Dr. Jones and the Spitting Camel - Link to Alaska Cruise TR 9/18

[eandesmom]

Looks like a very delicious meal, but Tutto is very much to me what AP is to you... Also, I think it is way overpriced for pasta. In a way I think some of these prices are so inflated because of the dining plan, it makes the DDP which is getting more and more expensive every year look like a great deal... But I am glad that it did work for your advantage and I am sure the DDP is worth it if it means that everyone in the family has the freedom to order what they want without having to look at the price of the entrees!

Well, yes and no in my opinion. Given some of the ingredients (case in point, veal ravioli) I'd expect those to be higher priced, or at least they would here. It was higher end pasta than say our local Italian joint down the street and so the price difference (42-4 per plate higher I'd say) combined with the portion size, really didn't seem too bad. The big plus of the DDP is that everyone can order whatever they want without looking at the price or Jeff and I freaking out over a $25 kids meal (and kids include K&T!). From my point of view, as a general rule, if we can "pay" for the DDP with our dinner, then the rest is gravy and actual savings (lunch and snacks).

In 08 we came out quite a bit ahead and that's with leaving 11 counter service credits on the table. I've not tabulated where we ended up with this trip quite yet but I think we did better than I actually expected us to do. For me, breaking even and not thinking about food costs was my goal and I believe we did better than that, actually saving a little.

Some of that was just luck or poor planning on others parts but some of it was good use of credits.

Also, for us, this was a bit nicer (both in ambiance and menu offerings) than the local Italian joint down the street (or joints, we go to several with the kids) and so had a very different vibe than a typical dinner out at home for pasta would. Perhaps not much different from places Jeff and I would go without but a nice change for the kids.

 

[englishrose47]

I definately want to try Tutto again sometime !!It iis remotely possible for either August or October ; I mean what kids don;t like spaghetti !!The consumers usually do soo we will have to see !! Carol my co escort has put in a few repeat requests So I will humor her !!!

 

[eandesmom]

I definately want to try Tutto again sometime !!It iis remotely possible for either August or October ; I mean what kids don;t like spaghetti !!The consumers usually do soo we will have to see !! Carol my co escort has put in a few repeat requests So I will humor her !!!

I think there is really something for everyone on Tutto menu. Yum! I'm looking forward to May.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We are in the Tutto loving club!! Yummy!! (that's for the food and the waiters)

I have to say - I love you cute chapter titles! So clever!

I'm glad Paul and Sandie FINALLY made it! Good call on the sleeping in plan. Way to be adaptable!

 

[eandesmom]

We are in the Tutto loving club!! Yummy!! (that's for the food and the waiters)

I have to say - I love you cute chapter titles! So clever!

I'm glad Paul and Sandie FINALLY made it! Good call on the sleeping in plan. Way to be adaptable!

All around YUM to be sure!

Thanks on the titles, it's always fun to try and think of something.

Sometimes you just have to roll with it and this definitely called for that. Amazingly we'd actually stuck, by and large, to the touring plan until that point so we were doing pretty good on hitting what I'd wanted to before Sandie and Paul arrived, so that made it a much easier call. It was kind of a bummer in that we'd been looking forward to AK but also exciting as with Epcot right there it's so tempting and easy to just walk over!

 

[brookelizabeth]

My stomach just gave one of the loudest growls of my life! WOW, that looks amazing! I'm a real simple kind of pasta-gal, but man...I think Tutto just rose on my list of places to try.

So glad it was a great meal for you and your clan!

Also glad to hear Sandie and Paul arrived. We have done that late night ME and yes, it takes FOREVER. They go to whatever resort it is that there are people-no assigned lines sort of thing. So you could be driving all over property quite easily. Plus, they have the bus wait foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr at the airport-I think we waited an hour!

Good call on the change of plans....at least I hope it was!

 

[eandesmom]

My stomach just gave one of the loudest growls of my life! WOW, that looks amazing! I'm a real simple kind of pasta-gal, but man...I think Tutto just rose on my list of places to try.

They have a better than average kids menu too which was a big hit with Eric. My kids are not your typical kids menu kinds of eaters so he was quite pleased. It's really yummy! I like that they have some simple options on the menu, as well as some less "standard" if you will.

So glad it was a great meal for you and your clan!

Also glad to hear Sandie and Paul arrived. We have done that late night ME and yes, it takes FOREVER. They go to whatever resort it is that there are people-no assigned lines sort of thing. So you could be driving all over property quite easily. Plus, they have the bus wait foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr at the airport-I think we waited an hour!

Good call on the change of plans....at least I hope it was!

Oh my word, they did go to several resorts before the YC, it was FOREVER after they landed before the got there. I swear it was like 2 hours total. Probably not that long but oh, it felt like it! I needed toothpicks for my eyelids. Needless to say they were happy to take a towncar back from the HRH.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yeay! I am so glad you enjoyed your meal at Tutto Italia! Can't beat that food and those waiters! I would have loved to witness the Ole Ole Ole bit -- I bet that was fun!

What a shame that Paul and Sandi arrived so late -- I would have had a hard time staying awake after the full day you had.

 

[eandesmom]

Yeay! I am so glad you enjoyed your meal at Tutto Italia! Can't beat that food and those waiters! I would have loved to witness the Ole Ole Ole bit -- I bet that was fun!

It was so much fun and seemed, by the reaction of the CM's to be very spontaneous and unusual. Everyone got into it! It made the night seem so festive!

I can't wait to go back there in May

What a shame that Paul and Sandi arrived so late -- I would have had a hard time staying awake after the full day you had.

