Grand Gatherings & more! 1 year of Disney Dining! Illuminations Grand Gathering 5/26

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I am moving in slow motion over here but I'll have updates soon. I have a couple of snacks to add right now but the next meal will be Tony's Grand Gathering Breakfast! I hope to add that in the next day or two.

More Epcot snacks from Norway...

The almond pretzel

and this thing

Oooohhhhh, can't wait!

It won't be too much longer. I know I'm going super slow over here and I am not proud of myself.

I am so in for more food pics!!

I have lost 16 pounds now and you just know I'm going to gain 20 if not more when we go in August! 13 days of deluxe dining! Oh yeah, it's going to be really nice. That is going to be a fun food report!

Those food pics look great! I better not look to much1 I'll be changing my adr's all over again! Even though that may happen when park hours are released!

And to think Pepper Market is a counter service place! They have a great set up for CS food!

Great reviews and pictures. Thank you for posting.

Thanks. I can not wait to write up the next trip. I still have Dec and March to do though.

As I was reading I was wishing for DXDp but we are going under the 4/3 at the Poly. Its almost $700 cheaper for us than free dining. We are a family of 5, like you, only our kiddos are between 3-8yrs old. First trip that we have to pay for all 5 - boy was that a sticker shock.

Glad to hear you approve of my plans
Can't wait to read more!

You only make out on free dining if you stay at a value resort. People will argue this with me but if you get a 40% off deal or the 4/3 like you did and stay anywhere other than a value the 40% off is much better than the free dining deal. You pay OOP for dining and you still save money. Especially at the Polynesian. You guys save hundreds by paying for the plan and getting the cheaper room! Now if you don't mind value resorts free dining is a great deal. I loved the Polynesian when we stayed last Summer. We were on the third floor with a direct view of the Magic Kingdom. Watching Wishes from the bed was wonderful! My next trip is 13 nights on the deluxe dining plan. I can not wait! 4 months and counting...

Question for you!

The potatoes from Garden grill, did they change? From your earlier pic they look like cheesy hashbrowny type, then your Dec pic looks like mashed taters. Love the pics, and your kids are adorable as ever!!!

Probably so. I was told that all of the potatoe dishes went to no trans fats and it really changed the taste of the breakfast potatoes at O'Hana and Princess Storybook. I used to love the ones there but now they're not so good. They change desserts according to the season. In the Summer time you get the berry pastry and in the Winter time it's a bread pudding dessert. Both are very good though.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Here's a list of places we plan to eat at in August. We're trying to try out a lot of new places this time around. Of course we'll go back and visit some of our favorites as well. The ones in purple are new to us. If any of the readers here have been to these places I would love to hear what you thought about them. (And if you have pictures please feel free to add them here!) I'd love to see them!

L Whispering Canyon Cafe
D Chef Mickey's
B Hollywood and Vine
L Sci-Fi
D 50's Prime Time
L Wolfgang Puck's
D Spoodles (if they're still open) or Teppan Edo
B Tony's Grand Gathering Breakfast
L Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch is new to us so if ya have pics...)
D Kona
B Tusker House
L Yak n Yeti
D Safari Grand Gathering
B Princess Storybook
L Nine Dragons
D Epcot Celebration Dinner
L Big River Grille and Brewing Works
D Turf Club Bar and Grill (Saratoga Springs)
B Cape May Cafe
L Teppan Edo
D Garden Grill
B Chef Mickey's
L Crystal Palace/Tony's/LTT (not sure yet)
D HDDMR (last show so we can get the best seats.)
B 1900 Park
L Coral Reef (We almost ate here but the server was a wench & we left.)
D Tutto Italia
L Le Cellier
L The United Kingdom
D Le Chefs De France
B Tusker House
L Yak n Yeti
D Boatwright's (Port Orleans)
B O'Hana
L Grand Floridian Cafe (We ate here while it was being subbed for 1900)
D The Plaza
*We were thinking about Shutter's too!

 

[annie1995]

Wow! Thats alot of food you guys are gonna have with all those places!! I totally can't wait to see pics from those, who knows, me might even have ADR's for the same places and bump into eachother!!

 

[lisalonglash]

B Le Cellier

Your ADR list is making me hungry! One thing though, I'm pretty sure Le Cellier doesn't serve breakfast (of course, I could be wrong, I often am LOL)

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I was just looking at menus again and The Wave for Breakfast sounds good. Has anyone tried this? I don't care for the apps during dinner or lunch and the food there isn't my thing. So many decisions...too much time.

