ADRs? Yes We Made Stinking ADRs - A June '15 Dining Report - Updated 10/10: Sassagoula & Wrap-up

[kanadar]

I've been catching up from your first DR and have finally made it to the end of a current one to comment! I love your DR's, it makes me want to try not making ADR's and see where the night takes us sometime.

Before happening upon this little hair threading place, where Casey was able to pick her own thread and beads and indulge in something I think was pretty unique to Animal Kingdom

As for the hair wrap, I used to get these EVERY trip to Disney when I was young...honestly probably until I was in high school maybe even college (don't judge! haha). They used to do them at the deluxe resorts, Poly was and might still be near the pool, and I know there is a station on the Boardwalk. I also believe they do them at all the parks, you just have to find the stand.

That is really cool. Do you happen to know if that bead thing is a permanent fixture? I think my DD would really like that...was it expensive? Crowded? And can you possibly give me an idea of the location? (I know...I'm not demanding at all lol)

Like I told kastoney, I used to get these at every trip we took. They would stay in for a long time, like a couple months. It is essentially string wrapped around a small section of hair. You can pick where you want the location of the wrap. The wrap will stay until you either a) cut it out, basically snip the knot at the end of each color or (my favorite) b) wait until it start to "fall out". The knot at the top will loosen and you can just slide it off your hair and have a nice souvenir. I used to have several in-tact ones I kept for a long time.

This was always my favorite souvenir to get

 

[chunkymonkey]

All caught up! Love your meal at Yachtsman! Your DH's ribeye is definitely what I'm ordering next time. Bone marrow = heaven for me. I'll make my DH order his own entree, no sharing for me!

I like Tusker House too, and yes I always find buffets secondary to the characters involved. But I do really enjoy everything at Tusker, and that time between breakfast and lunch is the best time to go! We always get in one or two rides, and by then it'll be 10:30-11am and we can sit at Tusker and have a lovely brunch. That bloody mary looks killer! I'll have to look into that but usually when I drink it would have to be later in the day because I'll just get tired and pass out.

 

[tabrizia]

Before happening upon this little hair threading place, where Casey was able to pick her own thread and beads and indulge in something I think was pretty unique to Animal Kingdom



She loved doing this and is already asking about it for next trip!

​

I love the hair wraps. I had one done on my honeymoon at DHS and one done for our 5th anniversary trip at Magic Kingdom. I am really hoping to get my girl child one when we go in January. I might get one too.

Loved the review of Tusker House. For our January trip we are doing 6 or 7 character meals (chef mickeys twice) so it is nice to know at least one of them will have decent food.

 

[weeniecat2442]

was your Tusker House Bloody Mary spicy? headed there in October & I LOVE a good SPICY bloody Mary!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I was sooo bummed that LTT was closed during our visit. I so miss the Ooey Gooey! Hopefully next trip (although it is not a fav of DS's).

I don't know that I am as ready as Barb to head back to YSH but your review did push me a step closer! I, too, am a Filet-no fatty steak for me--girl! And those rolls & garlic are just heavenly! Wonder if we can go just for those!

 

[kastoney]

I received some exciting news this morning. Our daughter, son-in-law, grandson age 8 and granddaughter age 6 will be joining us for part of our October trip. And the first ADR she made was for Tusker House. She could only get a reservation for four but we'll keep looking for a table for six or just plead with them to let us join the family. I can't wait.

That is exciting news. How fun to be able to spend it with your family. Keep trying for tusker. We had a family trip with 6 of us a few years ago and got a last minute tusker breakfast with no issue.

We also love Tusker House buffet! It's the only one we do. I'm not a fan of any other buffet.

Glad to know I'm not the only one in the anti-buffet - except for Tusker House - camp ; )

've been catching up from your first DR and have finally made it to the end of a current one to comment! I love your DR's, it makes me want to try not making ADR's and see where the night takes us sometime.

Thanks so much for reading them. I know no ADR's aren't for everyone, but to me vacation and spontaneity are pretty synonymous.

As for the hair wrap, I used to get these EVERY trip to Disney when I was young...honestly probably until I was in high school maybe even college (don't judge! haha). They used to do them at the deluxe resorts, Poly was and might still be near the pool, and I know there is a station on the Boardwalk. I also believe they do them at all the parks, you just have to find the stand.

