No I'm not on the Dining Plan - A Solo Dining Report with lots of PICS!! Updated 3/22

[Quacktatty]

Hi Everyone,

These Dining Reviews are slightly delayed, so my apologies in advance for any lack of detail. I do however have pictures!!

I traveled from Sept 14 - Sept 20, during Free Dining, and was not on the DDP.

I'll be doing reviews for the following restaurants, with some snacks thrown in as well:

Flame Tree BBQ (Lunch)
KRNR Station and Lunching Pad (Snacks)
Mara (Breakfast)
Anandapur Locals Cafe (Lunch)
AK (Snack)
Victoria Falls (Cocktails) and Jiko (Dinner)
Goofy's Candy Co (Snack)
AKL In-Room Dining (Breakfast)
Kona Cafe (Lunch)
Earl of Sandwich (Dinner)
Mara (Breakfast)
Liberty Tree Tavern (Lunch)
Aloha Isle (Snack)
Casey's (Dinner)
Victoria Falls (Cocktails)
Mara (Breakfast)
Lotus Blossom Cafe (Lunch)
World Showcase (Snacks)
Teppan Edo (Dinner)
Zebra Domes!!
Mara (Breakfast)
Flame Tree BBQ (Lunch)
Tangierine Cafe (Dinner)
Kaki Gori (snack)
Starring Rolls Cafe (Breakfast)
Flame Tree BBQ (Lunch)

 

[Quacktatty]

My favorite CS in WDW is Flame Tree BBQ - hands down. I'm a BBQ freak and I love Animal Kingdom, it makes the decision easy. I always try to make it my very first stop on any trip. This trip was no different. After getting up super early I was staaaaaarving.

I checked in to the resort and then ran to DHS to get a TSM Fast Pass. I was ready to eat my feet at his point, but I knew that I didn't want to ruin perfectly good hunger with a gross DHS meal. Finally, I arrived at AK and my first stop after grabbing a Safari FP was Flame Tree BBQ.

I waited in line maybe 2 minutes, but waited about 10 minutes to actually get my food. I ordered a Beef Sandwich with Coleslaw instead of Beans and a Light Lemonade. The worst part of the wait was that I could SEE my sandwich sitting under the heat lamp, but nobody had pulled my ticket yet to make the order and put it on the tray. I just wanted to yell out - please, I'm so hungry, can I have my sandwich!!!

Eventually, it was delivered and I made my way to the seating area. I grabbed my favorite seat overlooking the water and dug in. I was a victim of the sitting sandwich, the bun was quite soggy. But once I loaded it up with some sweet and spicy BBQ sauce I got past the sogginess. It was as good as I remember it, and the coleslaw hit the spot. You can't have BBQ without coleslaw you know.

This is a meal that I will never hesitate to repeat!

 

[momofdbsdc]

OOOHH, I love food porn! I'm in!!

Thanks for sharing!
Kim
momofdbsdca

 

[KatMark]

I'm in too!

 

[TigerKat]

I'm in....

 

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

I'm in too!

 

[Quacktatty]

OOOHH, I love food porn! I'm in!!

Thanks for sharing!
Kim
momofdbsdca

I'm in too!

I'm in....

I'm in too!

Thanks for joining me!

 

[Quacktatty]

I never ended up eating a REAL dinner on my first day, instead I had my eye on a couple snacks.

The first was outside my now second favorite ride at DHS - Rock'n'Roller Coaster. I had ridden RNRC two times in a row already and was ready for a snack. I had read about something called a Flavor Burst on the Food Porn thread and it sounded intriguing. I looked at the flavors on All Ears and saw that they had Cotton Candy, which I love! I knew that I had to get one.

The cart is just outside RNRC, they serve things like smoothies, chips, cookies, sodas, etc. And they have Flavor Burst! After waiting too long in line behind a British couple that couldn't figure out what they wanted, I placed my order for a Cotton Candy flavor burst. It's basically Vanilla soft serve swirled with flavored soft serve, but mostly vanilla. The Cotton Candy flavor wasn't as strong as I would have liked, but I inhaled it all nonetheless.

