D&R love Disney
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Great review and thats a meal I would have loved, just like Brenda I'd be skipping the shrooms "YUK"!
Festival!! A Food and Wine at DLR trip report (Complete! - 5/31)
- Thread starter BriarRosie
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Poppinsme
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BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
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Monday, April 21, 2008:
Sigh. It's the last day of the trip, and not a full day at that. Both Catherine and our third friend had to leave earlier than I did to catch their flights home. Catherine and I decided to try to do a couple of attractions at Disneyland before she left, and then I was free to meander along on my own until I had to leave.
Since we both hadn't done Splash Mountain yet, and the weather was cooperating, we decided to head there first. The wait time wasn't terrible, and soon we were on the log. Catherine (the stinkhead!) chose the very last spot on the log. Poop. I wanted to sit there! No worries, though. The second to last spot was good enough for me, as I didn't want to get soaked.
Who got the bottom of her pants soaked on the ride? It wasn't ME!
Heheheh.
Good thing she had time to dry her pants out before her flight.
Catherine and I had time to ride Pinocchio before she left, when I remembered that I still had the festival shirt I bought Catherine waiting at Bell Services, delivered the previous day. I didn't want her to leave without it, so we both went back to the hotel so I could retrieve it for her.
You see, months ago, Catherine found the WDW festival shirt for me when I couldn't find it in my size during my own trip, so she schlepped it to California for me. The plan was that I would buy her the California festival shirt as an exchange. I would have been pretty bummed had she gone home before getting the shirt. If it turned out that I had to take the shirt home with me, I knew I would see Catherine again at WDW in October. Worst case scenario, I'd mail it to her. All was well, and she had the shirt, now.
Now I was left to my own devices. It's interesting to note that I had no plan or desire that I MUST see any particular thing, so what did I do? I rambled around Main Street. I'm really glad I did.
It's quite noticeable to me how much character is lost at Walt Disney World's Main Street with the expansion of the Emporium. Center Street was demolished to make the Emporium one gigantic Disney Wal-Mart. I remember the days when you could walk down the side street.
At Disneyland, you still can. And just behind the fruit and veggie cart, I did just that. I was actually looking at the tribute windows to Disney legends of the past, and I found myself down this nearly empty side street. And the next thing I knew, I was giggling.
On the second story to the left, there was a window advertising piano lessons. And I was able to hear the piano teacher correcting her pupil, getting increasingly impatient and frustrated at him/her! I was walking away when I heard male voices coming from the other window area, but I hadn't stopped to listen what they were saying.
People, if you have time to really take your time exploring Main Street, do it. You never know what surprises you'll find.
I ended up finding a porch with some seating along Main Street, so I took some time watching the Sea of Humanity fighting their way upstream to get to their chosen destinations. The look of grit and determination upon some faces was amusing.
I did have a plan before I had to go back to catch my ride, though. I wanted to go back to DCA and have lunch at the Wine Country Trattoria. Three years earlier, Catherine and I had lunch there, and I remembered how much I loved the lasagna. So I wanted to end my trip with lunch there.
When it was time for DCA to open, I headed over, but I didn't have a plan of action to see or ride anything there, either. I did catch the tortilla factory tour and get my free, warm tortilla, though. And I spotted a pin I had been looking for, right on the lanyard of the cast member posted outside the tortilla factory tour.
Did I have any trading pins on me? No. I didn't bring any pins with me to California. Oh, snap. Gotta find a store and buy a rack pin, hoping someone else didn't beat me to the pin!
As I was hurrying off to go on my pin frenzy mission, I ran into a woman that the three of us girls had met in the lounge before our Steakhouse 55 event, who we saw at the other events we attended. I felt bad because I wanted to talk to her, but I had shouted, "Gotta go buy a pin before the cast member trades the one I want!"
Boy, did that sound insane, or what? Oh well, I picked a pin, bought it, and found the cast member still posted at the tortilla factory tour. What pin would make me go nuts like that?
It was a DVC "best kept secret" pin, and it featured Timon. The only one I'm missing is the Stitch pin. I told the cast member that I was a DVC member and couldn't find that pin at WDW. He didn't know anything about DVC, but he seemed happy that I was happy finding that pin.
Because the Wine Country Trattoria didn't open until 11:30am, I did have time to kill. As I sat on a bench along the pathway, a custodial cast member made a cheeky comment, "That's some to-do list you've got there!" as I was scribbling some trip notes in my notepad.
