disneykate28
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
So, this is my first EVER dining report! I hope you will find it informative even though it's lacking photos! Next time I am in the World, I will be sure to take pictures of our food. 
The Cast of Our Trip:
Me - 26, a Disney lover, somewhere around my 15th trip. This was my first trip with someone other than a family member and my first experience with choosing ADRs and the DDP. I'm slightly neurotic about planning & this trip was no exception! I like spicy foods, a good steak and a glass of wine, almost any dessert, NO SEAFOOD! 
DBF- 25, a first timer, but he knows all the words to the Lion King soundtrack. 
Much more laidback than I am and allowed ME to make (and change, repeatedly 
) all the ADRs. He's a go with the flow kinda guy who enjoys steak, Mexican food, pizza...obsessed with finding the perfect churro. 
As we are in our mid-20s, we don't get to eat at a LOT of nice restaurants though we'd like to make it a point to. At home, we're content to eat Chipotle or order a pizza. Our "best meal ever" was Chateaubriand for two from Delmonico's restaurant in the Venetian in Vegas. We love to watch food shows (Iron Chef/Top Chef) but neither of us can cook! Anyway, that gives you some idea of what we're working with.
To Be Reviewed:
Table Service
- Wolfgang Puck Cafe
- Le Cellier
- Kona Cafe
- Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Package)
- California Grill
Counter Service
- Tusker House
- Sunshine Seasons
- MK Bakery
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Pop Century Food Court
- Cantina de San Angel
- Flame Tree BBQ
- Pecos Bill's
Day 1: AK, Tusker House & Wolfgang Puck
We arrived at MCO at 10:30am & ended up at AK around 1pm. Since we'd been up since 4:30am, both of us were famished! I had heard good things about Tusker House so we decided to give it a try. This was our first use of the DDP. I had the turkey wrap with corn chowder- I enjoyed the chowder a lot more than the wrap, which seemed very bland to me. The chowder, however, was thick and creamy & delicious and had lots of veggies in it! I ate most of it, despite the fact that it was in the 90s outside! DBF had the fried chicken sandwich with apple slices and he enjoyed it. It's too bad that this place will soon become a buffet.
After touring AK, we hopped a bus to SSR around 6:30pm. I had read on the Dis that it would be fairly simple to walk from there to DTD, where we had a 7:30pm ADR at WP Cafe. Boy, was I wrong! When we got there, we realized how huge the resort was. The bus driver was unable to tell us where we should get off the bus to get to DTD and no one at the resort was able to articulate it either!! We walked around aimlessly, finally seeing that there was a boat to take us to DTD but unable to find the launch. By the time we FINALLY reached DTD (by bus), it was almost 9pm! I was worried that our ADR would be lost or canceled. The hostess was very understanding of our confusion
and had us seated right away, despite the crowds.
I ordered:
- butternut squash soup
- pumpkin ravioli
- peach bread pudding
DBF ordered:
- spinach artichoke dip
- spicy chicken penne
- vanilla creme brulee
The ONLY thing we enjoyed about this dining experience was dessert! Both were DELICIOUS, especially my bread pudding. It was moist and thick and very comforting, with big peach pieces in it. DBF enjoyed his first creme brulee and declared that it reminded him of "rice krispy treats"!
Neither of the appetizers had much appeal- I expected the soup to have a richer flavor but it was very flat and boring. DBF's dip was just...gross and gloopy and the chips to dip into it were not good for scooping such a heavy dip. The pumpkin ravioli was good but much too much for an entire meal- I would have preferred this as an appetizer. Both of us agreed that DBF's pasta sauce was like soup and lacked flavor.
The service at this restaurant was so-so. They DID get us a seat right away despite our little mix-up. Our server wasn't the most attentive we dealt with on this trip but the restaurant was MOBBED. I wondered if it had anything to do with our being on the DDP but I believe she was just THAT busy.
Overall impressions:
Quality of Food: C- (except for dessert!)
Quality of Service: B-
Next up: Day 2, Sunshine Seasons breakfast, Le Cellier dinner!
The Cast of Our Trip:
Me - 26, a Disney lover, somewhere around my 15th trip. This was my first trip with someone other than a family member and my first experience with choosing ADRs and the DDP. I'm slightly neurotic about planning & this trip was no exception! I like spicy foods, a good steak and a glass of wine, almost any dessert, NO SEAFOOD! DBF- 25, a first timer, but he knows all the words to the Lion King soundtrack. Much more laidback than I am and allowed ME to make (and change, repeatedly ) all the ADRs. He's a go with the flow kinda guy who enjoys steak, Mexican food, pizza...obsessed with finding the perfect churro. As we are in our mid-20s, we don't get to eat at a LOT of nice restaurants though we'd like to make it a point to. At home, we're content to eat Chipotle or order a pizza. Our "best meal ever" was Chateaubriand for two from Delmonico's restaurant in the Venetian in Vegas. We love to watch food shows (Iron Chef/Top Chef) but neither of us can cook! Anyway, that gives you some idea of what we're working with.
