Erikarate
married her prince
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2001
- Messages
- 608
RECAP...
The players:
Me, DH, DD 9, DS 7.
Where we stayed:
4 days at Portofino Bay Concierge(Universal Studios), 9 days at BoardWalk Villas 9 (1 BR unit)
Rating Scale:
10- everything perfect...food, service, atmosphere (very rare)
9- excellent, almost perfect
7-8- very good, overall great experience
5-6- mediocre, might not return
3-4- bad, not returning
1-2- should close this place down!!!
Tuesday, July 13
No park this morning as the kids had a ressie for Grand Adventures in Cooking at the Grand Floridian (I'll briefly review shortly). We dropped them off and excitedly took off for two hours of a "kid-free" breakfast at GF Cafe.
Breakfast, Grand Floridian Cafe
It is a tradition for DH and I to eat here while the kids do activities at the Grand Floridian (i.e. Pirate Cruise). We arrived around 10am and were seated right away. I was disappointed to see the veggie frittata was no longer on the menu. They did have a few omelettes on the menu, but none appealed to me. Our waiter told me they could make whatever I'd like. Happily I requested a mushroom and swiss...no problem. It was cooked just right, not runny, slightly browned. I also ordered a side of turkey sausage which I had before and find it light and tastey. I ordered coffee to drink and was given a pot to refill as I please (I love that) and a glass of fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice...YUM.
DH ordered his usual eggs benedict served with asparagus. He enjoyed this, and said it was one of the best hollandaise sauces ever.
Our server was wonderful. He was friendly and attentive. When he forgot my turkey sausage, and then brought us pork sausage, he was humble and apologetic...who could ask for more? We are all human and make mistakes. I appreciate someone who is honest about it. While we waited for the sausage he brought us a fruit cup with perfect sweet fruit.
Overall rating: 8 1/2 - One of the best breakfasts on site IMO. The buffets are also great, but I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here.
After breakfast DH and I walked around the GF, then to the Poly and took the monorail back to the GF to wait in the lobby in front of the GF Cafe for the kids to present their culinary creations.
Grand Adventures in Cooking
When we dropped the kids earlier at the Mousekateer Club where the class is held we were given a beeper. From reports given by our 7 and 9 y.o. the kids immediately begin decorating their chef aprons with colorful hand prints dipped in paint and chef hats with markers.
They then do the "cooking" part. This year, as they did last year, they made small containers with "worms in dirt", chocolate pudding with cookie crumbs and gummy worms. I was a little disappointed it was the same thing and that there wasn't any real "cooking" going on. Oh well...they were happy.
We were among many other parents waiting to greet their chefs. The chefs come into the lobby donning their decorated chef garb and looking quite adorable and proudly distribute their culinary creations. Most people take it and say thanks, even if they have no intention of eating it. Surprisingly some say "no thank you" and I'm like JUST TAKE IT!!! I could never look a cute kid in the eye and say that.
Overall rating: 7 1/2 - Nice for the kids, nice break for the adults. Might move on to the tea party instead next time.
We felt like doing a simple counter service this evening. We wanted to go to MK since we hadn't been there yet this trip. We decided on Pecos Bill.
Dinner, Pecos Bill
It was dinner time, so this place was mobbed. I remembered why we generally do sit-down. Surprisingly though the line moved quickly. DH and I got burgers and fries, the kids got hot dogs and fries. The fixin's bar has yummy sauteed onions and mushrooms and such so we piled them on. We found a dirty sticky table for four and crammed in around others who appeared equally stressed. The food was very good, but we would have enjoyed it more in less cramped conditions.
Overall rating: 7 - Would come back again, maybe at a less busy time.
Later, we were looking for something sweet. We decided on ice cream.
Dessert, Mrs. Potts Cupboard
We had been here before and think the hot fudge is awesome. Me, DH, and DS all had fudge sundaes. DD had vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. We found a counter seat located nearby and devoured them, despite the mammoth portions.
Overall rating: 8 - for very good ice cream and hot fudge.
Slowly but surely I will get to:
Yachtsman
Cape May Clam Bake
Brown Derby
Luau
...and more!!!!