Soon it was time for lunch, and I was given a choice of indoors or outdoors. I probably could have done outdoors, but I let them choose indoors for me. I was really the only person inside. I was also seated next to what I call the Bread Staging Area. There was a huge table with racks of bread, to be brought to the diners.
Oh, let me show you mine.
The cheesy spread was very tasty. The only thing I didn't like about my table was that I got to hear all the conversations of the servers hanging about, and it didn't make for a relaxing meal. I'm surprised that no manager told them to knock it off in front of guests, though.
I looked at the menu and saw the Lasagna Rustica was still there! Woohoo!
I knew what I was ordering, for sure. But I wanted a starter, as I hadn't eaten anything for breakfast. Broccoli cheddar soup was on the menu, something I didn't expect from an Italian style eatery. But what the heck, I love broccoli soup. so I got some.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Those big honkin' croutons were homemade, people. Crunchy, with garlic and herbs. Yum. Broccoli cheddar soup usually doesn't vary from place to place, but I notice if the viscosity of the soup is either watery, or in the other extreme, glue. I'm happy to say the soup coated my spoon, and it was not a gloppy mess, so I was happy.
And now, my lasagna...
Lasagna Rustica
It did not come for the freshly grated parmesan cheese. The server came to my table with the cheese grater, and I could have asked for a mountain of cheese if I wished. The thing I remember most about this dish from three years ago was the sauce. It had a great balance of savory with just a little sweet mixed in, and I just loved it.
It did not disappoint this time, either.
What a perfect ending meal for my trip! After lunch, I didn't really have a plan, but I realized I wanted to take a movie of the Toy Story zoetrope with my camera, which I posted in an earlier segment of this report. I debated going on Tower of Terror, or going back to Disneyland to get ice cream, but I didn't do either.
I headed back to the hotel, passing the gauntlet that taunted the three of us girls at various times: The caramel kettle corn cart.
You see the two sizes of bags displayed to the left? Both were huge, and I knew there was no way I'd carry even the small bag back to Chicago with me. Damn, I wish the stand had been open when I walked past with Catherine. We could have split the small bag. Heh.
I stopped in the bookstore in Downtown Disney to browse, and I ended up buying a magazine and a book, which kept me occupied for the duration. Because there was construction in the front of the hotel, golf carts had to drop people off to the shuttle pickup area. Because SuperShuttle serviced a few airports in the area, it was the third shuttle that ended up being mine.
Goodbye, Disneyland. But I knew I was returning 8 months later, because I was booked on the Backstage Magic tour with Adventures by Disney. I wasn't too sad to be leaving, now.
Next: Wrap up.
Sigh. It's the last day of the trip, and not a full day at that. Both Catherine and our third friend had to leave earlier than I did to catch their flights home. Catherine and I decided to try to do a couple of attractions at Disneyland before she left, and then I was free to meander along on my own until I had to leave.
Since we both hadn't done Splash Mountain yet, and the weather was cooperating, we decided to head there first. The wait time wasn't terrible, and soon we were on the log. Catherine (the stinkhead!) chose the very last spot on the log. Poop. I wanted to sit there! No worries, though. The second to last spot was good enough for me, as I didn't want to get soaked.
Who got the bottom of her pants soaked on the ride? It wasn't ME!
Heheheh.Good thing she had time to dry her pants out before her flight.
Catherine and I had time to ride Pinocchio before she left, when I remembered that I still had the festival shirt I bought Catherine waiting at Bell Services, delivered the previous day. I didn't want her to leave without it, so we both went back to the hotel so I could retrieve it for her.
You see, months ago, Catherine found the WDW festival shirt for me when I couldn't find it in my size during my own trip, so she schlepped it to California for me. The plan was that I would buy her the California festival shirt as an exchange. I would have been pretty bummed had she gone home before getting the shirt. If it turned out that I had to take the shirt home with me, I knew I would see Catherine again at WDW in October. Worst case scenario, I'd mail it to her. All was well, and she had the shirt, now.
Now I was left to my own devices. It's interesting to note that I had no plan or desire that I MUST see any particular thing, so what did I do? I rambled around Main Street. I'm really glad I did.
