The jabead Family went to Disney World! 3/23-3/30/13 COMPLETE

[Happy 2 B Me]

Not to get the OP thread off track but "I HATE THE SMELL OF SPAM". My husband loves it. If he wants to have some with his eggs he has to do his own cooking. I must tell you I really did laugh out loud with your husbands late night confession.

Ok, I have to tell you all my SPAM story. There is even a small Disney connection. I think of this story and actually giggle any time someone mentions SPAM. Growing up, my Mom loved the stuff. My sister and I could not even stand the smell of it let alone the taste.

Fast forward to DH and I driving home from Disney in 1990 (we weren't married yet and I think this is the trip that we decided to honeymoon at the Grand Floridian). Driving up thru the Carolinas the radio station was constantly promoting a SPAM festival featuring all kinds of "SPAM treats" in an auto parts store parking lot. Well, this cracked me up. I made fun of it and laughed the whole ride. When we finally stopped for the night at some fleabag cheap hotel, we fell into separate beds exhausted and just wanting to sleep. All of a sudden in the dark I hear DH say, "Vicki I really need to tell you something". I remember saying that it could wait til morning. DH said "no, I need to talk to you now". I turned on the light for him to sit up and say: "I like SPAM". I laughed so hard I actually fell off the bed.

Ok, maybe not as funny to all of you that weren't there and hadn't spent hours upon hours driving in the car, but it is a moment I will always remember. Still to this day do not know why he felt it was so important that he had to tell me that. And in all of our now 24 years together he has never eaten SPAM!

Ok, back to your regulary scheduled food porn ...

 

[jabead]

Okay, now for Part II, beginning with Italy, the lovely homeland of my ancestors...







Thankfully they refrained from removing their clothing for their Roman god-like poses.




And from the Italy booth...









We tried the...




Asparagi con Aragosta all’Ortolana (Green asparagus, lobster, garden cocktail sauce)

DS & My Rating - 3/5, DD's Rating - 4/5

I probably would have rated this a 4 if it didn't have such a hefty price tag of $7.75.




Although no picture was taken in the American pavilion, we certainly did not skip the booth here...
















Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw
Our Rating - 2/4

We got a very salty batch of pulled pork and so were very disappointed with this.




However, the other item we got here more than made up for it...




Smoked Beef Brisket with Collard Greens and Jalapeño Corn Bread
Our Rating - 5/5

This was delicious...loved both the meat and corn bread side dish! It was our favorite of all the things we tried from the F & G booths.




Just as we were finishing these up, I heard from Vicki (GoofySon'sMom). Not only were she and Andrew at Epcot today, but they were just a few countries away.


So we country hopped over to France for our second DISmeet, this time with an adult beverage from...












While Vicki and I chatted and enjoyed our slushies, my kids visited the French booth...







Where they chose...




Verrine charlotte au pèches (Caramelized peaches and rosemary and light vanilla cream)

Our Ratings varied greatly on this one, with a 2, a 3, and a 4.

My rating was the lowest of the three, mostly because I'm not a big fan of rosemary and to me this was the dominant flavor of this dish.





Now this was actually the last thing we tried on this day, as after our slushie meet the kids wanted to go back to the Wilderness Lodge for an afternoon nap.
However, we did return to World Showcase several more times during our trip.



We went to Canada...










The United Kingdom provided us with two photo ops...















As well as a booth with some pretty tasty offerings..









We tried three things here...





Potato, Chive and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare and Sour Cream DD & My Rating - 3.5/5 (DS wouldn't touch it)
This was better than I thought it would be.





Baked Goat’s Brie with Kumquat Chutney
Our Rating - 4/5
We all enjoyed this one!






Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and Basil
DD & My Rating - 3/5
I thought this would be better than it was.





Then backtracking to France for a picture...







Next up, Morocco...







And last but not least, Japan...






​

Next up: Dinner at Be our Guest

 

[vettegirl]

I am going to have to try that BBQ sandwich as I am going to go next weekend for the end of the F&G festival for a solo venture!

