7 nights of Disney dining with Yacht Club Concierge level (UPDATED 2/24)

[GoBirds]

Thanks for sharing your reviews.... I really, really, really want to try 'Ohana for dinner some time. As amazing as all the sides and meats look, I think I could make a meal out of the bread pudding!

I've cancelled Tusker House breakfast ADRs twice for past trips but I think I really need to give this a try soon.

Looking forward to more!

Thanks, and I enjoyed reading your last dining report as well.

 

[GoBirds]

On a side note - when they leave the Donald picture for you to decide about, slide it out of the frame and note down the number on the side then add to your photopass account (if you're doing photopass that is).

Ahhh ... THANK YOU! Now that's a useful tip!!

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

Ok, well after reading that review and looking at those mouth watering pictures of dinner, one thing is certain about my next trip.

'Ohana. Must. Happen.

Thank you!!!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Great dining reviews. Ive always loved Ohana breakfast but its time for a change. Dinner it is next time!

BTW, the POG juice is actually Passion fruit, Orange & Guava (not Pineapple). Its DELISH!!

 

[GoBirds]

Ok, well after reading that review and looking at those mouth watering pictures of dinner, one thing is certain about my next trip.

'Ohana. Must. Happen.

Thank you!!!!!

No problem

 

[GoBirds]

Great dining reviews. Ive always loved Ohana breakfast but its time for a change. Dinner it is next time!

BTW, the POG juice is actually Passion fruit, Orange & Guava (not Pineapple). Its DELISH!!

Thanks for the correction!

 

[GoBirds]

Sorry for the delay with my next dining report, but I had to take yesterday off to watch the Super Bowl. Congratulations to the Giants (even though I'm an Eagles fan). By the way, if the Eagles had won just one more game this season, the Giants don't even make the playoffs. Just sayin!

Anyway, after our Tusker House breakfast, we spent several hours in Animal Kingdom and then the kids got hungry, so we headed for an unplanned counter service meal at ... Pizzafari!!!

Pizzafari seems to be the counter service meal we always eat at when we're in Animal Kingdom. DW swears we need to go to Flame Tree BBQ, but the kids are big pizza lovers, and whenever we ask them what they want to eat, the answer is always the same ... "PIZZA!" So Pizzafari is where we go.

Pizzafari is a nice counter service meal. For one quick service credit, you get a personal pizza (plain or pepperoni), a caesar salad, a dessert (chocolate mousse or strawberry cheesecake) and a drink. Here it is:

This is a decent casual meal. The pizza is pretty good. Certainly not New York or Philly quality pizza, but serviceable. And it fills up the kids, which is really the point. And while the kids enjoy their pizza, DW and I can enjoy ...

a beer and a merlot. (NOTE: Being from Pennsylvania, I love that Disney restaurants now serve Yuengling Lager!)

So after our relaxing lunch, we spent a little more time in the Animal Kingdom. Now, the original plan was to head directly to Animal Kingdom Lodge for our ADR at Jiko. But ... the kids were a little tired and DW and I didn't get a meal at Pizzafari and we had a few hours to kill. So we decided to take advantage of our Club Level benefits at the Yacht Club. Since our ADR at Jiko wasn't until 7:00, we decided to drive back to the hotel, let the kids chill for a little, and enjoy some delicious and "FREE" Club Level appetizers at the hotel.

In the center plate, we have two delicious dips. The lighter red dip is a roasted red pepper hummus. The darker dip is a smoked tomato dip. Both delicious with the crackers. We also have a selection of cheeses at the top of the plate and a marinated olive salad at the right of the plate. The olive salad is the same salad served at the Cape May Clambake buffet. I love this, but I'm a sucker for olives! Finally, we have crab fritters in the center of the plate.

The two smaller plates on each side of the bigger plate is a cold rice dish with cranberries. Every night, the Yacht Club has its featured tasting dish. Tonight it was the rice dish, which is good, but not nearly as sumptuous as the lobster salad which they serve on multiple nights of the week. (NOTE: There will be more days of pictures of Yacht Club food, so the lobster salad is coming!)

After enjoying the appetizers,we headed to AKL for our ADR at ... Jiko!!!

