Coming to you Live from Disney World!-Take 2 AUG/SEPT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

[jabead]

Next we received these updates from autumnpalm from the Grand Floridian.


"We then headed to the GF where we will spend the next 4 nights. Our room view is awesome! My mom has also joined us."






"When we met up with my mom she had hadn't eaten yet today, so we went to grab something quick from..."


















"My mom chose the Angus bacon cheeseburger with a side of chips."







Then a little later Gisele sent this update...


"Still relaxing poolside, we got a quick snack from the Beaches Pool Bar."












"We ordered the Beef and Brie bruschetta to split in order to tide us over to dinner!"


​

8 August Game Points Earned + 7 Bonus Points for signs, menus, and misc. pics

 

[jabead]

Next up is a two-part update from a new reporter who arrived at Disney World yesterday, Kimmy2Disney.





Kim said, "Yay!! We are here!! Just me, my mom, DH, and DD this time. After we arrived at the Yacht Club we took some lounge pics since it was pretty empty then. It was afternoon snack time and they had cookies, chips and dip, yogurt pretzels, Swedish fish, and trail mix. DH was offered a Sam Adams Oktoberfest which he graciously accepted."


































"When we got settled into our room we headed for the Magic Kingdom where we stopped at Sleepy Hollow and shared a sweet and spicy chicken waffle sandwich and a strawberry and whipped cream waffle--- both so delish!"






​

8 August Game Points Earned + 2 Bonus Points for misc. pics

 

[jabead]

We also heard from another new reporter yesterday, ChrisNY2, who arrived at Disneyland.


Chris said, "Hi! I arrived to Disneyland today. I was a little early for the time when I was supposed to pick up my park tickets from the runDisney travel agent, so I stopped by the Disneyland Hotel to have a drink at Trader Sam's. It was awesome there! I loved the surprise antics for certain drink orders!"




"I had the Shrunken Zombie Head. It was tasty and a good welcome drink."



Shrunken Zombie Head - Every time business shrinks for our favorite head salesman he celebrates with one of these supernatural potions.
-- Reserve and Aged Rums, Tropical Juices, Falernum, and Cinnamon.





"For dinner I visited Rancho del Zocalo, a quick service restaurant in Disneyland's Frontierland."





"I had the Red Chile Enchilada Platter, which was three cheese enchiladas and a choice of 2 of rice, beans, or sauteed vegetables."





"I really enjoyed this. After dinner, I headed to my hotel to rest up for the half marathon weekend!"​

4 August Game Points Earned + 2 Bonus Points for sign and misc. pic

 

[jabead]

Speaking of Disneyland, we also received some updates from Ellen (podsnel) yesterday (her trip there ended earlier this week, so she is now finishing her reports from home.) But sadly, it is now time for me to call it a night, so Ellen's great updates will have to wait until tomorrow.


Good night!

 

[kanadar]

Hey Barb! My dad, sister, my boyfriend, and I will be at Disney Oct 15-20th. Never done reporting (of any kind) but would like to try doing some live updates!

 

[jabead]

Just realized I forgot to do the trip announcements yesterday morning, so my apologies to those reporters.

Just a reminder that next up to the Disney Dining Plate are...​

emmebear



- and -



Crystal Brewer



- and -



skw44



emmebear and Emme arrived at Disney World last night for the Labor Day weekend (8/30 - 9/2) and they are again doing live updates for us!


Crystal Brewer will be arriving at Disney World today and will be there from 8/31 - 9/5 and she has volunteered to do live updates for us!



skw44 will also be arriving at Disney World today and will be there from 8/31 - 9/7 and has volunteered to do live updates for us!



HAVE A GREAT TRIP, emmebear, Crystal, and skw!!! ​

 

[jabead]

Hey Barb! My dad, sister, my boyfriend, and I will be at Disney Oct 15-20th. Never done reporting (of any kind) but would like to try doing some live updates!

Great, glad you decided to give it a try! Welcome to the October team!

