ChefMickey123
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- Jan 19, 2009
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ChefMickey123 is Cookin Up Another Trip Pre-DxDP Nov 13-21
The Facts, Jack
Casting Call:
Me, ChefMickey123-age 34, Male, Former Chef of 19 Years (Yes, Started Early), C.I.A. Bachelors Degree, Now Theological Student, Full-time.
GF: Government Computer Worker, age 27, beautiful, and lover of Disney, like me. Watched two Toy Story Movies as a date with me. Her idea, cool.
ILS: In-Laws, providing roundtrip transportation to/from the Indianapolis International Airport
Mom: My mother, age withheld-participating in one magical day of our trip
GPs: Moms Parents, Location, Leesburg FL, Will be joining us for lunch during our trip.
Dining Plan: 7 Night Deluxe, Two Cash Meals at Disney, Two Cash Meals at Universal Studios/IoA
The Hotel: Caribbean Beach Resort, one night a la carte stay, plus Seven Night Package ON THE 40% OFF PIN for the week for a disgusting amount of savings. Standard View-two double beds-(Yes, we are being Good, theological school, remember.
The Flight: Two Coveted together seats, pre-selected and paid, Non-Stop, Round Trip on airTran from IND to MCO. Could have gone cheaper, but might not have sat together.
Ground Transportation: Disneys Magical Express, Taxicabs to Universal and back.
And now, the Food:
You will notice a couple of new things in these reviews-first off, there are several meals on this trip which will be paid with cash due to the structure of my 40% Pin. With plane tickets already booked, we could not adjust the dates of the trip-We had previously booked an 8 night AAA package with Deluxe Dining. Our first night was not available on the 40% Pin plan. The cost for one night of hotel, plus one night of Park Tickets, plus one night of Dining Plan was astronomical and would have negated much of the PIN discount, as would have changing our plane tickets.
So, we are still getting a reduced AAA rate for our first night, arriving at MCO early in the day, checking luggage at our hotel and heading to Universal for one of our two days scheduled there. We will be paying cash for Narcoosees the first night, and probably ordering way less than we would on the dining plan.
The GF and I spent a lot of time deciding which restaurants to visit on our trip. Hence, there is doubling up of restaurants from last review because she wanted to try it, and some doubled up because I wanted to try it again.
We are currently still in the planning stages of whether or not to join up with relatives at Downtown Disney for lunch at Raglan Road, which would constitute another cash meal at Disney-as if we needed more food.
Please note, I completely refuse to ask for a substitution or a change on a menu item-if I cant have it, dont want it, or am allergic to it, I simply circumvent the entire dish and order something else rather than not have a dish the way the chef meant it to be. I realize this is not the case with everyone, and so does Disney-they are more than happy to accommodate guests health and religion based dietary requests, dislike of ( or unwillingness to try) sauces, and insistence that potatoes be served with every entrée on the planet. Its a free country and a small world after all. Do what you like with your food, but I wont be reviewing too many special orders.
My girlfriend is an adder, no- not the snake, as in, in addition to, she likes to do things like top a steak with shrimp, etc. She also detests salad, and probably wont be ordering much of it.
We both like dressing up for dinner, but recognize the right of others to be more casual on vacation.
I like big, heavy, expensive red wines, and Disney does a good job of providing a decent by the glass selection at the signature restaurants. I also like to drink a lot of water, and will often use my dining credit soft drink for a bottle of water or coffee with dessert.
My GF likes pink, sweet wine, Riesling, coconut rum cocktails, Smirnoff Malt Beverages, and Dr. Pepper.
Both of us are making sacrifices in our diet and are adding extra exercise over the next 4 months in preparation for our impending gluttony at the hands of an overgrown rodent in a chefs hat.
*Denotes a restaurant not tried or reviewed in my previous dining reviews. All 2nd time around restaurants will be re-reviewed in the interest of fairness to staff turnover and occasional bad nights.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Breakfast: Airport Food
Lunch: Whopper Bar at Universal Studios *
Dinner: Narcoosees, Grand Floridian, WDW *
Whopper bar was chosen for its uniqueness and relatively low cost, and happens to be at our location for the day. No, Burger King is not unique, but this presentation of its product line is.
Narcoosees, -I hear the view is gorgeous, they sell lobster, and service has a pretty decent rep. I also will not be returning to Citricos anytime soon, and GF was sold on views from Narcoosees.
