12/23...
Well, this is the last time we probably will get up early for breakfast and I'm telling you now that it won't be for Donald's Breakfastosaurus if we do...
Before ya'll get ready to flame me for what I'm gonna write, just remember these are the opinions of my family.
It is more than likely that at least someone will disagree with me and that is just fine since we are all entitled to our opinions. 
I do hope that some folks have had better experiences than ours otherwise I'd wonder why this place still is operating. So, thank you for allowing me to express our thoughts, albeit, not so flattering. 
Donald's Breakfastosaurus 12/23 8am breakfast ADR, 1st time dining here
3 adult buffet $18.99 each...with our 20% DDE savings ($11.39) our total with tax was $48.55. We left a $10 tip. I felt DH was being nice, but hey the CM was doing her job.
We arrived right at 8am, checked in and were herded to the photo line...we were next and then while taking the photo called for our table...a bit rushed?
So along with the other people we'd be dining around, were lead into one of the smaller back room and before we sat down the CM was telling us "coffee was on the table, we've got white milk, chocolate milk and orange juice...anything else ya might need for you'll have to ask me". She goes on to quickly explain the cold bar and hot bar, suggesting we hit the hot bar first as it fills up faster. DH and I both asked for tomato juice, which she had to go get, but told us we'd better hurry up and get some food so we could see the characters when they came by...wow! 
I guess she had said it a few times...
So we all head for the hot bar...
Yes, there is a lot offered...biscuits, gravy, chocolate chip pancakes, regular pancakes, eggs, a breakfast pizza, some kind of casserole looking dish, cinnamon roll type french toast, sausage, bacon, syrup, and hot apples. It looked a lot better than it tasted...most of it had been sitting there for who knows how long already...it was mediocre and kept warm by all the heat lamps. And as DS noted, the glasses of milk and juice are kept cold by sitting them in a tub (like the bus boys use) sitting on top of another tub filled with ice. Sheesh!
So the characters were coming around when we got back...took some photos...it was here that he was a teenager as he started to pet poor Pluto's tongue. Each, Pluto, Donald, Mickey and Goofy visited us that one time and never again. I'd read that was the experience others had, but wanted to reserver comment till I saw for myself.
Before any of us could head to the cold bar, the CM was handing us our check...and was doing this to all the tables despite most were not nearly finished. DH was really not pleased with the assembly line feel and ordered a second tomato juice, just out of spite. Well, yeah he wanted it and he drank it, but he knew it'd take time for the CM to get it and then time for him to drink it. So, I decided to check out the cold bar...I did not see those Krispy Kreme donuts the CM mentioned...must have been gobbled up and not replaced yet. What I did see, was generic looking pastries, bagels and croisants...same thing I'd get at the grocery bakery back home, some fruit, and dry cereals. I was not impressed.
The CM who took our photo finally came by...good thing we waited...and I wanted to buy the photo, but really didn't want to carry it around all day, so I asked her (since she swiped my photopass card) if I could view and buy them online....certainly she told me. Well, those babies have gone the way of file 13 or to cyberland where I can't access them. So, I've lived and learned...if I want the stinkin' photo, but it on the spot.
We sat there a while more since we couldn't do anything until the park officially opened and why go out in the cold until we had to...so each of us made a trip to the restroom and by then it was close enough to 9am that we left.
We didn't care at all for Donald's and will not be going back.
Grade: E, which at the community college DH teaches means the student showed up everyday, but didn't pass enough to even get a D...and that is about what we think of Donald's...it's there, but hasn't learned anything.
Snack for the day at Petrifries...
large fries $2.39, small bottled water $1.25, regular sprite $2.09...no discounts...total with tax was $6.03
It's McDonald's fries, so the only way they could be bad is if they were cold and these were fresh and hot...hit the spot!
Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club, late lunch, no ADRs accepted, 1st time eating here.
Okay, I'm calling this lunch because that is what it was for us....the infamous kitchen sink!!!
We'd been wanting to try one of these for 2 years since we saw it on the Travel Channel's Great Hotels. It was so much fun!!!
Okay, the cost of 1 kitchen sink is $21.99, with our DDE 20% savings ($4.40) our total with tax was $18.74. We left a $4.00 tip.
