Mom & Son-One More Time w/Dad! 11 days of DxDDP-10/21, Grand Finale, FF Chef's Table!

[emmysmommy]

BTW: I checked out Characterpalooza at DHS and it sounds like we must have coincidently experienced that last year when we saw the Queen of Hearts with Tweedle Dee/Dum, Hook & Smee, GAM, and Chip & Dale. I keep going back expecting more unique characters and don't find them and thoughts what the heck? I want to see some villains!!!

Now that I know about it I soooo want to go every day we are at DHS so I can get some of the ones that I am dying to see like Genie, Jafar, Cruella, and the evil Snow White Queen.

Thanks for the info. This is exactly what I have been looking for.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I am gonna put in my little opinion here. I vote for Maya Grill. I know it wasn't on your list. I have eaten there a few times and it is never full and the food is pretty good. My kids love it as does my DH. This time we are going and my Florida family is joining us and they also like it and have been there before. It may not be blow you away awesome food but it is good and tasty, at least to me and my family. Just my thought. Hope you can get your choice and that it is good when you get there.

I don't think they serve lunch, do they? Oddly, we are staying at Coronado and I don't have a meal planned on property. I do like Maya Grill's menu though.

I haven't been to Tutto since 2010 (ignoring my recent stop at Gusto for a great new Tutto Italia dessert) or Mama Melrose since 2004 (so long ago!). So I don't have relevant firsthand experience with these restaurants.

We enjoyed our Les Chefs dinner very much in May, while Coral Reef has disappointed me twice for lunch (in 2010 and 2011).

For me, Coral Reef would be my choice to rule out - you can see the fish from inside the pavilion without using a meal credit there. Mama Melrose could be a good choice since you liked it before, and it's been getting even better reviews since the menu was updated. Tutto's post-refurbishment reviews have been less consistent, but I see items I think I would like on the menu (but don't want to pay OOP for, meaning they'd be a good value on the DxDP).

Good luck with the decision!

I agree about Coral Reef, for some reason it just keeps popping up in my head. I did switch to Tutto Italia. DS and I had a nice lunch there back in 2008 but DH has never been and of course it was refurb'd. So it is the something "new" that I guess I am looking for. I re-read Jabead's review and other than dessert, it seemed Ok. And there are plenty of dessert snacks in EPCOT so that isn't an issue.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Ok, since I decided on Tutto for our lunch, today's countdown pic is the wonderful appetizer platter DS and I had there in 2008

I would love to have this for dinner tonight!

 

[emmysmommy]

Wow!! That appetizer platter looks really, really good. Tutto is a great choice - glad that is settled!

Is the red stuff at 5 o'clock on the plate tomato bruchetta type stuff?

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Wow!! That appetizer platter looks really, really good. Tutto is a great choice - glad that is settled!

Is the red stuff at 5 o'clock on the plate tomato bruchetta type stuff?

From what I remember, it was roasted red peppers. I am happy with that choice, too. A little bummed that I have ultimately eliminated Kouzzina. I would probably swap 'Ohana for it (as much as I love 'Ohana) but I would have a riot from DS!

 

[deenbrad]

I'm glad you chose Tutto Italia! I've been hoping for a review from there!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

A little late but today's photo ... the POP waffle (and some sad looking bacon!)

Also, a change ... I was bummed that I cut Kouzzina as I really wanted to try it for dinner this year. So I swapped out Hacienda. We did enjoy it last year, but I know we will be stopping at La Cava for a beverage and La Cantina for a snack so we will get a bit of a mexican fix! Kouzzina is something totally different for us! As a side note, on the night we want to go when I entered 3 people, I got no availability. When I entered 4 people, the perfect time popped up. Go figure ....

 

[emmysmommy]

Yay! Kouzzina is back in. We ditched La Hacienda as well... but one day I would like to go back since I like the Botana. I just wish they were open for lunch.

Go figure about the party size of 3 is a no go but 4, ok, we'll seat you!

