A DREAM is a WISH your HEART makes ..... 18 days of Free Disney Dining! (with pix)

[dizneeat]

I know I'm in the minority, but I think the froggie is cute!

I am in your group as well!

I like Froggie too! I've been calling 5 year old DS over all day to look at him. My DH thought it was fake, like the jungle cruise animals.

Welcome to the froggie lovers! Your DH's thoughts made me

Loving the reviews and love the froggie! Right now I'm about 2 feet away from a little tree frog that jumps on the window behind my monitor at night so I can see his little frog belly. I guess the light attracts him because he doesn't come around during the day.

Welcome to the growing froggie lovers club!

I hope Tutto Italia still has the pasta with crabmeat in December. I want to try that so bad.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - it was disneyliscous!

I heart tiramisu & latte's. Yum, stick a fork in me, I am done.

So...I think I'm going to have to eat at Tutto. Everyone has been giving it good reviews. I LOVE Italian food. So do the kids. Dh, not so much.
But he usually can find something he likes.
If they can come up with Gluten Free pasta for my two who don't eat wheat....

Thanks again for the great reviews.

Tutto is so worth it to give it a try! Our country borders Italy and this was as close as one could get to Italy in Epcot! Absolutely yum yum!! Far better than Alfredo's!

First let me say - thank you so much for taking the time to document your meals - it has helped me tremendously in making some dining decisions for our trip with ddp in January. and my dd is stoked the ice cream sandwich is a snack credit!! I spent the morning reading your thread. i do have one question - you said that you had the disney dining plan (ddp) but what is the dde that you used for your drinks?? sorry - new to this discussion board thing!

the green stuff looked like seaweed salad. i've had it several times at japanese restaurants - actually quite tasty (to me )

have u ever eaten at coral reef - i scheduled a dinner for 20 there!

and so love the frog - could be because my mom was a biology teacher

I am glad you like the reviews and that they helped you decide. I read a lot of food reviews too before going on this trip and thanks to it we have now got a few new favourites.

You asked about the DDE - which is the Disney Dining Experience Card (now Tables in Wonderland Card) which gives you a 20% discount on all food and drink in participating restaurants. It is available to Florida residents (which we are not) and to Annual Passholders (which we are ). It costs 65$, but if you, like us, like some drinks with "paper umbrellas" and appetizers it soon has paid for itself.

We did eat at Coral Reef later in the trip, so the review is coming up soon.

Glad I didn't freak you out with Froggie!

my name is Jules and I am a ranidaphobiac LOL, thank you I didnt know there was a name for it x

 

[DisneyMom5]

That strawberry cake IS sooooo good. We really liked it too!

 

[Tatania]

if you have been to Demel, you have been to one of the best in Austria. Did you try Zauner in Bad Ischl as well

I've never made it to Bad Ischl though I try at least 2 Konditorei in every city I visit. I'll have to give that place a try next year!

 

[Dizney73]

I love, love, love your reviews!!! Just reading this over the past hour ... I have gained 5 pounds! I feel better about a few of my December ressies and am already planning our April ones! I was glad to see good things about the Yak and Yeti, the Wave and Tutta Italia... MMM...MMM...MMM
Thanks so much... I can't wait for more...more...more!

 

[dizneeat]

That strawberry cake IS sooooo good. We really liked it too!

I've never made it to Bad Ischl though I try at least 2 Konditorei in every city I visit. I'll have to give that place a try next year!

Their cakes are to die for - don't forget to try the "Zaunerstollen" it is their signature sweet treat.
If you ever come here to Linz - try the Linzertorte.

I love, love, love your reviews!!! Just reading this over the past hour ... I have gained 5 pounds! I feel better about a few of my December ressies and am already planning our April ones! I was glad to see good things about the Yak and Yeti, the Wave and Tutta Italia... MMM...MMM...MMM
Thanks so much... I can't wait for more...more...more!

Thank you!!! I am glad I could help with the December ressies. I am in the planning stages for next August - so many restaurants, so little time.
More coming up VERY soon!

