5 (almost) days and 4 nights on DxDP without Park Hopping....

[sarobison]

We're gonna try it. No PH and DxDP. I'm worried somebody might have to wheel me out the last day....

So far the ADR's we have are:

Breakfast

• Kona Cafe

Lunch

• The Wave
• Coral Reef
• Tusker House

Dinner

• Cinderellas Royal Table
• Tokyo Dining
• Chefs de France
• Cape May Cafe

About us- me, DW, DS 8, and DS 5. DS 8 is finally branching out and trying new things. DS 5 can be picky...and can just as easily decide he wants chicken nuggets for every meal. DW and I, well, there isn't much we won't try. Up until recently it was believed (by her, me, and the doctor) that she had a severe peanut allergy, which meant that on previous trips we got to talk to a chef at every restaurant and while they did a great job accommodating her she never really got the full experience of Disney Dining. Now that it has been determined that the peanut "allergy" and associated symptoms were leftover from what a real childhood allergy we are looking forward to ordering off the menu uninhibited.

On the DxDP- We wrestled with it. DW was really the driving force here. It was kind of like the incentive to get her to go, as a matter of fact she told me that if we were going she "wanted to eat." Me, I don't need incentives to go to Disney. The last 3 times we've been we have been on whatever the then-current version of the DDP was and honestly I don't ever plan to go without being on it again. So yes, we realize that for the kids, it probably isn't anywhere close to being worth it and for us it might not be worth it either, but with the room discount it made it possible for us and we wanted to try it at least once.


So here we go, a post dedicated to each restaurant (not necessarily in order). What we're looking forward to, our concerns (if any), and maybe even what we'll probably eat. And when we get back... what we ate and what we thought!

In the meantime, at this moment I still have a 3 dining credits (table service or counter service) to use. They will probably all end up being used on breakfast- any ideas?

 

[3inthefamily]

What about Kona Cafe or the Lilo and Stich breakfast at the Poly?

Crystal Palace breakfast is always a fave of ours. We are trying the Tusker House breakfast for the first time in a couple of weeks....

Have a great trip!

 

[sarobison]

What about Kona Cafe or the Lilo and Stich breakfast at the Poly?

Crystal Palace breakfast is always a fave of ours. We are trying the Tusker House breakfast for the first time in a couple of weeks....

Have a great trip!

I had forgotten about Kona Cafe, that might be worth checking out. I tried to get a Tusker House Breakfat but the day we are going to AK the only one I could get was at 10:15 and since we are also doing lunch there it just wasn't worth it.

 

[sarobison]

This was my wife's one dining request for the trip....and the one I least thought I could grant. Imagine my surprise when I called to get ADR's less than 60 days before our trip and actually got one for dinner . Of course it's a late (9:15) dinner but it should be a great way to end our first full day at Disney and probably our only visit to MK this trip.

Honestly I hope the food and the experience is good. I've read a few reviews that aren't to great but I realize that this meal is more about the experience than it is about the food and since I've never eaten in the castle I have to admit I'm looking forward to the novelty of it myself.

So on to what we'll probably eat! Me, I'm a carnivore who could easily eat steak 3 meals of the day. With that being said it is entirely possible that I will order the Roasted Prime Rib but I also have a soft spot for lamb chops. I'll likely go for the lamb chops knowing I'll have a chance to eat steak elsewhere on this trip. DW will probably go for the pork chop or salmon. Both DS's will probably order chicken tenders (c'mon Disney the kids meals need some help EVERYWHERE).

Dessert- DW will almost certainly get the Chocolate Buckle. I'll probably the Raspberry Sorbet. Part of me really wants to try the Poached Pear but again I'm leery of poor reviews.....DS's will get Royal Crown Sundae's, I'd be willing to bet almost anything on that.