I'd never even noticed them anyway before, just happened upon it by accident. It seemed a very "AK" thing to do who knew they were so widespread.

he wrap will stay until you either a) cut it out, basically snip the knot at the end of each color or (my favorite) b) wait until it start to "fall out". The knot at the top will loosen and you can just slide it off your hair and have a nice souvenir. I used to have several in-tact ones I kept for a long time.

My daughters fell out intact about a week later. I was hoping it would stay in longer, but I think her hair is so fine the weight of the strand just pulled it out.

All caught up! Love your meal at Yachtsman! Your DH's ribeye is definitely what I'm ordering next time. Bone marrow = heaven for me. I'll make my DH order his own entree, no sharing for me!

I'm so glad to hear you say that. Many people think I'm crazy for loving bone marrow and all weird animal parts in general, but you're right it is heaven.

That bloody mary looks killer! I'll have to look into that but usually when I drink it would have to be later in the day because I'll just get tired and pass out.

It was yummy. You can order the full compliment from the Dawa Bar. Day drinking usually tires me out too, but with a bloody mary I think all the tomato juice really helps fortify me ; )

I love the hair wraps. I had one done on my honeymoon at DHS and one done for our 5th anniversary trip at Magic Kingdom. I am really hoping to get my girl child one when we go in January. I might get one too.

Loved the review of Tusker House. For our January trip we are doing 6 or 7 character meals (chef mickeys twice) so it is nice to know at least one of them will have decent food.

Sounds like matching Mom/daughter hair wraps are in order for you all ; )

Hope you love Tusker as much as we do

was your Tusker House Bloody Mary spicy? headed there in October & I LOVE a good SPICY bloody Mary!

It had some heat to it, but I wouldn't call it spicy. You could probably ask for it extra spicy if that is more your thing. You can order any bloody mary from the Dawa bar, so some of the others may be spicier. I think one even had sriacha in it.

I was sooo bummed that LTT was closed during our visit. I so miss the Ooey Gooey! Hopefully next trip (although it is not a fav of DS's).

I don't know that I am as ready as Barb to head back to YSH but your review did push me a step closer! I, too, am a Filet-no fatty steak for me--girl! And those rolls & garlic are just heavenly! Wonder if we can go just for those!

I'm gonna miss LTT on our trip next month too, but excited for the new jungle cruise restaurant.

This was our first time at Yachtsman, so they definitely hit it out of the park for us. Funny, when Yachtsman first caught my eye it was the charcuterie and some of their apps. I was considering going just for that and skipping the entree, but then Jason got the rib eye craving and the rest was meat history ; )

 

[momof3princes]

Hair wraps make me think of college and a friend that used to make some extra cash doing them....DURING class!
We have been to both Tusker House and Boma and we much preferred Tusker House. It has been a couple of years so we can hopefully show our faces in there again, the last time there were multiple plates dropped on the floor. What can I say my kids get very excited by bacon!

 

[kastoney]

Hair wraps make me think of college and a friend that used to make some extra cash doing them....DURING class!
We have been to both Tusker House and Boma and we much preferred Tusker House. It has been a couple of years so we can hopefully show our faces in there again, the last time there were multiple plates dropped on the floor. What can I say my kids get very excited by bacon!

During class!!!! That is awesome. If only I had the talent to pull something like that off.

And by the way, totally saw your family's picture on the wall at Tusker House and your still not welcome

 

[kastoney]

Wanted to get a quick snack update out before we head to the beach tomorrow. In case you didn't know today is the national holiday that officially marks the day of my birth, so what better way to celebrate than a long weekend at the beach ; ) Well ok, disney would be a better way to celebrate but only 16 days left for that !!!!

So we'd just left off rolling our full bellies out the door at Tusker House. Since we were right there we decided it was a good time to head over to planet watch so Casey could dance with a couple of chipmunks,


Contemplate the meaning of life with a monkey,


And hang with a bunch of "kids"


Before our bellies decided we missed dessert at Tusker House so it was time to make up for that. So to Tamu Refreshments we went and Casey got her very own Dole Whip

So Mommy and Daddy could indulge in one with a little bit of "mama juice" in it, aka rum for those that don't speak Casey. For those that haven't had it the rum dole whip is good, but they essentially just put a shot at the bottom of the cup so it isn't intermixed throughout the whip (as best as I could tell).

From there we took a quick ride on Kali River Rapids, and unfortunately their warnings of you will get soaked came true for our clan


After that the skies opened up and it started to pour. Good news is we were wet already, so we just made sure we were good n soaked before getting on the bus. It was a quick bus ride back to POFQ (complete with the lady next to me telling me how her daughter got her first period the day before on splash mountain #ThingsIDon'tNeedToKnow #HoneyI'mGood). We pulled a quick change and headed to Ep-A-Cot for the evening.

