Newbie does DxDDP for 11 days! Lots of pictures, loads of signatures (COMPLETED!)

[Linda67]

What a shame your service wasn't too great at HBD

The food looks lovely though

Yay for WPE Pizza; I love the Four Cheese & Pesto one

 

[TanzUnited99]

Oh no on having a bad food day with the Riverside breakfast and then the service at HBD

Yay on WPE coming to the rescue!!! It sure is a great CS place

 

[rubysparkles]

I had a lazy evening at MK (which was having EMH that night), didn't do many rides as queues were pretty long but finally got to do some of the things I'd never done that were smaller attractions. I think I also did Haunted Mansion because the queue was short (compared to the others) and grabbed a fast pass for the PERFECT after dinner time for Peter Pan's Flight (a MUST do).

Anyway, I walked from MK to the Contemporary, even though I knew I would be early for my reservation. I was feeling pretty tired, so I stopped for a coffee in the downstairs lobby. Have to say the coffee down there was really nice. The nicest I had on Disney property.

The check in desk and lift experience at the beginning of the meal really adds an extra sense of occasion. It sounds tacky but it made me feel special! There's a real extravagant and decadent feeling even from the beginning to this restaurant, then you get up there and see the view and the dining room is so elegant. I have to say, I was already sold on this place. It was great being on the dining plan here, because otherwise I would've worried so much about the money when ordering.

I'd looked at the menu for here for a long time, and I was really upset because at first I couldn't find any reservations for my entire stay. I got lucky getting this one, I think it was at about 9pm. I knew most of the things that the server told me, but because she was so nice (and I wanted to double check) I played along and pretended I didn't already know all the things she was telling me. I had my heart set on sushi. I would've eaten anything on the sushi menu as a starter but I decided to try a roll I hadn't seen on menus I'd read online. It was called the crab and seafood roll.

That's salmon (I think SMOKED salmon, double yum), yellowtail and avocado on the outside with the crab on the inside. And that's a tempura battered jalapeno in the back. Really yummy. Absolutely great sushi. I wanted to come back again to try some other rolls. I wish I had compared to some of the other places I ate. I like sushi, but don't have any experience of any 'high-end' (is that the right way to describe?) sushi, so this was the best I have tasted. Everything I have to compare it to though has cost about half as much.

After not trying the buffalo at Artist Point that I was desperate to try the bison here. It came with truffled mac and a sauce with some brussel sprouts and little bacon bits in.

This was gorgeous. Absolutely. I loved it. I didn't finish the truffled mac (even though it was great, should've taken it home) because I had my eye on something for dessert.

S'Mores Valrhona Chocolate Cake. Hands down, by far the best dessert of the trip. Oh, to have this again. This would be my part of my "death row" dinner. The melting chocolate centre of the chocolate cake and the perfect vanilla ice cream and the marshmallow was toasted just slightly. If you weren't convinced by my descriptions of my starter and main, you have to go to California Grill for the dessert. I remember reading some pretty dire reviews of the place, maybe I just made better menu choices, maybe it was the night they went, I don't know.

I wish I remembered what the wine was called I had, but it was the wine paired with the bison. It was lovely, I recommend that AS well. My service was great. I was sat by the window and saw the water pageant while I ate and between my main and my dessert I went up to the viewing deck and had a great view of the fireworks. I'm not someone who would wait in main street on my own to see the fireworks, so it was my best chance to see Wishes.

So overall, I have nothing bad to say about this place. Afterwards, I used my fast pass to jump straight on Peter Pan's Flight and went straight to the front of the queue for Big Thunder Mountain. Such a great night. I would say try to go on a night when there's EMHs for you to go to after your meal.

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

thanks for another great update

 

[librarygeek]

Love your review of California grill! Everything sounds fantastic. I especially wish I could try that dessert - I love the S'mores combo of flavors, and it looks so delicious in that picture.

 

[cbg1027]

Joining in!

The Swordfish at AP looks divine! I wish I could try that dish.

I've had the Wild Boar App at Jiko, and I completely agree that it's wonderful!

I'm loving all the signature reviews, keep 'em coming!

(And yes, corgettes are called zucchini in the US. Do you use the word aubergine in the UK for eggplant?)

 

[Linda67]

Oh wow how good does the sushi at CG look

 

[AMVmom]

Love your review of the restaurants and I have never thought of going to the California Grill before but after those pictures and your description of the restaurant I will definitely have to make that one of my reservations! I look forward to more of your reviews!

 

[kelleigh1]

.

I want this entire meal!!!

 

[starousse]

I know, me too. If that's what's on the menu when I'm there on Saturday, that's what I'm getting.

 

[rubysparkles]

(And yes, corgettes are called zucchini in the US. Do you use the word aubergine in the UK for eggplant?)

Yep, we call them aubergine.

Glad everyone's enjoying the reviews. I think with hind sight CG was my favourite, with Jiko and AP close behind.

 

[kelleigh1]

I think with hind sight CG was my favourite, with Jiko and AP close behind.

All three are on our list for our Oct. trip!!

