"I Heard They Shaved A Gorilla" - Reviews & Pix - COMPLETED Post # 155

[disneyfav4ever]

Thank you for the review of Raglan Road, the food looks wonderful.

 

[TigerKat]

Great review Rob!!!! I was already considering the calamari and now I'm sold! Of course I've got to try the Celtic Sangria (Brenda's recommendation and she always steers me right in the alcohol department )

 

[Robert P]

What--no bread pudding? RR is on my list for Dec. and I actually was thinking lunch b/c the burger sounded so good. Now I know it looks so good, too. The presentation of that fish leaves a lot to be desired...(I guess it would be tacky to eat fish n chips at Cooke's and then have an ADR just for dessert at RR, wouldn't it? Or maybe not...)

Okay, I admit it, I totally screwed up and did not order the B&B pudding. I was pretty full after sharing the apps and having my burger, and with some driving ahead of us, I didn't want to feel 'logy'.
The fish n chips presentation, maybe, was originally in the paper cone, like the calamari and the kids shrimp (shown partially unwrapped). The picture could have been after it was dumped out on the plate. You are right, the presentation wasn't very good, so my picture could have been taken after 'dumping it out' on the plate. My bad.

 

[Briarmom]

Great update!

Log rolls down stairs
alone or in pairs
rolls into the neighbors' dog
it's good for a snack
and fits on your back
it's Log, Log, Log!

It's Log .. it's Log...
it's big, it's heavy, it's wood!
it's Log... it's Log...
it's better than bad, it's good!

Everyone wants a Log!!



OK ... I'm leaving now.

Just for Brenda....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPHtKarae2Q
Enjoy

I loved that.
Hmm...off to check Ren & Stimpy DVD prices.

 

[CoolDisneyKitten]

Okay, I admit it, I totally screwed up and did not order the B&B pudding. I was pretty full after sharing the apps and having my burger, and with some driving ahead of us, I didn't want to feel 'logie'.
The fish n chips presentation, maybe, was originally in the paper cone, like the calamari and the kids shrimp (shown partially unwrapped). The picture could have been after it was dumped out on the plate. You are right, the presentation wasn't very good, so my picture could have been taken after 'dumping it out' on the plate. My bad.

Ya, the fish and chips is served in a paper cone like the calamari, and then they poor it out on the plate.

We liked the chips, btw. They're more like traditional style "chips" as opposed to American style "fries" ... but this isn't my review, and you can all read my opinions later.

 

[SunnieRN]

I really enjoyed reading your trip report! We will be going to some of the same places in Sept!
Thanks for posting!!

 

[shovan]

Robert, Great review! We loved dinner at RR & lunch looks pretty tasty too!

That fish plate does look pretty skimpy though.

I am feeling your pain over the family member & the American Beer! Been there before.... no matter where we dined... "Do you have Bud Lite?" It's just too sad isn't it!

 

[Robert P]

Robert, Great review! We loved dinner at RR & lunch looks pretty tasty too!

That fish plate does look pretty skimpy though.

I am feeling your pain over the family member & the American Beer! Been there before.... no matter where we dined... "Do you have Bud Lite?" It's just too sad isn't it!

Very sad, and strangely disturbing. Have you ever counted the different international beers on tap at that place? I was like a kid in a candy store, and I don't even like beer all that much. And then here comes a Miller Lite....

 

[shovan]

Very sad, and strangely disturbing. Have you ever counted the different international beers on tap at that place? I was like a kid in a candy store, and I don't even like beer all that much. And then here comes a Miller Lite....

No I haven't. But now you've given me lots of reasons to go back! Again & again & again!!!

 

[Robert P]

REVIEW RECAP (Part I of II):

SCREW UPS:

Robert P sort of screwed up on this trip. Let me count the ways:

1 - ADR's at odd times. As I have mentioned before, this was an 'extra' trip (thank you AP's), that came about with only 2 months of planning. For many people, that seems like alot of time, but for me and my 'retentiveness' level, 2 months is no time at all. I usually start the planning process for dining about 7 months out, so that I am ready to call right at the 6 month ADR window, and lock in our meal plans. The touring plans and daily schedules are then built around the confirmed ADR's. This trip, the ADR's I could get were the best I could do on short notice, and I worked within the confines of what was available. Ugh....

