Dreamfinder2, his bride,and the sorority sisters! - five days of reviews finished!

[Dreamfinder2]

OK ... the views here are mine and the rest of the crew. They are just OPINIONS, so don't go changing ADRs based soley on what you read here.

DW, DD (20), DD's sorority sister (20), and moi spent five days at SSR. We were on the DDP, which means we are contributing to the decline of Western Civilization and the end of all that is wholesome at WDW. We like it and milk it for all it's worth.

DDSS (Dear Daughter's Sorority Sister) came into this trip as a self-proclaimed picky eater, so we did base meal choices somewhat on how her tastes run. We also wanted to give her some uniquely Disney experiences.

I'll rate on a (*) to (****) scale.

That said:

Lunch, Day 1 - Wolfgang Puck's Express (***) at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Hey, this was our first stop at this location. We had about a 5 minute wait in line, and about another 10 or so after placing our order. I had the rosemary rotissiere chicken. It was moist and flavored to the bone ... fall-apart tender, and a pile of mashed potatoes roughly the size of my head. Worked for me. DW had chicken caeasar salad, served on a flatbread (she called it a "salad pizza"). She hates it when they scrimp on dressing, and this one earned a thumb's up. DD and DDSS both had sandwiches, ham and chicken caesar; again, no complaints. The bread seemed very fresh. This proved to be a great start.

Dinner, Day 1 - Chefs de France (***1/2). Our last experience at Chefs was stellar, and thought we'd give DDSS a shot at something a little out of her comfort zone. I was impressed firstly by our waiter, who was a little sketchy with his English, but charmed the socks off the girls. I had the salmon tartare as an appetizer - the presentation was gorgeous, with LOTS of dill, which is a logical flavor for fish. It was enough for a light meal. My entree was a lamb shank with turnips, carrots, lima beans and pearl pasta. Think "French comfort food" on this one ... it was basically pot roast on pasta. But the lamb was tender and nicely seasoned. Dessert for me was Tarte au chocolat - chocolate tart with Chantilly vanilla cream and praline sauce. The way the couple at the next table was eyeing it, I was afraid I'd have to fight 'em off. Lordy, it was rich, and I had enough sense not to eat all of it. DW had French onion soup, a real hit from our last visit, just LOADED with guyere cheese - a spoon would stand up in it. Her entree was rotissiere chicken, and it was fall-off-the-bone tender. Her dessert was an apple tart (more like a crepe), with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. You could see tongue marks on the plate when she was done. DD had lobster bisque (another hit from a previous visit), and she all but turned the bowl up. It was a tad salty, I thought, but not a deal breaker. Her dessert was her FAVORITE dessert in the whole of creation, creme brulee. I didn't get to sample it because she fought me off. DDSS had a cheese plate, and I forgot to ask what the cheeses were - basically, it was a hard/soft/pungent mix, and with those terrific French rolls, she was set. She also had the rotissiere chicken and the same chocolate tart as I had.

The whole experience was really, really nice ... we dined early, so there wasn't the hubbub sometimes Chefs is prone to, and our waiter just made it a good experience all around. Being on the Dining Plan didn't seem to affect the service at all (nor did it at any other TS spots). Argue with me if you like, but I have yet to experience any decline in service. So there.

More later. I need to be doing some work.

NOTE: I had a camera, all ready to take photos, but DW said, "that's so cheesy." So rather than buck She Who Must Be Obeyed, I did as I was told. As always.

 

[2manypets]

Thanks for the reviews so far, I'm planning on eating at both of these places next trip. I'm glad you enjoyed them, the lamb sounds amazing!

 

[TigerKat]

NOTE: I had a camera, all ready to take photos, but DW said, "that's so cheesy." So rather than buck She Who Must Be Obeyed, I did as I was told. As always.

So glad to read a good review on Chefs, can't wait to try it! Looking forward to more!!!!!!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Allrighty ...

Day 2
Breakfast - In the villa; scrambled some eggs, fried some bacon, made toast. All good ballast for an empty stomach. I'd give myself (****), being totally objective, of course.

Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ - (***) - I purely love Tusker House when in AK, and am sorry to see it go (but I don't view this as the Apocalypse. We'll just have to see how the new buffet works before I pass judgement.) My girls like Pizzafari, which I don't have anything against - the hot Italian sandwich is really good, but the pizza is just ho-hum. So we headed for the Flame Tree. The spot down by the river overlooking Everest is a great lunch spot, and there was an alligator cruising right at water's edge. I wondered if he'd been fed bones in days gone by. DW, DD and DDSS all got pulled pork sandwiches, which they enjoyed, and we also got onion rings and fries to share around. I'm something of a BBQ snob, preferring tomato-based sauces, as opposed to the vinegar-y thin stuff you get in the Carolinas, N. Georgia, E. Tennessee, etc. I thought Flame Tree's was OK, but I like a bit more of a bite and not as much sweetness. But the pork was good. I had ribs - the smoky flavor was what it was supposed to be, and the ribs, while NOT tough, were on the chewy side. It did make for some good primeval knawing, though, and I continue to be a Flame Tree fan. I do miss the corn on the cob. Still not as good as Tusker House (*sigh*). We ate about 11:30 and had a minimal wait. Crowds and the weather at WDW were close to perfect, btw.

Dinner - 'Ohana - (***1/2) - 'Ohana gets roundly bashed in DISWorld, and honestly, we hadn't eaten here in over a year, and I was just a bit apprehensive. I didn't expect a crisis, but I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be as good as it was on our last visit (we had a party of 12 that time, and it was a joy all around.)

Not to worry. We all enjoyed the salad so much that I got the recipe for the honey-lime dressing, and I've already made it once. Very light, very refreshing, that whole tart vs. sweet thing going on ... nice start! I know the apps and sides can be much maligned, but we got seconds on the shrimp (DW doesn't do seafood in any form, poor misguided soul, so she had to watch us bow up in 'em.) Gloriously messy - got that recipe, too. I was really the only one who liked the stir-fried veggies, not because they weren't good, but just because the mix didn't appeal to the others. The chicken wings were packed away, and I think DW got seconds on the potatoes, she of the All Things Carb.

The meats were all quite moist, not dried out as has seemed to happen to others. The only grousing I feel like doing is on the sausage. I love sausage, but these little guys just simply didn't have much taste. I would note that out of the dipping sauces, the peanutty Thai-ish was my personal favorite, and did help the sausage out some. But the other meats were just fine, the steak leaning toward medium-rare, which caused some scowls from DW. She filled up on the other meats. Dessert - and I know there are continued cries of anguish from those who miss the pineapple and caramel concotion from days of yore - was the bananas Foster bread pudding. DW (and I know it sounds like I'm ragging on her) claims bananas Foster as her favorite dessert of all time - you haven't glimpsed heaven unless you've had it at Brennan's in New Orleans. But she's not a bread pudding fan ... it's a texture thing for her. This combo, though, of the bread pudding, bananas Foster, and ice cream not only pleased her, but she - heck, all of us - went after it like cattle on a finishing lot. It was delish. No fooling.

Service was really good, perhaps even excellent. The first young lady that came by to take drink orders seemed sort of frazzled - she was wrangling a big party down from us, and they'd obvioulsy tanked up before coming - and when I told her, "Relax ... we'll be the best guests you have all night," she just beamed. She and her partner did a great job tag-teaming us. No glass went unfilled, no plate uncleared, no extras or seconds slow in showing up. I gave them a little extra tip; they'd earned it. Nice cousins to have! Oh, yeah, I forgot ... service on the DDP was supposed to be slipping. My bad.

Our snacks today were Mickey ice cream bars. Heck, yeah!

Stay tuned!

 

[akghutton]

Great reviews! I am really enjoying reading them. We can't wait to try Ohanas for the first time in September.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your reviews.

 

[2manypets]

Your Flame Tree review is right on. I'm from Memphis, home of BBQ, and I can more than tolerate FT's BBQ, not bad but not like homes eithor.

 

[ufgator]

Enjoying your reviews so far.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I need to be working, or at least give the appearance of working. Oh, well.

