Magicians & Jugglers & a Clown Slide, OH MY! We're going to the BWI... A Nov 2010 PTR

[JoBird]

Happy Birthday to Shelly's son!!!!!!!!!!














Hope your day is the best Birthday ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

 

[T*Bird]

And to end our WDW park dining discussion, we have AK Dining!
(Not to worry, we still have DTD dining and all the resort dining to talk about!)

As with all of our experience at AK, our dining experience is somewhat limited.


Places we have eaten:

Rainforest Cafe
Donald's Breakfastosauras (no longer available)
Tusker House breakfast
Restaurantosauras
Pizzafari


We ate dinner at Rainforest Cafe in AK on our very first trip back in 2005. It was actually our very first Disney ADR! We thought it was okay. I remember it being very loud, crowded, and the food being average. Sorry to say I can't find any pictures.

Donald's Breakfastosauras used to be served in Restaurantosauras. I am pretty sure it was 2007 when we ate there. It was pretty much what the Tusker House breakfast is now. But Tusker House is a little bigger and there may be a few different characters. Here is the one and only picture I could find of it ~

We had breakfast at Tusker House in January 2009. I remember we had a very early ADR, maybe 8am-ish, but we had been at DHS the entire day the day before and it was supposed to be a chilly morning that next day, so I called and moved it to 10:00am, with no problem. We were seated right away and had a nice time. The characters were a lot of fun. The buffet was big and most of it was very good. I do remember the eggs being a little wet, but other than that things were good. Service was kind of slow when we were paying the bill we had to wait quite some time. I think they were having computer issues or something.

Restaurantosauras used to serve McDonald's food, but now it's just Disney burgers and fries and other fast food. We had lunch there one day in 2008. We actually met up with a co-worker of DH's and his wife. We had a nice time sitting and visiting. The food was average.

Last November we went to Pizzafari for lunch on our AK day. I'd have to say Pizzafari is pretty much Toy Story Pizza Planet minus the arcade! The food tasted about the same. Okay. The kids and I had pizza and DH had a sandwich.

So that's our AK dining!

What's in store for AK dining this trip? Nothing!! I am pretty sure we have decided to head over to AKL to eat after we are done at AK. And being that we will probably only be in AK for a few hours and only on 1 day, I guess we won't be eating there at all. Although we may stop for a snack somewhere! Any snack suggestions?

Those are such cute pictures of your boys with the characters at Tusker House! And that little dumplin eating his chocolate doughnut.... OK, I know that's a girly smilie, but he is such a cutie patootie! And Happy Birthday to him!! I guess that was a picture of his plate (2nd one down). That would have looked just like mine! I love doughnuts and pastries, mmmmm! Yuck to runny eggs, though. That's one thing we don't like, either. I like my scrambled eggs just short of bouncing.

Once again, we had very limited dining at AK. We just had CS at Flame Tree, and my standard review: I think we liked it well enough.

Are you going to try Boma at AKL? That is the one place I wish we had gone to that we didn't. I think it would have been fun to try some of the different foods they have.

Since we are talking food, I was wondering if anyone has been to Texas de Brazil steakhouse. My DS wants to go there for his birthday next week. I'm not a big meat eater, so it's probably not my thing. Do y'all have one in your city? I just thought I would ask here, since there are food experts in our midst!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I am like you , not overly excited about AK, last year we ate at Rainforest Cafe, other years I don't remember eating AK at all. This year I had an ADR for lunch at Tusker House but when I switched dates and I decided since it was our last day we would have breakfast at the resort at Boma's then head over to AK for a couple of hours.
I am thinking maybe if anyone is hungry before we head back to AKL for ME Pickup trying Flame Tree BBQ, it seems to get decent reviews, just gonna play it by ear since it is our last day at Disney.

I had thought about Flame Tree, but then looked at the menu and wasn't too excited about it. So I think we will just head to AKL that day for lunch!

Happy Birthday to Shelly's son!!!!!!!!!!









Hope your day is the best Birthday ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

Thanks JO!

My baby is 9.

He had a great time bowling yesterday and was thrilled with his WDW gift cards today!!! He is so excited to get to WDW!!

Those are such cute pictures of your boys with the characters at Tusker House! And that little dumplin eating his chocolate doughnut.... OK, I know that's a girly smilie, but he is such a cutie patootie! And Happy Birthday to him!! I guess that was a picture of his plate (2nd one down). That would have looked just like mine! I love doughnuts and pastries, mmmmm! Yuck to runny eggs, though. That's one thing we don't like, either. I like my scrambled eggs just short of bouncing.