Wow! Thats alot of food you guys are gonna have with all those places!! I totally can't wait to see pics from those, who knows, me might even have ADR's for the same places and bump into eachother!!

Hopefully. We'll have to compare once we finalize everything. I'm waiting on the hours. You probably are too. A bunch of us Diser's got together and we're doing our own Grand Gathering. Your family is welcome to join us. We're doing all three GG in August. It's going to be FUN! I can't wait. We're dining for 13 nights so that's 39 credits...but three are 2 credit things so really we have 36 meals.

Your ADR list is making me hungry! One thing though, I'm pretty sure Le Cellier doesn't serve breakfast (of course, I could be wrong, I often am LOL)

On my list I have things as B L & D. That day we're actually having an early lunch at Le Cellier, a late lunch/early dinner somewhere else, then a late dinner in another place. I know...crazy, but there's so many places we want to dine at. We're trying to fit them all in. I wish there was another breakfast choice in WS. That would be nice. PSB is good and all but I am sick of it being the only choice in Epcot for a nice sit down breakfast. Hello!? Disney!? Do you hear this!? I fixed the typo. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[TXMomof3boys]

Just read all 13 pages of your DR - loving it! I am going to subscribe so that I can read more. Looking forward to it!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Just read all 13 pages of your DR - loving it! I am going to subscribe so that I can read more. Looking forward to it!

Hi! Thanks for reading. In Aug/Sept I am doing deluxe dining for 13 nights! That's going to be a sweet food report! I see that you're going here shortly! Lucky you! Tell Mickey I said Hi!

 

[milmore104]

Just read all 13 pages of your DR - loving it! I am going to subscribe so that I can read more. Looking forward to it!

Me too! I looked through every last page. Then I stuffed my face w/ Mickey Waffles to cope w/ it all. Can't wait for more. We are headed to the Mouse House at the end of Sept for a 14 night DXDDP. Your plans kind of look like ours.

 

[starrzone]

Just read all 13 pages of your DR - loving it! I am going to subscribe so that I can read more. Looking forward to it!

Me too! I looked through every last page. Then I stuffed my face w/ Mickey Waffles to cope w/ it all. Can't wait for more. We are headed to the Mouse House at the end of Sept for a 14 night DXDDP. Your plans kind of look like ours.

Same here!!! Clicked on the link from one of your other TRs. I was DROOLING at the sight of the O' Hana food...my brothers would DIE to eat there!!! HECK, I would too. I adore potstickers, and wings, and ribs...oh, the bliss...must stop thinking about them!!! Can't wait to read more

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Kona....one of my favorite places to have breakfast (even though the service is awful!) I always get the same lame waitress. I'm lucky I guess. PB decided not to upload my picture of the macadamia nut pancakes (Heaven on Earth!) As mentioned before during the first dining experience these babies don't even need syrup. The butter alone is enough to do the deed. As much as I'd like to try the Tonga Toast I don't think I could. Once again Sidney chose the Big Kahuna Platter. I had this last time and this sampler is delicious! A little bit of everything but not enough of the pancakes!

All three kids had the Minnie's French Toast this time. You get a choice of meat on the side with this and a drink. Your choice.

While I'm here I'm going to go ahead and add a yummy snack. The Tinkerbell sour slushy. This drink is so good! You can find it right across the Liberty Square bridge on your right. It's one snack credit!

This is a frozen sour raspberry drink....not too shabby either.

And this was an iced coffee. It didn't last long. I'd like to call this ice with a little coffee on it.

I know, it's just a little update. I'll be back with more soon. Promise.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Me too! I looked through every last page. Then I stuffed my face w/ Mickey Waffles to cope w/ it all. Can't wait for more. We are headed to the Mouse House at the end of Sept for a 14 night DXDDP. Your plans kind of look like ours.

What are your dates? We're going in Aug/Sept for 13 nights. The trips may cross. We're doing deluxe too. That's going to be one heck of a dining report. I am trying a lot of new places you rarely see on here. Can not wait!