Sunday November 14, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Tonys Town Square Tavern, Magic Kingdom* with Mom in tow.
Dinner: Flying Fish Café*, Boardwalk, WDW
Tonys is here based on a recommendation from my sister who simply said, mmmmmmmm, Tonys when I mentioned I was thinking of reserving a table there. My GF also loves Alfredo anything.
Flying Fish Café is here because it is a Signature I have not tried, and is close to Boardwalk for a night on the town.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Teppan Edo, Epcot*
Dinner: California Grill, Contemporary, WDW
Teppan Edo-Onion volcanoes and big sharp knives, nothing more to say.
California Grill-Had a wonderful, near tear-jerking experience here last time-fun atmosphere.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Coral Reef*, Epcot
Dinner: Spirit of Aloha, 8:00pm Show, Polynesian Resort, WDW
Coral Reef-GF wants to eat near the fish tank. I have never been here, reviews not good, and I want to see for myself.
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show-GF loves all things from Hawaii and wants to see it. I have it still fresh in my mind. Remember, you are there for the show, and not the food, which is about Boston Market quality roast chicken and ribs. Wine, Beer, and Tips are included May try a monkey head or hollow pineapple cocktail this time though.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: The Three Broomsticks*, Harry Potter Exhibition, Universal/IoA
Dinner: Yachtsman Steak House, Yacht Club Resort, WDW
Three Broomsticks-one of our Universal Days, dont know really what to expect here as the place does not officially Open until tomorrow
A late dinner at one of the nicest, most professionally staffed restaurants awaits us at Yachtsman Steakhouse upon our return from Universal. This is one restaurant at Disney that does everything the right way if I can explain it like that. A worthy repeater at my request from last trip.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Breakfast: Donalds Safari breakfast, Tusker House*, Animal Kingdom
Lunch: Snack Credits
Dinner: Biergarten, Epcot*
After Dark: MICKEYS VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY!*
Tusker House-I cannot, by my own admission, call myself a Mouseketeer without trying out a character meal at least once.
Biergarten, Epcot-Where else should a couple of good midwestern Lutheran kids go for dinner?
Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party!-I have never seen the World decked out for the holidays except on TV. My GF did when she flew to Orlando on Christmas Day last year. The decorations were mostly down by the time I got to Downtown Disney with my seminary choir in mid January of 2010.
I hear the Cookies and Hot Chocolate are good, and attraction lines are shorter.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: 50s Prime Time Café*, Disney Studios
Dinner: Hoop de Doo Musical Review*, Late Show, Fort Wilderness, WDW
I was 17 years old when I visited the 50s Prime Time Café. The menu is now shorter, and sadly, I hear the servers less playful. GF request-I hope to be surprised.
Hoop de Doo Musical Review-A Family tradition I have yet to experience. My Dads side of the family (he has 3 brothers and one sister) drove the old pop-up trailer from PA to Fort Wilderness once upon a time before I was born. It is rumored that one of my uncles who was very tough and teenagery at the time had the time of his life when one of the girls from the show sat in his lap and kissed him on the cheek. Due to the P.C. police, this kind of thing probably doesnt happen there anymore. GF is not looking forward to this one, but we are compromising. I am going to Aloha again, when I would really rather use two dining credits on Artists Point.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Breakfast: Kona Café*, Polynesian Resort, WDW
Lunch: Raglan Road*, Downtown Disney with GPs
Dinner: Jiko, Animal Kingdom Lodge, WDW
Kona Café: I will be ordering Tonga Toast with some sort of pork product, Lilikoi Juice, and Coffee. My fellow DISers make it sound soooo gooood.
Raglan Road-Pub fare outside of the parks my grandparents will actually eat.
Jiko: For the last night, hands down, the best food in Walt Disney World that I have ever tasted.
So Sad Sunday, November 21, 2010-06-16
Breakfast: Snack Credits, Burn up Snack Credits
Lunch: Cinderellas Royal Table*, Magic Kingdom
Dinner: Airport Food
Cinderellas Royal Table-GFs request. I ate here when I was 17 when it was King Stefans banquet hall. The food, back then was nothing really to write home about. Generally it was hot and cold sandwiches, Mickey Margarine, and Mouse Ear lemon slices on the water goblets while the servers wore these awful brown leotard serf uniforms-they looked way worse on the guys. I understand since the princesses took over, things are now better.
