake Bread.


When she returned with my wine, she gave me a list of the many specials they had this evening, when the pasta one sounded interesting to me & I ended up ordering that one. This would be basically the last I would see of my server this evening until it became time for the check, as random staffers kept bringing me my courses as my server spent a lot of time with the other tables.

For my first course, I ordered:
Parmigiano Reggiano – Aged Parmesan Cheese - $8


While the presentation of the blocks of cheese is lacking, the flavor of the cheese was perfect. I enjoyed about half of this with my bread before another staffer returned with my second course:

Caesar Salad - $9


The Caesar was wonderful and I again was about half way done when my pasta was served by another random server. I tried to mention I would like another glass of wine, but they had walked off before I could say anything.
Pasta Special – Linguine w/ Cream Sauce, Peas, Prosciutto, Lemon Zest - $24



The pasta was great! I really enjoyed the lemon with the peas and prosciutto. I should have ordered a half portion as it was too much but you live and learn.

I sat for about 15 minutes after I was finished eating the pasta before my server from the beginning of the evening came by with the check. I handed her my TIW card & credit card and she walked off without saying much and someone else other than her returned with my credit slip.

You notice how I’m missing mentioning that usual thing that is served at the end of the meals at Il Mulino?

Yeah…

As I was signing, a manager stopped by my table to ask how my evening here was & I was honest. I had felt the service was lacking & mention the lack of offer to refill my wine glass, the lack of presence of any server team, no Limóncello and such. He apologized for these mistakes & did bring me a bottle of the wine I was drinking to make up for those qualities lacking in his server staff that evening & brought me over the Limoncello that I hadn’t been served at the end of meal.

The food here was very good & I felt the manager went beyond what he should have done as I wasn’t expecting a bottle of wine for me giving the feedback I did (I really just wanted my Limoncello). The cost of the meal was in line with what I would expect for something of its quality, especially in Disney. I’m willing to give it another try come October to see if the service staff picks up its game.

Meal Cost: $53.15
Total Trip Cost: $209.29

[Dis_Yoda]

Easter Morning

On Easter morning, Magic Kingdom had extra magic hours that started at 7AM. Being that it was Easter & I assumed it would be crazy busy I wanted to make sure I was there for the opening. This morning, I purchased a Powerade - $2.89 for my ‘breakfast’ until I got into the parks.

Snack cost: $3.09
Total Trip Cost: $212.38

Confectionary

After a very productive 45 minutes of getting the rides in Fantasyland done & the two headliners in Tomorrowland done, hunger started creeping in. I wasn’t sure what I wanted & decided to look through Main Street Bakery and the Confectionary to figure out what I wanted.

I went for a breakfast of champions that fit Easter Day. At least it fit Easter Day growing up, when I would wake up – find my eggs – then eat junk food.



Easter Cookie! - $3.25

Even better was the 10% discount I got on it for having an annual pass!

Snack Cost: $3.11
Total Trip Cost: $215.49

I ate my lovely breakfast as I was waiting for Adventureland to open at 8am. I got on Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Thunder Mountain x2, skipped Splash as I didn’t feel like getting wet, Haunted Mansion, Philharmagic, Stitch and then left the park. I’m glad I left when I did as leaving the crowds were picking up a ton and frankly I didn’t feel like getting stuck among the masses.

This is when I decided to call & see if I could get a massage schedule for this afternoon at the Grand Floridian Spa. They had a 2 o’clock spot open. I returned to my resort to relax a little & pick up lunch.

All Stars Music Food Court

Around 11:30, I headed up to the food court at the All Stars. I decided to go for 2 Breadsticks - $1.89 & a Beef Taco Salad - $7.39 for my meal.



I got both of these expecting the quality to well suck, as I feel the majority of counter service meals do. I was pleasantly surprised by both! The beef actually had some flavor to it, hot, & was very filling. I liked the breadsticks, although I probably in hindsight didn’t need them with how much food that taco salad really was. I ate about half before I was done & went back to the room to get my bag packed for the massage as I was planning on showering after the massage & heading back to the Magic Kingdom or grapping dinner somewhere in the Monorail loop.

Meal Cost: $9.73
Total Trip Cost: $225.22

[BriarRosie]

Most of the time, I've seen nothing but raves for Il Mulino. But I think I've seen someone post they have eaten twice within a 3 day period, once with excellent service, and the second time with the crappy service you had. They said if the bad experience happened the first time they went, they wouldn't have returned.

I still want to try Il Mulino but hopefully not have your server.