travelitis
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2002
- Messages
- 1,486
We just returned and ate at Beaches and Cream, Garden Grill, Tony's, CRT, LTT, Chef Mickey's, Sci-Fi, 50's PT, Boma and Le Cellier. We were so full we didn't do any counter service, but the kids did have snacks in their fanny packs if they wanted them. Each child got to pick a meal for a b-day celebration. Our group grew to 7 then 9, and we couldn't get out of a restaurant in under 90-120 min. It really took us that long to eat, and we didn't linger after we were done with dessert. I can't decide on ratings, so bear with long review. I will say we wouldn't have changed a thing about this dining arrangement, and the extended family gave me repeated compliments on the selections. Unfortunately, brevity is not one of my talents, so this is long! I want to thank the many people who answered my questions prior our trip. I hounded the boards at times, and your answers really made a big impact. Thank you for the wonderful tips!!
Beaches and Cream - day of arrival - Fri 11/22 3:30
We really enjoyed it and thought it was a great way to kick off the trip. We used 2 Q&C vouchers plus bought 1 kid's grilled cheese and fries. What a bargain! My dh and I split a prime rib sub, fries, and capuccino smoothie, and my 2 ds split a double cheese burger and fruit. They gave each boy a full bowl of fruit, and our meals arrived split. It was our first real meal of the day, (3:30) so we weren't picky which skewed our opinions. For dessert we had the notorious Kitchen Sink and a piece of chocolate cake packaged to take with us. We got through maybe half of the KS before we admitted defeat. My 11 yo ds said, "I think I'm going to puke" as he turned green, which summed it up for all of us. Our timing was superb, and we had our choice of seating. They were picking up by the time we left, so I'd definitely eat at off times. We'd return ONLY if we had vouchers because there were places we enjoyed much more.
Sat 11/23 - McDonald's and Sci-Fi Dine In, 3:05 PS
We couldn't get a later PS, and this was a last-minute sched change, so we had early lunch at McD's then headed here.
Our fo5 fit quite nicely with the 3 kids in the front seat (issued souvie driver's licenses) and us in the back seat (after a humorous warning to keep it a family establishment). 2 kids split a child's Mickey pasta and shake (ample for kids to split, and mine left half their pasta) and between the 11 yo, dh, and me we had a shake, burger, fries, coke, and dessert. The burger was the best of the trip with a smokey, grilled taste. My dh, a true burger connoisseur, requires a stop there this summer for a repeat performance. We got the kids glow-in-the- dark frisbees for $2.50 each which I think is a bargain souvie. They sell them without you buying a kid's meal for each. My dessert was a warm pecan apple crisp and was soooo good! The weather was chilly, and this more elegant version of a comfort food hit the spot. It was served with a thin pastry shell sprinkled with powdered sugar that was pretty and tasty. This place is perfect for a summer afternoon break from the heat.
Sun - ate at condo - frozen chicken from home, deli sidedishes, and pumpkin pie.
Garden Grill, Mon 11/25, PS noon, to celebrate 8yo b-day
This is a great place to celebrate a b-day! This is one of our favorites, and we have yet to be disappointed here. 3 servers and Chip sang to my ds, and he was given a b-day certificate. The "cupcake" is really a cake that stands about 3 inches high and has layers. It was decorated with candy confetti and an edible decoration that said "Happy Birthday" and had Mickey. It was so moist it literally melted in our mouths and was frosted with whipped cream. Even though we ate at a peak time and it was full, the characters were attentive and stopped by several times. We saw Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto. The grandparents joined us for this one, and although they always split meals and barely eat, they found healthy appetites because they enjoyed the food so much. The turkey was so tender you could cut it with your fork, and the flank steak was juicy and flavorful. We told them no fish, but we sampled everything else. The cornbread dressing was wet but tasted good enough that we didn't leave any leftover. For dessert there was cake plus the kids had worms and dirt, and we had the creamy, rich pumpkin cheesecake that was my favorite dessert of the trip. I would love to get that recipe!
