Mom & Son eat the World! 11 days of DDP with tons of pics! Now Complete!

[GoofySon'sMom]

Dinner was a Jiko ... the one restaurant DS was really looking forward to. He had slept for a bit before dinner and thought he felt hungry so we went as planned.

He didn't feel well after the bus ride at all. We checked in and went to the bar to get him a ginger ale (which they didn't charge us for). I felt that I had to get something so I got a glass of wine. I couldn't find the receipt but I think it was $12.

He really wanted to try to eat. We had decided that we were going to share everything. We had the Artisan Cheese Selection - Five Goat and Sheep Cheeses from Around the World

and a flatbread that I don't see on the Allears menu. It was bacon with Tillamonk cheddar cheese, arugula and tomatos

Both selections were fantastic! I loved that the cheese was at room temperature and not cold from the fridge. So much more flavor that way. The flatbread was out of this world, crave it in the night good.

Unfortunately DS ate mostly the honey wheat bread

For entrees we had the Kenyan Coffee BBQ-Braised Beef Short Rib - with Crushed Potatoes and Onion-Garlic Sauce and the Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon - with macaroni and cheese and red wine sauce.

Either of these could be declared my best entree of the trip. I think I give the edge to the short rib. DS did have a few bites and did seem to enjoy them.

He just wanted more bread for dessert with a cup of tea. I had the Pistachio Creme Brulee - with a chocolate layered bottom

I loved the pressed tea pots

All in all a great meal for me but very disappointing that DS wasn't feeling well. He had so looked forward to this and just couldn't enjoy it.

Total cost - $126.74

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Day 11 was our last day but our ME bus pickup time wasn't til 5:15. I had scheduled breakfast at Chef Mickey's thinking it would be a way to say 'goodbye'. Probably too much information, but DS had been up a couple of times in the night with a very upset stomach. Not the way to end vacation.

I wanted to cancel breakfast but he woke up saying he was hungry and wanted to go. He has had this happen before so I figured what it was got out of his system and we went.

No such luck. Again, the bus ride was awful for him. I got him a plain bagel and he had that with some tea. I tried the PB&J pizza thing as well as the omelet pizza thing. I didn't take any pics of the food or buffet.

Total cost - $48.97

DS ended up sleeping for about an hour in the Contemporary on one of the 2nd floor couches. We had checked out of the room and when I called to see if we could go back & have a later checkout I was told that there would be a charge and maybe a manager would waive it. I didn't want to put DS thru the trip so we stayed. When he woke, again he said he was feeling better & wanted to go to the MK. (As a side note, I had given him some Pepto). We went to see Philharmagic and on HM. We saw Liberty Tree Tavern was taking walkups and he wanted to give it a try.

All he could manage was some soup

I had the Declaration Salad - field greens and vegetables tossed with tavern strawberry vinaigrette

and the Pilgrims' Feast - traditional roast turkey with herb bread dressing, mashed potatoes and a garden vegetable

The picture really doesn't do this justice. It was very good.

Cost with two iced teas - $48.82.

When we left there, I realized DS had a fever. Off to first aide. They gave him some imodium and an advil and he slept for another hour. Not a way to end our perfect trip.

We returned to POP and again, he desperately wanted a milkshake. We had three snack credits left so we got his milkshake as well as the apples and caramel dip for me

and this for later

I ended up bringing it home & putting it in the freezer. We just had it last night!

Total cost - $13.17

DS did feel better at the airport so we split a turkey sandwich or something before getting on the plain. No pics there. Just to finish the sickness story, he was fine flying but horribly sick when we landed. He spent most of Wednesday moving from his bed to the couch without eating much of anything. Thursday was his first day of school. Thankfully he woke up feeling completely fine.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I will get with DS this weekend to do a summary post of each of our favorites.

Total cost of our meals, snacks (which included a lot of bottled water) & refillable mug (which we filled with iced tea most nights upon our return to POP) included in the deluxe plan was $1698.44. If we had paid the full price, it would have cost us $1259.82 so we would have saved $438.62. But we only paid the upgraded free dining cost of $576 so we actually saved $1122.44!

I know the DxDP is debated here on the Dis for being too much food and takingn too much time away from the actual Park stuff. For us, it was perfect. We enjoy food and the dining was a huge part of this trip for us. We rarely had 3 sitdown meals a day and did not feel like a slave to our ADRs. Heck, I'd rather spend an hour in a nice air-conditioned restaurant than 45 minutes fighting crowds to get a CS meal! We don't take the afternoon return to the hotel & swim/nap breaks so this was the perfect midday break for us. We don't get to the World as often as some but have been lucky enough to go 5 times in the 4 years prior to this trip so we didn't feel the need to see/do everything. And we had 11 days. So we did have the luxury of time in a lot of cases.

As far as too much food, we ordered what we wanted. As you can see, we split appetizers a few times and either shared or skipped dessert. We didn't eat the most expensive items to maximize our savings. We used many snack credits for bottled water because we needed it. I don't think we would have done much if anything differently if we didn't have the plan. Well, yes we probably wouldn't have been able to afford to enjoy Cali Grille and Jiko. For that reason alone, the DxDP was more than worth it for us.

We also spent $218.10 OOP the things mentioned in this trip report and a few other snacks or bottled water.

I don't know how I would go to WDW without the deluxe plan!

 

[SheenaXena21]

I really enjoyed reading your reviews and enjoyed the pics!!!
So sorry your son got sick!
I thought your sign at Coral Reef was so sweet and a very good idea. The food looks great at `Ohanas. My mom and I are going there in Nov. I'm excited to try it now. Thanks for such a good review!!!

