Jagfanjosh3252 goes to Disney- UPDATE #2. YAK-N-YETI POST #18

[jagfanjosh3252]

Hi all! My name is Josh and this will be my first ever DR!


First, a little about me. I'm a single 25 year old FL resident who has enjoyed Disney for a long time. I went for my first ever trip when I was about 5. I have been off and on since then multiple times. Being a FL resident, I usually just head down for weekends, and usually eat a QS locations in parks, and TS meals at DTD. Now I have started to tell myself that I will spend one week a year down there. Last year I went during Christmas, so I will be going during Halloween now.


After work kinda screwing me over, I changed from POR to POP. This will be my first time at POP, and second time staying on-site. Last year I stayed at GF/AKL. So Value will be a totally new experience. My dates are October 11th-15th, no Dining Plan since I have a TIW. I wanted to try a bunch of new restaurants this trip. This food porn pictures will be taken with a iPhone 4s. My DSLR is being fixed, and I don't see it arriving before my trip. So unless I can borrow a point-and-shoot, my iPhone will have to do.

Most breakfast options will be from the food court at POP or muffins or such since I have many nice meals planned, and want to make sure I'm hungry.

These are my dining choices, with comments included.


Thursday (Arrival)
I will leave Jacksonville early (6am), and then drop my luggage off at POP and head to AK

Lunch (11am ADR)
Yak-and-Yeti (1st Time)

Looking forward to trying a few things here, the Ribs, Duck and about 7 other things all sound amazing. Lol.

Dinner (7:25pm ADR)
Yachtsman Steakhouse (1st Time)

Probably my most anticipated meal. Huge steak lover, and after seeing so many reviews, knew I had to try it

Friday October 12th
Lunch (1:15pm ADR)

Le Cellier

SO happy that this became available. Sadly, last time I went I canceled this. Glad I was able to snag it back, Probably going to do the Prixe Fixe Course for $30. I will be joined by a friend for this one.

Dinner (Up in the air)

Currently looking at a few places. Kona, GF Cafe, or something else around MK area. Once again, we will be hitting up MNSSHP and know they don't have the best selection there for food.

Saturday October 13th

We have a big meet planned at EPCOT today, so it will be a lot of F&W. HOWEVER, I was able to snag a ADR for...


Dinner (7:50pm ADR)
CALIFORNIA GRILL!! (1st Time)

WOW, I lucked out. On the same day I got a lunch ressie for Le Cellier and a dinner ressie for California Grill. I will have to watch what I eat today at F&W and just come back to EPCOT on Monday before I leave. I am happy I was able to get this. Even if I just eat appetizers! Since they are having the big refurb next year for half of the year, might as well try it!

Sunday October 14th

Lunch (12:35pm ADR)

Liberty Tree Tavern (1st Time)

This will be the only place I get a burger at, since I hear VERY good things about the sandwich here.

Dinner (7:15pm ADR)

Raglan Road (1st Time)

Wanted to eat somewhere at DTD tonight and this is one of the few places I have yet to try. I love Irish food, so looking forward to this as well

Monday October 15th

Nothing yet. I don't know what time I will be leaving. I am thinking of staying an extra night to go over to Universal and do Halloween Horror Nights

Well, there you have the PTR portion. If anybody has any suggestions on what to eat the restaurants, feel free to offer suggestions! I'm also open to meet-ups as well! Thanks!

 

[Tracerr00]

Hi Josh! I can't wait for your live reviews. You've got some great plans at some great restaurants! I'm in for sure!

And I'll take food porn any way I can get it DSLR or iphone - I don't care!

 

[jabead]

Count me in!

Also may I add your trip info and link to your DR to my list (see link in my signature)? I am the host of a "Live from Disney World Update" thread, so if I can be of any help with your LIVE Dining Report, just let me know.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

We'll be there at the same time but aren't going to any of the same restaurants! That should be interesting!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Cant wait to hear all about it, especially Yachtsman!

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

You may add me! I will update as much as possible during my time there. Since this is more of a relaxation/food trip, I won't be spending TOO much time in the parks..

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

So, in just 4 days I will be in Disney. I was able to grab TWO of the holy grails of ADRs!

Le Cellier (lunch)
California Grill (dinner)

Got them both this morning as I was messing around! Now, if I can just get Cinderella's Table for breakfast...

Also, I'm looking at the menus and just kinda figuring out budgets... Since I am paying OOP and using TIW card, I think at $500 budget is MORE than enough for my choices. Do you guys and gals agree?

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Decided to add a day! So I just checked into POP (70's room, top floor). I'm about to head out to EPCOT to hit up some F&W!

 

[jabead]

Yay for the bonus day at WDW! Enjoy your visit to the F & W Fest!

 

[nanienamou]

Enjoy your trip! Can't wait to see some F&W pics!

 

[tluvstink]

You have a great line up I'm looking forward to your reviews.


Terri

 

[Ro Z]

Take lots of pics! ENJOY!

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

So. I'm waiting for Illuminations. I'm stuffed. Tried a lot! Couldn't take much pics, it was so crowded I couldn't even find a trash can. Will do reviews when I get back to hotel.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Now, like I said in the above post; I couldnt even find a place to take the pictures of the food. It was CROWDED. So, these will just be mini reviews. I tried a lot yesterday. In no particular order other than just when I see the receipt. So here we go


Australia- I had the Lamb. It was pretty ok. I ended up getting a fresh one right off the griddle. There were some pretty fatty parts, but still good.
3/5

France- Escargot.