50's Prime Time, PS 7 pm
We had a great time here! Dh and I split the pork tenderloin with chipotle peppers which was on the spicey side and very good. The kids ate well, and the in-laws were happy with their selection, the pot roast, which they split. We ordered more dessert than we could handle - s'mores, Dad's Super Sundae, a kid's build-a-sundae, and a Tastey Sundae. The boys ate their sundaes and tried to help us with the s'mores and Dad's Super Sundae, but even they had reached maximum capacity. Auntie Susan was from MN the same as my in-laws, so she spoiled us and didn't even put the naughty kids in time-out. My MIL even hugged her before we left. It was so great we had to repeat it, so there's another review later.
Tony's 2:30, Tues 11/26, 11yo b-day celebration.
This kid really has a Nov b-day, and when we got to Tony's he donned his Harry Potter costume which drew extra attention. This was great timing, as we ran out to the porch to get a great view of the parade. This is how we'll see the parade next trip. We got a ton of attention from the staff and characters, and the gen. mgr. talked to my ds like he was the "real" Harry, even going so far as to get his autograph. They had our table already decorated with confetti and served a cupcake and b-day card signed by Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. The characters had to run outside for the parade, but they came back. We had so much fun here, and Tigger grabbed "Harry" and paraded him around. They announced to everyone when we were seated that there was a celebrity in the house, Mr. Harry Potter! They gave him 6 containers of Mickey confetti and told him to walk around the park throwing that as he cast magic spells. The mgr stopped us and told us how much they enjoyed our group because even the adults played along with the silliness. It was a hoot! I'm so glad I went in spite of the bad reviews. Now for the food - finally, right? While it was not stellar, it also wasn't bad. It was mainstream Italian, and all of us left full and satisfied. Probably the best entree was the chicken parmagiana my dh ordered. The breading was light, not heavy and oily, and the chicken was a breast not some processed patty. I had the pasta primavera, but I would've preferred being able to have a sample of 2 or 3 things. My appetizer of cherry tomatoes with goat cheese was very good, but it tasted like it had the same oil and seasoning as my pasta. I would combine it with something else next time. For dessert the kids had choc. chip cookies, and all adults opted for the tiramisu which I eat at every available opportunity. It did not disappoint and was some of the better I've tasted. We skipped supper.
Boma, Wed, 11/27, breakfast 10:30
We had 3 free breakfast vouchers which we used for this meal. Our meal came to $25 instead of $65, which was a very good thing. While for a buffet we found it good, there was nothing special enough about this place to warrant the price. For that money we need to see characters. I tried everything that was ethnic while the rest of the family, living on the edge, headed for bacon and eggs. I had questions about the food, and waited and waited, but no one came over to assist me. As we were almost the only patrons, it was obvious I was looking for some help, but the staff behind the stations looked at me and acted like I wasn't there. Many of the pastries here we found at Chef Mickey's. We did love their signature juice, and our server was very friendly. Going to Boma gave me the opportunity to see AKL with Christmas decorations and to eliminate it from places I need to stay at. We're not that smitten with it. We were so full we didn't eat until that evening when we just snacked. This was our least favorite, but even it was good.
Thanksgiving - CRT 8:40, 4 yo b-day celebration
MIL joined us, and dh and 2 ds had to eat and run due to my blooper. I was so tired that I looked at my list of PS wrong the night before and thought the PS was 8:40 rather than 8:15. They got us in anyway, but the boys had to take off after seeing only Aurora because of the PC. The girls loved eating in the castle, and so did the boys. We were definitely rushed, but all the princesses had quality interaction with dd who was dressed in full Cinderella attire. My MIL felt like we were being pushed out the door, and this was the only meal that took only an hour.
While it's all you can eat, don't expect to be offered seconds, but we didn't want them anyway. I really liked the puffy pancake with cream cheese. The rest of it was normal quality and selection. We saw Snow White, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Aurora, Belle, and the Fairy Godmother who sits on a throne in the lobby. I was almost ready to cancel the SBP b-fast, but more on that later.
