Greetings From England !! Updated 5/6 - Mission Completed - The Votes Are In

[dizneeat]

Nice one, Linda!

I LOVE shopping days!

 

[Linda67]

Nice one, Linda!

I LOVE shopping days!

It's odd but I don't actually like shopping in the UK but when I am in Florida I can't get enough

 

[Linda67]

Is Pop Corn a food group

 

[dizneeat]

Is Pop Corn a food group

If it has a Mickey on the label than YES, it is!

 

[Linda67]

[size=+1]Morning everyone

We are now on day 6 of our wonderful vacation and today was a good day, lots of shopping, good food, good drinks all rounded off with an evening at Downtown Disney

As usual we headed down to the pool for morning coffee and a look through the newspapers before deciding on our plans for the day

First stop was the Mall At The Millenia where we had a great time spending all of our hard earned cash

A quick rest at Starbucks (Tea for DH and a Cinnamon Dolce Latte for me) and we all set for another assault on the stores

Soon it was food time and we both agreed that lunch at the Cheesecake Factory was in order. I really love this place and we have always had a really good meal whenever we’ve been there

It was a beautiful day so we asked if there was a table available outside and by the time we had freshened up our table was ready

Our server was great, he really took the time to chat to us and make recommendations. As I am sure you all know the menu here is huge so it’s good to get a few ideas from your server. He took our drinks order and left us to decide.

I think DH stuck with water but I had another lovely treat

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

Oh boy – this was wonderful

We also got some warm fresh bread and butter and I particularly enjoyed the whole wheat variety

After much debate we finally decided on what to order. We didn’t want appetizers as we knew the entrées would be huge

Here is DH’s lunch

B.B.Q. Pulled Pork Sandwich
Slow Roasted Pork Covered with Our B.B.Q. Sauce on a Brioche Bun served with Fries and Coleslaw

He just loved this, the pork was really tender and the B.B.Q sauce was excellent. He also really enjoyed the coleslaw and cleared his plate

I really wanted a salad as they are always great here so this is what I ordered

Seared Tuna Tataki Salad
Pacific Albacore Tuna Lightly Seared and Served Rare with Avocado, Tomato & Mixed Greens Tossed With Wasabi Vinaigrette

The tuna was seared perfectly and the wasabi vinaigrette was the perfect dressing for this salad.

As always the Cheesecake Factory was wonderful and I wish I could tell you that we saved room for one of their amazing cheesecakes but we didn’t
The slices of Cheesecake here are huge and what we normally do is pop in just to have Cheesecake and coffee or get some to take out but we were far too stuffed to do a slice justice so we settled our bill and headed back to the car with our very full tummies and very full shopping bags

Lunch was definitely
out of

Coming up Mini Golf Challenge Round Two and Downtown Disney Treats[/size]

 

[wilma-bride]

I love Cheesecake Factory - we have no plans to shop on our August trip but may have to factor in a trip to Mall @ Millennia just to go to CF - yum

 

[lakelandcallsme]

Both place I love, love, love Panerra Bread and Cheesecake Factory!

 

[Linda67]

I love Cheesecake Factory - we have no plans to shop on our August trip but may have to factor in a trip to Mall @ Millennia just to go to CF - yum

It is fantastic there, we have been to several different locations in the US and they have always been consistantly good. Hate that we didn't have room for dessert though

Both place I love, love, love Panerra Bread and Cheesecake Factory!

I know, I wish we had them in the UK

 

[mossyflossy]

Of course popcorn is a food group, that's why it has it's own smiley. Anyways, Walt said so!

And I simply adore the Cheesecake Factory...it would be mobbed if it came here...

 

[Linda67]

Of course popcorn is a food group, that's why it has it's own smiley. Anyways, Walt said so!

And I simply adore the Cheesecake Factory...it would be mobbed if it came here...

Oh how I wish there was one in London, I could really use a slice of Cheesecake right now

 

[dizneeat]

Can you believe we have NEVER been to Cheesecake Factory? I think this is something I definitely want to try next February - or maybe during the summer if we can fit in some MORE food!
It just looks so YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[scojos]

sorry im a bit late, but im here now
looking forward to trying the cheesecake factory for the first time...
as for popcorn, ANYTHING with a mickey lable is a food group!!
tracy

 

[Cat0727]

I loveee Cheesecake Factory! The first one I went to was in Miami, and that's where my obsession with it started Wish there was one in NYC!

 

[disney_princess_85]

Great Cheesecake Factory review! We're planning on going there for the first time in August. Looks like we won't be disappointed!

 

[jockey]

Great reviews of 2 of my fav places Panera bread and the Cheescake factory! Cheese cake factory always gives way to much food but it's just so nice you have to eat it. We have still to try cheescake as we are always too full!

 

[BriarRosie]

Come visit me. I have a Panera and a Cheesecake Factory within 5 minutes of me. Driving distance. I can easily walk to either and convince myself that I'm burning off some of the calories!

My new fave at Panera is their mac and cheese. It's so good! And I won't go to Cheesecake Factory unless I either split my meal with someone or take half of it home. Portion sizes are ridiculous! That saves room for some cheesecake.

