Eat at ALL the buffets! 8/13-8/19

[bellebookworm9]

Oh my gosh! Just love reading your reviews and looking at the photos. Now I MUST go back and read ALL your trip and food reviews. You have a new fan!

Oh wow, that's going to be a lot of reading! I hope you have a lot of free time!

That's it, I'm sold. I was very seriously considering trying WPE for lunch on the last day of my upcoming trip, before starting my drive home. I've been looking at this very same dish and going "Hmmm. Maybe." But after a review like that? MUST. EAT. IT. So thanks for settling that for me!

No problem! I always try to make it over there at least once per trip and you can't really go wrong with any of their options but this was definitely the best thing ever!

Thanks for this dining review! I am really enjoying it. I see that you are a future Au.D. I am an Au.D. myself and have been practicing for over 7 years

Welcome! I just began my third year this week. Over the summer and continuing this semester I'm doing my externship with cochlear implants and loving it! And I adore your user name.

Enjoying your reviews!

Thanks for reading!

 

[TinkerKeeks]

Enjoying your report

 

[bellebookworm9]

Kouzzina-Boardwalk
Monday morning brought me to the Boardwalk. I'd never eaten at Kouzzina and wanted to try it before it closes at the end of next month.

I believe my reservation was for 8:40, but I was running a few minutes late. I arrived around 8:45. Just a few minutes later I was seated. This lamp had a nice design.

My server was Krystin, I think? She recommended the Classic Golden Waffle withWhipped Mascarpone Cheese, Honey, and Chopped Pecans. I had already decided on that anyway, and ordered it with bacon. I also thought I'd try the Sweet Potato Hash.

The waffles were great! Just the perfect amount of sweet, though I did add a bit of syrup. On the other hand, the sweet potato hash was not what I was expecting at all. I thought it would be like hash browns. You can tell from the photo that is not what it was. There were also peppers and onions mixed in. I only ate a few bites. Service was great here, and if you can get here in the next month, do it!

Be Our Guest-Magic Kingdom
I had a FP+ for 1-1:30 and I arrived at exactly 1pm. This was my first time pre-ordering, and it didn't go very well. At first, it was fine. I checked in and removed my friend from the reservation-I hate that you can't do this ahead of time. The CM directed me into the left line for pre-orders.

This face is so creepy!

There was a bit of a line, and there were only 2 CMs confirming the orders. A manager was asking how many people in the party, and when I said one, he took me into the main ordering room, where there was one family ahead of me at the register. I tapped my band, only to find that my order wasn't showing up. Grrrr. Thankfully it only took a minute to place my order again.

This time I chose to sit in the West Wing, the only room I hadn't eaten in yet.

It wasn't as dark as I remembered, and there was an empty two-top, which was nice.
I ordered the same thing as the last time I ate here, which was the roast beef sandwich and the Master's Cupcake.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't a great experience this time. The sandwich was a lot warmer than I remembered and considering how hot it was outside, I couldn't eat more than a few bites. I did eat the cupcake and most of the fries. I ordered a bottle of water and drank the entire thing, and I'm not ashamed to say I filled it up with more water from the soda fountain before I left!

I think I'm Be Our Guest-ed out and will probably skip it on the next trip or two.

Chef Mickey's-Contemporary
PB requested this as the one reservation he really wanted. We had an ADR for 5pm on August 8th, but when I had to change the dates, the only time we could get was 9pm.

We took the monorail from the Grand Floridian over to the Contemporary and arrived around 8:40. After checking in, we got our picture with the Mickey statue.

We were seated just a few minutes later in the main room. Our server was Jessica. Goofy came around before we even had a chance to go up and get food.

My first plate was Caesar Salad, fruit salad, focaccia bread, and cornbread.

PB was brave and tried the Halibut, served over quinoa (we think).

This led to us quoting Freaky Friday. "No, it has to be halibut!" "Halibut, ewwww!"

Next we saw Pluto.

Donald skipped us somehow, and then I have no idea where my picture with Minnie went.

My next plate: two kinds of rolls, Mickeyroni and Cheese, corn dog nuggets, grilled kielbasa, and pierogies.

The rolls, pierogies, and corn dog nuggets were very good. I don't love grilled kielbasa, and preferred it boiled. The macaroni and cheese was just okay. I had high hopes based on the DFB review, but we decided it was lacking any flavor, and could have used a little salt.

Time for some napkin waving!

Chef Mickey himself!

Another rolls, mashed potatoes (really good), and carved beef (just okay, rather fatty).

Finally, dessert! Cheesecake, "Frozen" cupcake, key lime tart, Mickey Mousse dome, and banana cream tart.

Cheesecake was fine, cupcake had no taste at all, key lime tart was too tart for me, the Mousse was good but the Oreo base was soggy. We loved the banana cream tart though!