LTT - Perfect selection for our group of 9 for Turkey Day! It's the traditional meal, not gourmet fare. We saw Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale who interacted with the adults and kids. Dessert was small pumpkin pie, ice cream, or Boston cream pie. Our server called it Boston cream cake so people who don't know it's a pie wouldn't get a surprise.
Friday, 11/29 - SBP didn't happen because we were on the bad end of a hit and run. I was really glad we'd seen all the princesses important to us at CRT!
Le Cellier - PS 2:30
The UG hates it, but after reading the menu and so many favorable reviews I took the risk. This was a hit with all the adults, and we ended up having to share some cheese soup with the kids. We also all tried the duck on polenta cake (appetizer) after our server's recommendation. The duck just fell off the bone, and it was very good. The atmosphere, rather than being a dungeon, has a quieter, elegant feel than some of the other venues we chose. It wasn't a fave of the kids, although after trading meals they tolerated it.
50's PT - 7:55 - Once was not enough! We headed back because now we had 2 more victims in our group. Our babysitter was very humorous, and we had a great time playing with a neighboring table. They kept getting caught, 2 of them had time-outs. The kids had the same thing as before, and dh and I tried the meatloaf. It was good, but the pork was better. We tried Dad's Super Sundae which has our new favorite topping now - caramel popcorn. The 2nd time was even better than the first, and we got to see Auntie Susan again. I liked the dessert menu on the viewmaster. Both times they had no problem seating our group together even though the Dine line had indicated we would be separated.
11/30 - day of departure - took a risk and headed to the fully-booked Chef Mickey's. We got there at 10:45, and they got us right in! We had a view of the castle and Space Mountain to boot. I really didn't understand what the big deal is about this place, and we stayed at CR our 1st night and even looked down fand watched the napkin waving and celebrating. Now that we've been, we're converted! Thanks to everyone who kept recommending CM. The selection was as big as Boma's, the quality every bit as good if not better, and the kids loved the build-a-donut. It's hard to describe what makes it so fun, but it just is. The Mickey party music playing helps. This was the perfect way to end our Disney vacation, especially after we missed the SPB. The only negative is that the characters are rushed. Our kids weren't disappointed because they'd had other character meals. We saw Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and Goofy here. Goofy stayed out front and my kids got some great time with him actually rolling on the floor in a tickle fight.
Beaches and Cream - day of arrival - Fri 11/22 3:30
We really enjoyed it and thought it was a great way to kick off the trip. We used 2 Q&C vouchers plus bought 1 kid's grilled cheese and fries. What a bargain! My dh and I split a prime rib sub, fries, and capuccino smoothie, and my 2 ds split a double cheese burger and fruit. They gave each boy a full bowl of fruit, and our meals arrived split. It was our first real meal of the day, (3:30) so we weren't picky which skewed our opinions. For dessert we had the notorious Kitchen Sink and a piece of chocolate cake packaged to take with us. We got through maybe half of the KS before we admitted defeat. My 11 yo ds said, "I think I'm going to puke" as he turned green, which summed it up for all of us. Our timing was superb, and we had our choice of seating. They were picking up by the time we left, so I'd definitely eat at off times. We'd return ONLY if we had vouchers because there were places we enjoyed much more.
Sat 11/23 - McDonald's and Sci-Fi Dine In, 3:05 PS
We couldn't get a later PS, and this was a last-minute sched change, so we had early lunch at McD's then headed here.
Our fo5 fit quite nicely with the 3 kids in the front seat (issued souvie driver's licenses) and us in the back seat (after a humorous warning to keep it a family establishment). 2 kids split a child's Mickey pasta and shake (ample for kids to split, and mine left half their pasta) and between the 11 yo, dh, and me we had a shake, burger, fries, coke, and dessert. The burger was the best of the trip with a smokey, grilled taste. My dh, a true burger connoisseur, requires a stop there this summer for a repeat performance. We got the kids glow-in-the- dark frisbees for $2.50 each which I think is a bargain souvie. They sell them without you buying a kid's meal for each. My dessert was a warm pecan apple crisp and was soooo good! The weather was chilly, and this more elegant version of a comfort food hit the spot. It was served with a thin pastry shell sprinkled with powdered sugar that was pretty and tasty. This place is perfect for a summer afternoon break from the heat.
