Keep Calm and Go to Disney! 10/21 - 11/4/14 COMPLETE

[kastoney]

Wow, you are hitting a home run at food and wine. That scallop especially looks divine. I somehow managed to miss this on our food and wine adventure, looks right up my alley. And that cheesecake. Yum.

Sorry you missed out on Linda, but it sounds like she was hopefully all better. Hold on sounds like a bit of Pixie dust at just the right time

 

[vettegirl]

Poor Linda! What a way to end a cruise.

 

[Mom2m&k]

F&W looked very yummy! I am so sorry about your friend. When you said you were watching Wilson Phillips I immediately starting singing that song in my head! I'm glad you didn't let the turn of events ruin your trip. Can't wait to read more!

 

[Scoobymoons]

Still really enjoying your reports Barb.
Really feel for Linda as I ended up in hospital during my last trip - it's really horrid and not the way you want a holiday to go. Extra disappointing when you've got a fab Dis meet planned no doubt.
F&W booths look yummy. It's a time of year I'll never be able to go, so it's good to read it all in so much detail...ok drooling again....this is not good.....

 

[jabead]

Wow, you are hitting a home run at food and wine. That scallop especially looks divine. I somehow managed to miss this on our food and wine adventure, looks right up my alley. And that cheesecake. Yum.

Sorry you missed out on Linda, but it sounds like she was hopefully all better. Hold on sounds like a bit of Pixie dust at just the right time

All my choices during my first visit to the F & W festival booths were so good. It kind of made me sad that I had waited so long to check the booths out.

Poor Linda! What a way to end a cruise.

At least the injury didn't happen until the second to last day so she and her husband were able to enjoy most of their cruise. It's just such a bummer that it had to happen at all.

F&W looked very yummy! I am so sorry about your friend. When you said you were watching Wilson Phillips I immediately starting singing that song in my head! I'm glad you didn't let the turn of events ruin your trip. Can't wait to read more!

Thank you and thanks for reading!

Still really enjoying your reports Barb.
Really feel for Linda as I ended up in hospital during my last trip - it's really horrid and not the way you want a holiday to go. Extra disappointing when you've got a fab Dis meet planned no doubt.
F&W booths look yummy. It's a time of year I'll never be able to go, so it's good to read it all in so much detail...ok drooling again....this is not good.....

Sorry to hear that you too had a bad experience which ended in the hospital. Not good, not good at all.
As far as the drooling problem, sorry but get ready for another week's worth of mouthwatering food.

 

[jabead]

Dinner plans for this evening included my first meeting with another DIS board member, Niki Andiokno, and her DH. Technically we had run into each other at the Festival Center two days earlier while I was in line for the Carla Hall demo. But Niki was on her way to a wine demo when she spotted me in line so we only had time for a quick hello then so I don't really count that as our first meeting. Anyway, Niki had graciously invited me to join her and her DH for dinner on this night at Epcot's...





I arrived early for our reservation so found a seat by the entrance to the restaurant and did some people watching while I waited for Niki and her DH. Once they arrived and checked in, it wasn't long before we were seated. Unfortunately we didn't get a table by the window, but it wasn't a big deal since I don't believe they were planning to stay for Illuminations anyway.


We were presented with this menu...








But first things first, which was a round of margaritas for the table.




I believe that Niki and her DH both chose a Classic margarita, but as for me, I had to ask if they might have my beloved Avocado margarita even though it was not listed on the menu. The last time I had dined at La Hacienda (March 2013) the Avocado margarita was on the menu here so I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. Our server said they could in fact make me an Avocado margarita so I was a happy camper...well, until this was presented to me.


Avocado Margarita with El Mayor premium silver Tequila, melon liqueur, fresh avocado, agave nectar and fresh lime juice, served frozen with a hibiscus Himalayan salt rim

This was mostly ice and had very little flavor or alcohol, as far as I could tell. I probably would have sent it back had I not been dining with people that I had just met. I didn't want to start our first meal together on a negative note so I just kept still. I have to admit though that this was the second time that this happened to me at La Hacienda. When I ordered the Avocado margarita during my March 2013 dinner here it was exactly the same, mostly ice. I chalked it up to a fluke though, figuring the bartender was having a bad night or something. Well, you know that saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." So there will not be a third time. I'll just have to stick to La Cava or San Angel Inn (which comes from La Cava) for my Avocado margarita fix from now on.


Anyway, they brought the complimentary chips and salsa to our table to munch on while we sipped on our drinks and waited for the entrees to arrive...




For some reason, I don't recall if I had any of these so I can't really comment as to how they were.


Soon our entrees arrived. Niki and her DH shared the very impressive looking Seafood Platter...



Del Mar - Mixed grill offering Shrimp, Fish, Scallops and Vegetables, served with beans and fresh salsas


They had ordered this before and loved it and they seemed to enjoy it again this time.


As for me, I too went with an entree that I had enjoyed here previously...



Pescado de la Talla - Grilled Tilapia served with esquites (roasted corn), nopales (cactus leaves), and mango chutney

This was again very good. The tilapia was cooked perfectly and I really enjoyed the roasted corn and the grilled veggies (especially the zucchini) that accompanied my fish.



Niki and her DH were too full and I had something else in mind from elsewhere so we all passed on dessert but here is a photo of the Dessert section of their menu...




Not too much to choose from here. I've had the apple empanada before, which is actually what I would call an apple turnover, and it's ok. But as I said previously, I had something much better in mind. However, with good food (except for my margarita) and great company, this dinner was exactly what I needed to cheer me up after receiving the bad news about Linda. When I left Niki and her DH that night I was very happy that I had already made plans to have two more meals with them during the second week of my trip. ​

Next up: Back to my resort for dessert

 

[rteetz]

Have never eaten at La Hacienda but it does look good. I'm intrugued to try it next time maybe.

