Fantasia Sam’s 25th Triparooney: Day 8 – Kona Café, AK and Bull & Bear

[Fantasia Sam]

Day 8

This was to be our last day with the gang today  but I was also looking forward to the time that Cinderfella and I would have together… alone!

I headed to the gym first thing for another work out after my buffet blow out the night before. We picked up Chuck and Carol and headed out to The Polynesian for breakfast at Kona Café.



The A/C was a little brutal this morning


I do love me some Minnie Ears



We still had not decided what park we were going to go today but we were going to discuss at breakfast. It was an enjoyable breakfast and we were all in high spirits. I went for the “Big Kahuna” because I love the Macadamia Nut Pancakes which are really good, it’s always a hard choice for me between these and the Tonga Toast but the pancakes won this morning.



Cinderfella had the steak and eggs -



Whilst having breakfast we found out the rest of the gang were going to be at AK so we thought we should head over there.


We managed to get a lot in even in though we had arrived well after opening time. We started off with the the Pangani Forest Trail and then Kilimanjaro Safari Ride wih Fast Passes.
LOVE the Forest Trail


ComparetheMeerkat.com




A couple of Apes!!




I loves me a Hippo


Chuck


Back end of a giraffe






Elephants and their babies






Our gorgeous driver!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Random shot of Tree of Life



Then I know we did the Maharaja Trail followed by It’s a Bugs Life.





We grabbed a quick lunch at Flame Tree BBQ although Chuck wasn’t feeling that hungry so he just went for a Corndog.

Cinderfella had the Half Chicken Meal


Carol and I opted for the BBQ Chicken Salad


Then we took in the Nemo show I struggled with phototaking during this show – I’d actually been trying to use my camera in semi-manual modes and obviously without flash in this show but these turned out OK of about 100 LOL











I don’t remember doing Expedition Everest but I cannot believe that Chuck and I wouldn’t have done it because we usually do but maybe we didn’t.

Come late afternoon we hooked up with the rest of the gang for our last group picture and then left the park to get back for a nap before dinner that night.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

The Bull and Bear at Waldorf Astoria - Orlando

Tonight we headed out with Chuck and Carol to The Waldorf Astoria for dinner at The Bull and Bear. Chuck loves the branch at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria so I was keen to get my butt here to try this out. The four of us love our fine dining but honestly I can’t say I would rush back - I just think there are more worthy mentions in Orlando. Do not get me wrong the food was awesome and the steak was high grade, but the service left me feeling that something was missing.

We had a great meal, it was expensive but honestly if the service had been better we would have spent more, their loss! I think our biggest complaint was that we didn’t feel like we knew who to ask for anything, no one introduced themselves to us which we have become accustomed to, we saw name badges but we just didn’t know who would take our drinks order, our food order, wine etc etc it was just a little hap hazard even though everyone was super nice. At one point Carol and I were discussing what wine we should drink and one of the “suits” asked us what we were going to order and we replied that we weren’t sure , we couldn’t decide, so he just replied “I’ll give you a minute!”. Hello!!! Don’t give us a minute, ask us what we like or what we are thinking of or if you can’t answer those questions get us someone who can….if we had been in the California Grill no sooner had we said we weren’t sure then there is usually 3 glasses in front of us to try three different wines!!! I guess I was just always expecting more from this establishment…. I think the best part of the night came when the Restaurant Manager came to our table and asked us what we’d had for dessert, we told him and he said they were all fine choices but he really wanted us to try The Lemon… on the house… he was right it was divine. The evening was fun, the food was good and the service was “fine” (spoken like a true woman) but honestly I was expecting so much more, so I WILL go back because if anything I want this place to prove me wrong!


My Shrimp & Grits from Cape Canaveral were under this clear dome – that’s all smoke that you can see




Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras for the boys – please don’t judge!


Carol’s starter I wanna say Tuna Carpaccio but Carol took the receipt so I don’t have it to hand


I had the Filet Mignon – really good steak


No idea what anyone else had LOL

Crème Brûlée Flambé for Carol with Chuck taking a piccy of me taking a piccy



My photo


My dessert was a Chocolate Bar made with “most velvety smooth
valrhona carmélia chocolate, chocolate vodka syrup”


The Lemon – as served to us by Manny the General Manager


Quarter of the Lemon






Day 9

 

[SusanEllen]

Enjoyed reading another excellent installment, but, please, add just a little bit more--an explanation of the lemon dessert. Thanking you in advance, Susan

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Ahhh yes Susan I did mean to add an explanation of the lemon... so basically this is a whole lemon that they empty out and then fill with a cream, lemon sorbet AND lemon curd and then you actually eat the whole thing including the rind and pith. They must marinade it as well because it's so soft and not bitter at all. Next time I go I would order a whole one for sure!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Lovely update Sam,

You got some lovely shots of the animals. I love the Tigers, we've never done the Mararaja trail, not sure why we haven't either. Beautiful animals though

Sorry the Bull and Bear didn't meet your expectations, it's a shame when service isn't quite what it should be. The lemon looked amazing though, what a creative idea.

x

 

[Linda67]

Oh wow, I would love that lemon dessert

 

[Chilly]

Great AK photos

 

[darthtatty]

fab day there, great reports and lots of lovely pictures.

Just wanted to mention that the pancakes with the big kahuna are not the macadamia nut ones. Just checked your photo and yours are the plain ones. Its a common complaint from people that theyre plain ones and they wont let you have the nut ones. Although think they do come with macadamia nut butter. :goodvibe:
Unless they've changed them?

I enjoyed Kona breakfast but it was a bit too much food.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Lovely update Sam,

You got some lovely shots of the animals. I love the Tigers, we've never done the Mararaja trail, not sure why we haven't either. Beautiful animals though

Sorry the Bull and Bear didn't meet your expectations, it's a shame when service isn't quite what it should be. The lemon looked amazing though, what a creative idea.

x

The lemon was amazing and I can't believe you've never done the Trail!

Oh wow, I would love that lemon dessert

It was sooo good - I want it again so badly!

Great AK photos

Thanks sweetie

fab day there, great reports and lots of lovely pictures.

Just wanted to mention that the pancakes with the big kahuna are not the macadamia nut ones. Just checked your photo and yours are the plain ones. Its a common complaint from people that theyre plain ones and they wont let you have the nut ones. Although think they do come with macadamia nut butter. :goodvibe:
Unless they've changed them?

I enjoyed Kona breakfast but it was a bit too much food.

No you are right, they are the plain ones, but they are served with the pineapple and nut butter as per the menu:
Big Kahuna - French toast, Pancakes topped with Pineapple sauce and Macadamia Nut Butter, eggs, home fried potatoes, ham, bacon, and sausage $11.99

You know I've had just the Macadamia Nut Pancakes from the menu and I don't remember them having nuts in... how funny... I never realised I thought it was just the nut butter that made them so!

 

[darthtatty]

No you are right, they are the plain ones, but they are served with the pineapple and nut butter as per the menu:
Big Kahuna - French toast, Pancakes topped with Pineapple sauce and Macadamia Nut Butter, eggs, home fried potatoes, ham, bacon, and sausage $11.99

You know I've had just the Macadamia Nut Pancakes from the menu and I don't remember them having nuts in... how funny... I never realised I thought it was just the nut butter that made them so!

No worries, just wanted to point it out for others reading.
The macadamia pancakes are packed with nuts, very yummy.
Next time im getting them