Now, I had been looking forward to this ADR for a year and a half. I've always considered Jiko to be among the top 3 signature restaurants at Disney (along with California Grill and Citricos). So my expectations are always high going into Jiko. That being said, Jiko was very good, but unfortunately, a little disappointing when complared to my previous two visits there.

Upon being seated, the first thing brought to your table is the bread service:

The butter (to the lower right of the bread) is Indian-spiced (DW says it's Tamarind) and very delicious. Now, here's the funny part. DW was not so hungry after the Yacht Club appetizers, so she didn't want to order an appetizer at Jiko. I, on the other hand, had been waiting for 1 1/2 years to get the tasting of African dips with assorted breads and naan. Aside from my 2009 meal at Victoria & Albert's and the tuna appetizer at California Grill, these dips are without a doubt my favorite food at Disney. So, the conversation went like this:

Me: So I'm getting the african dips for an appetizer. What are you getting?

DW: I'm not getting an appetizer.

Me: What the heck ya mean??!!

DW: I'm not that hungry after eating the appetizers at Yacht Club.

Me: Well, why not try the seared rare ahi tuna appetizer?

DW: Because I don't like seared rare ahi tuna. YOU like seared rare ahi tuna.

Me: Wait, I have an idea. Maybe you could order the trio of African dips and I'll share that with you. Then I can order the seared rare ahi tuna as my appetizer.

DW: In other words, you want to order two appetizers for yourself.

Me:

So we ordered the trio the African dips and the seared rare ahi tuna appetizer.

To my pleasant surprise, the trio of African dips is now a quartet. The dips are a kalamata olive hummus, a green chimichurri-like dip, a roasted red pepper dip and a smoky paprika / tomato dip. The dips are served with the selection of breads and naan as pictured above. These were as delicious as I remembered. Each time I tasted one dip, I liked it more than the last dip I tasted. My only disappointment was this: I had learned that, at Disney restaurants, you can ask for and receive the recipe for any dish on the menu. But when I asked our server for the recipe for these dips, he told me, somewhat bashfully, that they didn't make the dips at the restaurant. Rather, they are purchased from an outside vendor and shipped daily to Jiko. Oh well, they still taste great; I'll deal with the illusion!

Now, the ahi tuna appetizer was ok. It had a similar Indian/tamarind seasoning like the butter which accompanied the bread service. Three thick slabs of tuna are artfully placed atop a piece of avocado, with a tasty tamarind sauce on the plate and a similar seasoning charred on the outside of the tuna. This was decent, but the tuna was a little chewy, and I didn't find it to be the highest quality.

Next came our entrees. I had the filet mignon, atop risotto and a cabernet reduction sauce:

Again, this was decent, but it was not as good as my fond memories of the now defunct filet with mac-n-cheese.

DW had the braised beef short rib with truffled potato puree, pearl onions, baby carrots and cabernet tamarind sauce:

She liked it, but it didn't "wow" her. I tasted a piece and it had a similar taste to a very tasty beef stew.

DS7 and DS4 each had the kids' steak:

This comes with mac-n-cheese, green beans and a huge strawberry. They loved this.

Finally, I should note that Jiko has a spectacular South African wine list. The reds especially are bold, spicy and stand up well to the meal. I had a by-the-glass cabernet, and it was awesome!!!

I do not intend on discouraging anyone from dining at Jiko. It is still, in my mind, one of the better signature restaurants at Disney. It's just that I went into the restaurant with VERY high expectations, and I remember the entrees to be slightly better. Overall, though, it was still a fine meal. And we love the hotel.

Next up: Boardwalk Pizza and Narcoossee's!!!

 

[nickymaria]

I'm thoroughly enjoying your dining report! DH and I are also pretty avid foodies (and winos ) so the whole not-having-to-drive thing at Disney makes for some fun nights and a more relaxing vacation, IMHO. I look forward to reading the rest!

 

[Linda67]

I'm really enjoying your reviews

A quick question for you regarding your 'Ohana breakfast

Do you happen to remember if everyone was served Mickey Waffles or were they only served because you had your kids with you?

I love Mickey Waffles but it's only me and DH eating there and I am a big kid and want them!!

 

[iloveeeyore]

Your report is awesome! I was laughing out loud at the description of your discussion with DW about appetizers at Jiko. It sounds like DH and me, but with ME wanting the 2 appies. Those are usually my favorite part of the meal. Those Jiko ones look delicious.

