3-day Wonder (3/13-16) - more info than you can possibly stand!

[outlander]

I would have to disagree with Coral Reef being on the list. I did not have a good dining experience there. And I think you forgot Cinderella's Royal Table.

It just shows what tastes, attitude, time of the day, planets aligning....lol....whatever the case may be, will do to influence decisions.
I would totally interchange the two you mentioned. I thought Coral Reef was very good, while CRT was awful.

 

[goofygirl64]

I probably should post this over on the restaurant boards, but here ya are (and I started this thread anyway). In order of preference, my hit parade:

1 - Hollywood Brown Derby
2 - Bistro de Paris
3 - Le Cellier
4 - Chefs de France
5 - Restaurant Marrakesh
6 - Liberty Tree Tavern
7 - Coral Reef
8 - Tusker House
9 - 50's Prime Time Cafe
10 - Crystal Palace

My disclaimer: These represent what I think are the best, in terms of theme park food. In other words, I'm comparing these to food in other theme parks, and while I don't think I'm compromising expectations, it is, after all, theme park food. (I will admit that Mythos at Islands of Adventure would make this list). I sort of struggled with first and second place, too - those two are just about interchangable.

Goofygirl64, I can go into more detail in a PM, if you're interested.

Yes I would love to hear the details on these. I would also like to hear your take on the Universal/IOA/Citywalk restaurants as well. We were thinking of trying the Islands Dining buffet over at RPR.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

It just shows what tastes, attitude, time of the day, planets aligning....lol....whatever the case may be, will do to influence decisions.
I would totally interchange the two you mentioned. I thought Coral Reef was very good, while CRT was awful.

It's all a matter of opinion, yes? I had a couple of less than stellar experiences at Coral Reef a few years back, but the last two visits were just fine, even special.

Leaving Cindy's out was not an oversight. It's OK; there are just better options for me and mine. I've never had an "awful" experience at any table service spot.

 

[outlander]

It's all a matter of opinion, yes? I had a couple of less than stellar experiences at Coral Reef a few years back, but the last two visits were just fine, even special.

Leaving Cindy's out was not an oversight. It's OK; there are just better options for me and mine. I've never had an "awful" experience at any table service spot.

Definitely opinion. I know there is always going to be an 'off' day, where things just don't go right and of course, expectations play a big role as well. One place that people seem to LOVE is O'hana's but we've never had a good experience there. We're done trying that one. CRT really was awful for us. They were either understaffed, or extremely unorganized (maybe both) because it took an unusually long time to even order, for the food to arrive and getting refills was like pulling teeth. To top it off, my potatoes were cold . I can usually overlook one or two of those little things but this was just overall bad.

 

[TinkRose]

Loved your trip report. We are going on the same cruise on May 8th, with most of my whole family (12 of us) to celebrate our mother's birthday. It's going to be nice to have a better idea of what to expect. We are still undecided about what to do in Nassau, but you have some good insight and we may do exactly what you did. We live in Florida so touristy stuff is even more blah. I am so happy to find these boards. Your trip report is a gem I forwarded to my whole family. Pictures of food, what's wrong with that?

 

[djdiedrich]

I am also going on the cruise on May 8th and loved your posting! I am curious though, how would you recommend getting around in Nassau? Taxi or walking? I am going to just explore some of the more historic sites and avoid the shopping. I am not familiar with how far the port is from the rest of the town, is it doable on foot?

Thanks for sharing your pictures and opinions!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I am also going on the cruise on May 8th and loved your posting! I am curious though, how would you recommend getting around in Nassau? Taxi or walking? I am going to just explore some of the more historic sites and avoid the shopping. I am not familiar with how far the port is from the rest of the town, is it doable on foot?

Thanks for sharing your pictures and opinions!

It's very doable on foot. If you strolled and took time to smell the roses, as it were, you're looking at two hours, max. The docks are about two blocks or so off Bay Street, which is the main drag through town. If you do walk around, you'll see that the further away you get from the docks, the higher the elevation. So, if you get disoriented, just head downhill and sooner or later you'll find water.

I just like doing my own research before heading to an unfamiar place. Like I said, we felt perfectly safe in Nassau on our own, but you still want to keep your wits about you, like you would in any urban environment. The Frommer's walking tour I linked to was just right for us. We were on our feet for about 90 minutes, and the weather was delightful. I bet it'll be nice in early May, too.

Some folks aren't history buffs like me. That's fine. I just want to find what's unique wherever I go ... that's why, if I'm traveling on business, I'm gonna forego the chain hotels when possible and find some local historical spot to stay.

 

[Opie Juan Cannoli]

Okay Dreamfinder, I didn't post this on the discussion board as a new thread because I wanted an expert opinion. I suspect you are an authority on this because: 1)You mentioned that you do not drink and 2)You are a fellow Southerner. Not to say that that automatically qualifies you, but it certainly increases your chances.

So, for my question: Is the tea on DCL sweet, and is it what WE would call sweet tea (not colored lemonade or the syrup stuff). Just shoot straight with me. I can handle the truth, it will just take a while to get used to being without it for four days. Of course, I'm more than willing to give the cook staff lessons...

