iNTeNSeBLue98
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2000
Too much food for three light(er) eaters. I would not pay for the dining plan - especially not in the hot summertime. It is just way too much food for us. We normally eat just twice a day at WDW, usually CS and occasionally a buffet or two. Here are my reviews:
Table Service/Buffets
1. 8/27 Cape May Cafe Clam Bake Buffet at Beach Club
7:00pm ADR, arrived at Beach Club at 6:30pm and were seated shortly before 7pm. We sampled clams, salmon, clam chowder, prime rib, red-skinned mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, peel & eat shrimp and the Oreo bon bon (one was plenty!)
2. 8/28 'Ohana at Polynesian Resort
Arrived at the podium at 5:01pm for a 5:10 ADR, or so I thought (It pays to call and confirm before you arrive). CM couldn't find our ressie by name, so we gave him the confo #...which was made for 5:10pm on 7/28/07! - one month prior to the date requested! We were given a pager, walked towards the shop opposite the restaurant and were beeped almost immediately. We were at a table on the aisle and by the time I returned from the restroom our food was already being served. We all really liked the marinated sirloin, barbecue pork, and grilled turkey. I wasn't crazy about the sausage. We also liked the honey-lemon (lime?) salad dressing. It was very light on top of the salad, just a hint of additional flavor on the greens. The scalloped potatoes were good, as were the vegetables. We split the bread pudding-bananas foster - it was soooo gooood!
3. 8/29 Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge
We arrived at AKL at 8:30pm, taking the bus from AK, which closed at 8pm for EMH. Our ADR was for 9:20pm so we had some time to kill before returning to the podium 20 minutes before our ressie. We walked around the lobby and pool, and even got to see a couple giraffes on the resort's savanna. It was very peaceful throughout the resort. We sat a spell in the lounge waiting to get a table. It was late and we were starving and tired from a very long day. About 9:15 we were seated, just across from the buffet. Our server was training a new CM, but we didn't see him (the new CM) after the first encounter. The line to get sliced meats was incredibly long, so we started with the sides. I tried the couscous, sweet potato/white potato dish, DH tried the watermelon rind salad but didn't like it too much. DH settled for the kids buffet - chicken tenders, spaghetti, mac & cheese as the seasoning here are really different than what we are used to eating. We finally made it to the carving station. I think we had the prime rib, which was good. We had fresh fruit (strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes) and desserts - zebra domes, blueberry tarts, strawberry tarts and more bite size treats.
(notice there are no photos of the food.?? this simply wasn't a good choice for our tastes.)
4. 8/30 Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
We had a 12:20pm lunch ADR and arrived in the lobby about Noon. The restaurant was not yet open, so DH ducked outside for a quick smoke while DD and I headed to the restroom. I no sooner left the lavatory when our name was hollered. I tried DH on his cell and the hostess promptly told me that I should hang up so I would hear our name being called rolleyes1 )
Our server was not boisterous like a few of the others were - there were others entertaining tables nearby. We each ordered an appetizer - DH and DD got the nachos, while I chose the chicken quesadilla. Honestly, the appetizers would have been enough of a lunch for us. They were generous portions. DH ordered the rainbow trout entree, DD the stack sandwich and I had the pulled pork sandwich. Again, more than enough food, especially after only eating some of the appetizer. For dessert DH went with the apple caramel pie, DD the S'more cheesecake and I had Banana Dust Bowl (cinnamon tortilla w/ice cream).
5. 8/31 Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus/Norway
8:40am ADR, arrived at Epcot's gates at 8:10, making it to Norway before 8:30. A number of other guests had just arrived and were waiting to be seated. We were called inside to get a photo with Belle and directed to our table. There was fresh fruit (bananas, grapes, cantaloupe) and pastries (cheese or fruit danish, muffins, and more) on the buffet. We were served a platter of scrambled eggs, potato casserole, bacon and sausage. We cleaned up the eggs and bacon....I misunderstood Trine's question about ordering a refill, which we would have only ordered additional eggs. Since I didn't hear the question properly I ended up getting a full refill. Other than meeting with four princesses at the table, the menu is not worthy of the $23 price tag.Maybe we're just not big breakfast eaters?
6. 9/1 Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney Studios
I changed this from 5pm to 8:30pm when I ran it to a tight scheduling conflict with Mears Transportation returning from Universal Studios. It would have been very rushed to make the 5:00 ADR. Unfortunately we missed out on seeing Fantasmic. We made our way to Sci-Fi when the park-closing announcement was made. We arrived at the podium just after 8pm and checked in. We were asked if we had a table preference, if we wanted to wait for a car, the table or best available. We said best available and were seated quickly in a car near the kitchen. Our server was very nice. We ordered the BLT soup, onion rings and spinach and artichoke dip for our appetizers. Our entrees included the Reuben for DH and me and the baby back ribs for DD. The reubens were good, although 1/2 was enough of a meal for me. DD has this thing about eating in bright lighting, so this was not a feel-good situation for her - plus we were exhausted from a week of parks, partying (P&PP), bus riding and eating! DH and I each ordered the apple-pecan crisp to go, but never did get around to tasting it as I began packing the room and getting ready for check-out the next morning, while DH went to the trading post to collect a package.
