Good Values & Gooder Splurges! w/ Pics! (3-Trips-in-1-Report) - UPDATE 11/7

[bluejasmine]

Glad to hear you liked Tonys.. Its the one place Im iffy about for our Sept Adrs but I have always wanted to eat here..

 

[tink too]

I've always wanted to have lunch at Tony's, but I'm a really picky eater and I don't think I would have anything there (except maybe dessert! )

That dude was good! I would love to see some Disney balloon creations though... I wonder if they ever do that in WDW...

I've never seen balloon animals at WDW - except the huge bunches on Main Street - but I bet they would be really cool if Disney made them!

 

[NorweJenNY]

I have read on another review that the Calzone at Tony's is very salty. I love salty food but can't stand it if it's over-salted IYKWIM. That kids' pizza looked pretty good though

Yeah, IKWYM... it usually takes a lot of salt to discourage me though... so just the fact that I didn't have to add salt was actually kinda nice. I think other people just may need to have a heads up though.

Kids' pizza that kids don't like but adults do... isn't that fascinating? I loved all the excess cheese on it!

Glad to hear you liked Tonys.. Its the one place Im iffy about for our Sept Adrs but I have always wanted to eat here..

I think everyone just needs to try it out... I mean really, everyone is going to have their own opinion. Everyone is also going to have their own experience. I think if you do try it, do what other people do and try to get seated in the sun room just before parade time for an awesome view. Then, worst case scenario, if the food isn't what you'd hoped it would be, at least you'd have a neat experience so you wouldn't feel like it's a total waste.

I've always wanted to have lunch at Tony's, but I'm a really picky eater and I don't think I would have anything there (except maybe dessert! )

I've never seen balloon animals at WDW - except the huge bunches on Main Street - but I bet they would be really cool if Disney made them!

As for Tony's, why not split a meal with someone or go just for dessert? Just a thought...

As for the balloons, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it has something to do with the birds... I thought I read somewhere that the balloons Disney uses don't actually pose a threat to wildlife like regular balloons do... perhaps there are no safer balloon animal balloons that can be used. Though, if this is the case, I say Disney should make 'em!

 

[NorweJenNY]

May 2010
Day #2 - Snacks

We purposely didn't have dessert at Tony's... too many dole whip fans in the family, so we went over to Aloha Aisle.

It was rather busy, however - being peak heat of the day, everyone had the same idea! Hubby stood on the long line while the rest of us sought out tables. There was no place to sit though.

So, I thought I'd look for some benches, or even a table by Casey's (but that was pretty busy too), but since I was so close to something else that I had to try, I took a little detour to Main Street Bakery myself.

I am a bread pudding person, and I heard MSB had a banana bread pudding - so I had to try it!

I got it, and boy was it hot! Started doubting my decision... but I took it and walked back to where my family had finally found a table near Aloha Aisle. (BTW, it was so busy at Aloha Aisle that hubby was still on line at this point!)

Anyway, I got to take out my banana bread pudding while everyone else waited for their dole whips. Here's what it looked like...

I thought it would be scooped up into a dish, but it was indeed in its own little dish! How cute!

The top was a bit hard (strange for bread pudding, IMHO), but it was softer inside...

There was a definite banana flavor in it, but not too overpowering. Slightly less moist than other bread pudding I'd had, but still nice for a cakey dessert. The only thing I was questioning was why I was sitting in the heat with a rather warm dessert while everyone else was just getting their cool, refreshing dole whips...

But then, I suddenly got an idea!

I took the bread pudding out of its little dish and put it back into the plastic container that I had transported it in... and did this too it...

Yes, vanilla dole whip on warm banana bread pudding. See how it just started melting into the crevasses of the bread pudding? Oooh... so good! And so cooled it down! And made it much more moist too! Good thing Little Guy had too much of his dole whip to finish!

But I will say, there was one thing that made this better...

