I got so much great info here that I wanted to share our thoughts on our dining experiences during our Easter week vacation. We did not go with the DDP this time but we are DVC members and did eat at several restaurants offering DVC member discounts. We came out ahead financially versus the DDP plan and enjoyed having a little more flexibility. We bring along food to do breakfasts in our unit in the morning. Our traveling group was me, DH, DD14 and DS11. Sorry, no food pics to post.
Day 1, Epcot
Lunch at Electric Umbrella I believe, one of the CS in the Innovations area. This wasn't planned, we were just having an incredibly efficient touring morning and didn't want to go way out of our way for a meal. Two turkey subs and two chicken caesar salads. It wasn't fine dining but it was perfectly fine. As a bonus, they had somewhat shaded outdoor seating and we got to watch one of the little fountain shows while we ate.
Dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh. Almost cancelled due to mixed reviews here and are glad we didn't. Nice change of pace. We were lucky enough not to have the sometimes reported problems with rude servers, ours were all very friendly and helpful and quite attentive (bringing extra bread, refilling water, etc.). We shared an appetizer sampler and had chicken couscous, beef couscous, kebob and a lamb dish. All were very good. The music and belly dancer were also nice, they performed a little less than half the time we were there. 20% DVC discount was nice for us, as was the fact that we showed up 30 minutes before our ADR and were able to be seated right away. I would recommend it for a different experience, and I think that the food is not that unusual so don't be scared off.
Kids got dessert at the Norway bakery, a cheesecake and I think a mousse or pudding. Dinner had done me and DH in so we passed.
Day 2: DHS
Lunch at Starring Rolls Cafe. All I can say is "wow". After our commando touring we were hungry just before 11 and almost walked right by this little place thinking it had only pastries. So glad we stopped. DD and I had the turkey foccacia and fruit, it was great with cheese and what tasted like roasted peppers and a pesto sauce. Just great. DH had the ham foccacia and DS went off the board with a package of sushi. But the best was yet to come--DS ate a brownie thing while the other three of us split the butterfinger cupcake. Hands down the best cupcake I have ever had, as good as I have read here. I don't even like cupcakes and have been dreaming of it ever since. OOP it wasn't cheap but we all really enjoyed. The outdoor seating was shaded and we were able to hear the end of the HSM3 show while we are.
Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose's. We have done this before and thought it was good to ok. This time it was great, probably our favorite meal. For their appetizer the kids planned to split the calamari for 2 but our server said they could each get their own so DH and I got to have some too. I had the salad with I think pear and blue cheese, which was really good, and DH got the tomato mozzarella salad, he really liked. Entrees were pipette pasta (one chicken, one shrimp), chicken parm and tuna with risotto. DD said the chicken parm was just ok, the others were really excellent. The only miss for me and DH was dessert, the "tiramisu" was some kind of weird melty mess, but honestly we were so full we didn't care. Kids enjoyed gelato and cheesecake. This was Easter Sunday and by the time we booked the only time available was 4pm. We weren't sure how this would work, but with the early lunch we didn't mind and were so full no one was hungry even though we didn't get to bed until 11:30pm or so. We had time to do a few things after dinner before our Fantasmic show.
Day 3: MK
Lunch at Pecos Bills, one chicken wrap (surprisingly good, like a salad in a wrap and not at all soggy) and three burgers. Fixins bar is really nice and to try to get people into the restaurants at other than peak times they were giving out 20% off coupons if you ate before 11:30 or after 2:30, which was nice. The "nobody sits until everyone has their food" was a little annoying. I didn't mind up front but we got hassled every time we left to get stuff the kids forgot, like napkins and silverware, or went to the bathroom and tried to get back to the table without food. Still, the food and location were good and we would return.
Dinner at Kona Cafe. Three of us got their three course dinner. DH and I had salads and the kids split the pot stickers, everyone enjoyed. For entress, we had two Asian noodle things (one with chicken, one with shrimp), one ribeye, and one tuna. Again, everyone enjoyed, DD liked the ribeye in particular. Desserts are really a strength here. We had two of the chocolate cakes (don't remember specifically, whatever came with the fixed price) and one cheesecake, and one Kona Kone. They were all really good. Overall, a great meal. The restaurant is a bit plain in appearance but it is nice to be in the Poly since we never stay in the MK area and convenient from MK. This was DS' request and we will definitely return.