It's quite noticeable to me how much character is lost at Walt Disney World's Main Street with the expansion of the Emporium. Center Street was demolished to make the Emporium one gigantic Disney Wal-Mart. I remember the days when you could walk down the side street.
At Disneyland, you still can. And just behind the fruit and veggie cart, I did just that. I was actually looking at the tribute windows to Disney legends of the past, and I found myself down this nearly empty side street. And the next thing I knew, I was giggling.
On the second story to the left, there was a window advertising piano lessons. And I was able to hear the piano teacher correcting her pupil, getting increasingly impatient and frustrated at him/her! I was walking away when I heard male voices coming from the other window area, but I hadn't stopped to listen what they were saying.
People, if you have time to really take your time exploring Main Street, do it. You never know what surprises you'll find.
I ended up finding a porch with some seating along Main Street, so I took some time watching the Sea of Humanity fighting their way upstream to get to their chosen destinations. The look of grit and determination upon some faces was amusing.
I did have a plan before I had to go back to catch my ride, though. I wanted to go back to DCA and have lunch at the Wine Country Trattoria. Three years earlier, Catherine and I had lunch there, and I remembered how much I loved the lasagna. So I wanted to end my trip with lunch there.
When it was time for DCA to open, I headed over, but I didn't have a plan of action to see or ride anything there, either. I did catch the tortilla factory tour and get my free, warm tortilla, though. And I spotted a pin I had been looking for, right on the lanyard of the cast member posted outside the tortilla factory tour.
Did I have any trading pins on me? No. I didn't bring any pins with me to California. Oh, snap. Gotta find a store and buy a rack pin, hoping someone else didn't beat me to the pin!
As I was hurrying off to go on my pin frenzy mission, I ran into a woman that the three of us girls had met in the lounge before our Steakhouse 55 event, who we saw at the other events we attended. I felt bad because I wanted to talk to her, but I had shouted, "Gotta go buy a pin before the cast member trades the one I want!"
Boy, did that sound insane, or what? Oh well, I picked a pin, bought it, and found the cast member still posted at the tortilla factory tour. What pin would make me go nuts like that?
It was a DVC "best kept secret" pin, and it featured Timon. The only one I'm missing is the Stitch pin. I told the cast member that I was a DVC member and couldn't find that pin at WDW. He didn't know anything about DVC, but he seemed happy that I was happy finding that pin.
Because the Wine Country Trattoria didn't open until 11:30am, I did have time to kill. As I sat on a bench along the pathway, a custodial cast member made a cheeky comment, "That's some to-do list you've got there!" as I was scribbling some trip notes in my notepad.
Soon it was time for lunch, and I was given a choice of indoors or outdoors. I probably could have done outdoors, but I let them choose indoors for me. I was really the only person inside. I was also seated next to what I call the Bread Staging Area. There was a huge table with racks of bread, to be brought to the diners.
Oh, let me show you mine.
The cheesy spread was very tasty. The only thing I didn't like about my table was that I got to hear all the conversations of the servers hanging about, and it didn't make for a relaxing meal. I'm surprised that no manager told them to knock it off in front of guests, though.
I looked at the menu and saw the Lasagna Rustica was still there! Woohoo!
I knew what I was ordering, for sure. But I wanted a starter, as I hadn't eaten anything for breakfast. Broccoli cheddar soup was on the menu, something I didn't expect from an Italian style eatery. But what the heck, I love broccoli soup. so I got some.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Those big honkin' croutons were homemade, people. Crunchy, with garlic and herbs. Yum. Broccoli cheddar soup usually doesn't vary from place to place, but I notice if the viscosity of the soup is either watery, or in the other extreme, glue. I'm happy to say the soup coated my spoon, and it was not a gloppy mess, so I was happy.
And now, my lasagna...
Lasagna Rustica
It did not come for the freshly grated parmesan cheese. The server came to my table with the cheese grater, and I could have asked for a mountain of cheese if I wished. The thing I remember most about this dish from three years ago was the sauce. It had a great balance of savory with just a little sweet mixed in, and I just loved it.
It did not disappoint this time, either.
What a perfect ending meal for my trip! After lunch, I didn't really have a plan, but I realized I wanted to take a movie of the Toy Story zoetrope with my camera, which I posted in an earlier segment of this report. I debated going on Tower of Terror, or going back to Disneyland to get ice cream, but I didn't do either.
