2011/2012 Beach & Yacht FAQ, Part IV- DO NOT POST- see new 2012 thread

[jenneth79]

I have about a month before I'm at the 180 day mark for ADRs, and I'm looking to try some new restaurants. Does anyone have any thoughts (good or bad) about Tutto Italia, Coral Reef, Teppan Edo, or Whispering Canyon? (I have DD8 and DS4, so they'll have to be happy too!)

Cindy

Hi Cindy!

I'm not sure when Tutto Italia is reopening (or if they are making changes to the restaurant as a whole???) but we thought it was a decent meal (here's the review). I loved the appetizers especially, and the kids will probably easily find something on the menu.

We have not yet eaten at Teppan Edo (opting instead for Tokyo Dining, which we love!) though from what I hear, if you like Japanese Steakhouses, this is what you get. (nothing more, nothing less) If you like sushi, I'd highly recommend Tokyo Dining - and they have lots of options for people who like their food cooked and not from the ocean (the pork kakuni is amazing!)

I haven't eaten at the other two, so can't offer suggestions there.

 

[Marlton Mom]

MM--enjoy your solo trip!! Tell your mystery dinner guest that Cindy, Rick, Samantha and Hunter say Hi!

Does anyone have any thoughts (good or bad) about Tutto Italia, Coral Reef, Teppan Edo, or Whispering Canyon? (I have DD8 and DS4, so they'll have to be happy too!)

Cindy

Thank you and I will be sure tell "mystery guest" that you all said hi!

The ages of your children are PERECT for Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's a really fun experience with good food as well so it's a win win.

I'm not going to reveal too much but I will tell you that your family will be talking about that place for days afterwards.

Oh, BTW, do your kids like ketchup? It's the Featured condiment at WCC so be sure to ask for some to try. It was the best darn ketchup I've ever tasted! I don't know what they put in it but it's simply MARVELOUS!

~MM

 

[TaraPA]

We have not yet eaten at Teppan Edo (opting instead for Tokyo Dining, which we love!) though from what I hear, if you like Japanese Steakhouses, this is what you get. (nothing more, nothing less)

Exactly this. I enjoy Teppan Edo, but if you have hibatchi-style Japanese chain restaraunts at home, it's not better than that.

The ages of your children are PERECT for Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's a really fun experience with good food as well so it's a win win.

I'm not going to reveal too much but I will tell you that your family will be talking about that place for days afterwards.

Oh, BTW, do your kids like ketchup? It's the Featured condiment at WCC so be sure to ask for some to try. It was the best darn ketchup I've ever tasted! I don't know what they put in it but it's simply MARVELOUS!

~MM

Glad to hear this. I have an ADR for WCC, my boys are HUGE meat & potatoes kids, I think the skillets will be perfect for them. Did I read somewhere that it's all-you-can-eat or did I dream that?

 

[nannette]

Nannette -- Good Luck to your dd! Is it any easier when you've already passed another state's? I know your dd passed the bar before and I'm sure she'll do great in Texas!

Ds took the NJ bar when we were in Disney last summer. I think I was as nervous as he was (almost!). It really makes them nuts!!!! Luckily he passed on the first attempt - got a job (Thank God - it's not a good time for newly out of law school attorneys in the job market).

Thanks Robyn! She is really hard on herself so I don't think it would matter where she took it she would be nuts even though she has passed NY. We have heard that NY and Cali are the hardest ones to pass so Texas should be easier. Texas is 3 days though and has oil and gas law which she has had to teach herself. We should know in May how she did. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers please!! The thing with her is she doesn't really even want to practice law... but you went to school so why not have the license is what we tell her. She worked politics in NY and that isn't going to work out for her in Texas so she has to find something else do to. It will all come together once she is finished with the bar exam!!

Oh, BTW, do your kids like ketchup? It's the Featured condiment at WCC so be sure to ask for some to try. It was the best darn ketchup I've ever tasted! I don't know what they put in it but it's simply MARVELOUS!

Also ask for more water and a straw!! The place is the best!!

~Nannette

 

[PaulaSB12]

Count me in PaulaSB12 Beach Club 31st July 2012 to 14th August 2012

 

[natebenma]

Count me in PaulaSB12 Beach Club 31st July 2012 to 14th August 2012

Will do!

Paula!

 

[cindydare]

Hi Cindy!