Once again, we had very limited dining at AK. We just had CS at Flame Tree, and my standard review: I think we liked it well enough.

Are you going to try Boma at AKL? That is the one place I wish we had gone to that we didn't. I think it would have been fun to try some of the different foods they have.

Since we are talking food, I was wondering if anyone has been to Texas de Brazil steakhouse. My DS wants to go there for his birthday next week. I'm not a big meat eater, so it's probably not my thing. Do y'all have one in your city? I just thought I would ask here, since there are food experts in our midst!

Thanks Teri! I love that picture of him eating the chocolate donut too!

I think we are going to try Mara at AKL. I don't think Boma is for us. Plus I would have to make an ADR and I'm not sure what time we will make it there. So I think we will just stick with a CS meal.

Nope, never even heard of Texas de Brazil Steakhouse. Sounds good though!

 

[WAHkoMom]

Today was a perfect day to immerse myself in the DIS, so after I made my apple pie (we went apple picking last weekend and some of the cortlands are not tart anymore, so I HAD to make a pie with them ), I plopped myself on the couch in the kitchen and have been reading your PTR. I read pages 15 through 23 today - PHEW!

What a great bunch of "followers" you have, Shelly! And since you posted so many pictures of your family, I will be able to pick you guys out by the pool or along the BW, I'm sure!

You are doing such a good job going through all the parks, rides and restaurants! It is making me (1) HUNGRY and (2) EXCITED for our November trip!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I've never eaten at Texas de Brazil, but the DIS unplugged podcast team raves about it. They say you get a LOT of food for a small amount of money.

I say try it!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Today was a perfect day to immerse myself in the DIS, so after I made my apple pie (we went apple picking last weekend and some of the cortlands are not tart anymore, so I HAD to make a pie with them ), I plopped myself on the couch in the kitchen and have been reading your PTR. I read pages 15 through 23 today - PHEW!

What a great bunch of "followers" you have, Shelly! And since you posted so many pictures of your family, I will be able to pick you guys out by the pool or along the BW, I'm sure!

You are doing such a good job going through all the parks, rides and restaurants! It is making me (1) HUNGRY and (2) EXCITED for our November trip!!!

I'm so glad you had time to get all caught up here! Yes, we have a nice group of DISers here! And hopefully we will add a few more along the way!

Yes, be sure to say hello if you spot us!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Happy #9!!!!!

Just for u, from us :
Wasn't that the best cake you ever got!???!!!!
Ha!!!! Shelly, we don't eat much at AK either...we do a lunch CS sometimes...are they still offering the Picnic in the Park? That would be fun if they are...if not...I have no ideas!!! LOL....

 

[JoBird]

AK----
The park that gets no love....



The pics of Tusker House intrigue me. The buffet, not so much.
But look at that lil' cutie eating his donut. Is there nothing as wonderful as being 5, 6, 7, 8 and eating a donut???????????????? It's like, the best thing in your whole life. Oh who the heck am I kidding? I'm 29--------"ish" and I still love me a donut. Can you say Krispy Kreme? My kids yell and hurt my ears when the "Hot Now" sign is on. Of course I reward their bad behavior by saying "Quit yelling in my ear or you won't get a donut!" and then proceed to pull thru the drive thru only to find it's buy one get one free day. "I'll take two dozen please."

Let's see- where have we eaten at AK?

Rainforest of course. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Went to the one in DL and really disliked it. The screaming Gorilla just makes your nachos seem......... not right in some way. Very disconcerting.

Flame tree- I liked it, minus the ducks that wanted to eat my chicken. It was bad. They freaked me out. The tables and such around back are fun to sit at and relax. Minus the birds, of course.

Yak n Yeti.... Wish there'd been less Yak -n- more Yeti.
That's all I have to say about that.

On a lighter note--- the ice cream cart in Dinoland gets two thumbs up. They gave Belle a Tink pin- one to save, one to share... just cause she's a cute little red head-- during the YOAMD. Gosh I loved that promotion.

As far as anywhere else.... I've got nothing for ya.

Good luck trying to find a snack somewhere. If you get desperate, that ICe cream cart is mighty fine!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Happy #9!!!!!

Just for u, from us :
Wasn't that the best cake you ever got!???!!!!
Ha!!!! Shelly, we don't eat much at AK either...we do a lunch CS sometimes...are they still offering the Picnic in the Park? That would be fun if they are...if not...I have no ideas!!! LOL....

