MickeyMonstersMom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,429
I had the chance to take a solo trip April 4-6, and when friends worried about my being able to enjoy myself alone, I just said I'd have fun "eating my way through the World." Well, I didn't manage to eat quite that much, but it sure felt like it! Though it will make for a very long post, I'll just describe all my experiences in the one rather than making multiple threads. Here goes:
Sunday
Lunch: Intermission Food Court, ASMu
I wanted to try the Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian, but it was booked up, so in the interest of haste I grabbed a turkey sub and can of tomato juice from the refrigerator/cooler at the food court. This was the worst meal I've ever had at WDW (and one of the worst of my life as well). The meager sprinkling of lettuce was tan and slimy, and both the sub and juice can smelled like seafood (which I can't stand). I know, I should have taken it back, but I really did not want to start my Disney vacation by making a complaint. Cost: $7.79. Service: n/a; Food: F
Dinner: Ohana, Polynesian Resort
I'd made a PS for 7:20 and DU had made another for me for 6:30. However, after getting up at 3 am and travelling to Florida that day, I was utterly exhausted by 4:30 and crawled to the podium as soon as a CM came to open up. After I explained my plight, James reassured me that they could get me right in - despite the very long line. I had just ordered a Mai Tai ($9 with tip) from the lounge when my pager buzzed - precisely at 5:00. Most people I encountered at 'Ohana seemed amazed that I was dining alone; my server, Bernie recovered very well, though, and was reasonably attentive throughout the meal. She had two large parties that took much of her attention, though. Just a side note: one of the groups had some people with very specific requests - it was very interesting to see how responsive WDW really is to individual needs and tastes. One person needed Kosher food; another could not have shrimp that touched any other meat; one was a child who wanted PB&J. Bernie tried to reassure the people that their needs would be met, and eventually brought one of the chefs out to speak to the people personally. He was very attentive, gracious, and professional - impressive! Anyway, the meal was as excellent as I expected. I ate most of the salad and all of the green beans
, along with more of the chicken wings than was prudent. As a result, I was unable to do justice to the skewer service. I remember the tasty peanut sauce from my last visit, but the savory one (cilantro?) seemed new to me. I loved dipping the beef in that one! I was too full to order dessert 
, but Bernie convinced me to let her bring out the pineapple and caramel - and then I polished it off! Yikes! I thought I'd have to roll myself out to the monorail, but it was completely worth it! Cost: $33 including tip. Service: A-; Food: A+
Monday
Breakfast: ASMu Food Court
I ordered DD"s favorite, the bacon, egg, and cheese croissant, along with a cup of coffee. Interestingly, the refillable mugs are EXACTLY the same as the ones we bought 2 years ago. Hmmm... I regret leaving mine at home now. Anyway, the food court again performed below expectations. The CM who made the sandwich was surly, and plopped a HUGE scoop of eggs on the plate, tossing a cold slice of American cheese on top. The croissant was sliced badly, so it would not hold the filling. I gave up halfway through and headed out. Cost: $7.79. Service: D; Food: D
Lunch #1: Kringla Bakeri og Kafe, Norway Pavilion, Epcot
I simply HAD to have rice cream, and also ordered an old favorite, the open-faced turkey sandwich and a bottle of water. There were four young CM's in there, all of whom were very friendly and upbeat. The turkey was a lot saltier than I'd remembered, so I took a lot of it off the sandwich, but the combination of bread, butter, turkey, and pickle were still refreshing. The rice cream was excellent, of course. Cost: $9.83. Service: A; Food: B+
Lunch #2: Matsu No Ma Lounge, Japan Pavilion, Epcot
I had already decided to have my lunch at Norway and then check out the lounge and try plum wine later, but then could not resist trying more once I got to Japan! My server, Naomi, was wonderfully sweet and demure in the Japanese way. Along with the wine, I ordered Yasai (tempura vegetables) and rice. I did not know that the meal included Sumashi soup, a broth made from fish. Naomi brought it first, and enthusiastrically encouraged me to go ahead and drink right from the bowl. I am NOT a fan of seafood and the soup had a strong aroma, but I did not want to offend Naomi, so I held my breath and sipped most of it down. The soup was obviously excellent quality, but not to my taste - I am glad I tried it, though. The plum wine was surprisingly syrupy sweet, and a great foil for the soup.