Same here!!! Clicked on the link from one of your other TRs. I was DROOLING at the sight of the O' Hana food...my brothers would DIE to eat there!!! HECK, I would too. I adore potstickers, and wings, and ribs...oh, the bliss...must stop thinking about them!!! Can't wait to read more

OMG the potstcikers are the BEST! I've had them all over Disney and here at Kona....they are the BEST! I could totally eat up an order right now. I am hungry just thinking about it. The wings are now an app for two. Leave it to Disney. I guess they are trying to discourage people from getting the deluxe plan now!

 

[ariel2007]

Ok these are the ons I have tried that you are planning to (and haven't tried yet) -

Wolfgang Puck - which one do you mean? We tried the cafe last year (the downstairs restaurant) and it was a nice setting and the food was different and nice. I wouldn't rate it one of my tops (Nick loved his ribs) but would reccommend trying it.

Boatwrights - we have done both breakfast and dinner and really enjoyed both. The staff were lovely, and the food was really good.

HDDMR - OMG the best show in Disney. You have to try this, it was brilliant. So funny, the food was great and we managed to get the best seats in the house. We really weren't expecting to enjoy this half as much as we did but we loved it and can't wait to do it again.

Coral Reef - Great location, and the food was actually much better than I was expecting. However I wouldn't rush back as the staff are so damn rude and really spoiled the meal for us. The trouble is as well is Sharks Underwater Grill at SW is one of our favorite restaurants and CR just doesn't measure up in food, location, atmosphere or staff. If you ever get chance to go to SW try this restauran, it is great.

Big River Grille - We haven't actually been to the one at Disney but we went to the one in Chattanooga and really enjoyed both the food and atmosphere. I wonder if this one measures up?

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Ok these are the ons I have tried that you are planning to (and haven't tried yet) - Thanks for adding this!

Wolfgang Puck - which one do you mean? We tried the cafe last year (the downstairs restaurant) and it was a nice setting and the food was different and nice. I wouldn't rate it one of my tops (Nick loved his ribs) but would reccommend trying it. We're going to try the table service option. Not the "upstairs" place or Cafe that's counter service. I think it's just WP's Cafe? We've never eaten on the dining plan at DTD. We'd eaten at Rainforest many times but we had vouchers for that.

Boatwrights - we have done both breakfast and dinner and really enjoyed both. The staff were lovely, and the food was really good. Good to know!

HDDMR - OMG the best show in Disney. You have to try this, it was brilliant. So funny, the food was great and we managed to get the best seats in the house. We really weren't expecting to enjoy this half as much as we did but we loved it and can't wait to do it again. This one I'm not sure about but it's the only show at WDW we haven't tried so I want to give it a shot and see what the hype is about. I'm really looking forward to it. I do wonder if they have alternative food for kids like the other places. Mine hate fried chicken and everything else here but the cornbread and strawberry shortcake. DId you see any kids get different food? They have Pizza right there at Trail's End and they share a kitchen so I wonder if they could just bring them some pizza?

Coral Reef - Great location, and the food was actually much better than I was expecting. However I wouldn't rush back as the staff are so damn rude and really spoiled the meal for us. The trouble is as well is Sharks Underwater Grill at SW is one of our favorite restaurants and CR just doesn't measure up in food, location, atmosphere or staff. If you ever get chance to go to SW try this restauran, it is great. This place I tried in '06 and I had the biggest B as a server. I made a huge fuss. I put her in her place and got the manager involved. I'd never in my life had such crappy service and the attitude! Dear lord. It was something else. The guy seated us in a big table which made her mad to start with. Then she rushed us through our drinks and app and all but told us what we should eat. People don't do that to us. In the end the apps and drinks had been served. We wasted a whole 40 minutes or so at her table which she did not get a tip on! And the manager had words with her in front of us. We ended up going to the Garden Grill instead. The manager begged us to just move to another section and she apologized but it was too late for me. I left for what I knew was good. That's the only time I've had to set someone straight there. I gave her a little training session on HOW to wait on tables. Boy you should have seen her face! Anyway, it's been three years now and I am hoping after all that and a written complaint at guest sevices they've gotten their act together somewhat! I will be trying lunch. What did you have here?

Big River Grille - We haven't actually been to the one at Disney but we went to the one in Chattanooga and really enjoyed both the food and atmosphere. I wonder if this one measures up?

I'll let you know. Thanks girl for sharing. If you have pics from these meals I would love for you to share!

 

[bentleygirl22]

OMG that happen to us there too back in 2007.. The sever never really came and when he did come by he was rude we missed our show because the meal took so dang long I said we would never go back and we never have...
sorry you had to deal with that too...

