A Christmas trip that was all about the Dining, But aren't they all!Updated 1/8

[Vickis3js]

Well I've always wanted to do a dining report and I actually started one, one year, but never got to finish plus it was boring I had no pics. Well this year much to my husband and childrens dismay MOM TOOK PICS!! Yeah I forgot some and yeah some of them are not the best but you know what I tried darn it! LOL.

There is something you should know about this trip. We decided that we were NOT going to go anywhere that we had been before. The only exception is if we never had that meal there. So since we had been to CM for breakfast we could only try dinner. Although I cheated and added CP because well Pooh is my fav and I am the boss LOL. We want to try every restaurant for every meal and we are compiling a list of ones we will return to and ones that are once and done!

So the cast of characters are as follows

Me a SAHM mom who is Disney obsessed. I eat, sleep , breath our trips. I am up for everything except fish and anything wiht brocoli or peas in it. YUCH!!

DH is a hard working man who will literally eat anything.

DD 10 is super excited because this year she gets to eat as an adult. She is just like her daddy.

DS 9 is my bird. He loves veggies, salads and pasta. He would love to eat off the adult menu but would never even finish 1/4 of the plate.

DD 8 well she is my picky one. She is very happy with nuggets and fries but she shocked me a few times this trip!!
This is US!~

Where we ate.
Sunshine Seasons
Le Celier
Tusker House
Kona
Wolfgang Puck Express
Mama Melrose
CRT
Crystal Palace
WPE again
Olivia's
Chef Mickeys
Olivia's
Earl of Sandwhich
Cosmic Cays
WPE again
Mexico counter service
Sunshine seasons breakfast
Sci Fi
Liberty Tree Tavern
Wcc breakfast

I think thats all of them LOL. There was more but we ended up canceling a few of them. We used a combo of TIW and the DDP. Well let the fun begin!

 

[Vickis3js]

Alright our first night was le Celier. When our 180 day opened up and I was booking day 1 and I saw LC was available for 6:20 DH said GRAB IT!! See I had canceled it our first trip because the kids wanted Teppen Edo and last year I could never get an ADR for it. So we were so overly excited to finally be trying LC.

We arrived around 6pm and we had to wait about 15 mins past our ADR time. I knew I was trying the chefs tasting menu so I ordered the Cheddar Cheese soup, prime rib, and that cute Moose for dessert.

Soup arrived luke warm. It was tasty but I've made it at home and DH agreed whatever I do to mine tastes much better. I would have complained about it being cold but unfortunatly 5 bites in and my dinner was being served and my bowl went away without enough time for me to even protest.

My prime rib was cooked a little more then the medium rare that I ordered and I totally forgot to tell them no horseysauce. It was ok. Nothing overly special. The potatoes that come with it were kinda gross. They had relish or something sweet on them. Not my idea of a good time thats for sure.

Now this was the saving grace of this meal!! It was really yummy. I licked the plate clean!!

So DH ordered the coffee rubbed steak.

He ate it but said it was lacking coffee flavor or really any flavor at all. He said the cut was good but thats about it. He said his potatoes were good but then he can't remember what exactly they were so they must not have been that good. LOL He added a small cup of soup to his and he actually got to finish his. For dessert he got he No sugar added option since he is diabetic.

He said the dessert was tasty. Normally his options are boring but he enjoyed this.

Now I have no clue where the kids meals are.

DD #1 got the filet with no sauce, mushrooms, and mashed instead of risotto. The filet was an ok cut. Not the best but it was ok. She ate a lot of it.

DD #2 had the kids steak and cleaned her plate

DS Ordered the kids pasta with red sauce and well he was given a bowl of plain pasta. We had to flag someone down to bring him his sauce.

Best part of the meal was the bread. We enjoyed all of them. Our server was good but we were very rushed. We were in an out in less then an hour. I really hope they change things when it becomes a signature. All in all we will not be returning.

 

[crazycatlady]

I am in and looking forward to reading your reviews!!

 

[marlower]

Thanks for sharing! I love food trip reports! And my kids too are completely mortified when I break out my camera to take pictures of our food!

 

[ibcindyb]

Just can't wait for the rest of your reviews!

 

[Vickis3js]

This is a non pic review. I know I know I should have my hands smacked LOL. But it was for lunch at Sunshine Seasons and just getting a table for 5 was a pain in the butt. OMG that place was insane I total free for all getting food, drinks and then the table.

DD #1 and I split the sweet and sour chicken and 2 sides. We got the lomein and the rice with it. It was a pleasant surprise. Not your typical sweet and sour chicken with the fried chicken. Just chicken cut up in a not overly sweet sauce and veggies. It was tasty. The lomein was a little greasy but had a nice flavor. The rice was well rice. We also split a strawberry shortcake that was yummy.