WOW. This was good. My first time trying escargot and will do it again. Buttery goodness and the bread was fantastic. The snail really did taste like chicken!

5/5

China- Pot Stickers and Mongolian Beef in a steamed bun

I really enjoyed the pot stickers, however; the beef wasn't that great. It was chewy, the sauce that was with the beef was great though.

Pot Stickers- 4/5
Beef- 3/5

Ireland- Cheese Plate and Chocolate Lava Cake

The cheese plate was ok (sorry, I don't have what was on it because I coulndt find a spot to take notes), I really enjoyed the Bleu that was on it. The cake, GREAT! I almost got another one it was so good! It had a nice little crunch, and the sauce was sooooo good I dipped some cheese in it!

Cheese- 2/5
Cake- 5/5

Canada- Le Cellier Filet Mignon

Ok, I was pretty psyched for this, since I have never eaten at LC/ When I got it, I thought it wasn't gonna be good, it was very bland looking and I was wrong. For being cooked more than I like my steak, it was STILL that good. The sauce is good, the mushrooms are good, and the beef is great. All in all. Awesome

Filet-4/5

Hawaii-Pork Slider

My favorite thing the whole time! I actually ended up getting 3 of these yesterday! Lol. The pork was nice and tender and the sauce that they put on it, was to die for.

Slider- 5/5

Hops and Barley- Lobster Roll and Cranberry Pumpkin Moose
This was my favorite booth last year, so I was excited for it this year. The roll was a big let down though. It was very watery and the lobster was chewy. The moose did make up for it, fantastic just like last year

Moose-5/5
Lobster Roll- 3/5

Ok, I'm off to Animal Kingdom for Yak-and-Yeti and I PROMISE to have photos of that and more detailed reviews as well. Just couldnt take notes due to craziness that was at EPCOT!

 

[Tracerr00]

Great reviews of F&W! The filet at LC is my favorite thing in The World so I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Yum!! The pork sliders in Hawaii sound amazing too - I've tried pork like that in Hawaii when I went there for vacation and it was so good. I'd probably eat three of them too!

 

[kelleigh1]

We'll be attending our first F&W in a little over 2 weeks. I think you've convinced me to try the Escargot. And I know hubby will want those Hawaiian sliders.

Chewy lobster? ICK! I am not happy to hear that. Being a native New Englander, you can probably imagine that I love lobster and hate when it's cooked wrong. I'll probably still give it a try though, and hope it's better than what you got.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Last year the lobster rolls were amazing, maybe I just got a bad ro or something.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

I started off today at Animal Kingdom. Went onto the Safari, then off to Kali River Rapids(twice!) and Expedition Everest, and finally Dinosaur all before my 11am ADR. I even arrived about 15mins early and waited around until they opened the doors at 11am sharp. I was the first to enter and was seated upstairs next to the window at a two top

My server was David, and he was great. He presented me with the menu and told me what he liked. I started off to drink with a water and Cherry Limeade

Cherry Limeade (you guys know what water looks like)

This was sweet, which wasn't such a good idea when I was still wet from KRR and then put into an ice-cold restaurant. I ended up drinking water more than this, however it was still very good. Next time I will stick with sweet tea though.

For my appetizer I went with the Pork Pot Stickers.

As I said before, I love pot stickers, and these made me glad I choose them. I got them pan-seared (you can get them steamed also), they were crunch on the outside, but oh-so-moist on the inside. It was served with a sauce that didn't even impress me enough to write down what it was (assuming some type of soy).

Now, onto my entree. Before I came (like any good DISer), I poured over the menu. I was debating between the honey chicken, the ribs, the burger (I love Kobe beef), the duck, and the bourbon chicken. I went with the bourbon chicken with Jasmine rice (sticky white rice).

For 17.99 you would think you get more than 8 pieces of chicken, but sadly you don't. The chicken was nice and moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside due to it being tempura friend first. Now, the bourbon sauce was so amazing. I'm used to my local area places bourbon and this was nothing even close to like them, on a WAAAY better level though. The rice, was well rice.

I also got the Pork Egg Rolls as a side item with my entree

Now these were great. I was recommended by David to get them, but choose my pot stickers instead. After I kept hearing all the other waiters/waitresses do the same, I knew I had to try them. I was not disappointed, these were probably the best egg rolls I have ever had. The filling was SOOOOO good. I could eat a salad of that. It had pork, carrots and seaweed in it like a typical egg roll, but it was so fresh. They were served with Thai Chili Sauce. Now, this wasn't hot or spicy at all and was so good I poured it over my rice.

My reciept ended up being ruined due to being stuck in my shorts pocket which was still wet, so I am going by memory here on price. Since I couldn't use my TiW card here, I only got 10% off the ENTREE only. Didn't like that, but still spent $34 and change I believe. I left David a $10 tip since he was so great and paced my meal perfect. Now onto the rating.

Cherry Limeade- 3/5. Maybe just because I didn't enjoy it do to the chills I was having.

Pot Stickers- 5/5. Love them, only downside is I wish you got more!

Pork Egg Rolls- 4/5. Toward the end, I got A LOT of grease in a couple of bites, that i what brought them down.

Bourbon Chicken w/ Jasmine Rice- 4/5. Tasted great, but for the price and how many you get, I have to bring it down.

Next up- Yachtsman Steakhouse

 

[kelleigh1]

YUM! I shouldn't have read this now because it all made me hungry.

 

[nutz2notz]

I just love Yak and Yeti. Everything you ate looks so good.

Looking forward to your next review.