I stole a spoonful of hubby's pineapple dole whip... just one, as that was all I could manage... but yes indeed, I took that pineapple dole whip with a bite of banana bread pudding...

INSTANT POLYNESIAN BLISS! This bite instantly brought me back to dessert I'd had at 'Ohana, which if you recall is a warm pineapple bread pudding with bananas foster sauce and ice cream on it. Pineapple dole whip plus warm banana bread pudding creates a dreamy alternative from counter services in MK!

To sum up...

Good: MSB Banana Bread Pudding

Gooder: MSB Banana Bread Pudding + Vanilla Dole Whip

Goodest: MSB Banana Bread Pudding + Pineapple Dole Whip

So this is how I like my dole whips, but hubby discovered a way he likes his... you'll have to wait 'til later in this report for that one though...

 

[NorweJenNY]

May 2010
Day #2 - Dinner

Even though we were staying off property, we returned to POFQ for dinner yet again... we love Sassagoula Floatworks! Reminder... it's one of the CS restaurants where we can use the TiW 20% discount!

Big Guy didn't get a burger! Branching out, he decided on spaghetti and meatball (singular)... with a side of applesauce.

That's a big-a meat-a-ball-a! He also got some packets of sprinkle cheese to cover it... he loves that stuff.

You should see in Olive Garden when the waiter/waitress asks if Big Guy wants cheese on his spaghetti - of course he does! So the waiter/waitress usually says "tell me when to stop," but eventually his mommy has to chime in because he'd never tell them to stop!

Little Guy got his usual chicken nuggets and grapes...

Maybe he'll branch out a little too when he gets a bit older.

Now, on to the stuff that you can't actually get anywhere else in Disney World...

Grandmom and I, of course, got the best CS ribs in The World (with a double side of mac & cheese).

Hubby's Mom got her ribs with mashed potatoes, and got the mac & cheese in a dish - why didn't I think of that?

Hubby got his seafood-free jambalaya, making him happy as usual.

Hubby also ordered us (mostly himself) six beignets. By the time I got through my meal, this is what was left...

At least there was that much!

So... here's my usual sum up...

Good: Food that makes every one happy to be here!

Gooder: 20% TiW discount at the CS! (No tip to add on either!)

Goodest: Best CS ribs in The World!

Ok... let's move on to some pictures other than Sassagoula now... sorry to bore you with so many of those!

 

[tink too]

OK Jen, that's one alternative (and yummy) way to "use" a dole whip - can't wait to find out what other concoctions you guys made with them!

 

[NorweJenNY]

OK Jen, that's one alternative (and yummy) way to "use" a dole whip - can't wait to find out what other concoctions you guys made with them!

Sometimes, simple is good... Don't expect us to be dragging snacks together from all over the park! Though I'm sure someone out there would...

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Yep, if the folks do not give us what we want we are creative and come up with our very own variations.

Jen, I think the Dole Whip with the crusty bread pudding sounds like a great idea. However, since I am the one who would have to go fetch both of them it ain't going to happen.

CarolineInToronto, so I am not the only one who justifies carb intake? I weigh in on Tuesdays and we eat at a buffet restaurant that evening. I do not overeat by any means however my 'cheat' for the week is mac & cheese. I take a small soup bowl, scoop about 1/3rd full of cheese shreds, 1/3 with some sort of low carb veggies and then top it off with a small scoop of mac & cheese. All the flavor and less carbs. That is what I ell myself at least.

I do not see anything wrong with trying out a restaurant by just ordering an appetizer or dessert. I just would not go at the very busiest of times and take a table from a family who is eating an entire meal. JMO

Slightly Goofy

 

[basketlacey]

Loving your review and jealous of your three trips this year!

Keep them coming! Also, good luck with your job search!

 

[NorweJenNY]

Ok... I'll have to admit, this whole lack of employment thing has made me rather depressed in the recent past - especially thoughts of how long it might be before I could ever afford another Disney trip! Gotta at least get the 10th Anniversary one in - 16 months to prepare for that... should be plenty of time to try to get are act back together... hopefully... stupid economy!

