Live Report: Roving Reporter in Orlando Oct 27-31 [Update: Photos Added]

[Mouse Skywalker]

OK, that was it for my Universal Studios trip before the meeting. I did some souvenir shopping before I left. I want to go back and upload some photos of Harry Potter from my camera. So I'm going to backtrack, in my thread, and go back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I was really curious to see how they were progressing on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Construction is really coming along.

This is at the back of "The Lost Continent" and will become Hogsmeade Station and the entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can see Hogwarts Castle in the distance through the archway.

Crossing the bridge between "The Lost Continent" and "Jurassic Park" you also get some nice views of Hogwarts. That will be "Three Broomsticks" on the right.

Work is progressing on "The Flying Hippogriff"

My reaction upon seeing it in person is that it seems smaller than I expected. I know it's just one "island" in the Islands of Adventure. I think all the "islands" were much more compact than I thought they would be. I think I imagined them all much bigger in my mind. That being said, the theming looks very cool.

 

[alebisi]

Cool photos!
I'm sorry about Rip ride rocket, hope next time you ride it you'll enjoy it!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Cool photos!
I'm sorry about Rip ride rocket, hope next time you ride it you'll enjoy it!

Thanks Alessandra. I may have to try to get back and ride it again.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

OK, here's my take on Universal. I've never been there before, and was curious to try something new. They had some really cool rides in Islands of Adventure, and the theming was incredibly cool there. I really liked:

The Hulk
Spiderman
Dueling Dragons

I wandered around Suess Landing and took pictures because it was just so cool there. I loved the "Lorax" spot with the Onceler's House. That was very nice.

Mythos was a big hit too. I had a really good lunch for only $15. My server was great and the atmosphere was great too.

Universal Studios was a little more "iffy" to me. I LOVED the Simpsons and the Mummy. Rip, Ride, Rockit was just ok to me. The theming around the "New York" area and "San Francisco/Amity" area were really, really good. The theming around the "World Expo" I didn't get. Was that because the Men In Black was set at the 1964 Worlds Fair site in Queens, NY? I just didn't get it. Why was the Simpsons there? That being said, the Simpsons was really, really cool.

OK, next up... dinner

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

OK, I had to do it. I really wanted to try Kouzzina. After interviewing Cat Cora, and writing a blog up about it (if you haven't seen it, you can find it here). I was really curious to try it. Then, after John and Kevin gave it a scathing review on the show, I was even more curious to try it. So here goes.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/09/21/iron-chef-cat-cora-talks-about-kouzzina/

I did not have any ADRs for this trip. So I called from my room to see if anything was available. I was on hold and waited, and waited, and waited... Hmmmmm, I wonder if something was going on with the ADR system on October 27th? Anyone have any ideas? I decided to risk it, and just went. I figured if I couldn't get into Kouzzina, I could always go sit at the bar at the ESPN Club.

I got there at 7:00p, walked in, and asked if they had any room for 1 person with no ADR. They said "no problem", and I went right in with no wait whatsoever. No wonder, the restaurant was half full - at best.

They sat me at the far end of the restaurant in what seemed like a back room. I have to agree that it was incredibly noisy. Not so bad in the back room, but again, the restaurant was only half full, and I kept thinking "wow, how loud would this be if the restaurant was full and I was sitting in the main room by the kitchen?"

My server came over, greeted me in Greek, and asked if I'd heard of Cat Cora. Yeah, I've heard of her. I even had a nice conversation with her a month ago (but I didn't tell him that). During my interview, Cat (you know my good friend...) told me I have to try her Ouzotini. So I did. The server brought it over along with some multigrain bread and butter with Hawaiian black salt.

You can compare my photos with the official publicity photos on the blog. The Ouzotini was good. You have to like Ouzo because the drink really had a strong anise flavor to it.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I ordered my meal and got the Spiro's Greek Salad and the lamb-burger. The server warned me the lamb burger was very spicy, but I decided to risk it and order it anyhow. I was curious to try the "lemon & BO" soup, but I just couldn't pull the trigger on that one.

The salad was good. Nothing too special, and I wish it had some more greens with it. The block of feta cheese was tasty. I liked the burger. It was very spicy. I like spicy food so I thought it was fine, but it was surprisingly spicy for a burger. The fries it came with were delicious. They were sweet potato fries which I love! Yummy.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

For dessert I got the standard baklava with pistachio gelato. I was really excited about the gelato. I love pistachio.

The baklava was also good. It tasted like a typical baklava I've had in many, many places. The pistachio gelato was also good, but it was a very small portion. I wish I could have had two scoops of it.

My bill with tip for a drink, salad, burger, dessert was very close to $50. I actually liked my meal. [Note: remember, John said I liked Cinderella's Royal Table too...] Seriously, everything I had was good. However, I did not really order exotic things off the menu. It was a Greek salad, a lamb burger, and baklava. I've had all those things before, and they tasted as expected. Except the burger which was very spicy. However, when I think about it I do think that $50 is really expensive for what I ordered. The burger was one of the cheaper entrees on the menu. Compared to my lunch at Mythos that was $15 - I thought I got a better value at Mythos.

So that's my take on it. I enjoyed my meal, but thought it was expensive and nothing really that special.

 

[georgemoe]

Thanks for the report Dave. Really enjoying it.

 

[ADP]

Looks great Dave! Thanks for the report.

So, what did you think of Spiderman? Best ride on the planet, or what?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

So, what did you think of Spiderman? Best ride on the planet, or what?

I did really enjoy Spiderman, but I have to say I liked the Simpsons more. But hey, you can't go wrong with either one of them. They're both really, really good rides.

 

[safetymom]

Dave, when you were trying to get dining so were great numbers of other people. That was the day they opened dining to 180 days.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I agree Dave, that isn't looking like $50 worth of food to me. I'd rather take my $50 and go to Citricos or Narcoosees I think.

 

[TXYankee]

Dave,

Im a little late to the party! Thanks for the posts!

 

[klam_chowder]

your TR, Dave! Thx a mint for taking the time to share.

The pics are fab - we're going to US for our first time in Dec and this is getting me rev'd up for it!



cheers,

 

[cocowum]

Loving the trippie Dave. I agree with you about Universal.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave, when you were trying to get dining so were great numbers of other people. That was the day they opened dining to 180 days.

Hi Kathy, I did remember that. Plus, I saw yours and Mindy's posts on FB saying the ADR system had crashed. I was still surprised at the wait for someone in FL wanting to find something now. They need a better system. I was also shocked at how empty Kouzzina was, and I could just walk in. I wonder what it will be like later this week since Cat's here for F&W.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I snuck away from my conference for a meeting at GKTW. What a great place. I am definitely out of my funk now.

I was able to hear stories about how GKTW was founded, and saw the new pool they just installed. What a wonderful, wonderful place.

Except for it being so hard to post from my iPhone. I really need an app for this.

 

[Kristina]

Thank you Dave, I really enjoyed your report. I'm sorry you lost your hat on the Mummy but I had to giggle because it really is surpisingly fast if you're not expecting it! I'm also sorry you won't be at DAP, I'd loved to been able to meet you . Hopefully next time!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings Everyone: Well besides sneaking away this morning for a little bit to go to GKTW - I've been in my conference all day. Whew, long day of sitting and listening. Here's the excitement of my day...

Conference boxed lunch. Pretty good chicken sandwich, but paled in comparison to yesterday's Mythos lunch.

The seminar I was in this afternoon gave us BINGO cards to pay attention. Really??? BINGO?

Whoo hooo BINGO!!!

My prize

So I'm trying to decide what to do tonight. I'm not sure. I may have an early dinner, and then come back for chat.