In summary (can I call it a summary in a pre-dining report?) I really hope this meal meets all of my expectations, both in terms of the atmosphere/experience and the food itself. Since we are on DxDP and are struggling to figure out how to use all of our dining entitlements anyway I don't mind that this is a 2 credit meal, again I just hope it meets expectations.

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent

 

[sarobison]

I decided to tackle the pre-trip discussion of Coral Reef next simply because I'm familiar with the restaurant, in fact I just realized when looking at my ADR's that CR is the only place we have eaten at before. And eaten there we have on many occasions. It's not that we think the food is outstanding or anything it's just the combination of pretty good food and the atmosphere of eating next to a giant aquarium that does it for us. Our kids like it and we do too.

So, I've had just about every appetizer and entree on the menu. I won't do Sea and Land for an app because I don't like the beef (mainly the sauce they put on it) but I might do Sea and Sea. More likely I'll try to get the Lobster Soup (I know there aren't any lobster pieces in it) as my app instead. DW will probably get chilled shrimp. DS's will probably pick carrot sticks, although last time DS5 did get the lobster soup.

I don't really have a favorite entree at CR, although I do have a least liked- the steak, specifically the demi-glaze they pour on it. Salt, pepper, butter. That's all a steak needs, nothing else. So I'll likely get either the mahi-mahi or the blackened catfish. DW will get the catfish, it's all she ever gets. Seriously I don't think she has ever ordered anything else at CR. DS5 will probably get fish and DS8 will get chicken (says he doesn't like fish....), although pizza is a definite possibility too.

Dessert is our favorite part of CR. DW will get the chocolate wave and I'll get the Mousse...and then we'll share . DS's get....ice cream sundae's, what else?

Oh yeah- DRINKS! Almost forgot them. I like that CR is one of the places that lets you get anything non-alcoholic on DDP which means we can have something other than coke for a change. Actual choice will depend on the mood I'm in so tell me which ones you like!

 

[sarobison]

So we're 33 days out and I am starting to have reservations about some of my reservations . Part of me wants to cancel Tokyo Dining and switch to something else. I think we'd enjoy this restaurant I just don't know that it's the best place to start our Disney vacation. We are definitely going to Epcot for our first evening/night (Halloween) so it's either:

1. Stick with Tokyo Dining,
2. Pick another Epcot restaurant,
3. Pick a resort restaurant, or
4. Pick a DTD restaurant.

So what do I do . There are many other restaurants we'd like to try at Disney. There are some really good resort restaurants and we've never eaten TS anywhere at DTD. Probably my first thought was to see about switching Coral Reef to Friday evening because the kids love eating there and I think it would be a good way to start our Disney trip. I also thought about maybe doing Garden Grill for the character interaction. My second thought was to maybe try to do Whispering Canyon Cafe, not my favorite in terms of food but it's such a fun atmosphere. Finally, nothing at DTD really appeals to us so that's not the best option.

Of course...we could just keep the Tokyo Dining ressie. We like sushi so that will probably be the entree choice for DW and myself. Since we also like tempura style food that will be the app choice for at least one, if not both of us. BUT this depends on what we can get on DDP as entrees. If the sushi choices are limited, or you can only get a little, then we'll probably get the sushi app and pick a tempura entree. Dessert will probably be Chocolate Ginger cake and/or Green Tea pudding. DS's will probably get tempura combo's.

Okay, after looking at the menu (and being hungry while doing it) I am looking forward to Tokyo Dining but I still may opt to switch the Coral Reef ressie....

 

[HonnyDipp]

Sweet! Thanks for the Coral Reef review!

 

[Mom2JPL]

You'll be at disney the same time we are! We're going from 10/31 to 11/8. And we're eating at some of the same places! Oh, and we're staying our first night at POP (then switching to OKW on 11/1).

Except, we have Tusker House and CRT for breakfast and Coral Reef for dinner.

I have to say that I think the Tokyo House would be an awesome way to start your vacation...my kids are 4, 3 and 2 and they love Japanese food and the hibachi table!

Have a great trip!