Burning the Candle at Both Ends - A Holiday Dining Report

[SmallWorld71]

Who:


Starting on the right with:
Me: 43, Elementary Special Education Teacher
When I am not working, I can be found at my computer obsessing over all things Disney, driving my kids to their activities, or at the beach. This was my 16th? or so trip to WDW. My favorite foods include: broccoli, cheese, salads I don't have to make, and all things chocolate.

Next to me we have:
DH (Arthur): 43, Ambulance Dispatcher
When not working, he can be found obsessing over all things sports, especially hockey and football. This was his 3rd trip to WDW. His favorite foods include: meat, beer, potatoes, beer, seafood and beer.

DS (Ron): 19, College Student
When not at school, he can be found playing or watching hockey, hanging out with his girlfriend, texting, or eating. This was his 3rd trip to WDW with us. (He is my step-son). He has also been several times with his mom. His favorite foods include: everything.

DS (Harry): 15, High School Sophomore
When not at school, he can be found playing baseball, playing football, at scouts, playing his clarinet or attached to his i-pod touch. This was his 7th trip to WDW. He was my co-planner for this trip and will be helping me with this report. His favorite foods include: shrimp, pineapple, and steak.

DD (Hermione): 11, Middle Schooler
When not at school, she can be found at dance class, dance class or dance class. (Seriously, I spend half my life driving that girl to ballet...) This was her 6th trip to WDW. Her favorite foods include: pasta and ice cream.

When: December 23rd-January 3rd

Where: Disney's Coronado Springs (until Jan. 1st)
Universal's Portofino Bay (Jan. 1st to 3rd)

We ate at the following table services:
Coral Reef (Candlelight Processional Package)
Hoop Dee Doo
Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Package)
Crystal Palace (lunch)
'Ohana (dinner)
Be Our Guest
Biergarten

Plus a bunch of snacks and CS

Harry and I hope you'll join us for the ride!

 

[SmallWorld71]

So, after months of waiting, the day was finally here!
Due to schedules (mine) and the fact that Harry flat out refuses to miss a day of school, Arthur and Ron were flying out in the morning before the rest of us. They were excited to spend a father/ son day together at WDW.
I got up early and dropped them off at the boat down the street which would take them to Logan. They arrived at the airport and were through security quickly, just to find out that their flight was now delayed! So, after spending hours at the airport watching 3 other full JetBlue planes leave for Orlando, their flight finally took off.
They were starving upon finally arriving. So, once freshening up in the room, they headed out for DTD in search of food. They ended up doing a dinner walk-in at Raglan Road (which I found pretty impressive of them this time of year) and they sent me one picture:

Bangers and Booze


They both got this and loved it. They had nothing but positive things to say about Raglan Road from their meal to the service and it is now on their list of must do's for the next trip.

Meanwhile...
Harry, Hermione and I spent the day at school. We then dropped the giant furball off at Grandma's where he would be spending his vacation.

We headed to the airport via the bus and after sitting in some horrendous holiday traffic we breezed through security with plenty of time to spare.
We got some drinks from Dunks, enjoyed our sandwiches that Grammie had packed us (thanks, Grammie!) and relaxed while waiting to board.

We arrived at MCO around 11:30 PM, but ME took forever! (We had to grab our own luggage, waited a LONG time for the bus to fill up and were the 4th drop off! ) We got to our room at CSR at 2:30 AM and crashed!

Coming up:
An early morning and Christmas Eve at Epcot

 

[gardengirl628]

Can't wait to read your reviews. We are booking a vacation for next Christmas tomorrow.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Can't wait to read your reviews. We are booking a vacation for next Christmas tomorrow.

Yay for booking new trips! It was such a magical time of year to travel.
Though the crowds were like this at times.

 

[vettegirl]

Count me in!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Count me in!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Joining in - love your furball!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Joining in - love your furball!

Welcome! And, thanks - he's a very loving boy!

 

[SmallWorld71]

After going to bed at 2:30 AM we were up for rope drop at Epcot at 9:00 AM.

First we spent a couple hours in future world.


Then we headed to France to watch Pere Noel.


After watching Pere Noel we were quite hungry, so we headed to Japan to eat at Katsura Grill.

We sat outside the restaurant. The atmosphere was very quiet and relaxing.

Arthur got the Tonosama Combo (Teriyaki Beef, Salmon, and Chicken).


I had the Shogun Combo (Teriyaki beef and Chicken).


Ron had the Spicy Tuna rolls.


Harry had the Tokyo Sushi Combo (4 pcs. California Rolls and 3 pcs. Nigiri).


Hermione had Teriyaki Chicken.


For dessert we ordered some strawbery ice cream, green tea ice cream, and green tea cheesecake (pictured above).

Our ratings:
Me: Entree - 7/10 (one of our best CS meals), Dessert 3/10 (none of them appealed to me), Atmosphere: 8/10 (the outside seating is a quiet Oasis when the weather is nice)
Harry: Entree- 8/10 (I love sushi), Dessert: 7/10 ( the strawberry ice cream tasted like you would expect), Atmosphere: 8/10 (same feelings as mother).

 

[elphie101]

I'm in, from one Eastern MA DISser to another!

 

[gardengirl628]

I'm from Central MA! Nothing to do in the middle of a blizzard then plan my next Disney trip and look at pictures of Disney food! Hope you are all are safe. I'm starting to get a little stir crazy!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I'm in, from one Eastern MA DISser to another!

