Half the Calories, All the Fun - A "Healthier" Food-Focused Trip Report (12/2-12/13) RL update 4/10

[disneyAndi14]

You will love Frontera Cocina! It is a favorite of ours! Sounds like a wonderful trip to look forward too!

 

[rdkeim]

Excellent TR! I really enjoyed following along. You've given me things to think about when eating at Disney and just eating out in general. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

 

[mickey916]

You will love Frontera Cocina! It is a favorite of ours! Sounds like a wonderful trip to look forward too!

I'm getting excited! Great to hear about Frontera Cocina. I already booked it on Open Table!

 

[mickey916]

Excellent TR! I really enjoyed following along. You've given me things to think about when eating at Disney and just eating out in general. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

Thank you so much! Glad to give you "food" for thought! We definitely think differently about eating out and have actually found a few new favorite meals and restaurants here in Massachusetts.

 

[mickey916]

Update: We're driving down in 11 days for our 4 week trip (4/21-5/21). Both of our sons will be joining us, arriving 5/9 and staying through 5/18. DS-28, who works fully remotely anyhow, will have to work from the hotel for 2 days but we're happy he's able to be with us for the week. We start the drive home on 5/19. DH and I are still focusing on healthy options with splurges here and there. I have changed my mind a thousand times on restaurants but here's where we are at as of the current moment:

Breakfasts: (most days in the hotel)
1900 Park Fare (DH's request, which really surprised me.)
Trattoria Al Forno
Satuli Canteen
Sanaa
Boma (with our sons)
Offsite: Old Sugarmill Pancake house

Lunches:
La Cantina de San Angel
ABC Commissary
Gasparilla Island Grill
Smiling Crocodile
Columbia Harbor House
Les Halles
D-Luxe Burger (maybe as a splurge)
Sunshine Seasons
Banana Cabana
Trails End
Backlot Express
Yak n Yeti Local Foods
Steakhouse 71 Lounge (splurge)
Polite Pig (with sons)
Satuli Canteen (with sons)
Circus McGurkis (Universal with sons)
Shiki-Sai (maybe with sons)
Docking Bay 7 (with sons)
Tony's Town Square (with DS-26, while DS-28 works from hotel)
Artist's Palette

Dinners:
Sassagoula (twice, once with sons)
Shiki-Sai
Frontera Cocina
Boma (opted for this instead of Kona Cafe. Have only had dinner here once in 2010)
Wailulu
Centertown Market
Via Napoli (splurge)
Coral Reef
House of Blues (splurge)
Captain Cooks (twice, once with sons)
Primo Piatto
Le Creperie
Geyser Point
Amare
The Mara
Maya Grill
Sanaa (probably bread service to go or the lounge)
Columbia, Celebration (with sons)
Toothsome Emporium (with sons)
'Ohana (with sons)
San Angel Inn (with sons)
Chef Art Smith's (with sons)
Il Mulino (with sons)

As you can see the end of our trip is a little more splurgy (is that a word??) since our sons picked the locations. We will try to stick to the healthier options though as much as possible.

Can't wait to report back on our next adventure!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Somehow I missed this TR. I’ll need to go back and read before the new one!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Ok silly me as I was reading, I did see that I posted during AK, but maybe I click watch thread and forgot about it.

 

[mickey916]

Ok silly me as I was reading, I did see that I posted during AK, but maybe I click watch thread and forgot about it.

Haha! I thought you had responded at least once..welcome back!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

After looking at your updated list. I noticed a couple of my favorites that I don’t think you’ve written about before. Steakhouse 71 is one of our favorites, although we usually have lunch there I think dinner once. You won’t be disappointed. Polite Pig is also a favorite. My boys love it there.
We will be on the road 4 days before you. My DH prefers driving straight thru the night though. We will be in MK on Tuesday and Epcot on Thursday.
Have a magical trip!!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I will just miss you. I arrive on 5/21-5/27. You have a great line up! Some of my favorites are on there. I will be excited to hear all about it!

 

[mickey916]

After looking at your updated list. I noticed a couple of my favorites that I don’t think you’ve written about before. Steakhouse 71 is one of our favorites, although we usually have lunch there I think dinner once. You won’t be disappointed. Polite Pig is also a favorite. My boys love it there.
We will be on the road 4 days before you. My DH prefers driving straight thru the night though. We will be in MK on Tuesday and Epcot on Thursday.
Have a magical trip!!

I picked Polite Pig for my DS-28. He keeps mentioning he wants barbecue. I figured that's the best choice for that. He was looking at Whispering Canyon (but it's actually closed when he's there) and Flame Tree. I think Polite Pig will be way better. We have been to the lounge at Steakhouse 71 back in 2022. Looking forward to making it back there but may try to-go from the restaurant instead. Our current plan is to hit the road at 3 am Monday morning, stopping in Santee, SC Monday night and arriving Tuesday...DH is starting to discuss leaving at midnight instead. He hates the drive from MA to DC so he likes to get it out of the way with minimal traffic. Since we're staying for four weeks, we are mostly doing offsite things the first week to let the post-Easter crowds settle. We will be in Epcot on Wednesday, weather-permitting going to Cocoa Beach on Thursday, Deleon Springs on Friday, and Lake Apopka on Saturday (and finally MK on Sunday.) Have a wonderful trip and safe travels!!!

 

[mickey916]

I will just miss you. I arrive on 5/21-5/27. You have a great line up! Some of my favorites are on there. I will be excited to hear all about it!

Oh! Our trips always seem to be around the same time. Are you going to Epic Universe??? I just saw that onsite guests could preview the park. We're staying at Portofino Bay on 5/11 and was hoping maybe to get a preview but right now it looks like the previews end 5/9...something to look forward to next year, I guess. Have a great trip. I look forward to reading all about it.

 

[disneyAndi14]

Are you going to Epic Universe???

I wish it would have worked out but no! The preview dates didn’t work for me!
Andi and I will be checking it out in September! I hope you have a great trip and who knows maybe you will be able to check out Epic!

 

[rdkeim]

Another trip - yay! I'll be watching for the TR!

 

[mickey916]

I wish it would have worked out but no! The preview dates didn’t work for me!
Andi and I will be checking it out in September! I hope you have a great trip and who knows maybe you will be able to check out Epic!

When we booked this trip I never even considered it a possibility, but maybe...we're planning on next spring for sure.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Good news for MA spring break week… both RI and CT are off the week before!

 

[mickey916]

Good news for MA spring break week… both RI and CT are off the week before!

That is great news!