I am a bad DIS member, lots of pics

[Leigh123]

Please forgive me this report is way overdue

Trip Sept 8th - Sept 15th

Free Dining (woo hoo)

Cast

Me: obsessive over planner

DBF: Carnivore and Mt Dew addict

We have both been multiple times and enjoy all the parks as well as Disney dining experiences. We have used the dining plan when it was free and paid for it at times it was not. We like the ease of having our meals pain for in advance ....here goes

 

[Leigh123]

Day 1 Lunch(arrival) Riverside Mill CS

We got to POR around 10:00 am, checked in our room was ready. Switched into our swim suits and went to the Riverside Mill for Lunch

DBF BBQ pork sandwich and Fries w/ Red Velvet Cake and 2 Powerades

ME Chipotle Burger and Fries w/ Chocolate Cake

Rating

Overall everything was GOOD, dessert was GREAT

Cost vs DDP


$33.50


Day 1 Dinner Narcoosee's

It has become our tradition to do a signature dining our first night, this year since the Yachtsman was closed DBF picker Narcoosee's. It was delicious meal start to finish, in a nice adult atmosphere.

DBF Surf and Turf with the Almond Crusted Cheesecake for Dessert

ME Whole Lobster with the Almond Crusted Cheesecake For Dessert

We are not big drinkers, especially in the heat so we both usually had ice tea or soda with all of our meals (FYI I am from Pittsburgh so I will get run out of town for calling it soda, but I prefer that word of "pop").

Delicious meal start to finish. The warm bread with Hawaiian sea salt is to die for, and we now serve that for some meals at home. The almond crusted cheesecake is the best dessert of the trip for both of us.

Rating

Excellent

Cost vs DDP

$176.02

20% Tip excellent service $33

 

[Leigh123]

Day 2 Breakfast Tusker House

Another tradition we have developed is a character breakfast our first park day, this year we selected Tusker House. We have been to this breakfast when it was in its old location and have enjoyed it in the past, not so much this time UH OH................................

We got off to a bad start when we went out at 6:30 to catch a bus for our 8:05 ADR....at about 7:15 when an AK bus had not come, I went to the little stand in belle services and inquired when we could expect one or if we should call a taxi (dbf an I both hate to be late)....this is where things got odd, she told me I had to flag an MK bus down an tell him I wanted to go to a character breakfast at AK...I questioned this as in all my WDW years and trips have never heard of such a thing, but I did as instructed....well let me just tell you the MK bus driver looked at me like I had 5 heads, so back to the bell services desk I go. Someone else was there and told me I must have misunderstood, I explained I didn't and that I even questioned it....he said he would take care of it. About 5 minutes later and AK bus pulled up. We got to our ADR about 5 minutes late, but not a problem. I will say we were not fans of the get in line for the check in and to get your pager. While we were in line a CM came out with a portable check in device and pulled us out of line to check in. Wouldn't you know, the portable device died so we had lost our slot in line, sensing our frustration she finally went somewhere else and got us checked in and we were called to be seated. THEN as we were walking to the entrance i was kicked square in the shin by someone's kid they weren't watching....ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh . Ok finally we are seated , I had coffee and Frunch???? juice DBF just had juice...food was standard breakfast fare, Character interaction we AWFUL just AWFUL.

Rating

Food Okay-Good

Service Excellent

Character Interaction AWFUL

Cost vs DDP

$53.23 + 10 Tip


Day 2 Dinner Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe

It was EMH at the MK this night, so we had planned on Pecos Bills but DBF was not in the mood for a burger so we opted for Cosmic Rays.

DBF half rostiarie chicken and BBQ Rib meal with mash potatoes, diet coke and carrot cake

Me 1/2 lb angus burger, fries and mango gelato.

RATING

For CS Good-Great, the mango gelato was delcious and refreshing.

COST vs DDP

$37.92

 

[gardengirl628]

Count me in! Great reviews so far.