Ugh, that last hour was brutal! But they arrived and that's all that mattered. I was so happy to see them but just as happy to see my bed! And oh...how wonderful that YC bed is, it was like falling into a cloud.

 

[TarzansKat]

Glad you enjoyed Tutto! I still can't bring myself to, I miss Alfredo's so much.

 

[englishrose47]

Yeay! I am so glad you enjoyed your meal at Tutto Italia! Can't beat that food and those waiters! I would have loved to witness the Ole Ole Ole bit -- I bet that was fun!

What a shame that Paul and Sandi arrived so late -- I would have had a hard time staying awake after the full day you had.

I definately should have eaten there when I was IN SEARCH OF A HOT ITALIAN!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I definately should have eaten there when I was IN SEARCH OF A HOT ITALIAN!!!!

The place is CRAWLING with them.

 

[eandesmom]

Glad you enjoyed Tutto! I still can't bring myself to, I miss Alfredo's so much.

Awww....well new memories are good too as you well know. I really think you'd love it! And...very romantic if for some reason you ever decided to do a date night and leave the munchkins with Nana....just sayin'

I definately should have eaten there when I was IN SEARCH OF A HOT ITALIAN!!!!

Rosie! I can't believe you haven't been there. You could have your pick! You might be overcome with TOO many options though.

The place is CRAWLING with them.

A truly beautiful thing. The question will be, can they handle the 6 of us in May?

 

[All7OfUs]

I can't remember if I ever saw the answer to the big question on whether Eric blew the portion control test or not? Was he successful?

 

[eandesmom]

I can't remember if I ever saw the answer to the big question on whether Eric blew the portion control test or not? Was he successful?

Evan and....yes and no. He probably could have eaten most of it but literally the minute he slowed down, the human pasta vulture, known as Jeff, swooped in and removed that option. Literally. I think he was waiting, drooling, with baited breath for the moment of opportunity to pounce.

Jeff is notorious for this when we go out for Italian. And equally notorious for complaining about portion size. Which he did, big time, with the ravioli. I have a healthy appetite and will admit, it looks a bit small but it was really filling with the veal and was perfect for me.

The steal was a win win, it allowed Evan to get his own Panna Cotta and not be dessert deprived.

 

[All7OfUs]

Evan and....yes and no. He probably could have eaten most of it but literally the minute he slowed down, the human pasta vulture, known as Jeff, swooped in and removed that option. Literally. I think he was waiting, drooling, with baited breath for the moment of opportunity to pounce.

Jeff is notorious for this when we go out for Italian. And equally notorious for complaining about portion size. Which he did, big time, with the ravioli. I have a healthy appetite and will admit, it looks a bit small but it was really filling with the veal and was perfect for me.

The steal was a win win, it allowed Evan to get his own Panna Cotta and not be dessert deprived.

Dagnabit!! Sorry, I still get those boys of yours mixed up! I guess I just need to meet them in person!

Anyway, what is it with men and pasta?? Mine does the same thing- it's the the swoop and devour technique. Glad Evan was spared the cone of shame on this one- dessert is always a good thing not to be deprived of!!

Veal is filling no matter how ya cook it! Mmmm.... I need to make some ravioli! Now... where is that cutter of mine??

 

[eandesmom]

Dagnabit!! Sorry, I still get those boys of yours mixed up! I guess I just need to meet them in person!

You do! And you will, it's a "when" not an "if"

I still think we may want to look at a Great Wolf Lodge meet with all the kids one of these days.

I do it too...the default is "Little boys whose names start with E...."

Anyway, what is it with men and pasta?? Mine does the same thing- it's the the swoop and devour technique. Glad Evan was spared the cone of shame on this one- dessert is always a good thing not to be deprived of!!

Veal is filling no matter how ya cook it! Mmmm.... I need to make some ravioli! Now... where is that cutter of mine??

I have a different swoop technique...it involves commandeering the last of Jeff's margaritas.

 

[TarzansKat]

A date night, ha ha! Planting the seed there, eh?

Actually, I have talked to MJS about just heading over to the pool bar for a quick sit and sip and leaving the sleeping kiddos with Nana (most likely we'll have connecting rooms).

 

[eandesmom]

A date night, ha ha! Planting the seed there, eh?

Actually, I have talked to MJS about just heading over to the pool bar for a quick sit and sip and leaving the sleeping kiddos with Nana (most likely we'll have connecting rooms).

The family is only as strong as the couple. Just sayin' lol. Date night in the middle of a family vacation, if you can swing it, is pretty special (not to mentions restorative) and let me tell you, there is something to be said for strolling around the WS holding hands, with just your guy and a grey goose slushie in the other hand.

Tutto is just icing on that cake. I think you (both) probably deserve and need at least a long sit and sip, (or snuggle) in a lounge chair. Connecting rooms are a beautiful thing. Nana's even more so.

 

[All7OfUs]

You do! And you will, it's a "when" not an "if"

I still think we may want to look at a Great Wolf Lodge meet with all the kids one of these days.

I do it too...the default is "Little boys whose names start with E...."





I have a different swoop technique...it involves commandeering the last of Jeff's margaritas.

Well, you are officially invited next weekend, if it works out. Really.

Today was a yard work day, it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lovely!! 60s, sunny, just perfect!

Yes! Let's do keep GWL on the options list as well. Looks like great fun!

Yeah, my poor younger kids- "AndrRebeMichaHeyYOU!!!"

I like that swoop technique- very nice!!