7 months and we back,again : 14 days of gluttony & grub: PLETHORA O' PICS 12/1/23-12/14/23 NEW NEW!!

[primalJ]

I AM BACK! So you know I will be posting some fine fantastical foodie pics.
Yes there are some pickles ( you know who you all are)
There are a bit of disappointing foods we were surprised on ( wait and see)
Some great moments:
here is a teaser one...
We had been in line for about 25 minutes at Toy story mania and a guy and a girl were trying to get by us. Well I wasn't having that, I know a line cutter when I see one. So I told him if he was really looking for his wife up ahead go get a cast member and he wasn't doing that and I told him he was not getting by me no matter what. So for the next 30 minutes he stood behind me and had to watch the back of my head knowing that I stopped this liar. Well the other people behind us were happy I stopped them but I was surprised no one else bothered. And for those who are wondering was he really looking for someone if he was he would have gotten a cast member and he also would have walked by me before that since he had to go to the bathroom and we were already in line for 25 minutes. So line cutter stopped in his tracks.

Just some factoids:

12/1: 11,822=5.54 miles
12/2: 20,500=9.2 miles
12/3: 17,100=8.1 miles
12/4: 14,801=6.84 miles
12/5: 24,417=11.4 miles
12/6: 14,794=6.85 miles
12/7: 11,367=5.26 miles
12/8: 12,018=5.59 miles
12/9: 14,002=6.4 miles
12/10: 11,888=5.52 miles
12/11: 15,057=7.13 miles
12/12: 11,226=5.21 miles
12/13: 16,028=7.6 miles
Total Steps: 195,020
Total Miles: 91
Total blisters: 0
Total spent on food: $1565.12
Total spent on flight: $1629.62 (1st class)
Uber & Lyft: $153.28
Rooms: $0 7 nights Copper Creek (1 bedroom ) / 6 nights Saratoga (1 bedroom ) All owned points. LOVE DVC. Paid forever!!!!!!
Me the author Celebrating my 53rd BDAY!!!!
wife 43

our faces so you can remember who brings you such food joy. ( I am on the right)

Crowds were Horrid and real crap-fest. Worst we seen it.
We split everything as usual and I made it through.
Lots of grub to look at so enjoy. Any questions just ask!


If you would like to read my past food reports here you go.
2023 MAY
2022 Sept
2022 Jan
2021
2020
2018
2010
2008
2007
2006
2005

plus a pic of our grandson Gavin, who just turned 2 a few days before we left.

And next September he is going to be coming with us for his very first Disney trip
we are SUPER excited. And our daughter & Son-in-law as well, but more excited for our grandson...

 

[primalJ]

Lets get right to the foods !

Wife wanted to try it. I really don't care for molasses cookies
and this one did not sway me to like them, SO Blahhhh. She
enjoyed it while I watched her eat it all by herself.
I did enjoy the plate it was on. All though I did not eat that.

 

[primalJ]

Now this cookie ROCKS!!!

So delectable. Everything about it is blissfulness.
If a cookie had a mouth I would tongue kiss it so deeply.

 

[primalJ]

It's not a trip unless we get
UK FISH & CHIPS STAND

Always wonderful. Those blokes really know how to batter a fish. I really
hope the fish felt no pain before that battered it. Now I feel bad for enjoying a battered fishy...
Since I feel bad I wrote a song

Fishy fishy how I adore.
It's a real shame that you can swim no more.
From once you came out of the waters,
Perhaps you might have had a few daughters.
None of that matters now so don't you worry, I'm sure going to enjoy you in a hurry.

 

[primalJ]

TURF CLUB

I'm very ashamed to say we never tried Turf Club, we've owned at Saratoga
for several years and we never bother trying it.
Our very good friends Todd and Michelle from the channel Traveling Around Disney mentioned it before how good it is, so this time we finally tried it. OH Boy I wish we had tried it sooner It was spectacularly stupendous.




The bread that they brought out was superb as well as the butter which was the
most spreadable creamy perfectly salted with that lava salt and it was delectable.
I would love to spread that creamy goodness all over me...to far???