I headed back to the hotel, passing the gauntlet that taunted the three of us girls at various times: The caramel kettle corn cart.
You see the two sizes of bags displayed to the left? Both were huge, and I knew there was no way I'd carry even the small bag back to Chicago with me. Damn, I wish the stand had been open when I walked past with Catherine. We could have split the small bag. Heh.
I stopped in the bookstore in Downtown Disney to browse, and I ended up buying a magazine and a book, which kept me occupied for the duration. Because there was construction in the front of the hotel, golf carts had to drop people off to the shuttle pickup area. Because SuperShuttle serviced a few airports in the area, it was the third shuttle that ended up being mine.
Goodbye, Disneyland. But I knew I was returning 8 months later, because I was booked on the Backstage Magic tour with Adventures by Disney. I wasn't too sad to be leaving, now.
Next: Wrap up.
iluvpluto27
DIS Veteran
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- May 25, 2008
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Great update, though I'm sad we're at the end of this fantastic report.
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
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We saw it yesterday - it was fun. Exactly what you'd expect it to be.
Yes, lots of icky bug squishy grossness!
But I did enjoy the movie, all the same.
You can play table hockey with the 'shrooms with Brenda, or just toss 'em my way.
Thanks, but I didn't even tackle the "regular" food other than the World's Worst Breakfast and the Best Lasagna Lunch. Most of my stuff was festival foods.
Aww thanks. I felt like I had some sort of victory!
I know what you mean. I'll post a follow up soon and then it will be done for good.
Hooray! That soup looks good-I like broccoli cheese too!
You're making me want to go back in October as well. When is your planned DLR trip??
Broccoli cheese soup is awesome.
Ok, the October trip is WDW's Food and Wine: Oct 15-21.
My December trip is Adventures by Disney, and we tour through LA and Disneyland. We get assorted "free time", but it's pretty structured.
HPHammer
Earning My Ears
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- Mar 8, 2007
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- 51
I'm still laughing, thinking about Harrison Ford searching for his hip. Good thing I didn't read this before we saw the movie this past weekend or I wouldn't have been able to stop giggling...
And I really liked your memories of the E Ticket nights. Those were the good old days. Just like the old Halloween parties...Had a real pirate scare the pants off of me on Pirates... Good times.
But, from reading, it sounds like you made a lot of really cool new memories with this trip. Thanks so much for the reviews. I am pledging right here, right now that I WILL get my butt over to D-land for the events next year!
Thanks!
And I really liked your memories of the E Ticket nights. Those were the good old days. Just like the old Halloween parties...Had a real pirate scare the pants off of me on Pirates... Good times.
But, from reading, it sounds like you made a lot of really cool new memories with this trip. Thanks so much for the reviews. I am pledging right here, right now that I WILL get my butt over to D-land for the events next year!
Thanks!
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
- Joined
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- 11,164
I'm still laughing, thinking about Harrison Ford searching for his hip. Good thing I didn't read this before we saw the movie this past weekend or I wouldn't have been able to stop giggling...
And I really liked your memories of the E Ticket nights. Those were the good old days. Just like the old Halloween parties...Had a real pirate scare the pants off of me on Pirates... Good times.
But, from reading, it sounds like you made a lot of really cool new memories with this trip. Thanks so much for the reviews. I am pledging right here, right now that I WILL get my butt over to D-land for the events next year!
Thanks!
Heheh. My alternative titles for the Indy movie factored in AARP and/or Social Security. :stir
I do miss the old E Ride Nights.
And I was pleased enough with this Disneyland version of the festival enough to recommend it to everyone who remoted thought about attending.
honeybee30
DIS Veteran
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A fantastic review! What fun! I really need to plan a trip to DLR. I grew up going to Disneyland and I haven't been back in almost 20 years.... 
Geez I can't believe it's been that long!
Geez I can't believe it's been that long!
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
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A fantastic review! What fun! I really need to plan a trip to DLR. I grew up going to Disneyland and I haven't been back in almost 20 years....
Thanks! I see you've enjoyed some of the Cypress Grove Midnight Moon on your own. (I've been reading!) We were just lucky that we hit the motherlode of cheese during our trip.