I'm not sure when Tutto Italia is reopening (or if they are making changes to the restaurant as a whole???) but we thought it was a decent meal (here's the review). I loved the appetizers especially, and the kids will probably easily find something on the menu.

We have not yet eaten at Teppan Edo (opting instead for Tokyo Dining, which we love!) though from what I hear, if you like Japanese Steakhouses, this is what you get. (nothing more, nothing less) If you like sushi, I'd highly recommend Tokyo Dining - and they have lots of options for people who like their food cooked and not from the ocean (the pork kakuni is amazing!)

I haven't eaten at the other two, so can't offer suggestions there.

Jen--Thanks for those reviews! We live in a small town that has several good "authentic" family run Italian restaurants (mostly specializing in red sauce), and I make homemade potato gnocchi (thanks to my Italian co-worker/Disney buddy who taught me), so I thought Tutto Italia might be safe for DH and Dkids and also give me the option of something not red! I also like the looks of Tokyo Dining....we do the Japanese steakhouse thing here at home so I knew Teppan Edo would be safe....Tokyo Dining might be another great place to broaden our horizons.

The ages of your children are PERECT for Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's a really fun experience with good food as well so it's a win win.

I'm not going to reveal too much but I will tell you that your family will be talking about that place for days afterwards.

Oh, BTW, do your kids like ketchup? It's the Featured condiment at WCC so be sure to ask for some to try. It was the best darn ketchup I've ever tasted! I don't know what they put in it but it's simply MARVELOUS!

~MM

Also ask for more water and a straw!! The place is the best!!

~Nannette

One of my other co-workers took his family to Whispering Canyon last year so I've heard about some of the shennanigans! My DS4 loves ketchup, so I'm sure we'll have to ask for some!

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[pixarmom]

Pixarmom - I think you were looking for the key lime pie for me last year.
Is anyone thinking I'm a little too obsessed with the Captain's Grille key lime pie (but it is soooooo good).

Hi Robyn! Yes - that's right! I'm not thinking you're too obsessed - I'm thinking I must try that KLP!

Welcome, Paula! What a great time of year to stay at BC - enjoy SAB!

 

[333disneymom]

I think you will really enjoy Captain's Grille. I ate there with friends on my December "leave the family at home trip" and it was excellent....I can definitely recommend the crab cakes and the crab legs. For something different, I can also recommend the Pineapple upside down martini---it's a big strong, so I recommend small sips!

I have about a month before I'm at the 180 day mark for ADRs, and I'm looking to try some new restaurants. Does anyone have any thoughts (good or bad) about Tutto Italia, Coral Reef, Teppan Edo, or Whispering Canyon? (I have DD8 and DS4, so they'll have to be happy too!)

Cindy

I'm excited to hear the great reviews for Captain's Grille, as it is new to us. We booked an ADR here for our last night. Can't wait to try the crab cakes and that martini just might be a nice drink to try.

Our family really liked our meal at Tutto Italia last May. We also do Coral Reef every vacation and have never had any complaints. My kiddos love watching the aquarium. After hearing all the great reviews, I'm a little disappointed we had to cancel our ADR at Whispering Canyon. It was the only way we could fit an AK day in our schedule, so we're trying Rainforest Cafe for the first time instead.

If you haven't tried Garden Grill and are looking for a character meal, you might like it there. The characters and food come to you, rather than you having to go to a buffet. The salad there is very fresh and quite tasty. Good luck with your reservations!

I'm not sure when Tutto Italia is reopening (or if they are making changes to the restaurant as a whole???) but we thought it was a decent meal (here's the review). I loved the appetizers especially, and the kids will probably easily find something on the menu.

Online we could book Tutto starting May 1st, but not any dates in April.

 

[pixarmom]

If you haven't tried Garden Grill and are looking for a character meal, you might like it there. The characters and food come to you, rather than you having to go to a buffet. The salad there is very fresh and quite tasty. Good luck with your reservations!

I just have to second this! Garden Grill is our boys' favorite WDW restaurant and has been since our oldest (now 12) was a baby. They are ages 5, 11 and 12 and Garden Grill is our arrival night tradition.