 

[Linda67]

Can you believe we have NEVER been to Cheesecake Factory? I think this is something I definitely want to try next February - or maybe during the summer if we can fit in some MORE food!
It just looks so YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Oh Karin, you have to try it. I just know you would love it

sorry im a bit late, but im here now
looking forward to trying the cheesecake factory for the first time...
as for popcorn, ANYTHING with a mickey lable is a food group!!
tracy

Late arrivals are very welcome

I loveee Cheesecake Factory! The first one I went to was in Miami, and that's where my obsession with it started Wish there was one in NYC!

We have been to the ones in Orlando, Las Vegas and Boston and they have all been great

Great Cheesecake Factory review! We're planning on going there for the first time in August. Looks like we won't be disappointed!

I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed. Make sure you save room for Cheesecake

Great reviews of 2 of my fav places Panera bread and the Cheescake factory! Cheese cake factory always gives way to much food but it's just so nice you have to eat it. We have still to try cheescake as we are always too full!

You're right, the portions are huge but it's sooo yummy you just have to eat it all

Come visit me. I have a Panera and a Cheesecake Factory within 5 minutes of me. Driving distance. I can easily walk to either and convince myself that I'm burning off some of the calories!

Wow, I am jealous. I think I am going to have to start a campaign to get them both to open in England

My new fave at Panera is their mac and cheese. It's so good! And I won't go to Cheesecake Factory unless I either split my meal with someone or take half of it home. Portion sizes are ridiculous! That saves room for some cheesecake.

Next time we visit I am going to work backwards and start with the Cheesecake

 

[Linda67]

[size=+1]Following our lunch at Cheesecake Factory we headed back to our hotel to drop off our shopping and then took the short drive to Fantasia Gardens for round two of the Mini Golf Challenge

You may remember that DH had won round one of the challenge so this time I was determined to focus on the task ahead with professionalism and the kind of attitude that has created winners and sporting excellence throughout the ages

This is what drinking too many Lapu Lapus can do to you

Anyway, a few other people had just started their games so the CM asked if you would mind waiting for 10 minutes….. no problem at all, it will give me chance to try one of these ………..

Mickey’s Cookie & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich

I hadn’t tried one of these before as my heart belongs to the Mickey Bar but this was good and a nice treat ahead of our game

Soon it was our time to get started and we set off around the ‘Fairways’ side of the course

Following our game the plan for the evening was to head over to Downtown Disney for a visit to Disney Quest and something to eat ……………………….. Oh yeah, I suppose you want to the outcome of our game ……….. DH won. I obviously let him in the interest of marital harmony

We enjoyed our time at Disney Quest especially as it was pretty quite in there. Just before we left we joined in one of the Animation Academy Sessions and attempted to draw Minnie Mouse. DH was in hysterics at my final picture and pointed our that Minnie looked like she hadn’t been feeling too well lately

Upon realising that a career in art was never going to happen we headed over to House Of Blues for a quick drink. There was a really great singer performing outside so DH grabbed a Coke and I got a Bud Light and we sat and listened for a while

We were both beginning to feel hungry so we took a stroll through Westside and ended up in DTD Marketplace. Neither of us felt like a table service meal and having read so many great reviews on the boards I suggested the Earl Of Sandwich

I was really impressed with the set up in here. The queue looked big when we arrived but they were very efficient at taking orders and getting people moved through quickly. They seem to have a lot of staff working in this location and it certainly shows in the speed of service

Here is DHs choice

Tuna Melt - albacore tuna salad and Swiss cheese

And for me ……………..

Veggie - Feta cheese, lettuce, roma tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers and Mediterranean Dressing

Now the Earl Of Sandwich is one of those places that I had read so much about on the DIS Boards that I just had to try it for myself and boy, you were all so right about this place. The bread was warm fresh and tasty and the fillings were generous and full of flavour. I particularly enjoyed the Mediterranean Dressing on my sandwich and I am a big fan of Feta so this was an all round winner for me. DH loved his Tuna Melt as well and said that ‘we must come back here’

We weren’t on the dining plan but many of the people ordering here were and I have to say that this is a great value way of using a CS credit

For dessert we picked up one of these and two spoons

Yogurt Parfait With Peach

Again this was delicious and only one complaint ……………. We should have got one spoon

Without doubt I award the EOS out of

We left EOS and continued our tour of Downtown Disney. It was a busy evening but lots of fun looking around at everything and watching the world go by

Coming Up Next …………… A snack so big it deserves it’s own post[/size]

 

[wilma-bride]

Great update Linda, I absolutely love Earl of Sandwich but, for some reason, DH doesn't

Slightly OT, but which mini golf course did you prefer. We much preferred Winter Summerland to Fantasia.

 

[Linda67]

[size=+1]Next up ……………… it’s off to Goofy’s Candy Company for a sweet treat

Wow, you gotta love this place. The air is so full of sugar I think you get seriously hyper just by breathing in

Check out the ‘Counter Of Temptation’

How do you choose? Everything looks soooooo good. We decided to ‘Create Our Own Treat’

And here is how our creation turned out ……………..

Mickey Krispy Rice Treat dipped in Milk Chocolate and Mini M&Ms And Drizzled With White Chocolate

This was HUGE it ended up lasting us for several days. We couldn’t walk past the refrigerator in our hotel room without nibbling some of it

‘No Goofy …………………… Thank You !!’

Coming Up Next ……….The Brits Are Off To Universal Studios[/size]