moved and edited. Go to:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1950017 Here's my trip report:
Lodging:
Animal Kingdom Lodge standard view room, two queen beds - we were given a room at the very far end of the Kudu Trail, second floor, Sunset Savanna side. It was a bit of a walk but really no big deal and not as long as I expected from some of the posts I've read here. Many fine hotels have walks equally long or longer.
According to PassPorter travel guide book, all rooms on the Kudu Trail are considered Savanna view rooms and not standard does anyone know if this is correct as of this date?
Our view wasnt perfect but much better than we expected. We loved our room.
We overlooked the Vacation Club construction (way in the background) and had two crane lifts parked under our window for the first few days. the cranes were low and did not obstruct our view of the savannah at all.
There was temporary fencing with plastic sheeting placed just in front of the savannah grasses.
Our right-side view was partially blocked by the outside stairwell and what appeared to be an animal holding area (large barn (?) ) as well as outdoor fenced housing, thus keeping us from having a sprawling view.
Perhaps this is why AKL might have considered this a "standard" room instead of the more costly one? We were not told we were being given a complementary upgrade (nor did I ask for one), so this is my assumption.
Now, after all this, you might expect me to complain . . . NO WAY! We were thrilled with this room!
We could see over the fencing just fine; it did not block the savannah or animals at all . . . and there were plenty of animals: giraffes, zebras, Ankole cattle, African crown cranes and more. There was never a time without animals, including entire Ankole and Zebra families.
The second floor was wonderful because we were close enough to the animals to really see them instead of having to look down on them. The fact that we had such a great view of the animals delighted my daughter and me beyond belief. We were so very grateful to get this beautiful room.
The noise from the construction was barely audible from our room had we not known it was there, we wouldnt have heard it at all.
By requesting a standard view room, I knew there was no guarantee of seeing any animals from the room and that we could expect anything from a savannah surprise to a view of a parking lot or roof. We were VERY happy!
Bonus: On the fourth day, the cranes and fencing were removed. : )
One night there was a party going on in the room next to ours I knew this because as I walked back to my room (after a very long day), our neighbors had their door open about an inch and I could hear many voices, laughter, etc. Except for one very loud outburst of laughter, which lasted only a couple seconds, we could not hear a thing from inside our room. This really impressed us.
The hotel cast members were fabulous and as friendly as they come this was true here and throughout Disney -- everyone from Mousekeeping to Bus Drivers to Park Attendants. They all caught our energy and tossed it back with enthusiasm. We enjoyed our conversations with them, too.
Dining booked: Boma, Jiko, Whispering Canyon Cafe, San Angel Inn, California Grill, Tutto Italia, and Teppan Edo.
Keep in mind as I discuss restaurants: When it comes to dining, Im rather like a female version of American Idols Simon and quite a critic. Even the finest restaurants get constructive comments from me, including many of the top restaurants in America.
That said, some well-crafted mac & cheese or a good hamburger and fries can rate as high or higher with me as the posh stuff I'm a foodie and a critic, not a snob. : )
Most of the time, my daughter and I each sampled each others orders so I was able to taste double.
As you read, you will see I did not send anything back to the kitchen if I was unhappy with the preparation.
I am not at all shy about sending food back, but I was on vacation. The food was good or better everywhere, and I didnt want to hassle with complaining. Exception: California Grill. I was wrong not to send my steak back. More later.
Here we go . . .
Jiko: WE LOVED IT!
Service: Impeccable. Server: Michelle
Atmosphere: Very Good, warm and relaxing (Wine Room, see below)
Food: Excellent
This is now my favorite restaurant in Disney (Victoria and Alberts second). The food pairings and sauces were genius.
Bread basket: Excellent. Spiced butter a perfect paring with two distinctly different flavor breads one sweeter and one savory with caraway the butter was truly a brilliant taste match.
Appetizers:
Lamb "Patis" Excellent.
Artisan Cheese Selection: Excellent. It came with the names of the cheeses as well as a little history I appreciated this as it will allow me to research where to buy them online.