I'm from Central MA! Nothing to do in the middle of a blizzard then plan my next Disney trip and look at pictures of Disney food! Hope you are all are safe. I'm starting to get a little stir crazy!

Welcome to you both! Lovely weather we're having, eh! We had some beautiful weather on our trip. I wanna go back to the sunshine state!

With school already canceled for Wednesday, as long as the power holds, Harry and I'll be able to get another update in tomorrow.

 

[michael's mom]

I'm here! Finally got my rugrats to sleep so I could start reading! Just looking at those Disney plates is getting me excited. Only Disney could wake me up before 6 a.m. (ahem...7).

Thankfully we still have power so I can join in!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I'm here! Finally got my rugrats to sleep so I could start reading! Just looking at those Disney plates is getting me excited. Only Disney could wake me up before 6 a.m. (ahem...7).

Thankfully we still have power so I can join in!

Welcome!
Here's some pixie dust to help you get the ADR's you want tomorrow!

 

[SmallWorld71]

After leaving Katsura Grill we headed into Mitsukoshi store to look around.

Hermione got a fan in the store; the cast members wrote her name in Japanese on it. At less than five dollars this is a great souvenir.


Harry and Arthur decided to try some shrimp chips.

Harry: The chips were okay, but not as good as hoped for. They were only $.99, so it is worth a try if you like shrimp and chips.
Me: Blech.

 

[SmallWorld71]

After exploring World Showcase some more we headed to our 3:45 reservation for Coral Reef. Each person got to choose a restaurant and this was Harry's pick. Harry, Hermione, and I had eaten there once with my mother in 2008 and enjoyed ourselves. After less than a 10 minute wait we were shown to our table on the second level. This was a nice spot because we could see the fish tank well and people were not walking by us to take pictures of it.

Drinks:
Arthur ordered a Schofferhofer (a grapefruit beer). He thought it was good.


Harry, Ron, and I all got lemonade with wild berry foam.


Hermione just got some apple juice.

They gave us some rolls with sea salt butter to put on them.


Appetizers:
Hermione ordered the Coral Reef Sriracha Shrimp. She asked for the sauce on the side.

She loved the shrimp.

Ron ordered the Tuna Tataki.

He said it was great and ate every bite.

Arthur ordered the Charbroiled Octopus.

He liked it and polished it off.

Harry ordered the Creamy Lobster Soup.

He said this was okay, but he would not get it again.

I ordered the Seasonal Soup which was a mushroom and barley soup.

This was just as expected and hit the spot. A safe choice if you like mushrooms.
Cont'd in next post.

 

[SmallWorld71]

For entrees:
Hermione ordered mac 'n' cheese from the kids' menu. They brought her an adult portion.

She didn't like it. I tasted it and it was nasty. It tasted just like Velveeta.
Our server (Mike) offered to bring her something new. He suggested some shrimp and fries since she had enjoyed her appetizer so much. She took him up on his offer and her next plate of food was a success.


Ron ordered the Seared Rainbow Trout.

He really liked it.

Arthur got Coral Reef's Sustainable Fish. He was a little surprised when they brought this out as he didn't realize it was a whole fish. He quickly got over his surprise and enjoyed his meal.


Harry and I both got the Seared Mahi Mahi. This was delicious.


Cont'd in next post.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Desserts:

Hermione ordered the Turtle Cheesecake. Such a cute presentation. This was her favorite dessert of the trip.


Arthur and Ron both got the Baileys and Jack Daniel's Mousse. They both polished it off.


Harry ordered the Coconut-Mango Chiffon Cake. He loved it; his favorite dessert of the trip as well.


I ordered the Chocolate Wave with raspberry gelato. This ties with another dessert later in the week for my favorite.


Ratings:
Me: App - 8/10 (soup was simple, but yummy), Entree 9/10 (Yum!), Dessert (10/10 ), Atmosphere - 8/10, Service 10/10 (Mike was fabulous!)

Harry: App- 5/10, Entree: 8/10, Dessert: 10/10, Atmosphere- 8/10, Service: 10/10

After our meal, we hurried over to see the Candlelight Processional. What an amazing show! After the show we were tired and headed for the bus stop. The Disney weather gods were on our side today. It had been threatening rain all day but had held off. The second (literally) that we got on the bus, the skies opened!

Up next:
Christmas at AK and a good old country hoe down.

 

[Scoobymoons]

Great reviews so far I can't believe you managed such an early get up after such little sleep

The Mitsukoshi store is dangerous!! I fear we will literally have to drag our DD out when we go in August - I love the fan though

Coral Reef is not a restaurant I've been to but it looks lovely - it's great being able to see so many different dishes

Looking forward to more!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Great reviews so far I can't believe you managed such an early get up after such little sleep

The Mitsukoshi store is dangerous!! I fear we will literally have to drag our DD out when we go in August - I love the fan though

Coral Reef is not a restaurant I've been to but it looks lovely - it's great being able to see so many different dishes

Looking forward to more!

I think it was first Disney day adrenaline that got us up.

We stepped into Mitsukoshi just to look around for a few minutes at Ron's request. I think we were in there for 45 minutes.

Coral Reef gets mixed reviews, but our meal was great and I'm so glad Harry chose it. Of course, there are so many great places at Epcot that it's hard to choose where to eat; if it was at one of the other parks I think it'd become a hard to get ADR.