Matt's 18th Birthday trip - Now Live

[wayneg]

Back to this morning, we checked out of Fairfield Inn with about an hour to spare before lunch so we went Geocaching, found 4 caches hidden around LBV.

Lunch with CMs had a discussion about the brazillian groups, she said you should see the trash they leave behind, they don't take any packaging from their purchases.

This evening we ate at Bongos, never had Cuban food so didn't know what to expect. On arrival staff didn't seem the friendliest, shown to our seats and our server introduced herself, again didn't seem over friendly, bit of a strange setting in like a little pod/booth. Beginning to wonder if we had chosen the wrong place to eat.
We decided to make the most of it, server tried her best to sell us an alcoholic drink but we just wanted sodas, she went of to get them. From this point on things started to change, food order taken, drinks refilled with a smile.
We never had to ask for a refill, automatically filled them when running low, even when we had finished out entree, I find at this point many places stop the top ups.
I went for the most expensive entree on the menu:
Parrillada de Mariscos (skillet of seafood) - savory skillet of filet of fish, clams, mussels, Jumbo shrimp and two lobster tails with a garlic lime butter and served with yellow rice and fried sweet plantains $40.00


Karen had:
Pollo a la Plancha - grilled chicken breast marinated in garlic and lemon topped with grilled onions served with white rice, maduros and a black bean cup $18.00

Matt:
El Tour Cubano - roast pork, shredded seared beef and shredded chicken, served with fried green plantains, white rice, black beans and three sauces: Chimmi Churri, Homemade Mojo and a Cumin Mojo $30.00

Desserts are very limited, little tiny sample pots at $3 each. 8 different ones are brought to the table, our server reeled off what they all were, Karen asked to clarify a couple, Matt then asked her about 4 more. After we had chosen and she left the table Matt said he knew what they all were. The way he did it was hilarious to us.

End of the meal we all agreed it would be somewhere we would eat at again, a totally different experience to other Disney dining. Happily left a $20 tip.

 

[Linda67]

Never eaten at Bongos before and to be honest don't think I have ever seen a review!
I love the look of that little booth
For some reason it makes me think of that odd little bar they go into in Star Wars !!

 

[disneyholic family]

interesting food pictures!
i'm somewhat familiar with cuban food so i don't think i'll be eating at bongos any time soon....but seems like a real deal on the dining plan!!!

i agree about the cost of ST - without a discount coupon of some kind, it's really expensive...
one trick to get dinner coupons, it seems that if you tip a server, they'll pull out a bunch of coupons from their pocket...dinner coupons.....it happened the first time i tipped, so then i tried it again, and voila - out came the coupons again....same thing each time...all i tipped was a few dollars.....
all she did was clear the dishes while we ate, but it was worth it.....the discount was much more than what i tipped......
this was last summer, so i don't know if they still do it, but if you're planning on coming back during the same visit, it might be worth it...
i'm a vegetarian, so i'm happy to eat there every day

 

[Pootle]

I'm going to be 'with you' every day

Glad you got the area you wanted on Millers Road. Just seeing the room makes me go ' .... aawww ....' like I'm never going back . I've got holidays in Germany and Italy before October though, so it seems like forever away .... I know, poor me!

Salou was okay for a few days Wayne, but the hit was the hotel you mentioned - we ate there and really liked it. Only a few hundred yards away from the hotel DH uses but next time he works there (Aug) he's going to try the Blaumar (if he can get in).

I'll be watching. Off to find Matt's blog now.

 

[Tink2312]

Sounds like you're having a great time! I must be one of the few who doesn't mind changing hotels - at Christmas we did 5 in 22 nights and in November we'll be doing 3 plus the cruise in 14. I agree about Sweet Toms but the saving grace for us is that my Dad (and soon my Mum too) is classed as a senior so it's a bit cheaper. We also tend to go for a late lunch and then just have a snack for tea so it works out ok. I just love their cornbread and biscuits so much - I could eat them all day!!

Loving reading your updates

 

[Elise79]

Almost £3,000 worth of electrical equipment with me so I would rather hold on to it myself.