 

[Linda67]

Ok, I have to tell you all my SPAM story. There is even a small Disney connection. I think of this story and actually giggle any time someone mentions SPAM. Growing up, my Mom loved the stuff. My sister and I could not even stand the smell of it let alone the taste.

Fast forward to DH and I driving home from Disney in 1990 (we weren't married yet and I think this is the trip that we decided to honeymoon at the Grand Floridian). Driving up thru the Carolinas the radio station was constantly promoting a SPAM festival featuring all kinds of "SPAM treats" in an auto parts store parking lot. Well, this cracked me up. I made fun of it and laughed the whole ride. When we finally stopped for the night at some fleabag cheap hotel, we fell into separate beds exhausted and just wanting to sleep. All of a sudden in the dark I hear DH say, "Vicki I really need to tell you something". I remember saying that it could wait til morning. DH said "no, I need to talk to you now". I turned on the light for him to sit up and say: "I like SPAM". I laughed so hard I actually fell off the bed.

Ok, maybe not as funny to all of you that weren't there and hadn't spent hours upon hours driving in the car, but it is a moment I will always remember. Still to this day do not know why he felt it was so important that he had to tell me that. And in all of our now 24 years together he has never eaten SPAM!

Ok, back to your regulary scheduled food porn ...

Love this story
For your 25th Anniversary your HAVE to have a SPAM themed dinner!
Perhaps a SPAM cake

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Love this story
For your 25th Anniversary your HAVE to have a SPAM themed dinner!
Perhaps a SPAM cake

Brilliant! Filing this away for a couple of years!

 

[emmysmommy]

Barb your kids are a hoot!!! My favorite is them posing with the swag from Japan!

I have to say that the brisket and jalepeno cornbread looks pretty awesome!

Vicki: My how your husband loves you! To give up SPAM for 23 years for you - that certainly says LOVE!

 

[smile4stamps]

Sorry.. I am behind... I feel honored to be mentioned in your report. My husband does not do pancakes so the most he would have had of my Macadamia Nut ones was a bite. I did complete them all and was VERY full from it! My husband refused to allow us to leave the restaurant until I finished them and since I didn't want to sit there all day finish them I did.

I am so sad that I am missing the flower and garden festival and all the yummy looking food!

I've had SPAM but it has been many many years.. I think I was 12 lol!

Awesome pics of the kids around the countries! Looks like some fun times.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The World Showcase updates are all so entertaining! Looks like you had a ton of fun goofing around WS, so I'm really impressed that you still managed to do the serious work of sampling and reviewing F&G treats.

All the pictures are fun, but I especially like the Canada picture.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Thanks for doing such a great review! I've really enjoyed reading it!

 

[deenbrad]

I love that your kids posed for those pics! Devin is in the "don't take my picture" phase but I'm guessing if we get to Disney I'll be allowed (maybe in Sept!).

 

[jabead]

SURPRISE! I bet you thought I had abandoned my Dining Report, didn't you?

Well, I decided to take a little time off this afternoon from the Live Thread to give it some "much needed" attention. Had to resurrect it from the middle of page 2. Sorry for the delay and I apologize in advance for the quality of this installment (the live reports are rolling in so I had to hurry it up a bit ).

Mes chers amis,

It is with deepest pride
and greatest pleasure that I welcome you today.
And now I invite you to relax, pull up a chair
as this dining report proudly presents -

Our Dinner!







Be our guest! Be our guest!
We put their service to the test
Tied the napkins 'round our necks, cherie
Aren't those roses just the best?




Had Soup du jour
But no hors d'oeuvres
'Cause we don't like what they serve
But tried the grey stuff
It's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes?




They can sing, they can dance
After all, folks, this is France
And a dinner here is (sometimes) second best
Go on, unfold our menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest!






Be our guest! Be our guest!
Got our worries off our chest
Had some wine, 'cause we could, my friends
So to Walt, must make amends.

Tried the bread! Tried the soup!
Had four entrees for our group
'Cause this time there's no sharing
For once, they were quite daring.