I'm just curious, was this your first trip to Jiko since the menu changed in fall 2010? We were there for the Wanayama Safari just before the change and everything was outstanding. I'm sad they took away the filet with mac and cheese. That thing was heavenly!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[GoBirds]

I'm really enjoying your reviews

A quick question for you regarding your 'Ohana breakfast

Do you happen to remember if everyone was served Mickey Waffles or were they only served because you had your kids with you?

I love Mickey Waffles but it's only me and DH eating there and I am a big kid and want them!!

The servers come around to each table with a basket full of Mickey waffles, so you're good. Glad you're enjoying the reviews!

 

[GoBirds]

Your report is awesome! I was laughing out loud at the description of your discussion with DW about appetizers at Jiko. It sounds like DH and me, but with ME wanting the 2 appies. Those are usually my favorite part of the meal. Those Jiko ones look delicious.

I'm just curious, was this your first trip to Jiko since the menu changed in fall 2010? We were there for the Wanayama Safari just before the change and everything was outstanding. I'm sad they took away the filet with mac and cheese. That thing was heavenly!

Can't wait to read more!

Yes, this was our first and only trip to Jiko since the fall 2010 change, but we were there twice before the change, in spring 2009 and spring 2010. And we're definitely heading back there for our 2012 trip. It was good; I just remember enjoying the '09 and '10 visits even more.

 

[kelleigh1]

Sorry for the delay with my next dining report, but I had to take yesterday off to watch the Super Bowl. Congratulations to the Giants (even though I'm an Eagles fan). By the way, if the Eagles had won just one more game this season, the Giants don't even make the playoffs. Just sayin!

Oh how I wish the Eagles had won just one more game. (see my location)

 

[GoBirds]

Oh how I wish the Eagles had won just one more game. (see my location)

Hey whaddaya sayin?! The Eagles could've beaten the Patriots too!

 

[GoBirds]

For our next day in the World, we decided to take it easy, and since we were staying at the Yacht Club for the first time, we just wanted to enjoy our surroundings in the Boardwalk area. So we spent the day at the Stormalong Bay pool (very cool), and strolling the Boardwalk.

Isn't the Boardwalk awesome??!! I know, I know, this is a dining report, but we had a casual lunch on the Boardwalk during this beautiful day, so I thought I'd give everyone a sense of our surroundings. Anyway, our stroll ended us up at Boardwalk Pizza Window.

We ordered a pizza for me and the kids. For two quick service credits, you get a full size pizza, two non-alcoholic drinks and two desserts. We got a pepperoni pizza, two chocolate cake desserts, and two milks:

DW decided she wanted to stop next door at Boardwalk Bakery to get a sandwich. For one quick service credit, she got a roast beef sandwich, a cucumber side salad, a dessert and a non-alcoholic drink:

First let me say that this atmosphere is great and, more importantly, relaxing. Along the Boardwalk, there are several tables and chairs where people can sit and enjoy their food while overlooking the surroundings (see above). Great day with the family! As far as the food goes, DW really enjoyed her sandwich and salad. The sandwich was thick, full of roast beef, tender and tasty. The salad was very refreshing. As far as the pizza goes, this was not very good. The pizza tasted like something out of the frozen supermarket aisle. But ah well, it was still a beautiful day with the kids in a great surrounding, and that made below-average pizza taste better. And while there are signs clearly posted to not feed the birds, a few pieces of pizza crust might've "fallen" off DS4's plate. Oops!

After our day "off" from the parks, we headed over to the Magic Kingdom area for a Narcoossee's dinner and a night at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!!!

Next up... Narcoossee's dinner!!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Cant wait to read more!

 

[Linda67]

Wonderful photos

Ooh and thanks for the heads up on the Mickey Waffles

 

[kelleigh1]

Hey whaddaya sayin?! The Eagles could've beaten the Patriots too!

Maybe, but those 2 NJ (cause they aren't really in NY despite their names) teams are my least favorite teams in all of football, so it wouldn't have stung quite so much if your Eagles had actually survived the playoffs.

 

[Lisa29]

really enjoying your reviews. can't wait to read more.

 

[dixonsontour]

Great reviews

Nice to see pictures of the kids food at signature restaurants.

DH want to do DxDDP this time and we have a 6 year old daughter.

Did you skip dessert at Jiko?