June 4 - 11, DDP dining...Insert catchy title...NOW With PICTURES!

[queenmum2]

I tried for a catchier title for my thread, but I have several in mind for the individual restaurant reviews that will be coming your way!

Here's the sitch...our family of four includes:

DH - Billy - GoofyDad Extrordinaire - From here on out I'll call him ...DH! He is a fairly adventurous eater. We both try to eat healthy food, but enjoy a good gorge every now and again.
DS (12) - Tyler - GoofyKid Extrordinaire - From here on out I'll call him DS - This is the skinniest glutton I've ever known. This kid can EAT!
DD (9) - Sarah, AKA "Priss" - Tink wannabee - she shall be known as DD- The most adventurous picky eater I've ever met. Loves mushrooms and olives, hates hotdogs with grill marks...

and Me (Age withheld) - Tracie - the planner - Minnie wannabee - I'm just "I". Like DH, I am fairly adventurous eater, but I have my limits.

We had many fabulous meals, and only a couple of clunkers. Restaurants we visited included these fine establishments...(all TS are dinner unless otherwise noted)

Table Service:

Chef Mickey, post 3
Crystal Palace (B), post 8
Boma (B), post 19
Whispering Canyon
Spoodles
Sci-Fi
'Ohana
Biergarten
Restaurant Marakesh

Counter Service:

Captain Cooks (B)
Sunshine Seasons (B)
Pizzafari (L)
Leaning Palms (at TL) (L)
Yakitori House (D)
Wolfgang Pucks Express (L)
Disney Quest Burger bar (L)

We paid OOP for Sci-Fi and for Boma. We also split some CS meals along the way.

I'll get to the reviews soon, but first I have to process some laundry and go grocery shopping to get some food in this house! UGH...after a week of somebody else shopping, cooking and cleaning up, I've got to get back to reality.

Tracie

 

[Dbaumann]

I will be there soon. I love to see your review.

 

[queenmum2]

]Our first Disney meal of the trip was Chef Mickey's. In our four previous trips to the World, we'd never managed to make it to CM. To tell the truth, I'd never even really tried. I've heard such mixed reviews that it didn't seem important. But for this trip, we wanted to try some new places. It was meant to be, in fact.

During my planning, I was aware of the new 90 days rule for making ADRs. Past trips, we've been able to make reservations 120 days out. Little did I realize that CM was still booking at 120 days out. So I didn't make the call to get CM until about 110 days out. I was sure we wouldn't get it. Or if there were availabilities, they wouldn't be for the day or even close to the time I wanted. But, as luck would have it, I got the exact day I wanted and the time I desired! First night - Thursday, June 4; early dinner: 5:00.

We'd spent some of the day at the MK, returned to shower and dress for CM, and arrived JUST in time; only to find that the line to check in was REDICULOUSLY long. We found this to be the case at almost every restaurant we went to this trip...

After standing in line to check in, we stood in another line to get our photo taken. We had pre-purchased the photo pass - but alas, in order for this picture to go on our photo pass, we first had to buy the package. A bit of an annoyance, but the picture turned out pretty good so we bought it.

(LOL! DH looks like he has a mullet!)

When our buzzer went off, we were ushered to a table along the wall overlooking the dessert bar. Believe me, DD's eyes were wide as saucers as she surveyed the sweet-tooth's nirvana that is the Chef Mickey's dessert bar. She is definitely the sugar tooth of the family. Not that we didn't all salivate at the sight - but DD did so all the more...

Of course, we had the kids sit on the outside to better interact with the characters. This was great for us, as we got the cushy bench seating...this turned out to be not so great a little later in the evening. But lets move on , shall we?

The title of my post, here, refers to the "atmosphere" of Chef Mickey's. It totally resembles a school cafeteria. The tables and chairs seem pretty utilitarian and are really close together. The whole place is in shades of white and silver with a dash of red. It's almost like a blank canvas or what a great theme restaurant would look like if you peeled away the great theme. That is my only real "complaint" with this place. It just doesn't look really appealing. The food however....

