7 day food review (DxDDP)and overall felt unimpressed

[JoanneNC]

Let me start with that EVERY place had GREAT service and no waits and actually were often seated early and great atmosphere. But in the end - the food wasn't as I expected from all the Dis hype... Maybe I unfairly set myself up for failure...

We arrived at MK in time for a quick CS meal and a good introduction into what the plan allowed. I don't remember where we ate - it was OK - but the dessert was nasty - which seemed to be a common theme I found and I LOVED desserts

Dinner was Narcoosse's and it was really good.
Apps were Mussell's and Crab Cakes
Entress were Surf and Turf and the Filet
Almond Crusted Cheesecake was FABOLOUS - I can't even remember what I ordered so it obviously was non-impressive,

Next day started with a breakfast buffet at PizzaSafari in AK (it was part of the Sunrise Safari) and hands down was the best breakfast food all week
Lunch was CS
Dinner was at Jiko's
Ok - Jiko had a nice hip look/style but that is about all it had going for it. The food was "ok" - and no where worth 2 ts

DH had: Ahi Tuna App and the Lamb Shank. The lamb portion was too big to eat it all so I guess that was a Good thing ...and the Spiced Pumpkin Roll...which was ok

I had the Cucumber, Tomato and Red Onion Salad and the Beer basted ribs which again were ok and a fairly large portion and took the Tanzanian Chocolate Cheesecake back to the room.

Now in all fairness - this was the one dining experience that our 18mth old was not caring to be there and the server was the least attentive and made a few mistakes so that may have skewed my overall opinion but as of now- I wouldn't bother going there again.

Day 3
Lunch at Chef De France - great meal - great service - good and fast.
DH: Escargo and the Salmon and he said all was great. Passed on Dessert
Me: Cheese Plate and Pain Bagnat (tuna club) and also Passed on Dessert

Dinner was Le Cellier and the biggest let down. Now AMY was GREAT,
DH: Shrimp Cocktail and the Mushroom Filet (Dh was not impressed and he is a huge steak eater)
Me: Tomato Stack (i liked) and the Herb Crusted Prime Rib . Now I order Prime Rib a lot and this was not enjoyable and wasn't all eaten.
I forget what we had for dessert,

Day 4
Lunch was 50's Prime Time Cafe and was the most fun eating all week
DH and I each at the Fried Chicken and it rocked
Apps were the Shrimp Cocktail and a salad for me
Dessert was the Brownie Sundae - YUMMY

Dinner was Mama Melrose and was blah and oddly 2 out of the 3 of us felt sick
DH: Calamari, Tender steak which oddly he said was equal in taste/quality as le Cellier and dessert was just a coffee
ME: Toasted Italian Bread Salad, Penne Alla Vodka (was ok but too much meat in the sauce for my liking, ended with Tiramisu

Day 5
Tepen Edo for Lunch - mixture of Sushi (off plan ordering) and filet entrees. It was a very nice and definitely filling lunch but took easily 90 minutes and they weren't busy

Dinner was Boma's - We were staying at the hotel so this was convenient, but in the end we just aren't buffet peeps. I don't like standing- waiting - watching people poke- smell, play with the foods others will eat. etc.. But overall good meal

Day 6
Crystal Palace (BK) decorated the table for DS's birthday so that was nice. Character interaction was great and quick. Food was plentiful

Lunch was CS somehere in MK..

Dinner was Liberty Tree Tavern - and this was by far the worse meal we had all week. The food was bland tasting and except for the dessert (apple cobbler and ice cream) we all left hungry.. Character interaction was slower but still fun. They also decorated the table for DS's birthday

Day 7

Tuskerhouse Character (BK) Great character interaction - we had 10:30 ADR and like all of our ADR's that week - we arrived early - heck Mama Melrose took us 2 hrs early - we tried cause it was raining..lol - but here since we were near the end I feared being rushed but the characters had nothing but time. Food was really good. Server was rude over his tip expectations calling it required and even with held our room card so we wouldn't leave without tipping.. this is their appraoch for tables of 6+ but he tried it on us 4.

Lunch was CS at the AKL

Dinner
California Grill during a distant lightening storm.

Great Sushi DH and DS stated. Service was GREAT. We were so worried about having our kids there and oddly the "drinking adults" were MUCH louder. Even after we were there an hour, one nice man came up and complemented us and our kids on how well behaved they were and he wasn't happy when we sat by them but ended up feeling bad for what he was thinking because my boys didn't make a peep and he wanted us to know. THANK YOU
Oh I don't eat seafood or Sushi so I had DS's kid salad which was perfect for me and he ate my Sushi App and I had Oak filet of beef.
Desserts were ok - DH had the Banana and Butterscotch "Buzz" and I had the Valrhona Chocolate and Raspberry ice cream. I like simple desserts.. but we would eat here nightly
So multiple thumbs up for CG. Oh and even CG sat us 30 mins early ...WIN

Day 8

Boma breakfast - Good - great service

This week had no crowds no waits and was perfect all the way around...

 

[angelmav]

Thanks for the reviews and I enjoyed reading your take on things!

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent

 

[MEM]

The Sunrise Safari buffet is at Pizzafari? I thought it was at Tusker House?

 

[mom2my3kids]

WOW what happend at Tusker House????

 

[JoanneNC]

The Sunrise Safari buffet is at Pizzafari? I thought it was at Tusker House?

Not sure when this changed happened... It was in a back draped off room - with the food in the center and was really good - much better then I expected after reading the menu's for Pizzafari

 

[JoanneNC]

WOW what happend at Tusker House????

When we sat down - the waiter asked to see our card (i walked away during this to start getting the kids food) Later during the meal, in prep of getting the bill, DH went to get his card and couldn't find it and realized he never brought it back. Personally I didn't like that and asked the waiter if he had it. He said , oh yes - we keep it to avoid patrons leaving before making their required tip. I responded, umm - well with all due respect - I am NOT required to make a tip (although he definitely provided great service) and kinda am uncomfortable that you have kept that card for over 45 mins and feel its your way to force me to pay a tip. He said, well we are getting stiffed too much and we work for tips. Right then I assume the manager was walking through and heard some of it and explained that was their policy for the tables 6+ since they still are learning it's required but never should have kept ours as we were a party of 4. It was just the way he came across -

 

[KelleyD]

Not much of a food question, but can you tell me how your 16/18 month old fared?

Do you think the buffets were easier to feed him/her? Were the character meals a better time?

I will be traveling with an almost 19 month old and just assume the buffets will be better off for feeding him...

Thanks
Kelley

 

[mom2my3kids]

When we sat down - the waiter asked to see our card (i walked away during this to start getting the kids food) Later during the meal, in prep of getting the bill, DH went to get his card and couldn't find it and realized he never brought it back. Personally I didn't like that and asked the waiter if he had it. He said , oh yes - we keep it to avoid patrons leaving before making their required tip. I responded, umm - well with all due respect - I am NOT required to make a tip (although he definitely provided great service) and kinda am uncomfortable that you have kept that card for over 45 mins and feel its your way to force me to pay a tip. He said, well we are getting stiffed too much and we work for tips. Right then I assume the manager was walking through and heard some of it and explained that was their policy for the tables 6+ since they still are learning it's required but never should have kept ours as we were a party of 4. It was just the way he came across -

That is very tacky of him and I am sure its not policy for them to hold your card. I expected that with the change there would be a lot of non tippers and but that does not give them the right to keep your card.

 

[JoanneNC]

Not much of a food question, but can you tell me how your 16/18 month old fared?

Do you think the buffets were easier to feed him/her? Were the character meals a better time?

I will be traveling with an almost 19 month old and just assume the buffets will be better off for feeding him...

Thanks
Kelley

He did really well and the buffets were definitely best for him - quickest to get the food and the most "suitable" options. DS #2 is a really good eater and I never felt right taking his meal from him for the other one who can also eat a fair share so a few times I ordered something for him - like a pizza or some mac and cheese. I did find that at most TS - the adult meals/apps just weren't something he would or should eat (lots of seafood, etc) and rather then compromise OUR meal choices - it was worth the $5 to buy him a meal - the entree without apps/dessert was always available. When I didn't buy him a meal - all place but one (Jiko's) brought him the milk cup I ordered for "free" Jiko's had a nice separate room charge receipt for the $2.09 ( I think it was)... His favorite was at California Grill - they gave him his own bowl of Goldfish - he was as happy as pappa with his Sushi

 

[BabyPiglet]

Yeah, most people go to Disney expecting out of this world food because of all the DIS hype. But really, yes things might be tasty, but none of it is 'wow wow wow I would die for this plate of food' kind of good. You just have to think of the reviews on here on a different scale.

Enjoyed your reviews!

 

[KelleyD]

"He did really well and the buffets were definitely best for him - quickest to get the food and the most "suitable" options. DS #2 is a really good eater and I never felt right taking his meal from him for the other one who can also eat a fair share so a few times I ordered something for him - like a pizza or some mac and cheese. I did find that at most TS - the adult meals/apps just weren't something he would or should eat (lots of seafood, etc) and rather then compromise OUR meal choices - it was worth the $5 to buy him a meal - the entree without apps/dessert was always available. When I didn't buy him a meal - all place but one (Jiko's) brought him the milk cup I ordered for "free" Jiko's had a nice separate room charge receipt for the $2.09 ( I think it was)... His favorite was at California Grill - they gave him his own bowl of Goldfish - he was as happy as pappa with his Sushi "

Great thank you for this. Sounds like we may be buying a pizza or chicken now and then, which is fine. I have a feeling my son will be drinking a lot of water...completely off topic I was informed at his check-up today that he should be getting no more then 16oz of milk and only 8oz if he has a slice of cheese and container of yogurt...crikeys...not only was he supposed to be off the bottle at 12 months, I am supposed to cut 2 bottles out! I guess that will make it easier to get rid of the bottle...and I guess its water from then on? I don't want him filling up on juice...

Thanks again.