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

:worship:
You really know how to vacation! We only go every other year (or so), and we drive to FL, so we want to spend enough time to make it worth it.
Our first two trips were 6 days, and 5 days.

After that, dh decided he wanted to stay longer.

So I planned a 11 night, 10 day trip for last year. It was great!
I liked to call it our "luxurious, roomy vacation."

Now we are trying to figure out how to finance another trip like that.
With 9 total in our family, it get's more difficult the older (and more expensive at wdw) the kids get.

At the least, we hope to do 8 days. (Come on free dining.)

Thanks for continuing to post such awesome updates.

[ps - do you teach English???]
 
Great Cali Grill review! I think that Halibut has my name on it on Oct 18. We love the sushi (especially the spicy sensation roll).
 
OP- The pictures are and reviews are great!! The wrap/sandwich thing at Wolfgang Pucks Express..........:eek: WOW, those look so good and I want one now!!! :sad1:

There is a recipe for the Backscratcher on page 50 of the Dis Recipe exchange.

Huh? A Dis Recipe Exchange Thread? Where is this at? I can't believe I never knew about this. Here, I have been drooling over food porn and I never knew that I could actually take a crack at cooking some of this at home.
 

Wow! I just read your entire review from page 1! I'm pretty sure my husband didn't appreciate all of the things that I was telling him and the many times that I turned my laptop around to make him look at the pictures...all while he was watching his favorite show. :rolleyes1 Haha!

I have now added Tokyo Dining to our list of places to try. Pumpkin tempura is my favorite and they have some very creative vegetarian choices!
 
wow that chocolate temptation looks incredible. So glad you had such good service and food.

We haven't made it to universal on any of our trips. I'm the only one that likes coasters so it seems a waste for the rest of the family. Would you do a solo trip there? I'm thinking it will be the only way I can go and get to ride what I want without complaints.
 
wow that chocolate temptation looks incredible. So glad you had such good service and food.

We haven't made it to universal on any of our trips. I'm the only one that likes coasters so it seems a waste for the rest of the family. Would you do a solo trip there? I'm thinking it will be the only way I can go and get to ride what I want without complaints.

I'm not Karin (nor do I play her on TV :lmao: ) but I did a solo trip to Universal a couple of years ago in May. I pretty much sailed through everything in both parks in one day. The coasters are great but I was a little let down in IOA because I don't do water rides and I skipped all of those. But the Hulk and Spiderman were awesome!

But back to the original programming...:happytv: .....Love your report! California Grill is my favorite place. I wish I had some Valrhona chocolate cake right now. :)

Jill in CO
 
Next came the main courses. Tom had chosen the Tagliolini con Granchio, Pomodorini Alle Erbe - tagliolini pasta topped with crabmeat, sweet tomato and garlic and they were to die for. Not too garlicy, but well spiced and perfectly cooked pasta.

IMG_8108.jpg


I am searching for this dish on the Tutto menu, where is it??? What is the name of this dish, was it a special that evening? Thanks for any help!!!:surfweb:
 
Next came the main courses. Tom had chosen the Tagliolini con Granchio, Pomodorini Alle Erbe - tagliolini pasta topped with crabmeat, sweet tomato and garlic and they were to die for. Not too garlicy, but well spiced and perfectly cooked pasta.

IMG_8108.jpg


I am searching for this dish on the Tutto menu, where is it??? What is the name of this dish, was it a special that evening? Thanks for any help!!!:surfweb:

It's on the allears menu. Go to their pasta section and it is the third down - the name is Tagliolini con Granchio, Pomodorini Alle Erbe.
 
Here I sit, 25 days away from a measly 5 1/2 days in WDW reading this amazing review. By someone who CLAIMS English is not their first language. Hmph!

Seriously, thanks SO much. I have really enjoyed this report!!!
 
I'm not Karin (nor do I play her on TV :lmao: ) but I did a solo trip to Universal a couple of years ago in May. I pretty much sailed through everything in both parks in one day. The coasters are great but I was a little let down in IOA because I don't do water rides and I skipped all of those. But the Hulk and Spiderman were awesome!

But back to the original programming...:happytv: .....Love your report! California Grill is my favorite place. I wish I had some Valrhona chocolate cake right now. :)

Jill in CO


Thanks jedijill! I may have to look into it for a short trip next year.
 
oh my gosh
if i didn't have to fit into a wedding dress in 20 days...
i'd think i'd have to drive to disney right now and go try some of these dishes!!!!!!!!!
And your English is great, you speak better than I do! LOL! :) :lmao:
 
looking forward to the Bubba Gump review. That sushi looked magnificent. :goodvibes

Bubba Gump coming up VERY soon! I am working on it!