Sun - ate at condo - frozen chicken from home, deli sidedishes, and pumpkin pie.
Garden Grill, Mon 11/25, PS noon, to celebrate 8yo b-day
This is a great place to celebrate a b-day! This is one of our favorites, and we have yet to be disappointed here. 3 servers and Chip sang to my ds, and he was given a b-day certificate. The "cupcake" is really a cake that stands about 3 inches high and has layers. It was decorated with candy confetti and an edible decoration that said "Happy Birthday" and had Mickey. It was so moist it literally melted in our mouths and was frosted with whipped cream. Even though we ate at a peak time and it was full, the characters were attentive and stopped by several times. We saw Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto. The grandparents joined us for this one, and although they always split meals and barely eat, they found healthy appetites because they enjoyed the food so much. The turkey was so tender you could cut it with your fork, and the flank steak was juicy and flavorful. We told them no fish, but we sampled everything else. The cornbread dressing was wet but tasted good enough that we didn't leave any leftover. For dessert there was cake plus the kids had worms and dirt, and we had the creamy, rich pumpkin cheesecake that was my favorite dessert of the trip. I would love to get that recipe!
50's Prime Time, PS 7 pm
We had a great time here! Dh and I split the pork tenderloin with chipotle peppers which was on the spicey side and very good. The kids ate well, and the in-laws were happy with their selection, the pot roast, which they split. We ordered more dessert than we could handle - s'mores, Dad's Super Sundae, a kid's build-a-sundae, and a Tastey Sundae. The boys ate their sundaes and tried to help us with the s'mores and Dad's Super Sundae, but even they had reached maximum capacity. Auntie Susan was from MN the same as my in-laws, so she spoiled us and didn't even put the naughty kids in time-out. My MIL even hugged her before we left. It was so great we had to repeat it, so there's another review later.
Tony's 2:30, Tues 11/26, 11yo b-day celebration.
This kid really has a Nov b-day, and when we got to Tony's he donned his Harry Potter costume which drew extra attention. This was great timing, as we ran out to the porch to get a great view of the parade. This is how we'll see the parade next trip. We got a ton of attention from the staff and characters, and the gen. mgr. talked to my ds like he was the "real" Harry, even going so far as to get his autograph. They had our table already decorated with confetti and served a cupcake and b-day card signed by Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. The characters had to run outside for the parade, but they came back. We had so much fun here, and Tigger grabbed "Harry" and paraded him around. They announced to everyone when we were seated that there was a celebrity in the house, Mr. Harry Potter! They gave him 6 containers of Mickey confetti and told him to walk around the park throwing that as he cast magic spells. The mgr stopped us and told us how much they enjoyed our group because even the adults played along with the silliness. It was a hoot! I'm so glad I went in spite of the bad reviews. Now for the food - finally, right? While it was not stellar, it also wasn't bad. It was mainstream Italian, and all of us left full and satisfied. Probably the best entree was the chicken parmagiana my dh ordered. The breading was light, not heavy and oily, and the chicken was a breast not some processed patty. I had the pasta primavera, but I would've preferred being able to have a sample of 2 or 3 things. My appetizer of cherry tomatoes with goat cheese was very good, but it tasted like it had the same oil and seasoning as my pasta. I would combine it with something else next time. For dessert the kids had choc. chip cookies, and all adults opted for the tiramisu which I eat at every available opportunity. It did not disappoint and was some of the better I've tasted. We skipped supper.
