Live 14 Night- 1 Vegan and 3 Omni's Take Over WDW

[eeyore81]

Yay!!!! I am really excited about your report. How did you go about talking to the chef at Pop Century? We are newly vegan and staying at the Pop Century at the end of September. Can't wait to read about your trip.

 

[MelanieC]

I did a quick search for you and there are a couple of reviews of Chef Julie at Ohana -- both good. The special vegan meal prepared was not as elaborate as Chef TJ, but both reviewers said the food was good.

THanks for the live report and review!

Thanks for checking, I thought she was the one I've seen a few reviews on.

I ended up finding out Boma had availability, but the weren't seating when I got there, so I ate at Jiko instead. I had the most incredible meal. Can't wait to tell everyone about it.

 

[MelanieC]

Yay!!!! I am really excited about your report. How did you go about talking to the chef at Pop Century? We are newly vegan and staying at the Pop Century at the end of September. Can't wait to read about your trip.

Just ask at of the CM's behind the counters at the food court. He was so helpful, and it sounds like the are willing to work with you to help you find something.

 

[eeyore81]

Do you happen to know what restaurant Chef TJ went to at the GF?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Good reviews so far. I found your review of the Pop Century items especially helpful.

 

[MelanieC]

Do you happen to know what restaurant Chef TJ went to at the GF?

She thought Citricos, bit she wasn't sure.

 

[butiflfeet]

Great info so far! Have a wonderful time!

 

[MelanieC]

Yesterday we had planned to leave the hotel at 8:00AM, but we didn't make it out till 8:30AM. We got to Sea World about 10 minutes before opening. We got our Military tickets at guest services and we probably went in at 9:10AM.

We rode Manta with only a 10 minute wait, and pretty much only because we waited for the back. We walked right on Kracken in the back with no wait, ride it again in the front with only a 10 minute wait. We rode Atlantis with about a 5-10 min wait and when we were done the line was out of the ride entrance. Next we started to head over to where the Shamu stadium is so we can go to Mango Joes for lunch. We walked through Shark Reef and then went to lunch.

We ate at Mango Joes. I had e-mailed prior and asked if there was any dairy or egg in the tortillas and the said no. I ordered the veggie wrap with no cheese. I was working with the chef there and dice the sandwich came with potato salad I was allowed French fries (which the said was only used for fries),
Fruit (srawberries or watermelon or fresh carrots.

I chose French fries and he made the sandwich himself away from everything. It was mostly a lot of lettuce with some of the black bean corn salsa in the middle with some olives. The french fries were wonderful, and the sandwich was surprisingly very good considering it was mostly lettuce. It was super fresh tasting, and the best part it was freshly made and wasn't sitting there premade.

Bill got a fajita sandwich. He said it was good.

Ryan and Taryn both got chicken fingers and liked them.

Next we went on Wild Arctic and walked right on. We rode the helicopter ride and walked through the animal exhibits. We walked over to Shamu and got into Believe and only had 5 minutes before the show.

Next we went to the penguin encounter, seal habitat and then watched The Clyde and Seamore show. We went over to watch the dolphin show. We all got drinks. I got a frozen cherry snow. Very sweet, but we were so hot, it hit the spot (until it was melted into sweet cherry flavored soda water).

Next we visited the manatees, alligators and then the dolphins. We were going to see Allure, but we were only going to get out of the sun. No one wanted to see it, as we usually fall asleep, lol.

We wanted to see the nighttime Vlyde and Seamore, bit decided with 3 hours till it started, that we would ride Manta and leave. Manta was down, but we decided to wait. It was at least 45 minutes, and it was so hot. Once it started, we walked right up. We waited 10 minutes for the back. Wevwentbon again and waited about 20 min and another 10 for the back. It was about 7 by this time. Bill and I wanted to go ahead and see Clyde and Seamore, but the kids wanted to go, so we did.

