Doing 12 days of Disney dining with gc & TiW. Updated 4/24 Pop and Rainforest Cafe

[pharmjenn]

I am enjoying your food reports very much. I am considering an AP and TiW, so seeing your savings grow is helpful. I wondered from the beginning why you were telling the servers about the TiW card, whether that was required. Was it simply to speed things up at the end of the meal with the bill?

It sucks that you got poor service at so many places after telling them. Hope to hear it gets better as your trip progresses.

 

[vettegirl]

I am glad they were able to get you a different drink, the lapu lapu is very very strong and if you aren't a drinker it will knock you off your feet. At least when I have had one in the past it is soooo strong!

 

[akayek31]

I am enjoying your food reports very much. I am considering an AP and TiW, so seeing your savings grow is helpful. I wondered from the beginning why you were telling the servers about the TiW card, whether that was required. Was it simply to speed things up at the end of the meal with the bill?

It sucks that you got poor service at so many places after telling them. Hope to hear it gets better as your trip progresses.

Getting the TiW is so worth it. Plus with the AP I went to the parks 11 days and hopped everyday and that made it worth it for me. I thought I read somewhere that I was supposed to tell the server at the beginning of the meal that I had the discount. When I didn't say anything at Ohana's I was worried they would say they couldn't take it since I didn't tell them at the beginning. But no server had an issue taking the card at the end of the meal.

I am glad they were able to get you a different drink, the lapu lapu is very very strong and if you aren't a drinker it will knock you off your feet. At least when I have had one in the past it is soooo strong!

Yep it was very strong. I am surprised that I drank as much as I did. I know next time to just stick to the drinks I know I will like.

 

[iloveeeyore]

So sorry to read about your bad experience at CP. Unacceptable! We are trying breakfast there to get into the park early and to see Eeyore (haven't been able to find him in the parks lately). Hope he is nice to us.

 

[inky dinky doo]

I woke up at 9 and decided to go to DTD for dinner. I had bought $50 AMC gift cards to use at movie and dine for DS and I. DS was still at the race so I went to see the Vow. With my AP I saved $3 getting in the movie. Usually it was $14. I arrived during the previews. I did not get any pictures because I was late and didn't want to be rude. I ordered a Diet Coke which was 4.50 and chicken fingers with fries for 11.99. Since it was late the server asked if I wanted popcorn since they would close in a hour. My crazy self ordered a bag of $7.75 popcorn. The popcorn sat on the table at the resort until we checked out and was thrown away The chicken fingers were average. I wish I had ordered something else. I will next time. My server popped up and asked if I wanted some cheesecake. Well since you said my fave dessert sure! So in the end the meal with tip and entrance to the theater was $50. I would not have ordered so much if my DS was there but wanted to use up the card. It will be an experience we will do again.

I would love to give this a try, when we go in December, but I'd hate to have my heart set on it and then not be able to get in.

Can you tell me how the AMC dine-in theatre works? Is it available in every theatre, for every movie or is it more limited than that? Are reservations required? I wonder what the odds are of getting in, if you just show up. Also, what's the lighting like? Is it sort of like eating at the Sci Fi? I checked the menu out at allears and it looks pretty interesting -- much more extensive than I expected.

 

[pharmjenn]

I would love to give this a try, when we go in December, but I'd hate to have my heart set on it and then not be able to get in.

Can you tell me how the AMC dine-in theatre works? Is it available in every theatre, for every movie or is it more limited than that? Are reservations required? I wonder what the odds are of getting in, if you just show up. Also, what's the lighting like? Is it sort of like eating at the Sci Fi? I checked the menu out at allears and it looks pretty interesting -- much more extensive than I expected.

Doesn't the dine-in sound pretty neat? Disney food blog just did a review a couple days ago, and it sounds interesting. One of our local theatres converted to a dine-in, and gets the food from the restaurant next door. It was pretty dark to eat, but a fun experience.

 

[inky dinky doo]

The Disney Food Blog!!! Why didn't I think of that? I usually catch them on Facebook, but somehow I missed that one. I'll have to go check out their review. Thanks, Pharmjenn!