Thanks Shawna! Yes that cake was great, we will be sure to thank you for it in person in LESS THAN 6 WEEKS!!!

I remember hearing something about the Picnic in the Park awhile ago. Since AK doesn't interest us too much I never checked into it. I don't know if they still do it or not.

AK----
The park that gets no love....



The pics of Tusker House intrigue me. The buffet, not so much.
But look at that lil' cutie eating his donut. Is there nothing as wonderful as being 5, 6, 7, 8 and eating a donut???????????????? It's like, the best thing in your whole life. Oh who the heck am I kidding? I'm 29--------"ish" and I still love me a donut. Can you say Krispy Kreme? My kids yell and hurt my ears when the "Hot Now" sign is on. Of course I reward their bad behavior by saying "Quit yelling in my ear or you won't get a donut!" and then proceed to pull thru the drive thru only to find it's buy one get one free day. "I'll take two dozen please."

Let's see- where have we eaten at AK?

Rainforest of course. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Went to the one in DL and really disliked it. The screaming Gorilla just makes your nachos seem......... not right in some way. Very disconcerting.

Flame tree- I liked it, minus the ducks that wanted to eat my chicken. It was bad. They freaked me out. The tables and such around back are fun to sit at and relax. Minus the birds, of course.

Yak n Yeti.... Wish there'd been less Yak -n- more Yeti.
That's all I have to say about that.

On a lighter note--- the ice cream cart in Dinoland gets two thumbs up. They gave Belle a Tink pin- one to save, one to share... just cause she's a cute little red head-- during the YOAMD. Gosh I loved that promotion.

As far as anywhere else.... I've got nothing for ya.

Good luck trying to find a snack somewhere. If you get desperate, that ICe cream cart is mighty fine!

AK sure isn't getting any love around here! Hardly anyone even commented on AK dining! Perhaps it's time to move onto DTD dining.

29-ish. Yeah, me too!!! And I still love donuts! I'm more of a Dunkin Donuts kind of girl though. Never really cared for Krispy Kreme. :

That's pretty much how we felt about Rainforest. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Yak & Yeti, I could never get past the name. I forgot you ate there.

Flame Tree sounds like Casey's with the ducks. Every time we are in there those darn ducks walk in like they own the place.

Maybe we'll check out that ice cream cart in Dinoland!

 

[danceintherain]

i'm not a big fan of ak dining either
the honey chicken at yak & yeti counter service is the only thing i'm partial to
we will probably do the picnic in the park this trip, but i'm not even super excited about that, so we shall see...

the ice cream sandwiches in dinoland are awesome...they're huge

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Well, AK Dining doesn't seem to be very popular. So let's move onto DTD Dining!

Places we have eaten:

Planet Hollywood
Wolfgang Puck Express
Earl of Sandwich
Cooke's of Dublin
McDonald's (no longer available)


Hmm. . . Guess that's it. It sure seems like we have eaten there lots more than that. . . Probably because we have been to WPE three times!

We ate at Planet Hollywood for lunch on our very first trip. We had no plans to, but we decided to go to DTD on our last day and somehow ended up there! It was very neat inside and we had a nice time. I don't remember what we had to eat, but remember that it was okay.

We have been to Wolfgang Puck Express three times for lunch! Each time was great. We even had a DIS Meet there once! The food is very good and so is the service. It is an especially good deal for a CS meal if you are on the DDP, since it is kind of costly.

We had dinner at Earl of Sandwich once. Maybe back in 2007. . . can't remember exactly. We had heard so many good things about this place and were excited to try it. Our first mistake was going in there on a Friday night. The line was HUGE. We waited quite sometime to even order. After we ordered we waited in a mass of people for our number to be called. It was quite unpleasant. Once we finally got our food there was nowhere to sit. We ended up outside leaning on a landscape ledge. I don't remember what DH got, but he wasn't impressed. And he usually likes everything! The sandwich I got was supposed to be hot and it wasn't. And DS11 got the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the peanut butter was warm and runny. There was nothing there for DS9, so he just ate part of my bun. Which was good. At least the bread there is good! I'd like to give the place another try, but DH isn't too thrilled with the idea, so we'll see.

