11 Days of Two Squirrels Eating for Free! 9/29 Goofy's Candy Co./Earl of Sandwich/Pop

[doitforlove]

Hi everyone! I wanted to thank you all for your amazing dining reviews by posting my own when my DBf and I head to Disney World in mid September.

To explain the title of this thread quickly: I have a serious obsession with squirrels . They're my favorite animal. Whenever I see a squirrel scurrying around it makes my day 1,000,000 times better. My plan is to take as many pictures as I can of Disney squirrels when I'm in Florida! Anyway, my "pet" name for DBf is squirrel and he calls me squirrel as well. We're strange I know.

First quick introductions:

My DBf and I are university students in Philadelphia. We're both seniors (after this term!!) studying business administration. We work/go to school year round and our only break is two weeks in September. So we decided to go to Disney World this year! (By we, of course, I mean me )

My name is Jenn. I'm a pretty picky eater. My favorite foods are cheeseburgers (but plain - only bun, meat, cheese, and LOTS of ketchup), pistachio ice cream, filet mignon with mashed potatoes, pepperoni pizza, cupcakes and anything chocolate. I'm seriously obsessed with Disney and have been since I was a wee little child. My favorite Disney movies are Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, and the Little Mermaid

My DBf, who shall rename nameless , is much more conscious of what he eats. 95% of the time he eats a paleo/primal diet which is basically just meat, veggies and fruits - no breads, sugar, processed anything. I've also been following this diet on and off for the past two years and lost a ton of weight doing so. However, neither of us will be following too closely on this vacation because no one will stop me from eating ice cream and cupcakes on vacation!

Note: DBf usually avoids nuts of all kinds as he has weird reactions to them - not quite allergic but he just tries to avoid them. He is also not particularly a fan of Disney, I think he mostly agreed to this vacation for the booze and princesses You'll notice a lack of character meals in our plans though due to DBf's disinterest.

We're celebrating our 3 year anniversary during this trip (about a week early, our anniversary actually falls on our first day back at work/school ).

Anyway, what you're here for! We're staying at POP and got the free QSDP but upgraded to the DDP.

Our Line Up:

Friday, September 7: Arrival Day / DisneyQuest / Epcot
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express Part I
Dinner: Les Chefs de France
Snacks: Karamell-Küche

Saturday, September 8: Animal Kingdom / Downtown Disney
Breakfast/Snack: Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery
Lunch: Restaurantosaurus
Dinner: T-Rex Part I

Sunday, September 9: Blizzard Beach / Magic Kingdom
Breakfast: POP
Lunch: Lottawatta Lodge
Dinner: Whispering Canyon Cafe

Monday, September 10: Hollywood Studios
Breakfast: Starring Rolls Cafe
Lunch: Sci-Fi Dine In
Dinner: Backlot Express, Hollywood Scoops & Pizza Planet

Tuesday, September 11: Islands of Adventure / Downtown Disney
Breakfast: Goofy's Candy Co & Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Lunch: Mythos
Dinner: T-Rex Part II
Snacks: Goofy's Candy Co.

Wednesday, September 12 Typhoon Lagoon / EMH @ Epcot
Breakfast: Kona Cafe
Lunch: Sassagoula Floatworks & Wolfgang Puck Express Part II
Dinner: La Cava de Tequila, Via Napoli & Tutto Gusto

Thursday, September 13: Universal Studios
Breakfast: Goofy's Candy Co & Earl of Sandwich
Lunch: POP
Dinner: 'Ohana Part I

Friday, September 14: Epcot / MNSSHP
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Cosmic Rays

Saturday, September 15: Hollywood Studios
Lunch: Mama Melrose's
Dinner: 'Ohana Part II

Sunday, September 16: Magic Kingdom
Lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner: Cosmic Rays
Fireworks Dessert Party!!

Monday, September 17 Downtown Disney / Departure Day
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express Part III
​

​

 

[Tracerr00]

Joining in!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip and your dining. You've got some great plans!

 

[doitforlove]

Big news!! After our university released our final exam schedule and we found out our last finals were on Thursday, 9/6 DBf surprised me and we decided to add on three days/nights to the beginning of our trip. So we will be staying at POP for 10 nights/11 days and our new dates are 9/7 - 9/17.