Cindy, in Epcot, our boys also love Le Cellier, Via Napoli, Chef's and La Hacienda. They also enjoy Rose and Crown. They like the fish tank at Coral Reef, but it's not popular enough with them to remain in our dining rotation. (Our two younger boys don't care for the children's menu there - note that the meaty macaroni contains onions!) Tutto is also off our rotation because the boys like Via Napoli so much more.

By the way, Jenneth, after a long break from San Angel Inn, it's back on the list for our next trip. Looks like the menu has changed since the last time we ate there - any recommendations for us?

 

[rusty4]

I just have to second this! Garden Grill is our boys' favorite WDW restaurant and has been since our oldest (now 12) was a baby. They are ages 5, 11 and 12 and Garden Grill is our arrival night tradition.

We loved the Garden Grill. We went for Nathan's birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was our first time there and it was great! The bread is fantastic. We liked the chicken, beef and fish that they served. In fact I don't think there was anything we didn't like. Though we did not try thr kids stuff and Nathan ate ours preferring it. You are allowed more of anything that you want so it worked out great that way for us. We will go there again for sure.

 

[kelleigh1]

I'm excited to hear the great reviews for Captain's Grille, as it is new to us. We booked an ADR here for our last night. Can't wait to try the crab cakes and that martini just might be a nice drink to try.

If you haven't tried Garden Grill and are looking for a character meal, you might like it there. The characters and food come to you, rather than you having to go to a buffet. The salad there is very fresh and quite tasty. Good luck with your reservations!

We had Garden Grill on our list, but when we found out they only do dinner now and not lunch, we had to take them off the list because we had all our dinners planned (mostly signatures) and we actually replaced it with Captain's Grille. After MM's raving review of the lobster sliders and Dee's pictures of the crab legs that made my husband drool, it seems like we'll be pretty happy at CG and will just have to save GG for next trip. (And, I haven't told my husband this yet, but I'm already dreaming of a bounceback possibility since we have never been able to take advantage of that before because of our debt, but now that it's paid off - it's a big maybe.)

 

[jenneth79]

By the way, Jenneth, after a long break from San Angel Inn, it's back on the list for our next trip. Looks like the menu has changed since the last time we ate there - any recommendations for us?

Corn Cakes topped w/ pork and queso fresco.... YUM.
Avoid the Ceasar Salad (it's pretty bland)
Carne Asada was pretty good, Mole Poblano was not enjoyed at all.
The lime meringue "thing" is super yummy.

I have our experience in my DR... but we were also talking about giving it another shot in October, as long as we can walk pass Cava de Tequila without stopping. Which is next to impossible.

 

[Mousemommy1]

But, obviously there is another thread out there regarding the refurb of SAB. That is one of the main draws in staying at BC, especially in the summertime!!! Please re-assure me that Disney would not be silly enough to have that pool closed during the summer...(barring an emergency of course). Who has been in the summer? Has there ever been a closure? I already don't have Cape May Cafe, and Test Track is going down...just getting a little anxious.

 

[rusty4]

I'm sorry but it's an ancient family recipe dating from the times of dinosaurs and it lives next to the Coca Cola recipe in Col. Sanders vault.

Oops, somebody left a copy on the Xerox machine... here goes.

You get yourself one of those bottles of "Nellie and Joe's Famous Key West, Key Lime juice". You have to use key lime juice and not regular lime juice because, because, well because you are making KEY LIME pie!! Lime juice and Key lime juice are different.... trust me.

next get together:
9" graham cracker pie crust (I use an OREO chocolate cookie crust, which is also available in stores pre-made. If you are sitting there licking the cream filling out of oreo cookies and trying to do it that way you are doing it wrong.)
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks (whites not used)
½ cup Nellie & Joe's Key West Lime Juice

Combine milk, egg yolks and lime juice. Blend until smooth. Pour filling into pie crust and bake at 350º for 15 minutes. Allow to stand 10 minutes before refrigerating. Just before serving, top with freshly whipped cream, or meringue, and garnish with lime slices.

If you Google "Nellie and Joe's" their web site comes up with even more recipes for this stuff, like alcoholic beverages!! (which are not beverages with a drinking problem, but more like beverages with alcohol in them.)

This recipe is also on the label so don't bother writing it down. The important thing is to use this juice and you've got the real deal. This pie is so easy to make Martha Dean Emeril can make it. People will scream and faint when you bring it out and call you names like "Julia Child" or "Betty Crocker". Sometimes they get so overwhelmed they call you "Ansel Adams"!