Later, Naomi set a packet of chopsticks on the table and I wondered what I'd gotten myself into! Refusing to admit I was an ignorant rural American who had held chopsticks only once before (and poorly), I followed the directions on the wrapper very carefully - and by the end of the meal was using them with some degree of confidence. I'm proud to say I did not drop a morsel! The vegetables were very good, although they would have been nothing special without the dipping sauce served with them. The lounge was very quiet and relaxing, even with several other parties present. My children aren't old enough to appreciate Matsu No Ma, but I'll happily bring them back in a couple of years. Cost: $18 including tip. Service: A; Food: B+
Dinner: Le Cellier, Canada Pavilion, Epcot
As I arrived to check in at 6:40 for a 7:00 PS, I observed the man ahead of me trying to walk in without a PS; the CM told him that it would likely mean a 20-minute wait, and the man said it would be acceptable. Then when I checked in, the same CM said, "You do realize that you have a 20-minute wait from the time of your PS, not from the time you check in." What?! I asked her if I should even have made a PS - if the wait time was 20 minutes for a walk-up, then why make me wait 40 minutes? She just looked back at me (confused? I know I was), and after a moment said she'd get me in as soon as she could. I was buzzed at 6:55 - whether as a walk-up or not, I'm not sure!! My server, Jennifer, was great. She told me a little about her home province, and explained that my table sat on the border between two others. Of all the CM's I'd encountered so far, Jennifer was the most comfortable with my solo status and showed a great combination of attentiveness and "giving me space." The pretzel bread was fantastic, and made the cheese soup even better. On its own the soup is good, but becomes amazing when used as a dip for the pretzel bread. The 7 Oz. filet mignon was exactly Medium as ordered, and wonderfully tender. The cream cheese potatoes should have been wonderful as well, but I think all my eating was starting to catch up with me at that point, and the meal felt very heavy. I wanted dessert, but didn't dare order any and drank only a Coke - which Jennifer replenished every time it fell below 1/4 full. Cost: $40 including tip. Service: A; Food: A
(Arrgh - would I be able to fit in breakfast?? Of course I could!)
Tuesday
Breakfast: Boatwright's, Port Orleans Riverside Resort
I'd stayed at "Dixie Landings" exactly eleven years ago this week, so it felt right to revisit some great memories of "breakfasts past." I had an 8:00 PS but when I arrived at 7:40 the three women at the register made a big deal about getting me right inside and settled, much as a big family might do for one of its own coming home to eat. Karen was the best server I had the entire trip, just exuding a warm, motherly Southern hospitality. I ordered coffee, strawberries and cream (an old favorite - and one of the few items left from the original menu, Karen told me), and sweet potato pancakes for something new. The strawberries, cream, and brown sugar were even better than I remembered
. The pancakes were huge and mushy in the middle as they would be with sweet potatoes. They tasted fabulous, especially with the pecan butter on top, but I could barely eat one. Karen told me to just ask for one in the future - the kitchen will gladly do it, though it is not mentioned on the menu (she said, "Hey, if you can't finish it and you can't take it with you, the least we can do is save you some money - it's not like you aren't spending enough already" 
). Interestingly, almost all of the other diners were senior citizens - usually a sign of good comfort food, and it makes sense there. Cost: I can't find the receipt! 
Service: A+, Food: A
Overall Impressions:
Service was consistently great - friendly and fast. I never once felt like the food or check were slow in coming; I also never felt like people were pushing me along, either. I am concerned about the food quality at ASMu - it seems to have slipped a lot just since my 2002 visit, which is upsetting since my family loves the resort and the food court itself. Hopefully it was just an exception. I must admit I'm a little leery now, and feel better about paying more to stay at Coronado Springs in June. I can't wait to try the Pepper Market!
Speaking of future trips, if it counts, Akershus, Marrakesh, and Boma all smelled amazing! I can't wait to go back (heck, I wish I were still there!) and try some of those - and revisit some old favorites as well.
Whoof, this is long! If you made it to this point and have any questions, let me know!