Potato Leek Soup
Our Average Rating - 3/5






French Onion Soup
Our Average Rating - 4/5





Singing pork! Dancing fish!
What an entertaining dish!
And there's nothing quite as tasty
as some seafood in puff pastry.




Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine au jus
DS & DH's Rating - 4/5






Pan-seared Salmon on Leek Fondue - served with creamy saffron-crushed potatoes
DD's Rating - 4/5






Sauteed Shrimp and Scallops - with seasonal vegetables served in puff pastry with a creamy lobster sauce
My Rating - 4/5




Course by course, one by one
'til we said that we were done.
Then they brought around a cart so sweet,
our will power would soon be beat...
















Our Cupcake Rating - 5/5

(Cue the dancing girls)

They'll make you shout "cupcake!"
Or even two, you'll take
at Be our Guest!

Be our Guest!

at....


BE OUR GUEST!!!


​

Next up: Drinks at Tambu Lounge

 

[BlovesC]

What a great -and lyrical!- BOG review! I have a huge hankerin' to try the dish you ordered, if I could only every manage to get an ADR!

Wonderful family photos, too!

 

[smile4stamps]

Love the review Barb!! I was totally singing along in my head!!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Not gonna lie - I've been getting kind of bored of all the BOG dinner reviews. I mean, there's only so many times you can look at pictures of the same pork, steak, soups, and cupcakes - none of which look particularly appetizing to me. (The one entree at BOG I'd like to try is the ratatouille, but it's not a must-do for me.) Still, your review was absolutely worth the read!

I loved the Walt reference after you mentioned having some wine. Still think he's rolling in his grave about alcohol at BOG? Apparently he's moved on to Starbucks on Main Street. (Or he might be have been completely fine with the Starbucks - after all, Disneyland has been full of corporate sponsorships since Day 1. I guess we'll never know )

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Loved your BOG update! Very creative and it looks good.

 

[rachel09985]

I love your kids' photos around the World Showcase. Also, nice short and concise review for BOG! I am still undecided if I want to eat dinner there.

 

[nfggirl5454]

Loved your review for BoG - how cute and clever!

 

[emmysmommy]

Barb you win the award for the most creative and clever BOG I have EVER seen! Just perfect! And yes, I was singing along in my head.

I completely agree with the 5/5 rating for the cupcakes. I may need an extra one of those "to go" next time!

Great job!

 

[MrsB1228]

Great updates, and a very entertaining BOG review!

 

[jabead]

Since the Live Thread has been pretty slow today, I decided to surprise you all and resurrect my dining report from the bottom of page 3. I guess that's what happens when you don't post any updates in more than a month.


Anyway, following our very "musical" dinner at Be our Guest , we met up with my DBIL at the Polynesian resort's....






My brother-in-law lives in the Tampa area and was to drive over after work to have dinner at BOG and spend the evening with us at Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately he got a later start than he had hoped and got stuck in terrible traffic coming out of Tampa. So I had to come up with a Plan B, which was for him to meet us at the Tambu Lounge.


We arrived just as he was finishing his dinner there (so unfortunately no pic), but I did get a picture of their menu...





And FYI, he had the Pork Sliders and said they were very good.



We ordered a round of drinks...




Blue Moon for DH, Pina Coladas for DBIL and me, Virgin Pina Colava for DS, and the most interesting of them all, the Island Sunset, was my DD's choice.






Now I must confess that I have never had the Tambu Lounge's most famous cocktail, the Lapu Lapu. I had fully intended to try it but when it came my turn to order I chickened out and ordered a Pina Colada. Oh well, maybe next time.



And just in case you weren't aware of it, your Tables in Wonderland card can be used at the Tambu Lounge for a 20% discount on all food and beverages. We had 7 drinks (the guys both had a second) and our bill was around $50 with the discount and tip.
Not too bad.


And here is a pic of all of us...



Let's see, that's 5 Bonus Points for me.


​

Next up: Roaring Forks Breakfast