The players:
Me, DH, DD 9, DS 7.
Where we stayed:
4 days at Portofino Bay Concierge(Universal Studios), 9 days at BoardWalk Villas 9 (1 BR unit)
Rating Scale:
10- everything perfect...food, service, atmosphere (very rare)
9- excellent, almost perfect
7-8- very good, overall great experience
5-6- mediocre, might not return
3-4- bad, not returning
1-2- should close this place down!!!
Tuesday, July 13
No park this morning as the kids had a ressie for Grand Adventures in Cooking at the Grand Floridian (I'll briefly review shortly). We dropped them off and excitedly took off for two hours of a "kid-free" breakfast at GF Cafe.
Breakfast, Grand Floridian Cafe
It is a tradition for DH and I to eat here while the kids do activities at the Grand Floridian (i.e. Pirate Cruise). We arrived around 10am and were seated right away. I was disappointed to see the veggie frittata was no longer on the menu. They did have a few omelettes on the menu, but none appealed to me. Our waiter told me they could make whatever I'd like. Happily I requested a mushroom and swiss...no problem. It was cooked just right, not runny, slightly browned. I also ordered a side of turkey sausage which I had before and find it light and tastey. I ordered coffee to drink and was given a pot to refill as I please (I love that) and a glass of fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice...YUM.
DH ordered his usual eggs benedict served with asparagus. He enjoyed this, and said it was one of the best hollandaise sauces ever.
Our server was wonderful. He was friendly and attentive. When he forgot my turkey sausage, and then brought us pork sausage, he was humble and apologetic...who could ask for more? We are all human and make mistakes. I appreciate someone who is honest about it. While we waited for the sausage he brought us a fruit cup with perfect sweet fruit.
Overall rating: 8 1/2 - One of the best breakfasts on site IMO. The buffets are also great, but I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here.
After breakfast DH and I walked around the GF, then to the Poly and took the monorail back to the GF to wait in the lobby in front of the GF Cafe for the kids to present their culinary creations.
Grand Adventures in Cooking
When we dropped the kids earlier at the Mousekateer Club where the class is held we were given a beeper. From reports given by our 7 and 9 y.o. the kids immediately begin decorating their chef aprons with colorful hand prints dipped in paint and chef hats with markers.
They then do the "cooking" part. This year, as they did last year, they made small containers with "worms in dirt", chocolate pudding with cookie crumbs and gummy worms. I was a little disappointed it was the same thing and that there wasn't any real "cooking" going on. Oh well...they were happy.
We were among many other parents waiting to greet their chefs. The chefs come into the lobby donning their decorated chef garb and looking quite adorable and proudly distribute their culinary creations. Most people take it and say thanks, even if they have no intention of eating it. Surprisingly some say "no thank you" and I'm like JUST TAKE IT!!! I could never look a cute kid in the eye and say that.
Overall rating: 7 1/2 - Nice for the kids, nice break for the adults. Might move on to the tea party instead next time.
We felt like doing a simple counter service this evening. We wanted to go to MK since we hadn't been there yet this trip. We decided on Pecos Bill.
Dinner, Pecos Bill
It was dinner time, so this place was mobbed. I remembered why we generally do sit-down. Surprisingly though the line moved quickly. DH and I got burgers and fries, the kids got hot dogs and fries. The fixin's bar has yummy sauteed onions and mushrooms and such so we piled them on. We found a dirty sticky table for four and crammed in around others who appeared equally stressed. The food was very good, but we would have enjoyed it more in less cramped conditions.
Overall rating: 7 - Would come back again, maybe at a less busy time.
Later, we were looking for something sweet. We decided on ice cream.
Dessert, Mrs. Potts Cupboard
We had been here before and think the hot fudge is awesome. Me, DH, and DS all had fudge sundaes. DD had vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. We found a counter seat located nearby and devoured them, despite the mammoth portions.
Overall rating: 8 - for very good ice cream and hot fudge.
Slowly but surely I will get to:
Yachtsman
Cape May Clam Bake
Brown Derby
Luau
...and more!!!!