 

[Leigh123]

Day 3 Lunch Riverside Mill

We had gone to EPCOT that morning and were not hungry so we came back to the hotel for lunch and a swim...UNFORTUNATELY after we changed into our swim suits I left the camera in the room. FORTUNATELY you aren't missing anything exciting .

DBF Chicken nuggets and fries, magic cookie bar and 2 Powerades

Me Muffaletta, magic cookie bar

we loved loved loved the magic cookie bars

RATING

Just Okay

COST vs DDP

$31.82

Day 3 Dinner Cape May Cafe

I am not a fan of dinner buffets but after seeing pictures of this on the DIS DBF wanted to go. It wasn't awful it was just kinda blah....we ate our share of crab lakes and DBF ate a lot, but overall I was not thrilled. It could have been because of a family sat beside that thought it was okay to let their 2 toddlers use a bowl and spoon as a drum set, so they could eat and ignore them. I am not a child hater, but strongly feel SOME people do not watch their children or make them behave when at WDW. This particular party had 2 parents an 1 grand parent. I know kids get fussy and disruptive but as a parent that is your problem to CONTROL not IGNORE. Other diners should not have to suffer so you can relax, not my job its yours!

RATING

Fair

COST vs DDP

$76.66

tip $10 (we only saw our server 2x)

 

[Leigh123]

Day 4 Lunch Cinnabon/ Lunch Bubba Gumps

We took the Mears shutter over to universal today. This could not have been easier to do.

Cinnabon

Ice Coffee and Mini Bun $5.32

Bubba Gumps

DBF picked this , it was typical chain restaurant food, good but nothing that would be on my must do list next year..he was however ECSTATIC to find Mt. Dew on their menu, seems Bubba Gumps has a contract with Pepsi that voids USO's contract with coke.

We both has the shrimp 3 ways, coconut, something I can not remember and panko.

COST

$63.99 + $13 tip
We also had a soft pretzel, frozen lemonade and a Butter Beer....I only remembered to get the Butter Beer pic.

Late Dinner Riverside Mills FC

We both had the create your own pasta and cheesecake, with 1 Nestle Quick 1 Orange Juice. This was good and a nice alternative DBF really liked it. I was glad he enjoyed it because he really had been looking forward to it.

Rating

Good-Great

COST vs DDP

$38.24

 

[Leigh123]

So its day 5 and tonight I have an ADR at the Wave....well because the character interaction was so bad at Tusker House we decided to cancel the Wave and do breakfast at Chef Mickeys....it was a much better character interaction experience and the food was good. I have never eaten dinner here but have had breakfast many times and its always fresh and hot, and its a fun
atmosphere.

COST vs DDP

$61.75 + $12 Tip

Day 5 Dinner Pecos Bills

This is a favorite of ours, an we always eat here once every trip.

DBF Burger fries, carrot cake, coke

Me Taco Salad, diet coke, choc cake

RATING

Great

COST vs DDP

$31.92

 

[Leigh123]

Day 6 Lunch Sleepy Hollow/Columbia Harbour House

So I had been dying to the waffle sandwich at sleepy hollow and today was the day. DBF is not a fan of this combination of food so I got the sandwich and we headed to Columbia Harbour House.

DBF Chicken Strips, (shrimp) Fries, Coke, Yogurt

ME Since I wanted Fries and a diet coke with my waffle sandwich I ordered the shrimp platter, and gave the shrimp to DBF. I also had yet another choc cake, which is ok with me.

RATING

Columbia Harbour House is always a solid/hit the spot counter service. HOWEVER I was not crazy about the waffle sandwich. I just did not care for the combination. However, I did pull the chicken off an eat it separate, it was yummy.


COST vs DDP

Waffle Sandwich $6.83 (not on DDP)
Columbia Harbour House


Day 6 Dinner Whispering Canyon Cafe

This is one of DBF fav's. The carnivore in him can not pass us that skillet. He is very sorry to hear it is no longer there.

DBF Skillet of course he loved it, an Apple Caramel Pie

Me Steak, Fries, Smores dessert and paid Oop for the Cheddar Cheese Popcorn Soup.

