25th anniversary dining reviews to be continued

[KatMark]

I've gotten all the table service reviews done in separate thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1952509) and will get to the Counter Service ones soon (from the best -- Cosmic Rays to the worse -- Old Port Royale at the Caribbean).

 

[MickeyNicki]

Yay at least I am the first post on this thread!

 

[jeminni]

I really enjoyed your TS reviews, looking forward to these as well.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm here too!

 

[KatMark]

Okay...here we go. I'll do a few at a time and will add pictures when I get the rest of them downloaded (haven't had time--very busy at work with being gone for two weeks). I'm doing in order of best to worse:

1. Cosmic Rays -- we hadn't been here in many years as it was always so crowded whenever we went. But we were in the area when we got hungry and it wasn't crowded, so we thought we'd give it a try.

DH had the Turkey Bacon Wrap and promptly announced that he wanted to come here every trip because it was so tasty. He had the No Sugar Added Brownie for dessert.

I had the BBQ Pork Sandwich with Eclipse Chips. The sandwich was delicious and I absolutely loved the chips. I had the Chocolate Cake but only a little bit of it because I really had a taste for popcorn.

2. Pepper Market -- twice (once for lunch and once for breakfast).

We had lunch the day we checked in and shared a meal because we didn't want to fill up because we were having dinner at Mama Melrose at 5:00 with the Fantasmic Package and knew we'd have appetizers as well as dessert. We went to the Deli Station and had a Ham and Cheese Sandwich with potato chips. The bread was very fresh and the sandwich large enough for the two of us to share and fill us just the right amount. DH and Tom had Smoothie's for dessert and really enjoyed them. I had a chocolate chip cookie which I saved for a late night snack (very good--although not as good as the ones I make). Shelley skipped dessert (she is diabetic and tries not to eat too many desserts).

We had breakfast one morning and decided on omelets. DH and I both like American Cheese omelets. They didn't have any American Cheese at the station, but the cook gladly went to one of the other stations and found some for us--he even put extra cheese on top. It came with potatos and a biscuit. Not the best omelet I've ever had (I love Waffle House's omelets--they are so fluffy), but it was good and very filling.

3. Electric Umbrella. We dropped Shelley and Tom off at the resort one night because Shelley had a migraine. DH and I decided to go over to Epcot for a little while and hit a couple of attractions we had missed on our first visit, including Spaceship Earth which I knew I was going to cry on because of my dad and I really wanted it to be just DH and I for that first ride. We knew we weren't going to World Showcase that night and I was hungry and Electir Umbrella was right there so we went there. DH had the Tossed Island Chicken Salad--he said it was kind of soggy and he didn't like the dressing; I had the chicken nuggets with fries. They were pretty tasty (although I do prefer them with Ranch dressing which they didn't have). We didn't have any dessert because we were planning on having ice cream when we got back to Pepper Market.

 

[KatMark]

#4. Pecos Bills for dinner. We've gone here a few times. We usually prefer Columbia Harbor House but it was too crowded or Pinocchio Village Haus but they changed their menu and we didn't care for the choices, so we thought we'd try Pecos Bills. Shelley had the Taco Salad -- she said it was only okay--too much lettuce and very little meat. DH and Tom had the Bacon Double Cheeseburgers and had a good time at the topping bar. I had the regular cheeseburger. They weren't the best cheeseburgers we've ever had, but they certainly weren't the worse (that would be reserved for the last entry I will make in my reviews). We'd probably go back here again.

5. Flame Tree Barbecue. This has always been a must do. However, was very disappointed this year. DH had a barbecued pork sandwich with the corn bread (including mine because I don't like corn bread) and he enjoyed his sandwich a lot. I, on the other hand, had the ribs and I was very disappointed in them. There was hardly any meat on them and there was a lot of grizzle. We have never had this problem before and just figure I got a bad slab this time around. We will go back again as they have other things we can order and that we enjoy.

6. Siesta Pool Bar at the CSR. DH and I had the hot dog meal with fries. Absolutely the worse hot dog we have ever had. I had heartburn after eating it and I only ate half of it. On another day, we had the Siesta Nachos which were very, very good. We would definitely have those again. Shelley and I had a few Pina Coladas while at the pool--VERY tasty.

7. Old Port Royale Food Court at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We really didn't like this place the first time we went, but we always like to give each place two tries if possible. Since we didn't feel like driving over to any of the MK or Epcot resorts for a quick meal and were going Miniature Golfing, we decided to give it a second try. Bad mistake and never again. Nothing really appealed to me at any of the stations (at least more were open on this visit) and I refuse to eat Florida pizza, I ordered a cheeseburger. Let's just say I would rather eat at McDonald's 7 nights a week and I HATE McDonald's. DH had the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. Now, my husband loves to eat and can eat just about anything even if it isn't terrific. He ate about half of it and then threw the rest out--all he kept saying is "this is dry and horrible." We stopped at the Hess Gas Station and he got an ice cream on the way to golf.

Well, that does it for the reviews (I will try to add pictures soon--although I didn't take them of all of our counter service meals). Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed them. I tried to be as informative with what I remembered from each place and honest in my opinions.

 

[2BusyPlanning]

I had a chocolate chip cookie which I saved for a late night snack (very good--although not as good as the ones I make).

OK, you got me! Now I really want your recipe for chocolate chip cookies!

Care to share in a PM?

 

[KatMark]

I'll have to think about that one.

My boys and my "adopted" boys (the high school wrestling team) might not be happy with me if I divulged that secret.

 

[TigerKat]

Kathy - Thanks so much for your informative and entertaining reviews!

 

[KatMark]

Kathy - Thanks so much for your informative and entertaining reviews!

Glad you enjoyed them. Now, that I've got one under the belt, I'll be more comfortable doing them again next year.

 

[frdeb1999]

Loved the reviews and pics!! Happy Belated Anniversary!

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent

 

[EstherS]

Thanks, we are planning on doing the Counter Service Dining plan and it's good to hear other's take on the counter service meals.

I do have a question at Cosmic Ray's can you select your toppings for the turkey bacon wrap? That looks so yummy, but I could do with out tomatoes.

Thanks!