Anyway, I am in more of a mood to use Disney as inspiration again... got a ton of applications out this week... have the potential for at least a few tutoring gigs for at least a little income... a glimmer of hope... and I've got my Disney music in the background (thank goodness for online Disney radio stations!)

So let's get back to some reviews now... shall we?


May 2010
Day #3

I apologize if we lack some pictures today... scrambled eggs and cereal for breakfast at our condo... then hubby visited with his father, while me, the kiddos, and the grandmas went to AK...

AK is important to us TiW card holders - 20% discount at several of the CS locations. You can imagine my complete and utter panic when I got to FlameTree BBQ and did not find my TiW card where I had been keeping it for the past 4 entire trips to WDW! I called hubby, in case he had it, but he insisted that he gave it back to me! I didn't want to shell out another $75 for a replacement!!! What would that mean for the rest of the trip? I planned my budget based on having a 20% discount at a lot of places! And here I was getting on line at FlameTree, about to pay full price in the one park where I could've gotten a discount!

Well... hubby called back and informed me that he was wrong... he DID still have the card! He had it in his hand as we were getting food the previous night and forgot to give it to me! PHEW!

So one CS meal full price wasn't gonna kill the budget... I felt better, but I still just shared a plate of ribs with my mom...

I missed the ribs from POFQ... those were better... and these didn't have as much meat... not as much for side dishes ( I don't like coleslaw and beans), and maybe paying full price was also getting me down, but I wasn't really impressed. I wish they still served them with cornbread. At least I had some meat. The kids had kid's meals... I think hot dogs... my dmil got a kid's meal too! And I will say, I like the atmosphere in the seating area at FlameTree.

We went to my favorite show in the afternoon - Finding Nemo, and we got some Dibs (chocolate covered ice cream bites) to share around while we waited. Sooo refreshing! Just what we needed!

While we waited, I also got some tips from the guys behind me for taking non-flash pictures during the show. (They saw me researching my options in my manual.) I just set the ISO to 1600, and I think I had more decent pictures this time than any other in the past! Thanks to those guys who said that I shouldn't have to worry about graininess with a higher ISO on these newer cameras.

So... I'll share a few Nemo photos since I don't have more food photos for this day...

My summary for dining in AK on this day...

Good: Meat with my lunch... (remember, I can be a bit of a carnivore)...ribs, even if not POFQ's, were decent in flavor despite the small quantity served at Flame Tree.

Gooder: Love the atmosphere - shady places to eat... can always find a seat at Flame Tree.

Goodest: Dibs! So refreshing on a hot day and easy to share! (Even better when you get to eat them in anticipation of the Nemo Musical about to start!)

 

[NorweJenNY]

Day #3 (cont.)
May 2010

Ok... dinner was a bit cheesy... literally! We had a very tight budget if we were going to have enough funds for the rest of our major dining plans, so we had to find something cheap as we had my dfil with us this night, plus the grandmas, hubby, me, and the kiddos... what's one thing everyone can agree on? Pizza. We ordered Domino's. I hate to admit it because it was so not Disney, but we weren't on property yet, and had major plans the rest of the week. The good news was this was the first time I got to try the new crust at this place, and man oh man is it good... at least for a chain restaurant.

But we did have some more Disney treats that evening, as hubby wanted some one-on-one time with his mommy and was going out with her a little bit... I asked him to bring me back a certain treat from Earl of Sandwich that I had read about on a food blog...

Well, hubby and his Mom went to Goofy's Candy Company, where she had a princess cupcake (sorry no pic, I wasn't there)... and hubby got a bag of jelly beans...

That's not my thing though... so hubby did go to The Earl and found exactly what I was looking for...