 

[iluvpluto27]

Really enjoyed your reviews. Pleased you enjoyed Jiko, even if your son unfortunately couldn't.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Really enjoyed your reviews. Pleased you enjoyed Jiko, even if your son unfortunately couldn't.

Yeah, I feel so bad about that! It was the meal he was most looking forward to. He says we have to go back next year just so he can enjoy dinner there!DH says we have to wait til 2010. Even though I know deep down the DH is right, I am trying very hard to figure out how to get us back next year!

 

[Motherofboys]

Yeah, I feel so bad about that! It was the meal he was most looking forward to. He says we have to go back next year just so he can enjoy dinner there!DH says we have to wait til 2010. Even though I know deep down the DH is right, I am trying very hard to figure out how to get us back next year!

Loved the report! So sorry though that your son got sick at the end of the trip

Sending lots of pixie dust your way that maybe next year you will get one of these new free dining emails that Disney seems to be sending out willy-nilly! Can't pass up a great deal, right?

Then we can get another great report too!!

 

[Fluffypants]

It's too bad that your son was sick for Jiko & LTT. Those are two of my faves! Glad he is feeling better now, though. Not a great way to end such a wonderful trip . . . but boy is he a trooper!!! I don't think I would have been so willing to soldier on with a stomach virus . . . so to him!

 

[mamaboogie]

Really enjoyed reading your reviews and your photos are great! How lovely to have this time with your son - the Coral Reef Diver and menu surprises were so great!

I think Jiko will have to be on our Wish List next time we make it to WDW (who knows when that will be?!)

I'm glad you liked Ohana - we really loved it too and would definitely go back again!

Thanks for taking the time to post these reviews - they were great!

Shari xx

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Loved the report! So sorry though that your son got sick at the end of the trip

Sending lots of pixie dust your way that maybe next year you will get one of these new free dining emails that Disney seems to be sending out willy-nilly! Can't pass up a great deal, right?

Then we can get another great report too!!

Yes, here's hoping! Or at the very least the general public free dining promo may be offered again next year.

It's too bad that your son was sick for Jiko & LTT. Those are two of my faves! Glad he is feeling better now, though. Not a great way to end such a wonderful trip . . . but boy is he a trooper!!! I don't think I would have been so willing to soldier on with a stomach virus . . . so to him!

He really is. I don't think either of us realized he was as sick as he ultimately was until he got the fever. Initially I thought the San Angel food just didn't agree with him. He so rarely gets anything like this that lasts more than a half day. This was strange. I will pass on your kudos to him! He was so upset at the airport that he 'ruined' the last couple of days of my trip! Bless his heart, that about broke mine!

Really enjoyed reading your reviews and your photos are great! How lovely to have this time with your son - the Coral Reef Diver and menu surprises were so great!

I think Jiko will have to be on our Wish List next time we make it to WDW (who knows when that will be?!)

I'm glad you liked Ohana - we really loved it too and would definitely go back again!

Thanks for taking the time to post these reviews - they were great!

Shari xx

Thank you so much for the kind words. I initially felt guilty about taking such a big trip without DH but I have to say that I wouldn't go back & do it differently. It was truly a wonderful time with my son.

 

[wilma-bride]

So sorry DS got sick at the end of your trip - sounded like the perfect trip until the last day. Jiko sounds fabulous - every time I read a review of it I just wish I was adventurous enough to try it.

Thanks so much for your reviews - I have really enjoyed them

 

[Fluffypants]

He really is. I don't think either of us realized he was as sick as he ultimately was until he got the fever. Initially I thought the San Angel food just didn't agree with him. He so rarely gets anything like this that lasts more than a half day. This was strange. I will pass on your kudos to him! He was so upset at the airport that he 'ruined' the last couple of days of my trip! Bless his heart, that about broke mine!

Awww . . . such a wonderful son deserves another trip to WDW!!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Enjoyed the reviews. Sorry to hear your DS wasn't feeling well.

 

[irongirlof12]

I agree with you- I think meal and good food really add up to a good vacation. so sorry that your DS was ill on his last days.

Have really enjoyed your reports .

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks for taking the time to share your reviews with us! I had the short rib at JIKO and thought it was incredible...

 

[bluechic03]

Just wanted to say I really enjoyed your reviews and thanks so much for taking the time to take all those pics and write about all those meals! I cant wait for my B-day trip!!!!!

 

[kathymc]

great reviewa - so sorry your son got sick but at least it was at the end of the trip.

hmmmmm - gotta rethink not trying the wave this trip......

 

[Squeasel]

Great report, I really liked it! I'm sorry your son got sick at the end, poor guy. My daughter got sick at the end of one of our trips when she was 4, and I know how bad you feel for them, missing out, feeling so miserable and being away from home. I hope he gets to try Jiko again some time in the future.

 

[mickeymotto]

Great TR! I really enjoyed your photos and I feel so very bad about your DS not feeling well, what a bummer! Thanks so much for all the details on your dining.

 

[hill6]

Excellent review. Bummer about your son not feeling well at the end.

I have snagged a reservation for The Wave for our second dinner in November. I have read a few very very positive reviews and the food looks absolutely great.

I have been thinking about changing around Mama Melrose for Il Tutto in Epcot. Hmmmmm. May need to research this a bit more. We had planned to go to Epcot for EMH after the Wave and stay at DHS for Mama Melrose and EMH.