I will update our schedule tomorrow morning with our new touring plan and dining reservations.

Looking forward to a longer, more relaxing vacation (with 30% more eats)!!

 

[doitforlove]

Joining in!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip and your dining. You've got some great plans!

Thanks for joining!! Looking forward to sharing my dining experiences with everyone!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I can't wait to read your reviews!

I've heard great things about following a paleo diet, as there's so many potential problems with consuming processed foods (especially refined carbohydrates). That said, there's no harm in enjoying yourself while in Disney - I like the sounds of your "ice cream and cupcake" plan, and you have some great restaurants booked.

I also don't mind your squirrel obsession, since ducks are openly one of my favorite animals (and I take pics of them all the time in WDW ). You might be interested to know that I often take pictures of amusing squirrels as well (like this and this).

And I have the exact same 4 favorite Disney movies as you.

Glad your trip was extended, and I can't wait to read more!

 

[deenbrad]

I'm in!

 

[jabead]

Count me in too, Jenn! Hope you don't mind that I've added you to my list along with a link to your report. I'm so happy that there are so many going to WDW very soon and many of them are going to do Dining Reports!

 

[doitforlove]

I can't wait to read your reviews!

I've heard great things about following a paleo diet, as there's so many potential problems with consuming processed foods (especially refined carbohydrates). That said, there's no harm in enjoying yourself while in Disney - I like the sounds of your "ice cream and cupcake" plan, and you have some great restaurants booked.

I also don't mind your squirrel obsession, since ducks are openly one of my favorite animals (and I take pics of them all the time in WDW ). You might be interested to know that I often take pictures of amusing squirrels as well (like this and this).

And I have the exact same 4 favorite Disney movies as you.

Glad your trip was extended, and I can't wait to read more!

Thanks for joining in, Donald! Your reviews are always spectacular! Paleo diets are great, I managed to lose almost forty pounds doing it. I've been seriously slacking the last year though. The plan is to get back on it 100% after Disney and make the final push to a super healthy body! Disney is the last week off the deep end, so I better enjoy it while I can!

Loveeee your pictures of squirrels! I'm hoping to get lucky and catch a shot with a squirrel with a Disney icon in the background. It would be great to get a squirrel with the castle behind him! If only the squirrels at Disney wore mouse ears like the people!

I'm in!

Thanks for joining in deenbrad! Hope you enjoy my reviews!

Count me in too, Jenn! Hope you don't mind that I've added you to my list along with a link to your report. I'm so happy that there are so many going to WDW very soon and many of them are going to do Dining Reports!

Jabead, thanks for joining! I love your reviews! Thanks for the add to your list - I can't wait to read about everyone else's yummy adventures as well

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I will be having serioius post-Disney blues while you are enjoying your trip! Looking forward to you report when you return!

 

[jecskc]

Coming over from my DR and subbing in !! We are doing to Disney from Sept 7-14, so we will be there at the same time. I looked over our ADR's and we don't have anything that coincides with your ADR's, but we are eating at some of the same places. Hope to see you there, though and I am looking forward to reading about your trip !!

 

[Rumpletinker]

Yay!! Philadelphia peoples!!! I was born and raised and still living in the Northeast. Hopefully this trip will convert your BF to a Disney nerd lol! can't wait to see your pics!

 

[doitforlove]

I will be having serioius post-Disney blues while you are enjoying your trip! Looking forward to you report when you return!

Looking forward to your report too! The post-Disney blues are the worst at least you'll have a bunch of dining reports to help cheer you up!

Coming over from my DR and subbing in !! We are doing to Disney from Sept 7-14, so we will be there at the same time. I looked over our ADR's and we don't have anything that coincides with your ADR's, but we are eating at some of the same places. Hope to see you there, though and I am looking forward to reading about your trip !!

Have a great trip too!! It seriously can't come faster!!

Yay!! Philadelphia peoples!!! I was born and raised and still living in the Northeast. Hopefully this trip will convert your BF to a Disney nerd lol! can't wait to see your pics!

Yay Philly! I doubt that I'll convert him, but ya never know! It's his first time to Disney ever, so I guess it's possible. I'm thinking he's going to enjoy Universal more. I'm sure there won't be any complaints as he'll be very full the whole trip. A full tummy = a happy DBf.