Feel free to email with any info! Sounds like you have a neat job, by the way!

micahbgreen at gmail dot com

 

[Mozart]

DCL serves unsweet tea. Sweet tea is not an option.

 

[thecooley]

Dreamfinder, your TR is incredible! Thank you so much for putting into words the feelings I know my daddy has every time he steps foot into WDW or DCL. Once he crosses that magical threshold, he is the biggest kid I know. One of my fondest memories is riding Space Mountain with him for the first time. He sat in the seat behind me and belly-laughed the entire time. It was like riding a roller coaster with Santa Claus. I still giggle whenever I think about it.

It is strange how similar your family is to mine. My sister and I are very close in age to your kids (I'm 25, she's 22). Our parents were also of modest means, but they always made sure we had a vacation every year. Most of our trips were to WDW, when they could afford it. I can't tell you how many times we made that 10 hour drive from Alabama in the family van. Dad was so hardcore about making "record time" one year, that he resorted to pulling the potty out of our pop-up camper and putting it in the back of the van! We packed a ton of sandwiches and other junk, so there were no stops, except to buy gas!! We made it in 9 hours that year.

Needless to say, we are major Disney fans in this family. DH and I are taking our first cruise this fall, and your insights have been very helpful.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Well, of course sweet tea is the champagne of the South. And, alas, it is NOT sweetened, as Mozart pointed out. But it is freshly brewed (I can tell a difference, thank you), and can be sweetened. I've had to severely limit my caffeine intake - too much gives me heart palpitations, which aren't dangerous, but annoying and very uncomfortable.

It's not the same as genuine sweet tea, which has that almost silky feel that comes from sugar hitting hot, fresh tea. Honestly, there aren't too many places that can pull that off outside of home (Cracker Barrel can come close, as can Chick-fil-A, and if there is a McAllister's Deli around, theirs is darn good).

Sorry. Darn.

Thecooley, are you from up around Huntsville? I'm an Alabama native, y'know. But here I am in Mississippi, which is still a constant source of amusement to me even after nine years in the state.

Glad all this was helpful.

 

[thecooley]

Thecooley, are you from up around Huntsville? I'm an Alabama native, y'know. But here I am in Mississippi, which is still a constant source of amusement to me even after nine years in the state.

Glad all this was helpful.

I grew up in Tuscaloosa. (Roll Tide!!) We moved to Atlanta after college, then ended up in Huntsville. What in the world would cause a person to move to Mississippi?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I grew up in Tuscaloosa. (Roll Tide!!) We moved to Atlanta after college, then ended up in Huntsville. What in the world would cause a person to move to Mississippi?

Well, it had a lot to do with a job, and opportunity, and salary kinda played into it as well. We actually moved here from Metro Atlanta (Buford, more specifically). Growing up in Alabama, we were taught from childhood to say "Thank God for Mississippi!" because that kept us off the bottom of some list or other.

Oh, and
WAR EAGLE!

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Oh yeah, we were talking about cruises, right?

 

[djdiedrich]

Thanks Dreamfinder.... Your advice is wise and your interests are delightful. I appreciate your words of wisdom regarding the foot tour through Nassau.

Hopefully the weather is nice. The month of May risks rough seas, but it shouldn't be too warm.

I will try to get a picture to share with you

Thank you - your posting has been very helpful.

Diana

 

[Opie Juan Cannoli]

Thanks to both of you for the info! Yeah, just hearing your explanation of the brewing process shows that you know your sweet tea. That's good to know that at least they serve real tea. You were in Buford for while, huh? I grew up in Loganville (near Snellville) and currently reside in Athens (Go Dawgs)! To be honest, we grew up saying similar things about Alabama that you said about Mississippi, and where did I end up living for four years? You guessed it, L.A. (Lower Alabama). I served on staff at a church there for about three years. Now that I am back in Georgia, I miss Dothan!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

And I grew up in Elba, right up the road from Dothan, graduated from Troy, etc. "It's a small world ..."

But back OT, Diana, we were fortunate to have some terrific weather, and May in Nassau (or anywhere in the Bahamas, for that matter) sounds yummy to me.

And again, for al of y'all, if you've never been to Nassau, at least get off the ship and walk around for a few minutes, just so you can say you did.

 

[Mozart]

I grew up in Tuscaloosa. (Roll Tide!!) We moved to Atlanta after college, then ended up in Huntsville. What in the world would cause a person to move to Mississippi?

Roll Tide huh?

Clemson will be waiting in Atlanta.

 

[tparbs]

2 weeks to go!!! Woo Hoooo!!!!!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

2 weeks to go!!! Woo Hoooo!!!!!

There's nothing like being in countdown mode! And your first Disney experience, to boot. Do lots of research and get a plan in place before assaulting the parks, OK?

Let me know if I can answer any questions. If I don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does.

 

[Pocahantas]

Great trip report!!! I just read it from start to finish and thoroughly enjoyed it (love your writing style). We are taking our first DCL cruise in 25 days and I can hardly wait.