We started - as all good buffet-goers should - in the middle. I totally didn't see the salad section at first. That was ok, though, as I found PLENTY of good things to eat right from the get-go. I got some of the mixed vegetables and green beans - both were very tasty: well seasoned and crisp-tender. I got some of the mashed potatoes and a sampling of the pasta with chicken and basil cream sauce. Let me tell you: That stuff was reaaaaaaaaaally yummy. I hit the carving station for some beef, which was available in medium and well. I chose medium...I would have liked medium rare, but the medium was still tender and delicious. The horseradish cream was a nice addition.

DH got mostly the same stuff...he agreed on the deliciousness of everything he ate. We both went back for seconds. DS got mostly the same, except he didn't get the mixed veg, and he did get some peel-and-eat shrimp and pasta salad. He also sampled the kids section and got some mickey ravioli.

DD perused the kids buffet area and got some mac and cheese and mickey ravioli and maybe some pizza. Frankly, I can't remember what else she ate because I was too focused on my own delicious plate. I do remember that she didn't care for the mickeroni and cheese...something about it beeing too cheesy. DS thought it was tasty and ate it for her. She proclaimed that she was fuuu-lllll, and wanted to hit the dessert bar. "Not so fast, young lady...you need something GREEN!" Somehow, we both ended up getting her some salad...how we didn't see each other at the salad bar, I'll never know...but as I showed up with a bowl of salad for her, I found her eating the salad she'd prepared. Oh well -- I could use some salad as well!

By now, we were all stuffed...sated...saturated with tasty goodness; but the dessert bar awaited. DS and DD both hit the sundae bar, while DH and I concentrated on the small bites desserts. We both enjoyed the key lime tarts and found the Mickey Mousse to be waaaaaaaaaay too chocolatey and rich. He got the carrot cake, too, and thought it was good.

Now - back to my earlier comment about the advantageousness - or disavantage of seating next to the wall... when we arrived at CM, we could tell a rain storm was on the way. The sky was BLACK and ominous. Early in our dinner, the sky let loose and a torrential rain started pelting the hotel. The transom or sky-light windows in the ceiling looked like swimming pools - actually the water was roiling so much that it looked like the surface of a whirlpool. Then...water started leaking in right over the half-wall we were seated against. And as it hit that wall, it splattered all over our seats. CMs were quick with towels to dry us and to absorb the water as it spattered down. DH covered his camera and I covered our over-priced photo package. By the time DH moved into a chair at the side of the table, the deluge was almost over. It had cleared completely by the time we left to go back to the hotel.

Character-wise, the evening was fine. The "Fab Five" were in attendance: We got Donald first (and let him gloat that HE was first signing the kids autograph books), then the others - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto. I wouldn't say that the characters spent a LOT of time at our table, but posed and signed autographs.

So - for food:
For atmosphere:
For characters:

In conclusion, we would definitely return based on food and characters.

Tracie

 

[MickeyNicki]

Count me in ...the night you were dining at Chef Mickeys we were upstairs at Cali Grill and watched that amazing store blow it, it was wild!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Great first review, Chef Mickey's is always one of those restaurants we dither over and then decide not to do. I'm sure eventually we'll give it a go but it always ends up on the 'too little time too many good restaurants so no we won't' list.

 

[queenmum2]

Count me in ...the night you were dining at Chef Mickeys we were upstairs at Cali Grill and watched that amazing store blow it, it was wild!

It was wicked, wasn't it? And what a place to view it - if you like watching a good storm. I've never been upstairs in Cali Grill -- one of these days, DH and I will have to go by ourselves...I can't afford to feed the whole family there!

T

 

[queenmum2]

Great first review, Chef Mickey's is always one of those restaurants we dither over and then decide not to do. I'm sure eventually we'll give it a go but it always ends up on the 'too little time too many good restaurants so no we won't' list.

That sounds like me, but I think we will return. We really did enjoy the food, which was the part I was worried about. The key may be getting there early...maybe the complaints about the food are from people getting there later when the bar isn't quite as fresh. That is why I wanted to go early.

