Just returned from the World Nov 6-12th, any dining questions. . .

[heffalump9]

My DH and I just returned from 6 nights and 7 wonderful days at the World. Here is where we dined:

Boma (breakfast & dinner)
Mara (breakfast, lunch/dinner)
Cape May Cafe (dinner)
Yachtsman Steakhouse (dinner)
Columbia Harbour House (dinner)
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe (dinner)
Starring Rolls (lunch)
F&W Festival Epcot

We were not on a dining plan, if you have any questions I will try to answer them.

This is the first visit we have made to WDW since the dining plan went to effect. We normally make a number of ADR's before each visit decided by our park days and must do places. We decided to pay oop since my DH thought it was hard enough to choose places to eat 100 plus days out. The main thing we noticed that was different from our other visits, was limited selections on menus, more children in the Signature spots vs convention and business people and the fact that even though the parks weren't crowded the dining spots were, all of them, very little walk in available.

Our favorite meal for this visit was the Cape May Cafe (a must do). The steamed crab legs, clam chowder, clams and mussels were great, very well prepared and always hot off the buffet. I thought we might miss the fried shrimp (since I didn't know it was only on the buffet limited evenings), but we didn't, there was plenty of peel n' eat shrimp, salads, new potatoes, yeast rolls and key lime tarts to fill in the empty spots. The CM's were great about keeping the tables clean, the drinks filled this makes the buffet special and well run.

We ate more CS this visit which I was surprized was better then ever. We had a wonderful dinner at Columbia Harbor House before "Wishes". I loved the new Lobster roll (plenty of lobster meat) and chips and my DH had the Clam Chowder and Shrimp basket the portions were almost too big. Pecos Bills was also good, we ate there before MVMCP (good place to get away from the crowds). My DH had the Chicken wrap and fries and I had the Grilled Chicken Caesar salad. The salad had a big chicken breast plus plenty of parmesan and I got lots of dressing and croutons from the fixin's bar.

The best dessert we shared was an eclair from Starring Rolls in DH. The cupcakes were just huge, maybe next time. I will add to this review later!

 

[Lindsayrg3]

So excited to hear that you enjoyed Cape May Cafe! Hubby and I will be eating there on arrival night, and I'm super excited! Thanks for the info!

 

[heffalump9]

We ate at the Boma three times this visit, as you can guess it is one of our favorites. The breakfast buffet was wonderful there were a couple of changes since our last visit, no breakfast pizza, pork tenderloin replaced by roasted turkey (surprisingly good) and Frunch was replaced by Jungle juice (guava based vs mango in Frunch).
My DH and I love breakfast, the omelet station was good and very quick, the bakery items were top notch I especially love the sticky buns, mini muffins, banana bread and scones. There was plenty of fresh fruit melon, whole strawberries and pineapple (really good). I loved the carved ham and turkey plus the grilled asparagus was a treat to go with the omelets. They also have wonderful French toast, waffle wedges, and of course sausage links , bacon and very soft and tasty scambled eggs. The also offer cereal, oatmeal, bobotie and a few other African dishes, plus home style potatoes. They do a wonderful job keeping everything hot fresh and full. Breakfast here and you are set for the day!


Our last evening we had the dinner buffet which was good. We especially enjoyed the beef and pork shoulder, mini corn muffins (mealie?), sun-dried hummus with pitas, butternut squash soup, and of course the zebra domes and cookies. We ate late after 9pm and the buffet was very well kept and everything was fresh. One thing that I also love about their buffet AM or PM is the fresh cut fruit. My DH was concerned about one thing the buffet was not as well marked about items the contained nuts as it used to be plus he noticed it was easy for serving pieces to get mixed up. The staff was great about answering questions so no problem.

On another note we did find out this visit that some of the baking at Disney is being out sourced. Part about what we love about Disney is that my DH can have dessert and not worry about exposure to nuts, this visit he had to avoid desserts at some of our favorite places since they were worried about cross contamination. I think that their high standards are being met but they recommended that he avoid some desserts because of surface contamination. We really missed getting Danish and School bread at the Kringla at EPCOT and cheesecake at the Mara. The Mara had two safe alternatives chocolate chip cookies and a brownie but he thought they we great for kids but didn't care for the taste since they were also milk and wheat free.

 

[gogo]

How was Yachtsman Steakhouse? I have not eaten there before and am considering it for our January trip. i was disappointed in the steak at California Grill last year, so I'm wondering if we should try another restaurant.