Day 1, Epcot
Lunch at Electric Umbrella I believe, one of the CS in the Innovations area. This wasn't planned, we were just having an incredibly efficient touring morning and didn't want to go way out of our way for a meal. Two turkey subs and two chicken caesar salads. It wasn't fine dining but it was perfectly fine. As a bonus, they had somewhat shaded outdoor seating and we got to watch one of the little fountain shows while we ate.
Dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh. Almost cancelled due to mixed reviews here and are glad we didn't. Nice change of pace. We were lucky enough not to have the sometimes reported problems with rude servers, ours were all very friendly and helpful and quite attentive (bringing extra bread, refilling water, etc.). We shared an appetizer sampler and had chicken couscous, beef couscous, kebob and a lamb dish. All were very good. The music and belly dancer were also nice, they performed a little less than half the time we were there. 20% DVC discount was nice for us, as was the fact that we showed up 30 minutes before our ADR and were able to be seated right away. I would recommend it for a different experience, and I think that the food is not that unusual so don't be scared off.
Kids got dessert at the Norway bakery, a cheesecake and I think a mousse or pudding. Dinner had done me and DH in so we passed.
Day 2: DHS
Lunch at Starring Rolls Cafe. All I can say is "wow". After our commando touring we were hungry just before 11 and almost walked right by this little place thinking it had only pastries. So glad we stopped. DD and I had the turkey foccacia and fruit, it was great with cheese and what tasted like roasted peppers and a pesto sauce. Just great. DH had the ham foccacia and DS went off the board with a package of sushi. But the best was yet to come--DS ate a brownie thing while the other three of us split the butterfinger cupcake. Hands down the best cupcake I have ever had, as good as I have read here. I don't even like cupcakes and have been dreaming of it ever since. OOP it wasn't cheap but we all really enjoyed. The outdoor seating was shaded and we were able to hear the end of the HSM3 show while we are.
Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose's. We have done this before and thought it was good to ok. This time it was great, probably our favorite meal. For their appetizer the kids planned to split the calamari for 2 but our server said they could each get their own so DH and I got to have some too. I had the salad with I think pear and blue cheese, which was really good, and DH got the tomato mozzarella salad, he really liked. Entrees were pipette pasta (one chicken, one shrimp), chicken parm and tuna with risotto. DD said the chicken parm was just ok, the others were really excellent. The only miss for me and DH was dessert, the "tiramisu" was some kind of weird melty mess, but honestly we were so full we didn't care. Kids enjoyed gelato and cheesecake. This was Easter Sunday and by the time we booked the only time available was 4pm. We weren't sure how this would work, but with the early lunch we didn't mind and were so full no one was hungry even though we didn't get to bed until 11:30pm or so. We had time to do a few things after dinner before our Fantasmic show.
Day 3: MK
Lunch at Pecos Bills, one chicken wrap (surprisingly good, like a salad in a wrap and not at all soggy) and three burgers. Fixins bar is really nice and to try to get people into the restaurants at other than peak times they were giving out 20% off coupons if you ate before 11:30 or after 2:30, which was nice. The "nobody sits until everyone has their food" was a little annoying. I didn't mind up front but we got hassled every time we left to get stuff the kids forgot, like napkins and silverware, or went to the bathroom and tried to get back to the table without food. Still, the food and location were good and we would return.
Dinner at Kona Cafe. Three of us got their three course dinner. DH and I had salads and the kids split the pot stickers, everyone enjoyed. For entress, we had two Asian noodle things (one with chicken, one with shrimp), one ribeye, and one tuna. Again, everyone enjoyed, DD liked the ribeye in particular. Desserts are really a strength here. We had two of the chocolate cakes (don't remember specifically, whatever came with the fixed price) and one cheesecake, and one Kona Kone. They were all really good. Overall, a great meal. The restaurant is a bit plain in appearance but it is nice to be in the Poly since we never stay in the MK area and convenient from MK. This was DS' request and we will definitely return.