DS got the kids plate of the sweet and sour chicken with lomein and he ate the chicken but did not like the lomein. Said he wished he got the brocolli. Such a weird kid he is eating that nasty stuff.

DD #2 got the kids pizza sandwhich and all but 2 bites. She also got carrots and grapes. Which she put in the bag for a snack later.

DH got the Magolian beef with lomein and brocolli. The beef was very salty. He wanted to get the chicken but since DD, DS and I got it I told him NO he needed to try the beef. I needed a review of more then one thing. He of course being the man who will eat anything finished it. He got a yogurt parfait with his and said it was actually really good.

We left with full bellies. It was a good meal nothing overly impressive but it was pretty good for a CS meal. We liked the different options. Just wish they could do something about the seating free for all!

 

[Vickis3js]

Alright so day 2 started out with a very early day. We had an 8:10adr at Tusker house. When I made the ADR the park was supposed to open at 9am but Disney decided to open at 8am instead. So we arrived at about 7:50ish and we were told we had to wait until the rope drop ceremony was over and done with. So after that we high tailed it to the restaurant. Where we waited in line to check in and then for some reason we waited longer just to get our ticket printed. She said it wasn't there when we walked up so we waited to the side and watched this giant pile of tickets pile up while she pulled everyone who was coming in after us's right out of the printer. Once she got a lull she actually picked ours off the floor and off we went. Got our pic with Donald and was seated.

Now I only got one pic.

The eggs here were really yummy. DH thought they were a little salty but thats how I like em. The bacon was thin and lifeless. One thing I hate about WDW bacon. Its so not worth eating and I LOVE me some bacon. The mickey waffles were yummy but they are Mickey Waffles what is there not to love. The cheese danish and the other flavors my family tried were ok. That thing on the plate with apples is a cheese blintz. BLECH it tasted like I don't know but it was weird and not very good. The potatoes were ok just a little cold. They do have the BESY juice though. They also have one of my favs from Boma and thats the Pap. Except theres had cheese and was actually really really really good.

All in all we were very pleased with this restaurant and we will add it to our list of return tos.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Great reviews so far! Good for you for only doing places (or meals) you hadn't done before! We tried to incorporate a mix of old and new into our trip, isn't trying the new places fun? Looking forward to reading more!

 

[amandadisney]

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

 

[Kelrykengab]

Hi! I am enjoying your reviews and I LOVE the photo of your family with Santa and the matching shirts! Did you make those?
We went to WDW for our first time during the Christmas season in November and we enjoyed it so much we are now planning on going back next November instead of May like we used to do.
Trying new restaurants is so fun! We are doing the Deluxe Dining Plan next time so I am so interested in hearing about all the meals!! Thanks!

 

[Vickis3js]

Thanks everyone for joining me. Sorry I'm slacking a little taking me a bit to get back to pre vacation mode LOL.

Hi! I am enjoying your reviews and I LOVE the photo of your family with Santa and the matching shirts! Did you make those?
We went to WDW for our first time during the Christmas season in November and we enjoyed it so much we are now planning on going back next November instead of May like we used to do.
Trying new restaurants is so fun! We are doing the Deluxe Dining Plan next time so I am so interested in hearing about all the meals!! Thanks!

Thanks no I did not make the shirts. I did try though but I had no patience. I will try again though. A diser made them for us.

 

[Vickis3js]

Oh I almost forgot to post one of our fav things we ate while in WDW.

Last Christmas when we went the kids used snack credits at BWB and got the little Mickey head cakes. But they had passed out before they got to eat them. On Christmas morning Santa had booked them a Pirate adventure cruise so we had to grab something in the room quick before they shoved off. LOL So being the Uber cool mom that I am I said, "Let them eat cake." It was the highlight of their trip. They talked about it more then any ride or meal. So I wanted to order them a cake for the room so they could do it again. I wanted something a little fancier but OKW does not do that kinda thing so thats what I got. Chocolate cake, dark chocolate filling, and chocolate butter cream. It was heaven on a plate. It was honestly one of the best cakes that I've had in awhile. THe icing was to die for. It ended up costing $80.

 

[Vickis3js]

For our Kona night we had originally planned Boma for dinner. But I knew DH and I would need our coffee fix so I convinced the kids to try Kona.

We got to Kona shortly before our ADR time of 6:20 and we were seated shortly after it. Maybe a 10-15 min wait.

Now shortly after we are seated a man walks past our table that kinda looks familiar but I didn't think anything of it UNTIL HE SPOKE. As soon as he did I knew that voice. My head wiped around and I told DH thats the dude from Criminal Minds!!! Thomas Gibson was eating at Kona at the table next to us. DH convinced me to stay seated and not to chase the poor man down. So I behaved.