Boma, Wed, 11/27, breakfast 10:30
We had 3 free breakfast vouchers which we used for this meal. Our meal came to $25 instead of $65, which was a very good thing. While for a buffet we found it good, there was nothing special enough about this place to warrant the price. For that money we need to see characters. I tried everything that was ethnic while the rest of the family, living on the edge, headed for bacon and eggs. I had questions about the food, and waited and waited, but no one came over to assist me. As we were almost the only patrons, it was obvious I was looking for some help, but the staff behind the stations looked at me and acted like I wasn't there. Many of the pastries here we found at Chef Mickey's. We did love their signature juice, and our server was very friendly. Going to Boma gave me the opportunity to see AKL with Christmas decorations and to eliminate it from places I need to stay at. We're not that smitten with it. We were so full we didn't eat until that evening when we just snacked. This was our least favorite, but even it was good.
Thanksgiving - CRT 8:40, 4 yo b-day celebration
MIL joined us, and dh and 2 ds had to eat and run due to my blooper. I was so tired that I looked at my list of PS wrong the night before and thought the PS was 8:40 rather than 8:15. They got us in anyway, but the boys had to take off after seeing only Aurora because of the PC. The girls loved eating in the castle, and so did the boys. We were definitely rushed, but all the princesses had quality interaction with dd who was dressed in full Cinderella attire. My MIL felt like we were being pushed out the door, and this was the only meal that took only an hour.
While it's all you can eat, don't expect to be offered seconds, but we didn't want them anyway. I really liked the puffy pancake with cream cheese. The rest of it was normal quality and selection. We saw Snow White, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Aurora, Belle, and the Fairy Godmother who sits on a throne in the lobby. I was almost ready to cancel the SBP b-fast, but more on that later.
LTT - Perfect selection for our group of 9 for Turkey Day! It's the traditional meal, not gourmet fare. We saw Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale who interacted with the adults and kids. Dessert was small pumpkin pie, ice cream, or Boston cream pie. Our server called it Boston cream cake so people who don't know it's a pie wouldn't get a surprise.
Friday, 11/29 - SBP didn't happen because we were on the bad end of a hit and run. I was really glad we'd seen all the princesses important to us at CRT!
Le Cellier - PS 2:30
The UG hates it, but after reading the menu and so many favorable reviews I took the risk. This was a hit with all the adults, and we ended up having to share some cheese soup with the kids. We also all tried the duck on polenta cake (appetizer) after our server's recommendation. The duck just fell off the bone, and it was very good. The atmosphere, rather than being a dungeon, has a quieter, elegant feel than some of the other venues we chose. It wasn't a fave of the kids, although after trading meals they tolerated it.
50's PT - 7:55 - Once was not enough! We headed back because now we had 2 more victims in our group. Our babysitter was very humorous, and we had a great time playing with a neighboring table. They kept getting caught, 2 of them had time-outs. The kids had the same thing as before, and dh and I tried the meatloaf. It was good, but the pork was better. We tried Dad's Super Sundae which has our new favorite topping now - caramel popcorn. The 2nd time was even better than the first, and we got to see Auntie Susan again. I liked the dessert menu on the viewmaster. Both times they had no problem seating our group together even though the Dine line had indicated we would be separated.
11/30 - day of departure - took a risk and headed to the fully-booked Chef Mickey's. We got there at 10:45, and they got us right in! We had a view of the castle and Space Mountain to boot. I really didn't understand what the big deal is about this place, and we stayed at CR our 1st night and even looked down fand watched the napkin waving and celebrating. Now that we've been, we're converted! Thanks to everyone who kept recommending CM. The selection was as big as Boma's, the quality every bit as good if not better, and the kids loved the build-a-donut. It's hard to describe what makes it so fun, but it just is. The Mickey party music playing helps. This was the perfect way to end our Disney vacation, especially after we missed the SPB. The only negative is that the characters are rushed. Our kids weren't disappointed because they'd had other character meals. We saw Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and Goofy here. Goofy stayed out front and my kids got some great time with him actually rolling on the floor in a tickle fight.
