A TS newbie takes on ADRs & TiW for 10 days of Disney Dining COMPLETE

[lizzyb]

Sad you didn't enjoy O'hana it's a must for us especially because of the dessert!

 

[lauraleh]

I've always wanted to do Ohana but have heard multiple reports like this recently. Especially since it would be oop for us, it definitely doesn't feel worth it! Great reviews!

 

[nfggirl5454]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I just subscribed. Great reviews, and I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip!

 

[StayAwake]

This day was supposed to be my Animal Kingdom day, but after another late night the previous night, I just wasn't feeling up to a rope drop arrival, and decided to change plans and do some shopping! The weather had taken a turn for the cold (low 50s with a very damp cold wind) after the first few days I was there, and I was quite frankly sick of wearing the same fleece and jeans everyday.

So I slept in a bit and then headed out to Downtown Disney. I had been toying with the idea of seeing a movie, and decided that I just couldn't resist seeing Saving Mr. Banks again, this time IN Disney, and thought that I'd try out the dine-in option at the movie theater.

There are two entrances to the AMC theater at Downtown Disney. The one that is on the "main drag" by Splitsville and the waterfront is the regular theater. The one that is over closer to the parking lot is the entrance for the dine-in theater. Once I had figured that out, it was easy. You choose your seat when you buy your ticket, and then a server drops by to take your order, deliver your food, and your bill after you are seated. There is a call button if you want something anytime. Here's a link to the menu that is offered: http://dinein.amctheatres.com/menu

Just for the novelty, I ordered a drink to start.



This is the Crisp Apple Splash: Vodka, Sour Apple Pucker, and fruit juices. It was delicious, and went down very easily.


The Bistro Mac & Cheese: Mac & Cheese with Bacon, Sliced Grilled Chicken, and Breadcrumbs. This really hit the spot- warm, creamy comfort food that helped me forget the cold for a bit.

No Tables in Wonderland discount on this one, but if you are a AMC Stubs rewards club member, your food and alcohol purchases do count towards rewards.

And yes, Saving Mr. Banks was just as good the third time, made just a bit more special by seeing it at Disney.

I really like the concept of the Fork & Screen, but for me, I was glad I saw a movie I had already seen while doing it. Having the server check in with me during the movie and paying during the movie were a little bit distracting, and I can see how it might be annoying if I was really into the movie I was watching for the first time. The chairs were extra comfy, more like a recliner than a movie theater seat, which was a plus.

 

[lizzyb]

Thats pretty neat! I have never heard of those theatres.

 

[StayAwake]

I was really looking forward to this experience, as it isn't something that I would ever get to do when traveling to Disney with my family. The location of the tea room means that you get to enjoy the band and pianist that take turns playing, which added an extra lovely touch to the experience.

Finally- a menu picture


I chose the Mad Hatter blend for my tea, and selected the Grand Tea as my overall choice. I don't eat salmon, so I asked to have that sandwich substituted with one of the other choices, and there were no issues.



The curry chicken ended up being my favorite of the tea sandwiches, so I was glad that I ended up with two after declining the salmon. The onion tart was also a favorite- the onions were sweet and jam-like, and the tart had a nice crunchy shell without being too hard.


Tea, leaf strainer, and glass of sparkling wine. One thing I didn't like about this experience was that the tea leaves basically dissolved. It was lucky for me because I forgot to use the strainer, but I expect there to be visible evidence of tea leaves when having an experience like this. This meant that if I wanted more tea, I couldn't just ask for additional hot water, and thus, must pay OOP for another pot.

Since I was on my own, the one pot of tea was more than sufficient, but for those going with a larger group, this is a limitation you may want to be aware of.

Strawberry Jam Tart & Scone with Strawberry Jam, Clotted Cream & Lemon Curd.

The scone with cream and curd was my favorite- the jam tart was just a little too sweet for my preference.


Strawberries & Cream. I fully intended to order the trifle, but it was bananas foster, and after the Ohana bananas foster sauce didn't go over so well, I decided to switch to the berries. This was delicious, if a smaller sized portion than the photo makes it look like it is.