Anyway on to the food. So our waitress came over and told the kids that they could get yummy smoothies on the dining plan. So of course thats what they got. DH and I just got that yummy Pom. Lemonade. We LOVE that stuff.

There you can see DD enjoying her smoothie.

Now I knew I wanted to try those yummy wings and I knew DS would devour them. So we got an order of them.

Sorry we had eaten a few. They were really yummy. We were not fans of the mustard they drizzle on though but its so thick you could peel it off.

Now DD #1 and DH are sushi fans. Me I can't get past the nasty seaweed. But since I am a Disney nut and a food porn addict I knew that they made 1 role with yogurt paper. So DH asked to have a california roll made with it so I could try it again.

I apologize for it being so dark but the one with the flash looks even worse. LOL DH and DD thought it was ok sushi. I didn't care for it too much.

For dinner DH and I both got the Terriyaki steak.

I subbed asparagus for that nasty broccolini. It was really good. I loved the flavor on the steak. I thought it tasted better then the Le Celier prime rib and DH thought the same.

DD got the coconut chicken dish

She said it was good but I made a coconut chicken and she said mine is MUCH better. I think she just wanted something though LOL.

Now DD #2 shocked us here she got the kids fish. Now we know she eats fish but normally it has to be atleast battered. But she loved it.

DS got the Mickey raviolis. THat boy would live off of pasta if I let him.

Both him and DD#2's meal came with chicken noodle soup. They really liked it.

Now for dessert I was the Uber cool mom again. Since DD#1 is an adult and can get the cool Kona kone but the other 2 can't I told DH to order the KK and I did the same so that all 3 of the kids could get one. DH and I were too full anyway so we asked for the kids fruit cups to go. Our waitress kindly did it and gave us much more fruit then the kids would have gotten. Oh and here is the kids fav dessert of all week.

My DD is doing Vanna hands which would become an off an on trend for the week.

All in all Kona was one of our favs. The service was a little slow and the meal took forever it seemed but we were so rushed at LC that maybe it was a normal length of time. But service was very friendly and she really was willing to make sure any changes that needed to be made were made.

 

[Vickis3js]

Next morning we were going to head to Captain's grille but when I looked at all the CS credits we had unused and unplanned to use I told DH that we needed to cut back on some of the OOP TS and use CS. He was non too happy. We LOVE Captains for breakfast. But I told him we would be trying WPE for breakfast and that they had a large variety and he was a little less grumpy.

We got there right before opening and ended up chatting with a staff member who is from our area and was heading home soon for the holidays. When we got up to order we noticed there was no kids menu so I asked how it worked and was told for breakfast they just ordered from the adult menu. So both DDs and DH got the breakfast pizza and DS and I got the french toast. I figured they would make kid portions but I was WRONG! They got the same portion as DH and I did. We also were able to get either 2 drinks or a drink and a fruit cup. So DH and DS got fruit cups and the girls all got an extra drink for later.

The breakfast pizza was actually tasty and way more food then my DD's could eat.

The french toast was rather interesting. It is actually a bagel. Its dipped in batter then rolled in sweetened corn flakes and then cooked. Its a MESS to cut and a mess to eat. But it was tasty. DS loved it. We left WGPE totally full and DH was no longer Grumpy.

BTW the total for this meal was $85! Which actually was more then one of our TS meals that week. So its definatly a bargain for a CS!!!

 

[hill6]

Great review so far. My husband said he can't get past Thomas Gibson being the goofy Greg from Dharma and Greg. I love CM too.... too bad it wasn't Shemar Moore....I would have been at the table for him.

 

[mommykds]

Just wanted to say I LOVE your shirts!!!!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

great reviews so far - it's hard when some children are on kids and some adults - we did a lot of swapping too.

 

[sunnysideup3]

OT question, but where did you guys get your t-shirts? They're super cute and we're looking at getting matching tye-dye T's for our trip next year...

 

[Vickis3js]

OT question, but where did you guys get your t-shirts? They're super cute and we're looking at getting matching tye-dye T's for our trip next year...

There is instructions on how to make your own on the Disigning board or one of the other creative boards. I unfortunatly was not gifted in the tye dying so I had a diser who has an etsy shop make them for me. I am all about the matching shirts LOL. I made others one too with iron on vinyl and my Cricut.

 

[Shleedogg]

Great reviews, looking forward to the rest!

When you said a voice from Criminal Minds, I immediately thought Mandy Patinkin and I just about died and I wasn't even there, lol. I'm madly in love with him. So cool though!