 

[akayek31]

So sorry to read about your bad experience at CP. Unacceptable! We are trying breakfast there to get into the park early and to see Eeyore (haven't been able to find him in the parks lately). Hope he is nice to us.

I think it was unacceptable also! I had heard so many good reviews about Crystal Palace and did not have a good one. I think if the server is still trying to get their tip they will be awesome to you. If not get the manager before they leave with a tip they didn't deserve. Hope you have fun.

I would love to give this a try, when we go in December, but I'd hate to have my heart set on it and then not be able to get in.

Can you tell me how the AMC dine-in theatre works? Is it available in every theatre, for every movie or is it more limited than that? Are reservations required? I wonder what the odds are of getting in, if you just show up. Also, what's the lighting like? Is it sort of like eating at the Sci Fi? I checked the menu out at allears and it looks pretty interesting -- much more extensive than I expected.

It is two parts of the theater. The food and dine cost $14 unless you have an AP then it is $11. The regular movie theater is $11. There is a server that comes around every now and then and if you push the button in front of you. It is dark and has little tables in front of the usual theater chairs. I just showed up at 10:30 or so to get a seat and there was about 6 people there. I plan on doing it again next time we go. You should enjoy it if you like Sci-Fi.

Doesn't the dine-in sound pretty neat? Disney food blog just did a review a couple days ago, and it sounds interesting. One of our local theatres converted to a dine-in, and gets the food from the restaurant next door. It was pretty dark to eat, but a fun experience.

There is one in Atlanta also. I think it is the coolest way to go to the movie. I went to see "The Lucky One" last night and it was the first movie I have seen since the food and dine and I missed the experience. I am just not driving an hour to see a movie just to eat lol.

The Disney Food Blog!!! Why didn't I think of that? I usually catch them on Facebook, but somehow I missed that one. I'll have to go check out their review. Thanks, Pharmjenn!

So how do I find the Disney Food Blog? Do I Google or search on Facebook?

 

[hedgehog2owl]

Gosh reading this makes me so sad for you! They didn't do anything special for you drink at WCC, mean Eeyore (Piglet was the mean one when we went there), and them just letting you sit there when you needed drink refills

Glad to hear O'hana was good, looking forward to hearing more

 

[pharmjenn]

Here is the review of the Dine in Theatre from the food blog. I just started subscribing to their daily emails. I hope it is okay to post the link.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/03/20/guest-review-downtown-disneys-amc-fork-and-screen-theater/

 

[akayek31]

Gosh reading this makes me so sad for you! They didn't do anything special for you drink at WCC, mean Eeyore (Piglet was the mean one when we went there), and them just letting you sit there when you needed drink refills

Glad to hear O'hana was good, looking forward to hearing more

I am not sure what they could have done at WCC to come back from the hair. I just know that I don't plan on eating there again. I don't think I could have handled anything else going wrong at CP. If Piglet was rude then I would have lost it by Eeyore. Ohana is my favorite must do for every trip now

Here is the review of the Dine in Theatre from the food blog. I just started subscribing to their daily emails. I hope it is okay to post the link.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/03/20/guest-review-downtown-disneys-amc-fork-and-screen-theater/

Thanks! I subscribed and bookmarked the page

 

[akayek31]

So today was March 1. We we supposed to have the day off and sleep all day. That changed when we found out DS still had 6 tickets and 3 days left scheduled in the park. At about 4:00 we went to get snacks from Everything Pop since we would be eating at Rainforest Cafe at 8:00. I got Chili cheese fries and chocolate covered strawberries. DS got a Tokyo sampler of sushi and worms and dirt. The chili cheese fries were better than the ones I get at fast food resturants at home. DS ate all the sushi so i am sure he liked it. Our desserts went back to the room for later that night. I was checking the picture and noticed there is a cheesecake on the tray. It is not on the receipt I have. So I guess that is another $3.59 of savings that shouldn't have been. So I won't be putting it in the total saved so far.