Cooke's of Dublin. After doing WPE 2 trips in a row we decided to give Cooke's a try in January 2009. The menu looked good and we thought it would be a nice change. We got there and it wasn't busy at all. We ordered and got a seat and our food came out shortly afterwards. Everything looked very good. The kids and I got the Battered Chicken Tenders. DH had some type of pot pie thing. Our chicken looked and smelled very good, but tasted very plain, bland, and just not good. DH said his was okay, but wasn't thrilled with it. So we were very disappointed and wished we had gone to WPE again! For dessert the kids had ice cream cones. They were huge and in waffle cones and very good! DH and I had to try the “Doh-Bars” - deep fried Snickers bars. That was kind of nasty! The first bite wasn't bad, but then it was just too much. I left there not feeling so well. We did go back last November just for ice cream cones! They have soft serve Snickers ice cream, which DS11 just loves. DS9 and I love the chocolate, and DH had the strawberry and thought it was very good. We have plans to stop in there for ice cream again this time!

We went to McDonald's in DTD on our very first trip. McDonald's is McDonald's. Tasted the same in Florida as it does in Pennsylvania! I believe McDonald's in DTD is now closed and is being turned into a Latin chicken restaurant – Pollo Compero.



So where will we eat in DTD this year? We have an ADR at T-Rex! I am very excited about this one. We all are! We have wanted to try it since they opened, but being that it is not on the DDP we have not gone. We always get plenty of food with the DDP and could never see paying OOP for extra food. So since we are not getting the DDP this time T-Rex is at the top of our ADR list! We are considering giving Earl of Sandwich another try. . . And we may want to give the new chicken place a try, Pollo Compero, if it is open by then! And like I said we will stop at Cooke's for ice cream! As for other snacks, we will likely stop at Goofy's Candy Co. at some point.

 

[Monny2AE]

Too bad Jo wasn't there to enjoy that gross warm PB sandwich from Earl.

We ate at Flame Tree in 2009 and the whole time we ate the birds were nibbling at the kids legs under the table. Didn't make for a very relaxing meal.

Thanks Kim!
Yes, it is a split level. We're not huge fans. We prefer a ranch, but we had to have a house last summer when ours sold, so here we are! I fall down the stairs often. But anyway, yep there is a half wall between the foyer and the living room. It does look nice!

I don't think your DH is going to like where this is going. . .

I mentioned it to him and I got a dirtier look than I get when I mention going back to Disney! So I guess I'll learn to love our little banister for a while longer. We also don't care for the split foyer but settled. It's definitely not our dream house and I don't picture us living here forever. I'll pick out a nicer house when we move to FL I can only imagine the look DH would give me if I said that in front of him.

 

[seacrestpromo]

Hello - Can I still comment about AK food?

Well, the only place we have tried there is Flame Tree and my family really like it! Don't remember any ducks nipping at our feet, but, it was very nice to sit under the patio and take in the view of EE and the boat of Disney characters that floated by.

As for DTD...

Earl of Sandwich was great! Everybody enjoyed their meal. We recently went to the one in Vegas for a small bite to eat and it was just as good as we remembered.

Rainforest Cafe was also very good too. A little noisy and the portions are not that big for the price, but it is still a fun place to go. Been to the ones here in California multiple times, the food tastes and looks the same as in Florida. I don't know if that is good or bad or what. Never had a horrible meal, but I guess it is not my first choice of places to go to. Maybe it is because of all those small kids crawling under my table? LOLOL! That place is always busy, be sure to have reservations.

Disney Quest has a small snack bar on the 5th floor with a nice sitting area (and wall plugs to recharge your phone and other electronics!) The food is typical pizza, salads and pre-made sandwiches. Got there late in the day, so the selection of food was limited. Not something I would go out of the way to eat, but it was decent.

Shelly, It's funny that I haven't been to the WP at DTD yet. IDK, there are like 10 of his restaurants in my area and I go to a different one at least once a month. I do like his food, I guess I am looking for a new or different experience when I travel - I am sure it is just as good as it is out here. I will have to try it next time.

Another place, that isn't open yet, but will be soon in DTD is El Pollo Campero. These places are a big hit in Latin America. When I was in Guatemala they were all over the place. I think it tastes better than KFC. People take it on the plane to take home to their relatives back to Los Angeles! Can you imagine spending 5 hours smelling that stuff? Drove me nuts. Anyways, they are now slowing coming to America. I highly recommend your family try this at DTD when they open in the next couple of weeks and let me know your thoughts.

Sea

 

[danceintherain]

We've only done WPE at DTD. I'm not a huge DTD fan. I would rather spend time in the parks.

There's a T-Rex restaurant in Kansas City, so I imagine I'll go to that one before the one at Disney.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Too bad Jo wasn't there to enjoy that gross warm PB sandwich from Earl.