 

[MelanieC]

Bill and the kids dropped me off at Pop and they went to Hooter's. Since they have absolutely nothing I could eat, I had made reservations for 'Ohana. I tried to call over to see if Chef TJ was working, but no one called answered. I also tried the concierge desk and the couldn't get any answer from any of the numbers tried either. I took a bus to MK and then monorail to Poly. Then I found out Chef TJ no longer works there and Chef Julie was working. Rather than chancing it, especially since I was by myself. I checked with concierge and Boma was only a 5 min wait. It was 9:45pm when I got on the monorail. Then, the train had to wait due to other delayed monorails, the bus had to unload and load a handicap and then it stopped at Kidani Village first and had to unload and load another chair. By the time I got to Bomas, it was about 5 minutes or so after they stoped seating. They told me I could still get into Jiko.

I sat at the chefs table and met Chef Michelle. She was from South Africa on the college international program. She was so nice.


I love that the have a vegan menu. It makes it so much easier. My pics on my phone are not the best because it was so dark, but my camera ones look good. I'll replace them later.
I ordered the taste of Africa as an appetizer.

It comes with papadum (a puta type bread) and a thin whole wheat lavosh (crunchy). The first dip is the tan olive hummus. It is nice and mild. The second is the green one called curry pesto. Very good and very spicy. The third was probably my favorite. It was red and called bhuna masala. It was so colorful and pretty. The first taste was sweet and then you felt the heat bit was so flavorful and delicious.

For my dinner I had the Tomatiesmoor (the same as the Chakalaka I've seen before. The must have just renamed it).

Tomatiesmoor: South African Tomatiesmoor with edamame and a fried coconut rice cake topped with fried carrots.

Sorry the picture is so dark

This was absolutely incredible. The tomatiesmoor is like a sweet stew of tomatoes, onions and sweet spices with edamame beans added. The rice cake gave the dish such icredible texture and flavor I didn't reLly taste any coconut flavor, but it didn't matter. The fried carrots on top is similiar to how the would thinly slice and fry onions as a garnish. It just adds that wow factor that finishes a dish and makes it look pretty.

I wasn't hungry at all, but Chef Michelle talked me onto dessert because she raved about the watermelon sorbet they had. The menu mentions pomegranate molasses, which I really wanted to try, but the server said the didn't have it anymore.

Let's just say I'm so glad I didn't skip dessert. This was one of the most incredible sorbets I've ever had. I'd say probably the best. It was so smith and actually creamy. Chef Michelle said it was because the have an incredible sorbet machine that makes it so smooth.

I think when I go to Bomas, I'm asking If I can have sorbet from jiko for dessert. The change the sorbet flabors all the time the dropout in it was just fruit and not a fruit salad like it says on the menu.

This was such an incredible dinner.



Today was universal. I'll post tomorrow. We had Moe's for lunch at City Walk and Bill and Ryan ate at Pop food court and Taryn and I ate Earl of sandwich. My veggie sandwich was do good, but the almost gave nevtje wrong info on the dressing. The were not too helpful at first about allergy or ingredient info and I rly had to push. The manager wasn't too nice. I guess I was a bother.

More on that tomorrow. Did I mention my sandwich rocked, lol.

 

[letstalkboutdisney]

I'm in, love a love report!

 

[MelanieC]

I just reread what I wrote last night and I'm sorry for all the typos. This phone makes corrections and I don't know it sometimes and it's too hard to go back and change on the phone because I don't have arrows to move up or down, so if I have a long post I can't go to where I need to change something. I'll fix at home when I put the better pics in.

Today is Universal, yesterday was actually IOA, I think I just said Universal last night.
By the way the Forbidden Journey at Harry Potter is out of this world, nut the whole area is mayhem.

Pumpkin juice rocks!! I had 3 cups.

 

[MelanieC]

Last night I went over to Ghiradelli at DTD.
The don't have the chocolate covered vegan frozen bananas that Kitty at Bashful Vegan mentioned, but they do have raspberry and lemon sorbet.

We are waiting to get on The Simpsons ride now. We have rode Mummy twice and Rip Ride and Rocket once.

 

[toyman70]

Thanks for the live updates
One question, did you drive there on I95 all the way down or did you use I81?
I am in philly and thinking about using I 81 (going in Dec.) then cutting in far down south?
Any ideas?
Thanks and have fun

 

[MelanieC]

Thanks for the live updates
One question, did you drive there on I95 all the way down did you use I81?
I am in philly and thinking about using I 81 (going in Dec.) then cutting in far down south?
Any ideas?
Thanks and have fun

We did I95, but we almost did I81. I81 is 60 miles longer and much more scenic.
We cought so much Friday rush hour and probably vacation and shore traffic. If we had to do it again we would have taken 81. Bill has done 81 before when he drives the trucks down for Military training at Tampa and Georgia.