Ahhh... the chocolate peanut butter brownie! Masterpiece! First of all the brownie is so soft and chocolatey... the peanut butter center is more like a peanut butter frosting - imagine extra smooth and creamy, slightly sweetened peanut butter - a really thick layer of it! The whole thing was fabulous! Because my mother also appreciates the chocolate-peanut butter combo, I actually letter try a bite (but only one! ) She couldn't believe how good it was! She wanted to know when we'd be heading back to DTD!

You can see it comes pre-packaged - but don't let that fool you! It tastes fabulously fresh! It also comes with a fudge center or a vanilla frosting center... I'm yet to try those... I bet they're all good!

So... for the evening...

Good: Domino's was good and cheesey with a fabulous new crust - not a budget buster, and the whole family ate and had leftovers for breakfast.

Gooder: Hubby and his mom got some time to spend together at Goofy's and enjoy their own treats... she loved the cupcake, and he loved those silly jelly beans - to each his own... the important thing was the happiness it brought them

Goodest: Chocolate peanut butter brownie! A taste of heaven!

And if you're interested in more chocolate peanut butter treats, we have a couple more that we tried as our trip continued...

 

[RachelNinja]

Loving your reviews! Is the chocolate peanut butter brownie always at Earl? If so, I'm definitely getting one in February! I saw it and immediately sent the link to your pic to DFi because he too loves the pb and chocolate combo! Can't wait to see what else you guys have!

 

[sandym718]

Yum, yum!! choc and PB is my favorite combo! We ate at Earl last trip and I just had a regular brownie, didn't see these, but I'll DEFINITELY be looking for it next March!! Looking forward to the rest of your reviews, esp. the PB/Choc!

 

[NorweJenNY]

Loving your reviews! Is the chocolate peanut butter brownie always at Earl? If so, I'm definitely getting one in February! I saw it and immediately sent the link to your pic to DFi because he too loves the pb and chocolate combo! Can't wait to see what else you guys have!

I read about these brownie sandwiches in May before our trip, and I read that they were relatively new at the Earl of Sandwich. Hubby did have a difficult time finding them, so if you have a problem, ask someone! It was sooooo good!

Yum, yum!! choc and PB is my favorite combo! We ate at Earl last trip and I just had a regular brownie, didn't see these, but I'll DEFINITELY be looking for it next March!! Looking forward to the rest of your reviews, esp. the PB/Choc!

They better keep them around! Phenomenal!

Again, if you can't find them, ask someone at The Earl.

 

[basketlacey]

so glad you are back online doing reviews!

A couple of notes to make:

1) I had the roast beef sandwich at Liberty Inn and it was very good. It isn't something I would normally pick but didn't want a burger. It was a good choice for CS.

2) We went to RFC after our AK day last trip. When we left, the parking lot looked just like your picture. Hysterical!

 

[NorweJenNY]

so glad you are back online doing reviews!

A couple of notes to make:

1) I had the roast beef sandwich at Liberty Inn and it was very good. It isn't something I would normally pick but didn't want a burger. It was a good choice for CS.

2) We went to RFC after our AK day last trip. When we left, the parking lot looked just like your picture. Hysterical!

1) Nice thought! Good to hear of another pleasant CS option - roast beef at Liberty Inn.

2) Isn't it great when you can find your vehicle immediately?

 

[basketlacey]

1) Nice thought! Good to hear of another pleasant CS option - roast beef at Liberty Inn.

2) Isn't it great when you can find your vehicle immediately?

It was so funny to see our vehicles (we had 2) sitting all by themselves. We had quite an entertaining walk out to the car - just being silly.

I forgot to add to my last comment - I really want to try that PB brownie! YUM!

 

[NorweJenNY]

I forgot to add to my last comment - I really want to try that PB brownie! YUM!

What a coincidence! I want to try it again!

 

[danalee]

omg that peanutbutter brownie

thank goodness we leave friday and plan on sometime durning the week hitting Earls!!!

 

[NorweJenNY]

omg that peanutbutter brownie

thank goodness we leave friday and plan on sometime durning the week hitting Earls!!!

You're so lucky! Have a fun trip!