We got the Frito misto and asked for extra shrimp instead of calamari.
I don't eat that disgusting squid and they omitted it for us.
Everything about this was exceptional. The best batter I can recall.


My wife got the crispy chicken and I tried a piece and it was superb.
Wonderful crispy skin and the sauce it bathed in. I need to bathe in that
sauce some time perhaps.


I got the prime rib which I never ever get anywhere and I cannot believe how
much I love prime rib, this was extraordinary. It was perfection.


just a cool knife to carve my meat with. Carving is tight.

Turf Club is now going to be on our regular trip rotation all the time I can't believe we slept on this
what fools we had been, no more! Please never let us down.

 

[primalJ]

TERRALINA

A few trips ago we ate here and we were not impressed. Since the restaurant group
sent me a $15 off anything and we were able to use it for takeout we decided
to get a pizza to reheat later as a snack.
It was just mildly passable. I can't believe they have the stones to charge $19 for
this tiny little personal size pizza. Even though it only cost me $4 after the birthday certificate.
Still seemed WAY over priced. They're out of their mind when you could walk
right over to Blaze seconds away and get a much better pizza for half the cost.
I don't even think I would bother for $4 for this you crazy bastards.
Okay lets move on...

 

[primalJ]

TURF CLUB LOUNGE

My burger

Wife's burger


For anybody who has read my past trip reports and my numerous posts raving how
much I adored this burger I'm sad to say this time let me down so hard.
They charge more now for the same burger, although it definitely was a little smaller.
The meat quality was not the same. It was definitely not as juicy and
not flavorful as it has been many times in the past.
Plus for just the 2 burgers with tip $55, So not worth it !

I'm sad to say this is now off my list and I really hope it was a fluke,
but I don't know if I could trust it again.
I'm going to lower the burger mast in honor of a fallen burger hero.
It's been an honor but now such a shame you let me down, but not again....
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
PICKLE RATING:
2 out of 5 tickle my pickles.
somewhat on the sweet side and not crisp enough.
this one did not tickle my pickle well enough.

 

[primalJ]

SUNSHINE SEASONS


We needed a light morning snack and this was good. BUT there was barely any
peanut butter flavor? If such an item is called PB PIE put some dang PB flavor stank into
it will ya. Still we liked it, next time ramp up the PB ten fold.

 

[primalJ]

SUMMER HOUSE














cookie bag

So we had been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the opening. Several weeks before we got to Disney
the place was finished and they had the furniture outside, so we figured it had to be opening up any day now.

Well after almost two full weeks to our chagrin there was no opening and our last full day we were walking over to Boathouse for our lunch reservation and I decided for some weird reason
to walk to Summer house first. Not sure why.

As we approach closer I noticed a sign out front saying CLOSED for private event. I was excited but saddened. So I said to my wife let me go over, you wait here and let me see if I could talk my way in.
So there's a girl out front asking for my name and I told her I was not invited but I was hoping since it's our last day and we had been eagerly awaiting if I could possibly buy some cookies.
She went over to the manager and the manager came over to me and said sure no problem Go in.
So I called my wife over and we got real excited.

We perused through all the cookies and decided on 4 of them.
Everything laid out in the display case looked wonderful.
When we went to pay they told me no charge, so I was even more excited and thrilled.
So incredibly nice of them.

The Blondie was our first favorite It was everything you can hope for.
Then it would be the iced lemon cookie, close behind was oatmeal scotchie and then in last place was the oatmeal apple.

And of course we will be trying this in our September trip for the food and more cookies and cake.
I was just very happy I was able to get to try the cookies let alone not even get charged for them so that was exciting.
My wife was so surprised I was able to do what I did, plus you'll see coming up some of the other things I was able to talk my way into. I have the charm I been told.

 

[primalJ]

STARBUCKS




The wife always has lots of free gift cards to Starbucks and
while here we use it, this time only twice shockingly.
Both drinks were good, but I think most people know about them.