September 1st, 2008. We spent the day ay DHS and had three meals planned. Hollywood and Vine for breakfast, Sci Fi for lunch, and 50's Prime Time for dinner. H & V we skipped. Already three meals a day was taking it's toll on us. Plus there was EMH at the MK the night before and all the breakfast ADR's I made in the 8 o' clock hour. So, we had a couple of snacks upon arrival at DHS. Frozen lemonades, a spicy cheese filled pretzel (yum) and a plain salted pretzel.

For lunch we waited about 5 minutes to be sat at Sci Fi. We had a very sweet server and she took good care of us. She wanted us to get everything we could out of the dining plan. She suggested milkshakes or floats for drinks (and she said this was the only place that does this.) Even the kids can get shakes! I got a vanilla shake, DD got a strawberry shake, Sidney ordered a coke float, and DS was brought an orange soda float even though he ordered a plain soda. She went back and got the drink right away but left the float in case someone else wanted it. Here are pictures of the drinks. (Which were very good by the way!)

Next up were the appetizers. I ordered the onion rings and Sidney ordered the chili. Both superb.

For our entrees I ordered the ribs, Sidney got the burger, DD ordered a hot dog and DS ordered Pizza.
The rib sauce was pretty good but the meat was a little tough. I'm used to Lonestar's melt in your mouth baby back ribs and this was far from that! I was still a mess. hehe Next time I'll go for a burger too. Sidney loved his! The kids all liked their food too! Here are our meals...

And for dessert I ordered the apple crisp which was amazing! And Sidney ordered the cheesecake. His cheesecake came covered in cracker jacks...ewww! I like cheesecake and I like cracker jacks but NOT on one another! I thought this was gross! He said the cheesecake was pretty good, but not as good as mine.

We love this restaurant and the little cars you sit in. The atmosphere is wonderful. My kids think it's the coolest place ever! Would I go again? Of course. This is my fave place to eat at DHS! The meal totaled $106.55 and was one table service credit.

A few hours later it was time for Dinner. We were headed to 50's Prime Time.

This was our first time going. I'd heard many good stories about the place and could not wait! We had to wait about 15 minutes for our table. We were seated in a little room which was kind of neat. Only weird thing was the big family next to us. They kept staring at us and gawking. (In a Charlie Manson way) Freaky! At first our server seemed sweet. She sat down and chatted with us for a few and took our drink orders. We were her only table back in this room. Another server had the other two tables. So anyway, she brings back the drinks. For appetizers we order the Chicken Noodle Soup and Shrimp Cocktail.

About 25 minutes later she shows up w/ the apps and blamed the kitchen for the delay. Then she left. Someone else brought out our food. (Which took another 30 minutes or more) and she never came back! For our dinner (which was ordered at the same time as the apps) I got the fried chicken and Sidney ordered the beef stew. DD ordered mac n cheese. DS ordered the chicken tenders.

Sidney took our drinks to the bar to get them refilled. We never saw her again!? This picture shows what our table looked like for the duration of the meal! Nothing was ever pre bussed! Not one drink was refilled! Not one person asked how the food was. Nothing! We were ignored for over an hour.

Normally we would ask WTH was going on but we wanted to wait it out and see how long it would actually take for her to come back. After everyone finished eating (keep in mind we'd been in the place for well over an hour) DD had to go to the bathroom. I said great! She'll come while you guys are gone. And she did. I was sitting there with the baby and she decides to sit down at the table and act like my best friend! I was calling her very bad names in my head. I never said a word to her I just stared (like the Manson family had done to us our whole meal). Must have been very awkward. She acted as if nothing was the matter even after seeing the table full of dishes and a mute po'ed person straring at her in awe! Sidney comes back, thank God, and asks her to remove the mess from the table. I was po'ed at him now since I had to deal with her alone. He told me to go get a manager. Which I did. I sent him to the table and left the place. I was disgusted by now and felt I'd wasted way too much time since we were now hitting the two hour mark since we had walked into the place. Sidney talked with the manager for a while, did a write up on the woman, and ordered milkshakes to go. (Manager felt bad and offered them since we had walked out on dessert!) Really ~ what was she thinking? Had I been a cash paying customer I would have gotten up and walked out of the place! I think this one outdid the woman over at Crystal Palace! This was my first and last time ever eating at 50's Prime Time. The food was decent but the service was horrible! The wait times were super long and to me, the fried chicken just wasn't worth it! The meal came to $87.33 and was one table service.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

OMG that happen to us there too back in 2007.. The sever never really came and when he did come by he was rude we missed our show because the meal took so dang long I said we would never go back and we never have...
sorry you had to deal with that too...