 

[Melanie B]

Looks great so far! Count me in

 

[adsrtw]

I'm joining in! Did you try the Taste of Africa dips together? My server suggested it and it was fabulous.

 

[MelanieC]

I'm joining in! Did you try the Taste of Africa dips together? My server suggested it and it was fabulous.

Oh no way, why didn't I think of that. I bet that was good. The flavors were very complimentary.

 

[adsrtw]

Oh no way, why didn't I think of that. I bet that was good. The flavors were very complimentary.

It was fabulous! I highly recommend that you try it next time. And Jiko is a great place to dine alone.

 

[MelanieC]

Yesterday I wanted to leave for Universal at 7:30 AM, but in reality we left at 8:00 AM. We were in the park at 8:30am and since it was so crowded, we decided to save Harry Potter for the afternoon and see as much as we could before. We rode Hulk, and Dr Doom (the told us to stay strapped in if we wanted to go again since no one was waiting) and Spiderman. We did all of this by 9:00 AM. We rode Bluto's Barge and Rip Saw Falls next and were completely soaked. I regreted this later as I didn't completely dry till late afternoon and I was super uncomfortable.
Next we rode Jurasic Park, and it was our first wait of the day. We also waited a while for Poseidon. We then headed over to City Walk to go to Moe's for lunch.

I got the vegetarian burrito with no cheese or sour cream and a cup of ice tea.

Bill got two chicken tacos, Taryn got beef fajitas, and Ryan got a chicken taco. I think I have pictures on the camera, but I'm not 100% sure.

After lunch we rode Dr Seuss and then headed over to Harry Potter. We rode the forbidden Journey. It was totally incredible. They don't do a good job with the mayhem going into the ride. Ots not organized at all and there aren't really any explanations and peoples tempers were being tested since it was so hot. Next we rode both versions of Dueling Dragons and then rode flight of the Hipagrith.

After that we headed down and got drinks. Taryn and I got Pumpkin juice and Ryan and Bill got Butterbeer. Later I did see someone order a butterbeer and it didn't have foam. I'm going to try ordering one like that tomorrow. I ended up drinking 3 pumpkin juices, I was so thirsty. I'm in love with the pumpkin juice.

This is Taryn. She was so excited to go to Harry Potter world.

We spent over 5 hours in Harry Potter World. Right before leaving we went over to ride Hulk one more time.


We dropped Bill and Ryan at Pop and they ate at the food court. The had the Greek Salad.

Taryn and I went to DTD and ate at Earl of Sandwich.

I asked to see the ingredients for the Mediterranean dressing on the veggie sandwich, and was told the don't have a book. I had to ask two of the workers and both times thevdidntvseem to understand. I asked to talk to a manager and the one kid came back and said no dairy or eggs, but I just didn't feel right about the answer. I said do you have something that I could read the ingredients. He came back after talking to the manager again with two big containers of dressing vhecsaid the mix the two. The one was ranch dressing and I said that has Dairy. I asked again to speak to the manager who was upset infill him off the line when he finally came over. I told h the kid said he said there was no dairy or eggs in the dressing and he got mad and said he didn't say that. I told him the kid said he did. His response was that they don't even speak good English, almost implying why would I trust what they say. He told me it's too busy for him to be pulled off the line and I should have told the girl who is taking the order and she would contact a manager or make thevdecion if the could help me. I told him my daugter has already waited on line and paid. Would he really want me to hold up the line or take it off to the side like I was doing. He seriously had such an attitude. He told me the bread is dipped in oil and has no
eggs, dairy or animal products. I asked him about the balsamic vinegarete and he said this was safe. I went and got in line and ordered the veggie sandwich with no cheese and balsamic.

Luckily after all that, the sandwhich was super excellent. There were tons of veggies (lettuce,tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions,roasted red peppers, cucumbers). The bread was toasted perfectly and I really liked the dressing on the sandwich.

Taryn got the Earl's Club. She loves this sandwich.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

At Harry Potter, is it the foam that makes the butter beer unvegetarian? That would be awesome if you can get it without the foam.