Let the Stomach Stretching Begin! (Oct PTR) 11/2 - List of December ADRs

[annnewjerz]

Hi everyone!

This is a dining review for our trip in October. I'm getting it started right now, so when we return from our trip I can get started with the reviews.

If you'd like to learn more about this spontaneous trip from New Jersey to The World (at least spontaneous by the standards of an obsessive trip planner)---you can do so by checking out my PTR here!

For those of you who aren't interested in reading through a PTR, I'll do some brief introductions:

Me (Ann) - 24, will turn 25 on the day we arrive to WDW. In honor of this trip being, in part, to attend MNSSHP I have decided that a picture in costume would be most appropriate.

DH (Erik) 26. Is only taking this trip because I conned him into it. I mean c'mon---who could say no to that face??

Now for the important part, the food. This trip is essentially the start to our training---training for a week-long December trip on the Deluxe Dining Plan. If you're interested in hearing about that trip, which will have loads of dining reviews and yummy food porn pics, you can read up on that here. This trip is on a strict budget, so we will try to make the most of our money (or just throw the budget out the window ).

We will be eating at the following fine dining establishments:

- Main Street Bakery @ the MK (something to curb our appetites (but not our enthusiasm) on our arrival day)
- Todd English's bluezoo @ the Dolphin (for my birthday dinner)
- Kona Cafe @ the Poly (to try Tonga Toast for the first time and see if it lives up to the hype)
- The Plaza @ the MK (hoping to meet The Mayor)
- Earl of Sandwich @DTD (mmmm jerk chicken sammie)
- Goofy's Candy Company @ DTD (I know it's blasphemous, I've never been)

I'm sure there will be a snack from Ghirardelli or the Dole Whip stand thrown in for good measure, but in sticking with my "go with the flow" attitude this trip, I haven't planned those things.

Anywho, that's about it for now. I don't have the rating system for anything figured out yet, but I can tell you there will be lots of pictures, a healthy serving of rambling and a lot of keeping myself from licking the computer screen while I write.

Ann

 

[TigerKat]

Sounds like fun, count me in!!! We'll be there soon too!

 

[DWGal210]

Those sound great! You leave in such a short time, are you getting so very excited?! I'm at about 85 days and can hardly control myself!

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

 

[scoot241]

In mostly because I can't say no to hot zombies.

 

[annnewjerz]

Sounds like fun, count me in!!! We'll be there soon too!

Welcome! Glad to have you tagging along!

Those sound great! You leave in such a short time, are you getting so very excited?! I'm at about 85 days and can hardly control myself!

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

I am getting so excited! I went through that whole "not really feeling the trip to Disney and so uber-planner'd out" phase, but that's gone now. We're going to Disney in like 2 1/2 weeks!!

In mostly because I can't say no to hot zombies.

Like I said, who in their right mind could say no to that face? It's irrisistible. ::wishing I could insert zombie smiley here, but there isn't one---so we'll settle for a winky::

 

[MickeyNicki]

Cant wait! You will LOVE BlueZoo..it is incredible!

 

[annnewjerz]

Cant wait! You will LOVE BlueZoo..it is incredible!

I'm very glad to hear you say that. A DISer that I talk to a lot said it's wonderful and recommended it, and I read your review and it was great---so even though it was a bit of a splurge for this trip, I decided to book it.

Then I posted a request for reviews on the Restaurant Board and the response was not so great. Most people seemed to have complaints or think it was just okay and wouldn't go back.

I'm looking forward to judging for myself. It looks like a really cool restaurant and a nice place to spend a birthday dinner.

 

[natalielongstaff]

count me in

 

[Symans3honeybees]

It's going to be a fun read. Thanks for sharing
BTW, you should have your "blood" count checked. You definitely need to eat more "RED-MEAT" done rare....

 

[annnewjerz]

count me in

It's going to be a fun read. Thanks for sharing
BTW, you should have your "blood" count checked. You definitely need to eat more "RED-MEAT" done rare....

Thanks for joining in!!