T

 

[queenmum2]

Day 2 dawned with an 8:30 appointment with Pooh and the gang at Crystal Palace. We waltzed throught the gates before they opened, such a great way to start the day at the Magic Kingdom. Of course, we were running slightly late so we couldn't really take in the magic of pre-opening park emptiness...oh well. Poohbear is waiting.

The line for check-in wasn't too long this day, so we got checked in pretty quickly and tried for a couple of photos in front of Crystal Palace...but we were called almost right away. We were led to a table on the right hand side of the restaurant, right next to where the buffet started. Oh Boy!

Our server took our drink orders (Coffee for me, Hot Chocolate for the kids and OJ for DH), then gave the OK for take-off for the buffet. Of course, we were hesitant to start getting food because Piglet was making his way over to our table. We took a chance and ran over for an initial assault on the fruit section of the buffet. The kids raced back in time for Piglet to approach our table. There were hugs and kisses to be had, autographs to sign and photos to take. Piglet was very cute and "in character". I even got a hug and kiss! Just as Piglet was walking away, DS commented, "Good thing I haven't got my bacon yet!" Didn't want to offend Piglet...

Pooh was coming up fast, so we made another mad dash to the buffet (good thing it was so close) to snag some bacon and sausage, breakfast potatoes and puffed french toast. OMGosh that puffed french toast is divine!!!! I even got a second piece!

DD doesn't really do well with buffets as she is SUCH a sweet-tooth she has eyes ONLY for the pastries. I convinced her to order an egg (over easy) and miraculously, she ate it all.

Service was fine. The kids were trying to get some whipped cream off the buffet for their hot chocolates...one of the waiters saw them and brought over a bowl of whipped cream for them. That was nice.

The characters all made it around and the kids were able to join the parade twice during the time we were there. All-in-all, I'm glad we made this reservation. I almost didn't - DH was put out that I hadn't made an ADR here, so I went back and added it (throwing a second reservation over to the OOP category). But I'm glad I did - the food was really tasty, it's nice getting to the MK before the rest of the park guests, and the characters were great! The restaurant is beautiful, to boot! So it is a win-win-win...win!

Food: +
Atmosphere:
Characters:

Tracie

 

[butiflfeet]

Ooooh! I love Crystal Palace breakfast It sounds like you had a great meal there. I can't wait for more of your reviews!

 

[77SU]

...the night you were dining at Chef Mickeys we were upstairs at Cali Grill and watched that amazing store blow it, it was wild!

During that deluge we were making our way through EPCOT to the princess dinner at Akershus. Of course the flooding subsided while we ate and then the second round hit as we left. You can add the photos from Akershus and CRT to your photopass, since they are included with the meal.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Great review... I love your writing style... So, did it rain your entire trip? I'm scared as we leave in 2 weeks and worried about the weather... I'm from California and we don't get much rain.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Thanks for the great reviews. We plan to try Chef Mickey's for the first time next trip since we are staying at CR and can't decide between dinner and breakfast. Dinner would suit our schedule better so I'm glad to hear a positive review.
We love CP breakfast too. Such a fun, convienent place to eat and good food too.
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RachaelRol]

subbing and enjoying your reviews

 

[oybolshoi]

great start - I especially enjoyed your Chef Mickey review. It's been a number of years since we've eaten there but your grade school cafeteria description is spot on from what I remember!

 

[dd50]

Great reviews. We are going to CM this year, maybe CP the following as we already made the ressies.

 

[queenmum2]

Great review... I love your writing style... So, did it rain your entire trip? I'm scared as we leave in 2 weeks and worried about the weather... I'm from California and we don't get much rain.

Thanks for the compliment.

Unfortunately, it did NOT rain our entire trip. The first 4 days, we were actually BLESSED with some rainstorms - our first day was actually the worst with regards to duration. But the other days, the rain was brief and disrupted our trip very little. The blessing of it was that it kept temperatures nice and pleasant - I'd say low 80s on those days it rained. When the rain cleared out, the temps were in the mid 90s and humid.