Of the Trifecta of Cypress Grove cheeses we had, I liked Humboldt Fog the best.The funny part is, I've always been a Walt Disney World girl, my first Disneyland trip being 1996. I've been there four times total, compared to the countless times I've been to WDW. You really need to go back to DLR. Indy is soooooo much better than Dinosaur.
honeybee30
DIS Veteran
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- 998
Thanks! I see you've enjoyed some of the Cypress Grove Midnight Moon on your own. (I've been reading!) We were just lucky that we hit the motherlode of cheese during our trip.
The funny part is, I've always been a Walt Disney World girl, my first Disneyland trip being 1996. I've been there four times total, compared to the countless times I've been to WDW. You really need to go back to DLR. Indy is soooooo much better than Dinosaur.
You did have a lot of fabu looking cheese plates! I'm jealous!
I'm right there with you on the Humboldt Fog. It is amazing. I'm pretty easy when it comes to goat cheese, though. I love it all! I really love the finish on the Midnight Moon. It just tastes better and better the more you chew it!I do need to go back to DLR. I'm thinking maybe this upcoming Christmas. My grandma and some other family members I'd really like to see live in So Cal, so it would be a good excuse to make a little side trip to Anaheim.
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
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You did have a lot of fabu looking cheese plates! I'm jealous!
I do need to go back to DLR. I'm thinking maybe this upcoming Christmas. My grandma and some other family members I'd really like to see live in So Cal, so it would be a good excuse to make a little side trip to Anaheim.
All the cheese talk (and your wine and cheese food porn) has made me want to go to Whole Foods.
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
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First, I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to look at my food-centric trip report. I am glad it didn't take me more than a month and a half to finish it.
I came to California with some biases from having gone to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, but I have to say, California's festival, for the most part, met my expectations and exceeded them in some situations. There's also a lot of room for improvement, too.
Considering that this is only the third festival held at Disneyland, and WDW's had the festival for a dozen years, Disneyland's held its own.
For one thing, I found the Festival-specific items at the Fortune Cookery location to be high quality. Every item I tried there was tasty. The featured items at the counter service locations can be hit or miss. While I found the chicken wrap at the Farmer's Market to be very good, I thought the portobella "philly" at Award Wiener's to be lackluster.
Epcot's World Showcase is huge, so it can offer a lot more items than Disneyland. That's to be expected. And I have tried items that I found lackluster there, too. Not everything is going to be spectacular for everyone's palate.
But, just like Disneyland is small and intimate due to its size compared to Walt Disney World, the festival had an intimate appeal as well. There were were quite a few food and wine/beer demos each day, but it obviously couldn't be to the size and scale to the culinary and wine demos in Epcot.
About those Culinary Demos...
I was impressed by the numbering system in the queues for the demos. Epcot doesn't use those cards for their culinary demos, but I think they should. Cast members know how many seats are available, so pass out laminated cards to those standing in line. When the cards run out, the people at the end of the line at Epcot would know immediately whether there is space available, especially on weekends.
I also liked that they checked IDs at the booze demos. Everyone got a wristband, and it was good for every demo that had incorporated liquor.
Epcot used to hold their demos outdoors in the hot sun, but they smartened up and moved the demos to indoor locations. California's are in the sun, and that was a minus for me. While they tried to use large umbrellas to create some shade, I wasn't lucky enough to be in the shade during one demo. I discovered later where I missed applying my sunscreen.
It was easy to see what the chefs were doing, but I felt that some of the demos didn't quite feature the item front and center. I had a beautiful salad during my mushroom demo, but for the few mushrooms I've found on it, it could have been a demo about making a great vinagrette dressing. Same with the avocado demo. It seemed to be all about the salmon, with the avocado featured as drizzled sauce on it.
Not that I'm complaining, because I felt the portions at the culinary demos were generous to the extreme! I feel that the California festival exceeds WDW's in that respect. I couldn't believe how much cheese we had one demo, which once cost $45 as an event (with a couple glasses of wine) at WDW. (In 2007, the cheese events were $60. Let's hope they served more cheese than these demos!)
After each demo, cast members would hand out the online survey cards. I thought that's a great thing, because it meant we can let them know what we thought about the events, so they can improve them for the future.
And now for the dining events...
I've become addicted to the special dining events held during the festival at WDW, so I knew that I wanted to see how Disneyland's events would compare.
Steakhouse 55 winemaker dinner: $125 includes tax and gratuity.