After going to a park (can't remember which one since it was not a scheduled park and the lunch was the only picture I took that day) we headed to Rainforest Cafe'. What I don't like about the check in process was there are two different podiums. I got in the first line and waited and by the time I got up there we were told we had to check in at the other one and there was a line there too. So when we checked in it was 15 minutes past our ADR. Then when we were seated, it was so crowded around the table. DS was texting his GF and was in a bad mood. I had a $25 gift card from taking surveys and reading emails on my points. DS said he wasn't hungry and so I decided to get the Flying Dragon Pepperoni Pizza. It was huge and DS decided to eat half of it. I believe the reason I didn't get a picture was because the camera battery died. Even though we had a cramped space the service was good and so was the pizza.

Total saved by TiW at Pop $4.05
Total saved by TiW so far $76.47

Up next: Le Cellier, the caramel store, I find my Fiesta Margarita , Lotus Blossom(me), and Electric Umbrella(DS).

 

[princesspooh323]

The best thing about the food that I ate here were the mashed potatoes. I went back several times for more of them. Well with all the time I had to sit there and wait for the characters and the elusive Mike. There was almost a 45 minute time span in between the pictures of Piglet and Tigger. The restaurant was half empty so I am not sure why this was. The kicker of the entire service experience with Mike was that DS had an empty glass of soda for over 30 minutes and I finally got his attention and asked for refills and he said "what both of you?" I should have gotten the manager right then over his service. I know it know but Disney is my happy place so I just let it go for then.



I am sorry to hear about the terrible service you had at CP. We have never used TiW, but we have had the same experience both times. We go August, so we are thirsty, and it always takes forever for us to get drinks and refills. I like the food, and yes those mashed potatoes are wonderful, but we are skipping it this year just because of the horrible service.

 

[akayek31]

The best thing about the food that I ate here were the mashed potatoes. I went back several times for more of them. Well with all the time I had to sit there and wait for the characters and the elusive Mike. There was almost a 45 minute time span in between the pictures of Piglet and Tigger. The restaurant was half empty so I am not sure why this was. The kicker of the entire service experience with Mike was that DS had an empty glass of soda for over 30 minutes and I finally got his attention and asked for refills and he said "what both of you?" I should have gotten the manager right then over his service. I know it know but Disney is my happy place so I just let it go for then.



I am sorry to hear about the terrible service you had at CP. We have never used TiW, but we have had the same experience both times. We go August, so we are thirsty, and it always takes forever for us to get drinks and refills. I like the food, and yes those mashed potatoes are wonderful, but we are skipping it this year just because of the horrible service.

I was not sure if it was the TiW discount or just the service itself. I do know that I will never eat at CP again. I won't waste money on horrible service. This is why I go back to Ohanas since they have great food and service. Thanks for reading

 

[akayek31]

So I stepped away for a while from the review for personal reasons (and my new addiction to Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. 6 seasons in 2 weeks). I still have pictures and receipts and I think 4 days to go so I will post again tonight or on my day off tomorrow.

 

[BlovesC]

We use TiW and we've never had terrible service at any Disney restaurant, amazingly. In fact my meal at CP in January was on my birthday and our server went over the top for me, even though I'm not a kid. I've never presented the TiW card until the very end of the meal, so I wonder if you're right about that affecting the service? That makes me VERY sad to hear, and it's certainly not fitting of Disney.

Glad to hear you loved 'Ohana though, it's our fave! And I too had a lapu lapu and then couldn't drink it, it was WAY too strong! I never thought of exchanging it for another drink. I just pawned it off on DH!

 

[akayek31]

We use TiW and we've never had terrible service at any Disney restaurant, amazingly. In fact my meal at CP in January was on my birthday and our server went over the top for me, even though I'm not a kid. I've never presented the TiW card until the very end of the meal, so I wonder if you're right about that affecting the service? That makes me VERY sad to hear, and it's certainly not fitting of Disney.

Glad to hear you loved 'Ohana though, it's our fave! And I too had a lapu lapu and then couldn't drink it, it was WAY too strong! I never thought of exchanging it for another drink. I just pawned it off on DH!

It is really amazing how the level of service went up after I started giving my TiW card at the end of the meal. I may give CP a chance again one day but it will be a long time from now. DS saying that it was the worst service he ever had was hard to hear when the character was his fave. Maybe when I have grand kids in the long long long future