Day 3
Breakfast - Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, milk and juice. Not entirely homemade, but OK for starters.

Lunch - 50's Prime Time Cafe (**3/4). A disclaimer: we always take Disney newbies to 50sPT. The food is safe and, depending on the server, can be a real riot. For us boomers, and for kids who watch Nick at Night, it's an eerily immersive experience.

As I said, the success of the meal rises and falls on the server. First, the food: I had the fried herb cheese. I'd never tried this before, and in my mind I was expecting something like the typical fried "sticks" you get most anywhere. This was something like a little round patty, a soft cheese (couldn't identify it), with some fruit and bread. We'd all decided to get apps to share, but I broke the rule and DIDN'T share. This was yummy, really light, not too bread-y or greasy. Other apps included a shrimp cocktail (just on a plate, so negative marks for presentation), onion rings - DD smacked her lips over this one, and a salad, which was pretty pedestrian but not bad. Entrees included two meat loafs (or meat loaves?). This is pure comfort food, a decent enough serving, moist and not dry and crumbly. I'm not a huge meat loaf fan, but I like this. DW and DD both got chicken pot pie, which was a good-sized serving, a rich cream sauce holding all the veggies and chicken together, and enough chicken to warrant the name "CHICKEN pot pie." I tasted it; it needed a little salt. My meat loaf came with what I call "Yankee green beans," which are way too green and way too crunchy for my tastes. In the South, we tend to eat green beans that are so well cooked that you can fold them in half, are the color of army fatigues, and full of bacon or other meat seasoning. I knew what I was getting before I ordered, and just sighed at what so many people were missing...

Desserts? S'mores for DDSS, who got 'em all over herself; milkshakes for DD and DW (we could have had them as our beverage order, but they opted for dessert and to-go cups); it's one of the best milkshakes on property. I had (drum roll) a brownie sundae, which is a brownie with ice cream, whipped topping, hot fudge, caramel, and - get this - toppings of Cracker Jacks and M&Ms. It's not the kind of dessert you'd get at Chefs de France, but it was totally satisfying and hit the bottom of my stomach with a dull thud. I carried this thing around the rest of the day. Whew.

Our server was simply not as much fun as some we've had. He seemed distant and preoccupied, sorta halfway in character, and while he was competent enough to take and fulfill our orders, and keep our glasses filled, he just lacked ... something. Was I disappointed? Just a tad. 50s was off its game a little. But we'll go back again. We always do.

Dinner - Artist's Palette (***) - I sure wouldn't consider this a destination spot, but it's always been good to us when we've stayed at SSR. We'd taken an afternoon break and elected to eat at the resort rather than doing CS back at the Studios. The only quantifiable unpleasant meal I've ever had at Disney was at the ABC Commissary; actually, the Studios have the least appealing lineup of CS spots of any of the parks. Nothing awful, mind you, but nothing outstanding, either. Artist's Palette gives a decent bang for that DDP buck. DW and I got flatbreads; she got a BBQ pork flatbread (loaded with toppings), and there was a chef's special flatbread, which was chicken with an aioli-type sauce, which was purely delicious. Both the girls got chicken tenders and fries ("It was just time to go with basics," DD said), and pronounced them "real good." Desserts at Artist's Palette can be stuff from the refrigerator case or some freshly-baked cookies. The cookies were fine.

I have yet to eat at the Turf Club, but I like the menu. I peeked in and had a chat with the hostess, who was really proud of what they were doing. I saw some diners with handsome plates, and one gentleman told me on the way out, "This is the best steak I've had at Disney." It might've been the ONLY one, but he still got my attention.

We had Rice Krispy treats for our snacks. They're something special at Disney.

Back to the salt mines. Two more days to go.

 

[Davidsmommy]

Enjoying your reviews!!

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Great reviews!

 

[tiggrsbride]

Thanks for sharing your reviews! Love 'em and keep 'em coming! Yum!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Day 4
Breakfast - the chef took the morning off, so it was Pop Tarts and cereal for those willing to serve themselves.