Happy Eating until next time!
The Facts, Jack
Casting Call:
Me, ChefMickey123-age 34, Male, Former Chef of 19 Years (Yes, Started Early), C.I.A. Bachelors Degree, Now Theological Student, Full-time.
GF: Government Computer Worker, age 27, beautiful, and lover of Disney, like me. Watched two Toy Story Movies as a date with me. Her idea, cool.
ILS: In-Laws, providing roundtrip transportation to/from the Indianapolis International Airport
Mom: My mother, age withheld-participating in one magical day of our trip
GPs: Moms Parents, Location, Leesburg FL, Will be joining us for lunch during our trip.
Dining Plan: 7 Night Deluxe, Two Cash Meals at Disney, Two Cash Meals at Universal Studios/IoA
The Hotel: Caribbean Beach Resort, one night a la carte stay, plus Seven Night Package ON THE 40% OFF PIN for the week for a disgusting amount of savings. Standard View-two double beds-(Yes, we are being Good, theological school, remember.
The Flight: Two Coveted together seats, pre-selected and paid, Non-Stop, Round Trip on airTran from IND to MCO. Could have gone cheaper, but might not have sat together.
Ground Transportation: Disneys Magical Express, Taxicabs to Universal and back.
And now, the Food:
You will notice a couple of new things in these reviews-first off, there are several meals on this trip which will be paid with cash due to the structure of my 40% Pin. With plane tickets already booked, we could not adjust the dates of the trip-We had previously booked an 8 night AAA package with Deluxe Dining. Our first night was not available on the 40% Pin plan. The cost for one night of hotel, plus one night of Park Tickets, plus one night of Dining Plan was astronomical and would have negated much of the PIN discount, as would have changing our plane tickets.
So, we are still getting a reduced AAA rate for our first night, arriving at MCO early in the day, checking luggage at our hotel and heading to Universal for one of our two days scheduled there. We will be paying cash for Narcoosees the first night, and probably ordering way less than we would on the dining plan.
The GF and I spent a lot of time deciding which restaurants to visit on our trip. Hence, there is doubling up of restaurants from last review because she wanted to try it, and some doubled up because I wanted to try it again.
We are currently still in the planning stages of whether or not to join up with relatives at Downtown Disney for lunch at Raglan Road, which would constitute another cash meal at Disney-as if we needed more food.
Please note, I completely refuse to ask for a substitution or a change on a menu item-if I cant have it, dont want it, or am allergic to it, I simply circumvent the entire dish and order something else rather than not have a dish the way the chef meant it to be. I realize this is not the case with everyone, and so does Disney-they are more than happy to accommodate guests health and religion based dietary requests, dislike of ( or unwillingness to try) sauces, and insistence that potatoes be served with every entrée on the planet. Its a free country and a small world after all. Do what you like with your food, but I wont be reviewing too many special orders.
My girlfriend is an adder, no- not the snake, as in, in addition to, she likes to do things like top a steak with shrimp, etc. She also detests salad, and probably wont be ordering much of it.
We both like dressing up for dinner, but recognize the right of others to be more casual on vacation.
I like big, heavy, expensive red wines, and Disney does a good job of providing a decent by the glass selection at the signature restaurants. I also like to drink a lot of water, and will often use my dining credit soft drink for a bottle of water or coffee with dessert.
My GF likes pink, sweet wine, Riesling, coconut rum cocktails, Smirnoff Malt Beverages, and Dr. Pepper.
Both of us are making sacrifices in our diet and are adding extra exercise over the next 4 months in preparation for our impending gluttony at the hands of an overgrown rodent in a chefs hat.
*Denotes a restaurant not tried or reviewed in my previous dining reviews. All 2nd time around restaurants will be re-reviewed in the interest of fairness to staff turnover and occasional bad nights.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Breakfast: Airport Food
Lunch: Whopper Bar at Universal Studios *
Dinner: Narcoosees, Grand Floridian, WDW *
Whopper bar was chosen for its uniqueness and relatively low cost, and happens to be at our location for the day. No, Burger King is not unique, but this presentation of its product line is.
Narcoosees, -I hear the view is gorgeous, they sell lobster, and service has a pretty decent rep. I also will not be returning to Citricos anytime soon, and GF was sold on views from Narcoosees.
Sunday November 14, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Tonys Town Square Tavern, Magic Kingdom* with Mom in tow.