:worship:
You really know how to vacation! We only go every other year (or so), and we drive to FL, so we want to spend enough time to make it worth it.
Our first two trips were 6 days, and 5 days.

After that, dh decided he wanted to stay longer.

So I planned a 11 night, 10 day trip for last year. It was great!
I liked to call it our "luxurious, roomy vacation."

Now we are trying to figure out how to finance another trip like that.
With 9 total in our family, it get's more difficult the older (and more expensive at wdw) the kids get.

At the least, we hope to do 8 days. (Come on free dining.)

Thanks for continuing to post such awesome updates.

[ps - do you teach English???]

:goodvibes I guess we have a "travelling gene" ;) We do take a few long weekend trips within Europe, but travelling to the US has become so expensive with airfare that it just calls for a longer stay. I try not to book without a discount though. Last summer I had the two Free Dining deals, free tickets for Universal and the hotels before we got to Orlando were all specials as well.
But with 7 kids it must be quite expensive too!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for more free dining!

And yes, I DO teach English! :)

Great Cali Grill review! I think that Halibut has my name on it on Oct 18. We love the sushi (especially the spicy sensation roll).

:thumbsup2 Thanks for giving me suggestions on what to order next summer! ;)

OP- The pictures are and reviews are great!! The wrap/sandwich thing at Wolfgang Pucks Express..........:eek: WOW, those look so good and I want one now!!! :sad1:

Huh? A Dis Recipe Exchange Thread? Where is this at? I can't believe I never knew about this. Here, I have been drooling over food porn and I never knew that I could actually take a crack at cooking some of this at home.

All the sandwiches at WPE were wonderful! There are more to come! :lmao:

I don't know if you already found the recipe exchange thread - but here is a link to it. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1575103

Thanks for the Cali Grill Review. Awesome!

:goodvibes Glad you enjoy the reviews!

Wow! I just read your entire review from page 1! I'm pretty sure my husband didn't appreciate all of the things that I was telling him and the many times that I turned my laptop around to make him look at the pictures...all while he was watching his favorite show. :rolleyes1 Haha!

I have now added Tokyo Dining to our list of places to try. Pumpkin tempura is my favorite and they have some very creative vegetarian choices!

:flower3: Thanks for taking all that time to read! You are really going to like the tempura at Tokyo Dining - it is just wonderful!!

We were 2 buildings away in Acadian House :goodvibes

The desserts at CG look delicious, I love how they do 3 little tasters :thumbsup2

Wow, you stayed nearly next door ;) Those dessert samplers are heavenly. We tried the blueberry one at Christmastime and it was to die for.

Great Cali Grille update!:thumbsup2

Thank you!!

wow that chocolate temptation looks incredible. So glad you had such good service and food.

We haven't made it to universal on any of our trips. I'm the only one that likes coasters so it seems a waste for the rest of the family. Would you do a solo trip there? I'm thinking it will be the only way I can go and get to ride what I want without complaints.

For a chocoholic like me the chocolate temptation was out of this world.

As for Universal - you can easily do a solo trip. We stay at the Royal Pacific booking a programme that is called Stay 4, play for free, where you'll receive free theme park tickets and they give you unlimited Universal Express and even in the summer we were able to do both parks in one day! You can also buy their Universal Express - they do not have any other form of Fast Pass.

I'm not Karin (nor do I play her on TV :lmao: ) but I did a solo trip to Universal a couple of years ago in May. I pretty much sailed through everything in both parks in one day. The coasters are great but I was a little let down in IOA because I don't do water rides and I skipped all of those. But the Hulk and Spiderman were awesome!

But back to the original programming...:happytv: .....Love your report! California Grill is my favorite place. I wish I had some Valrhona chocolate cake right now. :)

Jill in CO

Thanks for reading! I want some of that Valhrona cake now myself!!

Here I sit, 25 days away from a measly 5 1/2 days in WDW reading this amazing review. By someone who CLAIMS English is not their first language. Hmph!

Seriously, thanks SO much. I have really enjoyed this report!!!

Thanks for reading! And actually English definitely is NOT my first language! :goodvibes

Everything looks great, I can't wait until 2009

:thumbsup2

oh my gosh
if i didn't have to fit into a wedding dress in 20 days...
i'd think i'd have to drive to disney right now and go try some of these dishes!!!!!!!!!
And your English is great, you speak better than I do! LOL! :) :lmao:

You'll be able to sample to your heart's content during your honeymoon! I just finished reading your Planning Journal! Can't wait for your trip report.
 
