Live from the Montezuma's Revenge room - Stick a fork in this turkey (update 10/5)

[Buckimion]

This first post is a PDR for those that hate PDRs...the car is packed and the next time I report will be (almost) live! We have the DxDP and this is probably WAY too much food even though DW and I are both pretty big eaters. Sharing a single plate is OUT although we may share bits of appetizers or our own plates. The goal of this trip is to knock off a bucket list of new places. I will be posting pictures with each review. The ADRs are always subject to change.

The game plan stacks up something like this:

Fri 14 arrive Ohana 6:25p

I've been trying to bump this one back an hour or two or even later in the week without luck just in case we're delayed but I think we'll be ok.


Sat 15 AK Rainforest Cafe 8:30a / Tusker House 12:25p / 1900PF 6:00p

Pretty straightforward.

Sun 16 HS Pepper Market / Sci Fi 11:20a / 50's PTC 5:30p

This is possibly my favorite day. And get your red-blue glasses ready because this trip report is in 3D! I admit I have some reservations about 50's PTC but I don't really like anything else on the TS menu and this does knock this off of my bucket list.

Mon 17 MK Chef Mickey's 7:55a / Tony's 12:05p / LTT 5:20p

Chef Mickey's was one tough ADR to get, second only to LC. After swapping about 3 times I finally landed a nearly perfect time. We're also looking forward to Tony's to satisfy our curiosity that the bad reviews are warranted or not. Liberty Tree Tavern had the distinction of being the first "real" meal we ever ate at WDW and DW wanted to go there again, even though it's no longer a character meal. Our goal this day is the MSEP.

Tue 18 MNSSHP Kona 8:30a / Pepper Market or MK? / CRT 4:25p

A slow day while we get ready for the party although DW and I are keeping our options open to head to the MK early. DW lands her dream of eating in the castle!

Wed 19 rest day. 1900PF 8:30a / Olivia's 12:30p / Maya Grill 5:30p

Relax. Repeat as necessary. I'm really looking forward to the conch fritters at Olivia's.

Thur 20 Epcot Akershus 8:30a / Le Cellier 11:35a / Rose & Crown 6:35p

I'd originally blown off Le Cellier for my old standby Biergarten and even briefly considered Les Chefs, but when I heard it was going to signature for lunch I decided to get it knocked off the bucket list. Getting a reservation with only 2.5 months to go has been a pain and I'm still not happy with the time as I would have preferred 12-12:30. DW also surprised me by insisting we get R&C and keep it rather than try something else. The only other place she really wanted was San Angel but I didn't care for the food. Les Chefs was similar was the only thing I really cared about is the mac and cheese.

Fri 21 MNSSHP Cape May (trying for walkup) / WCC or Olivia's walkup / Crystal Palace 5:40p

Most of this day is open. Since we've eaten at CP several times in the past this one is iffy but it was a primo ADR for MNSSHP.

Sat 22 Ohana 9:40a

It begins and ends with Ohana. This is DW's favorite ADR due to Stitch. After this we head to New Orleans for another week.

I get really bummed out that there are so many good places for dinner and not enough for lunch. I couldn't find room to fit a Cape May dinner and DW may insist we make room for something at DtD.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Count me in!

 

[sydneysmom]

I'm in too!! I'm looking forward to reading your reviews... you're going to alot of the places that we're going to try for the first time too. Have fun!!!

 

[CraigInPA]

Count me in. I'm looking forward to hearing how you feel eating 3 sit downs a day for most of your trip. My wife and I tried that (we're BIG eaters) and failed. It might be because both of our parents ingrained the "clean your plate" mentality into us. Try as we might, we just can't break it! Now, we do a breakfast or lunch sit down and a signature dinner on DxDP.

 

[Tracerr00]

Can't wait for the reviews! I love your ADRs!

 

[deenbrad]

I'm in! Have a great trip!

 

[ILikeWaffles]

Have a wonderful trip! I'm looking forward to the reviews.

 

[vettegirl]

Safe travels to you! Enjoy all those good eats, and starting off with Ohana is a great way to usher in a vacation!!

 

[butiflfeet]

I hope you have a great trip! I can't wait for your reviews!

 

[Buckimion]

Not quite a dining update as our 'Ohana ADR is in an hour, but wanted to note that I had a VERY easy check-in at the CSR with multiple clerks waving for me when I walked up.

We got the refillable mugs from Cafe Rix where we had our choice of pink, black and blue; DW surprising me by picking pink, leaving me with black.

Unfortunately Cafe Rix does not have my preferred drink of iced tea for the mugs. Well, there is still Pepper Market, Siestas and the Laguna bar to check.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Will be reading!