Upon arrival we headed to Casey's favorite ride, Figment, where she proceeded to hold her nose in anticipation of the big smelling scene


Then it was a quick turn through the UK to meet an oversized bear and a bouncing tiger


And a girl trapped in the land of wonder


We still had some time before dinner so we decided dessert before dinner was in order ; ) I'd been wanting to try the brioche ice cream sandwich forever and finally the time was upon us.

Since dinner was right around the ben, Jason and I decided to split one with salted caramel ice cream. Here it is about to be made...


And the finished product

And the inside

While I liked the idea of a warm brioche and ice cream in the middle, something was very wrong with the french's idea of salted caramel. To me salted caramel is just that salt and some sweet ooey gooey buttery caramel. Unfortunately for the french salted caramel = burnt caramel so this just wasn't good. The brioche outer portion was fine, but inside tasted like some kind of burnt ice cream experiment gone wrong. I'd try one again, but definitely with a different flavor.

Casey brilliant girl that she is, went with good old vanilla.

Good news for the French, was that this tasted like vanilla

So much so that Casey's Daddy decided to bat some clean-up on her behalf to make up for his ice cream fail


That's where I'll leave it for this update. Up next, my favorite world showcase restaurant!!!!​

 

[Vernie822]

Ah, love the Dole Whip with Rum!

I had the same issue with the burnt caramel in France. I figured it was just the batch I had but now that you said the same I'm convinced it's just bad haha. Yuck! Sorry you had the same experience. At least Casey lucked out.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy your time at the beach! (Mine is Saturday- a whole quarter century.. Lol).

 

[AllyinWonderland]

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great time at the beach!

I really need to try to dole whip with rum, it sounds delicious!

 

[Dislover1991]

Happy birthday!

I can't wait to try the Dole Whip with a little rum

Casey was smart- that vanilla is delicious! you can never go wrong with good ole vanilla

 

[momof3princes]

Happy Birthday! Have a great time at the beach! I am glad I did not try the salted caramel in France, burnt caramel does not sound appetizing! Vanilla is not bad for clean up, my little ones insist on Cotton Candy ice cream in many places...clean up on that one is really showing a mother's love

 

[disneyAndi14]

I have heard others say the salted caramel tasted burnt as well, but the dole whip, oh my so good. Rum or not I will take one please! It is nice to see the dole whip is on AK as well.

 

[samsteele]

To me salted caramel is just that salt and some sweet ooey gooey buttery caramel. Unfortunately for the french salted caramel = burnt caramel so this just wasn't good.

Eek! Sorry that was a bust. I'd have thought the same. Big disappointment, right there. Maybe plain old pistachio next time for a sure thing? At least you have a great excuse for a do-over

From there we took a quick ride on Kali River Rapids, and unfortunately their warnings of you will get soaked came true for our clan

That's why I don't do Kali. I love the theming. I get as far as the bridge (then watch the monkeys on monkey island). But no further. Wet undies for hours "on end". Literally No thank you.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a nice weekend at the Beach.

I tried salted caramel ice cream, not at Disney, and it was too salty. But I could see it working for the brioche as long as they made it right.

 

[kanadar]

First off, hope you have a fantastic time at the beach!

Thanks so much for reading them. I know no ADR's aren't for everyone, but to me vacation and spontaneity are pretty synonymous.

I'd never even noticed them anyway before, just happened upon it by accident. It seemed a very "AK" thing to do who knew they were so widespread.

My daughters fell out intact about a week later. I was hoping it would stay in longer, but I think her hair is so fine the weight of the strand just pulled it out.

No ADR's is definitely something I want to try. I'm getting married at Disney in October so maybe my future husband and I's next trip will be no ADR's! I think it would be fun! I'm not sure if the wraps are that widespread still since I don't actually seek them out anymore but they used to be. Mine may have stayed in longer because I have thick curly hair, so that may have helped keep mine in longer. I used to love getting them though!

 

[Sailormoon2]

Happy (belated) Birthday!!!

 

[DaisyandBoo]

Really enjoying your report!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Hope it was a great one!

We didn't get to try the brioche ice cream sandwich this trip. I would have had the salted caramel so I will be sure to make a different choice when I do finally get to try one (hopefully in March!)