And soft serve ice cream. There were two machines, but one only had chocolate and the other only vanilla. They had caramel or chocolate sauce toppings, plus M&Ms, gummy bears, Reese's Pieces, etc. The problem with the candy toppings was that the bowl wouldn't fit under the dispensers. We overcame that issue by putting them on a plate and pouring them into the bowl.

Finally Donald came around.

He tried to run off immediately after his picture with PB and we had to call him back to take a photo with me and to sign my book. That was 9:50pm.

As we were waiting for the check, about 15 minutes later, he came by again, and took a selfie with PB.

I'm happy to say that neither Tusker House nor Chef Mickey's had a problem with me being on the DDP and PB paying out of pocket/using his CM discount.

This was a fun dinner and we'd definitely come back!

 

[Elevationist]

I'm glad you had such a good experience at Chef Mickey's for dinner! I see lots of uncomplimentary reviews of it, but when I went on my last trip, we thought it was great! I'll definitely be headed back that way myself at some point.

Also, I know you said the roast beef was fatty, but I kinda like that... it looks delicious to me!

 

[gericoronado]

The BOG sandwich looked huge! I can only cross my fingers and hope for a BOG lunch pass when we go to WDW.
The Chef Mickey review was great. And I like fatty roast beef!

 

[Elevationist]

The Chef Mickey review was great. And I like fatty roast beef!

Glad I'm not the only one!!

 

[bellebookworm9]

I'm glad you had such a good experience at Chef Mickey's for dinner! I see lots of uncomplimentary reviews of it, but when I went on my last trip, we thought it was great! I'll definitely be headed back that way myself at some point.

Also, I know you said the roast beef was fatty, but I kinda like that... it looks delicious to me!

The BOG sandwich looked huge! I can only cross my fingers and hope for a BOG lunch pass when we go to WDW.
The Chef Mickey review was great. And I like fatty roast beef!

Glad I'm not the only one!!

I don't mind a little fat, but this was almost more fat than beef. Having done both breakfast and dinner, they're both good, solid meals. Sure, it's not gourmet, but I've never left hungry either.

As for the BOG pass, are you staying onsite or off? If on, you don't have to wait for the email, since it's randomized. beourguestlunch.disney.go.com will get you what you need. If you're off site it's a bit tougher, especially with the new "paper ticket" system they've instituted.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Grand Floridian Cafe-Grand Floridian
Tuesday was my last day of the trip, and we just hung out at the resort. Breakfast was at the GFC, scheduled for 9am. It was not very crowded and we were seated right away, in the center of the restaurant. The lighting and sun angle were terrible for photos though! I believe our server was Janie.

PB had the Eggs Benedict:Two Poached Eggs on a Toasted English Muffin, Canadian Bacon, and Key Lime Hollandaise Sauce served with Asparagus and broiled tomato au gratin

He ate everything except the tomato, so it must have been good! I know he raved about the Key Lime Hollandaise.

I was debating between the Citrus Pancakes or the Vanilla-laced French Toast, and ended up choosing the latter.

The french toast was good but the bacon was OUTSTANDING. Best bacon I think I've ever had in Disney, it was so perfectly crispy!

We also shared the fruit plate. The option was greek yogurt or cottage cheese, but our server didn't ask which we wanted and we forgot to say cottage cheese. PB tried the yogurt and found it as unappealing as I do.

This was a very nice breakfast, and they even came around and switched out the roses on the table while we were eating! I probably wouldn't make a special trip over to eat here, but it was great since we were already staying there.

Gasparilla Island Grill-Grand Floridian
For lunch we grabbed something quick at the GF CS location. They've done some remodeling here, expanding the seating area and moving the arcade to a separate area. I had the Cheese Flatbread:

And PB had the Grand Gaspy Burger: 1/3 lb Angus Burger, Tillamook Cheddar, Pulled Pork, Barbecue Mayonnaise, and Onion Frits

Both were good choices. They also had a self-serve ice cream machine here so I got some of that for dessert. I will note that the cashier over-charged me by $1.50-she had put in that I chose a chicken caesar salad rather than the flatbread. I didn't notice until we had started eating, and since it was a pretty insignificant amount, I didn't complain.

And with that, all the eating for this trip was complete!

 

[TravelMommy]

We have been debating 1900 for dinner (having done breakfast) and in the many years we have been going to WDW, we have never gone to Garden Grill, I certainly enjoyed your review and will give it a try soon!! I have got to try the Key Lime Eggs Benedict!

 

[VictoriaDoesDisney]

Do you feel like repeat buffets are worth it? It just seems almost like I'm getting the same food over and over with little variation. Some I like going to because of the atmosphere but I was never super blown away.