My next stop that night was MK for EMH. The place was PACKED, but I was on a mission to get my Cream Cheese pretzel from the Lunching Pad. I stood in line, behind only a couple people, and got up to order my snack, a sprite and a cream cheese pretzel. The guy behind the counter almost ruined my trip when he told me they were out!!! I think he saw the panic in my face because he quickly assured me that more would be available soon, I needed to come back in 15 minutes or so. I got the sprite anyway and sucked it down quickly. I didn't want to go to far from the Lunching Pad, so I rode the TTA while I waited for the pretzels to be ready. After one quick run, I went back down and saw that they were ready. I ended up going to a different line because I didn't want the CM who told me they were out to think I was a desperate weirdo! It was as delicious as I had remembered and it was well worth the wait. I can't quite describe the taste as it's not like something I've had before. The cream cheese isn't terribly sweet, but when combined with the soft pretzel makes a yummy buttery cream cheesy flavor.

 

[pumba]

hey that ice cream thingie looks great.......even if it is cotton candy flavored.....do they have just plain ones ?

thanks for taking the time to do this and look forward to your other photos

 

[wdwfanatic316]

Great start! Can't wait to hear more!

I'll definitely have to try the cream cheese pretzel next time I'm at the World!

 

[Quacktatty]

hey that ice cream thingie looks great.......even if it is cotton candy flavored.....do they have just plain ones ?

thanks for taking the time to do this and look forward to your other photos

They have lots of different flavors although I don't think plain is one of them! Here's the list from All Ears:
Flavor Burst - Served in a Waffle Cone. Bubble gum, pistachio nut, black cherry, tripical orange, Strawberry-banana, blue cotton candy and banana split $3.79

Great start! Can't wait to hear more!

I'll definitely have to try the cream cheese pretzel next time I'm at the World!

It's one of my must haves - usually a couple of times!!

 

[DisneyFan83]

Great job so far... thanks for posting about the Flavor Burst- I never even knew about those- I'll have to get one in May!

 

[Flossbolna]

Thanks for the reviews! It's good to know that it is possible to substitute cole slaw at Flame Tree! And this flavour burst thing is on my list of snacks I must try now!!!

 

[msce2]

Great reviews! Thank you!!!

 

[JnC0508]

I've been hearing so many good things about Flame Tree BBQ - I must check it out during our next trip in Feb

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

OMG that ice cream looks delicious!

 

[Quacktatty]

Great job so far... thanks for posting about the Flavor Burst- I never even knew about those- I'll have to get one in May!

It was a first for me, I will definitely be trying one again.

Thanks for the reviews! It's good to know that it is possible to substitute cole slaw at Flame Tree! And this flavour burst thing is on my list of snacks I must try now!!!

Coleslaw is a must! I used to just get it on the side when they had the corn on the cob, but now I just substitute it instead.

Great reviews! Thank you!!!

Thanks for reading!

I've been hearing so many good things about Flame Tree BBQ - I must check it out during our next trip in Feb

Flame Tree is my FAAAAAVORITE!!!!

OMG that ice cream looks delicious!

Haha, I know doesn't it??

 

[Quacktatty]

I had what I would consider a pretty good start to the trip food wise. Breakfast is always a challenge for me. I always feel like I should eat something in the morning, but I often have a hard time finding just the right thing.

I was up super early - at like 6:30 - and I wandered down to Mara to get breakfast and my refillable mug. I grabbed the mug and went over to the hot food station to order. To my surprise when I got in line, where the food was already out and people were standing there ready to serve, they told me that they weren't serving breakfast until 7. Okkkkkkkayyy?? So I purchased my mug and then took a walk around the pool area until just after 7.

They were finally willing to take my order and let me pay for food so I got the Breakfast Platter.

It is Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (or Sausage), Breakfast Potatoes and a biscuit. I also filled my mug with half hot chocolate and half coffee in an attempt to make a Mocha.

I carried it all back to my room where I sat on the balcony and ate with a giraffe. Staying at AKL is the coolest!!

The breakfast was so so. I covered the eggs and potatoes in syrup and ketchup which made them edible. The biscuit was good, but I wish I had something to dip it in. My attempt at a Mocha was a failure - it was beyond disgusting and I had to throw it down the sink.

 

[momofdbsdc]

I carried it all back to my room where I sat on the balcony and ate with a giraffe. Staying at AKL is the coolest!!

That sounds totally cool!!!!

 

[msce2]

I probably could have eaten sawdust if it involved sitting on a balcony watching animals. If I close my eyes and imagine I might get close to what that must have felt like.

AKL sounds like heaven. Although my DD would probably have jumped the balcony and gone chasing after the animals.

Really enjoying the reviews! Thanks!