Festival Wine Reception: $55
Gallo winemaker dinner at Vineyard Room: $85 includes tax and gratuity
I thought the winemaker dinners were worth every penny, but the one at the Vineyard Room was an excellent value. Similar events at WDW, such as the Signature Dinner events typically held at resort restaurants on Sunday nights, are similar in scope, yet cost more. The event dinner I attended at California Grill was $155 plus tax.
The only disappointment I had was with the festival wine reception. It felt underwhelming. I think California should take a page from the food and wine pairing events like the ones held in Epcot restaurants. 3 small courses paired with wines. Those events are $45 plus tax (as of 2007), and I've enjoyed them. The only problem is finding venues at Disneyland that can host these.
So how do the two festivals compare?
I think the best analogy I have is comparing WDW to department store, like Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's and the like. And Disneyland as an up-and-coming hip boutique store. Both have some high quality items, but one is on a far larger scale than the other.
Of course, the best part was that I still had time to enjoy the parks, while still taking lots of time doing food and wine related stuff.
I came to California with some biases from having gone to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, but I have to say, California's festival, for the most part, met my expectations and exceeded them in some situations. There's also a lot of room for improvement, too.
Considering that this is only the third festival held at Disneyland, and WDW's had the festival for a dozen years, Disneyland's held its own.
For one thing, I found the Festival-specific items at the Fortune Cookery location to be high quality. Every item I tried there was tasty. The featured items at the counter service locations can be hit or miss. While I found the chicken wrap at the Farmer's Market to be very good, I thought the portobella "philly" at Award Wiener's to be lackluster.
Epcot's World Showcase is huge, so it can offer a lot more items than Disneyland. That's to be expected. And I have tried items that I found lackluster there, too. Not everything is going to be spectacular for everyone's palate.
But, just like Disneyland is small and intimate due to its size compared to Walt Disney World, the festival had an intimate appeal as well. There were were quite a few food and wine/beer demos each day, but it obviously couldn't be to the size and scale to the culinary and wine demos in Epcot.
About those Culinary Demos...
I was impressed by the numbering system in the queues for the demos. Epcot doesn't use those cards for their culinary demos, but I think they should. Cast members know how many seats are available, so pass out laminated cards to those standing in line. When the cards run out, the people at the end of the line at Epcot would know immediately whether there is space available, especially on weekends.
I also liked that they checked IDs at the booze demos. Everyone got a wristband, and it was good for every demo that had incorporated liquor.
Epcot used to hold their demos outdoors in the hot sun, but they smartened up and moved the demos to indoor locations. California's are in the sun, and that was a minus for me. While they tried to use large umbrellas to create some shade, I wasn't lucky enough to be in the shade during one demo. I discovered later where I missed applying my sunscreen.
It was easy to see what the chefs were doing, but I felt that some of the demos didn't quite feature the item front and center. I had a beautiful salad during my mushroom demo, but for the few mushrooms I've found on it, it could have been a demo about making a great vinagrette dressing. Same with the avocado demo. It seemed to be all about the salmon, with the avocado featured as drizzled sauce on it.
Not that I'm complaining, because I felt the portions at the culinary demos were generous to the extreme! I feel that the California festival exceeds WDW's in that respect. I couldn't believe how much cheese we had one demo, which once cost $45 as an event (with a couple glasses of wine) at WDW. (In 2007, the cheese events were $60. Let's hope they served more cheese than these demos!)
After each demo, cast members would hand out the online survey cards. I thought that's a great thing, because it meant we can let them know what we thought about the events, so they can improve them for the future.
And now for the dining events...
I've become addicted to the special dining events held during the festival at WDW, so I knew that I wanted to see how Disneyland's events would compare.
Steakhouse 55 winemaker dinner: $125 includes tax and gratuity.
Festival Wine Reception: $55
Gallo winemaker dinner at Vineyard Room: $85 includes tax and gratuity
I thought the winemaker dinners were worth every penny, but the one at the Vineyard Room was an excellent value. Similar events at WDW, such as the Signature Dinner events typically held at resort restaurants on Sunday nights, are similar in scope, yet cost more. The event dinner I attended at California Grill was $155 plus tax.
The only disappointment I had was with the festival wine reception. It felt underwhelming. I think California should take a page from the food and wine pairing events like the ones held in Epcot restaurants. 3 small courses paired with wines. Those events are $45 plus tax (as of 2007), and I've enjoyed them. The only problem is finding venues at Disneyland that can host these.