~Marlton Mom

I just ordered the juice from their website! My DH loves Key Lime pie. I went with a sample pack. Figured while I am ordering may as well try some other things. It was only $21 total with tax and shipping included. Thank you for posting this!

 

[rusty4]

But, obviously there is another thread out there regarding the refurb of SAB. That is one of the main draws in staying at BC, especially in the summertime!!! Please re-assure me that Disney would not be silly enough to have that pool closed during the summer...(barring an emergency of course). Who has been in the summer? Has there ever been a closure? I already don't have Cape May Cafe, and Test Track is going down...just getting a little anxious.

From what I understand they are doing the refurb now before the prime season. I would not worry. We were just there and the refurb did cause you to exit and enter to get to the other side. But it was so worth it. We are totally in love with the BC after our stay even though the refurb was going on.

 

[cindydare]

We love the Garden Grill! It's a must do on every trip for us!! The character interaction is great, I love that it's not a buffet, and we love the food! Plus DS4's favorite ride is Soarin', so hopefully we can get a FP for the right time, before or after dinner!

Our definite wants for the Sept. trip are: Garden Grill, Biergarten, Captain's Grille and Le Cellier. If we do Le Cellier dinner, then I need 1 more TS for the DP, or 2 more TS for the DP if we do Le Cellier lunch. Then I've also considered sending the kids to the kids club for the night and paying OOP for Le Cellier dinner.

Does anyone have any thoughts on Le Cellier lunch vs. dinner? I did dinner there with friends in Dec. and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. I want DH to have a great experience there too, but I've heard that lunch is not quite as good as dinner.

All of the dining options in Epcot is one of the reasons I love BC! It's such a quick stroll over there and you can take a nice leisurely stroll back to "home" to work off your dinner!

Cindy

 

[Mousemommy1]

We love the Garden Grill! It's a must do on every trip for us!! The character interaction is great, I love that it's not a buffet, and we love the food! Plus DS4's favorite ride is Soarin', so hopefully we can get a FP for the right time, before or after dinner!

Our definite wants for the Sept. trip are: Garden Grill, Biergarten, Captain's Grille and Le Cellier. If we do Le Cellier dinner, then I need 1 more TS for the DP, or 2 more TS for the DP if we do Le Cellier lunch. Then I've also considered sending the kids to the kids club for the night and paying OOP for Le Cellier dinner.

Does anyone have any thoughts on Le Cellier lunch vs. dinner? I did dinner there with friends in Dec. and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. I want DH to have a great experience there too, but I've heard that lunch is not quite as good as dinner.

All of the dining options in Epcot is one of the reasons I love BC! It's such a quick stroll over there and you can take a nice leisurely stroll back to "home" to work off your dinner!

Cindy

We have always done Le Cellier for lunch and it has been great!!! This summer though, we are trying it for dinner (despite its 2 TS credit cost), I am hoping its just as good!!!

 

[natebenma]

But, obviously there is another thread out there regarding the refurb of SAB. That is one of the main draws in staying at BC, especially in the summertime!!! Please re-assure me that Disney would not be silly enough to have that pool closed during the summer...(barring an emergency of course). Who has been in the summer? Has there ever been a closure? I already don't have Cape May Cafe, and Test Track is going down...just getting a little anxious.

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but what I do know is this...

Every winter, SAB is rehabbed. Normally, 1/3 of the pool is worked on at a time, with the other two areas remaining open.

I'm not sure if the work that is going on now is the normal rehab, or something more. Or both. I haven't heard either way.

It is extremely unlikely that routine maintenance would be scheduled for the spring or summer. I know that a couple of years ago there was a problem with the slide so it was closed for a bit (May, I think). During that time, the rest of SAB was open, and guests at the Yacht and Beach Club resorts were also able to use the Luna pool and slide at the Boardwalk and transportation was included while the slide was closed.

 

[cindydare]

We have always done Le Cellier for lunch and it has been great!!! This summer though, we are trying it for dinner (despite its 2 TS credit cost), I am hoping its just as good!!!

The mushroom filet & risotto was fantastic! I also enjoyed the cheese soup! My friend had the filet also and the scallop appetizer, which she really enjoyed. I had always taken the "hype" with a grain of salt....but I was converted to a Le Cellier lover pretty quickly! I hope your dinner is wonderful!!