 

[dizneeat]

Aug 24 - dinner at Ohana

We relaxed at POR for a while and I started packing, since we were moving from POR to Universal's Royal Pacific for four days before the last part of our Disney trip and our stay at Pop Century. We had stayed at POR for 12 nights so there was a lot of stuff.

About half an hour before our reservation we left for the Polynesian and arrived 15 minutes prior to our expected check in time. We were given a beeper and told that they were running about 20 minutes late. So, we wondered over to the gift shop and later sat down in the lounge. We waited for about 40 minutes until we were seated. Our table was right in the middle of the main dining room - in the middle of the action!
Our server was very friendly and helpful and explained the drinks menu and what was included in the dining plan and what was not. We both ordered the backscratcher and diet cokes.

Next out was the bread, slightly warm and pure bliss!

Followed by the Mixed greens with a honey-lime dressing - I love that salad!

We had not even started on the salad when our server brought out the sauces, Peanut Sauce, Chimichurri Sauce and Sweet and Sour Sauce and explained what each sauce went best with.

She also brought the Pork Dumplings in Sweet n Sour Sauce and the Honey-coriander chicken wings together with the sauces. The portions were enormous for the two of us.

A little while and a few dumplings and chicken wings later she brought out the next few dishes. First came the vegetables. Peas and broccholi. Nicely cooked, not to soft. One dish we almost managed to finish.

And she brought out the noodles as well. We had heard a lot about the noodles and I wasn't sure about them, but we did like them. They got cold rather fast.

Most surprised we were about the meats! Last time we were at Ohana the meats were dry and overcooked. This time the beef came out medium well, the pork was seasoned well and nice and moist and the turkey was nice too. We didn't miss the sausage!

Then she came over with the grilled shrimp! Oh my - these were out of this world! They were SOOOOOOOOOO good! Thank god they are back on the menu!

We ate quite a lot of it all and were stuffed even before dessert came out. If you have ever been to Ohana you know that their breadpudding is just to die for. She brought out the breadpudding with the vanilla ice cream melting into it and we poured the banana foster sauce and were in dessert heaven just as the coconut race started! Watching it was enough exercise!

When we were finally ready to leave it felt like we were rolling out, we were so stuffed. That restaurant sure is good value for money.

We then went down to the boatdock to take the boat over to the MK. It was delayed because of the Water Pageant, but at least we had a front row seat at the dock watching it.
Finally the boat arrived and we were on our way over to the MK. We had a reservation for the preferred fireworks viewing and got there about half an hour early. We staked out a spot to watch the fireworks and it was really impressive to watch.

After the fireworks we stayed for EMH until 1am.

To be continued .........
Next up - another visit to Wolfgang Puck's Express, picking up snacks with our remaining snack credits at Goofy's Candy Co and dinner at the Captain's Grill.

 

[yellowfish78]

...will you be continuing your report for Universal? We can always use food reviews from UO!

 

[dizneeat]

...will you be continuing your report for Universal? We can always use food reviews from UO!

Yes, we did take photos there too and I will review UO too!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Again, I now want to go to a restaurant purely based on your description.
Maybe you are just skilled at describing food. (Think there's any money in that?) LOL

Great report!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

We had a reservation for the preferred fireworks viewing and got there about half an hour early.

can you tell me about this??? where can I get info on how to do it?

 

[adsrtw]

Great review of Ohanas. I've heard some negative comments about the food lately, so it's good to hear that your situation was different.

 

[TigerKat]

can you tell me about this??? where can I get info on how to do it?

I'd like to know as well!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

That strawberry shortcake looks so good. I can't wait to try it. Do you know if you can use a snack credit for this?

 

[saratogagirl]

I am so pleased you will be continuing your review when you move on to Universal, we will be staying at Royal Pacific in December, so would love to hear what you thought of it x

 

[dizneeat]

Again, I now want to go to a restaurant purely based on your description.
Maybe you are just skilled at describing food. (Think there's any money in that?) LOL

Great report!

Hmmm ....... do you think Disney would offer me MORE free dining if I keep on reviewing them well?

can you tell me about this??? where can I get info on how to do it?

I'd like to know as well!