Wine: As you may know, Jiko has a wonderful wine list. Be sure to ask for suggestions based on your dining selections and DEFINITELY ask for tastes before ordering. I tried three tastes before deciding on the right wine I thought I knew what I wanted, but the servers suggestion proved superior and was available by the glass.
Main course:
Maize-crusted and Seared Halibut: Very good, but I would try something different next time.
The halibut was cooked perfectly but it could have been warmer. I also would have liked the crusty strips on top of halibut to have been crunchier they had crunch but tasted as though they may have been softened a bit by the humidity or the steam off the fish.
Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon: Excellent, but not the best steak we would have in Disney, as youll see I had this steak after having the better one, so I was prejudice at this point.
Id still rate Jikos filet mignon a 9 out of 10, though! The meat was cooked perfectly. The oak grilled flavor is just right not too overpowering just enough. Mac and Cheese (no where near the same as Bomas and soooo much better) was fabulous. I would be very happy ordering this dish again.
Vegetable of the moment as Jiko calls it: A nice blend of daily-fresh vegetables prepared properly. I have difficulty digesting some vegetables, and Jiko was careful to take care of me.
Dessert: House-made Lemon Curd with sour cream ice cream: Very good if you are a fan of lemon curd, this is probably a must. I liked it, but it didnt knock me over I will try something different next time. Biscotti: Not crisp enough. Humidity again?
Tip: We dined in
The Wine Room -- a small room off the main room. (Eight tables, maybe ten? -- not sure.) I did not know about this room. We found it peaceful, beautiful, and I would request it again.
The Wine Room may not be for everyone -- it is more secluded and away from all windows. Also, because this space is more intimate, a whining child would be more noticeable here than in the main seating area.
San Angel Inn a surprising WOW. I never expected it!
Atmosphere: Outstanding
I hadnt booked San Angel Inn until my daughter requested it my family dined there on our last trip (many years back), and we wanted to experience different restaurants this time around.
However, when my daughter told me San Angel was one of her favorite memories from her trip . . . I booked it again, of course!
When we went to San Angel previously, we had lunch instead of dinner. It was very good but -- aside from the atmosphere -- nothing big-time memorable.
So, I didnt really expect to like San Angels food all that much. My family and I are spoiled by the outstanding authentic Mexican food we eat regularly in Chicago, New Mexico and California (okay, okay . . . we havent been to Mexico yet . . . but were working on it!).
Plus, while Ive seen some rave reviews by San Angel fans, most arent screaming about it from the rooftops. I thought, Okay, this will be a nice Mexican dinner in a beautiful room and my daughter will love being there.
It was so much more!
Margarita on the rocks: Excellent.
Chips and Salsa: The chips were fresh, crisp very good. The salsa was bland and unexciting at first . . . it was way too mild for me and didnt even have enough flavor for my daughter who doesnt like heat. I can appreciate Disney wanting to serve salsa this way I imagine many tourists and their children are not accustomed to spicier foods.
So, I asked the server if San Angel had salsa with more kick. She smiled and said shed take care of us. She was so sweet and caring, and she really seemed to appreciate our wanting flavors that were more authentic.
She brought two more salsas one with much more flavor and more heat wonderful -- and another very thick salsa with a lot of chipotle (great taste!) and quite hot. Both were excellent. I enjoyed the middle one best as did my daughter (she mixed it with the original mild). I will always ask for it.
Filete Motuleno (Grilled beef tenderloin over black beans and melted cheese, sauce ranchero, poblano pepper strips and fried plantain). My daughter ordered this. Thank goodness she shared. It was outstanding.
Okay, so right here you need to know I eat a lot of steak. Business finds me eating at the finest steak houses in the United States Chicago especially and also New York, Kansas City, etc. My daughter used to work as a server in fine dining . . . she knows her steak too.
The Filete Motuleno blew us away we agreed it is the best steak weve eaten ANYWHERE. It was an outstanding cut of meat -- ordered medium rare and cooked perfectly.
This was such a huge surprise!
We both scored this dish a 10.
Next is not so good: Sugerencia Del Chef (Chef's Suggestions): The chefs suggestion that night was a lamb dish served atop cheese, which was fair but also my fault:
I was not asked how I wanted the lamb prepared. The lamb came pre-sliced, which probably would have given me no choice as to how it was cooked. It came well-done as it would under those circumstances.