 

[jabead]

Now let's finish up with Thursday's updates, starting with this one from Ellen's (podsnel) trip to Disneyland.


She said, "Hi- I'm home- as usual. It took sooooooo long to send these from vacation, so I am sending them from home. First, the VGC (Villas at Grand Californian) are INCREDIBLE and we loved our trip to DL!"


"Thursday (Aug. 22nd) we had lunch at the Plaza Inn."
















"Fried Chicken for all - although Pods and I split a plate and also split a salad to go along with it."









"It was enjoyed by all."




"Tyler got a slice of chocolate cake for dessert - it was awesome!"

​

3 August Game Points Earned + 3 Bonus Points for sign/menu and misc. pics

 

[vettegirl]

Love The Plaza at DL!

 

[vettegirl]

I am going Sept 24-29. Will be once again reporting to you the soft opening if the F&W Festival like last year. Can't wait.

 

[jabead]

And our last update from Thursday is a great one from Ellen's anniversary dinner from the Grand Californian's...


Napa Rose



Ellen said, "We did the Chef's Counter on Thursday night (Aug. 22nd). Unfortunately, Andrew Sutton was not in attendance. In the future, if I ever dined here again, I would make sure he was cooking. Not that anything was miscooked or bad, just that for that much $$$, I want perfection in service and timing, and at the chef's counter maybe something special, or off-menu, too. Really what we had was small portions of many of the menu items. I can't really say there was anything I said "WOW, never had THAT before". And that was why I was disappointed, I guess. I was looking for "WOW" and I got "that's nice"."



"I made it VERY clear what we liked when the sous-chef asked our preferences - that we ate EVERYTHING, were foodies, and that I really loved truffles if he could throw in some of those somewhere."


First some menu pics...

























"We ordered cocktails - I ordered the signature drink, and Pods got a grey goose."






"The olive bread was delicious!"
















"An amuse bouche came of shrimp, immediately followed by our 1st course."








Ellen's 1st Course - Tangerine Lobster and Tempura Fried Avocado with Local Cherry Tomatoes and Lime Tabiko Caviar




Pod's 1st Course - "Smiling Tiger Salad" with Tempura Fried Lobster and Asian Greens with Coconut-Lime Vinaigrette


"We were doing the wine pairing. SO. We had shrimp and water, followed by lobster and water. We got the attention of the sous chef who was filling in for the chef, and asked him if we could have our wine pairing please and oh yeah, please cancel those cocktails. Insert roll of eyes."

"Sorry. Once the ball got rolling, everything tasted very good, and we certainly left stuffed to the gills, but we were looking for a total experience, and although they were very apologetic, and very nice, we left kind of sad. I would go back, but if Andrew Sutton was not in the house, I would just order off the menu and save some $$$."





"Next I had the scallop - I have to say, this was the first time i have ever had vanilla in a savory dish where I have enjoyed it. Usually it tastes too much like cake batter or something. But this was delicious."



Pan-Roasted Diver Scallop with a Sauce of Lobster and Lemon Accented with Vanilla




"Pods had the fish with the octopus, also really good."



Lemon Verbena Grilled Fish of the Day with Tender Spanish Octopus


"See, now i feel like a ***** because I said the meal didn't wow me! It all was very good, it was just not WOW - do you know what I mean? I wish they would have given us something more adventurous, something less safe."



"Next was the duck breast for me, it was a nice portion, and the mushroom risotto for Pods."




Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast with Fennel-Honey Puree, Pistachios, Baby Portabellas and Local Cherries






Morel Mushroom Risotto Accented with Imported Truffle Butter


"LOL- you must think I am CRAZY!!! Octopus and duck breast not adventurous enough, - but I wanted the pigeon, or something I couldn't guess, like I had been reading so many other people had had when they were sitting in my seat. THAT was the problem. If I had not read so much, I would have just been happy with a very nice meal - the bar was set waaaay tooo high for me."




"Then we both were given the mushroom cappuccino, which was nice."