Room wasn't ready at 2pm, we had been allocated Turtle Pond area, I asked for Millers rd, still none ready, told 4pm, we tried at exactly 4pm and room in block 18 was ready for us.

Shame your room wasn't ready earlier - part of the reason I hate room chenges (plus the packing of everything back in to our OLs!

We know the staff at bell services at OKW and happily leave everything thing with them including a Macbook pro, air and 2 3rd gen iPads plus an iPad and various cameras etc

A quick question if anyone knows, the free resort mug on DDP, how do we get it? I don't know why but I expected getting it at check in or in the room. Neither happened so I assume we have a credit on our KTTKC to collect one at Goods to Go. Will ask if no-one knows.

Goods to Go - I am surprised at check in when we did the free dining in Feb they printed out and ran through the credits and told us about the mugs

Lunch with CMs had a discussion about the brazillian groups, she said you should see the trash they leave behind, they don't take any packaging from their purchases.

My biggest complaint with them is that they sit down anywhere virtually and cause a 'blockage'

Apparently Disney has done some 'educational' programs and they are better than they were!

Anyway, glad you are settled in to OKW, we like Turtle Pond but we get a one bedroom and Millers Rd doesn't have the dual entry bathroom. We love it there and I am so jealous you are there for 21 nights (Never going to happen for us with our jobs though )

 

[RDP]

Food at Bongos looks good! The Skillet of fish is right up my street. Is OKW living up to previous expectations?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Last time I ate at Bongos was back in 2005 - looks like the food has somewhat improved, looks good Wayne!

Yeah I think with that amount of equipment I'd be a little nervous but I don't know there's something about Disney that lulls me into such a false sense of security.

Here's to a fabulous Sunday in Disney to you all

 

[Twinkly-Tink]

I've always missed your 'live reports' glad I found it this time!! Looks like a good time is being had by all.

 

[wayneg]

Salou was okay for a few days Wayne, but the hit was the hotel you mentioned - we ate there and really liked it. Only a few hundred yards away from the hotel DH uses but next time he works there (Aug) he's going to try the Blaumar (if he can get in).

I'll be watching. Off to find Matt's blog now.

It was 1995 we stayed there so I have no idea what its like now. the whole resort has probably changed.

Goods to Go - I am surprised at check in when we did the free dining in Feb they printed out and ran through the credits and told us about the mugs

Anyway, glad you are settled in to OKW, we like Turtle Pond but we get a one bedroom and Millers Rd doesn't have the dual entry bathroom. We love it there and I am so jealous you are there for 21 nights (Never going to happen for us with our jobs though )

I picked the mugs up from Goods to Go last night. I guess the CM at check in knew we had done DDP before so didn't go into detail.

Once went to TP pool, far busier than Millers rd, plus you can be a long way from the pool, here on MR there are far less blocks, only a few steps to the pool which we have always found really quiet, never been in July though so we will see. I think we would enjoy anywhere in the resort, we have just got used to MR.
Only downer is our view, its a tree but we will use the balcony zero times in 21 nights so a view means little to us.

 

[paulh]

I
Only downer is our view, its a tree but we will use the balcony zero times in 21 nights so a view means little to us.

we stayed at OKQ quite a few years ago and there was bamboo in front of balcony virtually up to the balcony doors,never complained as in them days didn't know or want to.now would ask for new room in an instant
Paul

 

[disneyholic family]

One year we had a view to the golf course
It was entertaining watching the golfers refusing to take cover in lightning
Are they insane or what???

 

[Tony Toon]

My biggest complaint with them is that they sit down anywhere virtually and cause a 'blockage'

This is one of my pet peeves too, taking up an entire walkway seemingly unaware of other guests trying to get about.
However we did see the other side of the "tour group phenomena" the other night. Liz and I have seen Fantasmic many times and it has remained one of our all time favourites. I think over the years a nostalgic affection has replaced the "wow buzz" we used to have on our early viewings. Well, as we sat down for Thursday's 10.30 show we were aware that we were surrounded by several tour groups and wondered if they would ever quieten down to be able to enjoy the show. Our fears proved groundless as once the show got underway they were entranced and their reactions and applause, tears at the end - from boys and girls - added something to the show we hadn't experienced in years. A brilliant experience.