Aug 27 - breakfast at the Island Dining Room, a late lunch at Bubba Gump's and Krispy Kreme for an evening snack

After our first night at the Royal Pacific Resort we went down to the Island Dining Room for breakfast. We were seated right away at a very nice table towards the back of the restaurant. They offer a buffet and an a la carte menu. Since we are not really buffet people we chose the a la carte.

Tom ordered some coffee and some orange juice, and both were regular stuff. I had some hot tea, which was actually horrible!! But the food was really nice!!
Tom had the Egg White and Smoked Turkey Wrap - Egg whites, smoked turkey, baby spinach, mushrooms and roma tomatoes. He liked it very much and cleaned his plate.

IMG_8661.jpg


I had been dreaming about having the Tahitian French Toast A L'Orange - With Caramelized Bananas, Sweet Cinnamon Butter all year long. I had had them the year before and they were just SO good. So I ordered them and they did not disappoint. Soft gooey bread, drenched with caramelized banana and orange cest, how could you resist it.
Beware - the portion is HUGE!!!

IMG_8658.jpg


After breakfast we went back to the room to get the sunlotion and we were surprised that our room was already made!
We then headed to the Watertaxi and went to the Islands of Adventures. We went counter clockwise and walked on all the rides we wanted to ride. We rode the dragons a few times - you gotta love universal express for hotel guests and it was past midday when we reached Jurassic Park. We were both so thirsty, so we went to Thunder Falls Terrace for a drink. I had my usual diet coke and Tom chose to have a beer.

IMG_8678.jpg


We finished our round, but did not go on the water rides and by 3.30 we were done with all the rides. We then went out and explored the shops on city walk before we went to Bubba Gump's. There were very few guests so we were seated right away. We LOVE Bubba Gump's and had already been to the one in Miami and Fort Lauderdale on this trip, so this was our third visit within 2 weeks.

Tom had another beer, while I had my favourite drink there. Strawberry speckled lemonade - oh my, heaven in a glass.

IMG_8685.jpg


We shared the Cajun Shrimp - Sauteed in a hot and spicy Cajun butter sauce. Served with garlic bread for dipping. Very spicy and hot, but delish!!!

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Tom had the Bourbon Street Mahi Mahi - Charbroiled Cajun spiced Mahi Mahi with Bourbon Sauce and shrimp served over mashed potatoes. He tried this for the first time, but I guess he is going to have it again next summer if it is still on the menu! I tried it too and it was very good. Moist fish with a nice spicy finish, very good sauce and nice mash.

IMG_8692.jpg


I again opted to have one of my all time favourites, Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp, served with Cajun marmalade and fries. Large crispy fried shrimp in a coconut batter. The Cajun marmelade is sweet with a tiny hint of chili! :love:

IMG_8689.jpg


While we were waiting for our main courses, our waiter came over to quiz us on our knowledge of Forrest Gump. Thankfully Tom watches these movies and remembers details :lmao: I am totally useless with it. We were too stuffed for dessert, so we left and since it looked like rain we went back to the resort.
We still had sweets from Goofy's so we had enough to snack on while we relaxed and waited for the rain to stop.

In the evening we went and did some more shopping in Kissimmee and decided to look for the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop I had heard so much about. After about 10 minutes we saw the sign - HOT NOW. We parked right there and went in. We got 4 glazed doughnuts fresh off the baking conveyer and a diet coke to share and sat in the shop to try one of the doughnuts. Boy, they were good. Soft and warm and melt in your mouth. We ate all four of them there on the spot!! Yum, yum!!!

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While gobbling down our doughnuts Tom pointed out a "hidden" Mickey in the shop. We were to find out why he was there some time later.

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We then went back to our resort, parked the car and went to our room. It was only 9pm but we were so tired.

To be continued ............
Next up - Island Dining Room for breakfast again, a light lunch at the Monster's Cafe, Starbuck's treats and dinner at Red Lobster
 
And I assume you plan to tell us why Mickey was hanging out at the Krispy Kreme... I love the way you tell a story. Here in Michigan it is 5:36 p.m., the Kifta is in the oven and I am reading your food report wishing I had put dinner on sooner. Geeze you make me want to eat, eat, eat, everytime I read your posts. It is a good thing I am skinny. I think I have gained five pounds just from reading. :rotfl:

Kate
 
Oh thank You so much for showing a picture of the No sugar added strawberry parfit from ABC comminsary.....Both my husband and I are diabetics and are always looking for sugar free desserts.
 
Garsh, I'm caught up again - already! I'm really enjoying your report - your reviews and pictures are great. Of course, it making me hungry for Disney food. A week tomorrow and off we go!
 







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