What did I think of afternoon tea? I found the experience very calming and soothing- a nice break from the hectic pace that I can fall into at the parks. Overall I thought the food was good, and the tea blend I chose was delicious. I was pleasantly full and didn't need a snack before my 9pm dinner reservation. However, after having the pleasure of afternoon tea in London a few years ago, this experience wasn't as good. The staff attentiveness wasn't there, and many items were good but not great. I would go back with the right group of people, but I wouldn't consider this a must-do.

With Tables in Wonderland I saved $7.00, bringing the total TiW savings to $128.94.

This meal also marked a turning point in my trip. The first half had been wonderful and magical, but after I finished tea, things started to unravel a bit. Keep following to learn more!

 

[smile4stamps]

I love doing the tea! No worries on having to share the tea if you are with a group though as each person will get their own. Ala Carte ordering isn't allowed so each person must order a selection that will include their own tea. Even if several people at the table order the same kind they will bring one for each person.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Afternoon tea looks fantastic! I love a good afternoon tea. I also find it to be a relaxing experience, although I never went to the one at WDW. Looking forward to reading more, but...unraveling? I hope everything was ok in the long run.

 

[StayAwake]

I love doing the tea! No worries on having to share the tea if you are with a group though as each person will get their own. Ala Carte ordering isn't allowed so each person must order a selection that will include their own tea. Even if several people at the table order the same kind they will bring one for each person.

Thanks Paula- that's good to know! I got so used to the idea that Disney doesn't really have solo portions of things, that I didn't realize that each person would get that sized pot of tea, which was quite large. I must have had 5 or 6 cups worth of tea and couldn't finish the pot.

 

[StayAwake]

After my delightful & relaxing tea, I decided to hang out and listen to the music in the lobby of the Grand Floridian, while waiting for the resort monorail to go back into service. (This was in January where it was down in the middle of the day for maintenance). While waiting, my phone rang, and it was my boss.

He quickly apologized for calling me while on vacation, but needed to let me know that there would be an announcement the following day at work that the department was being reorganized and he wanted to let me know how it would impact me. I would be changing departments and bosses, but my job would remain mostly the same and I was not being laid off. I thanked him for letting me know and hung up, but the delightful feeling of relaxation and calm I had achieved after going to tea had fled.

Still, I carried on with my plan to head back to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours before my 9 pm reservation at California Grill. Alas, my day was going to continue to get worse. Focusing on rides with minimal waits, I found myself at the Carousel. I foolishly chose a horse on the outside who was at the top of the arc, and when I tried to get on it, felt a pop like a balloon bursting on the lateral side of my left knee.

I hung, half on half off, the horse, and then decided to try to get down and see if I could put any weight on it. I could, but it was painful. I hobbled off the ride before it started, and started slowly limping my way towards the front of the park. The more I walked, the better it started to feel, so I decided to keep my dinner reservation, then return to my room to RICE it and see how things were feeling.

I managed to find the check-in desk, and again shared the reason for my visit when asked about my I'm Celebrating button. I was being taken up in the elevator when my buzzer went off that my table was ready- so that was quite quick! I was seated in a room that faced towards where Wilderness Lodge is- very quiet and since Wishes was over, it didn't bother me that I wasn't facing towards the Magic Kingdom. I did have a great view of the Water Pageant.



After being seated, a CM came by and said that Tinkerbell had told her that I was celebrating being cancer-free, and wanted me to have some pixie dust, so sprinkled the table with the Mickey Confetti. That was fun, and since the room I was in was so quiet, it sparked conversation with the tables on both sides of me. We had a lovely chat- several of them had had cancer as well, and it was fun to celebrate with people who really understood.


Bread service: Sourdough and lavender foccacia. The foccacia was the better of the two.

Since I had been hearing mixed reviews about California Grill since it opened, I decided to go for what people seemed to agree was still delicious: Sushi


The Spicy Kazan roll. I loved how they put the fireball sauce in the middle, so you could get as much or as little as you wanted. I don't like really spicy foods, and this was delicious. Also, the crunchy flakes added a nice texture contrast.