I do not like meat well-done. I should have known better. The server (who continued to be wonderful and didnt miss a beat) was careful to ask my daughter how she wanted her steak prepared. Her lack of asking me about the lamb should have been a give-away, and I should have questioned her about the preparation before I ordered it I take the blame for this one.
Dessert: Vanilla ice cream with cinnamon-sugar fried tortillas. The ice cream was smooth, rich and the tortillas fresh and crisp. Good!
I will definitely go back to San Angel. My only concern is that the steak was so perfect I wonder if any steak can be that good again . . . I look forward to trying!
Whispering Canyon Café:
Food: What we ordered was a little heavy and rich for the end of a sweltering day, but most of it was very good.
Service: Excellent.
We had the
Canyon Skillet All You Care to Enjoy: Mixed greens with apple vinaigrette dressing, fresh baked cornbread with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cowboy beans and seasonal vegetables (corn on the cob that night). Smoked pork ribs, pulled pork, oven-roasted chicken, Peel-n-Eat shrimp.
The ribs, cornbread, potatoes, chicken, shrimp were very good. I did not have any salad (daughter liked it) or coleslaw.
The pulled pork lacked flavor and was too tender-mushy for my taste.
Corn on the cob: Again, a little overcooked for me, but it was flavorful and fine.
This is A LOT of heavy food and more than my daughter and I found we wanted. Had my husband been able to make this trip, he would have enjoyed the food, especially the ribs and mashed potatoes.
Whispering Canyon was delicious, fun, and a chuckle. Im glad we went. It is loud with a lot of server / guest interaction, which I expected and enjoyed. One time to "see the show" is enough for me, though . . . if we go again, we will request a seat in the back area away from all the participation.
Boma
Food: Need to try it again next time. Some choices were disappointing.
Atmosphere: Fair open kitchen is enjoyable, though.
I had originally booked Boma three times. After dining there once (first night), I cancelled the remaining two reservations and ate elsewhere (San Angel and Teppan Edo).
I had triple-booked Boma because of the convenience of being in our hotel and because I heard so many wonderful things about it. Also, had my husband been able to make it, he likes buffets.
Im not big on buffets the lines and noise arent usually worth it to me.
The food was good with some interesting flavors. Many of the flavors could have been "kicked up a notch" (not heat this time, just the spices) the recipes were good but hold the potential of being better.
Some choices didnt wow me as nearly as much as I hoped, including the dessert Zebra Domes, which are rich and creamy and I can see why they are popular -- but and maybe I should give them a second try the Domes tasted like preservative-laced-semi-artificial-ingredient assembly line dessert food to me. The covering was a little waxy, too. Sorry Dome fans! I know Im in the minority here. : )
The soup was excellent. So was the cheesecake.
There is a lot I didnt taste because I was full and very tired. We never made it to the meat station, so I really cant give a fair review of Boma here. I look forward to trying it again next trip.
California Grill:
Service: Outstanding
Atmosphere: Outstanding
Food: Disappointing
Bread basket: Sour dough bread was very disappointing. It did not begin to compare to California sour dough . . . or even Panera Bread for that matter!
Appetizer: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Pesto, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Basil: Good, not great.
Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Boniato Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Haricot Vert and Teriyaki Barbeque Sauce: Good flavor, poor preparation.
Our steaks were fired unevenly I ordered rare. It was medium rare in the middle and very well done a good portion into the sides. Daughters was also very well done on the sides (she ordered med rare).
The meat was not nearly as tender as at the other restaurants we tried, and we found ourselves wishing for steak knives -- they did not bring them, I assume intentionally as a gesture to show they "knew" the steak would be suitable for a butter knife.
Not.
We both should have sent our steaks back, but we had a window seat overlooking Wishes (which had just begun) and it wasnt worth spoiling the moment. This was the end to our first full day at Disney and needed to be free of "baggage."
I will never eat a full dinner at the California Grill again. It is so not worth the double table credits. However, I would definitely visit there for a drink and a different appetizer.
