steve_rob
Mine? Mine? Mine? Mine?
- Joined
- May 23, 2002
- Messages
- 1,471
Well the results are in, and we've certainly got an interesting holiday of eating lined up!
We've achieved what we wanted in that of our 15 picks, 9 are new to me (8 to my wife), but we still get to do two restaurants which were probably at the top of our 'regulars' list as well. Plus us getting free dining for the first five nights of our trip works out well, because we've got one restaurant in each Disney park (and two at Epcot, but then we always go there multiple times, especially during Food & Wine).
In the order they came out the hat (not neccasarily the order we'll be eating at them of course) with any comments from me:
1) Cheesecake Factory - NEW - Given that it wasn't on our list until I posted this thread, thought it rather ironic it was first to appear! We did add two others to the list, but neither made it out this time.
2) Whispering Canyon Cafe - Been once for lunch, once for dinner before, but the All You Can Eat Skillet was better at dinner, so that looks more likely.
3) Hollywood & Vine - NEW - We always struggle to find something good to eat at MGM, so will see if this solves our problems. Not sure if we'll do the Fantasmic package though, because we like to sit quite central and don't mind the wait.
4) Boston Lobster Feast - NEW - DW has always wanted to do this because she's such a seafood fan, whereas I've been more reluctant, but I'm willing to give it a spin.
5) Chilis - NEW - We like places like Applebees and lots of people recommended this to us based on that, so I think we might have ended up there fairly soon even if we hadn't done this draw.
6) Applebees - And talk of the devil, here it is! Usually go to this on the way home from Busch Gardens, because there's one in Tampa just before you get back on the freeway.
7) Tusker House - NEW(ish) - Haven't been to this since they changed it from counter service to a buffet. Will probably be our first place visited as we tend to do Animal Kingdom on our first full day.
8) Liberty Tree Tavern - This is becoming an MK staple for us now, will be our fourth visit (two with characters, two without).
9) Tutto Italia - NEW - We did say before the draw that this is interchangable with the other new Italian place in Epcot, so we'll see which menu appeals to us more.
10) Seaworld Luau - NEW(ish) - Filling the dinner show role in our plan nicely. DW has done this before a long time ago (when she was still going with her family), but it's new to me.
At this point, we were wondering if we were going to get any of our favourites out the hat - it was looking all very new! Then all of a sudden we had a run of familiar big hitters...
11) Hard Rock Cafe - Pretty much every time we are in Universal Studios we hit this up for a late lunch. Can't see why not this time either!
12) Olive Garden - Another one we've done pretty much every trip Stateside (not just in Orlando either). Must remember not to pig out on breadsticks before the meal though...
13) Tony Roma's - To be honest, I could probably eat here every day and never get tired. There's so many things on the menu I like, but admittedly it is hard not to order their brilliant ribs!
14) Chefs De France - NEW - Another new Epcot experience and one I'm quite interested by I'll admit.
15) Perkins - NEW - Had this place recommended to me by a friend and it'll be fun to see if it's as good as he remembers.
We did draw one more out - we decided before the draw to do this and it would be our substitute. It was really because we feared getting say, five Italian restaurants, or four at the Magic Kingdom and only intending to spend one day there, so this would give us an option just in case. In the end, it turned out to be Coral Reef (also would be NEW), so this will only come into play if we can't or won't do either of the Epcot ones we've picked out (which at the moment seems unlikely).
So there you go; now onto the next stage of planning - deciding what days to eat where and making ADR's!
We've achieved what we wanted in that of our 15 picks, 9 are new to me (8 to my wife), but we still get to do two restaurants which were probably at the top of our 'regulars' list as well. Plus us getting free dining for the first five nights of our trip works out well, because we've got one restaurant in each Disney park (and two at Epcot, but then we always go there multiple times, especially during Food & Wine).
In the order they came out the hat (not neccasarily the order we'll be eating at them of course) with any comments from me:
1) Cheesecake Factory - NEW - Given that it wasn't on our list until I posted this thread, thought it rather ironic it was first to appear! We did add two others to the list, but neither made it out this time.
2) Whispering Canyon Cafe - Been once for lunch, once for dinner before, but the All You Can Eat Skillet was better at dinner, so that looks more likely.
3) Hollywood & Vine - NEW - We always struggle to find something good to eat at MGM, so will see if this solves our problems. Not sure if we'll do the Fantasmic package though, because we like to sit quite central and don't mind the wait.
4) Boston Lobster Feast - NEW - DW has always wanted to do this because she's such a seafood fan, whereas I've been more reluctant, but I'm willing to give it a spin.
5) Chilis - NEW - We like places like Applebees and lots of people recommended this to us based on that, so I think we might have ended up there fairly soon even if we hadn't done this draw.
6) Applebees - And talk of the devil, here it is! Usually go to this on the way home from Busch Gardens, because there's one in Tampa just before you get back on the freeway.
7) Tusker House - NEW(ish) - Haven't been to this since they changed it from counter service to a buffet. Will probably be our first place visited as we tend to do Animal Kingdom on our first full day.
8) Liberty Tree Tavern - This is becoming an MK staple for us now, will be our fourth visit (two with characters, two without).
9) Tutto Italia - NEW - We did say before the draw that this is interchangable with the other new Italian place in Epcot, so we'll see which menu appeals to us more.
10) Seaworld Luau - NEW(ish) - Filling the dinner show role in our plan nicely. DW has done this before a long time ago (when she was still going with her family), but it's new to me.
At this point, we were wondering if we were going to get any of our favourites out the hat - it was looking all very new! Then all of a sudden we had a run of familiar big hitters...
11) Hard Rock Cafe - Pretty much every time we are in Universal Studios we hit this up for a late lunch. Can't see why not this time either!
12) Olive Garden - Another one we've done pretty much every trip Stateside (not just in Orlando either). Must remember not to pig out on breadsticks before the meal though...
13) Tony Roma's - To be honest, I could probably eat here every day and never get tired. There's so many things on the menu I like, but admittedly it is hard not to order their brilliant ribs!
14) Chefs De France - NEW - Another new Epcot experience and one I'm quite interested by I'll admit.
15) Perkins - NEW - Had this place recommended to me by a friend and it'll be fun to see if it's as good as he remembers.
We did draw one more out - we decided before the draw to do this and it would be our substitute. It was really because we feared getting say, five Italian restaurants, or four at the Magic Kingdom and only intending to spend one day there, so this would give us an option just in case. In the end, it turned out to be Coral Reef (also would be NEW), so this will only come into play if we can't or won't do either of the Epcot ones we've picked out (which at the moment seems unlikely).
So there you go; now onto the next stage of planning - deciding what days to eat where and making ADR's!