The California Combination roll. This wasn't at all what I was expecting- I was expecting one roll that combined the California roll ingredients with the Shrimp Tempura roll ingredients. Instead you got two separate rolls. Whatever was in the orange dipping sauce was amazing- it was a highlight, but the rest of the plate was nothing more than I could get at any of my local sushi restaurants.


The Pork Belly Nigri. I had really been looking forward to this one, and the flavors did not disappoint. However the pork was lukewarm and the amount of pork was so much larger than the rice, it was difficult to eat. I think it would have been better if it had just been placed on top of a rice mound, where the shape of the pork could have better matched the shape of the rice.

My server was really great with this- I had been asking about how large the portions were when deciding to order, and he said that he could put each item in separately, so that if I got too full, I wouldn't be charged for all 3 sushi items. I was a little worried that doing this would make service too slow, but thought it was a good idea, and didn't really notice that the service was any slower than a normal restaurant of this quality would be.



I did ask for the dessert menu, when a complementary creme brulee appeared. This was delicious and made me feel very special, although too full to order a second dessert. Sorry seasonal apple dessert- you sounded amazing, but it just wasn't going to happen.

When the server brought the bill, to my surprise, it was missing my glass of wine I had ordered. When I called him over to ask about it, he mentioned that the couple who had been at the table at my right had paid for it. OMG, what from kind fellow travelers. They had finished their meal and left before I found out about this kind gift, so I couldn't even say thank you. But just in case they are on the DIS, THANK YOU so much!

With Tables in Wonderland, I saved $14.40 on this meal, bringing the TiW total to $143.34.

I loved everything about the California Grill, except the prices. I guess I am spoiled to have an amazing sushi place close to home where I can get the same quality of sushi on an AYCTE lunch buffet for $15. While the sushi was all very delicious, I think I would want to order something different in the future to feel like I'm getting a better value for my money.

As I made my way back to the resort monorail, to MK, and then grabbed the bus back to POP, my knee was still hurting. I quickly decided to cancel the following day's ADRs so that if resting & icing overnight didn't help, I wouldn't be charged as a no-show while I tried to get into a doctor. My planned meals were 1900 Park Faire for breakfast with Mary Poppins, and dinner at Le Cellier. In the next update, I'll talk about whether this was a good decision or a bad decision.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Great review of California Grill! We ate there on our last trip and we enjoyed it very much. That was before the refurbishment. We didn't have any sushi there because we eat sushi at home all the time, and like you, we are used to paying much lower prices for sushi, even for special rolls. So we skip sushi on vacation and go for other things we don't normally eat at home most of the time.

It's so nice that they treated you extra special...complimentary creme brûlée is awesome!!

 

[StayAwake]

Woke up in the morning and knee was still quite painful, so I limped my way to the Concierge desk to ask about how to get to the doctor, since I hadn't rented a car, and discovered there was an urgent care clinic that had a free shuttle service. While waiting for the shuttle, I thought I'd grab a quick breakfast at the Pop Century Food Court.



This is the famous Pop Waffle, with fruit topping and breakfast meat. The waffle was fresh out of the iron: crispy and delicious, and the fresh fruit topping was flavorful and not too sweet. Disney bacon was limp and flavorless, but the chicken sausage had a nice seasoning and didn't taste significantly different from a pork-based breakfast sausage.

Tables in Wonderland is a great deal at the value resorts because you get the 20% discount and there are no tips to leave. Here I saved $1.56, bringing my total TiW savings to $144.90, and my breakfast cost to under $7.00- which makes the prices competitive with a non-Disney restaurant.

 

[StayAwake]

By the time I got back from the urgent care diagnosed with a sprained knee, it was already lunchtime. Since my plan for the afternoon was another round of elevation & ice, I decided to limp over to Art of Animation to grab something to go and eat in my room. This was something I had tried the previous year and really loved, so I was hoping it would raise my spirits.



The Surf & Surf burger- a crab cake topped with fried shrimp with a remoulade sauce.