 

[rubysparkles]

I took the boat from POR to Downtown Disney and took a leisurely walk around until I got the Raglan Road. I went to the desk to check in. They asked me if I preferred to sit inside or outside. I chose outside, but I really should've gone inside. The servers ignored the me and the queue of people that slowly formed for a while, with half the tables empty outside. Just as I was about to give up and ask to be seated inside, the host at the check in desk went over and prompted the servers outside.

I have known what I was going to have to start since I first saw a menu. The Scallop Forrest. Which were deep fried scallops arranged nicely on up-turned forks. They were served with a chilli jam and a tartare sauce. Both sauces were really yummy with the scallops, I couldn't choose between the two when dipping. The scallops were super juicy, and even though I don't usually like deep fried seafood/fish (very un-English of me) I enjoyed this as the batter wasn't too heavy. I didn't take a photo, because at the time I thought there's so many photos of this dish on here already. I don't know why.

I also decided to have a beer flight. I had one that was made up of Magners (which is a common drink in the UK, that I know I definitely like), Guinness ( which I like a little of), and the Orlando Pale Ale and Blonde Ale. Both the Orlando ales were really nice. I'm not a big ale drinker but I really enjoyed these.

My main was the lobster club sandwich. I was really happy with the amount of lobster in there, but would've liked a bit more prosciutto. I think compared to some of the other lunch choices I've made at Disney, this is one of the best value. It's a $15 sandwich, but when comparing that to prices at other restaurants on property and considering the amount of lobster in the sandwich it isn't bad value.

I then had a raspberry pavlova dessert, that I can't remember the name of. This was alright, the pavlova wasn't great. I didn't hate it, but if I went back I would try something different.

It was a good lunch. I especially liked the liquid part. Although it definitely did go to my head.

 

[DisneyUnited]

Really enjoying your reviews rubysparkles, you're eating at a lot of my favourites.

Very brave of you to go alone all the way from England to WDW. My husband doesn't like holidays ( I know ) but doesn't mind me going, so I go with my daughter and a couple of friends. If no one was available to go with me, I'm not sure if I would go on my own.

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

that sandwich looks yummy. the beer flight sounds good and looks good

 

[rubysparkles]

This was my first visit to the Grand Floridian. Ever. And I have to say I dreamed of staying their as a little girl, but as an adult I thought maybe I'd prefer somewhere else. Actually stepping into the hotel though, it is truly magical. In the same way walking into the Magic Kingdom for the first time is. I'd taken the boat from MK as well, which was a nice experience. I had to wait a little while, but as usual I was on track to be too early.

Onto Citricos. This is the kind of place I would like to go with my family on a special occasion. Relaxed and stylish, yet somewhat more homely than some of the other restaurants on property.

I took a picture of the menu this time. There was no-one around and I didn't feel self-conscious about taking a photo, unlike most of the other places the menu was posted.

To start I had the "Sumac-rubbed Wagyu Beef Carpacccio." I think this was a great beginning to a meal. I love this sort of thing though, because you get the meatiness of the beef but none of the heavy feeling. A really good app, but I would still try something else next time just because they all sounded good to me. The semolina and sesame crackers were lovely and crunchy as well.

This was probably the only restaurant I was really looking forward to, yet had no idea what I should order on the menu. For my main I was swayed to the Stone Bass, because I'd never had that fish before and it involved two of my favourite things (scallops and chorizo). I liked it, but I didn't love it. I had been torn between this and the the pork. Obviously I don't know which one would be better though.

I had green apple sorbet for dessert. Which I didn't like at all. I wouldn't discount the quality of this restaurant for it. I just think it was a bad choice for me personally.

I enjoyed my night at Citricos. It was relaxing, the service was just right. I didn't feel rushed and I wasn't waiting around for food. I would definitely like to go back and try different things on the menu.

 

[rubysparkles]

This review will be short, but sweet. First of all, the coffee here was really good. Secondly, they had great OJ. Both (to me) are the most important components of brekkie.

I got the Stacked Kouzzina breakfast. Two Poached Eggs, Kalamata Olive Toast, Artichoke Spread, and Sweet Potato Hash with choice of Bacon or Chicken Sausage. I don't eat eggs on their own so ordered without. I got bacon, because bacon is the greatest thing ever invented. I'd not had some proper US bacon either apart from the rubbish with the breakfast at POR. This bacon was much better. I would have killed for a table service breakfast place at POR (like there used to be) that served really good bacon.

The olive toast was yummy. The sweet potato hash wasn't what I expected, but still good.

I'd go back here. The location is really good for a late breakfast before going to Epcot. I would've loved to have stayed on any of the hotels on the Boardwalk. Oh well maybe in a couple of years time.

 

[librarygeek]

Love your review of Raglan Road! I will have to find a pic of those Scallops in another review because they sound delicious! I also love raspberries so your dessert there looks amazing.

The breakfast at Kouzzina sounds really nice too. We had dinner there and really loved it, so I'd love to try breakfast eventually.

 

[gardengirl628]

The dessert at Cali Grill looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

 

[DonaldLover22]

I am really looking forward to our May 2012 visit where Jiko is on the plans.