 

[vettegirl]

I have never dined there, but if I do I won't order that avocado margarita from there that's for sure The ones inside at Cava are amazing!!! All the seafood dishes look very nice.

 

[Scoobymoons]

La Hacienda looks really tasty - shame about your margarita though No good at all.

 

[kastoney]

Your seafood dishes look wonderful, but I'm broken hearted over the margarita. It looks great, but all ice and minimal tequila. So sad : ( We found a recipe for them online so once it gets a little bit warmer me and my deck have a date with a few.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow Barb, your reviews are bringing back so many great memories of the F&WF. I have been avoiding the boards recently as we haven't got another trip to WDW planned but fingers crossed we might be heading back in October. Yay for another F&WF trip

 

[jabead]

Have never eaten at La Hacienda but it does look good. I'm intrugued to try it next time maybe.

I believe this was my 4th visit to La Hacienda. Though it is not on my "must do every trip" list, the food (except for my Avocado margarita) has been pretty good. So I would say, go ahead and satisfy your curiosity and give it a try.

I have never dined there, but if I do I won't order that avocado margarita from there that's for sure The ones inside at Cava are amazing!!! All the seafood dishes look very nice.

I agree that La Cava is definitely the place to go for margaritas at Epcot. So far I've also had good luck with requesting an Avocado Margarita at San Angel Inn (even though it's not on their menu). The SAI manager has personally gotten it from La Cava and brought to our table at SAI. Such great service!

La Hacienda looks really tasty - shame about your margarita though No good at all.

Yes, I was pretty bummed about my margarita, especially since I never got around to getting one from La Cava on this trip.

Your seafood dishes look wonderful, but I'm broken hearted over the margarita. It looks great, but all ice and minimal tequila. So sad : ( We found a recipe for them online so once it gets a little bit warmer me and my deck have a date with a few.

I guess it's "Live and Learn" regarding the margarita. It took me two times, but I have finally learned my lesson. Next time I go to La Hacienda I will just stick to one of the margaritas that is listed on their menu.

Wow Barb, your reviews are bringing back so many great memories of the F&WF. I have been avoiding the boards recently as we haven't got another trip to WDW planned but fingers crossed we might be heading back in October. Yay for another F&WF trip

Well, hi Joh!! I've missed you! Perfect timing though, as you will soon be making your first appearance in my report.

Anyway, keep me posted on your possible October trip. I'm going in May for sure with my three kids but I would still consider doing another solo trip in October. I might even be able to talk my hubby into joining me for a few days again.

 

[jabead]

When I exited La Hacienda, Illuminations was just starting. I stepped up my pace in order to "get out of dodge" before the mass exodus of people following the show. I reached the bus stop well ahead of the crowds and in nearly no time at all I was on a bus on the way back to my hotel. By 9:30 I was seated at a table for two at the Wilderness Lodge's...





First I must say that I was surprised to see that there were quite a few people in the lounge. I've only been to the Territory Lounge twice before and both times it was pretty empty and quiet. But then again, my previous visits were earlier in the evening when many hotel guests were probably still at the parks, etc. I wanted to take photos of the lounge's interior for my report but it's pretty dark in there and I didn't want to blind the other guests with my camera's flash. I took this one quick photo without a flash though...




You probably can't tell much from this very dark photo, but the decor of the Territory Lounge follows the rustic, woodsy theme of the Wilderness Lodge. There were large wood-carved bear statues on each side of the bar and the ceiling was covered by wooden logs. The combination of dark wood, no windows, and very few lights made for a dark room but that really didn't bother me, except of course when I was trying to take pictures. But anyway, I enjoyed the laid-back, comfortable atmosphere of this lounge.


Here is the menu I was presented that night...





Everything on this menu sounded great to me. I could have easily eaten an entire meal here. But I had just had dinner at La Hacienda and left room for one thing and one thing only...



Artist Point's Cobbler with seasonal berries and house-made black raspberry ice cream

I really love this dessert! While the cobbler itself is very good, for me it's the addition of the black raspberry ice cream that takes this dessert to the next level. But for those of you who don't find fruit flavored ice cream appealing, on their visits to Artist Point my kids have requested this dessert with vanilla ice cream instead and that was not a problem at all. I have to admit that the vanilla ice cream was very good with the cobbler, but I still prefer the black raspberry.

Oh, and FYI, the Territory Lounge accepts Tables in Wonderland so I received a 20% discount on my dessert...which made it taste even better.


So even though I had had a big disappointment with the sad news of Linda's injury, this day ended on a high note with my dinner with Niki and her husband followed by one of my favorite Disney World desserts. And on that high note came the end of the first week of my trip. ​

Next up: Pre-Park Opening Breakfast at Crystal Palace

 

[auntfrannie]

The cobbler looks delicious, Barb!

 

[sunnysideup3]

I'm excited for this when we eat at Artist Point in May! Looks delicious! We'll definitely have to grab a drink in the Lounge, it looks like my kind of place.

 

[Misha72683]

That cobbler looks amazing.

 

[kastoney]

Artist point cobbler = pure perfection. Glad you finally got some and even gladder I now know I can get it in the lounge. One more reason for a night cap

 

[vettegirl]

Oh my goodness that cobbler looks amazing! We went to the Territory Lounge once for a beer while waiting to be seated at WCC. Nice atmosphere and I would love to return to try the bar food menu as I have heard nothing but great things from other Disers.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We really like the Oregon blackberry cobbler, too. My favorite thing to get there is the edamame.

 

[jenrose66]

These are great reviews! Thank you for taking the time to share with so much detail