 

[primalJ]

STEAK n' SHAKE


my triple with extra meat for 4 meats!
LOTS OF PICKLES


wife's burger on the right


PB cup shake




We use to have a Steak 'n Shake near us but it closed down couple years ago,
and of course I had a gift card that was given to me shortly before it
closed so I never got to use it. When we use to drive down to Disney all the time we would stop.
So now since we've been flying the last few years, we decided to finally use the gift card.
On the way over from the airport to Saratoga Springs we had the Uber drop us off here first.

So lunch was basically free and we finally got to have Steak n' Shake which we loved.
After lunch a quick Uber call took us right over to Saratoga Springs to start our 2-week trip.
I really do love Steak 'n Shake for what it is, shame there's none around us.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PICKLE RATING:
4.25 out of 5 tickle my pickles.
I love a long flat pickle thats tangy and this is it.
this one did tickle my pickle well enough. If it was a but thicker would be perfect pickle.

 

[primalJ]

SLEEPY HOLLOW


It always is great. I dip my weenie in the syrup cups, even better
when the weenie drips sugary fluids.

 

[primalJ]

ROUND UP BBQ

Last trip in May we got to try this shortly after it opened and we adored it.
So of course this trip we came right back.
Well, most things were the same. There was a few little differences that didn't wow us as much.

The most surprising one was the biscuits, last time they were heavenly and absolutely delicious.
This time there was something off with it and I asked our server and she said other
people noticed it as well and they are not making them in house anymore,
they're bringing them from outside and I knew something was awry.

Another downer was the mac & cheese. The first time we had it was wonderful and creamy.
This time dry pasty garbage. The server also said they changed that up as well and she was
going to let the new head chef who came over from Brown Derby know about it.
So hopefully some of these critiques will help out.


Look at all the vittles you can eat.


Slurp it up, they'll bring you more until you drown.


Best pepper jelly ever!
I said EVER, got it.


Still good, the tomato salad not a tangy as back in May
Check out those melons....


wonderful silly dillies


Meats and sides.
-The meats were still good but the sausage link changed it's slightly smaller
but it had a better taste so I actually was pleased even more so this time around.
-Fried pickles still are my top favorite.
-The potato salad also is still sheer perfection and it is the best potato salad I've ever recall eating.
-Love the tots, who doesn't need a side of potatoes for the other potatoes...


I'm sweet on sweets
All of desserts still are very tasty and I can say nothing negative
about any of them we've really adore them like they're one of my kin.

Still overall like the place but in September we're going to skip it for that trip
just since we had it back to back. And I still do recommend the place.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PICKLE RATING:
5 out of 5 tickle my pickles.
a very well seasoned batter that clings on for dear life.
Still crisp and tangy. You need to shove this pickle missile
into the hole in your face, preferably the mouth one.

 

[primalJ]

ROARING FORKS

Even though we love owning at Copper Creek and everything about Wilderness Lodge
we really don't care for most of the food at the resort.

But there's two standouts that we did like was the tuna, which I just got a side of
and they never charged me for it. Not sure the reason, so that was nice of them.
We also love the tomato soup which is very reminiscent of the one at Riviera.

All the pastries we've had in the past here sucked, even though most people raved about
them. Specifically that bear claw which was horrible and we trashed it after a bite.
The wife wanted to try these two new holiday treats.

Very surprisingly they were both good. So nice for a change to get something sweet
and tasty out of Roaring Forks. I hope they add more savory items and improve upon
them before our next trip because what they have now lacks.









Odd thing is I never heard my fork roar here before....only quietly weep for the
sadness they serve.

 

[primalJ]

PRIMO PIATTO
We love owning at Riviera also we adore the food at Primo Piatto.
But even when we don't stay here on some trips we still have to stop by and eat.


The burger here is excellent and so far it's not let me down
and I've had it many many times. Hope they keep up the streak.