Sunday
Lunch: Intermission Food Court, ASMu
I wanted to try the Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian, but it was booked up, so in the interest of haste I grabbed a turkey sub and can of tomato juice from the refrigerator/cooler at the food court. This was the worst meal I've ever had at WDW (and one of the worst of my life as well). The meager sprinkling of lettuce was tan and slimy, and both the sub and juice can smelled like seafood (which I can't stand). I know, I should have taken it back, but I really did not want to start my Disney vacation by making a complaint. Cost: $7.79. Service: n/a; Food: F
Dinner: Ohana, Polynesian Resort
I'd made a PS for 7:20 and DU had made another for me for 6:30. However, after getting up at 3 am and travelling to Florida that day, I was utterly exhausted by 4:30 and crawled to the podium as soon as a CM came to open up. After I explained my plight, James reassured me that they could get me right in - despite the very long line. I had just ordered a Mai Tai ($9 with tip) from the lounge when my pager buzzed - precisely at 5:00. Most people I encountered at 'Ohana seemed amazed that I was dining alone; my server, Bernie recovered very well, though, and was reasonably attentive throughout the meal. She had two large parties that took much of her attention, though. Just a side note: one of the groups had some people with very specific requests - it was very interesting to see how responsive WDW really is to individual needs and tastes. One person needed Kosher food; another could not have shrimp that touched any other meat; one was a child who wanted PB&J. Bernie tried to reassure the people that their needs would be met, and eventually brought one of the chefs out to speak to the people personally. He was very attentive, gracious, and professional - impressive! Anyway, the meal was as excellent as I expected. I ate most of the salad and all of the green beans
, along with more of the chicken wings than was prudent. As a result, I was unable to do justice to the skewer service. I remember the tasty peanut sauce from my last visit, but the savory one (cilantro?) seemed new to me. I loved dipping the beef in that one! I was too full to order dessert , but Bernie convinced me to let her bring out the pineapple and caramel - and then I polished it off! Yikes! I thought I'd have to roll myself out to the monorail, but it was completely worth it! Cost: $33 including tip. Service: A-; Food: A+Monday
Breakfast: ASMu Food Court
I ordered DD"s favorite, the bacon, egg, and cheese croissant, along with a cup of coffee. Interestingly, the refillable mugs are EXACTLY the same as the ones we bought 2 years ago. Hmmm... I regret leaving mine at home now. Anyway, the food court again performed below expectations. The CM who made the sandwich was surly, and plopped a HUGE scoop of eggs on the plate, tossing a cold slice of American cheese on top. The croissant was sliced badly, so it would not hold the filling. I gave up halfway through and headed out. Cost: $7.79. Service: D; Food: D
Lunch #1: Kringla Bakeri og Kafe, Norway Pavilion, Epcot
I simply HAD to have rice cream, and also ordered an old favorite, the open-faced turkey sandwich and a bottle of water. There were four young CM's in there, all of whom were very friendly and upbeat. The turkey was a lot saltier than I'd remembered, so I took a lot of it off the sandwich, but the combination of bread, butter, turkey, and pickle were still refreshing. The rice cream was excellent, of course. Cost: $9.83. Service: A; Food: B+
Lunch #2: Matsu No Ma Lounge, Japan Pavilion, Epcot
I had already decided to have my lunch at Norway and then check out the lounge and try plum wine later, but then could not resist trying more once I got to Japan! My server, Naomi, was wonderfully sweet and demure in the Japanese way. Along with the wine, I ordered Yasai (tempura vegetables) and rice. I did not know that the meal included Sumashi soup, a broth made from fish. Naomi brought it first, and enthusiastrically encouraged me to go ahead and drink right from the bowl. I am NOT a fan of seafood and the soup had a strong aroma, but I did not want to offend Naomi, so I held my breath and sipped most of it down. The soup was obviously excellent quality, but not to my taste - I am glad I tried it, though. The plum wine was surprisingly syrupy sweet, and a great foil for the soup.
