May 20-27 with 7 days on DxDP, Lots of character meals, Some pix

[pmaurer74]

We did 7 days on the DXDP and had originally 21 ADRS but we had to cancel 4 of them due to illness and other events. We will most likely never do the DxDP again mainly because of the illnesses and injuries but it really was tough to keep 3 ADRs though I really did enjoy it for the most part. My family consists of me, DH, DD (4), dd (2). Here was the schedule.

May 20 arrival:
Dinner - Liberty Tree Tavern (MK) = $60?

May 21:
Breakfast - 1900 Park Fare (GF) = $86
Lunch - The Plaza (MK) = $60
Dinner - Tonys (MK) = $83

May 22:
Breakfast - Capt. Cooks (Poly)
Lunch - CRT (MK) = $124
Dinner - Crystal Palace (MK)

May 23:
Breakfast - 'O Hanas = $68
Lunch - Capt. Cooks (Poly) (Raglan Road canceled)
Dinner - Akershus (EPCOT) = $109

May 24:
Breakfast - Capt. Cooks (Poly) (Hollywood & Vine canceled)
Lunch - Capt. Cooks (Poly) (Mama Melrose canceled)
Dinner - 1900 Park Fare = $96

May 25:
Breakfast - Tusker House (AK)
Lunch - Pizzafari (AK)
Dinner - 'Ohana (Poly) = $103

May 26:
Breakfast - Kona Cafe (Poly) = $25?
Lunch - American Pavilion (EPCOT)
Dinner - Biergarten (EPCOT) = $102

May 27:
Breakfast - Capt Cooks (Poly) (Chef Mickeys canceled)
Lunch - Capt Cooks (Poly)

Snacks:
We had no trouble using our 42 snack credits in fact we traded in a CS for 3 more snacks. We mainly bought Dole Whips, Mickey ice cream bars, cupcakes, cookies, snack pretzels, water, frozen cokes, and lollypops


OVERALL REVIEW:

best meals and must do's:
'O hanas - dinner
'O hanas - breakfast
The Plaza - lunch
Tusker House - breakfast
1900 Park Fare - breakfast
1900 Park Fare - dinner
Liberty Tree - dinner
CRT - lunch
Akershus - dinner

so-so meals:
Kona's - breakfast
Biergarten - dinner


Never again meals:
Tonys - dinner
Crystal Palace - dinner

Our favorite buffet = Tusker House with 1900 Park fare a close second

Best character interaction = 1900 Park Fare

DxDP = $1200 and it looks like we would have spent about $1500?

 

[pmaurer74]

May 21 - 23 our MK days.

May 21:
Liberty Tree Tavern

This was a surprise for us and a last minute addition. When we decided to fly instead of drive I knew we would arrive in time for dinner so I added this ADR and I am glad I did. The food was family style with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and stuffing. It was pretty good, not outstanding but pretty good. The server was great and even did not charge us for a kids meal because she did not eat anything. Out of 4 stars I would give it a 3.5

May 22:
1900 Park Fare

I did not take a photo of any buffets but the choices were pretty good and DD loved seeing Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter. The Mad Hatter was offended that I did not have a place reserved in our signature album for him like I did for Alice. What's with the weird juice all these breakfasts have? 4 stars

The Plaza at MK

I added this ADR a few days before our trip and I am glad I did. We were scolded for arriving 20 minutes early and they seated us 5 minutes late but the food was really good. I got the grilled chicken sandwich with ham and swiss cheese. I asked for a kids dessert because they looked yummy and I am glad I did. Appetizers came with our meals but very few restaurants had them because we did a lot of buffets. I got the potato soup here and it was very good. 4 stars

Tony's at MK
This was a big disappointment since the lasagna pictures I have looked at over the years looked so good and the first bite was but the lasagna had so much sausage/meat that I did not like it. We ordered the Bruschetta bread for appetizers which were good and the desert was good. It was called an ice cream bomb. 2 stars

May 22:

Capt Cook's at the Poly - breakfast. I had a croissant sandwich and it was not very good. The one at WL is better.

CRT - lunch. CRT is overpriced but DD remembered going from last year and I do think it is a must at least once in a lifetime. Getting to eat in the castle and being visited by the princesses is priceless for DD. I got the same thing as last year, Major Domo's Favorite Pie which is really good. I never leave full from this meal. 4 stars.

Crystal Palace - dinner at MK
This was a HUGE disappointment. I believe this was the worst buffet I ever had. There was little to eat, especially desserts. The character interaction was only so-so and Winnie the Pooh walked past my kids, patted them on the head and never came back! Never again will we eat here. 1 star.

 

[pmaurer74]

May 23

'O Hana - breakfast at the Poly. DD has recently added Lilo and Stitch to her favorite Disney character's list. So seeing them at this breakfast was great. This was family style with bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits and potatoes. It was a really good breakfast but we are not bog eaters so we left a lot of food. 3.5 stars

Capt Cooks - lunch - We canceled our ADR at Raglan Road and just ate back at the resort. We had Pulled BBQ Pork which was pretty good. I got the chips with mine and they tasted good but were a little strange. I got a huge chocolate cupcake for dessert.

Akershus - dinner. I did not take any pix here. We ate here last year too and really enjoy the atmosphere and the princesses. The food was ok. I got the dumplings which were like big meat balls. 3.5 stars

May 24

Capt Cooks - breakfast and lunch. My DD was sick this day so we canceled Hollywood and Vine breakfast and Mama Melrose lunch. I had the famous Tonga Toast which was two thick pieces of toast dipped in sugar with banana in the middle. I did not really like it. I had a chicken sandwich for lunch that had I think pineapple on it? It was ok but I felt ill later that day

1900 Park Fare - dinner. I was still feeling ill for sinner so I did not have very much. The character interaction was the best. Lady Tremaine was discussing with DH the reason why my older DD had a princess dress on where the younger one did not and she said something about favoring her children over her step children too. (which is not true, they are not step DD's) and when a server dropped a plate in the kitchen she yelled out "Cinderella!". This photo is of the huge sundae they set in front of us. 4 stars

 

[pmaurer74]

May 25

Tusker House - breakfast at AK. We got in 30 minutes before our ADR which surprised me. DH thought it was pretty cool that we got into the park before it opened. This was the best buffet we had. There was a lot of selection and I will do this one again. 4 stars.

Pizzafari - lunch at AK. This was a last minute choice since there are few choices at AK but we ate at the baby changing station due to the heat. The pizza was pretty good. 3 stars.

'O Hana - Dinner at the Poly. We ate here last year and really enjoyed the food. I think it will be awhile before we go back again since we have gone twice in a row and do not plan to stay at the Poly again any time soon. We missed the kids activities because of where we sat.




May 26

Kona - breakfast at Poly. This was a very good meal. I had an omelet. I put in the Ok category because the price I did not think it was worth a TS credit but figured we would try it since we were staying at the Poly anyway. 3 stars.

American Pavilion - EPCOT This was ok. We ate here only because we did not want to walk back to the entrance. DH got a burger and I ate a kids meal chicken wrap sandwich.

Biergarten - EPCOT I put this in the OK category because mainly we were sick of food by this time. The entertainment happened right when we sat down so we were too busy getting food to enjoy it. The pretzel rolls were awesome but the rest was ok. 2.5 stars.

May 27

Capt. Cooks - breakfast (canceled Chef Mickeys last minute) I had a cinnamon roll I think I can't remember and for lunch I had to stuff a flatbread pizza down my throat to make the Magical Express in time. The pizza was really greasy and not very good.

[ THE END ]

 

[KatMark]

I'm in. I'm on my way to dinner (treating hubby after he umpped five baseball games today); will be back later to catch up.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Thank you for taking the time to write a dining report! We cannot wait to some day try 1900 Park Fare dinner, and your review got me excited!

We have never done the DxDP, but would perhaps some day try it for a special trip. Another way to manage 3 TS credits a day is to schedule some signature dining, and do 2 TS restaurants a day instead of 3. It must be hard with young children, but there are some signature experiences that they may appreciate, like the dinner shows and California Grill. Or when your younger one turns 4, you can use the kids clubs and enjoy a signature experience or two as a date night. Just a thought for next time!

ETA: My DD at age 16 requested lunch at CRT. It is one of our best memories. Glad you enjoy it, too!

 

[mcever4]

Thanks for the reviews, Pmauer74! We are planning on dining at several of those on our 2012 trip so it was very helpful! I noticed by your ticker you will be in the world at the exact time we are! Where are you staying? We are planning on POFQ for now unless I get a pin or discounts are released and then I may switch to a monorail resort.

Robin

 

[pmaurer74]

Thanks for the reviews, Pmauer74! We are planning on dining at several of those on our 2012 trip so it was very helpful! I noticed by your ticker you will be in the world at the exact time we are! Where are you staying? We are planning on POFQ for now unless I get a pin or discounts are released and then I may switch to a monorail resort.

Robin

If I can convince DH to go next year, he had an awful time this time because of his back but I was just discussing with him earlier today about May and I want to go I think May 16-23. A few days away from memorial day weekend. It depends upon if I can get a code or the deals but I think Beach Club is next on the list though DH wants to go back to Wilderness Lodge. AK is on our list when the girls are older and we don't have to deal with strollers anymore.

 

[KatMark]

Okay...all caught up. Thanks for the reviews. We are doing Kona for the first time this September for breakfast and I plan on ordering the omelet (we are paying out of pocket for this ADR). We were very unhappy with Biergarten last September.