 

[heffalump9]

The Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club is always on our must do list. This year it was one of the best meals of the trip, but the overall atmosphere did change some due to the dining plan IMHO. Our CM was wonderful and very unobtrusive and we never wanted for drinks, butter or advice. We were seated in one of the small alcoves with another table but the noise from the main dining area was loud. We are use to lots of convention people here but not so many families with small children plus there were many large groups. I just didn't feel the special atmosphere we have come to know here. Our food was top notch, my DH had the lobster bisque, I had the Caesar salad (best salad ever) and we both had the filets with real mash potatoes, which were cooked to order and very tender. My DH really loved the pull apart onion rolls and I thought the sourdough rolls were good too. I was sorry they no longer offered the asparagus which we normally share. We didn't order coffee after the meal since the crowds were getting very large. Next time I will make my reservation earlier in the evening. We went over to Illuminations, a perfect way to end the night.

 

[jandm]

We are thinking about doing the Cape May dinner on our arrival night, since we are staying at the Boardwalk Inn. My husband is not a huge seafood lover, but I really like it. Is there enough non-seafood items that he could enjoy?

 

[snoopy352]

Wife and I doing an anniversary trip in Feb; two different questions:

1.) we have breakfast reservations at Boma the day we go to AK park with EMH from 8-9. Reservation is at 9:30. Is it easy to get to Boma from AK park? Or should we just eat at Rainforest to avoid hassle? (Is it worth it to do Boma?)

2.) We are staying at PO-Riverside. Arrival at airport is 3:50 pm. Made a reservation for 5:50 at Boatright's at PO just b/c it's right there. Reviews are not good. But not sure of any other options close to PO-R that we could do.

We have DDP.

Thanks!
Tim

 

[heffalump9]

Breakfast at the Boma is worth it, AK is only a short bus ride to AKL if you leave the park in the early AM allow about a 20 minute wait to get a bus especially on EMH mornings. Most people are coming to the park not leaving.
Also AKL shares buses with Kidani Village (DVC).

 

[heffalump9]

I am not sure 2 hours is enough time to get from the airport, check in, unpack and get to dinner. POR is very close to DTD via boat check out all the great places to eat.

 

[ncc1701]

Wife and I doing an anniversary trip in Feb; two different questions:

1.) we have breakfast reservations at Boma the day we go to AK park with EMH from 8-9. Reservation is at 9:30. Is it easy to get to Boma from AK park? Or should we just eat at Rainforest to avoid hassle? (Is it worth it to do Boma?)

2.) We are staying at PO-Riverside. Arrival at airport is 3:50 pm. Made a reservation for 5:50 at Boatright's at PO just b/c it's right there. Reviews are not good. But not sure of any other options close to PO-R that we could do.

We have DDP.

Thanks!
Tim

Depending on your other plans you can do our 1st night dinner. We stay at POFQ and take the boat to DTD and eat at WPE in the Marketplace.It is a CS restaurant but it has "real" food.You order, get a table and a server brings the food.We have had dinner there 3 times on each of our last 2 trips paying OOP.
This way you aren't worried about making an ADR.

 

[snoopy352]

Depending on your other plans you can do our 1st night dinner. We stay at POFQ and take the boat to DTD and eat at WPE in the Marketplace.It is a CS restaurant but it has "real" food.You order, get a table and a server brings the food.We have had dinner there 3 times on each of our last 2 trips paying OOP.
This way you aren't worried about making an ADR.

that is a terrific idea/plan. can you give me an idea of how long you think it would take to leave our hotel room at PO-R until we are standing in line at WPE? just a ballpark as i have NO clue...

TIA

 

[ncc1701]

that is a terrific idea/plan. can you give me an idea of how long you think it would take to leave our hotel room at PO-R until we are standing in line at WPE? just a ballpark as i have NO clue...

TIA

The boat ride is about 25 to 30 mins from POR. You do stop to pickup people at POFQ. After 4:00pm the boats run every 10 mins. so even if you don't get on the 1st boat you don't have a long wait & it it is better than the bus(which we only used once to go to DTD because the boats weren't running due to weather)
It only a few minutes walk to WPE from the dock in DTD.(It is between the Christmas shop & EOS) Do NOT go the the WPE in the Westside next to the WP Cafe.It has a very very limited menu.

 

[North of Mouse]

jandm, yes there are plenty dishes that are not seafood related - ribs, chicken, salads, etc. and wonderful desserts, but for us it's the seafood that draws us - the wonderful clam chowder, crab legs, etc. . We have been up to the NE several times and can not get chowder that is anywhere as good as Cape Mays. The fried shrimp are very good (Mon. Wed. Sat. I think).