When we arrived, our table was not ready. My daughter spotted a small table in the lounge where we decided to wait it was right next to the window and gave us a perfect view of the Castle!
The server told us we were welcome to order dinner in the lounge, so we stayed at the same table. This alone made dining at CG worthwhile.
Peachy Keen Peach Cheesecake, Bellini "Bubble Tea", Spiced Tea Cake with Vanilla Crème Glace: Good, not great.
Valrhona Chocolate Cake and Apricots Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Center, House-made Apricot Ice Cream: Good, not great.
Tutto Italia
Food: Very good
Service: Very good but rushed.
Our main dishes arrived in what felt like minutes after ordering them many might appreciate this, especially with so much touring to do. I would have preferred a little more time. We did linger over a glass of wine and take a little longer than most to decide on what to order. This is a busy place and Im sure they wanted to move the tables quickly.
Bread basket: Very good as was the herbed butter. They forgot to give us olive oil and we forgot to ask.
Sacchetti - pasta pillows filled with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and pomdoro sauce: Very good pasta cooked perfectly. I enjoyed this and ate every bite!
Cannelloni al Forno - baked with spinach, ricotta, béchamel and parmesan cheese: Daughter had this she loved it. I tasted it and wished I could eat more (I cannot have spinach) very good.
Copetta Sotto Bosco - berries, zabaglione cream gelato and chocolate sauce. Very good I ate every bite of this, too. I might experiment with something different next time.
Coffee: They use an outstanding Italian blend and bring the whole pot wonderful! If you love good coffee, it is a must with dessert.
Teppan Edo
Service: Excellent
Atmosphere: Very good (pavillion is outstanding as are the gardens)
California Roll: Very good
Asakusa - sirloin steak and large shrimp: Very good - steak and shrimp flavorful with good sauces on the side. Both steak and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The noodles were a little overcooked for my taste.
Fruit Tart: Fair. Much better at Sunshine Season Food Fair (see quick service, below)
Chocolate Ginger Cake: Excellent. This and the Boma cheesecake were my favorite desserts this trip.
My daughter loves Japanese steak houses so I swapped one of the Boma nights for it Teppan Edo is wonderful and I would recommend it to all. I would not go there again only because we have similar restaurants close to where I live.
Quick service:
West Side Wolfgang Puck Express:
Daughter ordered
four cheese pizza and said it was good but shes had better.
I had a
beef and cheese sandwich (cannot find it in the online menus and I forgot the name), and I did not like it. The bread was fair and the filling was cold and tasteless. It was supposed to be served cold I didnt realize this and was disappointed from the first bite on. I don't remember if the menu said it would be served cold.
I would not go there again.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Mara: Quick service here is very good. The
couscous is outstanding.
Epcot, Norway: Kringla Bakeri og Kafe: Wonderful salmon sandwich on good bread. The pastry / dessert
school bread is equally good.
Epcot: The Land: Sunshine Season Food: This is a food court. We loved it here and would make a point to eat here again. The
fruit tart was amazing FABULOUS crisp crust that didn't come close to being soggy and the fruits on top were lfresh and lush -- this can be tough to do in quick service. The
minestrone soup was outstanding -- how I wished I didn't have vegetable dietary restrictions (I tasted my daughters) -- this is the best minestrone soup we have had
anywhere.
Before leaving, I booked another vaction for my husgand and me for next September = they had a free dining special (we also had it this time). To date, the Disney properties I've enjoyed are the Grand Floridian Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Where did I book the next trip?
Animal Kingdom Lodge again, without a blink! I am so looking forward to being back "home" again. : )
Dining plan: San Angel aside (which is a single table credit), I may book table service every other night instead of every night and choose double table credit restaurants more often -- Jiko definitely more than once! Snacks and counter service on the other days will give us more time to tour.
Okay, everyone. I think that's everything . . . although I keep editing so who knows. : ) If I remember anything else, I will continue post it here.
Disney, if you're listening: Thank you so much! This was a great vacationl
Even after reading the trip report board instructions, I'm still a bit confused. If I read it right, I leave this post here and it will be moved by the mods? I may check under lodging and dining, too, and post separate reviews there. Hope this is okay.