To Be Reviewed:
Table Service
- Wolfgang Puck Cafe
- Le Cellier
- Kona Cafe
- Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Package)
- California Grill
Counter Service
- Tusker House
- Sunshine Seasons
- MK Bakery
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Pop Century Food Court
- Cantina de San Angel
- Flame Tree BBQ
- Pecos Bill's
Day 1: AK, Tusker House & Wolfgang Puck
We arrived at MCO at 10:30am & ended up at AK around 1pm. Since we'd been up since 4:30am, both of us were famished! I had heard good things about Tusker House so we decided to give it a try. This was our first use of the DDP. I had the turkey wrap with corn chowder- I enjoyed the chowder a lot more than the wrap, which seemed very bland to me. The chowder, however, was thick and creamy & delicious and had lots of veggies in it! I ate most of it, despite the fact that it was in the 90s outside! DBF had the fried chicken sandwich with apple slices and he enjoyed it. It's too bad that this place will soon become a buffet.
After touring AK, we hopped a bus to SSR around 6:30pm. I had read on the Dis that it would be fairly simple to walk from there to DTD, where we had a 7:30pm ADR at WP Cafe. Boy, was I wrong! When we got there, we realized how huge the resort was. The bus driver was unable to tell us where we should get off the bus to get to DTD and no one at the resort was able to articulate it either!! We walked around aimlessly, finally seeing that there was a boat to take us to DTD but unable to find the launch. By the time we FINALLY reached DTD (by bus), it was almost 9pm! I was worried that our ADR would be lost or canceled. The hostess was very understanding of our confusion
and had us seated right away, despite the crowds. I ordered:- butternut squash soup
- pumpkin ravioli
- peach bread pudding
DBF ordered:- spinach artichoke dip
- spicy chicken penne
- vanilla creme brulee
The ONLY thing we enjoyed about this dining experience was dessert! Both were DELICIOUS, especially my bread pudding. It was moist and thick and very comforting, with big peach pieces in it. DBF enjoyed his first creme brulee and declared that it reminded him of "rice krispy treats"!
Neither of the appetizers had much appeal- I expected the soup to have a richer flavor but it was very flat and boring. DBF's dip was just...gross and gloopy and the chips to dip into it were not good for scooping such a heavy dip. The pumpkin ravioli was good but much too much for an entire meal- I would have preferred this as an appetizer. Both of us agreed that DBF's pasta sauce was like soup and lacked flavor. The service at this restaurant was so-so. They DID get us a seat right away despite our little mix-up. Our server wasn't the most attentive we dealt with on this trip but the restaurant was MOBBED. I wondered if it had anything to do with our being on the DDP but I believe she was just THAT busy.
Overall impressions:
Quality of Food: C- (except for dessert!)
Quality of Service: B-
Next up: Day 2, Sunshine Seasons breakfast, Le Cellier dinner!
) to its fullest so we decided that we would use a CS daily to split breakfast & another to split lunch. This ended up being a GREAT plan for us & we never went hungry with all of the food the 
) We wouldn't be surprised if this became a 2 TS dining experience. 
It was. Warm & thick & yummy with maple syrup. DBF agreed. We both liked his croissant as well. This was the best breakfast we had on our trip. The line was long but the service was good & the CMs were patient & helpful as our eyes passed over all the tasty goodies we could choose from. 
We left feeling full and ready for a long (HOT) day of walking around MK. 
It definitely seemed strong & we were feeling good & ready to eat. 
Oh, & I can't forget the bread with macadamia nut honey butter! Mmmmmm 
though MGM is my least favorite of the parks overall. By this time, DBF was really buying into the Disney vacation & didn't argue tooooooo much when I made him answer the Stitch wakeup calls at the crack of dawn! 
We finally got to the backlot tour & were still giddy from our ice cream dream. The CM there greeted us & I told him what a hard time we'd had finding him! "I'll make it up to you," he said. "You're going to be part of the show!" I, of course, knew what this meant but DBF did NOT! 
from DBF. 
We were one of the first groups to sit in the reserved seating and chose to sit near the top so I could be close to the pathway out. I HATE crowds & fear being trampled...I can't even tell you the anxiety I felt sitting there. What was worse was the complete and utter disrespect of some guests who disregarded the CMs telling them that the section was reserved. They would simply walk past them, run past when the CMs turned around, crawl under the ropes, etc. I can't believe what these people are teaching their kids! The CMs actually had to go RUNNING after these people! They should be ashamed. 