 

[vettegirl]

Good to hear there were plenty of friendly clerks at check in at CSR. I have stayed there 4 times and have always had great service.

 

[Ro Z]

Looking forward to reviews!

 

[livinlife25]

Can't wait for your reviews!

 

[Buckimion]

For a look at the rest of our trip see:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46159218#post46159218

After taking a wrong turn to get to the Poly we still arrived with plenty of time to spare. After checking in 25 minutes early for our ADR we were seated 10 minutes later than scheduled. While amusing the first time or two, the "Aloha cousin" got old really quick although DW seemed to enjoy it. Without asking, we were seated at a three-top table at the windows overlooking the gardens below.

Maurice was our server and quite ready to jump into the picture when trying for a candid shot of the presentation. I tend to consume plenty of drink during meals and have been concerned about this lack of service at some of my meals. A few minutes after my glass of tea went empty the first time he provided a top off which I consumed within minutes. Returning with one of the courses and seeing the again-empty glass he clucked and shook his head and left with my glass. I thought he was going to bring some sort of joke oversized cup out but he just returned with two glasses.

However, he refused to allow these to become empty before the end of the meal and continued to make passes with a pitcher to keep them topped up.
When it came to the main courses, another server followed my instructions of only a single piece of meat or two to leave room for a taste of everything. (Which was excellent BTW except for the noodles which I didn't care for. DW raved over them though.) When Maurice saw the other server doling out a single piece of pork he chided him for not piling it on and proceeded to load me with about 6 pieces of steak. Not to give up there, he quickly returned with an entire skewer of shrimp for me.

Not one to back down from a challenge I actually ate it all, forcing Maurice to call a truce.

The pace of the meal was a little faster than I would have liked and at one point it seemed as though the restaurant was half-empty despite a zoo out in the waiting area but these are minor complaints against the great taste of the food.

 

[vettegirl]

Great Ohana review, I agree that they do rush the meats coming out. I wished they had a card like the Brazillian place I go to.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

great review!

 

[TIME2DISNEY]

Great review!
More please!

 

[happy2012]

I'm in! Nice lineup!

My gosh do I ever LOVE 'Ohana!! The shrimp & chicken is my favorite! & yes, I ate a skewer of the shrimp too! It was amazing!!

 

[Buckimion]

Breakfast was at the Animal Kingdom Rainforest Cafe. DW insisted on stopping by Cafe Rix to get some hot chocolate only to find I was walking instead of taking the car around. (The size of the CSR is going to keep it off of our return list although we love the decor.) We ended up being just a few minutes late but were seated promptly in front of the elephants where we got a regular show.

I had the Cha Cha's Wild Waffle. Cha Cha is the little tree frog mascot of RC and the waffle came with his little mug on it. Cha Cha 1, Mickey waffles 0. The waffle came with banana, strawberries and whip cream with my choice of bacon or sausage. I normally prefer sausage but these were tasteless. Still, a good breakfast overall. Drinks were no problem getting refills and the server even left a pitcher of coffee for me.

DW had the Cisco & Pancho steak and eggs. She liked it but was busy spending half of the meal trying to film the elephants.

Lunch was Tusker House. There was a looong line of people trying to get walk-ups and one family tied up things for nearly 10 minutes alone. Another CM came out and pulled those of us with ADRs to a second desk further in. We got our picture with Donald and were promptly seated. Server Brian got out drinks and kept my pomegranate lemonade and DWs diet refilled without fuss. The characters all came by in short order but were willing to spend as much time as we wanted. (The same went for 1900PF) The food was very good although I played it safe with hummus, pita, tabbouleh, Cesar salad, sliced meats and cheese, roasted potatoes and Kenyan beef. DW got a bit more adventurous with various salads and curry. We also grabbed a couple of bags of spiced nuts as a snack. Our second day and we have only used 2 snack credits out of 32.

After getting rained out at AK we left early. Problems with my own scooter forced me to call for a rental. On the way to the GF, another wrong detour made us 23 minutes late but they got us right in, our pager actually going off as they handed it to us. I thought Cinderella and Prince Charming posed for pictures before entering but they just snapped everyone's pictures in front of a castle backdrop and sent us in. The meal went reasonably well, and I noted the baked chicken legs in a bowl that were the subject of a recent rant.

Strange or not, there were certainly plenty of takers and I had to wait to get my shot. My own meal was satisfying and of particular note, the Guinness beef stew with its potato chip topping was very tasty. I also had chicken marsala, pasta alfredo with veggies, mashed potato, peel and eat shrimp, beef with horseradish creme and a sourdough bread.

Characters this night were Cindy and her prince, Anastasia, Drizella and Lady Tremaine. Everyone was on their game although Drizella acted kind of amused at being rushed to take the pictures and dropped a line about it being the job.