Take some ponchos if you are worried about getting soaked or if you have a nice camera (which DH does) you don't want to get wet. Our first day, I hadn't packed the ponchos in our daypacks so we tried to wait it out. DS danced around in the deluge and got absolutely saturated with rain. We stopped on the way out for WDW ponchos just to get us out of the park. The other days it rained, though, the showers were inconsequential. In fact we took the ponchos out only one other day - AK day when it rained just a little, then we kept them on for Kali River Rapids.

Have a great time!

Tracie

 

[queenmum2]

Thanks for the great reviews. We plan to try Chef Mickey's for the first time next trip since we are staying at CR and can't decide between dinner and breakfast. Dinner would suit our schedule better so I'm glad to hear a positive review.
We love CP breakfast too. Such a fun, convienent place to eat and good food too.
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah - I had heard some negatives about the food at CM. I don't know if the early ADR had anything to do with our great experience - maybe people who go later don't have as fresh a selection?

Thanks for posting.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Unfortunately, it did NOT rain our entire trip. The first 4 days, we were actually BLESSED with some rainstorms - our first day was actually the worst with regards to duration. But the other days, the rain was brief and disrupted our trip very little. The blessing of it was that it kept temperatures nice and pleasant - I'd say low 80s on those days it rained. When the rain cleared out, the temps were in the mid 90s and humid.

Yup that is exactly how it was, by the time the end of our vacation came I was just a soaked kid begging for a breeze of some sort...it was nice to actually do every single event in Innoventions just to cool off

 

[queenmum2]

Day three brings us to our must-do-every-trip breakfast bonanza at Boma. Most of our foursome are breakfast lovers...particularly DS. That boy would eat breakfast 3 meals a day if he could. And as a growing boy, he can put some food away. I almost feel sorry for the chefs when this kid shows up at a buffet. DD is the only hold-out when it comes to gorging on breakfast. I have tried explaining that when we do a big breakfast like this, there will be NO LUNCH...but maybe she'll get the hang of it one day.

Now - back to our Boma coma. As I said before, this is a must do for us every time we come to WDW. We did it first in 03, then in 06, then in 07... it never loses it's flavor. And we stuff ourselves silly, then don't have to eat again until...well, maybe not until the next day!

The fruit bar was delicious as usual, the bacon and sausage were perfectly porky, and the pastries - as DD will tell you - were quite satisfying. I will also mention that the coffee here is better than other places we've eaten. I used to have to get the press-pot to get a decent cup o joe; but if this was the standard nescafe, I'll be a monkey's uncle. We also had frunch all around, but DD didn't like hers (hmmm...what could a sweet-tooth find wrong with funch?) and ordered milk.

We got a couple of made-to-order egg dishes: DH and I split a roasted veg and swiss, which we have really loved in the past. I will say that it didn't QUITE live up to our expectations, but it was still pretty good. That first one we had in 03 was absolutely divine! DD got an egg - over easy - but pretty much just played with it. DS got a ham and cheese omelette, I think...I will have to refer to my notes and get back to you on that.

I also had a slice of ham from the carving station which was really good. One other item on the buffet that was absolutely fabulous was the goat cheese and chive scrambled eggs. The goat cheese lent a pungency (is that a word) to the eggs, and also made them so creamy. The chives gave a little punch to the flavor. I actually got seconds on that one...it was really tasty!

DH and I both tried what might have been the bobotie...he liked it, I didn't. I also tried the quinoia. Having never eaten it before as a hot cereal, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with it. It was in a deep pot and it was really soupy. There was a bowl of dry quinoia...was that supposed to go in it? Whatever, I didn't care for it.

Overall, this is still a wonderful breakfast experience. The restaurant is beautifully themed, the buffet choices are fresh and varied, and the made-to-order items are really good.

Even though we were on the DDP, we paid OOP for this as it was one of our least expensive TS meals...I just couldn't trim my list of TS meals down to a mere 7!

In conclusion:

Food: +
Atmosphere:

Tracie

 

[queenmum2]

I used to know how to hyperlink my posts in my initial thread post, but I can't for the life of me remember how to do it... I know as a review reader, I appreciate being able to click on the link and get to the restaurant I'm interested in...

Any help?

Tracie