10 Days of Disney Dining – TS, CS, & Snacks – LOTS of Photos! COMPLETE THROUGH DAY 10

[mydogisbo]

I have a question about this steak:

The steak was ordered medium and cooked to perfection.

Then I read your later post about your DSIL not feeling well because of the rich food. (I know she didn't have the steak, but same restaurant)

So, here's my question--was the steak heavily marinated in something? I sometimes have problems with rich food & some marinades, but was thinking of ordering the NY Strip when we go to the WCC. Just wondering if I might be better off asking for just a plain steak (not marinated).

Thanks!!!

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

I have a question about this steak:



Then I read your later post about your DSIL not feeling well because of the rich food. (I know she didn't have the steak, but same restaurant)

So, here's my question--was the steak heavily marinated in something? I sometimes have problems with rich food & some marinades, but was thinking of ordering the NY Strip when we go to the WCC. Just wondering if I might be better off asking for just a plain steak (not marinated).

Thanks!!!

The steak was probably marinated in something, but it didn't seem very rich to me. It was delicious! I think you will be OK with the steak. DSIL had the chicken pasta with a very rich cream sauce and lots of cheese, and she was used to salads and fruit for the past several weeks!

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

Day 5 Breakfast – Everything POP

DH went to the food court and brought back to the room:

Breakfast platter (eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuit, potatoes)
Chocolate chip pancakes with bacon
2 bottled drinks (took to park)
Mug refills

We all shared – again, plenty of food. This is why we had trouble using all of our CS credits, we rarely ordered more than 2 meals because you get so much food! Everything was good, no complaints. Great “fuel” to start our day!

Cost – 2 CS credits = $16.13 (breakfast is obviously not the best value for credits; you don’t get dessert, but we would never have used all the credits so this was a good use for us)

Day 5 Lunch – Tusker House

We made the mistake of arriving at noon again! This place was PACKED. DB, DSIL, & I stood in line for over half an hour while DH and DDs circled the place looking for a table. We waited longer in lines at CS places than for the actual rides in the park! #1 lesson learned – arrive early for CS lunches. Anyway, they found a table right when we were getting our food:

Me – Rotisserie chicken meal, cheesecake
DH – Chicken sandwich, chocolate cake
DD7 – Mac & cheese (notice a trend?) with grapes kid’s meal, chocolate cake
DD2 – shared with everyone

This was our #1 CS restaurant! Everything was excellent. The potatoes that came with the chicken were wonderful, the chicken sandwich was huge and tasty, & the cheesecake was the best the entire trip, including TS restaurants. The chocolate cakes were big slices, not pre-packaged. We really enjoyed this meal and recommend highly – just get there early!

Cost – 3 CS credits = $36.55

Day 5 Dinner – Kona Café

This was my favorite meal of the trip and DH’s #2 (right behind WCC). We had an 8:20 ADR and arrived around 8:10; we were seated around 8:25. DD2 had fallen asleep while we waited, so they allowed us to push the stroller right up to the table and she slept through this meal (it was very quiet). The restaurant was about half full, probably because of the late hour and everyone was at ‘OHana and the Luau. Our server was Debi – the best server of the trip! She was wonderful – very friendly and outgoing.

Me – Kona Chowder, Teriyaki steak, Kilahuea torte, raspberry smoothie (Debi allowed on DDP), and Backscratcher (OOP $10.90)
DH – sticky wings, coconut almond chicken, chocolate macadamia nut tart, Coke
DD7 – chicken noodle soup, hot dog kid’s meal, strawberry banana smoothie, Kiddie Kone (again, Debi allowed her to have this instead of the special kid’s desserts)

The chowder was EXCELLENT – lots of big chunks of shrimp, fish, & crabmeat. This was even better than the lobster bisque at Coral Reef. The steak was the best I’ve EVER eaten, anywhere, period. Cooked perfectly medium, topped with pineapple chunks and the most delicious teriyaki sauce. The potatoes were good too. Debi kept joking I was going to float away because I had the smoothie (absolutely delicious), the Backscratcher (very stout, I was feeling a little woozy ; Debi brought the actual backscratcher out separately so it wouldn’t have liquor on it for DD7 to play with), and several water refills with my meal. I was so stuffed I could only eat a few bites of the torte, but it was DELICIOUS. I wish I could have eaten it all, but it just wouldn’t fit! DH said the wings were excellent, and the coconut almond chicken was one of the best chicken dishes he’s ever eaten! He enjoyed the chocolate tart, and was able to finish it with no problem – he said it tasted kind of like a pecan pie only much better. DD7 enjoyed all her food as well and ate more here than any other restaurant. She was full and didn’t eat all her Kiddie Kone, but she really enjoyed what she had.

Obviously, we will definitely be returning here! We are taking a short Mom & Dad trip in January, and this will probably be our 1 TS meal for that trip. A++++++

Cost – 3 TS credits = $109.56 (bargain!!)

Our only problem came when we were leaving – although not Kona’s fault at all! It was after 9 and MK was closed, so we had to take a bus to Downtown Disney and then connect with the Pop bus there. AND, the Luau let out at the same time we got to the Poly bus stop. So, we had to wait for the 3rd bus at the Poly, then when we got to Downtown Disney there was a huge line and we got the 3rd bus there as well. It took us over 90 minutes to get from the Poly to POP, all the while holding a sleeping 2 year old. Bad planning on my part – lesson learned – make sure your reservation is early enough to be over by park closing so you can ride the monorail back to MK! We wish we would just taken a cab, it would have been worth the cost.

