New Empty Nesters take on the World OOP...10/18 Complete!

[VegasVick]

We spent a wonderful five days at WDW in August. My plan is to link my trip report to the dining reviews.

Here's the list of locations (which will have links when completed):

• Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, POFQ - breakfast (every day but Tuesday)
  
• Le Cellier, EPCOT - lunch
  
  [*]Assorted stops around World Showcase, Part 1, EPCOT - dinner
  
  [*]Assorted stops around World Showcase, Part 2, EPCOT - dinner
  
  [*]Kona Cafe, Polynesian - breakfast
  
  [*]Lottawatta Lodge, Blizzard Beach - lunch
  
  [*]California Grill, Contemporary - dinner
  
  [*]Sci-Fi Dine-in, Hollywood Studios - lunch
  
  [*]Afternoon Tea, Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge - late lunch
  
  [*]Raglan Road, Downtown Disney - dinner
  

I will rate each on quality, atmosphere, service, and overall experience.

Not so good
Just okay
Good
Better than good
Fabulous

Enjoy!!

 

[VegasVick]

This counter service location at Port Orleans French Quarter was very convenient for us. We were in building 5, so it was literally across the walkway.

My apologies...no pictures of the breakfast items...I just forgot

I'm going to separate the drink from food for review...

Our first purchase was the refillable mugs. I know some feel this is a rip-off, but I don't. We used them at least three times every day, so I know we got our monies worth! Also, I don't think the coffee is that bad, so two mugs for me each morning. Coke products aren't my favorite, but a quick diet always hits the spot. There were four choices of brewed tea, so a quick sweet iced tea was handy too. My complaint at the drink area...dirty! Always spills and messes!! I only saw one cast member during our entire trip actually wiping the area. Yuck!

Quality of drinks = Everything we had was drinkable.
Atmosphere of drink area = For a place that at times wasn't very busy, it was dirty.
Service = Why wasn't someone cleaning? Not up to my Disney expectations.
Overall experience with the drink area = Convenient and quick.

The food here wasn't too bad at all...one morning I had the French toast with sausage. It was cooked well and served hot. Joe had the pancakes with bacon which was served hot. The problem with the pancakes was the wait. I don't understand why they didn't have pancakes cooking during the prime breakfast time...the wait was crazy. My breakfast was half gone before he sat down to eat. Another day we each had breakfast sandwiches. I picked them up and brought them back to the room. They tasted pretty good, with eggs, ham and cheese on a croissant. On one morning I didn't eat, but Joe had a cinnamon roll with fruit salad. He said it was a little dry. For our final breakfast, he had a bagel and I had a blueberry muffin. Hard to screw that up.

Quality = It was all served hot and pretty fresh. Nothing beyond our expectations.
Service = The pancake lady was pretty grumpy...I think it's because she had no pancakes. One cashier could have at least acknowledged my good morning. One was very sweet.

Atmosphere = n/a We ate outside on our first morning because it was such a beautiful day; the other days we ate in the room.

Overall = We kept going back, so that says something.

Total spent throughout the week on food and mugs: $65.41

FYI: No beignets for us...too sweet and too messy.

 

[VegasVick]

What can I say...we love this place. It had been a couple of years since we'd eaten here, so we were excited! I try every year, but when we stay offsite at our condo, making ADRs can be tricky. Even staying onsite, I could only get a lunch ADR...dinner was booked.

Our ADR was for 12:45 and we were seated within 5 minutes. I told Joe to try and look natural while reading the menu...this is what I got

Jolly, but blurry...

Our waiter was Barry. He was excellent...friendly and knowledgeable. Note the three breads on the table...pretzel, sour dough, and whole grain.

Started off with a Torontopolitan and Joe had a Trois Pistoles beer...I really liked my cocktail...it went down fast and easy. Joe was not impressed with the beer.