This did not survive the slow walk back to Pop Century very well. Everything had been made fresh and was piping hot when placed in the to-go box, but by the time I made it back to the room the fries were pretty limp and cold, and the burger had cooled enough that the crispy shrimp were no longer crispy due to exposure to the sauce, and so the soft/crispy contrast that I had loved the year before didn't happen. I would get this again, but not to-go.

Tables in Wonderland savings: $2.20 for a total of $147.10

 

[StayAwake]

The Boulangerie Patisserie was always an EPCOT must-do, so it was exciting to see it given more space in the new Les Halles. While I was waiting for my dinner ADR, I popped in to pick up some goodies to have on hand, as my mobility was limited enough that I wasn't sure how the rest of the week was going to play out in terms of park time.

I also neglected to get photos. Sorry!

But the Jambon Beurre sandwich and Pain au Chocolate that I ate at the airport waiting for my flight home were delicious, as always.

 

[StayAwake]

Cancelling my 1900 Park Faire Breakfast had been the right move, as I wasn't even seen at the Urgent Care for 2 hours after I had arrived- there would have been no way to make that breakfast and I was really concerned about my pain level. Cancelling my dinner at Le Cellier, on the other hand, had been a mistake. By the time I realized that I would be OK enough to make it out to EPCOT for dinner, I couldn't get a new ADR for Le Cellier. However, I was able to make a same-day ADR for Chefs de France as a replacement.

Then when I headed out of the room, I realized that making any ADR at EPCOT World Showcase was stupid, as I would have to walk all the way to the back of the park. So instead I took the bus to Hollywood Studios and the boat to the International Gateway, so I wouldn't have to walk so far.


Fresh Baguette. YUM!


The Assiette Campagnarde- the charcuterie plate. I didn't write down the names, but I remember that the garlic sausage was particularly good, and the cornichon pickles were a perfect crisp bite to contrast with the pate and other meats.

Next I had the Gratin du Macaroni, of which I don't have a picture, because that was the time that my phone started ringing off the hook as friends from work were calling to see if I'd heard the news and what did I think about the reorganization and how it affected me. I can report that the dish was very creamy and cheesy, and the slight nutmeg flavor helped to give a nice contrast to the richness.

I did order dessert, although I couldn't finish it.

The assiette du sorbets du jour. The sorbets of the day- one was mango, one was coconut, and I don't recall the third. They were all delicious and a nice light way to finish the meal after the heavy gratin du macaroni.

With Tables in Wonderland, I saved $12.39 on this meal, bringing the total TiW savings to $159.49.

I really liked Chefs de France, and would dine there again.

 

[Aristocath]

Great reviews. I'm sorry about the sprained knee and that your vacation was interrupted by work news. But I wouldn't feel too bad about LeCellier- we enjoy it but definitely don't consider it a signature meal. Better steak can be found on property but the cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread is delicious. I can't wait to get back to the Patisserie!

 

[DisneyJo]

I'm so sorry about your knee, it sounds very painful! I'm glad you managed to get a new ADR though

 

[OasterP]

Loving the review! Congrats on your cancer free anniversary!!

So sorry you hurt your knee and had to hear work news while on vacation!

 

[poohangel]

OMGoodness, I love your reviews. Everything looks amazing. CONGRATS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY..

 

[StayAwake]

Thank you all for your kind words, and welcome to all the new readers! 5 months later and the knee is finally back to normal & transition to the new boss is going well. Yes, it was a bummer to get pulled out of vacation, but I was so fortunate to be able to be at Disney for 10 days, with several more trips planned this year to take advantage of my first Annual Pass. And I discovered many things that I probably wouldn't have because I was forced to slow down, and take mid-day breaks. But enough about that- let's get back to the food! And something that now rivals my affection for the Dole Whip as one of the best snacks in the Magic Kingdom. The Nutella & fruit waffle from Sleepy Hollow. This was so delicious and huge! I tried to eat it as a sandwich, and kept losing pieces of fruit, so finally grabbed a seat and a table and enjoyed every delicious bite. The waffle is hot off the griddle, crispy outside and fluffy inside. The fruit (strawberries, blueberries and bananas) was fresh and sweet, and a nice addition to the heaven that is Nutella. You could split this, but why would you?