"Then I had the lamb porterhouse and Pods had filet the - maybe this was off menu, because the preparations for steak I see are not exactly this."


















"They also brought us truffle mac and cheese (because I had mentioned liking truffles)."





"For dessert, they offered us a champagne or a port (I was VERY happy to have a Veuve Cliquot), Pods had a port which was actually a tawny port."






"We chose our own desserts - I had Warm Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake - Baileys Coffee Ice Cream and Toasted Orange Essence. mostly because i wanted to try the ice cream!"





"Pods had Brooks Cherry Almond Pecan Cake - Mascarpone Brown Sugar Sour Cream Ice Cream and Port-Cherry Sauce - because one of the line cooks had told us this was the last day for it, and it was delicious- which it was!"





"Again - I am so sorry if it sounds like I am bad-mouthing this restaurant. I really don't mean to be, it was a beautiful meal. I just wish I had not gone in with the expectation of having something I had never tried before."


​

5 August Game Points Earned + 3 Bonus Points for menu pics

 

[jabead]

I am going Sept 24-29. Will be once again reporting to you the soft opening if the F&W Festival like last year. Can't wait.

Excellent...that's great news Lori!

 

[JintyB]

Just checking in to say I'm back in the UK We had an amazing time and I'm already enjoying looking back through photos at all the things we got up to

I have three weeks of this thread to catch up on, so am looking forward to reading it with a cup of tea

Thanks to Barb (and Rachel) for all you do to keep this thread going. It makes me feel closer to the magic

Jeanette

 

[smile4stamps]

Ellen.. I completely agree with reading too much and then it falling short! This is what happened with us at V&A's Chef Table.. I was just expecting some extras cause we were at the Chef's Table and they never materialized.. The meal was excellent.. I was just expecting something more.. Especially for those prices!

 

[jabead]

Now for our First Update of the Day from yesterday, sent to us by Chavaleh.


Polynesian Private Dining


She said, "Last night we ordered room service because Kona was a one hour wait and the sushi bar was also quite crowded. We got a volcano roll, shrimp tempura roll, lava roll, nigiri and plum wine."





























​

5 August Game Points Earned + 1 Bonus Points for First Update of the Day

 

[jabead]

Then for breakfast yesterday morning, Chavaleh & her DH dined at the Polynesian's...
















She said, "We ordered a press pot and I got the macadamia and pineapple pancakes and Thomas got the Tonga toast."





























"I was defeated at slightly over one pancake...






...but Thomas downed all of his."



​

2 August Game Point Earned + 4 Bonus Points for sign, menu, misc. pic, and "Clean Plate" Club for Thomas

 

[jabead]

Then Chavaleh's last update from yesterday was sent from a private cabana on the Polynesian beach.




Pina Coladas






Cabana Fruit Platter​

1 August Game Point Earned

 

[JintyB]

[/CENTER]
[/B]
We also ate at BOG that night (we even got seated about 15 mins before our ADR time) but we had excellent service and even thought that the food was surprising good considering how many reviews have been less than stellar. Granted it was not to the level of the Signatures but very good for a 1 TS restaurant. Poor service seems to be a common thread of most bad reviews.

We were also in the West Wing and I can understand that it would be irritating to have so many people coming by to take pics if you were seated near the rose. Luckily we were seated almost as far away from the rose as you can get.

Sorry, I'm just getting caught up with the thread as we are only just home. In essence this didn't live up to our (high) expectations and I agree with you that service was more of a factor than the food.

We've all talked about this meal since and whilst it didn't live up to our expectations in terms of service, we do have fantastic memories (and photos) of our friend who just couldn't get his camera out in time to catch the Beast when he popped in and waved to the room. As this happened three times it just kept getting funnier

Jeanette

 

[BlovesC]

Ahhhh, those sushi pictures from the Poly make me so hungry!

 

[Linda67]

So I have always wanted to stay at the Poly but know that you can get sushi and Lapu Lapu's on room service .... I REALLY want to stay at the Poly!