 

[Cyrano]

Shame about the balcony view. We watched Illuminations and 4th July fireworks from ours. Btu with the troops we never did late nights so a bit different than your plans

Bongos has never particularly appealed. However from ours and Matt's reviews I would give it a try on DDP, especially your entree.

 

[dixonsontour]

Rooms still look lovely at OKW - we are in a studio in October.

Never seen a bongos review - see what you mean about the 'pod' - very different.

 

[wayneg]

Been to MK this morning, lunch Capt Cook's at Poly.
Now chilling by pool for a hour trying internet connection, not great keeps dropping every few minutes.
Busier than our August trips, 2 adults & 1 child in the pool
Paridiso 37 tonight, can't decide if I am taking car or boat. Took car last night to Bongos, never seen DTD westside carpark so busy, by the time we left there wasn't a single parking space to be seen, everyone just driving round and round.
If we take the car we might goto HS after the meal, get an upgrade price for our tickets, asked at MK this morning and they wanted $223pp, that would give me a total of $629 with what I have already paid for 21 day tix. A little more than the $611 value.
I think we are going to upgrade even at that price, this will be instead of renewing our Universal AP's, had them 10 years so will be sad to see them expire and lose our plastic tickets with photo on.

 

[disneyholic family]

Been to MK this morning, lunch Capt Cook's at Poly.
Now chilling by pool for a hour trying internet connection, not great keeps dropping every few minutes.
Busier than our August trips, 2 adults & 1 child in the pool
Paridiso 37 tonight, can't decide if I am taking car or boat. Took car last night to Bongos, never seen DTD westside carpark so busy, by the time we left there wasn't a single parking space to be seen, everyone just driving round and round.
If we take the car we might goto HS after the meal, get an upgrade price for our tickets, asked at MK this morning and they wanted $223pp, that would give me a total of $629 with what I have already paid for 21 day tix. A little more than the $611 value.
I think we are going to upgrade even at that price, this will be instead of renewing our Universal AP's, had them 10 years so will be sad to see them expire and lose our plastic tickets with photo on.

DD's AP will expire while she's there...
so they're going to need a 4 day ticket for the last 4 days they'll be there...
the cost of a 4 day ticket is over $300/person
but the cost of an AP is more than double that and i just don't think they'll be back within the year....
so i guess they'll have to do the $600 for the two of them just for 4 days!!

 

[wayneg]

A couple of pics from MK this morning showing how quiet it was, started to get busy about 11am.

New Storybook Circus area

Matt trying out the panaramic setting on his camera.

Lunch at Capt Cook's, salad & flatbread

Evening meal at paridiso 37, another new one for the DDP.
My meal, best shrimp I have for many years, tasty steak & veg.
Surf & Turf Paradiso 37 Style - grilled BBQ shrimp and Argentinean skirt steak, corn on the cob, roasted seasonal vegetables, grilled Corn Cakes $27.99

Karen
Burritos - Grilled Chicken, flour tortilla, h Sauteed Peppers, Squash, Red Onions, Imported Cheeses, Sweet Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Cilantro Rice and Black Beans $15.99.

Matt
From the Land Platter - Grilled Skirt steak, spicy chorizo skewers, chicken flauas, black beans, and cilantro rice $23.99

Desserts
Massive compared to last night, we left half the choc cake.
Paradiso 37 Chocolate Stack - Layers of Decadent Chocolate Cake and Creamy Chocolate Mousse Served on a Bed of Warm Caramel Sauce. Topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Rainbow Sprinkled Whipped Cream $9.99

Churros & Sopapillas Combo - Dusted with Cinnamon Sugar and Served with Caramel & Chocolate Sauces $7.99

 

[Elise79]

That chocolate sounds like heaven

On the APs did you ask inside or outside MK? Outside are better

 

[disneyholic family]

yum!! both the counter and the table service meals look particularly scrumptious!!! (or maybe i'm just hungry this morning?)...

i don't know where either place is...
where is captain cooks?
where is paradiso 37?