Later, Naomi set a packet of chopsticks on the table and I wondered what I'd gotten myself into! Refusing to admit I was an ignorant rural American who had held chopsticks only once before (and poorly), I followed the directions on the wrapper very carefully - and by the end of the meal was using them with some degree of confidence. I'm proud to say I did not drop a morsel! The vegetables were very good, although they would have been nothing special without the dipping sauce served with them. The lounge was very quiet and relaxing, even with several other parties present. My children aren't old enough to appreciate Matsu No Ma, but I'll happily bring them back in a couple of years. Cost: $18 including tip. Service: A; Food: B+Dinner: Le Cellier, Canada Pavilion, Epcot
As I arrived to check in at 6:40 for a 7:00 PS, I observed the man ahead of me trying to walk in without a PS; the CM told him that it would likely mean a 20-minute wait, and the man said it would be acceptable. Then when I checked in, the same CM said, "You do realize that you have a 20-minute wait from the time of your PS, not from the time you check in." What?! I asked her if I should even have made a PS - if the wait time was 20 minutes for a walk-up, then why make me wait 40 minutes? She just looked back at me (confused? I know I was), and after a moment said she'd get me in as soon as she could. I was buzzed at 6:55 - whether as a walk-up or not, I'm not sure!! My server, Jennifer, was great. She told me a little about her home province, and explained that my table sat on the border between two others. Of all the CM's I'd encountered so far, Jennifer was the most comfortable with my solo status and showed a great combination of attentiveness and "giving me space." The pretzel bread was fantastic, and made the cheese soup even better. On its own the soup is good, but becomes amazing when used as a dip for the pretzel bread. The 7 Oz. filet mignon was exactly Medium as ordered, and wonderfully tender. The cream cheese potatoes should have been wonderful as well, but I think all my eating was starting to catch up with me at that point, and the meal felt very heavy. I wanted dessert, but didn't dare order any and drank only a Coke - which Jennifer replenished every time it fell below 1/4 full. Cost: $40 including tip. Service: A; Food: A
(Arrgh - would I be able to fit in breakfast?? Of course I could!)
Tuesday
Breakfast: Boatwright's, Port Orleans Riverside Resort
I'd stayed at "Dixie Landings" exactly eleven years ago this week, so it felt right to revisit some great memories of "breakfasts past." I had an 8:00 PS but when I arrived at 7:40 the three women at the register made a big deal about getting me right inside and settled, much as a big family might do for one of its own coming home to eat. Karen was the best server I had the entire trip, just exuding a warm, motherly Southern hospitality. I ordered coffee, strawberries and cream (an old favorite - and one of the few items left from the original menu, Karen told me), and sweet potato pancakes for something new. The strawberries, cream, and brown sugar were even better than I remembered
. The pancakes were huge and mushy in the middle as they would be with sweet potatoes. They tasted fabulous, especially with the pecan butter on top, but I could barely eat one. Karen told me to just ask for one in the future - the kitchen will gladly do it, though it is not mentioned on the menu (she said, "Hey, if you can't finish it and you can't take it with you, the least we can do is save you some money - it's not like you aren't spending enough already" ). Interestingly, almost all of the other diners were senior citizens - usually a sign of good comfort food, and it makes sense there. Cost: I can't find the receipt! Service: A+, Food: AOverall Impressions:
Service was consistently great - friendly and fast. I never once felt like the food or check were slow in coming; I also never felt like people were pushing me along, either. I am concerned about the food quality at ASMu - it seems to have slipped a lot just since my 2002 visit, which is upsetting since my family loves the resort and the food court itself. Hopefully it was just an exception. I must admit I'm a little leery now, and feel better about paying more to stay at Coronado Springs in June. I can't wait to try the Pepper Market!
Speaking of future trips, if it counts, Akershus, Marrakesh, and Boma all smelled amazing! I can't wait to go back (heck, I wish I were still there!) and try some of those - and revisit some old favorites as well.
Whoof, this is long! If you made it to this point and have any questions, let me know!
We had breakfast at Boatwright's on our first trip together. And we always make it a point to get back there for breakfast on each of our returning trips. My favorite is the fresh fruit with a chantilly cream sauce. I don't believe that the sauce is on the menu anymore. But we always ask for it, and usually get some. Then I get Henri's Hotcakes. They are the BEST buttermilk pancakes I have ever eaten. And yes, I agree, one pancake is enough! They are huge! 