So how do the two festivals compare?
I think the best analogy I have is comparing WDW to department store, like Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's and the like. And Disneyland as an up-and-coming hip boutique store. Both have some high quality items, but one is on a far larger scale than the other.
Of course, the best part was that I still had time to enjoy the parks, while still taking lots of time doing food and wine related stuff.
50 years Too!
DIS Veteran
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- Jan 11, 2005
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Thanks for taking the time to fill us all in about DL Food and Wine.
You did an excellent job!
Looking forward to going to this event Spring of '10.
Deb
You did an excellent job!
Looking forward to going to this event Spring of '10.
Deb
BriarRosie
<font color=blue>Creator of Tag Fairy Haiku:<br>Cl
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2002
- Messages
- 11,164
You know, some of the funny things just write themselves. (coughHooverDooverscough).
I can honestly say I enjoyed the majority of the food on my trip. The only thing I truly didn't enjoy was the "Mark Twain" breakfast at River Belle Terrace. Usually I find the food inside the parks to be terrific. At least their lunch and dinner options. And I could go for that chocolate mousse cake again right now. Or that caramel cake in the cake trio from the first event.
Thanks for taking the time to fill us all in about DL Food and Wine.
You did an excellent job!
Looking forward to going to this event Spring of '10.
Deb
Oh thanks! I wasn't sure I wanted to commit myself to doing this report, but I'm glad I did. At least now I know what to expect for the festival.
Oh, and I finally submitted my survey (from one of the numerous cards handed to us after the demos) just before today's deadline. I know, I'm a procrastinator! I not only told them what I liked, but I made sure they knew how underwhelmed I was by the Wine Reception event.
I gave them kudos for the efficiency in the culinary and booze demo queues with the handy numbering system, as well as the ID checking. And I did mention that nobody who wanted a recipe at the demos could get one. Maybe next year that will change.
And because I answered "yes" to attending the Epcot festival, they point blank asked me how the two compare. I used my dept. store vs. boutique analogy.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2007
- Messages
- 5,083
I love how you summed things up and put it all in perspective for me. We definitely want to get out to the DL F&W Festival next year. I know not to expect what we get at WDW, but apparently there are plusses and minuses to both. Your report was wonderful to read and I'm so glad you posted it so we could all get a feel for things on the other side!
lulubelle
The "twisty" part of the 60 is called the Badlands
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2000
- Messages
- 5,194
Thank you so much for all the details and pics!
Wonderful!
I go to DL/DCA all the time and have gone to many of the F&W events and must say, you put me to shame with all that you (and Catherine and unnamed friend) did in a few short days. We love Yamabuki, too, but all the waitresses seem to be ditzy middle aged oriental women who don't know much about waitressing but are pleasant and "too cute", KWIM? It didn't seem like you did too many rides at DCA, did you? We loved the Wine Reception two years ago, much more hot & cold items (felt like we had a meal after eating all the samples) and not as crowded and we went again this year and agree, it wasn't as good. Plus last year it was $45 and this year $55. Anyway, so glad you enjoyed DL Hotel and the festival events - thanks again for sharing!
Wonderful!
I go to DL/DCA all the time and have gone to many of the F&W events and must say, you put me to shame with all that you (and Catherine and unnamed friend) did in a few short days. We love Yamabuki, too, but all the waitresses seem to be ditzy middle aged oriental women who don't know much about waitressing but are pleasant and "too cute", KWIM? It didn't seem like you did too many rides at DCA, did you? We loved the Wine Reception two years ago, much more hot & cold items (felt like we had a meal after eating all the samples) and not as crowded and we went again this year and agree, it wasn't as good. Plus last year it was $45 and this year $55. Anyway, so glad you enjoyed DL Hotel and the festival events - thanks again for sharing!
disneegrl4eva
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2004
- Messages
- 9,041
I was a bit bummed that we missed Guy Fieri by a week, but I would not have waited 4 hours for him!
well I would have too but I had to leave on sunday and the dinner was that sunday evening..my dd bf grandmother had just passed that weekend and I had to get her from school in Riverside and bring her back with me for the funeral so it just wasnt supposed to be...so thats why I waited 4 hours for him...I love him
great report btw...when are you coming in Oct.? we will be there the 22nd-26th....
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