2 - Opportunity lost, to try new places. As an extra trip, I had at first proposed that we try all new places to eat. That idea was greeted by a resounding burst of laughter, and then I was threatened with bodily harm (does that go in the red notebook or blue notebook??) for speaking such a thing. I did manage to squeeze in 2 new places (Bistro de Paris and The Fountain), but still, we should have branched out more. For our Fall trips, we are pretty well set for where everyone wants to eat, and we don't have the extra meal slots available to try many new places. We had the extra slots this time, and didn't fully take advantage of them. This Spring trip was fun, but still, an opportunity lost for new dining experiences.

3 - Cheese Plates. I am now hooked, as is evidenced by my jumping on any available cheese plates being offered. If we had dined at the Yachtsman as planned, I would have tried yet another. How sad is it that when we cancelled the Yachtsman ADR, I didn't even think aboiut missing the steak, just the cheese plate??? I may need to invent a patch, or join a support group, to overcome this new addiction.


OBSERVATIONS:

1 - Disney Dining Experience (DDE). I purposely did not offer up the info to the servers that we were using the DDE, at all but one place. If I wasn't asked, I didn't volunteer the info, since according to my research, it shouldn't matter if you are on the DDE, until it comes time to ring up the final check. At only one of the many places we ate where we used the DDE, did the server point out to us that an 18% gratuity was automatically added to our final bill. In about half the places, once I gave them my credit card and the DDE card for payment and discount purposes, we never received back the original itemized bill that was first presented. With a 20% DDE discoount and an 18% auto gratuity added, the final numbers were very similar between the itemized (original) bill and the final (discounted down then auto tip added) bill. This could be confusing for some people. I won't say it is dishonest, but could be seen as misleading, and I would like to see the servers being more forthcoming with that information. I don't have much opinion either way on the 18% auto tip amount, but do believe that all bills/receipts need to be provided to the patron, throughout the payment process, to help avoid confusion or double tipping. Will we buy the DDE card again? Probably, but it will be good to do so with a clear picture of the benefits, which hopefully won't change next time AFTER we have purchased the card.

2 - ADR No Shows. When I tried to get the times we needed for ADR's, I was largely unsuccessful. Late notice I know, so usually I had to adjust my requests earlier in the service time. But when we were there eating at 5:30, leaving at 6:30 or 7:00, and the place was still half empty (despite having no later availability when I had called for ADR's, in one case the very day before), well, it was bothering to me. RANT ON -Too many people make ADR's, then never show. Multiple ADR's, never cancelling ADR's, (insert your own pet peeve about ADR's here), regardless, if this abuse continues, I predict WDW will eventually change the policy enough to better fill the places, i.e. require c/c guarantees for many many more (if not all) of their restaurants (like they do for certain meals already).
It's common courtesy to free up an ADR time if you are not going to use it, but many people just don't think about (or care about) other guests. Too many bad apples will eventually spoil the whole barrel. Write that down. - RANT OFF.

Next UP: RECAP (Part II of II)

 

[Poppinsme]

Taking a break from my "Best of the Star Trek Borg episodes DVD Colection"....

Totally love your recap. On our upcoming trip in Dec. we are trying as many new places as possible but we have to go back to V&As, AP, and Biergarten.

I agree with RR review on the beer thing. DH loved the beer flight there and I enjoyed the Cider so much I had 2nds. And we finished with Irish whiskeys. Hello! Your in a Irish pub! American lite beer, yuck. Soapbox off.

Also totally agree with ADR no shows comments. I think its time now for credit card ressies like V&As.

 

[oybolshoi]

Reasons why I like you so much, in no particular order:

1) You are addicted to cheese
2) Hank Scorpio is your avatar
3) You write terrific and objective reviews
4) You used the word "logy"
5) Anyone who's a fan of the Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy is OK in my book!


Totally agree with your ADR rant, by the way - I think Disney should start requiring a CC to hold all dinner reservations at signature restaurants. That might cut down on some of the no shows & double bookings.

Thanks again for the great reviews!

 

[TigerKat]

Totally agree with your ADR rant, by the way - I think Disney should start requiring a CC to hold all dinner reservations at signature restaurants. That might cut down on some of the no shows & double bookings.

Thanks again for the great reviews!

ITA!!!!