The chicken sandwich is exceptional as well, although it should be bigger.
Of course the tomato soup is the real shining star. Shinning so bright into the
big bowl at night....


a little side note, I love that they keep packs of hot cocoa for anybody
to grab. If you have a refillable mug you can just get hot water and
have some cocoa, a nice change of pace this time of year.
Gourmet the pack says....Oh so fancy. NOPE regular ole cheap cocoa.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PICKLE RATING:
2.33 out of 5 tickle my pickles.
I had to ask for a side of pickles and this is what they gave me,
a little tin of baby gherkins.
It will suffice but definitely not the best choice for pickles.
looking kinda sad trapped in the tin, don't fret I will help your escape...
into my mouth.....
What are these pickles for ants?

 

[primalJ]

REFILLABLE MUG (s)
Story time


We bought this on arrival. Dull, boring, uninspired.
But it's the only one to be had anywhere, so we grabbed it.

After having it for about a week of course Disney drops the new fun design



So I said to my wife let me see if I can exchange it for
the new one,what's it going to hurt.

So while we were at Grand Floridian looking at the
gingerbread house you know the one in Drury Lane.
We stopped into Gasparilla's grill and sure enough they had the new design.

So as usual when I ask for something my wife likes to stay away because
she thinks the girls will think I'm cute and I'll get my way. Let's see.
I brought my boring cup to the girl at the register and asked if I could possibly
exchange it in a very nice sweet manner kinda way.
She told me she couldn't do that. So I removed my sunglasses and fluttered
my eyes at her and asked please in the most charming smooth suave way.
She giggled and said grab a cup and she scanned it to activate it,
and said to me I didn't do this (wink wink). This never happened. Right, gotcha.
I said would you like me to leave my old cup and she said no just keep that
and she didn't even charge me for the new one, how very very kind.
Charming works again! nice. My wife is giddy on how often I make things happen.

 

[elsbit]

The bigger question is do those charms and fluttering eyelashes work on your wife still??

I do enjoy the pickle ratings as I too am a pickle fiend. However, I greatly dislike sweet pickles and bread and butter pickles.

 

[primalJ]

Yes the charms do work. I agree on the pickles very dill heavy and garlicky is the only way.

 

[primalJ]

RAINFOREST CAFE (ANIMAL KINGDOM)

We normally never would eat here but I did get a $25 gift certificate for my birthday for
being a Landry's member and also got $50 gift certificate for free elsewhere so
why not take a chance on $75 worth of free food.



The appetizer platter was a good assortment and overall everything was decent
nothing to complain about. It was quite hefty as well. We both enjoyed it.


We also split the fish and chips and the burger.
The fish was just okay definitely not something I would order but we figured it was kind of lighter.


The double burger was decent good beefy flavor plenty of cheese
we did not eat the roll to save room and the pickles were a good standard dill.


I would never pay to eat here but since it was pretty much free other than tip
not a bad lunch. The noise and the activity is way too much to have a calm pleasant
meal, as soon as you get out from there you feel visually and audibly relieved.

Also noted as soon as our appetizer came out the food runner brought out our entrees
and we told him to take it back we didn't even start touching our appetizer yet.
He seemed a little befuddled, then this server came over to apologize but I think
they brought out the same food just held under warmers but I couldn't prove it
so that kind of annoyed us. Very poor timing on the kitchen or server putting in the orders.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PICKLE RATING:
3.25 out of 5 tickle my pickles.
cold crisp and very standard but in a okay way.
It did it's pickle job of accompanying the burger.

 

[primalJ]

PRIME TIME CAFE

We had not eaten here in quite a long time, at least 13 years.
So we figured let's split that sampler platter since it has a little bit of everything
and we always did like the peanut butter and jelly shake.



We also seen people rave about the fried cheese. So we decided to try that
and I think they're out of their minds. There is nothing special about this
you get one little round piece of cheese and a not very fresh piece of bread
whoever raves about this is out of their gourd.


Peanut butter jelly shake was still decent but not enough pronounced
jelly flavor in it or peanut butter for that matter.
For the price that they charge I think that's a little steep.


The sampler platter was just okay.
Pot roast was very good, but not as good as Liberty tree tavern.
The chicken was barely edible, and the meatloaf is decent.
For $30 they're smoking crack here.

Looks like we won't be back here anytime in the future.
What they need to do is bring back the burgers they used to serve here many years ago.

Prime Time is past their prime.