Hooray for the countdown being below 20 now. You are tempting my appetite in your countdowns since you have some pretty tasty food photos!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

That was my plan .... even old food porn is better than no food porn!

One more change ... dropped Flying Fish for Citricos. Was looking at the menus on the WDW site and the July menu posted for Citricos really caught our eye. Despite not loving seafood, we do enjoy Flying Fish but Citricos was voted unanimously in our house after reading the menus. Wish I had one extra night so go to FF as well but since our airfare has already been purchased, I just have to deal with what I have!

 

[emmysmommy]

One more change ... dropped Flying Fish for Citricos. Was looking at the menus on the WDW site and the July menu posted for Citricos really caught our eye. Despite not loving seafood, we do enjoy Flying Fish but Citricos was voted unanimously in our house after reading the menus. Wish I had one extra night so go to FF as well but since our airfare has already been purchased, I just have to deal with what I have!

What night are you now at Citricos?

That's so funny that you mention needing one more day but airfare is already purchased.... since DH and I are both starting vacation on Thursday but don't fly to WDW until Saturday and then we come back 5 days before we both go back to work so... we could have conceivably added more days to the trip but I don't know where to stop!!! That and the whole thing about not having a bottomless bank account.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Ahhh, to have that bottomless bank account!

We will be there Sept 1st before our Illuminations Cruise. Figure it is just as easy to drive to Citricos for dinner and then drive to the Yacht Club as it is to drive to the Boardwalk for dinner and walk to the Yacht Club!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Another late update, the appetizer sampler platter at R&C from last trip! Potato Leek soup, scotch eggs and pastys!

And another change - this one requested by DS. I read last night that Coronado has tubing and stand up paddle boarding. He asked to do that instead of the archery experience on our no Parks day. So no lunch at Trails End. We will eat CS at Coronado, maybe the Pepper Market, maybe something else.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The scotch egg looks delicious! And I don't think skipping Trail's End is a huge loss - it was pretty good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Hopefully the Pepper Market buffet (if that's what you choose) will be good.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

The scotch egg looks delicious! And I don't think skipping Trail's End is a huge loss - it was pretty good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Hopefully the Pepper Market buffet (if that's what you choose) will be good.

I love, love the Scotch Eggs! I made them as a treat for us last Christmas and they were good but just not as good as when you are in Disney!

Yeah, I am not too bummed about Trails End. It was DS's choice for chicken & waffles but he says he will now get that waffle sandwich at Sleepy Hollow.

The paddleboarding and tubing look like fun for him. DH will also paddleboard. I will be taking pictures with a nice beverage!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I love, love the Scotch Eggs! I made them as a treat for us last Christmas and they were good but just not as good as when you are in Disney!

Yeah, I am not too bummed about Trails End. It was DS's choice for chicken & waffles but he says he will now get that waffle sandwich at Sleepy Hollow.

The paddleboarding and tubing look like fun for him. DH will also paddleboard. I will be taking pictures with a nice beverage!

I hope they have fun! And the waffle sandwiches sound awesome, so that'll definitely be a worthy substitute.

 

[emmysmommy]

Dumb question here but what exactly is Scotch eggs? looks like a hard boiled egg in a loaf of meat. The potato leek soup looks really wonderful!

At least your change in plans is attributable to your DS!! Sounds like a good change - especially since your son can get a waffle in MK.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Yep, it is a hard boiled egg, wrapped in sausage & then breaded & fried. R&C serves it with this wonderful mustard-y sauce. Very yummy and very bad for you! But it is vacation, right?

DS was really into trying the archery thing but now with the opportunity to go tubing, he wanted to try that. I just wanted to do something that was all for him so this fits the bill!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

double post

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

For today ... 'Ohana's divine dessert!

I am soooo looking forward to this but it will be the last meal of our trip so I am already sad thinking about it!

 

[Linda67]

You are killing me with your photo of 'Ohana's bread pudding!!!! ..... Oh, could I do with some right now