Our kitchen sink included...caramel, fudge and peanut butter sauce, whole can of whipped cream, choc. chunk sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, angel food cake, banana nut muffins, brownies, oreos, Milky Way candy bar, and a whole jar of marachino cherries. We ate all of the ice cream, whipped cream and cherries, leaving most of the cakes, brownies, etc.
It was just lots of fun to eat this! They make a big fuss...flash the lights and announce 3 little piggies ordered everything including the kitchen sink. People just gawk as it goes by...I think they had as much fun as we did...almost.
We will absolutely go back to Beaches and Cream, but maybe for a sandwich instead...unless DS brings a friend, then it'll be another kitchen sink...
Grade: A...it is good ice cream...even if it's Edy's...it's just too much fun
Citricos at Grand Floridian 7pm ADR dinner, 1st time eating here
Okay, I'll say it up front, we have mixed emotions about Citricos.
We arrived a few minutes early, checked in, and were seated in about 5 minutes. We got a nice table about 2 back from the large windows facing the lake and MK.
What we had...
DH had a glass of white wine...can't remember the name $7.75, the pan seared quail appetizer $10.00, Roasted Acorn and Butternut Soup $8.00, Grilled Swordfish with vegetable pearl pasta and red pepper coulis $27.00, and the Seasonal Berry Gratin $8.00
DS had only the Citrico's Steak Sicillian...oak grilled NY strip steak with wood roasted peppers, onions, and fingerling potatoes $33.00 and the Dalmation Biscuit dessert from the kid's menu $6.00
I had the Gataeu of Crab $12.00, Oven roasted lamb sirloin with root vegetable crush, basil pesto and lamb jus reduction $29.00, and the Citricos Cinerellabration...bittersweet chocolate mousse tart with orange sauce $8.00
With our 20% DDE savings ($30.19) our total with tax was $128.60. We left a $25.00 tip.
DH liked the quail and gave me a bite and agreed. He thought the soup was fine, but heavy so he only ate half. DH loved the swordfish and the pearl pasta it was served with, but wasn't impressed with the berry gratin.
DS really did not like Citrico's as there was nothing on the appetizers, salads, or soups he thought were appealling. (We asked our server if it would be possible to dress the hearts of romaine salad with something else and he stiffly told us that it was served as was on the menu only.) Hey, even Burger King lets ya have it your way...
He said the steak was decent, but not the best of the trip. He really enjoyed the dessert...chocolate eclairs with a strawberry or raspberry sauce.
I thought the crab cake was very creamy, but it overpowered the flavor of the crab. The lamb tasted great and was a perfect medium, but it was cold and the veggies were so-so. The dessert was a very good mousse and the chocolate was a very good quality.
Okay, the food was decent, better than some places, but not as wonderful as others. The ambiance...well, it's the Grand Floridian and all that pretentious grandeur is there. Our server, was very lackluster...we felt either he'd been there too long or was just having a bad go of it. He wasn't friendly toward us and we got the impression that it was a chore for him to serve us. After we said no thanks to cocktails and wine, he never asked for our beverage order again. DH did decide later that he wanted a glass, but DS was never asked. (I've mentioned my thoughts on this in my report on Flying Fish, but to sum it up...DS is a patron the same as us and has the right to be treated with respect by the servers and staff.) When DS would order for himself the CM would continually look at me or DH as if asking, "is that okay with mom and dad?"
Our service was slow...not other tables served by our CM though so maybe it was just us that he was having a bad go of it with... We were not made to feel rushed, but the CM did give us the feeling of, oh, come on and get it over with...he just was not personable. No other staff members attended us that evening, so he was the only one we dealt with and obviously it didn't leave a favorable impression of the establishment.
The only positive to the evening was that our service was so slow that we were able to see the Wishes fireworks as we began our dessert. Now, we have had meals that lasted close to the 2 hour mark at WDW, even on this trip, but the vibes from Citricos were just so...cold perhaps is the word. It just wasn't an enjoyable and friendly place. We were dressed according to the dress code of business casual, but others were dressed not to the code...shorts, tshirt and ball cap at the table for example...we are a well mannered family, who are friendly people, but we just did not feel welcomed here...it was as if we were being a bother.
So, we doubt we will go back to Citricos, even if the food was decent this time.
Grade: C...the unwelcomed feeling really brought this place down
Well, this is the last time we probably will get up early for breakfast and I'm telling you now that it won't be for Donald's Breakfastosaurus if we do...
Before ya'll get ready to flame me for what I'm gonna write, just remember these are the opinions of my family.
It is more than likely that at least someone will disagree with me and that is just fine since we are all entitled to our opinions. I do hope that some folks have had better experiences than ours otherwise I'd wonder why this place still is operating. So, thank you for allowing me to express our thoughts, albeit, not so flattering. Donald's Breakfastosaurus 12/23 8am breakfast ADR, 1st time dining here
3 adult buffet $18.99 each...with our 20% DDE savings ($11.39) our total with tax was $48.55. We left a $10 tip. I felt DH was being nice, but hey the CM was doing her job.
We arrived right at 8am, checked in and were herded to the photo line...we were next and then while taking the photo called for our table...a bit rushed?
So along with the other people we'd be dining around, were lead into one of the smaller back room and before we sat down the CM was telling us "coffee was on the table, we've got white milk, chocolate milk and orange juice...anything else ya might need for you'll have to ask me". She goes on to quickly explain the cold bar and hot bar, suggesting we hit the hot bar first as it fills up faster. DH and I both asked for tomato juice, which she had to go get, but told us we'd better hurry up and get some food so we could see the characters when they came by...wow! I guess she had said it a few times...So we all head for the hot bar...
Yes, there is a lot offered...biscuits, gravy, chocolate chip pancakes, regular pancakes, eggs, a breakfast pizza, some kind of casserole looking dish, cinnamon roll type french toast, sausage, bacon, syrup, and hot apples. It looked a lot better than it tasted...most of it had been sitting there for who knows how long already...it was mediocre and kept warm by all the heat lamps. And as DS noted, the glasses of milk and juice are kept cold by sitting them in a tub (like the bus boys use) sitting on top of another tub filled with ice. Sheesh! So the characters were coming around when we got back...took some photos...it was here that he was a teenager as he started to pet poor Pluto's tongue. Each, Pluto, Donald, Mickey and Goofy visited us that one time and never again. I'd read that was the experience others had, but wanted to reserver comment till I saw for myself.
Before any of us could head to the cold bar, the CM was handing us our check...and was doing this to all the tables despite most were not nearly finished. DH was really not pleased with the assembly line feel and ordered a second tomato juice, just out of spite. Well, yeah he wanted it and he drank it, but he knew it'd take time for the CM to get it and then time for him to drink it. So, I decided to check out the cold bar...I did not see those Krispy Kreme donuts the CM mentioned...must have been gobbled up and not replaced yet. What I did see, was generic looking pastries, bagels and croisants...same thing I'd get at the grocery bakery back home, some fruit, and dry cereals. I was not impressed.
The CM who took our photo finally came by...good thing we waited...and I wanted to buy the photo, but really didn't want to carry it around all day, so I asked her (since she swiped my photopass card) if I could view and buy them online....certainly she told me. Well, those babies have gone the way of file 13 or to cyberland where I can't access them. So, I've lived and learned...if I want the stinkin' photo, but it on the spot.
We sat there a while more since we couldn't do anything until the park officially opened and why go out in the cold until we had to...so each of us made a trip to the restroom and by then it was close enough to 9am that we left.
We didn't care at all for Donald's and will not be going back.
Grade: E, which at the community college DH teaches means the student showed up everyday, but didn't pass enough to even get a D...and that is about what we think of Donald's...it's there, but hasn't learned anything.
Snack for the day at Petrifries...
large fries $2.39, small bottled water $1.25, regular sprite $2.09...no discounts...total with tax was $6.03
It's McDonald's fries, so the only way they could be bad is if they were cold and these were fresh and hot...hit the spot!
Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club, late lunch, no ADRs accepted, 1st time eating here.
Okay, I'm calling this lunch because that is what it was for us....the infamous kitchen sink!!!
We'd been wanting to try one of these for 2 years since we saw it on the Travel Channel's Great Hotels. It was so much fun!!!Okay, the cost of 1 kitchen sink is $21.99, with our DDE 20% savings ($4.40) our total with tax was $18.74. We left a $4.00 tip.
