How We Ate The World For Free - version 2.0

[BabyPiglet]

Hey guys! I just got back this week from 10 days at the World with free dining! Overall we had really good food almost everywhere, and the same could be said for service. I'm going to update this with my reviews as much as I can, but I do have two research papers, reading, and studying for tests on my plate right now. I'll start with the actual reviews as soon as I finish uploading my pictures.

Here's the crew.

Me - College student, so I've had a few too many ramen noodles recently. Just kidding, I eat well. I love cooking and trying new things. I do not eat beef or pork, and eventually would like to cut out meat all together. I love veggie burgers, veggie sausage and all other forms of vegetables. I don't think there's a vegetable I don't like, except maybe canned spinach. Wants to be married to creme brulee.

Mom - Semi-adventurous I suppose you could say. She'll try new things every once in a while, but also loves a good burger or Casey's hotdog. Isn't big on steak, and I honestly don't think she ordered one all trip. Also wants to be married to creme brulee.

Dad - Like meat and potatoes. Figured out this trip that although he doesn't want to marry creme brulee, would probably sit down and watch 'the game' with it anytime.

Laura Jane - She's 5. What can I say. She likes chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, hot dogs, pizza, and salad only when it has shredded iceberg and ranch. She's apparently scared of mixed greens.

Oh, and I say my title is version 2.0, because I did a dining review in 2007 for my free dining trip then, and I couldn't figure out a better title for this one.

Here's a list of the restaurants I will be reviewing.

Pop Century
Chef Mickey's
Cosmic Ray's
Pop Century
Akershus
Joy of Tea Stand
Italian Gelato Stand
Chefs De France
50's Primetime
Ice cream stand
Wolfgang Puck Express
Goofy's Candy Company
Tusker House
Pop Century
Coral Reef
Sunshine Seasons
Tony's Town Square
Cosmic Ray's
Aloha Isle
Pop Century (breakfast)
Plaza Cafe
Wolfgang Puck Express
Pecos Bills
Aloha Isle
Pop Century
Main Street Bakery
Casey's
Cinnamon glazed almonds
Pop Century
Pop Century (breakfast/use up snack credits)

I think that's it! I'll probably remember something and stick it in there, but that's the general list.

I hope you will find these helpful.

 

[MickeyNicki]

O.M.G.

That is a humongous list and I cannot wait to hear all about it!

 

[DLo]

wow - looks like you had a lot to review! We are going to chefs for the first time next month so can't wait to read that one (of course, i will read the others too)

 

[BabyPiglet]

Yep! We were there 10 days and ate lots and lots of food.

 

[TigerKat]

Signing on, great list!!!!

 

[CanadianPaco]

I'm signing on!! What a list of restaurants!!!

 

[mchelle77]

Subbing, too .. you ate at a lot of the places we're due to eat at, so I'm always interested in hearing new reports!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Subbing, I really liked your reviews last time, so I think it's safe to assume I'll like them again.

 

[letstalkboutdisney]

subbing.. can't wait to hear your reviews!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

joining in. can't wait.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Okay, let's get this show on the road, shall we? I'm sorry for the delay, but I was working on a big research paper on film and studying for a test. That's pretty much done now, so I have a little time to focus on this!

We got in pretty late (9:30) on Saturday, so we thought we'd just get a large pizza to share at Pop. With 2 CS credits you get one large pizza, 2 drinks, and 2 desserts. As most people know though, you can sub a salad or most other 'snack' items as a dessert, and we weren't really feeling anything sweet that night. (Especially because I had horrible motion sickness on the plane.) So we got 2 salads instead. Oh, and we also bought our mugs.

The salads were pretty fresh, and the lettuce was crispy and perfect. It was something nice and light on my tummy. I used ceasar dressing and while it was a bit too tangy/salty, it worked good enough.

The pizza we got was half cheese, half pepperoni. Obviously the cheese part was for me, and I think that's what Laura ate as well.

The pizza was alrighty. To be perfectly honest it reminded me of the pizza they used to serve in my elementary school's cafeteria. It was overly doughy and overly saucy. Alas, it was food, and we were hungry. My parents liked it a lot more than I did. I think the personal pizzas are better somehow.

Would we get it again? Maybe. Probably only if we were in the same situation of flying in late, when all the other sides of the food court are closed.

Next up: Chef Mickeys! (Oh, by the way, I'm going to do one restaurant per post, as it just seems easier that way.)

 

[BabyPiglet]

Okay, let's move on. The next morning we awoke bright and early for our semi-late breakfast at Chef Mickeys at 10 am.

The wait for check-in here was the longest wait we had the entire trip, and it was about 10-15 minutes. There was a massive line! But once we checked in we got our picture and got seated pretty quickly.

This is my plate. (From the bottom going clockwise). Biscuit, three cheese 'omelet', Cheesy potatoes (which I realized had bacon in them, I wasn't really paying attention when I got my plate.), Mickey waffle, Goofy's Vegetable Lasagna. The best thing on this plate is by far the lasagna. The biscuit was gross, the eggs were tasteless and runny, and the waffle was cold and mushy. The lasagna WAS good though, it had tons of cheese and big slices of zucchini.

Laura's plate. Scrambled eggs, bacon, Mickey waffle, Minnie's breakfast pizza, cantaloupe. She ate most of it. I don't think she really cared about the food when this was going on...

Too cute, huh?

Okay, I'm going to have to finish this tomorrow, sorry! There's a huge storm going on and I'm afraid if I keep going the power might go out and all of this will disappear.

 

[jessrose18]

 

[Disney*Geek]

That's a lot of eating to write about. Count me in

 

[BabyPiglet]

This is either my mom's or dad's plate. I'm missing a picture somewhere. It doesn't really matter though, since they both got similiar things.

Buttermilk biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes, three cheese omelet, bacon, and bacon and cheese potatoes.

I believe he says the B&G were tasteless, but he's really picky because he makes B&G really well. We all agree that the eggs were either undercooked and runny in sections, and overcooked and tough in other sections. Otherwise I think he thought the rest of the food was just okay.

Somebody got a plate of fruit, but I think this was after some had been eaten.

It was pretty good and fresh.

Then they started the whole 'napkin swinging get up and dance and embarass yourself' routine, and they brought out this cupcake for my dad who was celebrating a birthday this trip.

I think Laura might've played around in it for a little bit, but I don't think anyone actually took a bite, so I can't comment on the flavour.

Will we be back? Oh, I really would rathar not. This is the second bad experience (food wise) in the past 3 years. On the other hand, Laura did have an absolute blast with the characters. Did I mention that Laura is actually my cousin? Anyway, we took her this year because her mom couldn't get off work, but we're planning a big trip with everyone next year for bounceback. We might go because of that, but I will try and veto it.

Next up: Lunch at Cosmic Rays!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I agree that CM isn't that great for breakfast, and the only thing I really liked when I ate there was the lasagna too.