 

[bellebookworm9]

We have been debating 1900 for dinner (having done breakfast) and in the many years we have been going to WDW, we have never gone to Garden Grill, I certainly enjoyed your review and will give it a try soon!! I have got to try the Key Lime Eggs Benedict!

I thought 1900 PF was much better for dinner. Definitely try the Eggs Benedict, I believe it's one of their most well known items.

Do you feel like repeat buffets are worth it? It just seems almost like I'm getting the same food over and over with little variation. Some I like going to because of the atmosphere but I was never super blown away.

I did most of these simply because I never had before and they were excellent value of the DDP. Sometimes the menus were similar, particularly between 1900 PF and Chef Mickey's, but the different characters made up for it.

 

[wdwpirates]

Just got caught up. Great reviews! I am glad you had no trouble ordering the kids portions for breakfast at CS locations. I have been thinking of doing this...I'm not a big breakfast eater. Good to know!!

GF Cafe looks so good! The bacon!!! It's tough to find legit crispy bacon! Putting that one on the to-eat list.

Really enjoyed reading along!

 

[mum of two pirates]

I think I need to go back and read some of the other ones now.

I have heard that you can order just a burger and no fries for less at c.s. also. I might be picking up s few kids breakfasts also. Thanks

 

[bellebookworm9]

Just got caught up. Great reviews! I am glad you had no trouble ordering the kids portions for breakfast at CS locations. I have been thinking of doing this...I'm not a big breakfast eater. Good to know!!

GF Cafe looks so good! The bacon!!! It's tough to find legit crispy bacon! Putting that one on the to-eat list.

Really enjoyed reading along!

I think I need to go back and read some of the other ones now.

I have heard that you can order just a burger and no fries for less at c.s. also. I might be picking up s few kids breakfasts also. Thanks

I've done it with lunches as well. CS places really don't care who you're ordering for. And yes, you can order combos without the sides to save a small amount of money.

 

[adenton2000]

Great report!

 

[punkin712]

Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie-Epcot
For lunch I went to the bakery in the France pavilion. It was still early-ish, around 11:45 and there was no line at all, just a ton of CMs standing around waiting for people to order! I went with my favorite meal of the Fromages (cheese plate), half a baguette, and the Fraises (strawberry tart). I was able to grab a table inside just as another family was leaving, which was great, because it was really hot and humid that day and I did not want to eat outside!

The cheese plate comes with five different imported cheeses. In the top left is bleu cheese, bottom left is swiss (I don’t eat either of those), in the center is goat cheese, the bottom right is Brie, and the top right is Chaumes (I think). It was delicious as always.

Do you remember how much the cheese plate was? One of my favorite things to get for a quick breakfast or snack is a baguette with butter at Les Halle, but the cheese plate looks amazing! I definitely want to try it next time. Next time you get it, feel free to send me your bleu and swiss cheeses

Loving your report and your pictures are adorable!

 

[bellebookworm9]

Great report!

Thank you!

Do you remember how much the cheese plate was? One of my favorite things to get for a quick breakfast or snack is a baguette with butter at Les Halle, but the cheese plate looks amazing! I definitely want to try it next time. Next time you get it, feel free to send me your bleu and swiss cheeses

Loving your report and your pictures are adorable!

The cheese plate is $9.25. Definitely get it if you have the chance!

 

[vettegirl]

Your GF breakfast review is so nice! I have eaten dinner there twice and would love to try breakfast one day.

 

[mgentry210]

Great report! Next trip we are bringing our nieces and will probably do quite a bit of character buffets. This helped me so much!

On our trip last month hubby over indulged and I spent a solo day. I had a blast - don't tell him! I also love your style. I have so many of the same shirts that I wear to the parks and at home. I love the Minnie one on your first post.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Your GF breakfast review is so nice! I have eaten dinner there twice and would love to try breakfast one day.

Thank you! The lunch and dinner menu didn't appeal so much to us, but there were several breakfast items that were intriguing. I see that you're in San Antonio. I'll be heading there for the first time in March! A good friend and I are traveling to Disney for a week over spring break and then immediately flying to Texas for six days for the annual Audiology conference.

Great report! Next trip we are bringing our nieces and will probably do quite a bit of character buffets. This helped me so much!

On our trip last month hubby over indulged and I spent a solo day. I had a blast - don't tell him! I also love your style. I have so many of the same shirts that I wear to the parks and at home. I love the Minnie one on your first post.

I have done nearly all of the character meals except Hollywood & Vine and Cinderella's Royal Table. If you'd like any more input, please PM me!

Oooh, I've never been known as a style icon before! This is exciting! I had been eying that Minnie shirt for quite some time, back when it was still sold in the parks. Then last July I found it at Cast Connection at a deeply discounted price, so I bought it. It's one of my favorite Disney shirts that I have.