7 Days of Dining with the DDP

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hello everybody. I have just returned from a 7 night/8 day vacation to Disney World. Our stay included the Disney Dining Plan which we got dirt cheap due to an awesome code that I found here on the DIS a few months ago. It only ended up costing $300 more than our original reservation through AAA which did not include the Dining Plan so it was almost like we were eating for free (Our group included four adults). Here is a list of the restaurants I will be reviewing:

CS
Pinnochio's Village Haus post #6
Electric Umbrella post #18
Cosmic Ray's post#29
Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station post#29
Pizzafari
Lottawatta Lodge
Pizza Planet

TS
1900 Park Fare post #9
Mama Melrose post #24
Planet Hollywood post #27
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Liberty Tree Tavern
L'Originale Alfredo di Roma
Crystal Palace

As I add the review I will put the post number next to the restaurant name in the list above. I tried to remember to take pictures of the food but only remembered sometimes so I apoligize for that. I can also add in pictures of the characters from the meals if you all would like that. Just let me know.

 

[Pattymouse]

We are on the dining plan for our upcoming Sept 07 trip. 2 adults - no kids (they are grown).

Looking forward to your reviews and all pix!!

Pat

 

[cudworth]

I have read your pretrip report . I hope you had a blast. We are going Aug 2008.

 

[wilma-bride]

Looking forward to this

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Our first day we did not have a meal on Disney property. After checking in at the Wilderness Lodge we hit up a grocery store in order to buy bottled water and to get some breakfast items for the week. We then had lunch/dinner at Friday's. The food was good, we all had burgers. They were very tasty and juicy and the service was quick and friendly and the prices were no more than at any other Friendly's or family restaurant. Since we wanted to save our money for Disney souvenirs we did not opt for dessert.

Once dinner was done we headed back to the resort, dumped all our stuff in the room and headed over to the Magic Kingdom where we used our first snack credits on the dis boards favourite snack.... the Dole Whip!! Let me say that this ice cream delight lived up to all the hype. It was delicious and we treated ourselves to the Dole Whip on many other occasions on this trip. I highly recommend that everybody try this treat, you will not regret it.

Next update Pinnochio's Village Haus and 1900 Park Fare "Cinderella's Gala Feast" with pictures!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We spent our first full day at the Magic Kingdom and decided to have lunch at Pinnochio's Village Haus. We arrived around 11:15 and the restaurant was deserted. We snagged a table next to the windows that overlook Small World and watched and waved as the people floated by on their way into the ride.

I ordered the pepperoni pizza meal with the side salad and a cannoli for dessert. The pizza was very yummy. It is not gourmet by any means but if you are a pizza fan than you will be very happy with the pizza here. The side salad was not very good, it tasted off for some reason. I can not really pinpoint what was wrong with it, it just tasted bad so I did not finish it. The cannoli was simply divine. My first job as a teen was at an Italian bakery and this cannoli was just as good as the ones made there. I highly recommend the cannoli as a must try dessert.

My mom ordered the Italian sandwich which she says was the best counter service she had on the entire trip. She got apple slices as her side and had the strawberry shortcake for dessert. She enjoyed her meal and would eat here again.

My brothers both ordered the chicken strips with fries and the chocolate shake for dessert. They said that the chicken strips were only okay, the fries were great and the shakes were good. They said the shakes were more like a Wendy's frosty than a milkshake as they had to eat it with their spoons.

The drinks that come with the dining plan are very large, 32 oz.

Overall we enjoyed this restaurant and would highly recommend it.

Cannoli, side salad, apple slices, strawberry shortcake

 

[Minniespal]

Looking forward to reading more

 

[wilma-bride]

Pinocchio Village Haus sounds and looks great

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We ended up leaving the MK after the afternoon parade. We had an 8pm ADR for Cinderella's Gala Feast. We almost did not make it to this one. When we got back to the hotel room around 4pm the skies opened up and a torrential downpour started and continued for the next few hours. It was 7pm and we were debating if we really wanted to drive in the weather but luckily for us the rain let up a bit and so we were off for our dinner with Cinderella!

Upon arriving at the Grand Floridian we discovered that if you wanted to self-park your car the parking lot is actually across the street from the hotel . If we didn't want to walk we would have to pay the $10 for valet. We decided that since it was only sprinkling now we would save the $10 and walk. It is a bit of a hike from the self-park to the main building. I guess most of the guests staying at the GF opt for valet?? as it seems very strange to have the guest lot so far from the hotel.

The hotel is very beautiful but my brothers said that they did not feel very comfortable there as it did not send out a very friendly/welcoming vibe. 1900 Park Fare was easy to find. It was just to the left as you walk through the main entrance. We checked in and were called to be seated almost immediately. At the entrance to the dining room we were greeted by the Fairy Godmother. She was very nice and we snapped a quick picture with her before being seated.

We were seated very close to the buffet which was very nice as we could easily see if a character was near the table if we were up getting food. We were greeted by our waiter who introduced himself as David but his name tag said Brian?? My brothers were amused by this. He told us that we should stay at our table as we were up next for a character and then we could get dinner as the rest of the characters would be a while. We were soon joined at our table by one of the mice from Cinderella, Perla.

After posing for some pics she moved on and we got up to get our dinner. We all tried a variety of foods but I think the highlight of the meal for me was the strawberry soup. It is to die for! I had second helpings of the soup it was that good. I have heard that this soup is also served at breakfast so perhaps the next time I'm in the world I will try the breakfast character meal. I also tried some of the pasta and meats offered and they were also good. They were not extraordinary but I was not expecting that from a buffet. I also sampled the pizza and mac and cheese from the kids buffet. The pizza was mediocre and the mac and cheese was horrible.

The characters had very good timing as they hit our table right before we were going to get up for dessert. First was Suzy who my brother goofed around with as you will see in the picture, then Prince Charming who only said a quick hello and moved on and then Cinderella who was very sweet.

We were very happy with the character interaction except for Prince Charming who didn't really stop for us. I noticed that he only really seemed to be posing with little children so maybe he assumed that since we were adults we wouldn't want a picture with him? I'm not sure what happened with him but we were not impressed.

After we finished with the characters we decided to grab some dessert. The dessert offerings were pretty good. I had some ice cream from the sundae bar and a brownie which were both very good. I tried the cheesecake but did not really care for it. Alek and Erich also had the ice cream sundae and they also grabbed a chocolate chip cookie. They were also satisfied with their dessert choices. Mom was too full from dinner so she opted for an apple for dessert.

Overall we were pleased with this dinner and we would return. The food was almost always good and there were the highlights like the strawberry soup which everybody should try. The characters were also very nice. If you have a little princess she would love this meal and it would be a nice alternative if you can not get reservations at the castle or if you don't want to spend the two dining credits to eat at the castle as this Cinderella meal only costs one dining credit.

 

[wideeyes]

Thanks for sharing, I can see that my DD will love CGF, and meeting cinderella, and that pizza looks so nice, May have to get one.

 

[skater]

I tried the cannoli for the first time last year and I can't get it out of my mind. It was my first cannoli, so I wasn't sure how it was supposed to taste, but it sounds like its the way it should be! Your picture made my mouth water . Thanks for the great reviews.

 

[disneyjunebug]

Great review! Look forward to more. And I agree, the Cannoli is one of the best kept secrets in MK.

 

[Busymom85]

Great review so far. Looking forward to more.

 

[buffy0214]

My favorite type of report--food filled

 

[wilma-bride]

I have only ever tried 1900 PF for breakfast and really loved it - I agree about the strawberry soup

 

[Momof2J's]

Great review! Can't wait to hear more

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I tried the cannoli for the first time last year and I can't get it out of my mind. It was my first cannoli, so I wasn't sure how it was supposed to taste, but it sounds like its the way it should be! Your picture made my mouth water . Thanks for the great reviews.

You are right, that is exactly how a cannoli should taste. They are my favourite dessert!

Great review! Look forward to more. And I agree, the Cannoli is one of the best kept secrets in MK.

It sure is, I plan on enjoying a cannoli again on my next trip to the world.

Great review so far. Looking forward to more.

Thanks for reading! I always enjoy hearing from other dissers and knowing that they are reading my report and enjoying it

My favorite type of report--food filled

Glad you are enjoying it. I also love the dining reports. They really help you decide where to eat on upcoming trips.

I have only ever tried 1900 PF for breakfast and really loved it - I agree about the strawberry soup

Stawberry Soup, yummy Since you like the breakfast you should try the dinner sometime, it is very good.

Great review! Can't wait to hear more

Thanks for reading. I love getting feedback and hearing about others experiences!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

On Day Two we spent the morning at Epcot. We opted to grab lunch at the Electric Umbrella as it was right across from the Character Connection which my brothers wanted to go to next. We arrived around 11:30 and once again we found an empty restaurant. No problems finding a table here! My mom grabbed a table by the window and we had a partial view of the fountain and thus were able to see the water show while eating.

Alek, Erich and I all got the Double Bacon Cheeseburgers with fries and mom got a grilled chicken sandwich. We all enjoyed our burgers. They were typical fast-food burgers and we enjoyed that there was a toppings bar so you could build your own burger. Mom also enjoyed her sandwich but she was still longing for the Italian Sandwich she had the previous day at Pinocchio's.

For dessert I opted for the cheesecake which was very yummy and everybody else got the chocolate chip cookies which they also said were good.

Sorry no pictures from this restaurant

Next update Mama Melrose with pictures!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Thanks for sharing, I can see that my DD will love CGF, and meeting cinderella, and that pizza looks so nice, May have to get one.

All the little girls I saw were so cute in their princess dresses and they were all thrilled when they got to meet Cinderella and blushed when they got their pictures with Prince Charming.

The pizza was yummy. I had read reports that the pizza at Disneyworld was bad but I have to say that I was happy with the pizza any time I had it.

 

[TruBlu]

Great so far! Can't wait to read more.

We loved that strawberry soup at 1900PF too. So yummy!
But the highlight of that meal was the KISS that DS5 got from Cinderella. He still blushes bright read when we watch the video. He has a huge crush!!!