Lunch - Pecos Bills (***) - This is the best CS burger spot in the MK. I guess it's the fixin's bar that puts it a notch above. Everyone seemed to be ready for burgers, and burgers we did. Cheeseburgers and fries all around. What can you say? I love that room sorta tucked away in the back that looks like a Mexican or southwestern plaza at dusk. It was cool and uncrowded at about 11:45. I loaded my burger down with sauteed onions and mushrooms, thoroughly grossing out DW, and loved it. The only two desserts were your basic Yoplait strawberry yogurt and a peanut butter brownie mousse - nothin' special there, but we were already pretty well sated after burgers and fries. I'd wanted Coumbia Harbor House but was outvoted. Never argue with three women.

Dinner - Liberty Tree Tavern (****) I got that fourth star out of storage NOT because this was a terrific meal per food quality, but for some reason, the sun, moon, and stars all aligned. First off, we presented ourselves for our ADR about 45 minutes early, and were seated in five minutes. Second, our server - I missed his name! - was charm personified, and the girls flirted unrepentantly. Third, the character interaction was the best I've EVER had, and I've had aplenty. No hyperbole here. Chip, Dale, Pluto, Minnie - in every case, it's like we were the only folks in the restaurant. Pluto, in particular, played to our two girls and they ate it up. Oh, yeah ... I had a "Happy Birthday" pin on, and our dessert came with a candle and appropriate fanfare, and a big fuss was made over what one of the servers called "our young patriot" (51 years old, and still fun.)

Food was just pure comfort stuff. Of COURSE it was Stouffer's mac and cheese - ya got a problem with that, pilgrim? Exceptional mashed potatoes (I like 'em just a little lumpy for some texture), properly seasoned green beans (still a little crispy, but there was some garlic there that helped a lot), and the meats ... flank steak, ham, turkey. Perennial Thanksgiving fare. Oh, and stuffing, a great starter salad - really like that strawberry vinegarette - and plenty of iced tea. (Shhh ... don't tell, but I sopped the gravy left over on my plate with a roll.) THIS IS NOT GOURMET FARE. But this whole package, with the colonial charm of the restaurant itself, made this a hit with our party. People gripe about LTT sometimes, and my counsel is, just know what to expect and roll with it. I may never have an experience this good at LTT again, but this occasion was just marinated in pixie dust.

Snacks? Dole Whips and Dole Whip floats, natch. I think there's some kind of controlled substance they put in 'em. I always leave Aloha Isle feeling like I've dabbled in some Zero Tolerance stuff. The float just blessed my heart.

One more day.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Great reviews!!! You have me laughing so hard!!

 

[Swimnoid]

OH YUM! Reviews are great. I've always wanted to try LTT but I can't get anyone to agree.

 

[The Sweetness]

fabulous Me's gettin' hungry for LTT this sunday

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts

 

[Dreamfinder2]

And finally ... Day 5.

Breakfast - Chef Mickey's (**3/4) - This was planned on a whim; I stopped by the concierge at SSR the afternoon before and told her "I know this is a fool's errand, but can you check to see if anything's available for a party of four tomorrow morning at Chef Mickeys?" She just smiled sweetly (as in, "you poor misguided soul") and checked. Up pops an 8:30 spot, and so we're in.

Breakfast wasn't bad. Most everything seemed very fresh, and I enjoyed watching the pancakes come right off the griddle and onto my plate. It was just about what CM's should have been, and anytime I can eat as much bacon as I want it's going to be a good day. Our server kept my orange juice glass full; I cordially detest those little thimble-sized glasses of juice you get at some restaurants and pay $2.50 for. But, as only CM's can be, it was LOUD, and bustling, and spills abounded both at the buffet line and on tables. Character interaction was minimal, but perhaps we didn't fit the morning demographic. I especially liked the chicken and veggie omelet, which was the chef's special that morning. The one downside was a sliver of smoked salmon I tried. It tasted like it had been languishing in the sun for a couple of days. Ack.

I think we were all tired, and knew we were hitting the road later, and it was pretty early after a late night. If I'd been a little more perky, I think I would have had a better experience. In retrospect, I wish we'd gone to Boma. Oh, well.

