8 days of Solo Deluxe Dining... without DxDP [UPDATE: Hollywood Brown Derby at DHS]

[FredQc]

I am back from a 7-night stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (CSR) with a 8-day park ticket (please find my trip report here). Food is a major component of all my Disney vacations and I monitor the available options on a continuous basis, through this forum and other websites, especially the Disney food blog. While I have had good experiences with the Deluxe Dining Plan, I stopped to add this option to my package one year ago, as the plan became more expensive. Now, I find it too challenging to get enough value to justify the cost.

So I would say that I eat in deluxe way, without the dining plan. As this review should demonstrate, to pay out of pocket is a way to get more flexibility and, at the end of the day, may be cheaper.

Day 1 : Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot (dinner)
Day 2 : Pepper Market at Coronado Springs Resort (lunch)
Day 2 : Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios (dinner)
Day 3 : Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom (lunch)
Day 3 : Victoria Falls & Jiko at Animal Kindgom Lodge (dinner)
Day 4 : Trail End at Fort Wilderness (lunch)
Day 4 : Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk (dinner)
Day 5 : Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot (lunch)
Day 5 : Il Mulino at Swan & Dolphin Resort (dinner)
Day 6 : Las Ventanas at Coronado Springs Resort (breakfast)
Day 6 : Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom as part of the Keys to the Kingdom Tour (lunch)
Day 6 : Mizner's Lounge and Citricos at Grand Floridian (dinner)
Day 7 : Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney (lunch)
Day 7 : Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk (dinner)
Day 8 : Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom (lunch)

Stay tuned! This review will be updated at the same time than my solo trip report available here.

 

[ibcindyb]

Great! I can't wait.

 

[bbak3030]

I'm in, I love Disney Dining!

 

[WildGinger]

I am in! Can't wait!

 

[phabric]

Will be looking forward to your reviews.

We will be eating at some of the same restaurants.

 

[tluvstink]

That's a great lineup! I'm in

Terri

 

[FredQc]

Before arrival, I had made only few advanced dining reservations (ADR). I didn't want to be scheduled with a long line-up of ADR, and I was prepared to be flexible. My first idea was to have a relaxing dinner at Tokyo Dining, one of two sit-down restaurants in Epcot Japanese area. I have had a good sushi-based meal there a couple of years ago. However, the cast member at the podium estimated at 30 minutes the wait time. That was too long for me.

I then considered the newest location in Morocco, the Spice Road Table. I had read some positive reviews on this tapas-style restaurant, on EasyWDW for instance. However, at the time of my visit, I felt hungry and was afraid that Spice Road Table small plates would not be hearty without several courses, which may be expansive and not very appropriate for a solo eater.

So I decided to enter in a round of some Flower & Garden Festival kiosks. Being a fan of Epcot Food & Wine Festival, I was motivated to take the opportunity to tour the world through the festival booths. For those who add one of the Disney Dining Plans (DDP) to their vacation package, these stands are a way to spend snack credits as several items are covered by them and provide a good value. However, and especially when we have the Deluxe Dining Plan (DxDP), there's a stand-off, as a meal paid by snack credits also implies that we don't spend a meal credit, with the increasing risk to not spend all of them and to get less value. Without such plans, I didn't have to deal with this sort of problem.

My first stop was the French booth, "Fleur de Lys". For a Quebecker like me, it was also an opportunity to chat in my own language with a French cast member, this one being from Aix-en-Provence. Epcot French area is filled with great food opportunities: Monsieur Paul, Les Chefs de France, Les Halles Boulangerie et Pâtisseries, L'Artisan des glaces... The F&G French kiosk is no exception.

I decided to purchase two plates here, in addition to a bottle of water. While I generally prefer to use water fountains instead of buying water at WDW, it is more convenient to take one at the beginning of one Epcot festival tour.

The first item was the Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençale (Parisian Style Vegetable Dumplings).

While I am not an expert, I found it cooked just right and really tasty, thanks to the cheese and olives, among other things.

The Confit de canard avec pommes de terre sarladaise (Duck with Parsley Potatoes) was the second French plate.

The duck was very good and perfectly cooked. However, the combination of dumplings and potatoes brought a lot of starch at the same time.

Here is the total spending at F&G French booth I paid out of pocket, as well as the number of credits on a dining plan for future comparison. Tax is included in the prices which appear on F&G booth menus.

>> $12.75 (or 3 snack credits)

Then I walked back to the Japan area and did a stop at the Hanami Japanese kiosk. During last year F&G Festival, I had here a wonderful and spicy sushi plate.

That option was unfortunately not offered this year, so I decided to try something else.

I ordered the Hanami Sushi, described in the F&G Festival Guide as "a flavorful combination of salmon, scallop and beef topped rice balls served atop a Shiso violet sauce".

It is possible that I under-appreciated the Hanami Sushi because I had hoped to find something similar to last year plate. Nonetheless, I didn't find it tasty and wasn't spicy at all. I was also surprised to find beef in a sushi... The salmon piece was the best of all three.

>> $5.50 (or 1 snack credit)

Next stop was the popular Smokehouse, close to the American pavilion.

Here, it was difficult to choose between all these options. I selected the Smoked Beef Brisket, which was served with collard greens and Jalapeno corn bread.

That was a great plate. The smoked beef was excellent and tender. The Jalapeño corn bread made the plate very spicy. I am not a fan of the collard greens, but they allowed some equilibrium with the Jalapeño. The Smokehouse is also located close to several picnic tables, next to the American pavilion, where I could sit down instead of eating at a standing table.

>> $6.75 (or 1 snack credit)

I did a last stop at the "Florida Fresh" booth, where I bought a watermelon salad.

Whether walking time is not an issue, I would have begun with this plate. But even at the end of my dinner, it was a good way to be refreshed. The watermelon salade was made of pickled red onions, arugula, feta cheese and a balsamic reduction. Very good.

>> $3.50 (or 1 snack credit)

Through this first F&G Festival tour (I will post the review of a 2nd tour later), I never had to wait for more than one or two prior guest(s) before being served. The process was very efficient and I also found clean spots to eat close to each booth.

Later that night, before Illuminations, I walked back to the French area where I ordered one of my favorite drinks at WDW, the Sluch au Grand Marnier et à l'orange.

>> $9.95 (not covered on DDP)

To sum up this first evening at Epcot:

>> $38.45 (or 6 snack credits + $9.95 out of pocket)

 

[FredQc]

Following a long travel day, I had a more relaxing one, spending several hours at Coronado Spring Resort (CSR). While I usually eat full breakfasts at home, I prefer light ones in vacation. That morning and several others, I ate cereals from a mini-box I brought from my local supermarket. On arrival day, I bought a half-gallon of milk at CSR Panchitos Gift Shop and I kept it cold thanks to the in-room mini-fridge. I bought two half-gallons during my stay. Once, I stopped by next door Cafe Rix with the half-gallon in a bag, and two employees asked me how much it cost. They were surprised : at $3.15 (tax included), it is almost the same price than much smaller bottles of milk sold at Cafe Rix. While I am not sure, I think the half-gallon of milk is not covered on dining plans.

>> 2 X $3.15 = $6.30 (not covered on DDP)

Food services at CSR have changed since my previous stay in May 2013. In addition to the opening of Las Ventanas, where I ate a breakfast (forthcoming review), the counter-service inside Cafe Rix, where pizzas, sandwiches and burgers were prepared, is now closed. The picture below shows that the window has been closed with a mural stand offering chips and other snacks (sorry for the low quality of the picture).

Other changes occurred at the CSR quick-service restaurant, the Pepper Market. We no longer have to tip for a server who just brings beverages to our table. Whereas we were previously seated by the hostess before picking our food at one of the Pepper Market stands, we are now invited to proceed immediately to these booths. Then, we sit at the table of our choice, as we do in most Disney’s quick-service locations. We pay at the exit of the Pepper Market area for the food items stamped on a ticket. The new procedure is explained at the entrance.

For those who don’t know the Pepper Market concept, food is available at various stands, each one offering a category of items (salads, burgers, pasta, “Mexican” specialities, desserts, etc.). You get a ticket at the entrance and the employees at each booth use a stamp to track what you ordered.

Beverages are now self-served at the exit of the booths area, as well as at the center of the dining area, where a decorated wall previously hide a small backstage area. Below are before/after pictures.

As I wore a swimsuit and planned to go to the pool area immediately after, I didn’t have my camera during that meal and don’t have food pictures. However, my chicken plate didn’t look so fantastic. Nonetheless, it was very good. I had a large piece of meat (about a half-chicken), served with potato mash (I declined the gravy), vegetables, and corn bread. The chicken was good and thoroughly brushed. The vegetables were from a frozen mix you can buy at your local store. I added a soft drink, with no dessert.

>> $18.09 (or 1 quick-service credit)

After swimming in the main pool, located at the Dig Site area, I had a Parrot Passion from the Siesta Bar. With tax and tip :

>> $11.21 (not covered on DDP)

Next : A dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby.

 

[babydoll65]

Joining in. You explain everything so well. Iv only eaten at the pepper market once but thought it was very good. Will probably do this again on our next trip. I like to try the resort's for our lunch to cool off and take a break before heading back or to another park.

 

[auntfrannie]

You have some of my favorite restaurants on your list! I've done several solo dining trips and they're always wonderful. Can't wait to read about your experiences.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I'm in - miss CSR it is 4 years since we visited but we would go again in a heartbeat if the UK free dining didn't make deluxe resorts/studios cheaper than the mods.

Pepper Market was always a disappointment to us but very interested to hear about Las Ventanas. Booked an adr for Maya Grill this trip so we can visit CSR. :

 

[MrsB1228]

Enjoying your reviews and looking forward to the next instalment.

 

[FredQc]

While Hollywood Brown Derby is not, in my opinion, among the best signature restaurants, it is one of the nicest in-park restaurants at WDW. Located close to the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset boulevards, access is very convenient.

The restaurant is a replication of the actual Brown Derby in Hollywood, the second Brown Derby restaurant to open, according to Wikipedia.

I had not made any reservation for that dinner before departure. As I decided to not go at Epcot Tokyo Dining because a 30-minute wait the day of my arrival, I found more appropriate to secure a place at the Hollywood Brown Derby. Here is a good case of increasing efficience thanks to the “My Disney Experience” (MDE) application. Whereas I would have spent several minutes to go at the resort concierge desk, to wait in line and to ask a cast member about making a reservation for me in the pre-MDE era, I achieved the same result within 3 or 4 minutes. On the morning of Day 2, in my room, I turned on my iPad, opened the MDE app, and selected the Hollywood Brown Derby.

Solo travellers who have made several dining reservations know that, for a reason which seems beyond the common sense, it is often more difficult to book for a single guest than for a party of 2. That was the case here. So to get a convenient time, given my schedule that day, I did a reservation for two people. Each time I have done it during many trips, I didn’t have to assume any penalty because the “second guest” was not with me. So it is a good strategy to get what you want as a solo traveller.

I had a reservation for 5:30pm. That was my earliest dinner of all my vacation. It is not a surprise that many children were in the restaurant, even in a signature restaurant : it is a theme park location and it was early. There is less chance to experience a signature restaurant with several families around when we eat late (let’s say past 9pm). A party with two or three young children was close to my table, so it was not a quiet meal. However, I had a great view on the dining room, which is lower than the “mezzanine” around it, where I was seated.

As you may know, the walls are covered with caricatures of stars, thus replicating the look of the actual restaurant. What I didn’t know before that dinner is that cast members have a tool to identify them. Customers next to my table had asked a question about them to their server. Another cast member then arrived to their table with a set of letter-format sheets clipped together, and he flipped them to find the right name.

I began with a cocktail, the Open Audition, made of Russian vodka. It was worth the money ($9.75), as the quantity of vodka is large enough to taste. The server also brought warm bread pieces, in a basket covered with a linen. Whereas bread and butter are very special in other signature restaurants, these are standard.

I ordered an appetizer, the Blue Lump Crab Spring Rolls. It is described on the menu as “snow crab claw and an Asian slaw with spicy Miso Aïoli”. That was absolutely delicious.

I then ate the Famous Cobb’s Salad, made of chopped greens, turkey breast, bacon, egg, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado and chives. Appetizer and entree formats are available. Though I planned to pick the appetizer one, I ordered the largest. All ingredients are clearly distinguished, side by side, when the plate is served. But the picture has been taken once the server had mixed everything !

The Cobb’s salad was fresh and very good, but the taste is strong and requires to eat slowly. To have a drink at the same time is a good tactic to deal with the entree format !

I could not leave the Hollywood Brown Derby without a dessert. I obviously ordered the signature Grapefruit Cake. For those who like oranges and grapefruits, it is absolutely delightful.

Just before leaving, I picked the recipes of the Cobb's Salad and the Grapefruit Cake, available at the entrance/exit of the dining room. But they seem so sophisticated that it is easier, I think, to go back at the Hollywood Brown Derby than to cook them at home!

With the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) or the Deluxe Dining Plan (DxDP), my choices would have been a poor value for 2 table-service credits. The figures below indicate what I paid (including the 6.5% tax and 18% tip) and what I would have paid with the dining plans for the same selection :

>> $59.46 (or 2 TS credits + $32.83 on DDP / 2 TS credits + $18.98 on DxDP)

The server did a OK job. However he was a bit rushed. At one point, he was going to remove my glass. I asked him to leave it on the table as I had not finished the drink...

When I came back to Coronado Springs Resort that night, I stopped by the Rix Cafe and bought a chocolate muffin.

>> $3.19 (or 1 snack credit)

 

[FredQc]

Joining in. You explain everything so well. Iv only eaten at the pepper market once but thought it was very good. Will probably do this again on our next trip. I like to try the resort's for our lunch to cool off and take a break before heading back or to another park.

I'm in - miss CSR it is 4 years since we visited but we would go again in a heartbeat if the UK free dining didn't make deluxe resorts/studios cheaper than the mods.

Pepper Market was always a disappointment to us but very interested to hear about Las Ventanas. Booked an adr for Maya Grill this trip so we can visit CSR. :

These two quotes from previous posters reflect the range of viewpoints regarding the Pepper Market. I think it is safe to say that it is not the best quick-service location in Disney's resorts. While I prefer Coronado Springs Resort as a whole, I had great experiences with food courts at Port Orleans Riverside and even at Pop Century, and I believe these two are better than the Pepper Market. However, I don't find the Pepper Market bad, at least for one lunch. And I preferred the new concept, with self-service beverage and no tip.