Our kitchen sink included...caramel, fudge and peanut butter sauce, whole can of whipped cream, choc. chunk sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, angel food cake, banana nut muffins, brownies, oreos, Milky Way candy bar, and a whole jar of marachino cherries. We ate all of the ice cream, whipped cream and cherries, leaving most of the cakes, brownies, etc.
It was just lots of fun to eat this! They make a big fuss...flash the lights and announce 3 little piggies ordered everything including the kitchen sink. People just gawk as it goes by...I think they had as much fun as we did...almost.
We will absolutely go back to Beaches and Cream, but maybe for a sandwich instead...unless DS brings a friend, then it'll be another kitchen sink...
Grade: A...it is good ice cream...even if it's Edy's...it's just too much fun
Citricos at Grand Floridian 7pm ADR dinner, 1st time eating here
Okay, I'll say it up front, we have mixed emotions about Citricos.
We arrived a few minutes early, checked in, and were seated in about 5 minutes. We got a nice table about 2 back from the large windows facing the lake and MK.
What we had...
DH had a glass of white wine...can't remember the name $7.75, the pan seared quail appetizer $10.00, Roasted Acorn and Butternut Soup $8.00, Grilled Swordfish with vegetable pearl pasta and red pepper coulis $27.00, and the Seasonal Berry Gratin $8.00
DS had only the Citrico's Steak Sicillian...oak grilled NY strip steak with wood roasted peppers, onions, and fingerling potatoes $33.00 and the Dalmation Biscuit dessert from the kid's menu $6.00
I had the Gataeu of Crab $12.00, Oven roasted lamb sirloin with root vegetable crush, basil pesto and lamb jus reduction $29.00, and the Citricos Cinerellabration...bittersweet chocolate mousse tart with orange sauce $8.00
With our 20% DDE savings ($30.19) our total with tax was $128.60. We left a $25.00 tip.
DH liked the quail and gave me a bite and agreed. He thought the soup was fine, but heavy so he only ate half. DH loved the swordfish and the pearl pasta it was served with, but wasn't impressed with the berry gratin.
DS really did not like Citrico's as there was nothing on the appetizers, salads, or soups he thought were appealling. (We asked our server if it would be possible to dress the hearts of romaine salad with something else and he stiffly told us that it was served as was on the menu only.) Hey, even Burger King lets ya have it your way...
He said the steak was decent, but not the best of the trip. He really enjoyed the dessert...chocolate eclairs with a strawberry or raspberry sauce.I thought the crab cake was very creamy, but it overpowered the flavor of the crab. The lamb tasted great and was a perfect medium, but it was cold and the veggies were so-so. The dessert was a very good mousse and the chocolate was a very good quality.
Okay, the food was decent, better than some places, but not as wonderful as others. The ambiance...well, it's the Grand Floridian and all that pretentious grandeur is there. Our server, was very lackluster...we felt either he'd been there too long or was just having a bad go of it. He wasn't friendly toward us and we got the impression that it was a chore for him to serve us. After we said no thanks to cocktails and wine, he never asked for our beverage order again. DH did decide later that he wanted a glass, but DS was never asked. (I've mentioned my thoughts on this in my report on Flying Fish, but to sum it up...DS is a patron the same as us and has the right to be treated with respect by the servers and staff.) When DS would order for himself the CM would continually look at me or DH as if asking, "is that okay with mom and dad?"
Our service was slow...not other tables served by our CM though so maybe it was just us that he was having a bad go of it with...
We were not made to feel rushed, but the CM did give us the feeling of, oh, come on and get it over with...he just was not personable. No other staff members attended us that evening, so he was the only one we dealt with and obviously it didn't leave a favorable impression of the establishment.The only positive to the evening was that our service was so slow that we were able to see the Wishes fireworks as we began our dessert. Now, we have had meals that lasted close to the 2 hour mark at WDW, even on this trip, but the vibes from Citricos were just so...cold perhaps is the word. It just wasn't an enjoyable and friendly place. We were dressed according to the dress code of business casual, but others were dressed not to the code...shorts, tshirt and ball cap at the table for example...we are a well mannered family, who are friendly people, but we just did not feel welcomed here...it was as if we were being a bother.
So, we doubt we will go back to Citricos, even if the food was decent this time.
Grade: C...the unwelcomed feeling really brought this place down