We were going to eat somewhere in Downtown Disney. Instead -

Lunch - Olivia's (***1/4) - I'm all about Olivia's for a no-fuss meal. Again, I sure wouldn't classify this as a destination spot, but it's easy to get in and out of, and it was our last stop before hitting the road.

I think the soup and half sandwich combo is a great deal. I had the turkey club and conch chowder. The club came on a nice, "bulky" multigrain bread and was stacked high. The conch chowder - which is an item I fell in love with in the Bahamas years ago - has got just enough fire to pleasantly assault your taste buds. Good, basic fare. DD got penne pasta and shrimp, which I thought was sorta heavy before piling in the car, but she loves most any seafood/pasta combo. Big ol' plump shrimp, and as always I was grateful that you didn't have to dig around to find any. DW and DDSS both had cheesburgers. I've never had a cheeseburger at Olivia's, but both of these were hefty, meaty, juicy beauties. Thumbs up all around. Service was just right and personable. A lot of Olivia's wait staff have been there for years, and know the "regulars."

Olivia's has a cozy, down-home feel that can be such a welcome respite from the bustle of the parks and DD. I've had nothing but good experiences there. It is a bit off the beaten path if you're not staying at OKW, but if you can allow yourself a leisurely day at DD, and take the boat to OKW for a meal, it can be kinda special, y'know?

That's it, that's all, and I'll be happy to entertain questions, comments, snide remarks, whatever.

 

[TigerKat]

Great job on your reviews, you're so funny. I loved the way you described the way we like our green beans down here!!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

TigerKat, you know as well as I do that green beans need to be cooked to death, with a hamhock or something like it for seasoning. Or stir-fried in bacon drippings. Zero nutritional value, for sure, but oh-so-tasty. We come down to your neck of the woods frequently. Bless your hearts!

2manypets, lamb is something we don't fix at home, so I thought I'd give it a try at Le Chefs. Again, think pot roast ... I'd classify this dish as "country French." I've had the beef tenderloin there, too, on our server's recommendation, and it was dee-lish. DD had the salmon with shrimp skewer once, and loved it. Chefs is very much on our dance card when in Epcot.

akghutton, I'm bewildered at the negative press 'Ohana routinely gets. Ours was a delightful experience. I think this was our fourth time there, and I just don't have any complaints. Still, on any given evening ...

ufgator, I forgive you for your misguided allegiance to the University of Florida (Auburn guy myself).

Swimnoid, persevere with your family/friends when it comes to Liberty Tree Tavern! It's definitely worth a shot.

I've got other favorites we didn't make this trip - the upper echelon ones include Califorina Grill and Jiko. Hollywood Brown Derby is my favorite TS spot in all the parks. LOVE Le Cellier, too.

Counter service favorites? Sunshine Seasons in Epcot - something for everyone, but crowds can get pretty bad. Eat breakfast and lunch early!!! - and buck that trend. Yakitori House and Yorkshire County Fish Shop in World Showcase. In the MK, Pecos Bill's and Columbia Harbor House. AK, the soon-to-be-extinct incarnation of Tusker House was my favorite CS spot, period. But Flame Tree is above average, and I can do OK with a sandwich at Pizzafari. Disney-MGM Studios is the one park I struggle with for CS. Nothing stands out, and the ABC Commissary gives me the heebie-jeebies. Backlot Express is servicable; I haven't tried the Flatbread Grill in its latest incarnation.

Press on! Eat often, eat lots.

 

[ufgator]

ufgator, I forgive you for your misguided allegiance to the University of Florida (Auburn guy myself).

I also forgive you for being a Tiger. My dad went to Auburn so I'm ok with them (well, except for when they beat us in football last fall). But as a proud Gator, with back to back to back championships (not to mention SEC champions), I'm ok with all the teams because we are champions!!! Sorry but I had to gloat because when else does this happen? At least we agree that SEC is the best conference and we like Disney.

On the serious side, I saw in your siggy that your son is a marine. Thank him for me!

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent