ehagerty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
- Messages
- 2,099
VKL = Vacation Kingdom Lunch = The name of the meal vouchers which can be used at lunch time at designated restaurants
Who: DS47, DS16, ME49
Where: Epcot World Showcase, Italy, Al Fredos
When: Saturday, June 19 3:15 pm
Each family members gets to specify one restaurant for lunch as long as it is on the VKL list (on the back of the voucher / coupon). DS16 chose Al Fredos.
We tend to eat at off times, so the most common complaint about this restaurant that the tables are too close together wasnt a problem for us. Even when a restaurant is busy, we either create our own conversational bubble, or use the opportunity to chat with those around us. Today, the nearest guest was a couple of tables away.
The meal plan was to use 2 vouchers for 3 people. Here, as at every restaurant where we do this, the server does not even blink, much less roll his/her eyes. They know full well that you can easily run up a bill worthy of 4 people, and their tip is off of the bill amount, not the number of people served. Besides, this is Disney, as the customer is always treated courteously, even when someone is explaining why you cant have something. So, dont be afraid to try this strategy yourselves.
For an appetizer, we had:
"Antipasto All'Italiana - assortment of Italy's finest imported cheeses and sliced meats, including prosciutto, bresaola, mortadella and soppressata (Serves 2-4) $23.95"
In prior years, this was brought to the table (when we were using more coupons) without us requesting it, in addition to all the appetizers that we DID request. We didnt fully appreciate the significance / quality of the meats and cheeses at first. Seemed like just another meat-n-cheese platter. Sure, it was better than your pepperoni-and-jalapeno-cheese party platters, but we took it back to the room and made sandwiches out of it the next day. Since then, I happen to read an article about how these meats are made, often by hand, in Italy, so I paid more attention this time. The fried calamari is also excellent, but I have come to appreciate this platter as something I can only get here and look forward to it now.
Entrée - we had 2 orders of:
"Ossobuco di Maiale in Gremolata - slow roasted pork shank in a sauce of demiglace, porcini mushroom, barbera wine, tomato and gremolata served with gorgonzola polenta and peperonata $21.95"
Everything on this plate was excellent. The meat was moist, tender. The sauce delicious. Polenta and vegetables, perfect. There was enough meat on one plate for all 3 of us.
Drinks ice tea and virgin daquari
Dessert two samplers (I dont have the receipt with me, but around $6 each).
***Dessert Display***
If I find the receipt in my paperwork, I will update this with actual numbers, but I guesstimate the meal to have cost around $107 with tip and tax, for $62 in vouchers.
The service staff here is very polished. Host, Laurent. Server: Andrea. Bus: Francisco. They were elegant, unobtrusive. Ive noted in prior years that, in both the Italian and French restaurants, the service staff is professional by European standards. They are polite, but not intrusive, facilitating the dining experience to perfection (table clean, glasses full) instead of becoming a part of it (entertaining the customer, becoming an unofficial member of the dinner party). This is a mystery to some American guests I have brought here. They expected 24-hr Disney entertainment, even during meals. The service is what my DS16 likes most about Al Fredos, which is probably a little unusual for a teen-ager. I think it reminds him of his one trip to Europe in 2000 to Italy.
Who: DS47, DS16, ME49
Where: Epcot World Showcase, Italy, Al Fredos
When: Saturday, June 19 3:15 pm
Each family members gets to specify one restaurant for lunch as long as it is on the VKL list (on the back of the voucher / coupon). DS16 chose Al Fredos.
We tend to eat at off times, so the most common complaint about this restaurant that the tables are too close together wasnt a problem for us. Even when a restaurant is busy, we either create our own conversational bubble, or use the opportunity to chat with those around us. Today, the nearest guest was a couple of tables away.
The meal plan was to use 2 vouchers for 3 people. Here, as at every restaurant where we do this, the server does not even blink, much less roll his/her eyes. They know full well that you can easily run up a bill worthy of 4 people, and their tip is off of the bill amount, not the number of people served. Besides, this is Disney, as the customer is always treated courteously, even when someone is explaining why you cant have something. So, dont be afraid to try this strategy yourselves.
For an appetizer, we had:
"Antipasto All'Italiana - assortment of Italy's finest imported cheeses and sliced meats, including prosciutto, bresaola, mortadella and soppressata (Serves 2-4) $23.95"
In prior years, this was brought to the table (when we were using more coupons) without us requesting it, in addition to all the appetizers that we DID request. We didnt fully appreciate the significance / quality of the meats and cheeses at first. Seemed like just another meat-n-cheese platter. Sure, it was better than your pepperoni-and-jalapeno-cheese party platters, but we took it back to the room and made sandwiches out of it the next day. Since then, I happen to read an article about how these meats are made, often by hand, in Italy, so I paid more attention this time. The fried calamari is also excellent, but I have come to appreciate this platter as something I can only get here and look forward to it now.
Entrée - we had 2 orders of:
"Ossobuco di Maiale in Gremolata - slow roasted pork shank in a sauce of demiglace, porcini mushroom, barbera wine, tomato and gremolata served with gorgonzola polenta and peperonata $21.95"
Everything on this plate was excellent. The meat was moist, tender. The sauce delicious. Polenta and vegetables, perfect. There was enough meat on one plate for all 3 of us.
Drinks ice tea and virgin daquari
Dessert two samplers (I dont have the receipt with me, but around $6 each).
***Dessert Display***
If I find the receipt in my paperwork, I will update this with actual numbers, but I guesstimate the meal to have cost around $107 with tip and tax, for $62 in vouchers.
The service staff here is very polished. Host, Laurent. Server: Andrea. Bus: Francisco. They were elegant, unobtrusive. Ive noted in prior years that, in both the Italian and French restaurants, the service staff is professional by European standards. They are polite, but not intrusive, facilitating the dining experience to perfection (table clean, glasses full) instead of becoming a part of it (entertaining the customer, becoming an unofficial member of the dinner party). This is a mystery to some American guests I have brought here. They expected 24-hr Disney entertainment, even during meals. The service is what my DS16 likes most about Al Fredos, which is probably a little unusual for a teen-ager. I think it reminds him of his one trip to Europe in 2000 to Italy.