Table Service/Buffets
1. 8/27 Cape May Cafe Clam Bake Buffet at Beach Club
7:00pm ADR, arrived at Beach Club at 6:30pm and were seated shortly before 7pm. We sampled clams, salmon, clam chowder, prime rib, red-skinned mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, peel & eat shrimp and the Oreo bon bon (one was plenty!)
2. 8/28 'Ohana at Polynesian Resort
Arrived at the podium at 5:01pm for a 5:10 ADR, or so I thought (It pays to call and confirm before you arrive). CM couldn't find our ressie by name, so we gave him the confo #...which was made for 5:10pm on 7/28/07! - one month prior to the date requested! We were given a pager, walked towards the shop opposite the restaurant and were beeped almost immediately. We were at a table on the aisle and by the time I returned from the restroom our food was already being served. We all really liked the marinated sirloin, barbecue pork, and grilled turkey. I wasn't crazy about the sausage. We also liked the honey-lemon (lime?) salad dressing. It was very light on top of the salad, just a hint of additional flavor on the greens. The scalloped potatoes were good, as were the vegetables. We split the bread pudding-bananas foster - it was soooo gooood!
3. 8/29 Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge
We arrived at AKL at 8:30pm, taking the bus from AK, which closed at 8pm for EMH. Our ADR was for 9:20pm so we had some time to kill before returning to the podium 20 minutes before our ressie. We walked around the lobby and pool, and even got to see a couple giraffes on the resort's savanna. It was very peaceful throughout the resort. We sat a spell in the lounge waiting to get a table. It was late and we were starving and tired from a very long day. About 9:15 we were seated, just across from the buffet. Our server was training a new CM, but we didn't see him (the new CM) after the first encounter. The line to get sliced meats was incredibly long, so we started with the sides. I tried the couscous, sweet potato/white potato dish, DH tried the watermelon rind salad but didn't like it too much. DH settled for the kids buffet - chicken tenders, spaghetti, mac & cheese as the seasoning here are really different than what we are used to eating. We finally made it to the carving station. I think we had the prime rib, which was good. We had fresh fruit (strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes) and desserts - zebra domes, blueberry tarts, strawberry tarts and more bite size treats.
(notice there are no photos of the food.?? this simply wasn't a good choice for our tastes.)
4. 8/30 Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
We had a 12:20pm lunch ADR and arrived in the lobby about Noon. The restaurant was not yet open, so DH ducked outside for a quick smoke while DD and I headed to the restroom. I no sooner left the lavatory when our name was hollered. I tried DH on his cell and the hostess promptly told me that I should hang up so I would hear our name being called rolleyes1 )
Our server was not boisterous like a few of the others were - there were others entertaining tables nearby. We each ordered an appetizer - DH and DD got the nachos, while I chose the chicken quesadilla. Honestly, the appetizers would have been enough of a lunch for us. They were generous portions. DH ordered the rainbow trout entree, DD the stack sandwich and I had the pulled pork sandwich. Again, more than enough food, especially after only eating some of the appetizer. For dessert DH went with the apple caramel pie, DD the S'more cheesecake and I had Banana Dust Bowl (cinnamon tortilla w/ice cream).
5. 8/31 Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus/Norway
8:40am ADR, arrived at Epcot's gates at 8:10, making it to Norway before 8:30. A number of other guests had just arrived and were waiting to be seated. We were called inside to get a photo with Belle and directed to our table. There was fresh fruit (bananas, grapes, cantaloupe) and pastries (cheese or fruit danish, muffins, and more) on the buffet. We were served a platter of scrambled eggs, potato casserole, bacon and sausage. We cleaned up the eggs and bacon....I misunderstood Trine's question about ordering a refill, which we would have only ordered additional eggs. Since I didn't hear the question properly I ended up getting a full refill. Other than meeting with four princesses at the table, the menu is not worthy of the $23 price tag.Maybe we're just not big breakfast eaters?
6. 9/1 Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney Studios
I changed this from 5pm to 8:30pm when I ran it to a tight scheduling conflict with Mears Transportation returning from Universal Studios. It would have been very rushed to make the 5:00 ADR. Unfortunately we missed out on seeing Fantasmic. We made our way to Sci-Fi when the park-closing announcement was made. We arrived at the podium just after 8pm and checked in. We were asked if we had a table preference, if we wanted to wait for a car, the table or best available. We said best available and were seated quickly in a car near the kitchen. Our server was very nice. We ordered the BLT soup, onion rings and spinach and artichoke dip for our appetizers. Our entrees included the Reuben for DH and me and the baby back ribs for DD. The reubens were good, although 1/2 was enough of a meal for me. DD has this thing about eating in bright lighting, so this was not a feel-good situation for her - plus we were exhausted from a week of parks, partying (P&PP), bus riding and eating! DH and I each ordered the apple-pecan crisp to go, but never did get around to tasting it as I began packing the room and getting ready for check-out the next morning, while DH went to the trading post to collect a package.