We ate at Flame Tree in 2009 and the whole time we ate the birds were nibbling at the kids legs under the table. Didn't make for a very relaxing meal.

I know, I think we had this warm peanut butter conversation about a year ago in my PTR!

I mentioned it to him and I got a dirtier look than I get when I mention going back to Disney! So I guess I'll learn to love our little banister for a while longer. We also don't care for the split foyer but settled. It's definitely not our dream house and I don't picture us living here forever. I'll pick out a nicer house when we move to FL I can only imagine the look DH would give me if I said that in front of him.

I'll get a nicer house when I move to Florida too! And it will have a palm tree in the yard.

Hello - Can I still comment about AK food?

Well, the only place we have tried there is Flame Tree and my family really like it! Don't remember any ducks nipping at our feet, but, it was very nice to sit under the patio and take in the view of EE and the boat of Disney characters that floated by.

As for DTD...

Earl of Sandwich was great! Everybody enjoyed their meal. We recently went to the one in Vegas for a small bite to eat and it was just as good as we remembered.

Rainforest Cafe was also very good too. A little noisy and the portions are not that big for the price, but it is still a fun place to go. Been to the ones here in California multiple times, the food tastes and looks the same as in Florida. I don't know if that is good or bad or what. Never had a horrible meal, but I guess it is not my first choice of places to go to. Maybe it is because of all those small kids crawling under my table? LOLOL! That place is always busy, be sure to have reservations.

Disney Quest has a small snack bar on the 5th floor with a nice sitting area (and wall plugs to recharge your phone and other electronics!) The food is typical pizza, salads and pre-made sandwiches. Got there late in the day, so the selection of food was limited. Not something I would go out of the way to eat, but it was decent.

Shelly, It's funny that I haven't been to the WP at DTD yet. IDK, there are like 10 of his restaurants in my area and I go to a different one at least once a month. I do like his food, I guess I am looking for a new or different experience when I travel - I am sure it is just as good as it is out here. I will have to try it next time.

Another place, that isn't open yet, but will be soon in DTD is El Pollo Campero. These places are a big hit in Latin America. When I was in Guatemala they were all over the place. I think it tastes better than KFC. People take it on the plane to take home to their relatives back to Los Angeles! Can you imagine spending 5 hours smelling that stuff? Drove me nuts. Anyways, they are now slowing coming to America. I highly recommend your family try this at DTD when they open in the next couple of weeks and let me know your thoughts.

Sea

You can comment on anything you want to Sea!

If we decide to eat at AK it will be at Flame Tree. But I think we will probably end up going to AKL for lunch.

You should definitely go to WPE in DTD next time! If for nothing else, just to compare it to the ones you've been to!

We just may try Pollo Compero if it is open!

We've only done WPE at DTD. I'm not a huge DTD fan. I would rather spend time in the parks.

There's a T-Rex restaurant in Kansas City, so I imagine I'll go to that one before the one at Disney.

What?! Not a DTD fan??? We love DTD! Go there at least twice every trip, if not more! Love Disney shopping!

You should try T-Rex if you have one near you!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

A few pictures from the weekend. My baby is now 9!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

My Disney Envelope arrived yesterday!!! All my confirmations, paperwork, luggage tags, and vouchers!!

AND -- The packing is officially under way!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[T*Bird]

A few pictures from the weekend. My baby is now 9!

Cute pictures! Talk to me in about 14 years and I'll feel bad for you.......my baby turns 23 next Thursday.

Yummy-looking cupcakes!

Your little man sure looks happy holding those Disney gift cards.

Yay for getting your Disney packet! Do y'all check many bags or do mostly carry-on? I don't remember which airline you're flying. Was it AirTran?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Cute pictures! Talk to me in about 14 years and I'll feel bad for you.......my baby turns 23 next Thursday.

Yummy-looking cupcakes!

Your little man sure looks happy holding those Disney gift cards.

Yay for getting your Disney packet! Do y'all check many bags or do mostly carry-on? I don't remember whaich airline you're flying. Was it AirTran?

Thanks Teri!

Yep, we are flying AirTran. We usually check 3 bags and then each have 1 carry-on. I'd like to get away with just checking 2 bags, but I don't think that will happen. Nobody's fault but my own, I take way too many clothes and shoes!!

 

[T*Bird]

Shelly, I just noticed something that may have always looked like that, but is there supposed to be a picture below your signature? I see a box with a little red X in the top corner.