Wings:

Chowder, Raspberry Smoothie, Backscratcher:

Coconut Almond Chicken:

Teriyaki Steak:

Desserts:

(face painting from Animal Kingdom)

And finally, this is not food, but DD7 snapped this picture of DH and I at Kona and I thought it was cute (notice how we're dressed for the Poly)

Coming up next - Mama Melrose Fantasmic package

 

[kupperman]

I'm really enjoying your reviews and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

 

[sandym718]

Great reviews, loving them!!

Something I found interesting - we'll also have a 2 yr old DD with us when we go in the spring. I'm planning on paying OOP for her milk at TS, but I see at WCC it was $3.35!! That seems like an awful lot for a glass of milk. More than a gallon cost me today! Not much choice in the matter, but jeez! 2 questions, at the buffets did you have to pay for a separate drink for her? And, could you just charge this to your room?

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[foxtrotter]

Great reviews, thanks! Kona was our favorite last time we went as well, we ended up there twice because my husband just loved it. The chowder and creme brulee are heavenly!

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

Great reviews, loving them!!

Something I found interesting - we'll also have a 2 yr old DD with us when we go in the spring. I'm planning on paying OOP for her milk at TS, but I see at WCC it was $3.35!! That seems like an awful lot for a glass of milk. More than a gallon cost me today! Not much choice in the matter, but jeez! 2 questions, at the buffets did you have to pay for a separate drink for her? And, could you just charge this to your room?

Thanks,
Sandy

Yes, the milk was expensive - it was $2.69 + tax + 18% tip (they automatically add tips to OOP items when you're on the dining plan). And she only drank about 1/2! At the buffets and family style all you can eat places, her meal and drink were free (as long as she got a soft drink - we didn't get milk after WCC; we just got the milk "chugs" from the food court for her daily milk). We only paid OOP at ala carte places. And yes, you can charge all OOP items to your room.

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[emh1129]

Great reviews!

 

[Magic2000]

Kona Cafe is one of our family favorites too!!! We've got a meal planned here for our upcoming trip!!!

We've also learned to take a cab back to the hotel after dinner sometimes (especially when eating at Boma)! Its much quicker and definitely worth it!!!

 

[sandym718]

Thanks for the info! My kids only drink milk and water, we'll have milk in the AM in the room, they'll drink water all day. DS (4 and on the plan, obviously) will definitely want chocolate milk each night, so she will too - guess we'll be coughing up the $!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Thanks for all of your great reviews.

 

[megan4777]

I'm really enjoying your review with photos! I'm in planning mode for our trip next Dec (dd's will be 2 and 4) and I'm trying to narrow down our restaurants. Thanks and keep up the good work!

 

[PrincessNED]

Great report - appreciate seeing the costs

 

[marybdisney]

Great reviews, loving them!!

Something I found interesting - we'll also have a 2 yr old DD with us when we go in the spring. I'm planning on paying OOP for her milk at TS, but I see at WCC it was $3.35!! That seems like an awful lot for a glass of milk. More than a gallon cost me today! Not much choice in the matter, but jeez! 2 questions, at the buffets did you have to pay for a separate drink for her? And, could you just charge this to your room?

Thanks,
Sandy

Sandy, there is a gift shop in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge right next to the check-in counter and diagonally across from the WCC. When we were there I think they sold pints of milk in the gift shop (it has a pretty good grocery selection due to the villas). My bet would be that a pint of milk in the gift shop will cost less than the restaurant and I doubt if you bought one and slipped it in your purse and pulled it out at the table that they would give you a hard time. Just a thought, anyway.....

 

[sandym718]

Thanks! Actually, now I'm wondering... we'll be going to dinner each night from our Poly room, since the kids take naps. Wonder if I should just mix up chocolate milk for her in our room, put it in one of her "thermal" sippy cups and bring it to dinner. Not something I'd usually do, but neither is paying almost $4 for milk!

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

Thanks! Actually, now I'm wondering... we'll be going to dinner each night from our Poly room, since the kids take naps. Wonder if I should just mix up chocolate milk for her in our room, put it in one of her "thermal" sippy cups and bring it to dinner. Not something I'd usually do, but neither is paying almost $4 for milk!

Sandy - I would definitely do that - that's exactly what we did a few times when we went to ala carte restaurants. She just drank from her sippy cup, no one said anything about it. We actually do that at restaurants here at home a lot, not neccesarily to save money, but because most don't serve the juice she likes.

 

[sandym718]

Thank you, great to hear it works! That will be our plan, then, and that's a little extra $ for a souvenir!!!

It's so great to get this kind of info here at the DIS!! Sorry for the hijack, too!

 

[50 years Too!]

Loved your reports. Thanks!
I've finally talked my daughter out of Coral Reef (your report finally convinced her). And with your rec will add Kona.

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

Loved your reports. Thanks!
I've finally talked my daughter out of Coral Reef (your report finally convinced her). And with your rec will add Kona.

Excellent choice! So glad I could help. I have read a LOT of restaurant reviews, and honestly haven't read one bad thing about Kona. Enjoy!

 

[MsSpinShady]

Great reviews and pics...thanks Looking forward to the rest!!!

MsSpinShady

P.S. Your girls are adorable, and really look like they were having a great time!