Now with quite a few readers following along, it's making me nervous. What if I take a bite before getting a pic, what if I forget to show what the bread basket looked like, what if I completely forget to take a pic?! Oh the horror!!!!!

 

[annnewjerz]

So even though I just posted this TR last week, I already made a change.

The first plan for sit-down meals was:
Oct. 17 - The Plaza
Oct. 18 - The Plaza

Then it was:
Oct. 17 - The Wave
Oct. 18 - The Plaza

Then it became:
Oct. 17 - Todd English's bluezoo
Oct. 18 - The Plaza

And now...it is (and I don't think it'll change ):
Oct. 17 - Todd English's bluezoo
Oct. 18 - (breakfast) Kona Cafe, (dinner) The Plaza

I added in Kona Cafe for breakfast for a few reasons. First, we were going to Captain Cook's for breakfast anyway. Second, sitting down for breakfast isn't dreadfully expensive. Third, if I'm going to have Tonga Toast I should have it right. Fourth, it'll be a nice way to start our first full day in Disney and since we have nothing planned at all until 4:00 MNSSHP, why not?

 

[annnewjerz]

Well, everyone---I have seen a lot of unique ratings systems around the dining reviews (from the Simpsons, to penguins, to Ren & Stimpy) and decided that I should come up with my own. In honor of probably my all-time favorite movie, I have decided to use characters from....


Willy Wonka! (the original with Gene Wilder, I absolutely refuse to even watch the re-make)

I haven't quite decided who will serve as which rating---but I'm thinking it will go as follows:

Pure Fizzy Lifting Drink Ecstasy (Charlie & Grandpa Joe)

Roll Me Out Of Here---Sooooo Good (Violet)

Delightful! Nothing To Turn My Nose Up At (Augustus Gloop)

YUCK! Bad Egg Indeed. Won't Be Eating Again Anytime Soon (Veruca Salt)

 

[scoot241]

Awesome rating system!

 

[annnewjerz]

Awesome rating system!

Thanks, Scott---I definitely agree. It was either Willy Wonka or Christmas vacation, and something about having "Cousin Eddie" possibly show up multiple times in a dining review just didn't seem right. He's quite disgusting.

 

[scoot241]

Thanks, Scott---I definitely agree. It was either Willy Wonka or Christmas vacation, and something about having "Cousin Eddie" possibly show up multiple times in a dining review just didn't seem right. He's quite disgusting.

Christmas Vacation would have been great too! Something really bad could have been given the charred cat rating.

 

[annnewjerz]

Christmas Vacation would have been great too! Something really bad could have been given the charred cat rating.

I don't know if you've forgotten---but my Christmas TR is called "Christmas Vacation (The Trip Not The Movie)."

I was tryyyyyyying to keep the ratings system for my Christmas Dining Reviews secret until we got back, but yes---the charred cat may make an appearance for the bad foods or maybe Cousin Eddie pumping sewage into the gutter, the house lit up in all of its glory for something spectacularly delicious, etc.

Now that I've posted a spoiler---no one better steal my idea!!!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

LOVEEE the rating system!! hahahahaha!

 

[annnewjerz]

LOVEEE the rating system!! hahahahaha!

Thank you thank you! Excited to have another reader and I can't wait to start on your dining reviews.

 

[annnewjerz]

So with only 8 days left until our trip, I figured I would inform all (any) of my readers that are interested that I will be Twittering/live blogging from The World.

Now, while these "live reports" won't necessarily all be about dining, there will most definitely be an occassional Tweet to point out anything spectacular or spectacularly bad, as well as an occassional picture on the live blog to get your mouths watering.

Here is the link to the live blog, which will have pictures.

Here is the link to follow me on Twitter.

I can't guarantee each post will be on both the blog and Twitter, although I do say that I'm going to make a sincere effort!

I hope that some of you follow along and comment and if not, no worries---there will be a full dining report with much better pictures when we get home.

I'll be re-posting my links later a day or two before we leave in case anyone misses this post.

 

[KatMark]

I'm in for this one.