We had never tried the infamous cheddar cheese soup, so we did...I liked it, but it was very strong...both cheese and beer flavors. Joe did the recommended...dip the pretzel bread into it. I don't like the pretzel but love the sour dough (but with butter on it, not cheese soup )

For our entrees, we both got the filet mignon, substituted au gratin potatoes for the risotto, and shared a side of grilled asparagus. It was as good, if not better, than it looked...my filet melted in my mouth. The mushroom sauce was a little salty, but I don't like a lot of salt...Joe had no complaint. The cheesy potatoes were hot and tasty...not soggy (like they can get if left sitting). The veggie was fresh and cooked just right. They even trimmed the tough ends to make it chewable.

After licking our plates clean, we were too full for dessert.

Quality = Would go back in a New York minute!
Atmosphere = The place is crowded and a little loud. Really no complaints.
Service = The hostesses at the door were very friendly. Barry was fabulous...really helped to make the meal great!
Overall = One of our favorites.

Total for drinks, food, tax & tip: $105.00

 

[TheTravelingCarters]

Love your ratings scale!

 

[Granfan]

Afternoon tea at Grand Floridian is on my list in a couple of weeks. Do I need to make ADR? It doesn't show on the website. Also will be doing Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, and Tusker House. Thank you for all info!!

 

[VegasVick]

Love your ratings scale!

Thanks! I think Tink just says it all...

 

[VegasVick]

Afternoon tea at Grand Floridian is on my list in a couple of weeks. Do I need to make ADR? It doesn't show on the website. Also will be doing Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, and Tusker House. Thank you for all info!!

I would recommend that you make an ADR to avoid disappointment...it isn't available online though; you have to call. Enjoy...as you'll learn, we loved it!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Love your reviews and great pictures!

 

[VegasVick]

Love your reviews and great pictures!

Thanks!

 

[butiflfeet]

Great start to your reviews! I'm also loving your Tinkerbell rating system. Perfect

 

[DLo]

Great start! The only one we are copying from you is sci fi lunch. enjoyed it last year - nothing great not horrible either. Love Kona for dinner but haven't tried b'fast there yet.

Looking forward to more.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Looking forward to more!

 

[VegasVick]

I had read several dining and trip reports which mentioned "drinking" around the world...so, I came up with our own version...Joe and Vick eat and drink around the world

Not really that funny...anyway, we decided to start in Mexico and work our way around World Showcase.

We checked out the new Cava de Tequila inside the Mexico pavillion. It is pretty small, with very little seating. But, we hadn't planned to sit, so we got our margaritas to go.

Joe chose the drink of the day which was a Pomegranite margarita with sugar. I had the Blue (something) margarita with a glow cube...

OMG...strong, large, cold and tasty!! We sampled each others choices and we agreed that both drinks were really good.

Our margaritas get......if we weren't on the move, I could have happily sat and had another!

Our next stop was Norway. They had the beer cart but we agreed that beer would be too filling if we wanted to try other things, so we passed on that. The real ethnic food here was the bakery...but sweet was not what we wanted either, so we moved on...

...to China and the Lotus Blossom Cafe for egg roll. Two egg rolls to one serving (sorry, I was so hungry I inhaled it before I remembered I was taking pictures...) They were small, closer to spring roll size, and a little soggy. But the filling tasted good and we drowned them in duck sauce. Ate them as we walked.

Egg rolls get......inexpensive and good for just a little snack.

Next up...Germany. They have wine tasting in Germany ...so we did. We shared three whites (I'll add the names when I find the napkin I wrote it down on...). It was quiet and the cast member seemed a little shy, but was very nice to us. We talked about her upcoming trip to Chicago when she found out we were from Illinois. She explained a little bit about each wine too. She wasn't as outgoing with the other couple who were tasting. My hubby says it's me...I have "talk to me" tattooed on my forehead...

Germany's wine tasting gets......it was air-conditioned and quiet -- the wines were just too sweet for us.

Next up...Italy and La Cucina Italiana...a little shop that sells wine by the bottle or the glass. We decided to share a glass of Italian champagne (don't know its name). It was dry and not at all sweet...I loved it!!! Needless to say, I did not share too much! In fact, I was tempted to have another glass. Oh, and I forgot to take a picture...again...

The Italian champagne by the glass......yup, four tinks because it was that good.