Her face is etched into my mind forever. Believe you me if I get her or that woman at Kona again I will ask for someone else. I think I'm going to give 50's one more shot this trip. See what happens. While looking at menus I saw that the Grand Floridian Cafe has a lobster benedict meal for breakfast. That sounds yummy. I might have to try it. I know you ate there but I'm thinking it was for lunch, not breakfast. Am I remembering right? I have the basic ADR's outlined but this week I am going to finalize things. We've made the Grand Gatherings already but that still leaves me 36 more meals to pick and choose. I love it. So much fun, the planning...

 

[ariel2007]

Yes it was the WP Cafe we tried, not the Express. I haven't got pictures from there for some reason, maybe as it was our last day and I was just to sad. But we shared spring rolls with hoi sin and mustard sauce to start which was very nice. Nick had hoi sin ribs with fries and I had chicken sandwich with provolone cheese and aioli which came with kettle chips. I asked to swap the chips for fries, which they forgot but I didn't mind as me and Nick just shared. However when the waitress realised she insisted she brought some fries and was really nice about it, but I was just too full to eat them but felt so bad I tried to.

At Coral Reef Nick had the Pork Chop which he really enjoyed

And I had chicken with almond, parsnip and pesto, it was very, very good

And here is the HDDMR food

 

[ariel2007]

Do you know I have heard a lot of bad reports on the staff at CR. One family their waitress read through the menu so fast and when they asked her to repeat it she treated them like they were thick. Then she brought one of them the wrong appetizer and when they told her this she argued with them, despite another table telling her they had heard them order too and that she had brought the wrong thing. When she eventually brought the right thing she literally chucked it at them. They decided to leave too, and the manager begged them to stay, so I guess they are pretty used to it.

 

[bentleygirl22]

Her face is etched into my mind forever. Believe you me if I get her or that woman at Kona again I will ask for someone else. I think I'm going to give 50's one more shot this trip. See what happens. While looking at menus I saw that the Grand Floridian Cafe has a lobster benedict meal for breakfast. That sounds yummy. I might have to try it. I know you ate there but I'm thinking it was for lunch, not breakfast. Am I remembering right? I have the basic ADR's outlined but this week I am going to finalize things. We've made the Grand Gatherings already but that still leaves me 36 more meals to pick and choose. I love it. So much fun, the planning...

Yes we ate at GFC and loved it but when we ate there it was for dinner.. it was one of the best meals last trip...

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Do you know I have heard a lot of bad reports on the staff at CR. One family their waitress read through the menu so fast and when they asked her to repeat it she treated them like they were thick. Then she brought one of them the wrong appetizer and when they told her this she argued with them, despite another table telling her they had heard them order too and that she had brought the wrong thing. When she eventually brought the right thing she literally chucked it at them. They decided to leave too, and the manager begged them to stay, so I guess they are pretty used to it.

Thank you so much for posting those pictures! The pork chop looks tasty. And you were right. You guys had some really good seats! Wow. You'd be on the stage if you were any closer. I hear they seat you according to when you make your ADR. I wonder if that is true!? Love that you showed off the menu too. Thank you so much!

I wonder what's up w/ CR? They need to get in some trainers or something. A different woman brought out the apps and slammed mine down in front of me and she slid the kids things across the table! I was like W T H!?

Yes we ate at GFC and loved it but when we ate there it was for dinner.. it was one of the best meals last trip...

I ate there a couple of times but it was during the 1900 remodel so the Cinderella meal was in there. It was so good we went twice. Now 1900 is so bad! The lsat time I had the buffet I wanted to get up and leave. I think I ate some fruit and dessert. That was it.

 

[milmore104]

What are your dates? We're going in Aug/Sept for 13 nights. The trips may cross. We're doing deluxe too. That's going to be one heck of a dining report. I am trying a lot of new places you rarely see on here. Can not wait!



We're going 9/29-10/12. I can't wait myself. I keep looking over and over all the food porn threads. I can't wait to try all the new places we've always wanted too but never had the time. You'll have to rush home and do a report before I leave so I can hear all about it. Have a great trip.