 

[Robert P]

Reasons why I like you so much, in no particular order:

1) You are addicted to cheese
2) Hank Scorpio is your avatar
3) You write terrific and objective reviews
4) You used the word "logy"
5) Anyone who's a fan of the Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy is OK in my book!


Totally agree with your ADR rant, by the way - I think Disney should start requiring a CC to hold all dinner reservations at signature restaurants. That might cut down on some of the no shows & double bookings.

Thanks again for the great reviews!

Thank you for the kind words, Oh one with the crazy cat lady avatar.

I SO think that you (and Jay) should sneak down to WDW in July, during my 'probable upcoming solo or adult only semi-unplanned Summer three day weekend visit'. It would be a blast. An all out touring fest of Epcot beverages could be a journey in itself.

As Mr. Sparkle would say "Join me or die! Can you do any less?"

 

[Robert P]

REVIEW RECAP (Part II of II):

SUCCESSES:

1 – Calamari. We found three ‘excellent’ versions of calamari, each unique in it's own way, at Il Mulino, Flying Fish, and Raglan Road. Finally getting to try the Flying Fish calamari, with the incredible sauce, was a breakthrough. It was everything it has been hyped up to be, maybe even better.

2 – Cheeseburgers. Finding two great burgers while on vacation, and at WDW none the less. The Fountain and Raglan Road burgers were great, and easily bested anything we’ve ever tried from a WDW counter service location. Nice to know those options are out there.

DISAPPOINTMENTS:

1 – The cheese plate at Bistro de Paris. A great opportunity to showcase French cheese(s), and it would have fit in well with a perfectly lovely dinner. With the poor selection they offered, they would have done well to just not have it on the menu at all.

2 – Rude or clueless guests at Crystal Palace, not controlling their kids or realizing their impact on the other diners. Sadly, I don’t see this changing anytime soon. These outside factors were the only downside to a pretty darned good character lunch.


COMMENTS (OP-ED, various topics):

Boardwalk Resort:

1 – The Boardwalk Bakery needs to have a bigger waiting area. I went there 3 times during the trip, and each time, it was too much like 30 college students trying to cram themselves into one phone booth. Fun for drunken college students, bad for grumpy morning diners carrying hot coffee!!

2 – Boardwalk Outside Tables – Should be prioritized for those with Boardwalk food. On two occasions, we saw people standing around with BW kiosk or pizza window food, and nowhere to sit down, while people seated with no food gabbed on cell phones, and in one case, fed their family Subway sandwiches at one of the tables. I’m all for people needing a place to sit and eat, but it seems like the BW food should have a priority over those tables.

3 – The ‘long hallway’ at BWV needs it’s own bus service. I counted steps, from the elevator, and our room was over 260 paces away, and we weren’t even at the very end of the hall. That is a long walk when you are tired, sore, drunk, or any combination of those.

4 – Chair saving with pool towels. We went to the quiet pool one afternoon, and got 4 of the last 5 chairs there without towels on them. Of the @ 50+ chairs with towels, less than 15 were occupied, and it stayed that way the entire 2 hours we were in the area. In the future, I won’t hesitate to clear unattended towels, especially if there is no place to sit. Taking up those seats for hours, for no good reason, was just plain inconsiderate of the other hotel guests.


That’s all I’ve got to report on, aside from trying to answer any questions you may have.
Again, thank you for reading, and for sticking around until the end of the reviews.

As Dr. Katz would say…… “Our time is up”.


P.S. Hank Scorpio will return in "Dine Another Day". Coming to theaters in October 2008.

 

[SunnieRN]

Thank you for the synopsisis!!! Really enjoyed reading this!!

 

[oybolshoi]

If I had more open vacation time, or if Jay had fewer family obligations in July, or if we collectively didn't have to spend $$$ to fix our basement, kitchen counter tops, and now roof we would jump at the opportunity to celebrate a milestone birthday with the one-and-only Hank Scorpio.

I guess this means we don't overlap in October?

How about October 2009? I think we're looking at 10/16-10/24 and then we're taking a Disney cruise 10/24 - 10/31 ... ever considered cruising with the mouse?

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks for taking the time to share your very entertaining and informative reviews with us.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks for the great reviews! As far as the whole chair saving thing, I'm right with you.

 

[John's Mom]

Excellent reviews! Always interesting!