Part 2 will follow shortly...

 

[VegasVick]

Where was I? Oh yeah, giggly after my Italian champagne...

The American Adventure was our next stop, but again, neither of us was interested in beer or coffee...the smell of the funnel cakes was tempting (love 'em) but sweet just wasn't what we wanted...and then we noticed the time...

It was after 8 p.m. already! Dusk was here...

...and we had too many more countries to go. So, Joe says to me "let's head towards the UK for fish 'n chips and beer and we can watch Illuminations from there." I agreed but noted that we'd be skipping five countries, and he said, "we can do this again next time, only we'll start earlier."

I love my husband who doesn't love Disney...he just agreed to another trip without being asked (and he probably didn't even know it)! We won't tell him just yet...

So, we skipped Japan, Morocco, and Canada. But, I couldn't pass by France's Les Vins des Chefs de France when I saw this...Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush...

Mine...all mine...

Well, this gets......I am a Grey Goose vodka lover and this was the absolute best!!! Next time, we start in this direction!

Our final stop was the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom. I remember when you'd get three, large pieces for less money...

But, it was hot, fresh, and cooked perfectly, so......three because it was a very small portion, and they were out of Harps.

But, the beer trauma was easily solved at the beer stand next to the Rose and Crown. Joe likes a nice pint of ale...

for the beer in a plastic cup to go with the fish.

I apologize for the blurry pictures...I blame the champagne...

The total cost for this culinary adventure: $100.35

Next: Kona Cafe.

 

[VegasVick]

Great start to your reviews! I'm also loving your Tinkerbell rating system. Perfect

Great start! The only one we are copying from you is sci fi lunch. enjoyed it last year - nothing great not horrible either. Love Kona for dinner but haven't tried b'fast there yet.

Looking forward to more.

Thanks for reading...

 

[Krissalee]

I am enjoying your reviews!

 

[VegasVick]

Looking forward to more!

I am enjoying your reviews!

I like to know that someone's reading and I'm not just talking to myself...

 

[MickeyNicki]

Ah, boozy drinks in Epcot...honestly is there any other reason to go to WDW than to eat and drink?

 

[jeminni]

Ah, boozy drinks in Epcot...honestly is there any other reason to go to WDW than to eat and drink?

Not that I know of, enjoying your reviews

 

[VegasVick]

I'm back...

If you read my pre-trip, you know that I had really been looking forward to trying the infamous Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe...but...

Our ADR was for 8:45 a.m. Not too early, since we were planning to hit Blizzard Beach after breakfast. We arrived almost to the minute, but were still given a pager. It went off in about 5 minutes.

Our waitress was very nice but was training a new waitress...so, it was unclear who was really taking care of us...you know what I mean? Not really what I would call a team effort.

Well, I needed caffeine so we ordered some Kona coffee in the French press.

What took the longest was getting some milk for my coffee (I don't like half and half). Now that's some good coffee...

We looked at the menu and Joe decided that the Big Kahuna was what he wanted...French toast, Macadamia nut pancakes with pineapple topping, eggs, potatoes, ham, bacon, and sausage...I guess he was hungry. I saw some Tonga toast go by...it's huge...and according to the waitress, very sweet. Well, you guessed it -- I didn't get it. Sweet just wasn't calling me. Since Joe was ordering enough food for two, I just got the Two Eggs Your Way with potatoes, toast, and sausage. I helped Joe eat his French toast and ham. And yes, I forgot to take pictures of our entrees.

The food was good, once we got it. Eggs were cooked perfectly. Needed more butter and some ketchup...that took too long. At this point, I was pretty put out about the lack of service and then...

I thought it was a very nice sentiment...

So, here's my rating of the Kona Cafe for breakfast...

Quality Tasted good, served hot, coffee yummy.
Atmosphere Not too loud at that time of day; tables close together; felt very "Polynesian".
Service The birthday cupcake brought this rating up...I think the "tag team" approach to training a new person doesn't work.
Overall experience Might go back again if we're staying there, but probably won't make a special trip just for breakfast.

Total for food, tax & tip: $40.00