Preferred Fireworks viewing is possible at Epcot and the MK! It is a roped off area where only a few people can watch the fireworks. In Epcot it is the boat landing area near Marocco and at the MK it is near the Plaza Restaurant, where the table are down by the water.
I don't know how you can get it. For us it was part of the Free Dining Package we booked from Disney.co.uk. But it was really special not to have to "fight" for a spot to watch the fireworks.

Great review of Ohanas. I've heard some negative comments about the food lately, so it's good to hear that your situation was different.

I was worried about it too. We had been there before and liked it and with all the negative reviews we were not quite sure we should do it. But the breadpudding pulled me in
We were so happy we went despite the other reviews. We really enjoyed it a lot.

That strawberry shortcake looks so good. I can't wait to try it. Do you know if you can use a snack credit for this?

It was really wonderful. And yes, I think it was a snack credit!

I am so pleased you will be continuing your review when you move on to Universal, we will be staying at Royal Pacific in December, so would love to hear what you thought of it x

Royal Pacific is just great. You are going to love it! The rooms are spacious and well furnished and they have lovely shampoo and shower things.
Have you signed up for Loews First? It is a membership (free) and gives you a few perks, like free internet and a newspaper and I cannot remember what else.
Did you get the deal with the free tickets? You are going to love their Universal Express - that makes for NO lines at most rides. PM me if you have questions.

 

[jdes88]

OMG---Wolfgang pizza and Creme Bruele----best EVER!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Aug 25 - Wolfgang Puck's Express (yet again), Goofy's Candy Co for more snacks and dinner at Captain's Grill

We had a late start, since we had come back to the resort rather late the day before. So we tried to be at DTD at 11 for a very early lunch at Wolfgang's.
Tom tried the Chicken Tortilla Melt - spicy all natural chicken, onions, sautéed red and yellow peppers and oven-roasted tomatoes, tossed with tortilla sauce, topped with mozzarella, wrapped in warm, all natural garlic focaccia bread. Served with a side of sour cream slaw and tortilla chips. Boy, it was very yummy. I nearly regretted not to have chosen it.

I thought I might give the pasta a try as well, so I went for the Rigatoni with Chicken Bolognese - all natural chicken bolognese topped with Grana Padano Parmesan. It came with some Foccaccia bread and a Caesar salad on the side.
After having tried Tom's Tortilla Melt I was hoping I had made the right decision and even though Tom's was very yummy, this dish was equally yummy. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce was very nicely seasoned. The foccaccia bread was slightly warm and the Caesar salad really fresh and not too much dressing.

We made "boring" choices for dessert, but these are just the best ever. The Creme Bruleé and the frozen yoghurt with strawberries. But we were really adventurous on the frozen yoghurt - this one was the one that mixes chocolate with vanilla

After lunch we went shopping at DTD and finally ended up at Goofy's Candy Co to spend a few more of our snacks. These were the hardest to spend. Since there was NO way we could out so many more snacks we decided to pick up something to take home. So we asked about the really big lollies, but were told NO at every shop we wanted. Well, to cut this long story short, we were allowed to use our DDP snack credits on the large lollies at Goofy's. Yeah!!! We picked up 4 of them and had some more "create your own treats" - I needed something to keep me going at Universal.

Our make your own treats were another helping of the Marshmellows on a straw.

and some more pretzel rods.

We then headed back to POR and wanted to put our things back in the room but the maid was just making it up when we arrived. So we went to the riverside mill and had a diet coke while we waited.

To be continued ..........
Next up - dinner at the Captain's Grill.

 

[dizneeat]

OMG---Wolfgang pizza and Creme Bruele----best EVER!!!!

Very good choices!!!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Man I LOVE your reviews!!! I cant' wait to try Wolfgang Pucks next year, I have heard so many good things about it!!!

 

[plutosgirl]

Aug 24 - dinner at Ohana


Our server was very friendly and helpful and explained the drinks menu and what was included in the dining plan and what was not. We both ordered the backscratcher and diet cokes.

What is the "backscratcher"...very interesting and I may have to order one for my goofy cousin...is this actually a drink???