 

[doitforlove]

20 days out DBf decided he wanted to take a look at our reservations and of course wanted me to make some changes

Luckily the dining reservation gods were on our side so I was able to make the changes no problem

We added on Teppan Edo cause DBf loves hibachi restaurants, I went here last September and while it was very good we can get much better hibachi that comes with much bigger portions/variety (fried rice, soup, salad anyone?!) here in Philly. He was adamant and it's one of the few things he asked for so I obliged.

We also added on 50's Prime Time Cafe because apparently he loves gimmicky type restaurants Three years of dating him and I never knew. We already had Whispering Canyon Cafe and T-Rex but DBf loved the idea of more sarcastic interaction so I decided to add that on.

I also changed around some of our touring plans because I decided I couldn't go for a whole week of being in the world before I got to the Magic Kingdom. The idea was to wait until MNSSHP for DBf to experience MK for the first time in it's Halloween glory. However, I can't go that long without seeing Mickey's PhilharMagic and going on The Haunted Mansion!

I don't think we canceled anything so the plan is to split a lot of these meals which works for me because Disney portion sizes are ridiculous.

Still debating on whether or not I want to keep Les Chefs de France. I keep hearing mixed reviews, but I hear their desserts are lovely and that's all I care about We'll probably make that decision once we're on property.

19 days!!!

 

[nanienamou]

Love your plans!

I also eat a meat/veggie/fruit diet (although not Paleo) but I indulge when in vacation. I still have to be somewhat cautious, especially with ice cream, as it upsets my tummy.

Can't wait to read your reviews! Hope you have a terrific trip!

 

[alicehatter]

I'm following a Primal diet as well, and cannot wait to see what you both come up to order in Disney! I will certainly be indulging in a few gluten free (although most likely not grain free) foods when I head down there in October - Mickey Waffles and BabyCakes bakery - but other than that I plan on following the Primal plan as much as possible!

 

[doitforlove]

Love your plans!

I also eat a meat/veggie/fruit diet (although not Paleo) but I indulge when in vacation. I still have to be somewhat cautious, especially with ice cream, as it upsets my tummy.

Can't wait to read your reviews! Hope you have a terrific trip!

Thanks for joining, we're very excited for our trip!!

I'm following a Primal diet as well, and cannot wait to see what you both come up to order in Disney! I will certainly be indulging in a few gluten free (although most likely not grain free) foods when I head down there in October - Mickey Waffles and BabyCakes bakery - but other than that I plan on following the Primal plan as much as possible!

I'm highly doubting we'll end up eating primal at all at Disney. Just too much temptation DBf will probably try his hardest, but as college students we can't turn down free food/dessert

 

[doitforlove]

I convinced DBf to nix Teppan Edo even though I know he loves hibachi type restaurants (I do too!) I got a livingsocial deal for our favorite hibachi place here in Philly and Restaurant Week is at the end of September so we're going to save hibachi until then. I guess this will mean less meal splitting. The horrors!

We're 5 days aways until our 11 day adventure to Disney World. DBf has even started to get excited! Although I think he's mostly excited for DisneyQuest

 

[poohangel]

Can't wait to read your reviews. Have a great trip.

 

[jedijill]

I'm in! I've toyed with trying Paleo but haven't taken the plunge yet. I travel to Philly on business a couple times a year and there are some great eats there! Sad to be missing Restaurant Week this but I'll make for it on my trips to Florida.

Jill in CO

 

[doitforlove]

Can't wait to read your reviews. Have a great trip.

Thanks for joining!

I'm in! I've toyed with trying Paleo but haven't taken the plunge yet. I travel to Philly on business a couple times a year and there are some great eats there! Sad to be missing Restaurant Week this but I'll make for it on my trips to Florida.

Jill in CO

Thank you for joining! Being on a paleo diet is great, I lost a ton of weight (40-50 pounds on it) and felt happier and healthier. My main issue is that my schedule is crazy so its hard to stay on diet. Also I'm an Italian with a sweet-tooth. So some days are hard when I just want pizza and ice cream! Restaurant Week is two weeks after we come back. Hopefully by then we'll have recouped from all our Disney eats and be ready to dine out again



It's officially past midnight so I can say: WE LEAVE TOMORROW!!!!!