Dinner: Flying Fish Café*, Boardwalk, WDW
Tonys is here based on a recommendation from my sister who simply said, mmmmmmmm, Tonys when I mentioned I was thinking of reserving a table there. My GF also loves Alfredo anything.
Flying Fish Café is here because it is a Signature I have not tried, and is close to Boardwalk for a night on the town.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Teppan Edo, Epcot*
Dinner: California Grill, Contemporary, WDW
Teppan Edo-Onion volcanoes and big sharp knives, nothing more to say.
California Grill-Had a wonderful, near tear-jerking experience here last time-fun atmosphere.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: Coral Reef*, Epcot
Dinner: Spirit of Aloha, 8:00pm Show, Polynesian Resort, WDW
Coral Reef-GF wants to eat near the fish tank. I have never been here, reviews not good, and I want to see for myself.
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show-GF loves all things from Hawaii and wants to see it. I have it still fresh in my mind. Remember, you are there for the show, and not the food, which is about Boston Market quality roast chicken and ribs. Wine, Beer, and Tips are included May try a monkey head or hollow pineapple cocktail this time though.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: The Three Broomsticks*, Harry Potter Exhibition, Universal/IoA
Dinner: Yachtsman Steak House, Yacht Club Resort, WDW
Three Broomsticks-one of our Universal Days, dont know really what to expect here as the place does not officially Open until tomorrow
A late dinner at one of the nicest, most professionally staffed restaurants awaits us at Yachtsman Steakhouse upon our return from Universal. This is one restaurant at Disney that does everything the right way if I can explain it like that. A worthy repeater at my request from last trip.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Breakfast: Donalds Safari breakfast, Tusker House*, Animal Kingdom
Lunch: Snack Credits
Dinner: Biergarten, Epcot*
After Dark: MICKEYS VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY!*
Tusker House-I cannot, by my own admission, call myself a Mouseketeer without trying out a character meal at least once.
Biergarten, Epcot-Where else should a couple of good midwestern Lutheran kids go for dinner?
Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party!-I have never seen the World decked out for the holidays except on TV. My GF did when she flew to Orlando on Christmas Day last year. The decorations were mostly down by the time I got to Downtown Disney with my seminary choir in mid January of 2010.
I hear the Cookies and Hot Chocolate are good, and attraction lines are shorter.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Breakfast: Snack Credits
Lunch: 50s Prime Time Café*, Disney Studios
Dinner: Hoop de Doo Musical Review*, Late Show, Fort Wilderness, WDW
I was 17 years old when I visited the 50s Prime Time Café. The menu is now shorter, and sadly, I hear the servers less playful. GF request-I hope to be surprised.
Hoop de Doo Musical Review-A Family tradition I have yet to experience. My Dads side of the family (he has 3 brothers and one sister) drove the old pop-up trailer from PA to Fort Wilderness once upon a time before I was born. It is rumored that one of my uncles who was very tough and teenagery at the time had the time of his life when one of the girls from the show sat in his lap and kissed him on the cheek. Due to the P.C. police, this kind of thing probably doesnt happen there anymore. GF is not looking forward to this one, but we are compromising. I am going to Aloha again, when I would really rather use two dining credits on Artists Point.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Breakfast: Kona Café*, Polynesian Resort, WDW
Lunch: Raglan Road*, Downtown Disney with GPs
Dinner: Jiko, Animal Kingdom Lodge, WDW
Kona Café: I will be ordering Tonga Toast with some sort of pork product, Lilikoi Juice, and Coffee. My fellow DISers make it sound soooo gooood.
Raglan Road-Pub fare outside of the parks my grandparents will actually eat.
Jiko: For the last night, hands down, the best food in Walt Disney World that I have ever tasted.
So Sad Sunday, November 21, 2010-06-16
Breakfast: Snack Credits, Burn up Snack Credits
Lunch: Cinderellas Royal Table*, Magic Kingdom
Dinner: Airport Food
Cinderellas Royal Table-GFs request. I ate here when I was 17 when it was King Stefans banquet hall. The food, back then was nothing really to write home about. Generally it was hot and cold sandwiches, Mickey Margarine, and Mouse Ear lemon slices on the water goblets while the servers wore these awful brown leotard serf uniforms-they looked way worse on the guys. I understand since the princesses took over, things are now better.
Happy Eating until next time!