We both enjoyed our meal food wise, but here is what happened while we are eating, if you have a weak stomach turn away....while we were waiting in the lobby, this LOUD and Obnoxious family came in. They just took over the entire lobby and the dad was the loudest of them all. They took off their shoes, laid down, put their feet on the couches etc etc.....so we are seated in a small room off of the main dining room, it was lovely. See below DBF sitting in front of the large fireplace....OH on a side note there was one other table seated in there with a large family...not the loud rude family....BUT this family was not at all aware or amused by the high jinks that go on at WWC and were kind of snotty with the waitress...(sorry this is the run on sentence of all sentences) so as we are stuck in this little room with the "McCrabbies" here comes the dad from the "Mcloud" family running through our tiny area choking and throwing up.....oh it was a lovely display....as DBF an I were dry heaving (thank god we were just waiting for dessert) the manager was just throwing paper towels over his "up-heave" and the Mcloud family was really having a fit. I felt bad for our poor server, but at the same time was appalled by the lack of a clean up process... perhaps they were going to do something after the area was empty but we were never even offered another seat....

RATING

oh well, if you are still with me after that long story it was a good meal food wise.

COST vs DDP

$98.24 DDP, OoP for soup $7.20 Tip $22

 

[Leigh123]

Day 7

We just snacked around during the day, I will post those at the end with the rest of the snacks

Day 7 Dinner Turf Club

DBF Prime Rib, Coke, Chocolate Express Torte

Me Surf and Turf Burger, Iced Tea, Maple Cream

RATING

Excellent Start to Finish

COST vs DDP

$69.58 + $12 tip

 

[Leigh123]

Day 8 WORST DAY EVER!@# It was time to go home, we had 2 CS left so we grabbed breakfast in the food court with 2 OJ's and a Danish (guess we had a left over snack credit

RATING

Good

COST vs DDP

$30.31

 

[Leigh123]

misc snacks

 

[rachel09985]

Great pics! That maple creme sounds excellent and looks interesting!

 

[stasijane]

I am curious about what made the character interaction so bad at Tusker house?

 

[nanienamou]

Loved reading your reviews, thanks for sharing!

 

[Leigh123]

Great pics! That maple creme sounds excellent and looks interesting!

Thanks....it was really good, I can't explain the consistency but DBF ate most of it and it was mine LOL.

 

[Leigh123]

I am curious about what made the character interaction so bad at Tusker house?

Well the main thing that after at least an hour and 15 minutes of being seated, only one character had been around. Much quicker and smoother process at Chef Mickeys.

It could have been a fluke or an off day, I have been to this particular breakfast when it was in dinoland on more than one occasion and it was great.,,,,

 

[awfullybigadventure]

Great reviews! From one Pittsburgher to another, I refuse to say "Pop" too!

 

[Leigh123]

Great reviews! From one Pittsburgher to another, I refuse to say "Pop" too!

An if only they would put fries in the salads lol

 

[Ro Z]

Great reviews great pictures! Thanks!! Don't you hate it when people think they are the only ones in Disney. WCC yuck!!
totally nonfood related question. How did you get a mears bus to universal? Is it a scheduled bus? We have taken a cab before but wondering about a bus. When we go in March my AP will expire a couple days before we go home and I don't want to renew because we can't go back until October. Thanks for any advice you can give!!

 

[Leigh123]

Great reviews great pictures! Thanks!! Don't you hate it when people think they are the only ones in Disney. WCC yuck!!
totally nonfood related question. How did you get a mears bus to universal? Is it a scheduled bus? We have taken a cab before but wondering about a bus. When we go in March my AP will expire a couple days before we go home and I don't want to renew because we can't go back until October. Thanks for any advice you can give!!

Thanks so much....It was quite easy, we just went to the concierge desk and they arranged. The van picked us up right in front of the hotel, stopped at SSR and we were at USO within no more than 30 minutes. When we wanted to return we just called about 2 hours before hand (they give you are card to call when they drop you off). Now on the way back we had a bus, not van. The bus stopped at Sea World so return trip was about 45 minutes, but we were the first stop.